Monthly Archives: January 2013

Links 1/21/13

Posted on January 21, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

Links for you. Science: Vouching Against Creationism Hiding your research behind a paywall is immoral: As a scientist your job is to bring new knowledge into the world. Hiding it behind a journal’s paywall is unacceptable Fecal Transplants: A Clinical … Continue reading →

Posted in Lotsa Links | 3 Comments

All of Us Need to Learn the Lessons From Organized Labor

Posted on January 21, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

DeMaurice Smith, executive director of the NFLPA, about Michigan’s recent passage of anti-worker solidarity laws (aka ‘right-to-work’; boldface mine): I used to say that we have forgotten a lot of the lessons from organized labor over the last 100 years, … Continue reading →

Posted in Unions | Comments Off on All of Us Need to Learn the Lessons From Organized Labor

It’s Time to ‘Politicize’ Martin Luther King Day

Posted on January 21, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

For Martin Luther King Day, I usually link to one of his last major addresses–a speech to striking sanitation workers in Memphis. But one thing that has always bothered me about the holiday is that we’ve stripped it of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservatives, Housing, Hunger, Racism, Unions | 2 Comments

Links 1/20/13

Posted on January 20, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

Links for you. Science: The genes that built a home How gun control is another front in the far right’s war on science (unfortunately, it’s not the “far” right, just the right) NIH Director Francis Collins: Medical research at risk … Continue reading →

Posted in Lotsa Links | 1 Comment

A Vietnam Myth

Posted on January 20, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

The supposed hatred by the Left of Vietnam veterans was one of the foundational critiques against the Left, and Charles Pierce calls bullshit on it (boldface mine): Back in 1982, when I was a baby alternative journo, I was in … Continue reading →

Posted in Military | 5 Comments

On Militias and the ‘Freedom’ to Hunt Your Slaves

Posted on January 20, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

Thom Hartmann points out the origin of the militia clause–to defend Southern slave patrols (boldface mine): The real reason the Second Amendment was ratified, and why it says “State” instead of “Country” (the Framers knew the difference – see the … Continue reading →

Posted in BANG! BANG!, Civil Liberties, Racism | 9 Comments

Links 1/19/13

Posted on January 19, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

Links for you. Science: What’s up with the CDC Influenza Vaccine Effectiveness Calculations? Is it really healthier to be a few pounds overweight? That’s not what the study says. Flu studies suggest vaccine ‘match’ not super predictor of effectiveness Averting … Continue reading →

Posted in Lotsa Links | Comments Off on Links 1/19/13

On Education, Everyone’s an Expert, Except For the Experts

Posted on January 19, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

While the observation that everyone who has ever sat in a classroom deems himself to be an expert on education isn’t novel, this account by an award-winning teacher is eye-opening (boldface mine): The senator from the West is very pleased … Continue reading →

Posted in Education | 1 Comment

So I’m Not the Only One Who Thinks the Over-the-Top Prosecution of Aaron Swartz Was Politically Motivated

Posted on January 19, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

I recently argued the overzealous persecution prosecution of activist Aaron Swartz by U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz was politically motivated (there’s a lot of campaign contributions to be had). Apparently, great minds think alike. From Charles Pierce, who is a long-time … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on So I’m Not the Only One Who Thinks the Over-the-Top Prosecution of Aaron Swartz Was Politically Motivated

Links 1/18/13

Posted on January 18, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

Links for you. Science: The Case for Selective Paternalism in Genetic Testing (excellent; my thoughts here and here) Coming of Phage Placing PLoS ONE in the appropriate evaluative context Are morphological taxonomists just going to ignore molecular data? Influenza: Our … Continue reading →

Posted in Lotsa Links | Comments Off on Links 1/18/13