Well, I’ve decided to leave. Mostly, it had to do with the issue of pseudonymity, although I’m very excited to hang out my own shingle once again. I don’t want to rehash the issue of pseudonymity, since others have done that quite well, but revealing the Mad Biologist’s Top Sekrit identity just wasn’t in the cards.

I want to make something clear. ScienceBlogs/NatGeo really did try to keep me. For some crazy reason, they seem to like the writing–I won’t get into the details, but that really does seem to be the case. My impression is that they are not trying to ‘hollow out’ ScienceBlogs (or, at least, they weren’t trying to ‘hollow out’ me). I understand why a corporation like National Geographic wouldn’t want to have pseudonymous writers, even though it’s not compatible with how I want to play it.

OK, so what comes next? Well, I’ve opened my new digs at http://mikethemadbiologist.com. I might be crossposting here for a bit to close out some contractual obligations, but that’s the new home of the Mad Biologist. And, of course, to find out about the latest doings, you can subscribe to my twitter feed.

Finally, I want to thank the many people who have worked at ScienceBlogs. It all started with Katherine Sharpe who recruited me. I remember my first conversation with her, and when she invited me, I asked her, “Are you sure you want me? You have read my blog, right?” Since that time, no one at ScienceBlogs ever told me what to write, or ruled anything off limits (and, at times, I’m certain it showed…). It was truly a wonderful concept: invite scientists–working scientists trained in data analysis and experimentation–to write about, well, anything and everything. Adam Bly really wasn’t far off the mark with the ‘science is culture’ motto. It was an exciting and innovative thing while it lasted.

I am very grateful for this opportunity.

Anyway, enough of the maudlin stuff. Hopefully, I’ll be seeing you around.

But I’d like to highlight the environment vs. “jobs” controversy, and the union’s role in this progressive-coalition-killing discussion:

But the project’s advocates — including United Association general president William Hite, whose union represents plumbers and pipefitters in North America — said it would employ thousands of Americans while supplying oil from a close ally. “It’s a job engine for the country at a time when we need the jobs, and until we do something else, we need the oil,” Hite said in an interview. “I don’t see how we can turn it down.”

Ah, unions. Cruickshank’s rule: No one in a coalition takes a backward step to advance another member’s cause. And never forget; the AFL-CIO was the prime enabler of Reagan’s takedown of the Air Traffic Controllers union.

How can we help you, Mr Union-collaborator-in-your-own-destruction, when you won’t begin to help yourselves? I mean that seriously.

While a fair number of the protestors will still support unions in principle, they will remember this. And when unions need non-union left wing support, it won’t be very strong, it will be just going through the motions. Republicans and their allies get this, while career Democrats and their allied organizations don’t (NARAL is a classic example of this).

Keep in mind, a fair number of unions do the right thing. Nurses unions have supported a wide array of liberal causes (and are very popular as a result).

Imagine if the plumbers and pipefitters had opposed this–even though it would come at a cost to them. Either the Obama administration would back down, strengthening their natural allies, or, it would go ahead anyway. In the latter case, the jobs would still be there, but unions would be viewed as staunch allies by those on the left who aren’t unionized. And please don’t play the ‘long run’ game card. Unions can’t think that, in return for collaborating with the administration, that they’ll receive action on card check legislation or elimination of Taft-Hartley. There is no long run game without a broad coalition.

Stupid and short-sighted.

Underground river ‘Rio Hamza’ discovered 4km beneath the Amazon
What do accommodationists do about creationist politicians?
I’ve Been Told You Can Get Flu From the Flu Shot: False!
Federal Work Suspension of Leading Arctic Scientist Ended as Investigation of His Investigators Deepens

Other:

Conservatives, Nostalgia, and Racism
The Chapter That Went Missing From Dick Cheney’s Book
Tech Wizards (are other professors and teachers also seeing this?)
The New Atheism
Crime in the Wake of Hurricane Irene
Rats emboldened by Rick Perry
Why I’m not voting for Obama in 2012
Colleges taking on city’s other dropout rate: Many graduate Boston schools unprepared

Today, American high schools offer a sequence of algebra, geometry, more algebra, pre-calculus and calculus (or a “reform” version in which these topics are interwoven). This has been codified by the Common Core State Standards, recently adopted by more than 40 states. This highly abstract curriculum is simply not the best way to prepare a vast majority of high school students for life.

For instance, how often do most adults encounter a situation in which they need to solve a quadratic equation? Do they need to know what constitutes a “group of transformations” or a “complex number”? Of course professional mathematicians, physicists and engineers need to know all this, but most citizens would be better served by studying how mortgages are priced, how computers are programmed and how the statistical results of a medical trial are to be understood.

What the authors call for is an applied approach to teaching math:

A math curriculum that focused on real-life problems would still expose students to the abstract tools of mathematics, especially the manipulation of unknown quantities. But there is a world of difference between teaching “pure” math, with no context, and teaching relevant problems that will lead students to appreciate how a mathematical formula models and clarifies real-world situations. The former is how algebra courses currently proceed — introducing the mysterious variable x, which many students struggle to understand. By contrast, a contextual approach, in the style of all working scientists, would introduce formulas using abbreviations for simple quantities — for instance, Einstein’s famous equation E=mc², where E stands for energy, m for mass and c for the speed of light.

Imagine replacing the sequence of algebra, geometry and calculus with a sequence of finance, data and basic engineering. In the finance course, students would learn the exponential function, use formulas in spreadsheets and study the budgets of people, companies and governments. In the data course, students would gather their own data sets and learn how, in fields as diverse as sports and medicine, larger samples give better estimates of averages. In the basic engineering course, students would learn the workings of engines, sound waves, TV signals and computers.

I have no idea if this would work. It sounds good, but I would like to see some data (I know similar approaches have been tried before, with mixed results). The other concern is that this approach has been used in Finland:

A plausible hypothesis stems from differences in the content of the two tests. The content of PISA is a better match with Finland’s curriculum than is the TIMSS content. The objective of TIMSS is to assess what students have learned in school. Thus, the content of the test reflects topics in mathematics that are commonly taught in the world’s school systems. Traditional domains of mathematics–algebra, geometry, operations with numbers–are well represented on TIMSS.

The objective of PISA, in contrast, is not to assess achievement “in relation to the teaching and learning of a body of knowledge.” As noted above, that same objective motivates attaching the term “literacy” to otherwise universally recognized school subjects. Jan de Lange, the head of the mathematics expert group for PISA, explains, “Mathematics curricula have focused on school-based knowledge whereas mathematical literacy involves mathematics as it is used in the real world.” PISA’s Schleicher often draws a distinction between achievement tests (presumably including TIMSS) that “look back at what students were expected to have learned” and PISA, which “looks ahead to how well they can extrapolate from what they have learned and apply their knowledge and skills in novel settings.”

The emphasis on learner-centered, collaborative instruction and a future oriented, relevant curriculum that focuses on creativity and problem solving has made PISA the international test for reformers promoting constructivist learning and 21st-century skills. Finland implemented reforms in the 1990s and early 2000s that embraced the tenets of these movements. Several education researchers from Finland have attributed their nation’s strong showing to the compatibility of recent reforms with the content of PISA.

In other words, Finland does well on the PISA test because PISA reflects Finland’s educational goals (interestingly, many Finnish mathematics university professors think those goals leave Finnish students woeful underprepared for college math, but that’s a whole separate discussion).

Over 300 Finnish college mathematics professors signed a statement decrying the adoption of a ‘constructivist’ mathematics curriculum. I have no idea what percentage of Finnish mathematicians that is, but Finland’s population is smaller than Massachusetts’, so it’s probably most of them.

Of course, the other thing to remember is that U.S. students, once we account for poverty, seem to do extremely well on the PISA exam, which tests precisely the sort of applied math approach the authors call for. Call me conservative, but I’m not sure this is the most pressing educational issue right now.

Another Scientist Calls Out Sen. Coburn’s Misleading, Juvenile “Report”
XMRV: ITS EVERYWHERE! UUUUUGH! ITS IN MY RACCOON WOUNDS! AND MY QIAGEN COLUMNS!
Coulter Goes All Science-y in Bid to Disprove Evolution
Yet another bad day for the anti-vaccine movement 2011
Antibiotics: Killing Off Beneficial Bacteria… For Good?

Other:

Case study: why economics and addiction do not mix
Republican Politician Naked, Bending Over on Gay Sex Site (not surprising, not safe for work)
FOUND BLOETRY
Marrying Tech and Art: Steven Johnson on the magic of his first Mac–and how it changed his life
What’s the matter with OLs?
Who should go to law school now?
Five Rules for Defeating Hostage taking Politics.
Failing Forward
Some Of Your Taxpayer Assets Will Be Sold Off To ‘Vulture Funds,’ In Case You Were Interested

Despite the devastation caused by Hurricane Irene this weekend, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) today stood by his call that no more money be allocated for disaster relief unless it is offset by spending cuts elsewhere. The Washington Post reported this morning that FEMA will need more money than it currently has to deal with the storm’s aftermath and is already diverting funds from other recent disasters to deal with the hurricane, but Cantor’s comments suggest Republicans won’t authorize more funds without a fight….

Cantor referred a bill the Republican-controlled House passed that approves $1 billion in disaster relief, which was financed by a $1.5 billion cut from loan program to encourage the production of fuel-efficient vehicles. But the need in the wake of the hurricane will likely greatly surpass $1 billion, and that spending package was supposed to be used for tornado recovery efforts, for which several hundred million dollars has already been outlayed.

The recent disaster in upstate New York, Vermont, and parts of North Carolina and Massachusetts show just how stupid and irresponsible imposing a de facto gold standard through spending caps is.

People need help, and we are artificially limiting the response due to false currency limitations. The ~$700 million Cantor proposes will only be a small fraction needed to repair the damage.

If the president and the Congressional Democrats don’t call this what it is–morally degenerate hostage taking–then what damn good are they? They need to be partisan, since there is one side trying to be responsible and perform the basic functions of government, while the other (Republicans) is being irresponsible and cruel. If Democrats can’t figure out a way to make this case to the American people, then they aren’t worth our support.

Can we sue for political malpractice?

Teh Wimminz in Academia Thingy Again
Racial Disparity in NIH Grants: Solutions from Your Humble Narrator
Worst Excuse Ever (to not disclose ties to pharma companies. For Intelligent Designer’s sake NIH, even Darrell Issa would be embarrassed to use that excuse)
Cost of Compassion: Drug Resistance in Military Hospitals (what’s interesting is that drug resistance is so much higher in bacteria from Afghans than from U.S. soldiers)
Friday Tiger Blogging

Other:

Obama Goes All Out For Dirty Banker Deal
More on the vanishing business of writing
Even the liberal New Republic . . .
Bryce Covert: Recession Has Lit the Fuse on Explosive Student Debt
Misunderstanding the Monetary System Is Bad for Your Portfolio
Understanding The Modern Monetary System
The less intelligent more likely to accept astrology as scientific
If You Work Out In A Gold’s Gym Or Stay At An Omni Hotel, You Are Underwriting The Fascist Agenda In America

(Exeter Street, between Boylston and Newbury)

Presumably, they’re slurping stuff out, and not putting stuff in? Lots of busted up trees:

(Commonwealth Avenue)

Note the little guy in the planter. More trees destroyed:


(Commonwealth Park, at the corner of Clarendon St.)

Kinda sucks because that tree was planted in memoriam. The Public Garden wasn’t hit too bad–unlike last year’s summer storms, the really big trees survived. Still lots of cleaning up to do:

Some of the pretty plants in the Garden didn’t fare too well. Before:

After:

But not every tree in the Garden got off scot free either:

And another one is damaged:

Help! I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!

(Boston Public Garden)

Back in Commonwealth Park, two more split trees:

(Right by Arlington Street)

And:

(between Fairfield and Gloucester)

I saw this morning that the tree in front of Old South Church got crushed–amazingly, the scaffolding surrounding the ongoing repair survived:

Finally, still more people on Commonwealth Avenue who don’t understand that watering the lawn thing very well:

Overall, it could have been much, much worse in the Back Bay.

Saucedo, who earns $9.70 an hour for about 26 hours a week and lives with her mother, is one of the many Americans who survive because of government handouts in what has rapidly become a food stamp nation.

Altogether, there are now almost 46 million people in the United States on food stamps, roughly 15 percent of the population. That’s an increase of 74 percent since 2007, just before the financial crisis and a deep recession led to mass job losses….

While there are clearly some cases of abuse by people who claim food stamps but don’t really need them, for many Americans like Saucedo there is little current alternative if they are to put food on the table while paying rent and utility bills.

“It’s kind of sad that even though I’m working that I need to have government assistance. I have asked them to please put me on full-time so I can have benefits,” said the 32-year-old.

She’s worked at Wal-Mart for nine months, and applied for food stamps as soon as her probation ended. She said plenty of her colleagues are in the same situation.

So are her customers. Bill Simon, head of Wal-Mart’s U.S. operations, told a conference call last Tuesday that the company had seen an increase in the number of shoppers relying on government assistance for food.

About forty percent of food stamp recipients are, like Saucedo, in households in which at least one member of the family earns wages. Many more could be eligible: the government estimates one in three who could be on the program are not.

“If they’re working, they often think they can’t get help. But people can’t support their families on $10, $11, $12 an hour jobs, especially when you add transport, clothes, rent.” said Carolyn McLaughlin, executive director of BronxWorks, a social services organization in New York.

Basically, food stamps have become a “low wage support program”:

Over the past 20 years, the characteristics of the program’s recipients have changed. In 1989, a higher percentage were on benefits than working, but as of 2009 a higher percentage had earned income.

“SNAP is increasingly work support,” said Ed Bolen, an analyst at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

And that’s only likely to get worse: So far in the recovery, jobs growth has been concentrated in lower-wage occupations, with minimal growth in middle-income wages as many higher-paid blue collar jobs have disappeared.

And 6 percent of the 72.9 million Americans paid by the hour received wages at or below the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour in 2010. That’s up from 4.9 percent in 2009, and 3 percent in 2002, according to government data.

Bolen said just based on income, minimum wage single parents are almost always eligible for food stamps.

“This becomes an implicit subsidy for low-wage jobs and in terms of incentives for higher wage job creation that really is not a good thing,” said Arindrajit Dube, an economics professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, whose research shows raising the minimum wage would spur economic activity.

To phrase this another way, the service industries’ profits are subsidized by the food stamp program, along with other social services such as Medicaid and SCHIP. If a worker is earning eight dollars per hour at forty hours per week (if he can find forty hours of work in this economy), SNAP alone accounts for fifteen percent of that person’s gross income*. When you factor in other supports (Medicaid, SCHIP, Section 8, and the Earned Income Tax Credit), that percentage increases dramatically.

If these corporations didn’t receive subsidies and had to foot the bill for even the mediocre subsidies, they would be broke, or else have to raise prices–meaning your low prices are someone else’s poverty wage and welfare** dependency. Shrieking “Get a job, you bum” or “Stop freeloading” isn’t appropriate here, since American consumers, in many cases, are aiding and abetting this outcome (besides, the working poor are working). This is a result of specific political choices, such as weakening private sector unions–these jobs are not an ‘organic’ result of the market.

But government jobs with decent benefits and salaries are evil. And socialist. Or something.

*Don’t forget that all wages are taxed at 7.25% through the payroll tax. No exceptions.

**I’m using welfare colloquially to describe the entire system of social supports.

Something in the water: What drugs are local residents abusing? A researcher’s solution to that vexing problem suggests just how much our sewage knows about us
Modern Rivers Shaped By Trees: Rivers were wide and shallow until the evolution of treelike plants, which got the waterways into line.
Heritability
On science and liberalism

Other:

It’s Time For A New Kind Of Bank Of America Solution–The Right Kind
Fenway Court (what is now the Gardiner Museum, when it was lived in and the shades were open)
Your Home Birth is Not a Feminist Statement”>Your Home Birth is Not a Feminist Statement
Alan Greenspan Insists That He Knows Nothing About the Economy
Subprime, Shadow Banking and Liquidity Shocks: Lessons of the Great Recession
Maybe Reuters Should Have Talked to Someone Supporting a Financial Transactions Tax
The reform movement is already failing