Monthly Archives: May 2012

Links 5/31/12

Posted on May 31, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

Links for you. Science: Big Pitch or Big Lottery? The unenviable task of evaluating the grant review system Zoos’ Bitter Choice: To Save Some Species, Letting Others Die Negative Calorie Food: Science Myths and Legends The Unwritten Rules of Journalism … Continue reading →

Posted in Lotsa Links | Comments Off on Links 5/31/12

A Case Study in How the Poor Are Prosecuted for Being Poor

Posted on May 31, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

Or perhaps I should write persecuted? Recently, I discussed how the poor are prosecuted simply for being poor. The story of Methodist pastor Lorenza Andrade-Smith, who, in ministering to the homeless, sold her belongings and renounced her health insurance, provides … Continue reading →

Posted in Basic Human Decency | 3 Comments

The Chris Hayes Hero Non-Troversy: A Case Study in the Rightwing Hissy Fit

Posted on May 31, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

Last Sunday, on his TV show, Chris Hayes discussed whether we should be using the term hero so often, which led to much high dudgeon by conservatives, followed by the obligatory curling up in the fetal position by TV pseudo-liberals. … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservatives, Military | Comments Off on The Chris Hayes Hero Non-Troversy: A Case Study in the Rightwing Hissy Fit

Links 5/30/12

Posted on May 30, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

Links for you. Science: The Story Behind the Paper by Joshua Weitz on Neutral Theory of Genome Evolution The Bacteria that Commit Honourable Suicide NASA: the penny drops CephSeq – a Cephalopod Genomics Consortium A rant about museum photography Evolutionary … Continue reading →

Posted in Lotsa Links | Comments Off on Links 5/30/12

That Is Not a Squirrel

Posted on May 30, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

Observed on the Boston Common, Beacon Street side at around 7pm: What’s that? Let’s get a little closer: Yup. Not a squirrel. Rather bold for a rat.

Posted in Boston, Rodents | Comments Off on That Is Not a Squirrel

Brad DeLong Asks Exactly the Right Question of Very Respectable Centrists

Posted on May 30, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

Brad DeLong fascinates me: on policy issues, he is very centrist (at least in a sane political system), but unlike most centrists (or perhaps ‘pseudo-centrists’), he is able to fully grasp how batshitloonitarians and theocrats have completely overrun the Republican … Continue reading →

Posted in Compulsive Centrist Disorder | Comments Off on Brad DeLong Asks Exactly the Right Question of Very Respectable Centrists

Links 5/29/12

Posted on May 29, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

Links for you. Science: Attention-grabbing rampage adds nothing to GM debate Brazilian ants are fiesty! Insect swarms near streetlights contain more predators and scavengers See? Teaching Professors Fare Worse in Grant Review Does Dawkins understand group selection? Other: How “No … Continue reading →

Posted in Lotsa Links | Comments Off on Links 5/29/12

Nobody Really Cares About Deficits: It’s the Economy, Stupid

Posted on May 29, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

Remember that phrase? Anyway, I’ve long been convinced that “deficits” are what people say when the economy is bad. Since the U.S., for most of the last eighty years, has run deficits (and this isn’t a bad thing), it also … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Fucking Morons, Jobs | 2 Comments

China’s Antibiotic Resistance Crisis

Posted on May 29, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

With the rise of highly resistant strains that carry a gene known as NDM-1, or New Delhi beta-metallolactamase-1, the misuse of antibiotics in India has received a lot of attemntion. However, China also has an out-of-control antibiotic resistance problem: But … Continue reading →

Posted in Antibiotics | Comments Off on China’s Antibiotic Resistance Crisis

Links 5/28/12

Posted on May 28, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

Links for you. Science: The NIH system stifles creativity. Why not empower the R21? Revenge of the Weeds: Plant pests are evolving to outsmart common herbicides, costing farmers crops and money. Harvard team cracks the code for new drug resistant … Continue reading →

Posted in Lotsa Links | Comments Off on Links 5/28/12