Monthly Archives: March 2013

Taxes and Massachusetts: Let’s Look at the One Percent

Posted on March 22, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

So Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has proposed a $1.9 billion spending plan, about which I’ll say more late. The short version is that I think it’s good overall, but it only partially restores many of the Romney cuts in social … Continue reading →

Posted in Massachusetts, Taxes | 1 Comment

Links 3/21/13

Posted on March 21, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

Links for you. Science: The Problems of Science Media Are Not Unique Kudos To Sara Volz What’s 23andMe Really Selling? (Cuz the Feds Are Asking.) What If They Published a Science Journal Where Every Result was Wrong? Coronavirus: is this … Continue reading →

Posted in Lotsa Links | 1 Comment

A New Dusk

Posted on March 21, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

I really like Daylight Saving Time, since it means it’s not pitch black in the early evening: (Commonwealth Avenue and Berkeley St., Back Bay)

Posted in Boston | 4 Comments

Some Thoughts on War Apologia and the Lack of Empathy, Then and Now

Posted on March 21, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

With the ten-year anniversary of the Iraq War upon us, quite a few pundits are trying to explain how they got it so disastrously and murderously wrong. Ultimately, they failed to ask the basic question: are the goals of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Iraq | 6 Comments

Links 3/20/13

Posted on March 20, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

Links for you. Science: Olive Oil Makes You Feel Full Can we please stop drawing trees on top of skyscrapers? Some omics words we would like to see (funny) Washington U student’s mentor talks about discredited research Don’t worry about … Continue reading →

Posted in Lotsa Links | 1 Comment

Deficits and the Post Office

Posted on March 20, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

There is ongoing faux concern over the finances of the Post Office–it is running deficits because the Congress has passed ludicrous pre-funding retirement requirements (no private business could meet these requirements). But it’s worth remembering that the U.S. government actually … Continue reading →

Posted in USPS | Comments Off on Deficits and the Post Office

An Armed Society Is an Uncivil One

Posted on March 20, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

And much more importantly, not a free one. Because nothing says freedom like this (boldface mine): Ginny Burdick, 65, a veteran state legislator, is probably the fiercest gun control advocate in the Oregon State Senate. In recent years, however, as … Continue reading →

Posted in BANG! BANG!, Civil Liberties, Fucking Morons | 2 Comments

Links 3/19/13

Posted on March 19, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

Links for you. Science: McKenna on Antibiotic Resistance (excellent) Dengue Fever No Longer Just A Visitor To Florida Keys Mixing motherhood and science From Neanderthal Skull to Neanderthal Brain? Why “De-Extinction” is a stupid idea Other: Liberals to Dem leaders: … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Links 3/19/13

A Very Important Grantsmanship Tip

Posted on March 19, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

I’m reviewing an NIH grant, and here’s how a paragraph in the middle of the page ends: And finally, the That’s it. While this is very suspenseful, it’s not especially informative. If you’re going to do this, at least make … Continue reading →

Posted in Funding, NIH | 3 Comments

Indirects, Overhead, and Fringe, Oh My: The False Morality of Low Indirect Rates

Posted on March 19, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

So the Boston Globe had an article about overheads in science which has worked people into high dudgeon (never sure what low dudgeon would look like. But I digress). One issue is to what extent research agencies should be paying … Continue reading →

Posted in Funding, NIH | 2 Comments