I Think This Explains Many, Many Things
According to an AP-AOL poll, 25% of Americans think Jesus will return next year.
Posted by Mike at 6:09 PM • 10 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
- Creationism and Molecular Evolution
- The Silly Distinction Between CA-MRSA and HA-MRSA
- Clinton Is in Real Trouble with the Democratic Base
- Caitlin Flanagan Is "Thoughtful"?
- Poll About GINA
- GINA and the Human Microbiome Project
- New Media and New Narratives for Science Reporting
- Darksyde on Ben Stein and Reducto ad Hitlerum
- Their Past or Our Future: Anti-Vax and Creationism
- "Grope Patrol Effective"
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Recent Comments
- clear as mud on Creationism and Molecular Evolution
- Interrobang on Creationism and Molecular Evolution
- Michael Schmidt on Creationism and Molecular Evolution
- TomS on Creationism and Molecular Evolution
- Karrie-Ann Toews on The Silly Distinction Between CA-MRSA and HA-MRSA
- microbiologychick on The Silly Distinction Between CA-MRSA and HA-MRSA
- thebaltrus on The Silly Distinction Between CA-MRSA and HA-MRSA
- Joel on Clinton Is in Real Trouble with the Democratic Base
- PalMD on The Silly Distinction Between CA-MRSA and HA-MRSA
- MRW on Clinton Is in Real Trouble with the Democratic Base
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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
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- The Gazetteer
- Nameless Rantings
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- A Pondering of Fools
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- 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
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- skippy the bush kangaroo
- The Scientific Activist
- Deep Weeds
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- Complex Medium
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- 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
December 31, 2006
I'm Slowly Edging Towards John Edwards
Finally, there might be a Democrat who speaks my language about deficits and budgets.
Posted by Mike at 11:44 AM • 2 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Influenza: What If We Had a Sept. 11th Every Month and Nobody Cared?
I've been called out by Michael Fumento regarding a post about avian influenza. While I'm putting that together, I thought it would be a good opportunity to revisit some previous posts about influenza.
Posted by Mike at 10:39 AM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
December 30, 2006
So This Is What 'Theistic Geology' Looks Like
You might not know this, but, due to pressure from Republicans beholden to theological conservatives, park rangers at the Grand Canyon are not allowed to discuss how old the Grand Canyon is. Really. I'm not making this up.
Posted by Mike at 11:48 AM • 4 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
December 29, 2006
Global Warming? The Trees Say Yes.
A recent report by the National Arbor Day Foundation vividly describes the dramatic increase in average annual winter temperature throughout the U.S.
Posted by Mike at 3:01 PM • 3 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
'Democratic' Theological Conservatives: Struggling With Literalism?
After reading this article about Democratic consultant Mara Vanderslice whose speciality is outreach to "theological conservatives", my head was about to explode. Thankfully...
Posted by Mike at 10:10 AM • 3 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
December 28, 2006
I See Stupid People: the David Broder Edition
My grandmother used to say that if you didn't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all. She did not say, "You should lie and make stuff up." Which leads us to one of David Broder's most inexplicable columns yet.
Posted by Mike at 6:23 PM • 3 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Deval Patrick Restores Budget Cuts...
and decides that Massachusetts shouldn't be Mississippi. A couple of months ago, Republican Mitt Romney engaged in financial chicanery to cut social spending, including vaccination programs and programs that assist the mentally disabled.
Posted by Mike at 11:16 AM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
December 27, 2006
Infection, Obesity, and Smoking
Thankfully for the readers, most of the scientific literature I read doesn't make it into this blog. But one paper about a comparative drug trial had some very interesting results. In short, obesity and smoking are significant risk factors for post-operative infections.
Posted by Mike at 7:46 PM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
December 26, 2006
MRSA and VRSA
From the archives, I'm reposting this article about MRSA and VRSA. I've made some changes because the science and medical practice have changed.
Posted by Mike at 8:02 PM • 7 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
December 25, 2006
Gut Yontif!
Category: Bloggity Blog
Have a Merry Christmas!
Posted by Mike at 10:49 AM • 4 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
December 24, 2006
It's My Birthday
Category: Plasmids
...so no blogging. Instead, I'll leave you with a "make sexy time" photo (to steal Borat's phrase):
Posted by Mike at 11:52 AM • 9 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
December 23, 2006
The Failure of 'Empirical Antibiotic Therapy' For Urinary Tract Infections
At a recent conference (pdf), Dr. Rebecca Roberts described how medical residents and doctors treat urinary tract infections. But first, a bit about 'empirical therapy.'
Posted by Mike at 2:47 PM • 2 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
December 22, 2006
More Scentmarking For Jesus
Pam at Pandagon describes two workers in Texas "who were fired after praying over another staff member's cubicle and anointing it with olive oil." Where had I heard about similar lunacy before? The Alito hearings.
Posted by Mike at 10:09 PM • 3 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Competition and Antibiotic Resistance
At a recent conference I attended, one speaker (Dominique Monnet) presented a very interesting observation about the relationship between the number of different antibiotics available and the amount of antibiotics prescribed.
Posted by Mike at 11:48 AM • 2 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
December 21, 2006
The Brotherhood of Ivanwald: Our Country Is Still Run By Crazy People
Well, the Republicans aren't in charge of Congress anymore, but they still can bring the crazy.
Posted by Mike at 12:38 PM • 6 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
In Defense of Revere
Revere, over at Effect Measure, has a solid critique of Michael Fumento's opinion piece about avian flu. What the piece shows is just how ignorant of public health Fumento really is.
Posted by Mike at 9:54 AM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
December 20, 2006
The Economic Cost of Antibiotic Resistance: The Cook County Edition
At a recent conference, I heard Dr. Rebecca Roberts describe the economic cost of antibiotic resistant infections at Cook County's Stroger Hospital. In a nutshell, it's terrifying.
Posted by Mike at 5:46 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
The Bit About the Vance Travesty Nobody Has Mentioned
You might have heard about the U.S. contractor who volunteered to be an FBI informant. For his service, he received 90+ days of Gitmoization. As hideous as that is, there are some other disturbing points in the NY Times story.
Posted by Mike at 12:54 PM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Ninety Percent of Americans Are Evil Sluts
The Guttmacher Institute has released a report showing that 90% of Americans have engaged in premarital sex.
Posted by Mike at 9:48 AM • 9 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
December 19, 2006
Servitude Versus Republicanism: An Argument For Higher Taxes
Thomas Geoghan has an excellent article about the need to raise taxes. He makes a very important point: how we tax ourselves defines who we are.
Posted by Mike at 5:29 PM • 9 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
I'm Famous!
...or at least, I was mentioned in Cell.
Posted by Mike at 11:49 AM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
December 18, 2006
Isn't This High School Economics?
Jonah links to a recent paper in the Journal of Political Economy. Here's the summary:
Posted by Mike at 5:04 PM • 3 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Even George Bush's Church Doesn't Want Him
You might have heard about the $500 million that El Jefe Maximo is trying to raise for his presidential library.
Posted by Mike at 9:40 AM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
December 17, 2006
Some Sunday Links
Here are some weekend links for you.
Posted by Mike at 9:54 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Should Antibiotics Be Given a Separate Regulatory Drug Category?
Well, we do it for narcotics.
Posted by Mike at 12:50 PM • 4 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
December 16, 2006
A Great Description of Science
While the Republican War on Science isn't doing as well as it once was, there still is too much politicization of scienctific results. Commenting on a BBC article about the UCS statement about scientific integrity, Jim at TeachtheFacts.org gives an excellent description of science
Posted by Mike at 9:59 AM • 6 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Norovirus Outbreak in Boston: Wash Your Damn Hands
In the past week, over 400 students and teachers in the Boston area have contracted norovirus, which causes nausea, vomitting and diarrhea.
Posted by Mike at 9:11 AM • 5 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
December 15, 2006
Really Tasteless Iraq Joke
But you know you want to read it anyway....
Posted by Mike at 3:34 PM • 5 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
VRSA Hospital Insurance
I was recently at a conference where one speaker (Dr. Thomas O'Brien) suggested 'VRSA hospital insurance' to prevent the spread of vancomycin resistant Staphylococcus aureus outbreaks ('VRSA'). Before I get into the plan, let's talk about VRSA.
Posted by Mike at 12:24 PM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
December 14, 2006
A Tale of Two Quotes
One is from Nicholas Kristof and one is from batshit lunatic Ron Moore (the former judge who placed a Ten Commandments megalith in the Alabama Supreme Court).
Posted by Mike at 5:50 PM • 17 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
December 13, 2006
The American Swastika: Aren't Black People Southerners Too?
Over at the News Blog, Steve Gilliard links to a post about the idiocy of a public high school in Kentucky that is displaying a Confederate flag* in the school cafeteria (Kentucky was never a Confederate state: eastern Kentucky, in particular, was staunchly pro-Union).
Posted by Mike at 12:32 PM • 13 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
December 12, 2006
I See Stupid People: The Congressman Walter Jones Edition
Congressman Walter Jones, at a press conference calling for displays of nativity scenes on public property (because that is the most important issue facing the Republic):
Posted by Mike at 12:20 PM • 3 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
December 11, 2006
Some Sunday Monday Links
Category: Bloggity Blog
I was at a meeting yesterday about antibiotic drug development, so this week's links are a day late. Here's the science stuff:
Posted by Mike at 8:53 PM • 2 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
December 10, 2006
In the Land of the Blind Congresscritter, the One-Eyed Pundit Is King
Because said officials are even more ignorant than the Pundits of the Potomac. A few months ago, Jeff Stein published an op-ed about the many officials who are charged with anti-terrorism and who also know nothing about the Middle East--to the point where they don't know if Hezbollah is Sunni or Shiite. Stein has followed up with an interview with incoming House Intelligence Chairman Silvestre Reyes.
Posted by Mike at 2:55 PM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Esther Lederberg, Discover of Lambda Prophage, RIP
Biologist Esther Lederberg died recently--unfortunately, it wasn't very well covered (the NY Times was only a month late...). This is a real shame, since I don't think the history of molecular biology would have been the same without her.
Posted by Mike at 12:28 PM • 2 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
December 9, 2006
I've Discovered Who Orac Is!
Here's the picture:
Posted by Mike at 1:51 PM • 8 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Do You Think Bush Will Ever Have...
...an LBJ moment?
Posted by Mike at 11:14 AM • 7 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
December 8, 2006
The Phalangists of the Tigris
Newsweek columnist Christopher Dickey writes this about our new Iraqi friend, the leader of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, Abdul Aziz al-Hakim:
Posted by Mike at 9:24 AM • 3 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
December 7, 2006
Is There Anything the Bush Administration Won't Screw Up? The Hand Soap Edition
I know with a war on, the using of the Constitution for toilet paper, and so on, this concern of mine is trivial, but it is so very symbolic. You see, the White House sells hand soap. And, you guessed it, it contains....
Posted by Mike at 5:15 PM • 2 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Is the Discovery Channel Store Run By Sexist Pigs?
Category: Sexist Pigs
A colleague looking to buy Christmas gifts went to the Discovery Channel store page and noticed that boys and girls had two different pages. It's nice to see that a company supposedly dedicated to science has decided that girls don't like or want science.
Posted by Mike at 3:50 PM • 23 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
The Bush Administration Modus Operandi...
...find anything the government does that works and break it. I really never thought that we would be debating lead standards:
Posted by Mike at 9:41 AM • 8 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
December 6, 2006
McCain and the Straight Bullshit Express
Category: John "Snuggles" McCain
It seems more and more people are finally paying close attention to Mitt Romney and John McCain. While I've talked about Romney's idiocy before, The Boston Phoenix did a great job of skewering McCain, so I'll turn it over to them:
Posted by Mike at 5:20 PM • 3 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
December 5, 2006
Here Comes the Iraq Dolchstosslegende
Just when you think the Peter Pan Right can't possibly get any daffier, they just manage to do so. By way of Crooked Timber comes this synopsis of a Michael Novak article in the Standard:
Posted by Mike at 11:07 PM • 2 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Focus on the Basics When It Comes to Math
By way of Majikthise, I found this excellent post by Abbas Raza about the problem of mathematical illiteracy. But to step back a bit, this trail of links began with the release of new teaching guidelines by the National Council of Mathematics Teachers:
Posted by Mike at 5:38 PM • 6 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
The Las Vegas Nurses Strike and Hospital-Acquired Infection
In Las Vegas, the SEIU nurses have been locked out during contract negotiations. The nurses don't want pay increases or better benefits, but a lower patient-to-nurse ratio. Universal Health Services, the for-profit hospital chain, claims the nurses are trying to expand the union membership. The nurses claim that they simply want to improve patient care. Regardless of the motives involved, there is one indisputable fact: having fewer patients per nurse decreases the likelihood that a patient will become infected while in the hospital.
Posted by Mike at 3:30 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
So Why Aren't Farming Lobbies Trying to Stop Global Warming?
I don't have an answer, but the picture asks the question quite nicely:
Posted by Mike at 2:55 PM • 11 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
A Letter About Cefquinome Use in Agriculture
I've posted before about the possible approval of cefquinome in agriculture, and why this is a stupid thing to even consider. So some colleagues and I got cranky and wrote a letter to the FDA.
Posted by Mike at 12:15 PM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
December 4, 2006
Really Old Bibles
Category: Religion
I visited the Smithsonian this Thanksgiving, and in the Sackler Museum is an exhibit of very old bibles (both Christian and Jewish).
Posted by Mike at 6:36 PM • 14 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Romney: Still Turning Massachusetts Into Mississippi, One Idiocy At a Time
Massachusetts' Gov. Mitt Romney's ongoing effort to turn Massachusetts into Mississippi has entered a new phase: embryonic stem cell research. In Romney's last-ditch desperate attempt to buff up his Republican credentials, he has appointed a budget planner to be executive director of a board overseeing state funding for stem cell research.
Posted by Mike at 12:27 PM • 2 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Bloggers and Conflicts of Interest
The NY Times had a pearl-clutching article by Daniel Glover about supposed conflicts of interest that progressive bloggers have (even though they typically identify those conflicts...), which has been rebutted all over the place, so I won't waste time doing that. I do have a simple question for Glover, however.
Posted by Mike at 11:29 AM • 2 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
The Tragedy of Kenya's Anti-Evolutionism
The story about Kenyan religious leaders who are attempting to stifle evolutionary biology at the Kenyan National Museum is making the rounds of the progressive political blogs (interesting, how the right-wing blogs aren't covering this...). Within this story, there is a real tragedy:
Posted by Mike at 10:12 AM • 3 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
December 3, 2006
Some Sunday Links
Category: Bloggity Blog
Here are some good links for you.
Posted by Mike at 9:50 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks
Do You Want the Terrorists to Win?
Category: Humor
The best internet quiz, EVAH!
Posted by Mike at 4:42 PM • 3 Comments • 0 TrackBacks