Monthly Archives: May 2012

In Memoriam

Posted on May 28, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

Observed on the Boston Common–one flag for every Massachusetts serviceman who died under arms:

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A Realistic View of Deficit Spending

Posted on May 28, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

Attitudes towards deficit spending are similar to those regarding masturbation: everybody does it, and no one admits it. To wit: (from here) Somehow Germany is viewed as a bastion of fiscal rectitude while the U.S. is…ZOMG!!! TEH DEFICITZ!!11!! even though … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics | 3 Comments

Links 5/27/12

Posted on May 27, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

Links for you. Science: How Space-Age Nostalgia Hobbles Our Future: Contrary to popular belief, public support for space exploration in the 1960s was far from universal. Personalized genetic testing not recommended Update: Pakistan, Polio, Fake Vaccines And The CIA Cat … Continue reading →

Posted in Lotsa Links | Comments Off on Links 5/27/12

No Trespassing

Posted on May 27, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

Observed on Marlborough Street, Back Bay, Boston: The woman who took care of these roses passed away. They still live on though.

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When the Powerful Parasitize the Poor

Posted on May 27, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

One of the quiet assaults on the poor is the criminalization of being poor. This is one reason why many lower-income people are leery of gentrification: policies claimed to make neighborhoods nicer are used to move the lower-income residents out … Continue reading →

Posted in Basic Human Decency, Bidness | 5 Comments

Links 5/26/12

Posted on May 26, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

Links for you. Science: Relics With Much to Tell About Bird Diets May Be Lost to Time American Physics Dreams Deferred (just build a big-ass collider already) One-Quarter of Grouper Species Being Fished to Extinction Unraveling VRSA Are Vaccines Safe? … Continue reading →

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Housing at Mt. Vernon Square…

Posted on May 26, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

…it’s for the birds. From Mt. Vernon Square, Beacon Hill, Boston: And for a somewhat less Thomas Kinkade perspective:

Posted in Aves, Boston | Comments Off on Housing at Mt. Vernon Square…

Normative Versus Positive: The Central Bank Edition

Posted on May 26, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

Pascal-Emmanuel Gobry notes the obvious about ‘independent’–even if they’re ideologically captured–central banks (boldface mine): But the more subtle, and more important, point is that the choice between inflation and unemployment is a political, not a technical choice. What’s “better”? To … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics | 1 Comment

Links 5/25/12

Posted on May 25, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

Links for you. Science: Genomes Show How Staph Bacteria Gain Resistance to Last-Line Drug: NIH-Funded Scientists Trace Origin and Development of Vancomycin-Resistant S. Aureus Tarbosaurus on Trial Should Peer Review be Rejected? NIH study shows poor quality malaria drugs pose … Continue reading →

Posted in Lotsa Links | 1 Comment

In Boston’s Public Garden, Someone Didn’t Tiptoe Through the…

Posted on May 25, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

…purple allium. Here’s the allium bed: And here are the results of someone unclear on the concept of looking at the flowers: Crunch.

Posted in Boston, Plants | 5 Comments