Monthly Archives: December 2011

Rush Limbaugh’s Factiness About School Meals

Posted on December 19, 2011 by mikethemadbiologist

I know, I know: ‘Rush ‘Big Pharma’ Limbaugh opens mouth and stupid, counterfactual shit falls out’ is hardly news, but still the ‘factiness’ that Limbaugh displays about school nutrition programs is still disgusting, even by his standards (boldface mine): Limbaugh, … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservatives, Fucking Morons, Hunger | Comments Off on Rush Limbaugh’s Factiness About School Meals

Larger Homes Were Not Due to an “Expenditure Cascade” But Were Rational

Posted on December 19, 2011 by mikethemadbiologist

For home builders. One of the problems I have with behavioral economics is that too often what is described as a cognitive or psychological glitch is actually very rational behavior as long as you correctly identify the underlying incentives. Robert … Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness, Big Shitpile, Economics, Housing | 1 Comment

Links 12/18/11

Posted on December 18, 2011 by mikethemadbiologist

Links for you. Science: Shrimp on treadmills, laundry-folding robots, and the problem of ridiculing research 50 best photos from The Natural World Elk Stuns Idaho zookeepers… (or maybe it just didn’t want a varmint in its water) Snow shoveling does … Continue reading →

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Some Very Resilient Roses

Posted on December 18, 2011 by mikethemadbiologist

Just for the record, it’s December 18th, and we’ve had lots of below-freezing days. But don’t tell the roses: Not sure this rose will have much reproductive success despite the heroic effort.

Posted in Boston, Plants | 1 Comment

No, We Don’t Have to Pay Back Government Debt

Posted on December 18, 2011 by mikethemadbiologist

Peter Dorman attacks the shibboleth that simply will not die: No it doesn’t. It almost never is. To pay back government debt, you have to run a budget surplus, and while there may be modest surpluses from time to time, … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics | 2 Comments

Links 12/17/11

Posted on December 17, 2011 by mikethemadbiologist

Links for you. Science: Big Time Genomics Comes to New York City Tool detects patterns hidden in vast data sets Do you love Science? Well, that depends, do you like sleep? 5 Lies Scientists Tell Other: Demanding sacrifices on the … Continue reading →

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Dallas Fed President: Still an Asshole

Posted on December 17, 2011 by mikethemadbiologist

Over at Naked Capitalism, Matt Stoller asks “Why Does the Dallas Fed President Want to Destroy West Coast Port Unions?” (boldface mine): It really is clear what is driving the elites. Disinflation is a wonky term meaning reducing the rate … Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness, Conservatives, Economics, Occupy Wall Street | 1 Comment

Links 12/16/11

Posted on December 16, 2011 by mikethemadbiologist

Links for you. Science: Oh, hello! Why yes, that’s my crotch! (Part 1) NCCAM in the news: Why does it still exist? (one thing non-NIH savvy people should realize is that an institute’s brief really does set the agenda: NCCAM … Continue reading →

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When Heating Aid Collides With Austerity: Today’s Installment in Devil Take the Hindmost As Public Policy

Posted on December 16, 2011 by mikethemadbiologist

It’s cold out, especially in the Northeast, and that means it’s time for ‘fiscal conservatives’ to attempt to help poor elderly people freeze to death. No, I’m not kidding (boldface mine): Congress is considering cutting $1 billion out of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Basic Human Decency, Conservatives, Democrats, Energy | 4 Comments

Links 12/15/11

Posted on December 15, 2011 by mikethemadbiologist

Links for you. Science: Save Scholarly Ideas, Not the Publishing Industry (a rant) The Center of Every Snowflake is a Bacterium: Pseudomonas Syringae The Strange Birth and Long Life of Unix Discovery of the world’s tiniest frogs Other: Dem Senators … Continue reading →

Posted in Lotsa Links | 1 Comment