Mike the Mad Biologist
Archives for July, 2007
Enough With the E. coli Conservatism Line
Posted by Mike on July 19, 2007 Why can’t you be nice to me?* Look, I realize that Rick Perlstein’s phrase ‘E. coli conservatism‘ is a catchy way to describe the continuing breakdown of the national infrastructure. But that phrase bugs the crap out of me (pun intended).
Algal Blooms and Goosesh-t Parkthe Esplanade
Posted by Mike on July 19, 2007 The Boston Globe reports that the Charles River swim race might be canceled because of cyanobacterial blooms. Again. So why is this happening? Phosphorous levels are too high:
So How Do We Stop Bad Reporting?
Posted by Mike on July 19, 2007 I raise the question, which has rattled around in my head for a while, after reading two posts, one by ScienceBlogling Tim Lambert, and one by Scott Lemieux. Tim connects the dots of the Gore-Chilean sea bass non-story:
Cheesesteak Politics
Posted by Mike on July 19, 2007 It’s bad enough when the mainstream media engages in ersatz psychology and semiotics. It’s even worse when this pseudoanalysis has a bias–it’s like Colbert’s truthiness, except that it’s not funny (italics mine):
Two Important Posts About Iraq
Posted by Mike on July 18, 2007 First, driftglass points out an obvious–although previously unnoticed–problem with the neocon claims that there’s is no civil war in Iraq:
Majikthise Is Back
Posted by Mike on July 18, 2007 Be a mensch: stop by, and wish Lindsay Beyerstein of Majikthise well. It’s good to have her blogging again.
CTX-M-15 ESBLs: They’re Loose
Posted by Mike on July 18, 2007 Since I haven’t discussed antibiotic resistance for a while, I want to put that health problem in context. The CDC estimates that every year, over 60,000 U.S. residents die from a hospital-acquired bacterial infection that is resistant to one or more commonly used antibiotics. Roughly 25,000 per year die from bacterial infections resistant to three…
Hilzoy on the Laffer Curve
Posted by Mike on July 17, 2007 A couple of days ago, I blogged about the Laffer curve. Hilzoy brilliantly skewers the idiotic Wall Street Journal piece that ‘supported’ the Laffer curve:
Rob Knop Is Leaving Academia…
Posted by Mike on July 17, 2007 …good for him. What struck me was this part of his goodbye post:
Tuesday Botrylloid Ascidian Blogging
Posted by Mike on July 17, 2007 Inspired by Quixote’s excellent post about ascidians–my firstest study organism EVAH–I’ve decided to delve into the archives and repost something of my own about ascidians.