Monthly Archives: April 2007

More on Social Security and the Samuelson Unit

Posted on April 24, 2007 by mikethemadbiologist

I’ve invented a new unit of time, the Samuelson Unit, which is the length of time required for the Social Security system to become ‘bankrupt.’ Oddly enough, Social Security is always DOOMED roughly 34 years from the time of the estimate. Here’s a pretty picture to illustrate the point.
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Posted in Economics, Fucking Morons, Social Security | 7 Comments

Defining a New Time Unit: the Samuelson

Posted on April 24, 2007 by mikethemadbiologist

Named after economist Robert Samuelson, who, along with the Concord Coalition, is fighting the Glorious War on Social Security. It’s inspired by the Friedman Unit, named after NY Times columnist Thomas Friedman, who predicted for several years running that the “next six months” will be critical in Iraq. So what’s a Samuelson Unit?
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Posted in Economics, Fucking Morons, Social Security | 9 Comments

Social Security Trustees to Release Annual Report…

Posted on April 23, 2007 by mikethemadbiologist

…stoopid media tricks to ensue.
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Posted in News Media, Social Security | 1 Comment

Pandemic Flu Preparedness in Boston

Posted on April 23, 2007 by mikethemadbiologist

Tonight, at 6:30pm, at the Boston Public Library, there’s a meeting “Preparing Boston Residents for Pandemic Flu.” I’m going, but with a great deal of pessimism.
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Posted in Influenza, Microbiology, Public Health, Viruses, We're Really Fucked | 3 Comments

Confusing Ecological Interactions and Natural Selection Gives Me the Williwillies

Posted on April 23, 2007 by mikethemadbiologist

ScienceBlogling Mike Dunford has an interesting post asking whether we should save the Hawaiian plant, the williwilli. It’s a good post, but I have two comments, one silly and one serious. The silly comment is that how could anyone let a plant named the williwilli become extinct? It’s so damn cute (and is the plural williwillies?) Onto the serious point.
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Posted in Ecology, Evolution, Insects | 6 Comments

It’s Not Like the Suffragists At All

Posted on April 22, 2007 by mikethemadbiologist

Yesterday, PZ and Amanda both argued that a model for the acceptance of atheists should be the suffragist movement. I think that’s the wrong model: the appropriate model is the mainstreaming of Jews into American society.
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Posted in Civil Liberties, Jewish Stuff, Religion | 23 Comments

Some Sunday Links

Posted on April 22, 2007 by mikethemadbiologist

Here’s some links for you. Merry Spring!
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Posted in Bloggity Blog | 1 Comment

How Do You Oppose Meals-on-Wheels?

Posted on April 21, 2007 by mikethemadbiologist

I would like to think certain things transcend political, religious, and ideological divides. One might think that Meals-on-Wheels, a program that relies heavily on donations, discounts, and volunteers to bring meals to elderly shut-ins would be liked by all. I would like to think that aiding frail, elderly people is about as universal as it gets. But never underestimate the moral depravity of the conservative ideologue.
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Posted in Conservatives, Fucking Morons, Hunger | 35 Comments

Framing Social Security

Posted on April 20, 2007 by mikethemadbiologist

Because I want to talk about some of the ‘framing’ issues without getting everyone all het up about God stuff.
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Posted in Conservatives, Democrats, Economics, News Media, Social Security, Taxes | 7 Comments

E. coli Conservatives, E. coli Liberals, and the FDA

Posted on April 19, 2007 by mikethemadbiologist

‘E. coli conservatives’ is Rick Perlstein‘s phrase, not mine. After all, the Mad Biologist is quite partial to E. coli; I suppose that makes me an E. coli liberal. Granted, this has nothing to do with Perlstein’s column, which had to do with the failure of the FDA to keep out food supply safe. Onto the column.
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Posted in Conservatives, E. coli, Microbiology, Public Health | 11 Comments