neurotopia

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July 15, 2006
The first half of this year was the hottest on record in the US. Temperatures for January through June were 3.4 degrees Fahrenheit above the 20th-century average. Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri experienced record warmth for the period, while no state experienced cooler-than-…
July 15, 2006
Kent, the gift that keeps on giving. Man, is anybody affiliated with Hovind NOT a crook?
July 15, 2006
One of my readers (kewl, I have readers!) informed me that Kent Hovind's lawyer might also be in a bit of legal trouble. It seems that Glen Stoll of Washington state is in a pickle as well. Stoll is Hovind's lawyer, and has ownership of the embroiled Dinosaur Adventure Land House of Lies…
July 14, 2006
Last weekend there was an article in the Wichita Eagle on the situation with the Kansas BoE. Since creationists can't get their tripe published in real science journals, but instead have to rely on popularity contests elections in order to pass their shit off as reality to our kids, I thought I'd…
July 14, 2006
Jackass creationist, theme-park owner and professional lunatic Kent Hovind was arrested on 58 federal charges. Hovind, a.k.a. Dr. Dino, is best known for claiming to have obtained a level of education that puts him on par with professional scientists. He is also no stranger to the inside of a…
July 12, 2006
Make sure you get your submissions in for the July 16th edition of Pediatric Grand Rounds.
July 12, 2006
We seem to have a plethora of posts pertaining to Pure Pedantry's penchant for peroratory punditry. I found a recent press release that I fear will only encourage him. Using magnetoenephalography, this group tracked how the brains of newborns, 6 month olds, and one year olds work when speaking.…
July 12, 2006
Over at Aetiology, Tara is confused. She somehow thinks that Focus on the Family is actually anti-life. She says: Indeed. I'd love to see them mount a campaign against a foundation that fights horribly painful guinea worm infections, AIDS in monogamous, married relationships; and funds scientific…
July 12, 2006
I'm reproducing this short essay that was posted on DailyKos today. It originated here. Published on Wednesday, April 3, 2002 by Common Dreams What the American Flag Stands For by Charlotte Aldebron The American flag stands for the fact that cloth can be very important. It is against the law to…
July 10, 2006
I know Tara is going to kick me for this post, because as one of the resident D.I.N.K.s here at ScienceBlogs my parenting advice doesn't extend into the realm of "ethical" so much as "practical". Specifically, I've advised her on numerous occasions to just give the toddlers a "pharmacological…
July 10, 2006
Don't forget to check out The Synapse, a neuroscience blog carnival. The latest edition is up!
July 9, 2006
Italy takes France 5-3 in a shootout. Consider it revenge for the 1998 semifinals. Now I'm gonna get DRUNK!!!!! Les Bleus, you did play an excellent game. I appreciate how you inspired your nation to come together in a time of racial turmoil.
July 9, 2006
Red card for headbutting another player. Good job, dipshit. Your last chance at winning a Cup and now you're down a man with 10 minutes left. Now I almost hope it goes to a shootout.
July 9, 2006
Now I'm nervous. The closer we get to a shootout, the more Italy has to be concerned. I don't think they have the shooters that France does, even with having an edge in their goalie Buffon. Although they did substitute in Del Piero, so their chances of winning in OT have increased. Shit....
July 9, 2006
Italy comes back to tie with a LEGITIMATE header off a Pirlo corner. After the shitty French dive (I'm sorry but there was minimal contact there) leading to a penalty shot, the ref seems to have laid off a bit and is letting the game unfold naturally. This game is getting interesting.
July 9, 2006
The World Cup final has begun!!!! And not surprisingly, we have a penalty kick due to a FRENCH DIVE. Zidane's shot.... good. Yet another game lost to shitty refs.
July 8, 2006
A highly conserved set of genes known as the sirtuin family are known to be activated by caloric restriction (CR) and extend the lifespan of a number of species. CR may also reduce the risk of Alzheimer's Disease, and can prevent the formation of amyloid plaques in transgenic mouse models of AD.…
July 7, 2006
I got tired of spending 30 seconds crawling around under the table to unplug the printer cable from my home computer every time I want to print something off my laptop. Logically, the solution is to spend an hour setting up a secure home network so that I can sit on my ass, ten feet away, and…
July 7, 2006
While you might think that this week's SchadenFriday goes out to Ken Lay, you would be wrong. Dead wrong, in fact. (Ooooh, bad pun....) I can't take pleasure in knowing that Lay's death brought suffering to his family. In fact, being truly malicious, I'm saddened by the loss. I would prefer…
July 7, 2006
This is one of those "what the hell am I doing here" weeks where my job seems to be both 1) fully self-aware and 2) malevolent. I swear, it's coming after me with the all the intensity of a starving, rabid boar in a field of truffles. First kick, to the knee-- the last paper from my disseration…
July 5, 2006
This is very strange. Convicted Enron exec Ken Lay has apparently died. I can't get to the article because it is behind the NY Times firewall but the link is here. Enron Founder Kenneth Lay Reported to Be Dead By REUTERS Published: July 5, 2006 Kenneth L. Lay, who was convicted of fraud and…
July 4, 2006
HOLY FUCK. Italy scores TWICE at the end of a 0-0 overtime!!!!!!!! This game is amazing!!!!! To top it off, the refs actually did their damn jobs correctly for once!!! Hats off to Germany for an excellent Cup. I hate to see you guys lose after such an effort. I expected a dynamite game but…
July 4, 2006
I've decided that as much as I want to see Germany win on their home turf, I'm still rooting for Italy. I want a France/Italy rematch/revenge for 1998. Hear that, LeBleu-sers? You're going down!!!! Good post here by The Daily Transcript.
July 3, 2006
Ever wonder how people can be impaired drivers when their blood alcohol content is under the legal limit? This group shows us why. And who can resist an experiment involving a woman in a gorilla suit? The question the researchers wanted to answer was whether a single drink could impair one's…
July 3, 2006
According to a new computer model that accurately reproduces the dynamics of the ozone layer over Antarctica for the last 27 years, the ozone hole is predicted to close, albeit later than expected. Following adoption of the Montreal Protocol which banned chlorofluorocarbons and other compounds…
July 1, 2006
Interesting story on the AP about a Vermont dairy that uses the methane from cow manure to help generate revenue for their farm. For the Audets, the electricity has created an important new income stream at a time when low wholesale milk prices have squeezed their margin. The utility pays 95…
June 29, 2006
There is one simple reason why a pharmacist's personal beliefs should not factor into the dispensing of medication that, to me, takes precedence over all others. Medications rarely, if ever, have one use. A single medication can be prescribed for a variety of reasons. This causes a problem: a…
June 29, 2006
Just a couple comments on Tara's situation. Firstly, check that the pharmacist doesn't have a little Vicodin habit of his or her own. Probably not, but I've lost all faith in humanity. Secondly, this situation is deplorable. If a veterinarian at an academic research facility intentionally…
June 27, 2006
Mrs. Evil Monkey and I went to visit Fallingwater for our 8th anniversary, and got some interesting surprises along the way. Lots of photos involved. First off, we got this really swanky hotel called Log Cabin Motel. The accommodations were clean and the staff was friendly, and we got a room with…
June 27, 2006
So wait a minute... what was Rush doing with a bottle of Viagra in the DR? Was his wife with him at the airport? No mention is made of her in the article, it appears that he could have been traveling alone. He is married, right? Hmmm. Hat tip to Rev. BigDumbChimp for stating the obvious.