Monthly Archives: February 2012

Congress, in Omnibus Spending Bill, To Inflict Mental Retardation on America’s Children: It’s the Lead, Stupid

Posted on February 23, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

I’ve discussed before how reducing childhood exposure to lead affects everything from IQ and academic performance to crime rates. It is arguably one of the most crucial and successful environmental efforts in the U.S. of the twentieth century. So, if … Continue reading →

Posted in Fucking Morons, IQ, Public Health | 11 Comments

Changing Evangelical Views on Abortion and the Moral Majority’s Original Sin

Posted on February 23, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

Fred Clark reminds us of a very important point–evangelicals, until the late 70s and early 80s, were far more liberal on the issue of abortion than they are today (boldface mine, emphasis original): That year, Christianity Today — edited by … Continue reading →

Posted in Blastocyst Liberation, Conservatives, Racism, Religion | Comments Off on Changing Evangelical Views on Abortion and the Moral Majority’s Original Sin

Links 2/22/12

Posted on February 22, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

Links for you. Science: Dear Elsevier Employees, With Love, From @FakeElsevier. An Open Letter. ‘Magic mud’ uncovered on Vancouver tidal flats key to shorebird populations When I grow up, I wanna be a public health worker Diving with wild crocodiles … Continue reading →

Posted in Lotsa Links | Comments Off on Links 2/22/12

Does Santorum Believe the U.S. Is Under Assault By Satan?

Posted on February 22, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

Not that any reporter would have the guts (or the brains) to ask him. At times, I feel like I’m cataloging the apocalypse, but I think most people don’t seem to have a true appreciation for just how batshit crazy … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservatives, Fucking Morons | 2 Comments

So How Will the Ag Lobby Explain This?

Posted on February 22, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

A brand spanking new paper in mBio describes how a clone of MRSA (the bacterium methicillin rensitive Staphylococcus aureus), known as ST398, long-associated with agriculture including pigs gained its methicillin and tetracylcine resistance. Surprise! It happened in the agricultural setting. … Continue reading →

Posted in Agriculture, Antibiotics, Evolution, Microbiology, MRSA | 4 Comments

Links 2/21/12

Posted on February 21, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

Links for you. Science: BPA’s Obesity And Diabetes Link Strengthened By New Study Nasty ‘superbug’ is being studied by UB researchers All genomes are dysfunctional: broken genes in healthy individuals It’s a Shark-Eating Shark–Eating–Shark World From depths of the Charles, … Continue reading →

Posted in Lotsa Links | Comments Off on Links 2/21/12

Meanwhile, On the Batshitloonitarian Front…

Posted on February 21, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

Someone please tell me how this is any different than a rant by the crazy guy on the subway (boldface mine): Across the country, activists with ties to the Tea Party are railing against all sorts of local and state … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservatives, Fucking Morons, Global Warming | 4 Comments

So What Could Nanopore Mean for Bacterial Genomics? (And the Pelham 123 Problem)

Posted on February 21, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

By now, you might have heard about Oxford Nanopore‘s first preview of their Gridion and Minion technologies at the recent AGBT conference. While I think some caution is in order, I don’t think this will turn out to be ‘vaportech.’ … Continue reading →

Posted in Genomics | 7 Comments

Links 2/20/12

Posted on February 20, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

Links for you. Science: A new sequencing technology enters the ring: SHTseq(TM) A tale of two analysts Divided Auckland: Overcrowding a hotbed for infections More Doctors ‘Fire’ Vaccine Refusers: Families Who Reject Inoculations Told to Find a New Physician; Contagion … Continue reading →

Posted in Lotsa Links | 1 Comment

Aftermath of a Fire

Posted on February 20, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

Saturday night, there was an apartment fire nearby: A towel placed next to a coffee pot ignited a fire at 271 Newbury St, on the corner of Dartmouth Saturday night – causing about $1 million in damage to the seven-story … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments