Monthly Archives: April 2015

How Does One Even Make an URL Like This?

Posted on April 24, 2015 by mikethemadbiologist

I receive emails with journal tables of contents, including Emerging Infectious Disease. Here’s the url of an article provided in the article: https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJlbWFpbCI6ImZlbGRnYXJkQG5jYmkubmxtLm5paC5nb3YiLCJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoiMTE3Iiwic3Vic2NyaWJlcl9pZCI6IjM4ODkyOTQ3NSIsImxpbmtfaWQiOiIyNzIwMTc0MiIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpkaWdlc3QiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3bmMuY2RjLmdvdi9laWQvYXJ0aWNsZS8yMS81LzE0LTExODRfYXJ0aWNsZSIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAxNTA0MjIuNDQzMzQzMzEifQ.y4oyeNbi_BwsWvqOtT6jNTmangPf1yPHG49FNMfZqtQ It resolves to this: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/21/5/14-1184_article Not clear to me why the first version is needed, or how … Continue reading →

Posted in Computers, Internet, Publishing | 6 Comments

Yes, the Congressional Retirement Plan™ Is the Real Source of Corruption

Posted on April 24, 2015 by mikethemadbiologist

Six years ago, I wrote a post that was spread hither and yon because it apparently described the real source of political corruption–giving lawmakers cushy jobs after they leave office: If their reluctance to support a public option were based … Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness | 1 Comment

Links 4/23/15

Posted on April 23, 2015 by mikethemadbiologist

Links for you. Science: NIH Director Defends Decision To Add More Employee Parking The New York Times Misplaces FDA Blame In Latest Dietary Supplement Spiking Episode Overuse of antibiotics for the common cold – attitudes and behaviors among doctors in … Continue reading →

Posted in Lotsa Links | Comments Off on Links 4/23/15

Voyeur?

Posted on April 23, 2015 by mikethemadbiologist

Observed on S Street, between 18th and 19th, Dupont Circle, D.C.:

Posted in DC | 1 Comment

Some Doubts About the Proposed NIH Doubling

Posted on April 23, 2015 by mikethemadbiologist

Former Republican congressman Newt Gingrich recently proposed a doubling of the NIH budget. To provide some context, from ~1994 – 2003, the NIH budget was doubled. Then the music stopped, funding plateaued, and even declined in real dollars, leading to … Continue reading →

Posted in Funding, NIH | 1 Comment

Links 4/22/15

Posted on April 22, 2015 by mikethemadbiologist

Links for you. Science: Despite Attempted Curbs, Animal Antibiotic Use in US Still Increasing NIH says: Our scientists are too important to pay for parking or take transit The Myth About Women in Science? Bias in the Study of Gender … Continue reading →

Posted in Lotsa Links | Comments Off on Links 4/22/15

The Anti-‘Free Range’ Kids Argument One Never Hears

Posted on April 22, 2015 by mikethemadbiologist

In the midst of all the back and forth about ‘free range’ kids (my thoughts here and here), there is one argument against the concept that is never voiced. No, it’s not ‘evildoers are going to snatch your children’ paranoia. … Continue reading →

Posted in Automobiles | 3 Comments

Servility and the On-Demand Economy

Posted on April 22, 2015 by mikethemadbiologist

In a development that no doubt will cause much wailing and gnashing of teeth among the technobratacy, a labor lawyer has the crazy idea that, if the ‘on-demand’ economy treats supposed contractors like employees, then they should receive employee-level compensation … Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness, Economics | Comments Off on Servility and the On-Demand Economy

Links 4/21/15

Posted on April 21, 2015 by mikethemadbiologist

Links for you. Science: Roundup and Risk Assessment Climbing Stairs Isn’t About Burning Calories Controversy awaits as House Republicans roll out long-awaited bill to revamp U.S. research policy 45 years after Apollo 13: Ars looks at what went wrong and … Continue reading →

Posted in Lotsa Links | Comments Off on Links 4/21/15

A Hugo Award Observation: The Irony of Rabid Puppies

Posted on April 21, 2015 by mikethemadbiologist

No, I’m not referring to genuinely ill dogs–that’s just sad to even think about. Instead, I’m referring to a bunch of rightwing morons headed by a blogger known as Vox Day (SEE WHAT HE DID THERE? AND HE WILL HAVE … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Conservatives, Creationism, Fucking Morons | 1 Comment