Monthly Archives: March 2007

Is Senator Clinton a Lieberman ‘Democrat’?

Posted on March 27, 2007 by mikethemadbiologist

I ask this seriously. Among rank and file Democrats, there is a common belief that Democratic politicians are being dragged to right by the need for compromise. But I don’t think that’s the case with Clinton: she is a conservative Southern Democrat without the regional accent. And the southern blue dogs have been pretty weak on the Iraq Occupation.
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Posted in Democrats, Iraq, Middle East, Military, Progressives | 17 Comments

The Political Failure of Annual Influenza

Posted on March 27, 2007 by mikethemadbiologist

One of the few predictable statistics in American public health is that between 35,000-40,000 people will die every year from ‘ordinary’ influenza. Most of these deaths are preventable. Yet we do nothing. This is a complete failure of the basic function of government to protect the life and health of the weakest among us.
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Posted in Antibiotics, Influenza, Microbiology, Public Health, Vaccination, Viruses | 7 Comments

Punditry Versus Academic Writing

Posted on March 26, 2007 by mikethemadbiologist

I usually stay away from the various pissing matches that occur between big name commentators. Watching Hollywood actors and actresses is far more entertaining, and unlike the famous and beautiful people, pundits are definitely NOT TEH HOT! But in the midst of a clash between Eric Alterman and Joe Klein, Alterman makes an interesting observation.
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Posted in Education, News Media | 4 Comments

Some Sunday Links

Posted on March 25, 2007 by mikethemadbiologist

Here are some Sunday links for you (with extra linkyness since there won’t be one next week). First, I blind you with science.
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Posted in Bloggity Blog | Comments Off on Some Sunday Links

Breaking the Silence

Posted on March 25, 2007 by mikethemadbiologist

A story in the NY Times about a very interesting Israeli group, Breaking the Silence (Shovrim Shtika), finally got me motivated to blog about it. Here’s one bit from the article that was interesting
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Posted in Middle East, Military | 6 Comments

We’re Going to Party Like It’s 1979…

Posted on March 24, 2007 by mikethemadbiologist

…in Stasi-controlled East Germany. An anonymous internet service provider writes in the Washington Post about the ‘national security letter’ he or she received.
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Posted in Civil Liberties, Terrorism, We're Really Fucked | 1 Comment

“How Do You Ask a Man To Be the Last Man To Die For a Mistake?”-the WaPo Edition

Posted on March 24, 2007 by mikethemadbiologist

It’s about time someone told the warmongers on the Washington Post editorial board to go fuck themselves. In the words of Democratic congressman David Obey:
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Posted in Democrats, Iraq, News Media | 4 Comments

Didn’t I Tell You…

Posted on March 23, 2007 by mikethemadbiologist

never mess with the Jewish grandmothers. Wednesday, Sen. Boxer smacked around Republican senator Inhofe but good:
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Posted in Democrats, Humor | 3 Comments

Did I Mention Something About Subprime Loans?

Posted on March 23, 2007 by mikethemadbiologist

The subprime loan fiasco is starting to reach suburbia. And as you might guess, the taxpayer is left to pick up the externalized costs of lenders.
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Posted in Bidness, Economics, We're Really Fucked | 5 Comments

Willful Ignorance and the Heterosexual Agenda

Posted on March 22, 2007 by mikethemadbiologist

In a recent post that’s made it’s way around blogtopia (and yes, skippy invented that phrase), I referred to willful ignorance. I found an excellent parody of the anti-gay spew vomited forth by various rightwing faithtanks called “The
Heterosexual Agenda: Exposing the Myths.” The whole thing is worth a read, but in the part where the author explains how to write a similar parody is an excellent description of willful ignorance.
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Posted in Creationism, Fucking Morons, The War on Science | 6 Comments