In about another week, I will be absent from physics forums for a few weeks. I am about to go on a little trip.

If you have read my biographical blog entry "Who is sylas?", then you may know that I was born and grew in South Korea. I have never been back there since I left at the end of 1968, at the age of 9.

Well, I am about to rectify that. My Dad has been invited back, and I am going to accompany him to see our old haunts.

Dad was a missionary...

I have decided how to handle to climate discussions.

I thought that physicsforums had been managing them really well last year, but I appreciate that they had become divisive.

I have, therefore, started up a new forum for discussion of the science related to climate. I have borrowed some good ideas from physicsforums for managing science related discussions, and intend this to be a unauthorized offshoot. It is unauthorized in that I do not expect any official endorsement,...

All topics of global warming and climate change are currently banned at physicsforums. The policy has been announced, and discussed, at the thread New GW/CC Policy. Those interested can read the policy discussion thread for more on this, although further discussion of the matter is now closed.

I am an enthusiastic and loyal supporter of physicsforums, and will be abiding by the guidelines and policies established by the staff. Greg and his mentor team have done a terrific job with...

I sometimes want to refer back to posts I have written in the past; this will help me find them. I may also link to a couple of posts by other people that I want to keep listed. I will probably keep adding to it from time to time.

If anyone reads this blog, then I will welcome comments! Tell me if you think some of these posts are actually dreadful, or if there's a better post by someone else that I can consider for the same topic, or anything else. Thanks!

Climate...

As a gift to the online community I reveal at last Sylas' rules for online debate. These rules don't apply for social engagement or cases where there is mutual recognition that one side has more expertise and the other is asking questions. This is for debate where each side is confident that the other side is incorrect.

Rule 1. Aim to communicate, not to "win".

Putting this rule in the negative form, never ever start an internet debate with the aim of changing...