Pure Joy, November 30

https://newslit.org/

Before you go on, an article in the May 8 & May 22 issue of Science News ran with a cover "Awash in Deception:  How science can help us avoid being duped by misinformation."  In the lead article titled: "The Battle Against Fake News," Alexandra Witze presents five suggestions on how to debunk bad information.  They come from the News Literacy Project (see the above link).

How to Debunk:

1.  Arm yourself with media literacy skills, at sites such as the News Literacy Project (newslit.org), to better understand how to spot hoax videos and stories.

2.  Don't stigmatize people for holding inaccurate beliefs.  Show empathy and respect, or you're more likely to alienate your audience than successfully share accurate information.

3.  Translate complicated but true ideas into simple messages that are easy to grasp.  Videos, graphics and other visual aids can help.

4.  When possible, once you provide a factual alternative to the misinformation, explain the underlying fallacies (such as cherry- picking information, a common tactic of climate change deniers.

5.  Mobilize when you see misinformation being shared on social media as soon as possible. If you see something, say something.

"Misinformation is any information that is incorrect, whether due to error or fake news.  

"Disinformation is deliberately intended to deceive."

"Propaganda is disinformation with a political agenda."

Sander van der Linden
Social Psychologist
University of Cambridge

Source:  Science News/May 8, 2021 & May 22, 2021

Yesterday is eons away after today. We cruised last night on “uneasy” seas with a good amount of rock and rolling. I was not feeling optimistic about today’s program. That was until I opened the curtains and saw blue sky. Then, I saw the snow capped peaks and glaciers at the end of Andrew’s Bay. After fumbling around trying to figure out how to get to the front of the ship, the reward of my persistence was a stunningly spectacular alpine vista. Add to that the largest King Penguin colony on South Georgia and the chance to get off the boat and walk around. It was enough to leave one giddy with joy. The sight of around 300,000 penguins is, well, astonishing. That’s only if I have to choose one word to describe it. How do use words to describe the indescribable?

I wish that I could share a photo or two. Maybe I’ll try again in a few days. Suffice to say that those of you that are expecting photos are going to get photos. And I believe that the best is still ahead of us. I’ll admit that I was concerned with getting photos with the rapidly changing weather that we have experienced while here over the past three days. Tomorrow, who knows? But today, today was something special. The conditions even surprised our Cruise Director Hannah.

The afternoon was just as good. The weather stayed magnificent for our trip to Grytviken, the administrative center for “The British Overseas Territory of South Georgia.” Not even having to pack up and change rooms due to a water leak somewhere above us was going to interfere with our collective bliss this day. Grytviken was a couple hour sail/motor away in Cumberland East Bay within King Edward Cove. That’s where we will be until 4:00 a.m. tomorrow morning when we pick up anchor and head to what Hannah calls her favorite spot on South Georgia. And, it sounds like the weather will be decent as well so there is reason for optimism tomorrow.

Tomorrow is December 1 and with the full solar eclipse set for December 4, the ship will be sailing on December 2 towards the path of the eclipse somewhere near the South Orkney islands. Alex Fillipenko has been prepping us for the event while at the same time tempering our expectations of what the weather conditions could well be at 4:00 a.m. on the 4th when the eclipse reaches totality. You may see it better somewhere on the internet than we see it here, but hope springs eternal especially after the wonders of today! Needless to say, the level of preparation for the eclipse will be ramped up over the next few days.

This has been an unforgettable experience already and we are just getting started. Tune in tomorrow for more.

Bruce