Monthly Archives: August 2013

Hostages and Syria

Posted on August 28, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

In all of the drum beating for ‘doing something’ in Syria, there has been no discussion about how both sides have taken U.S. citizens hostage, with the rebels torturing at least one U.S. hostage. Either the parties involved are too … Continue reading →

Posted in Syria | 16 Comments

Teacher Turnover and Faith-Based Education Policy

Posted on August 28, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

Charter schools often differ in one very important way from regular public schools: charter school teachers do not stay for very long. One reason is that the charter school model is unsustainable: teachers are asked to do more for less, … Continue reading →

Posted in Education | 4 Comments

Links 8/27/13

Posted on August 27, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

Links for you. Science: Science’s Significant Stats Problem 9 things you may not know about giant azhdarchid pterosaurs Challenging grant attribution on manuscripts For the Birds Fracking Linked To 109 Earthquakes In Youngstown, Ohio Other: Mayoral hopeful Consalvo vows to … Continue reading →

Posted in Lotsa Links | 1 Comment

Mercedes Grey

Posted on August 27, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

Observed on Otis Place, Beacon Hill, Boston:

Posted in Automobiles, Boston | Comments Off on Mercedes Grey

The Wrath of Dookhan: Massachusetts’ Inadvertent Experiment on Drug Decriminalization

Posted on August 27, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

For those of you who live outside of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (God save it!), you probably haven’t heard of Annie Dookhan, the drug lab chemist who was found to have falsified evidence in drug cases. Here’s a good description … Continue reading →

Posted in Civil Liberties, Drugs, Massachusetts | Comments Off on The Wrath of Dookhan: Massachusetts’ Inadvertent Experiment on Drug Decriminalization

Links 8/26/13

Posted on August 26, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

Links for you. Science: More Tickborne Diseases Other Than Lyme. Maybe Just Don’t Go Outside. How horseshoe crabs may have saved your life Dolphins: Largely Unexceptional California beats Mass. in biotech R&D job growth Vaccine-fearing Texas megachurch urges flock to … Continue reading →

Posted in Lotsa Links | 2 Comments

St. Anthony’s Feast

Posted on August 26, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

Sunday was the processional for St. Anthony, held in Boston’s North End. Watching it, I’m always left with the impression that the celebration really hasn’t changed much in decades. Speaking of which, check out these wheels: Gotta get there in … Continue reading →

Posted in Boston | Comments Off on St. Anthony’s Feast

Is the NSA Actually Aware of All Internet Traditions? Some Thoughts on Incompetency

Posted on August 26, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

By aware of all internet traditions, I mean competent. Juan Cole makes a very good point about NSA (and who knows who else) surveillance: If the NSA and ATF have the telephone, credit card and internet records of all Americans, … Continue reading →

Posted in CIA Spy Shit, Civil Liberties | 3 Comments

Links 8/25/13

Posted on August 25, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

Links for you. Science: Urgent Task for Insect: Stop a Relentless Vine Rocks in Space An Open Letter to My Former NSA Colleagues: Mathematicians, why are you not speaking out? 16 Things BuzzFeed Doesn’t Know About The Ocean Brooklyn Botanic … Continue reading →

Posted in Lotsa Links | Comments Off on Links 8/25/13

Swan Boat, in Repair

Posted on August 25, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

Observed in Boston’s Public Garden: One pontoon: The other one:

Posted in Boston | Comments Off on Swan Boat, in Repair