j7uy5 | February 18, 2007I am still trying to figure out what this means: "Available under the
GPL Licence and in exclusivity for Mandriva Linux, Metisse differs from
a classic 3D desktop ..." Usually you don't see the terms "GPL"
and "exclusivity" in the same sentence.
Anyway, Mandriva appears to be on the verge of some innovative ways of
using the computer workspace.
The story is here;
the videos are more informative than the static images.
I haven't tried it, but anyone can try it by downloading and burning
the live CD. The folks at Mandriva may be on to something
here. They say it enforces work…
j7uy5 | February 17, 2007I am taking my time with the next big post, and happen to be on call,
so I'm not getting enough sleep this week.
I know this is old, but it still amuses me.
j7uy5 | February 16, 2007This is the Rosette
Nebula, as featured on Astronomy Picture of the Day. Credit
& Copyright:
href="http://www.robgendlerastropics.com/Biography.html">Robert Gendler.
Click on the image for the full size version.
It is in constellation Monoceros, which means Unicorn; just to the left
of Orion. According to Wikipedia, it is a "modern" constellation,
having been named in 1613, or perhaps 1564. I suppose in
astronomical terms, 1613 really is modern.
j7uy5 | February 14, 2007It occurs to me that in order to go any farther explaining how to
choose an antidepressant, I should take a moment to explain the concept
of an adequate trial. Earlier, I mentioned that the
patient's history of response to previous antidepressant trials is one
of the most important factors to consider. Having said that, it
is important to realize that there are problems with that, both
practical and theoretical.
In order to derive valid conclusions from the outcome of any prior
trial on an antidepressant, it is necessary to have the right
information.
Having the right information means…
j7uy5 | February 13, 2007Just so you will know what we'll be blowing to bits, if it comes to
that. These are more-or-less random photos from Flickr, tagged
"Tehran."
class="inset" alt=""
src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/141/387979403_f9590c6c7f_m.jpg"
border="0" height="169" width="240">
class="inset" alt=""
src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/183/386617542_94e31bba03_m.jpg"
border="0" height="180" width="240">
class="inset" alt=""
src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/125/386617843_44c5edfa50_m.jpg"
border="0" height="180" width="240">
class="inset" alt=""
src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/185/…
j7uy5 | February 12, 2007(Part One is
href="http://scienceblogs.com/corpuscallosum/2007/02/basic_concepts_selection_of_an.php">here)
Now we get to the heart of the matter: how does one decide what
antidepressant to prescribe?
First, let's take a look at the factors that are considered relevant to
the choice. If you understand what factors are relevant, and why
they are relevant, then you will start to see how the decision is
made.
In the process of deciding which drug to prescribe, there
are two bodies of information. Well, actually there are more, but
to
keep things simple, I am going to artificially…
j7uy5 | February 10, 2007Many ScienceBloggers, and some science bloggers, are writing posts
about basic concepts. I thought that was a good idea, but could
not think of one that would be interesting and that I felt like writing
about and that I was particularly well-suited to write.
Psychiatry is not a basic science. It is a medical practice that
is derived from several basic sciences: psychology, pharmacology,
physiology, anatomy, epidemiology, and so forth. So this is not
really a basic concept, in the sense of explaining something
fundamental about nature. Rather, it explains something that is
fundamental in…
j7uy5 | February 9, 2007This is a nice little study that deserve a brief comment. It's
from Am J Psychiatry this month. What is shows is that
participation in psychotherapy can alter the rate of reported adverse
effects from medication, and decrease the rate at which patients stop
their medication because of adverse effects.
Note that this study was done with patients with panic disorder.
It may not be generalizable to other patient populations.
Usage note: I always use the term "adverse effects" rather than "side
effects," because it is more precise. Some side effects are good,
some bad, some neutral. So if…
j7uy5 | February 8, 2007This is a bizarre headline:
href="http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=2861168">Pentagon
Says Pre-War Intel Not Illegal. I found this item on Google
News, and it is one of many headlines on the subject:
href="http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/politics/16656221.htm"
id="r-1_1113380245">Pentagon office produced `alternative'
intelligence on Iraq;
href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7289295"
id="r-6_1113380245">Pentagon: Pre-War Intelligence Was Legit; and
others. But some are more to the point:
href="http://ca.today.reuters.com/news/…
j7uy5 | February 6, 2007I will chip in a few thoughts about the President's proposed budget,
just to make a point. Based upon the following from
href="http://www.defensetech.org/archives/003254.html">DefenseTech.org,
a pro-military site:
...That'll include "the first significant funding" -- $3
billion -- in the next generation of aircraft carrier," the CVN-21. The
Joint Strike Fighter fleet will grow from two in FY07, to twelve the
following year -- including the first short take-off version. It'll
take $6 billion in 2008, the Pentagon projects. Despite major cost
inflation, the Defense Department budget…
j7uy5 | February 4, 2007Post-game comments. I understand the game was broadcast in 232
countries, and cybercast in six languages. Maybe it is
more than just another game, if it draws that much attention.
No, I take it back. Money always attracts attention. That
is why everyone pays attention to the USA in the first place. It
is not "our freedom," or culture, or even our foreign policy. It
is just the money.
j7uy5 | February 4, 2007Part thirteen
The commentators are talking a lot about how brilliant the winning
coach is, even though the game is not quite over.
Are there any lessons to be drawn from this game? No. Super
Bowl games usually are not very good, and this one was no
exception. It was exceptionally sloppy, and there were other
unusual things about it, but in the end, it is just another game.
Except for those who made a ton of money.
Tomorrow, we get the treat of all the Monday-morning quarterbacking,
plus the annual ritual of talking about the new advertisements that
premiered during the game.
j7uy5 | February 4, 2007It is looking as though the Colts are going to win this one.
Another interception, this time with the Bears on the losing end.
You just can't win if you keep throwing things away.
Over the past hour or so, I put plastic over two windows, because I was
throwing away heat. The winter here has been uncharacteristically
warm up until now, so I didn't bother with the usual insulation
ritual. But now it is 18 below zero (C).
There has been a lot of atypical weather this year in the USA.
Global warming? Could be, but it is very difficult to ascribe any
single event to any single cause. …
j7uy5 | February 4, 2007Part eleven. Bears have the ball. They were doing OK until
their quarterback fell down.
Today has been proclaimed "Brian Urlacher Day," in New Mexico.
Governor
Bill Richardson Declares Super Bowl Sunday "Brian Urlacher Day" in New
Mexico
February 2, 2007
Jon Goldstein 505-476-2248
(Santa Fe, NM) - Governor Bill Richardson today declared Super Bowl
Sunday, this Sunday February 4, 2007, as "Brian Urlacher Day" in New
Mexico in honor of the Chicago Bears middle linebacker, Lovington, New
Mexico native and University of New Mexico football star...
Politics is sometimes referred to as…
j7uy5 | February 4, 2007Part ten. I don't think I can keep this up. Football is
sometimes referred to as "the thinking man's game." More like the
"sleeping man's game." Many football players end up with large
necks, because of the kinds of exercises they do. A neck size
greater than or equal to 46cm (18 inches) leads to an increased risk of
obstructive sleep apnea, a common sleep disorder.
I think the Colts are going to win this one, but I might not be able to
stay awake to see it.
Colts made another false start. I've lost count of how many times
they've done that. Probably cost them a touchdown. Oh,…
j7uy5 | February 4, 2007Part whatever. It is hard to pay attention to detail with the TV
on. I'm making all kinds of mistakes doing this live-blogging
thing. It is not as easy as I thought it would be. The game
is only half-over and I have run out of ideas. Nothing to
say. It's the old "nothing in, nothing out" syndrome.
j7uy5 | February 4, 2007Part eight. Speaking of odds, do you remember who
href="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/julian/">Percy Julian
was?
His work with steroids and alkaloids helped bring about a
host of
affordable and effective treatments for diseases like rheumatoid
arthritis and
glaucoma, benefiting millions worldwide.
According to one of the ScienceBlogs sponsors, PBS, he "against all
odds...became one of the greatest scientists of the 20th
Century." He
was an African-American, born in Alabama, attended Harvard, but was not
able to finish due to financial problems, possibly because of the lack
of…
j7uy5 | February 4, 2007Part seven. Merifully, it is almost half time. We're at the
two minute warning. Colts offense is getting in gear. Can't
wait until half time. I hear Prince will be performing. He
promised to not have any wardrobe malfunctions. I hope he's
right.
Cripes, another fumble. And another. I bet that's the first
time in Superbowl history that there have been two pairs of
back-to-back fumbles. And the odds of that? Almost as
good as the odds of success in Iraq.
j7uy5 | February 4, 2007Part six. It is ironic, isn't it, that this game is being
broadcast in High Definition, and it is raining, and the rain makes the
picture indistinct. I've been skeptical of the value of High
Definition TV. Seems like a waste of bandwidth. Did it ever
occur to anyone that bandwidth is a strategic asset? It's like
the supply of titanium (element 22).
Seems like with all the emphasis on national security these days, the
last thing we should be doing is cluttering up our bandwidth with
gigabits of hi-res football. Not to mention all the head
trauma. And brain rot. Don't forget about…