Politics
Amazon Throws Tantrum, Screws Minnesota Associates
Posted by Greg Laden on June 18, 2013 Amazon has sent a letter to all of its associates based in Minnesota. All Minnesota based associates are being thrown out of the Amazon Associates program as of July 1st. This is because the State of Minnesota passed a bill that Amazon does not like. Amazon may well have a good reason to not like…
A very complicated political process
Posted by Greg Laden on June 16, 2013 
Yesterday, Minneapolis had a convention pursuant to the process of electing a new Mayor. Also, sausages were made. I dare you to look: An Outsider’s View of the DFL Minneapolis Mayoral Convention ————- Photo Credit: Sri Dhanush via Compfight cc
You NEED more science in your politics! (Yes, YOU!)
Posted by Ethan on June 14, 2013 
“One of my favorite philosophical tenets is that people will agree with you only if they already agree with you. You do not change people’s minds.” -Frank Zappa One of the most difficult things to talk about, for any self-respecting scientist, is politics. Like all of you, I have my preferences, my opinions, and my…
Are men’s brains really just testosterone damaged women’s brains?
Posted by Greg Laden on June 13, 2013 SCOTUS decision on gene patents is bad biology, and bad for science
Posted by Mark on June 13, 2013 I’m pleased the Supreme Court has decided to reject the idea of patenting genes, as such case law would be restrictive to scientific discovery and also just feels fundamentally icky. From a legal perspective, as far as I understand patent law (not a lawyer here), it also seemed to fail on the more basic level…
Academic Warfare?
Posted by Jeff on June 12, 2013 This post was co-authored by Ali Arab, Ph.D., an assistant professor of statistics at Georgetown University. We are living in a global society driven by innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship. Success depends upon free access to information and unfettered research by scholars. Yet targeted academic boycotts are increasingly common, throwing more and more roadblocks on the…
Roy Zimmerman Updates “Hello, NSA”
Posted by Martin R on June 12, 2013 Sequestration and OSHA: Impact so far seems minor, but advocates brace for an uncertain future
Posted by The Pump Handle on June 7, 2013 Every week, the Austin-based Workers Defense Project welcomes standing room-only crowds to its Workers in Action meetings. And once a month, a local OSHA representative would join the meeting, giving some of Texas’ most vulnerable workers the chance to meet face-to-face with the agency. Unfortunately, due to the federal sequester, OSHA has had to indefinitely suspend its participation. It’s a significant loss.
The Bottleneck Years by H. E. Taylor – Chapter 43
Posted by coby on June 7, 2013 The Bottleneck Years by H.E. Taylor Chapter 42 Table of Contents Chapter 44 Chapter 43 Group 5, July 12, 2056 No announcement of Group 5 commencement was made. I heard one day that a rocket had been launched from Whitesands. A week later there was another and I wondered. I remembered Rhamaposa’s call in March.…
Right Wing Science
Posted by Greg Laden on June 6, 2013 
I have two items for you. First is a video produced by Media Matters on Right Wing Science. I especially love Bill Nye’s facial expressions as he is assailed with unbelievable stupidity: And now, also from Media Matters, this fun infographic. Share it around!
