Category Archives: Massachusetts

If You Want to Support Science Education in Massachusetts, Here’s a Good Way to Do So

Posted on November 21, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

We receive emails: The Massachusetts Academy of Sciences stands committed to ensuring that students gain the skills they need to excel in the highly-paid, highly-rewarding fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). One of the Academy’s most powerful approaches … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, Funding, Massachusetts | Comments Off on If You Want to Support Science Education in Massachusetts, Here’s a Good Way to Do So

The Problem With Obamacare Isn’t the Premiums

Posted on November 5, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

This graphic from The Nation unintentionally demonstrates who gets hit hard by the ACA: In a display of historically odd comity, it’s not the “potential losers” section that’s in trouble, but the blue and the gray. What everyone seems to … Continue reading →

Posted in Healthcare, Massachusetts | 1 Comment

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

Tightening Security Without Any Discussion

Posted on August 20, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

Security camera at the corner of Exeter St. and Commonwealth Ave., Back Bay, Boston Walking around the neighborhood, I noticed that in the last couple of weeks, the city (I’m guessing here; maybe it’s the state?) installed a surveillance camera … Continue reading →

Posted in Boston, Civil Liberties, Massachusetts | 2 Comments

60th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry

Posted on July 3, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

I’ve shot this flag on Acorn Street (Beacon Hill, Boston), but I never realized that it is the a flag of the 60th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, which only existed from 1864 – 1865 (no, that’s not a typo): The … Continue reading →

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Vote Markey

Posted on June 25, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

(Lobby of the Boston Public Library, Copley Square) If you’re in Massachusetts, there’s another election today, this one for U.S. Senate. For what it’s worth (probably only my vote), the Mad Biologist endorses Ed Markey, the Democrat, for Senate. Markey … Continue reading →

Posted in Massachusetts, Voting | Comments Off on Vote Markey

Healthcare: It’s the Deductibles, Stupid

Posted on June 20, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

While Obama/Romneycare is better than nothing at all, the reality is that, for too many, it still means that healthcare is unaffordable. An article at the Boston Federal Reserve makes a point I’ve made before–people in Massachusetts get hammered on … Continue reading →

Posted in Healthcare, Massachusetts | 4 Comments

In Memoriam

Posted on May 27, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

One flag for each resident of Massachusetts who died in war from the Civil War on (Boston Common): On Commonwealth Ave., a smaller memorial:

Posted in Boston, Massachusetts, Military | 1 Comment

But How Would We Ever Spend the Money? The MA Public Health Edition

Posted on May 21, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

Back during the stimulus debate, more than a few technobrat pundits argued that it was really difficult to figure out how to spend money on things we need (really, I’m not kidding). Like many technobrat pronoucements, this was ridiculous. Well, … Continue reading →

Posted in Massachusetts, Public Health | 1 Comment

A Massachusetts Investment Banker Turned Politician Engages in Tax Chicanery. Inconceivable!

Posted on May 12, 2013 by mikethemadbiologist

Republican Senate candidate Gabriel Gomez of Massachusetts has a slight tax problem (boldface mine): Republican US Senate nominee Gabriel E. Gomez claimed a $281,500 income tax deduction in 2005 for pledging not to make any visible changes to the facade … Continue reading →

Posted in Conservatives, Massachusetts, Taxes | Comments Off on A Massachusetts Investment Banker Turned Politician Engages in Tax Chicanery. Inconceivable!