Freedom Marches On...
well, not exactly.
Posted by Mike at 8:35 AM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Mike the Mad Biologist
Mad rantings about politics, evolution, and microbiology
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Profile
Mad rantings about politics, evolution, and microbiology. Comment policy: say what you want, but back it up with an email address. I don't like anonymous trolls.
Recent Posts
- Amanda: "I Love Vaccines"
- Thing You Don't Expect to Hear in Boston
- Influenza and Money
- Photo Contest: What's Your Workbench Look Like?
- SUVs: Not Schadenfreude, but Accountability
- Tristero: It's Not the Politics, It's the Collection Plate
- One Quibble with (One of) Angry Bear's Rules for Discussing Climate
- How to Buy 'Liberal' Media Pundits
- Creationism and Molecular Evolution
- The Silly Distinction Between CA-MRSA and HA-MRSA
Donors Choose Drive
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Recent Comments
- Amanda Marcotte on Amanda: "I Love Vaccines"
- Felstatsu on Amanda: "I Love Vaccines"
- phisrow on Amanda: "I Love Vaccines"
- Esteleth on Amanda: "I Love Vaccines"
- Mark on Amanda: "I Love Vaccines"
- Felstatsu on Amanda: "I Love Vaccines"
- Robert Ward on Amanda: "I Love Vaccines"
- drdrA on Thing You Don't Expect to Hear in Boston
- Esteleth on Amanda: "I Love Vaccines"
- Brandee Mcdougal on Pandas or Wombats?
Archives
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Blogroll
- All The World's A Stage, Act For Change
- MyDD
- Chris Mooney
- Thoughts from Kansas
- Pharyngula
- The Public Trust
- Keats' telescope
- Laughing Wild
- groupThink
- Dancing in the Divine
- Craig's Thoughts, Theories, and Tantrums
- media in trouble
- Neo Commons
- MajikThise
- Living the Scientific Life
- YoungFemaleScientist
- Respectful Insolence
- Everyone Loves Hedgical Trevor
- Salon.com
- The Gazetteer
- Nameless Rantings
- dadahead
- She Flies with Her Own Wings
- A Pondering of Fools
- Henry's Webiocosm Blog
- Jon Swift
- Divine Afflatus
- cannablog
- Independent Bloggers' Alliance
- The Thermal Vent
- The Burned Over District
- Mixter's Mix
- Lab Cat
- If I Ran the Zoo
- Rev. BigDumbChimp
- ... ponderings of a fool
- Drinking Liberally in New Milford
- Scientia Natura: Evolution and Rationality
- Middle Raged Punk
- Primordial Blog
- ... ponderings of a fool
- SuportVaccination.Org
- Aetiology
- Big Brass Blog
- driftglass
- Battlepanda
- Pandagon
- skippy the bush kangaroo
- The Scientific Activist
- Deep Weeds
- The Corpus Callosum
- Complex Medium
- This Human Project
- Left in the Heartland
- A Mind Occasionally Voyaging
- Nice Shoes, Wanna Fock?
- Societas
- Skeptico
- Tied To the Tenure Tracks
- The Raven's Gazette
- Studying Biology and Environmental Science
- postgenomic
- Welcome to Shakesville
- Military Religious Freedom Foundation Blog
- Mad Melancholic Feminista
- ¡Viva La Evolución!
- comment is free...
- Melissa McEwan
- Marisacat
- The Panda's Thumb
- King of Zembla
- are you effin' kidding me?
- Eccentricity
- A Concerned Scientist
- Utenzi Blog
- Graphic Truth
- Universal Acid
- Scriptoids
- phronesisaical
- Muton
- A Beginner's Mind
- Altair4 Redux
- PSoTD
- Liberal Street Fighter
- Jon Swift
- Tangled Up in Blue Guy
- Sorting Out Science
- The force that through...
- jobsanger
- no fish, no nuts
- The Barefoot Bum
- ywut
- miriam's ideas
- decrepitoldfool
- Philosophers' Playground
- Yhetti
- Endosymbiosis
- The Crone Speaks
- blue collar scientist
- Crinch Pin
- Moue Magazine
- Balls and Walnuts
- over the cliff, onto the rocks
- Argue With Everyone
- Passing Afternoon
- Centerface! Adventures in Post-Democracy
- La Casa de Los Gatos
- CultureVultures
- Lance Mannion
Science Links
These links do not indicate support of this blog's statements by these groups
August 31, 2006
August 30, 2006
Will an October Surprise Backfire?
I came across this interesting poll of the NJ Senate race. It appears that even mentioning the Iraq War hurts Republicans, even popular ones.
Posted by Mike at 9:13 PM • 2 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
More on Sen. George "Macaca" Allen
There's a reason I've been writing about Confederate racist wannabee and VA senator George Allen so much. He's not an outlier in the Republican Party, but part and parcel of it.
Posted by Mike at 6:34 PM • 2 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Factoid of the Day
Category: Democrats
According to Diana Kerry, who organized U.S. expatriate voters for her brother John's 2004 campaign, 75% of passport-holding Americans vote Democratic....
Posted by Mike at 11:29 AM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
August 29, 2006
I See Stupid People: The Bob Kerrey & Warren Rudman Edition
I'm always astonished how so many people can think that Iraq had anything to do with 9/11, that the sun revolves around the earth, or that intelligent design is a valid theory. Another idiocy that can joined this esteemed list is the belief that Social Security will go bankrupt.
Posted by Mike at 3:39 PM • 6 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
A Great Healthcare Post
No, it's not by me, silly! David Dobbs at Smooth Pebbles has a great explanation of why business should be in favor of a national healthcare system.
Posted by Mike at 11:38 AM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Tuesday Link Terror
Category: Lotsa Links
Here's some links for you:
Posted by Mike at 8:13 AM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
August 28, 2006
George Felix Allen, Welcome to the Tribe?...
It just gets weirder and weirder with Sen. George "Macaca" Allen (R-VA). It now appears that this wannabee Confederate racist is descended from a distinguished Sephardic Jewish family
Posted by Mike at 8:36 PM • 5 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Patricia Todd Declared Winner in Alabama
It's nice to see that the Alabama Democratic Party realized that a lesbian Democrat can be just as irrelevant as a straight Democrat to doings of the Republican controlled Alabama egislature....
Posted by Mike at 7:05 PM • 2 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Wages of Sin (Greed, To Be Precise)
The NY Times has an article about how real wages are not keeping pace with productivity increases.
Posted by Mike at 1:08 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
August 27, 2006
New Orleans, One Year Later
King Cranky and Shakes are right: if George Bush doesn't want us to dwell on New Orleans, then it's probably a good idea for us to do so.
Posted by Mike at 9:14 PM • 1 Comments • 1 TrackBacks
August 25, 2006
"Children of the Holocaust" and Stem Cell Research
I'm going to NYC this weekend, and I was wondering what I would leave on the autoblogger thingee (I really do like that ScienceBlogs feature). Fortunately, some idiocy regarding stem cells came bubbling up from the comments.
Posted by Mike at 5:43 PM • 21 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Why Not Sidarth for VA Senate?
OK, I'm kidding (legally, he's too young). S.R. Sidarth is the native born Virginian who was called a racist slur by Californian transplant Sen. George Allen (R-VA).
Posted by Mike at 1:07 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
August 24, 2006
Scientific Breakthrough on Stem Cells...
and the Christopaths want to kill it anyway. There is a method that could be used to harvest embryonic stem cells that does not harm development of the embryo
Posted by Mike at 1:34 PM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
August 23, 2006
I, For One, Welcome Our Yellow Jacket Overlords
Category: Insects
From the Montgomery Advertiser comes a story about gigantic yellow jacket nests.
Posted by Mike at 6:59 PM • 9 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
August 22, 2006
Watch Out For Those Draft-Dodging Elitists...
because you never know where they'll show up.
Posted by Mike at 7:03 PM • 3 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Peter Pan and the Iraq War
'Will-based' foreign policy making seems to have overcome the modern conservative movement (maybe it should be called 'realpolitik backlash'...).
Posted by Mike at 1:52 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
August 21, 2006
More Values From the 'Heartland'
This is a remarkable post, although it's not too surprising. Who needs Hizbollah when you have these assholes:
Posted by Mike at 10:10 PM • 4 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Sen. George "Macaca" Allen Hurt By His Bigotry
About a week ago, Sen. George Allen (R-VA) referred to an American of Indian descent as a "macaca" which is a racist slur
Posted by Mike at 6:47 PM • 6 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
This Is Happens When You Try to Help Friends Using Your Blog
Category: Bloggity Blog
What's the best laptop sleeve for a IBM/Lenovo X60S laptop? It's a 12 inch screen, not widescreen, and about an inch thick. Have at it, hivemind....
Posted by Mike at 2:08 PM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Thoughts From Kansas Joins ScienceBlogs
Category: Bloggity Blog
I've been a long time fan of Josh Rosenau's Thoughts from Kansas. Now he's done gone joined these ScienceBlogs. Stop by, wish him hello, and add him to your blogroll....
Posted by Mike at 1:10 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
WHO Backs Cotrimoxazole for HIV Patients
One of the 'low tech' life-saving advances for HIV patients has been the prophylactic use of the antibiotic cotrimoxazole. The WHO's support of universal prophylaxis of HIV patients with cotrimoxazole will greatly increase the adoption of this critical disease prevention strategy.
Posted by Mike at 9:16 AM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
August 20, 2006
Some Sunday Reading
Category: Lotsa Links
Here's some Sunday reading for you:
Posted by Mike at 9:21 PM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Authoritarianism, Religion, and Evolution
Over at Orcinus, guest blogger Sara Robinson has a series of posts (I, II, & III) about the psychology of the authoritarian mindset, and how this affects communication with many religious conservatives.
Posted by Mike at 6:45 PM • 3 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
A Chicago Immigrant: A Tale of Two Constituencies
Category: Immigration
What's shocking is the utter silence from the White House about the immigration story unfolding in Chicago. Remember, this is the same administration that interrupted the president's vacation for the Terry Schiavo incident. So when it really matters politically the White House is willing to move.
Posted by Mike at 11:13 AM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Frank Rich on the Lamont Hype
Frank Rich in the NY Times has a good analysis of the Lamont primary victory in CT, although I think he downplays what it means for the Democratic Party.
Posted by Mike at 9:30 AM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
August 19, 2006
Israel: "Not Sparta"
If there is one post about the recent Lebanon fiasco worth reading, it's Doron Rosenblum's "Not Sparta--and Just As Well"
Posted by Mike at 11:28 AM • 6 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
"Goofus Khan"
The best description of George Walker Bush ever penned
Posted by Mike at 10:03 AM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
August 18, 2006
'He Said, She-Said': It's Not Just For Scientific 'Controversies' Anymore
One of the more frustrating thing about a lot of mainstream media coverage of science topics like evolution or global warming is that there is a pathological need to report both sides as equal, even though the data and evidence overwhelmingly support one side.
Posted by Mike at 12:42 PM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Since Afarensis Did It...
I might as well too. By some weird transcendental quirk of fate, I was planning on moving to this blog ">my skewering of Sally Jenkins' now-infamous column about ID next week.
Posted by Mike at 12:08 PM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
August 17, 2006
Why All the Fear?
I've never thought of myself as a particularly brave or courageous person. Plenty of things make me a little bit nervous at the very least. But the overt fear many claim to have felt since Sept. 11, 2001 really hasn't been part of my thinking.
Posted by Mike at 6:28 PM • 2 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Mad Biologist Scoops the Boston Globe?!
That's right--you heard it here first: algal blooms on the Charles River in Boston.
Posted by Mike at 1:16 PM • 3 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
"It's the Treason, Stupid"
I've been meaning to write a comprehensive post about why there is such anger among some Democrats towards Lieberman. Fortunately, Anonymous Liberal Staffer at MyDD.com has a great post describing exactly what I was thinking.
Posted by Mike at 9:39 AM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Why Does MaxSpeak Hate America?
Max, over at MaxSpeak, You Listen, is divulging top sekrit information.
Posted by Mike at 7:46 AM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
August 16, 2006
The Straight Bullsh-t Express
During his 2004 presidential bid, Senator John McCain (R-AZ) called his bus tour 'The Straight Talk Express.'
Posted by Mike at 10:50 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
I See Stupid People: The Lebanese War Edition
Juan Cole nails it:
It was such a stupid war. It was thick-as-two-blocks-of-wood strategy on all sides.Posted by Mike at 7:01 PM • 3 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Mel Gibson Hates Juice
So it turns out Mel Gibson was ranting about juice, not Jews.
Posted by Mike at 3:28 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
'Compassion Fatigue' and AIDS
Our (lonely) Benevolent Seed Overlords ask
Posted by Mike at 12:39 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
August 15, 2006
"I Don't Want to Start Any Blasphemous Rumors...
but I think that God's got a sick sense of humor."
Posted by Mike at 11:10 PM • 5 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Interesting MRSA Website
I found a site called MRSA Notes that's all about methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
Posted by Mike at 8:38 AM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
August 14, 2006
Some Monday Reading
Here's some interesting articles I pulled off the internets for you:
Posted by Mike at 6:56 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Sen. Allen (R-VA) Plays to the Republican Base...
and calls a dark-skinned man of Indian descent a monkey.
Posted by Mike at 4:31 PM • 3 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
August 13, 2006
Insane About Iran
At this point, one has to wonder if there are any sane people left in the Bush Administration. In the New Yorker, Sy Hersh describes the run up to the next war.
Posted by Mike at 6:56 PM • 7 Comments • 1 TrackBacks
"America Threatened By Imminent Attack of Chanel Lip Gloss"
Category: Terrorism
So quipped John Aravosis. He posted the following email:
Posted by Mike at 11:50 AM • 3 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
August 12, 2006
We're Number 33!
By now, you might have heard about the Science article examining the acceptance of evolution in 34 countries. I don't have much else to say that PZ, Shelley, http://scienceblogs.com/strangerfruit/2006/08/go_usa_were_2_kind_of.php, and Nick Matzke haven't said already. But I have some additional good news and bad news.
Posted by Mike at 12:28 PM • 4 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
August 11, 2006
An Interview About Antibiotics and Agriculture
Since I'm off to Woods Hole to give a lecture about antibiotic resistance, I thought this interview from the old site with Dr. Henrik C. Wegener about antibiotics and agriculture would be appropriate.
Posted by Mike at 8:31 AM • 2 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
August 10, 2006
DLC: Dumb Loser Candidates?
In my stream of consciousness post about Joe Lieberman, I noted that Lieberman's loss reveals just how inept the Democratic consultant and advisor class is. Over at My Left Wing, thereisnospoon picks up on this theme:
Posted by Mike at 12:33 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
August 9, 2006
Platensimycin: a New Antibiotic
Joseph beat me to it: there's a Nature article about platensimycin, an antibiotic that inhibits lipid biosynthesis in Gram positive bacteria.
Posted by Mike at 12:45 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Antibiotic Resistance and Irresponsibility
There's a very interesting article in Emerging Infectious Diseases about which risk factors are likely to result in an increased likelihood of a macrolide (a class of antibiotics) resistant Streptococcus pneumonial infection. One important factor: having failed to take a full course of antibiotic therapy in the previous six months.
Posted by Mike at 12:07 PM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
August 8, 2006
Lieberman Concedes, Will Run As Independent
So says the Hartford Courant. Lieberman is precisely why the Democratic Establishment perpetually has its collective head up its collective backside: an incumbent senator loses to a no-name challenger whose only previous political experience was in local government.
Posted by Mike at 11:29 PM • 10 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Some Lobbyists Have Made a Bad Investment
No, I'm not describing Joe Lieberman (although, hopefully, I will be). I'm talking about Tom DeLay. Says one of his former lobbyist friends:
Posted by Mike at 8:37 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Some Comments on the Media and Iraq Via Brad DeLong
I'm swamped with work, but I wanted to draw your attention to a few posts by Brad DeLong about the media coverage of the Iraq War. There are two very good comments about Washington Post reporter Thomas Ricks' explanation for...
Posted by Mike at 2:31 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
August 7, 2006
Dover: A Victory for Liberals
I'm swamped with work, and I plan on linking to this post from the old site, so I've resurrected this from the archives of the Mad Biologist.
Posted by Mike at 10:05 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
August 6, 2006
Some Sunday Reading
Here are some posts I collected off those internets you might find interesting:
Posted by Mike at 6:28 PM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Algal Bloom in the Charles River?
Category: Algae
I was at the Esplanade in Boston, and I noticed something very weird in the water. By the Fairfield St. entrance, the water under the bridge and by the shore (on both sides, river and 'canal') was bright green, as...
Posted by Mike at 4:55 PM • 5 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
I See Stupid People: The Salt Lake Tribune Edition
Dan Froomkin of the Washington Post writes:
George Pyle , an editorial writer for the Salt Lake Tribune, complains in the Tribune's editorial blog that I did not include his paper's Sunday editorial in my Wednesday column about editorials from all over the country expressing outrage about Bush's signing statements.Posted by Mike at 12:39 PM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
August 5, 2006
ID: In Case You Missed This...
check out Ed Brayton's post. The poor attention span version: ID isn't serious science because it's 'founders' don't have a scientific agenda, but a cultural one.