Monthly Archives: September 2012

The Common Feature of the NFL Officials and the Chicago Teachers: The Arrogance of Capital

Posted on September 27, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

A lot of people have noted on Twitter and the bloggysphere something to the effect of “referees are valued the same way by the NFL as teachers are by education ‘reformers’” (which is to say, not at all). Most of … Continue reading →

Posted in Football, Unions | 2 Comments

An Observation on ‘Undecided’ Voters and a Recent Primary

Posted on September 27, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

Last week, we had a primary in my corner of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (God save it!). Many of the choices were just affirmations: on the Democratic side, both Rep. Mike Capuano and Elizabeth Warren (and you should support her … Continue reading →

Posted in Fucking Morons, Massachusetts, Voting | Comments Off on An Observation on ‘Undecided’ Voters and a Recent Primary

Links 9/26/12

Posted on September 26, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

Thanks to the Blogerator 9600, links roll on even during yontif. Science: Altmetrics: what’s the point? Women in science: you have nothing to fear but your own subconscious (title isn’t really what the article is about) The Obesity Paradox (very … Continue reading →

Posted in Lotsa Links | Comments Off on Links 9/26/12

A Yom Kippur Meditation

Posted on September 26, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

I realize a fair number of my readers aren’t religious, but I think the sentiment behind the following, read in every synagogue today, is pretty universal: To be sure, they seek Me daily, Eager to learn My ways. Like a … Continue reading →

Posted in Basic Human Decency, Ethics, Jewish Stuff | Comments Off on A Yom Kippur Meditation

WASH YOUR DAMN HANDS! And Surfaces Too (Or How Class Bias Can Kill)

Posted on September 26, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

Maryn McKenna makes an excellent point about the importance of cleaning surfaces in hospitals and other healthcare facilities (boldface mine): Recently hospital cleanliness has become a matter of reputation, especially since the federal government’s Hospital Compare Web site started posting … Continue reading →

Posted in Antibiotics, Healthcare | 6 Comments

Links 9/25/12

Posted on September 25, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

Links for you. Science: In Prehistoric Britain Cannibalism Was Practical and Ritualistic Is Raw Milk Really Good for You? “Mommy, why do I need to wash my hands if I only pee?” Other: Puncturing Myths about the White Working Class … Continue reading →

Posted in Lotsa Links | 1 Comment

Nobody Wants to Be on Welfare

Posted on September 25, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

That should be patently obvious, but unfortunately there are assholes and they walk among us. We find this op-ed in The New York Times by a former welfare mother (boldface mine): Me, a welfare mother? I’d been earning paychecks since … Continue reading →

Posted in Basic Human Decency | 1 Comment

Value-Added Testing and “Weapons of Math Destruction”

Posted on September 25, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

I’ve written about the technical problems with using value-added testing to assess teacher performance before. Note that technical is not a synonym for trivial–these problems are fundamental. The recently settled Chicago teachers strike has made this issue important once again. … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Mathematics, Statistics | 1 Comment

Links 9/24/12

Posted on September 24, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

Links for you: Layer After Layer of Myth On the diminishing marginal utility of Stuff Google Maps announces a 400 year advantage over Apple Maps Awesome comment troll smackdown Social Security: It Isn’t Broke

Posted in Lotsa Links | Comments Off on Links 9/24/12

A Very Statuesque House in the South End

Posted on September 24, 2012 by mikethemadbiologist

I mean that literally. Observed on Dwight Street, the South End, Boston: Hells Bells: An ornate door:

Posted in Architecture, Boston | 1 Comment