Monthly Archives: February 2017

A Small Example Of The Scientific Infrastructure Crisis: The Karst Edition

Posted on February 16, 2017 by mikethemadbiologist

Despite what is commonly depicted in books, television, and movies, the state of much of our scientific infrastructure is threadbare: One of the ridiculous things about many depictions of science in TV and movies is the notion that there’s this … Continue reading →

Posted in Funding, Museums etc., Plants | 2 Comments

Links 2/15/17

Posted on February 15, 2017 by mikethemadbiologist

Links for you. Science: Watch how the measles outbreak spreads when kids get vaccinated – and when they don’t She felt a ‘crawling sensation.’ Doctors found a live cockroach in her skull. The tragic story of Soviet genetics shows the … Continue reading →

Posted in Lotsa Links | 2 Comments

In Bipartisan Fashion, Congress ‘Fixes’ Its Own Postal Service Screw Up

Posted on February 15, 2017 by mikethemadbiologist

Consider this a case study in how Democrats lose. Years, the august solons of the U.S. Congress decided that the U.S. Postal Service (‘USPS’) would be forced to fund 75 years of retirement funds over a period of ten years–something … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservatives, Democrats, Fucking Morons, USPS | Comments Off on In Bipartisan Fashion, Congress ‘Fixes’ Its Own Postal Service Screw Up

Links 2/14/17

Posted on February 14, 2017 by mikethemadbiologist

Links for you. Science: The new face of US science Federal Wildlife And Land Managers Say They Fear For Their Safety Scientists Make Progress Toward a Safe, Effective Zika Vaccine Scientists Are Arguing About Whether The March For Science Will … Continue reading →

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Civil Forfeiture And CBP: Two Peas In The Same Authoritarian Pod

Posted on February 14, 2017 by mikethemadbiologist

Lost last week in the furor over Il Trumpe’s ‘suggestion’ to a sheriff that he would be happy to destroy a state senator who opposed civil forfeiture is that civil forfeiture is a really bad idea. In theory, it sounds … Continue reading →

Posted in Civil Liberties | Comments Off on Civil Forfeiture And CBP: Two Peas In The Same Authoritarian Pod

Links 2/13/17

Posted on February 13, 2017 by mikethemadbiologist

Links for you. Science: Lions of Los Angeles Funding for basic scientific research remains critical bipartisan priority Arctic 2.0: What Happens after All the Ice Goes? Mutiny in Space: Why These Skylab Astronauts Never Flew Again Trump travel ban has … Continue reading →

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A Minor Point About ‘Big-C’ Conservative Jews

Posted on February 13, 2017 by mikethemadbiologist

I raise this only because I suspect this mistake will be made over and over again. From a very good article about Jewish-Muslim cooperation: Trump’s executive order prompted almost universal condemnation from the leading American Jewish organizations, which often squabble … Continue reading →

Posted in Jewish Stuff | Comments Off on A Minor Point About ‘Big-C’ Conservative Jews

D.C.: Extra Taxation Without Representation (On Free-Loading Non-Urban Areas)

Posted on February 13, 2017 by mikethemadbiologist

One common conservative claim is that cities, full of those people, are leeches that take a lot of money from ‘real Americans’ to pay for all of their lazy poor people. While the claim appears ridiculous (among other things that … Continue reading →

Posted in DC, Economics, Taxes | Comments Off on D.C.: Extra Taxation Without Representation (On Free-Loading Non-Urban Areas)

Links 2/12/17

Posted on February 12, 2017 by mikethemadbiologist

Links for you. Science: Hawai‘i Is Being Overrun by Invasive Cannibals Not Everyone in Tech Cheers Visa Program for Foreign Workers (five years ago, older tech workers getting displaced by younger ones was all the rage, though it might be … Continue reading →

Posted in Lotsa Links | 1 Comment

Democracy For The U.S. Colonies

Posted on February 12, 2017 by mikethemadbiologist

Including the one on the mainland (aka ‘D.C.’). There’s an important lawsuit winding its way through court (boldface mine): Now, a lawsuit with plaintiffs from the U.S. territories of Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands is trying to … Continue reading →

Posted in Civil Liberties, DC | Comments Off on Democracy For The U.S. Colonies