Monthly Archives: June 2015

‘New’ Democrats Don’t Realize Their Party Has Changed

Posted on June 14, 2015 by mikethemadbiologist

Charles Pierce on the failure to pass the Trans-Pacific Partnership fast-track approval (boldface mine): You can’t really understand what happened—or appreciate what may happen next—without taking into account the transformative effect of the economic collapse of 2008 on our politics. … Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness, Democrats, Economics | Comments Off on ‘New’ Democrats Don’t Realize Their Party Has Changed

Links 6/13/15

Posted on June 13, 2015 by mikethemadbiologist

Links for you. Science: Standing Up For Basic Research A Note to Tim Hunt (and other self-satisfied “chauvinists”) The Value of Basic Research If Hunt’s Science is Reality, I Choose the Girls Only Lab.. Trail-blazing ants show hints of metacognition … Continue reading →

Posted in Lotsa Links | Comments Off on Links 6/13/15

Scientologists Everywhere I Turn

Posted on June 13, 2015 by mikethemadbiologist

When I lived in Boston, my apartment was about a eight minute walk from Boston’s Scientology Center. Now, in D.C., I live about an eight minute walk from… They do, however, have some very nice Rhododendrons: They have another facility … Continue reading →

Posted in Boston, DC | Comments Off on Scientologists Everywhere I Turn

What Country Is Rick Perry Running To Be President Of?

Posted on June 13, 2015 by mikethemadbiologist

As the presidential campaign silly season kicks into high gear, one expects candidates to do all of the corny, ‘jus folks’ idiocy. So it’s not surprising that perpetual Republican presidential candidate and Texas governor Rick Perry had a country singer, … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservatives, Racism | 1 Comment

Links 6/12/15

Posted on June 12, 2015 by mikethemadbiologist

Links for you. Science: This Unbelievable Coincidence Is Responsible For Life In The Universe Particle And Astro Aren’t The Only Kinds Of Physics Influenza Activity — United States, 2014–15 Season and Composition of the 2015–16 Influenza Vaccine (“Among the 626 … Continue reading →

Posted in Lotsa Links | 2 Comments

Grim Prognosis

Posted on June 12, 2015 by mikethemadbiologist

Observed in an undisclosed location:

Posted in WhatEVAH! | 2 Comments

In a ‘World-Class City’, Buying the Mayor Should Cost More (and I’m Considering Doing So)

Posted on June 12, 2015 by mikethemadbiologist

The title is largely for the Boston readers (though I’ve seen the phrase ‘world class city’ used elsewhere), since a subset of Boston politicians are incredibly concerned about Boston being a ‘world class city’*; in my experience, use of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness, DC | 3 Comments

Links 6/11/15

Posted on June 11, 2015 by mikethemadbiologist

Links for you. Science: Watch How Animals React To A Mirror That Suddenly Appears In The Jungle Parents of diphtheria boy ‘feel terrible guilt’ Next Season’s Flu Shot Is Going To Be Very Different Four Decades of the Wrong Dietary … Continue reading →

Posted in Lotsa Links | 1 Comment

Sexual Discrimination Unseen

Posted on June 11, 2015 by mikethemadbiologist

Nobel Prize recipient and biochemist Tim Hunt had a sexism eruption recently. Of all the commentary I’ve read, this tweet raises the most disturbing point: I wonder how many women Tim Hunt has put off from science during his entire … Continue reading →

Posted in Feminism | 2 Comments

This Is Why One Should Never Trust Security Forces

Posted on June 11, 2015 by mikethemadbiologist

Or, at least, as Ronald Reagan said (over and over and over…), trust but verify. I give you the interim police chief of Ferguson, Missouri (boldface mine): We got a lot of negative notoriety and it all stemmed from Michael … Continue reading →

Posted in Civil Liberties | 3 Comments