Monthly Archives: January 2014

Links 1/8/14

Posted on January 8, 2014 by mikethemadbiologist

Links for you. Science: H1N1 Outbreak In Ann Arbor, Mich. Sickens Healthy Adults, Reminds Doctors Of Swine Flu Pandemic (and this strain is included in the vaccine, so get your flu shot) BGI Applies for Genome Assembly Patent, Claims Priority/Benefits … Continue reading →

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Education Reform Stops at Getting Kids to School on Time

Posted on January 8, 2014 by mikethemadbiologist

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, in part, made his political bones as a tough guy by attacking teachers unions. Of course, that wasn’t about politics, but the children. Meanwhile, his minions…not so much, since they seem fine with preventing kids … Continue reading →

Posted in Basic Human Decency, Conservatives, Education | 1 Comment

The Cost of the U.S. Healthcare ‘System’

Posted on January 8, 2014 by mikethemadbiologist

If you don’t have healthcare insurance, obviously the most important healthcare issue is getting some. But, to channel my inner Reagan, many people have health insurance. What has always puzzled me is why healthcare reformers haven’t tried to sell significant … Continue reading →

Posted in Healthcare, Taxes | 2 Comments

Links 1/7/14

Posted on January 7, 2014 by mikethemadbiologist

Links for you. Science: Cleaning up your act: simple ways to find errors in your raw data (if only Reinhart and Rogoff had done this…) Credit for code Dogs Poop in Alignment with Earth’s Magnetic Field All mice are the … Continue reading →

Posted in Lotsa Links | 1 Comment

Boston Mayor Martin Walsh’s Comments on Education

Posted on January 7, 2014 by mikethemadbiologist

And, of course, mine too. First, Hizzoner (boldface mine): I want our next superintendent to be a proven urban education leader who shares my commitment to eliminating the achievement gap, universal early education, high school reform, inclusion programs, dual language … Continue reading →

Posted in Boston, Education | 1 Comment

A Tenative Hypothesis For the Productivity Slowdown: You Can’t Get Blood From a Stone

Posted on January 7, 2014 by mikethemadbiologist

So outgoing Federal Reserve Chairman had this to say about productivity declines (boldface mine): “Disappointing productivity growth,” Bernanke said, “must be added to the list of reasons that economic growth has been slower than hoped.” Unlike the other reasons—the faltering … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics | 5 Comments

Links 1/6/14

Posted on January 6, 2014 by mikethemadbiologist

Links for you. Science: Killing With Kindness New Yorkers should relax about new roach species Metals in your smartphone have no substitutes New genetic risk factor for type 2 diabetes revealed In Saving A Species, You Might Accidentally Doom It … Continue reading →

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We Are Playing a Game of Telephone Regarding H1N1 Influenza And It Will Get People Killed

Posted on January 6, 2014 by mikethemadbiologist

I don’t know how this happened, but I’m seeing news reports that are then being circulated around the intertoobz claiming that this year’s flu vaccine doesn’t protect against H1N1 influenza. This is untrue (under “Antigentic Characterization”; boldface mine): CDC has … Continue reading →

Posted in Influenza | 3 Comments

Why A Liberal Arts Education Matters: The War on Canadian Science Libraries Edition

Posted on January 6, 2014 by mikethemadbiologist

So the conservative-led Canadian government decided to digitize historical scientific records and discard the original paper copies. Except it appears they forgot the whole digitization part (boldface mine): Back in 2012, when Canada’s Harper government announced that it would close … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservatives, Fucking Morons, Libraries, The War on Science | 5 Comments

Links 1/5/14

Posted on January 5, 2014 by mikethemadbiologist

Links for you. Science: Carcinogen use and release declines dramatically in Massachusetts: An important step in cancer prevention Rescue Efforts for Trapped Antarctic Voyage Disrupt Serious Science Will new FDA guidelines reduce threat from superbugs? Have Republicans changed views on … Continue reading →

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