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A Weblog monitoring coverage of environmental issues and science in the UK media. By Professor Emeritus Philip Stott. The aim is to assess whether a subject is being fairly covered by press, radio, and television. Above all, the Weblog will focus on science, but not just on poor science. It will also bring to public notice good science that is being ignored because it may be politically inconvenient.

Saturday, May 01, 2004

Will it get the retch grade for science.....?

Further to my Thursday blog (below - 'Frosty comment on 'The Day after Tommorrow''), Anthony Cox over at the ever-stimulating Black Triangle blog has likewise put up a splendidly contingent comment on 'The Day after Tomorrow' (April 30), enmeshing the about-to-be-released film within the long-history of disaster movies (in more senses than one):

"Which brings me on to the most recent Hollywood offering, 'The Day after Tomorrow' produced by the people who brought us 'Independence Day. As I remember it, 'Independence Day' was not outstandingly strong on science. In fact, at 'Insultingly Stupid Movie Physics', it gets a retch grade for its science."

"'The Day After Tomorrow' looks set to surpass this grade."

I don't doubt it. Insultingly Stupid Movie Physics is just the antidote, and I await with eager anticipation the Site's eventual grading of 'The Day after Tomorrow'. The grades it adopts are as follows: GP = good physics in general; PGP = pretty good physics (just enough flaws to be fun); PGP-13 = children under 13 might be tricked into thinking the physics were pretty good - parental guidance is suggested; RP = retch; XP = obviously physics from an unknown universe; and NR = unrated (when a movie is obviously a parody, fantasy, cartoon, or is clearly based on a comic book, it can't be rated but may still have some interesting physics worth discussing).

These are great, and I may just have to put up a poll when the film is released on May 28. In the meantime, perhaps I should devise an ecohype scale for media reports. What do you think?

Hat tip to Anthony Cox.

Philip, very dull after being woken at 5.30 am by our mad May Day Dancers prancing about on the hill nearby. I'm not up to cracking Morris sticks when the dew is still fresh!



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