Wired News: "Commando Subs Sending Drones, Robo-Torpedos into Combat
The U.S. Navy’s four Special Forces-optimized submarines are using a wide range of robots in combat in coastal areas, the Navy’s top officer for irregular warfare said in a surprisingly candid interview. The Ohio-class guided-missile subs, modified from surplus ballistic-missile boats, have been outfitted with robotic mini-subs and at least two types of unmanned aerial [...]"
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
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The Mick Cop vs. The Darkie Prof.
Doesn't anyone in blogdom feel at least a bit condescending? I do not think Professor Gates is some darkie victim of the gestapo nor do I think Officer Crowley is a booze swigging mick.
Officer Crowley is, to all accounts, a good cop. He is also a lower middle class guy working for the man in one of the most expensive neighborhoods in the USA. Leaving Gates albedo aside, he is a very wealthy and powerful guy. He certainly would not be the first big shot to be pissed at not getting special treatment. For that matter, he just got off of a 10 hour flight. What did he drink on that flight? I usually have some wine esp if like Gates I am flying in the front cabin.
Leaving skin color aside, Professor Gates is an extra ordinary and very rational guy. It would be a great treat to know him . He stands in the first class of our society. Still, as a black man, I would be very surprised if the Prof has not been offered tips to carry some white dude's bags (as friends of mine have happen in front of me). It is entirely possible that Officer Cowley does not watch PBS and did not recognize Dr. Gates.
So maybe the issue is class and race? Upper class people DO treat cops badly. White folks do presume they are "better" than black folks. Either way, I suspect neither man needs to be talked down to by anyone. Officer Crowley, for one, certainly deserved a lot more respect from Mr.Obama.
On other hand, the effin media needs to grow up. Our president is a human, he surely makes a lot fewer faux pas then his predecessor.
Hell, if I were Prof. Gates I would invite the Officer to do some teaching to my elite students! In trade, Officer Crowley might invite the Prof to hang around the station for a day or two. Then ol Barack can join both of them for a dinner of corn beef and cabbage at Pat's Tavern in Southie!
Update:
Officer Crowley is, to all accounts, a good cop. He is also a lower middle class guy working for the man in one of the most expensive neighborhoods in the USA. Leaving Gates albedo aside, he is a very wealthy and powerful guy. He certainly would not be the first big shot to be pissed at not getting special treatment. For that matter, he just got off of a 10 hour flight. What did he drink on that flight? I usually have some wine esp if like Gates I am flying in the front cabin.
Leaving skin color aside, Professor Gates is an extra ordinary and very rational guy. It would be a great treat to know him . He stands in the first class of our society. Still, as a black man, I would be very surprised if the Prof has not been offered tips to carry some white dude's bags (as friends of mine have happen in front of me). It is entirely possible that Officer Cowley does not watch PBS and did not recognize Dr. Gates.
So maybe the issue is class and race? Upper class people DO treat cops badly. White folks do presume they are "better" than black folks. Either way, I suspect neither man needs to be talked down to by anyone. Officer Crowley, for one, certainly deserved a lot more respect from Mr.Obama.
On other hand, the effin media needs to grow up. Our president is a human, he surely makes a lot fewer faux pas then his predecessor.
Hell, if I were Prof. Gates I would invite the Officer to do some teaching to my elite students! In trade, Officer Crowley might invite the Prof to hang around the station for a day or two. Then ol Barack can join both of them for a dinner of corn beef and cabbage at Pat's Tavern in Southie!
Update:
Gates and Crowley accepted Obama's invitation to visit at the White House.
Obama said Crowley "wanted to find out if there was a way of getting the press off his lawn."
"I informed him that I can't get the press off my lawn," Obama joked.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Appolo's Chariot Finally Real!
Gizmodo, the Gadget Guide: "Image cache
The ISS as it Crosses the Face of the Sun
This image of the International Space Station, taken just as it crossed the face of the sun, was captured by
French astrophotographer Thierry Legault. Amazingly, Legault took the picture from the ground—using only a camera-telescope unit and specialized solar filters.[Wired]"
Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.
The ISS as it Crosses the Face of the Sun
This image of the International Space Station, taken just as it crossed the face of the sun, was captured by
French astrophotographer Thierry Legault. Amazingly, Legault took the picture from the ground—using only a camera-telescope unit and specialized solar filters.[Wired]"Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.
"Our" Media?
Did anyone see the Goebbels-Hannity show last night? This smarmy hate monger ran an infomercial bad mouthing Canadian and British medicine. The facts were grossly misrepresented, including issues that have been widely addressed before.
What worries me is that we are seeing the usual rad right/Nazi tactic of big lies while the other side, committed to rational discussion, is hampered by its own commitment to honesty.
It seems to me that the usual media, what Goebbels calls the far left, ought to respond NOT by dissing the American docs or the Insurance companies .. all that will do is heighten the cacophony, but by adopting Fauxista tactics to go after Hannity-Oreilly-Beck.
Here are some ideas:
1. Paranoia on the Air Prominent Psychiatrist discusses paranoia among victims of Fauxism.
2. Glen Beck and the traditions of yellow journalism ... play Beck episodes across from Jo McCarthy, Father Coughlin, LePen, Hamas, pointing out the similarities.
3. Flags and Heroes ... Is there any major rad righter who ever served in the military?
4. Faux and the Rednecks. A documentary o n birthers and racist fans of Faux.
5. The United States if Healthcare A documentary on the effects of the USA of explosive corporate paid health care ... featuring GM built alluding to Boeing.
6. The Radical Right Hereafter .. what did happen to Mr. Chaney and Mr. Quayle? Did Ollie-the-felon North ever pay his debt? ... what did Libby know?
7. Crusaders The Religious Right infiltration of the Special Forces and the AF Academy.
8. The Grand Friendship Close relations between the Bush family and the Saudis.
9. Honoris Causa Academic quality of Bob Jones, Liberty University, Oral Roberts.
10. Plight of the Gay Republican. This is a fave, an actor impersonates a gay republican and infiltrates the Texas Repub. Party Org.
OR ... we can play THEIR game and focus on misuses of radical religious penises, nightly "worst persons of the world,:" etc.
What worries me is that we are seeing the usual rad right/Nazi tactic of big lies while the other side, committed to rational discussion, is hampered by its own commitment to honesty.
It seems to me that the usual media, what Goebbels calls the far left, ought to respond NOT by dissing the American docs or the Insurance companies .. all that will do is heighten the cacophony, but by adopting Fauxista tactics to go after Hannity-Oreilly-Beck.
Here are some ideas:
1. Paranoia on the Air Prominent Psychiatrist discusses paranoia among victims of Fauxism.
2. Glen Beck and the traditions of yellow journalism ... play Beck episodes across from Jo McCarthy, Father Coughlin, LePen, Hamas, pointing out the similarities.
3. Flags and Heroes ... Is there any major rad righter who ever served in the military?
4. Faux and the Rednecks. A documentary o n birthers and racist fans of Faux.
5. The United States if Healthcare A documentary on the effects of the USA of explosive corporate paid health care ... featuring GM built alluding to Boeing.
6. The Radical Right Hereafter .. what did happen to Mr. Chaney and Mr. Quayle? Did Ollie-the-felon North ever pay his debt? ... what did Libby know?
7. Crusaders The Religious Right infiltration of the Special Forces and the AF Academy.
8. The Grand Friendship Close relations between the Bush family and the Saudis.
9. Honoris Causa Academic quality of Bob Jones, Liberty University, Oral Roberts.
10. Plight of the Gay Republican. This is a fave, an actor impersonates a gay republican and infiltrates the Texas Repub. Party Org.
OR ... we can play THEIR game and focus on misuses of radical religious penises, nightly "worst persons of the world,:" etc.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
The Hindu : Front Page News : Monday, July 27, 2009: "India has no aggressive designs, says Manmohan
First indigenous nuclear-powered submarine launched for trials
In elite club: Gursharan Kaur, wife of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, breaks a coconut on the hull of INS Arihant to mark its launch. As per naval convention, warships are launched by ladies.
Nuclear-powered submarine to be fitted with ballistic missiles
The K-15 missiles can carry conventional and nuclear warheads"
How does one spell North Korea in Hindi?
First indigenous nuclear-powered submarine launched for trials
In elite club: Gursharan Kaur, wife of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, breaks a coconut on the hull of INS Arihant to mark its launch. As per naval convention, warships are launched by ladies.
Nuclear-powered submarine to be fitted with ballistic missiles
The K-15 missiles can carry conventional and nuclear warheads"
How does one spell North Korea in Hindi?
The Daily Dish | By Andrew Sullivan
The Daily Dish | By Andrew Sullivan: "A Brutal Gay-Bashing In PTown
I was shocked tonight to bump into a new friend, Mark, hobbling down the street. I was about to make a joke as I rode up behind him on my bike and then saw his face. It was a blur of blood and bruises. Friday night, he was leaving the Atlantic House - an historic gay pub in Ptown - when a group of three local kids hiding in an alley-way to target gays threw a bottle at his face and called him a faggot. He threw the bottle back and then they set upon him. He's not a slight guy, he's strong and built and bearded. But he was clearly reeling from the assault and will return to the hospital tomorrow. The cops apparently responded heroically and after a chase captured the assailants.
This has been a bust of a summer this year on the Cape: almost no sun, an economic depression that is killing businesses and crippling real estate, and vicious hate crimes from some locals. Oh, and the sewer broke over July 4, with poo coming up out of the drains and showers and toilets. Good times"
I was shocked tonight to bump into a new friend, Mark, hobbling down the street. I was about to make a joke as I rode up behind him on my bike and then saw his face. It was a blur of blood and bruises. Friday night, he was leaving the Atlantic House - an historic gay pub in Ptown - when a group of three local kids hiding in an alley-way to target gays threw a bottle at his face and called him a faggot. He threw the bottle back and then they set upon him. He's not a slight guy, he's strong and built and bearded. But he was clearly reeling from the assault and will return to the hospital tomorrow. The cops apparently responded heroically and after a chase captured the assailants.
This has been a bust of a summer this year on the Cape: almost no sun, an economic depression that is killing businesses and crippling real estate, and vicious hate crimes from some locals. Oh, and the sewer broke over July 4, with poo coming up out of the drains and showers and toilets. Good times"
McKalip Quits As Medical Association President
McKalip Quits As Medical Association President | TPMMuckraker: "David McKalip is resigning as president-elect of the Pinellas County Medical Association."
1st subway line for Greater Tel Aviv area.
 |
Train of thoughtConsortium of two Israeli and four international firms finally digging 1st subway line for Greater Tel Aviv area. |
Specter not a Bloo Dog?
FiveThirtyEight: Politics Done Right: "Since Primary Challenge, Specter Voting with Dems 97% of the Time
by Nate Silver @ 4:32 PM"
by Nate Silver @ 4:32 PM"
Al Jazeera English - AJE
Al Jazeera English - AJE: "US steps up Middle East diplomacy
Washington takes holistic approach to peace with flurry of high-level meetings."
Found on the web.Saturday, July 25, 2009
Levon Kashigian's new Drug
UNSW: The University of New South Wales - Sydney Australia - News - New drug may reduce heart attack damage: "New drug may reduce heart attack damage"
HorsesAss.Org » Blog Archive » Is the public option a “slippery slope” to single-payer?
I am far more concerned about the huge cost of healthcare than I am about the quality of care here.
We have the 37th worst quality of healthcare in the developed world.
These numbers are really not very informative for several reasons, including the huge effect nutrition, vaccination, welfare, drugs, the car culture, have on children in this country.
In part we pay more because we subsidize R&D used around the world. Almost every major new technology and drug in my life time has been commercialized in the USA.
The other cost issue is that we pay for things in nutty ways. We use ERs @ $1000/hrf where other countries offer walk in clinics at night and weekends. We may have the best ERs in the world but treating an ear ache with an F22 makes littl4e sense. We offer "free" care to the indigent but hide the costs of that care in our insurance bills. We incentivize physicians to do procedures rather than care for patients after putting them into hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt to become physicians.
Our family structures no longer provide for care givers for the elderly.
Finally we have developed a myth that "preventative medicine" will save money. That is utterly wrong, at least for adults. We all get sick and die. The total care we need to get to that point is increased by extending life. The equation is an easy, if scary one:
MORE OLD FOLKS = MORE COSTLY MEDICINE
A GovMed option is essential simply because we need a tool to reshape this messed up system. With GovMed in place many sensible things can be done:
1. Offer scholarships in return for physicians entering a national health service.
2. GovMed can be limited to providers willing to accept capitation (pay per patient rather than per procedure). This would limit choice to providers willing to be paid in this way, but private companies would be free to fund those who want to use higher priced docs to do their breast enlargments.
3. GovMed can increase expenditures on development of drugs that save money as opposed to drugs that optimize the bottom line. There are classes of pharmaceuticals NOT being developed today because their is no economic model for their development.
4. Rather than the US subsidizing Canada and Europe, we could develop common research targets as in 3 that would benefit everyone. Imagine European/Chinese/Amwerican drug firms competing to develop the best generics!
The coolest thing about GovMed, as opposed to a single payer system, is that the insurance companies would be free to compete ON PRICE and SERVICES. I suspect many would pay an additional fee for being able, as one example, to have their lung cancer treated by prayer or by the surgeon who looks like Brad Pitt or even to be able to have an elective procedure (eg nose jobs) done sooner. Nothing wrong with capitalism IF there is competition.
Mythology and Science
Protein that promotes cancer cell growth identified | Eureka! Science News: "Scientists at Burnham Institute for Medical Research (Burnham) have found that the Caspase-8 protein, long known to play a major role in promoting programmed cell death (apoptosis), helps relay signals that can cause cancer cells to proliferate, migrate and invade surrounding tissues. The study was published in the journal Cancer Research on June 15. The team of scientists, led by Kristiina Vuori, M.D., Ph.D., professor and director of the Cancer Center at Burnham, showed that Caspase-8 caused neuroblastoma cancer cells to proliferate and migrate. For the first time, Caspase-8 was shown to play a key role in relaying the growth signals from epidermal growth factor (EGF) that cause cell division and invasion. The researchers also identified an RXDLL amino acid motif that controls the signaling from the EGF receptor through the protein kinase Src to the master cell proliferation regulator protein, MAPK. This same signaling pathway stimulates neuroblastoma cells to migrate and invade neighboring tissues--a critical process in cancer metastasis."
This is one of a number of papers howing that caspases have many functions, in this case opposing death. Because the caspases were first discoverd in a death pathway, many biologists equate them with killing cells.
This is one of a number of papers howing that caspases have many functions, in this case opposing death. Because the caspases were first discoverd in a death pathway, many biologists equate them with killing cells.
For a democratic secular Iran. For peace and prosperity in the Middle East.
For a democratic secular Iran. For peace and prosperity in the Middle East.: "the Islamic 'cultural revolution'. I hated what was taking place in front of my eyes. Illiterate gangs of thugs attacking students and academics and telling them how a university must be run! Book stalls being attacked, with books torn up and burned. I knew then that I had to do something to get rid of this scourge of clerics who had seized power in Iran. My main objective in life is to help establish a secular democracy in Iran. I believe the best way forward for Iran to be based on four pillars of Democracy, Secularism, Nationalism and Meritocracy. Most countries that have adopted these principles have been prosperous, why shouldn't our people be one of them?"
Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.
Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.
Adult Behavior
Breaking News and Opinion on The Huffington Post: "UPDATE: Gates Says 'Yes' To Beer With Sergeant Crowley"
H
H
Friday, July 24, 2009
Stem cells not the only way to fix a broken heart | Eureka! Science News
Stem cells not the only way to fix a broken heart | Eureka! Science News: "Stem cells not the only way to fix a broken heart
Published: Thursday, July 23, 2009 - 11:42 in Health & Medicine
Researchers appear to have a new way to fix a broken heart. They have devised a method to coax heart muscle cells into reentering the cell cycle, allowing the differentiated adult cells to divide and regenerate healthy heart tissue after a heart attack, according to studies in mice and rats reported in the July 24th issue of the journal Cell, a Cell Press publication. The key ingredient is a growth factor known as neuregulin1 (NRG1 for short), and the researchers suggest that the factor might one day be used to treat failing human hearts. 'To my knowledge, this is the first regenerative therapy that may be applicable in a systemic way,' said Bernhard Kühn of Children's Hospital Boston and Harvard Medical School."
Published: Thursday, July 23, 2009 - 11:42 in Health & Medicine
Researchers appear to have a new way to fix a broken heart. They have devised a method to coax heart muscle cells into reentering the cell cycle, allowing the differentiated adult cells to divide and regenerate healthy heart tissue after a heart attack, according to studies in mice and rats reported in the July 24th issue of the journal Cell, a Cell Press publication. The key ingredient is a growth factor known as neuregulin1 (NRG1 for short), and the researchers suggest that the factor might one day be used to treat failing human hearts. 'To my knowledge, this is the first regenerative therapy that may be applicable in a systemic way,' said Bernhard Kühn of Children's Hospital Boston and Harvard Medical School."
Thursday, July 23, 2009
More Collins
Case Western's Neil Greenspan says his issue with Francis Collins as NIH director doesn't deal with Collins' scientific or political skills or even his religious views. Rather, Greenspan is concerned that Collins is an "irrepressible optimist", as a news story in Science recently called him. Writing in The Scientist, Greenspan goes through a few statements made by Collins that he says oversell science. "The director of NIH should be a reliable and realistic source of medical information if the entire biomedical research enterprise is to remain credible," Greenspan writes. "Therefore, in the future, Dr. Collins should harness his intellect to control his enthusiasm so that he is more realistic in his public pronouncements regarding improvements in medical care that will undoubtedly develop in part from new insights into human genetics and genomics." Bring on the dour pessimism, please.
This is close to my own concerns. I am NOT worried that Francis' religion will lead him to fund a cloning effort to find the soul gene. I am worried that his beliefs will shape other things he decides in a manner that is not good for science. The issue, as with Greenspan's comments, is likely to show up in what priorities Francis sets.
At the same time that "we can pray" Francis beliefs will motivate the Congress there are major strategic issues facing the NIH because of the huge power biology has acquired to explore new frontiers. We really do not have a rational process for prioritizing this effort. This is complicated by the set intersection between the shift to government health care, the reality of the budget, and the healthcare community's enthusiasms for outcomes research, preventative medicine etc. Nit making decisions will hurt science, making them will need confidence of the scientific community as well as Congress.
This is close to my own concerns. I am NOT worried that Francis' religion will lead him to fund a cloning effort to find the soul gene. I am worried that his beliefs will shape other things he decides in a manner that is not good for science. The issue, as with Greenspan's comments, is likely to show up in what priorities Francis sets.
At the same time that "we can pray" Francis beliefs will motivate the Congress there are major strategic issues facing the NIH because of the huge power biology has acquired to explore new frontiers. We really do not have a rational process for prioritizing this effort. This is complicated by the set intersection between the shift to government health care, the reality of the budget, and the healthcare community's enthusiasms for outcomes research, preventative medicine etc. Nit making decisions will hurt science, making them will need confidence of the scientific community as well as Congress.
Ant Minds
Science News, Articles and Information | Scientific American: "Mindless Collectives Better at Rational Decision-Making Than Brainy Individuals
New experiments show how ant colonies don't fall prey to irrational choices as humans sometimes do"
New experiments show how ant colonies don't fall prey to irrational choices as humans sometimes do"
O. Good for Mice?
Science Daily: News & Articles in Science, Health, Environment & Technology: "Bad Mitochondria May Actually Be Good For You
July 23, 2009 — Mice with a defective mitochondrial protein called MCLK1 produce elevated amounts of reactive oxygen when young; that should spell disaster, yet according to a new study these mice actually age at a ... > full story"
July 23, 2009 — Mice with a defective mitochondrial protein called MCLK1 produce elevated amounts of reactive oxygen when young; that should spell disaster, yet according to a new study these mice actually age at a ... > full story"
'Leftist American Jews can't ignore problem with Obama' | Columnists | Jerusalem Post
'Leftist American Jews can't ignore problem with Obama' | Columnists | Jerusalem Post: "Too many articles lambasting the continued Jewish support for US President Barack Obama have overlooked a crucial point: Many American Jews agree with his positions on Israel. Like him, they think Israel should completely freeze the settlements, withdraw to the 1967 lines and divide Jerusalem, and that peace would break out if only it did so. None of these views are shared by a majority of Israelis. But as long as American Jews hold them, expecting them to echo mainstream Israeli concerns over these policies is delusional."
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Apple's new iNetbook
How to Buy a inNet Book NOW!
1. Buy an Asus for less than $300. Choose the clamshel version in Ivory
2. Go to eBAY to buy a bitten-fruit transfer/decal. The most elegant ones come from HongKong and are made of a chrome-like plastic.
3. Go to LifeHacker to either DL a skin for XP that emukates the Mac interface or to find tools for installing MacOs.
Watch the other Macistas drool that YOU are the first on your block. Be sure to explain that Apple invented the iNet genre and show them all things you can now do! I esp. recommend linking to WebAPPs.
Total cost: less that $350
Satisfaction: priceless
Gallery - Picture of the day - Image 1 - New Scientist
Gallery - Picture of the day - Image 1 - New Scientist: "The sky goes dark over the statue of late Chinese leader Mao Zedong in Wuhan, Hubei province as a lunar shadow moves over the city during a solar eclipse.
The longest total solar eclipse of the 21st century cast its shadow over western India, then headed for China, plunging hundreds of millions of people into temporary darkness as it passed halfway round the Earth.
In China, researchers attempted to conduct an audacious once-in-a-century experiment, testing the theory that gravity drops slightly during a total eclipse.
(Image: AFP/Getty Images)"
The longest total solar eclipse of the 21st century cast its shadow over western India, then headed for China, plunging hundreds of millions of people into temporary darkness as it passed halfway round the Earth.
In China, researchers attempted to conduct an audacious once-in-a-century experiment, testing the theory that gravity drops slightly during a total eclipse.
(Image: AFP/Getty Images)"
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
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GADGETS
(Credit: David Breslauer/UC Berkeley)
UC Berkeley researchers announced in April a special lens that turns a normal cell phone camera into a portable microscope powerful enough to offer bright field microscopy. They called it CellScope.
Belgium: nude pictures of 15 year old girl: Open Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review
Belgium: nude pictures of 15 year old girl: Open Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review: "Hello,
I live in Belgium and recently took artistic nude pictures of a 22 year old model. Now her 15 year old sister asks me to take some nude pictures of her.
I'm not sure it's legal to take nude pictures of a 15 year old girl. I don't want problems afterwards.
Does anyone know the rules in Belgium?
Thanks for any info."
I live in Belgium and recently took artistic nude pictures of a 22 year old model. Now her 15 year old sister asks me to take some nude pictures of her.
I'm not sure it's legal to take nude pictures of a 15 year old girl. I don't want problems afterwards.
Does anyone know the rules in Belgium?
Thanks for any info."
selling pot seeds from a catalog
Seattle WA | outside.in: "Egomaniac Seeks More Attention
The Stranger | Line Out - July 21, 2009
Marc Emery got busted for selling pot seeds from a catalog inside the bi-monthly magazine he publishes, Cannabis Culture. There are few acts that violate drug laws more flagrant than running an int... »"
Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.
The Stranger | Line Out - July 21, 2009
Marc Emery got busted for selling pot seeds from a catalog inside the bi-monthly magazine he publishes, Cannabis Culture. There are few acts that violate drug laws more flagrant than running an int... »"
Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.
Rabbi/Iman Joke from Iraq!
Welcome to wacotrib!: "The Muslim Imman says to the Rabbi “that by Islamic law …that the wife must do at least 50% of the house cleaning,” My Rabbi freind replied , “that’s a lot more than I get from mine”..they both busted a gut in laughter together, said my chaplain friend."
<-- is this the new Iraq?
A Chaplain in Iraq Explain America's Religion!
Welcome to wacotrib!: "Our faith in a living God is foundational for our nation’s calling and is expressed in so many different ways as it reflects the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, that says: “CONGRESS SHALL MAKE NO LAWS RESPECTING AN ESABLISHME NT OF RELIGION OR PROHIBITING THE FREE EXERCISE THEREOF…”"
Stop the presses! Printing era ends at Waco Trib
Stop the presses! Printing era ends at Waco Trib
Listen to this article or download audio file.Click-2-Listen
Buzz up! By J.B. Smith Tribune-Herald staff writer
Monday, July 13, 2009
By 11 p.m. Saturday, the aluminum plates bearing the day’s news were crimped onto their cylinders. The 1-ton rolls of paper were in place downstairs, and the ink and water jets were calibrated and ready to spray.
The pressmen were making final adjustments to the three-story offset press known as Big Blue, exchanging banter that barely concealed the lumps in their throats.
“So this is the last one,” a young printer called out. “Are we going to hold hands and cuddle?”"
Listen to this article or download audio file.Click-2-Listen
Buzz up! By J.B. Smith Tribune-Herald staff writer
Monday, July 13, 2009
By 11 p.m. Saturday, the aluminum plates bearing the day’s news were crimped onto their cylinders. The 1-ton rolls of paper were in place downstairs, and the ink and water jets were calibrated and ready to spray.
The pressmen were making final adjustments to the three-story offset press known as Big Blue, exchanging banter that barely concealed the lumps in their throats.
“So this is the last one,” a young printer called out. “Are we going to hold hands and cuddle?”"
High Tech Military
Danger Room: "“While the technical execution is flawless, the concept is not,” Reich quotes his source saying. “Oftentimes, the EyeBall, when thrown, lands behind a piece of furniture in the room, like a couch or a bed, and can’t see anything. In addition, the very act of throwing something into a room before sweeping it erases any tactical surprise.”
“Why not just throw a flash-bang [grenade], instead?” the source asked."
Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.
“Why not just throw a flash-bang [grenade], instead?” the source asked."
Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.
Afghanistan .. What's new?
Danger Room in Afghanistan: City of Sighs
- By Nathan Hodge
- July 21, 2009 |
- 6:45 am |
- Categories: Af/Pak
-
Sunset on the ruins of Shahr-e-Gholgola, Bamiyan Valley. The city was laid waste in 1221 by Genghis Khan in revenge for the death of his grandson.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Sotomayor: Flunking the Best Test
RealClearPolitics - Sotomayor: Flunking the Best Test: "This is the sad state of both liberalism and American politics. First-class legal brains are not even nominated lest some senator break into hives at the prospect of encountering a genuinely new idea. The ceiling is further lowered by the need to season the court with diversity, a wonderful idea as long as brilliance is not compromised. The result has been the rout of sexism: The women are as mediocre as the men.
From all we know, Sotomayor is no Scalia. She is no Thurgood Marshall, either, or even a John Roberts, who is leading the court in his own direction. She will be confirmed. But if she is not, liberalism will not have lost much of a champion or a thinker. A million lawyers in America and something Jimmy Carter used to say comes to mind: Why not the best?"
Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.
From all we know, Sotomayor is no Scalia. She is no Thurgood Marshall, either, or even a John Roberts, who is leading the court in his own direction. She will be confirmed. But if she is not, liberalism will not have lost much of a champion or a thinker. A million lawyers in America and something Jimmy Carter used to say comes to mind: Why not the best?"
Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.
Classism
BBC NEWS | News Front Page: "Students Professions 'reserved for rich'
Top professions are increasingly closed off to all but the most affluent families, a report into social mobility will say."
Top professions are increasingly closed off to all but the most affluent families, a report into social mobility will say."
Gizmodo, the Gadget Guide
Gizmodo, the Gadget Guide: "store
Need Medicinal Cannabis? There's an App For That
From the strange world of approved and rejected Apple App Store apps comes word today that Apple has approved a medicinal Cannabis location app for the iPhone and iPod touch. More »"
Need Medicinal Cannabis? There's an App For That
From the strange world of approved and rejected Apple App Store apps comes word today that Apple has approved a medicinal Cannabis location app for the iPhone and iPod touch. More »"
Popular Science
Lunar Probe Delivers First Photographs of Old Apollo Landing Sites
Posted 07.17.2009 at 3:00 pm 9 Comments
Apollo 14 Landing Site: NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter snapped this image of the Apollo 14 landing site during its lunar tour. NASA
Look, it's the Apollo 11 lunar module! And astronaut footprints left by Apollo 14! Well, you can make them out if you squint. NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) has been honing its camera-hound skills.
India .. Biology Superpower?
The Hindu : Front Page News : Monday, July 20, 2009: "Indian students bag 4 medals in IBO
Mumbai: India finished with a haul of four medals — one gold, two silvers and a bronze — at the 20th International Biology Olympiad (IBO) that concluded in Japan on Sunday. A team of four Indian students, who participated ..."
see more here
Mumbai: India finished with a haul of four medals — one gold, two silvers and a bronze — at the 20th International Biology Olympiad (IBO) that concluded in Japan on Sunday. A team of four Indian students, who participated ..."
see more here
Pakistan China Allies?
The JF-17 Thunder, also known as the Xiaolong fighter, is being co-developed by China and Pakistan. Currently, general assembly of the fighter has begun as scheduled at the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, which marks a milestone of the co-production of this aircraft. (more…)"
Pakistan News | Pakistan Daily
Pakistan News | Pakistan Daily: "Its Rhyming Poetry Captured Me A Latin-American Woman Converts To Islam
Filed under: General — Tags: convert, islam, islamic, muslim, new muslim, revert — Farooq Hussain @ 6:25 am
I remember as if it was yesterday, the father of my children, Imad Kassab Chaldean from Iraq, would open the best “Arabic poetry book” so he called it, and would read verses from this book.
I was completely enchanted and spiritually drawn to the truth of such poetry. I remember him playing music tapes, they sounded like a solo chorus — heavenly, and my skin would chill and I felt the spirit of God. (more…)"
Filed under: General — Tags: convert, islam, islamic, muslim, new muslim, revert — Farooq Hussain @ 6:25 am
I remember as if it was yesterday, the father of my children, Imad Kassab Chaldean from Iraq, would open the best “Arabic poetry book” so he called it, and would read verses from this book.
I was completely enchanted and spiritually drawn to the truth of such poetry. I remember him playing music tapes, they sounded like a solo chorus — heavenly, and my skin would chill and I felt the spirit of God. (more…)"
Home | Mail Online
Home | Mail Online: "Saudi princess given asylum in UK over fears she faces execution for having illegitimate child with British lover
Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah II was booed during a state visit to Britain by demonstrators criticising his country's human rights record
The woman, who is married to a member of the Royal Family of Saudi Arabia, has been granted anonymity and was given refugee status after she told a judge her affair made her liable to death by stoning."
Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah II was booed during a state visit to Britain by demonstrators criticising his country's human rights record
The woman, who is married to a member of the Royal Family of Saudi Arabia, has been granted anonymity and was given refugee status after she told a judge her affair made her liable to death by stoning."
"Pacific tsunami threat greater than expected
Eureka! Science News | Latest science news articles:
The potential for a huge Pacific Ocean tsunami on the West Coast of America may be greater than previously thought, according to a new study of geological evidence along the Gulf of Alaska coast."
The potential for a huge Pacific Ocean tsunami on the West Coast of America may be greater than previously thought, according to a new study of geological evidence along the Gulf of Alaska coast."
HorsesAss.Org » Blog Archive » The Passion of the Joel
Puddy
Why? Because I can read. Wwe have LOTS of accounbts of the era from sources bot under the Roman Church .. Josephus, the Talmud, Tacitus ....
Among claims of the Rioman Church that would shock Jesus:
1. reoplacement of the Sabbath would worship ion the day of the SunGod.
2. Establishment of a Roman priesthood
3. Deification of Jesus himself.
4. The virgin birth story.
5. The claim to be of the house of David.
6. Denial of the validity of the Law. Where in the CB does Jesus eat pork?
BTW, the new testament was NOT based on mansucripts written in Latin. The major language under Constantine was Greek. Jesus likley spoke Greek and Aramaic. He would have found the idea of a holy text written in a language most people could not speak as opposed to the vernacular of his day or the accepted language of the Deity (Hebrew) bizarre. Of course, a Roman State document wold be writtne in the official language of the effin Roman State.
My own take on Jesus is very different. I think the story is a composite of events and people who led the first non violent resistance to imperialism. Jesus, Ben Zakai, Hillel ... seem to me to have lots in common with MLK or Gandhi!
Given what history and archaelongy tell us about the early first century, I suspect the only folk who wouild be more shocked by Christianity than Jesus followers would be Jesus himself.
Why you think this? Just because you read someone’s opinion and it made sense? You really don’t think the Hand of God was acting in which books are included and which books were discarded?
Why? Because I can read. Wwe have LOTS of accounbts of the era from sources bot under the Roman Church .. Josephus, the Talmud, Tacitus ....
Among claims of the Rioman Church that would shock Jesus:
1. reoplacement of the Sabbath would worship ion the day of the SunGod.
2. Establishment of a Roman priesthood
3. Deification of Jesus himself.
4. The virgin birth story.
5. The claim to be of the house of David.
6. Denial of the validity of the Law. Where in the CB does Jesus eat pork?
BTW, the new testament was NOT based on mansucripts written in Latin. The major language under Constantine was Greek. Jesus likley spoke Greek and Aramaic. He would have found the idea of a holy text written in a language most people could not speak as opposed to the vernacular of his day or the accepted language of the Deity (Hebrew) bizarre. Of course, a Roman State document wold be writtne in the official language of the effin Roman State.
My own take on Jesus is very different. I think the story is a composite of events and people who led the first non violent resistance to imperialism. Jesus, Ben Zakai, Hillel ... seem to me to have lots in common with MLK or Gandhi!
Advantages of Being Poilytheists
One of the Trolls accused Puddy of treatuing Jesus as Santa.
@37
One could take the comment at 37 as SJ coming to my defensePuddy
Sorta. I have no objection to people praying to Santa. Actually, the Santa persona of Jesus is one of his most appealing traits. Judaism, Thervada and Islam really miss out by not having a Santa. Tibetan Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity .. perhaps because they are all polytheistic at some level, have an advantage in being able to postulate Santa Gods .. at the expense of also having Devils!
Shouts & Murmurs: Britney’s Conversion Diary : The New Yorker
Shouts & Murmurs: Britney’s Conversion Diary : The New Yorker: "Britney Spears has never been one to take things slowly when it comes to relationships. So it’s no surprise she’s considering converting to Judaism to show her commitment to new bloke Jason Trawick. The singer has been spotted wearing a necklace with the Star of David symbol on during her world tour. She has even recruited a rabbi to help her study the faith.
—The Sun."
—The Sun."
Do animals masturbate? - By Daniel Engber - Slate Magazine
Do animals masturbate? - By Daniel Engber - Slate Magazine: "Isn't it wonderful when science and religion come together? My Slate colleague William Saletan points out that a recent paper has laid the groundwork for a pro-life defense of onanism. According to obstetrician David Greening, a rigorous program of daily masturbation can actually improve sperm quality in men with fertility problems. (Samples collected at the end of the program showed less DNA damage and higher sperm motility than samples from control subjects.) Since masturbation can help you have babies, Saletan argues, it must also serve the 'procreative and unitive purposes' described in the Catechism."
BlatherWatch: A peek into the obama-care future: a grim, horrifying, stupid world
A peek into the obama-care future: a grim, horrifying, stupid world
Our patented Lens of Blather is an instrument which allows usGREAT POST!!
Sunday, July 19, 2009
A cure for the internet fails.
Health and Sci-Tech | Jerusalem Post: "China stops shock therapy for young Internet addicts
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
China's Health Ministry said there is no clinical evidence that electric-shock therapy helps cure Internet addiction."
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
China's Health Ministry said there is no clinical evidence that electric-shock therapy helps cure Internet addiction."
Hamas and Peace?
Jerusalem Post | Breaking News from Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World: "Diskin: Hamas wants a Palestinian state
Shin Bet chief: Group wants to resolve conflict with Israel but is also looking to undermine Abbas."
Shin Bet chief: Group wants to resolve conflict with Israel but is also looking to undermine Abbas."
"Useless" Organs : Science Top 10s: Science Channel
"Useless" Organs : Science Top 10s: Science Channel:
Can there really be a useless organ? Well, no one wants to part with their appendix, until it acts up. Same with wisdom teeth. See what other ha-ha's Mother Nature endowed us with."
Dumb list, not hard to do better?
Saturday, July 18, 2009
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While Detroit Chases Seoul
We've been following the development of Tata Motors' Nano -- a teeny little car whose main claim to fame is its tiny price tag of about $2,500 -- since way back when it was only an announcement. Well, today the cycle is complete: the first Nano has officially been sold to Mumbai resident Ashok Vichare, who says he bought the car (his first) because it's the smallest and cheapest sold in India. The company held a lottery to decide who could purchase the first 100,000 Nanos, and says its got a waiting list of about a year for further cars.
India and the Gay
The Hindu : Front Page News : Sunday, July 19, 2009: "Gay
issue: Govt undecided, may seek more time in SC
New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi High Court verdict legalising gay sex has put the government in a fix as it remains undecided about its stand in the Supreme Court, 10 days after a response was sought from it on the vexed issue.'No affidavit has been ..."
issue: Govt undecided, may seek more time in SCNew Delhi (PTI): The Delhi High Court verdict legalising gay sex has put the government in a fix as it remains undecided about its stand in the Supreme Court, 10 days after a response was sought from it on the vexed issue.'No affidavit has been ..."
Seattle news, sports, entertainment | seattlepi.com - Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Seattle news, sports, entertainment | seattlepi.com - Seattle Post-Intelligencer: "King County needs $50M more in taxes -- or no parks"
Great! I suggest a surcharge on waterfront property.
Great! I suggest a surcharge on waterfront property.
CHOCOLATE!
International - SPIEGEL ONLINE - Nachrichten: "Chocolate Company Promises Melt-Free Revolution
Chocolate is just as much a part of Switzerland as the Alps. Now, global market leader Barry Callebaut has developed the product that competitors have been hopelessly puzzling over for 60 years -- chocolate that doesn't melt and is low in calories. By Alice Chalupny"
NOBEL PRIZE?
Dr. Porsche Reunites Under Qatar
International - SPIEGEL ONLINE - Nachrichten: "Volkswagen to Acquire Porsche
Power Struggle Ends: Volkswagen to Acquire Porsche
Volkswagen is planning to purchase all of sports carmaker Porsche, which has run into massive financial problems linked to its overly ambitious plan to take control of VW. The attempted takeover, which had been financed using loans, ultimately failed because of the credit crunch and ensuing liquidity problems that almost saw Porsche go bankrupt. more...
Prohibition Italian Style
The Italian city of Milan bans the sale and consumption of alcohol to under-16s, in an effort to curb rising binge-drinking.
Syria's First Lady Has Arms Like Michelle!
Asma Al Assad: Syria's First Lady And All-Natural Beauty (SLIDESHOW): "A couple weeks ago headlines were made when Syrian First Lady, Asma Al Assad invited the Obamas to Damascus. HuffPost readers ended up commenting more on Asma's beauty 
and less on what an Obama/Assad meeting would mean for the Middle East. And we couldn't help but notice the Syrian beauty either. In a region where the women love to cake on their make-up, it is very refreshing to see the wife of President Bashar al-Assad with very little on. (See the post 'Less Is The New More: The Case For Taking Off Your Make-Up.')
We also noticed her love for Christian Louboutin platforms, sunglasses, and her signature wavy hair. From her natural look to her classic style, we picked some of our favorite Asma looks below."
Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.
and less on what an Obama/Assad meeting would mean for the Middle East. And we couldn't help but notice the Syrian beauty either. In a region where the women love to cake on their make-up, it is very refreshing to see the wife of President Bashar al-Assad with very little on. (See the post 'Less Is The New More: The Case For Taking Off Your Make-Up.')We also noticed her love for Christian Louboutin platforms, sunglasses, and her signature wavy hair. From her natural look to her classic style, we picked some of our favorite Asma looks below."
Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.
LROC's first look at the Apollo landing sites | Eureka! Science News
NASA/GSFC/Arizona State university
The imaging system on board NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) recently had its first of many opportunities to photograph the Apollo landing sites. The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) imaged five of the six Apollo sites with the narrow angle cameras (NACs) between July 11 and 15, within days of the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission. The early images obtained by LROC, operated by Arizona State University Professor Mark Robinson, show the lunar module descent stages left behind by the departing astronauts. Their locations are made evident by their long shadows, which result from a low sun angle at the time of collection.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Community Stimulus Plan?
Politics, Political News - POLITICO.com: "There's no stimulus like service
By JOHN BRIDGELAND AND ALAN KHAZEI | 7/17/09 4:39 AM
A low-cost, bipartisan way to create jobs: Fully fund the law expanding national and community service"
By JOHN BRIDGELAND AND ALAN KHAZEI | 7/17/09 4:39 AM
A low-cost, bipartisan way to create jobs: Fully fund the law expanding national and community service"
Experts in Defense
Danger Room:
"...Riki Ellison, the onetime NFL linebacker .. hung up his cleats to become the one of the most prominent U.S. advocates for missile defense.
(A)s an owner of three Super Bowl rings, Ellison can’t resist a football metaphor.
“Sometimes you play zone defense, other times you play man-to-man, the key is to layer your defense so you can protect your goal line no matter how they attack you,” Ellison told Eichelberger. “That’s essentially how a missile defense system works.”
....
Of course, Ellison isn’t the only missile-defense celeb. Doobie Brothers guitarist Jeff “Skunk” Baxter has made a name for himself as a missile-shield advocate as well."
"...Riki Ellison, the onetime NFL linebacker .. hung up his cleats to become the one of the most prominent U.S. advocates for missile defense.
(A)s an owner of three Super Bowl rings, Ellison can’t resist a football metaphor.
“Sometimes you play zone defense, other times you play man-to-man, the key is to layer your defense so you can protect your goal line no matter how they attack you,” Ellison told Eichelberger. “That’s essentially how a missile defense system works.”
....
Of course, Ellison isn’t the only missile-defense celeb. Doobie Brothers guitarist Jeff “Skunk” Baxter has made a name for himself as a missile-shield advocate as well."
Drones, Drones, Everything that Flies?
Danger Room: "It was without much fanfare that the Air Force published its new Unmanned Aircraft System Flight Plan on Wednesday. But the low-key launch of the study, which aims to sketch out drone development through the year 2047, belies the radical future the air service envisions. In an acronym-dense 82 pages, the Air Force explains how ever-larger and more sophisticated flying robots could eventually replace every type of manned aircraft in its inventory — everything from speedy, air-to-air fighters to lumbering bombers and tankers.
Emphasis on “might” and “could.” While revealing how robots can equal the capabilities of traditional planes, the Air Force is careful to emphasize that an all-bot air fleet is not inevitable. Rather, drones will represent “alternatives” to manned planes, in pretty much every mission category."
Emphasis on “might” and “could.” While revealing how robots can equal the capabilities of traditional planes, the Air Force is careful to emphasize that an all-bot air fleet is not inevitable. Rather, drones will represent “alternatives” to manned planes, in pretty much every mission category."
Judge to pot farmer: 'What did you tell your kids?'
Judge to pot farmer: 'What did you tell your kids?': "Judge to pot farmer: 'What did you tell your kids?'
Attorney questions usefulness of 7-year prison term
By LEVI PULKKINEN
SEATTLEPI.COM STAFF
The accused leader, Jerry R. Berkey, 36, had pleaded guilty in April to running a series of marijuana grows in Snohomish County. The grows made him a good living, according to prosecutors, affording him a home and a recreational vehicle.
Describing their product as the 'pollution (they) spread in the community,' (Judge) Pechman hectored Berkey for drawing others into his business.......
(She sentenced him to seven years in fed prison) Had he been prosecuted under state law having pleaded guilty to the same crime -- conspiracy to manufacture marijuana -- he would likely face no more than six months in jail, Ressler told the court. The likely maximum sentence would have been five years.
(His attorney} disputed how a lengthy sentence would promote respect for the law.
'Persons involved in growing marijuana in the United States receive sentences that run the gamut,' Ressler said in court documents. 'Whether any of these sentences promote respect for the law is unknown. Counsel assumes that it would be difficult to establish any statistical relationship between the sentence imposed and respect that persons might feel for the law.'
Attorney questions usefulness of 7-year prison term
By LEVI PULKKINEN
SEATTLEPI.COM STAFF
The accused leader, Jerry R. Berkey, 36, had pleaded guilty in April to running a series of marijuana grows in Snohomish County. The grows made him a good living, according to prosecutors, affording him a home and a recreational vehicle.
Describing their product as the 'pollution (they) spread in the community,' (Judge) Pechman hectored Berkey for drawing others into his business.......
(She sentenced him to seven years in fed prison) Had he been prosecuted under state law having pleaded guilty to the same crime -- conspiracy to manufacture marijuana -- he would likely face no more than six months in jail, Ressler told the court. The likely maximum sentence would have been five years.
(His attorney} disputed how a lengthy sentence would promote respect for the law.
'Persons involved in growing marijuana in the United States receive sentences that run the gamut,' Ressler said in court documents. 'Whether any of these sentences promote respect for the law is unknown. Counsel assumes that it would be difficult to establish any statistical relationship between the sentence imposed and respect that persons might feel for the law.'
Thursday, July 16, 2009
How to Prevent Peace
Al-Ahram Weekly | Region | Quick paint job: ".......... it is widely expected that Israel will declare its 'willingness' to freeze settlement construction in return for far-reaching concessions from the Arab camp: first, a recognition by the Palestinians of Israel as an exclusively Jewish state in which non-Jews have to accept racial inferiority or leave, and, second, a deep multi-faceted normalisation between Israel and the entire Arab world.
......
(this) is also an indication that Israel is not really interested in reaching an honest and dignified peace with the Palestinians but is only trying to throw the proverbial ball into the Arab or at least the American court.
How can there be peace if the Arab world will not accept two states where one is "jewish?" What is Israel supposed to do? accept a peace where Jews have no control over their own state? Maybe the answer is to require Israel, Jordan AND Palestine to be "open" societies and accept immigration from anyone who wnats to live there! We could have a war of the mortgages?
......
(this) is also an indication that Israel is not really interested in reaching an honest and dignified peace with the Palestinians but is only trying to throw the proverbial ball into the Arab or at least the American court.
How can there be peace if the Arab world will not accept two states where one is "jewish?" What is Israel supposed to do? accept a peace where Jews have no control over their own state? Maybe the answer is to require Israel, Jordan AND Palestine to be "open" societies and accept immigration from anyone who wnats to live there! We could have a war of the mortgages?
65000 deaths from Swine Flu in Britain
Swine flu: Medical chief orders NHS to prepare for 65,000 deaths - with a toll of as many as 350 a day
Health officials are now preparing for a 'worst case scenario' of 65,000 deaths this year in what they fear may only be the first wave of the disease. There have been 12 deaths since Monday
The Official Palm Blog: Mojo SDK available to all
The Official Palm Blog: Mojo SDK available to all: "Mojo SDK available to all
After a successful early access program, Palm’s Mojo Software Development Kit is available to all interested app developers. The SDK can be downloaded from a new developer portal -- Palm webOSdev -- at developer.palm.com. Any interested developer with a valid email address can access the SDK, its associated documentation, and new Mojo developer forums.
The initial response to Palm webOS apps -- from both developers and customers -- has been enthusiastic. Even in its initial beta stage, over 1.8 million apps have been downloaded from the beta App Catalog since Palm Pre was released less than six weeks ago. Thousands of developers have participated in the Mojo SDK early access program since it began in early April. New applications are in the pipeline for the Palm App Catalog, and the App Catalog submission process will be opened to all developers beginning this fall.
Developers interested in exploring Palm webOS and the Mojo SDK further may be interested in these upcoming events:"
This is much more than it appears. The pre re4presents the clear evolution of the handheld into a web appliance. Other OS do this too0, but Web OS is the first time an OS has been developed with its hardware specifically for this purpose. Android might dispute this but the level of integration in my Pre is very different than any other "phone' Basically the line between talk and web is invisible.
Google and MS may want to remember that Palm was founded as an OS company. Their business model wilol be worth watching.
Study reveals major genetic differences between blood and tissue cells | Eureka! Science News
Study reveals major genetic differences between blood and tissue cells | Eureka! Science News: "AAA is one of the rare vascular diseases where tissue samples are removed as part of patient therapy. When they compared them, the researchers discovered major differences between BAK genes in blood cells and tissue cells coming from the same individuals, with the suspected disease 'trigger' residing only in the tissue. Moreover, the same differences were later evident in samples derived from healthy individuals."
Human mutation 30(7):1043-7, 2009 Jul
This is amazing! It raises questions about mutation in human diseases other tha cancer .. including atherosclerosis!
Human mutation 30(7):1043-7, 2009 Jul
This is amazing! It raises questions about mutation in human diseases other tha cancer .. including atherosclerosis!
Rational Humans
Eureka! Science News | Latest science news articles: "University of Michigan survey: Ask permission to use newborn data, parents say
More than three-quarters of parents would be willing to permit the use of their children's newborn screening samples for research purposes if their permission were obtained beforehand, a University of..."
More than three-quarters of parents would be willing to permit the use of their children's newborn screening samples for research purposes if their permission were obtained beforehand, a University of..."
for free ... Adam Smith Style
Microsoft Office to go online — for free - Big Tech - Fortune Brainstorm Tech: "Get this: Microsoft – the king of paid software – will announce today that it is going to give a version of Office away for free online. Both the online and desktop versions are scheduled to arrive in the first half of next year. Yes, you read that right. The latest version of its ubiquitous productivity software, dubbed Office 2010, will come as both a piece of software you can buy for your computer, and as a service you can access in your browser. [UPDATE: Microsoft says it will support the Firefox and Safari browsers as well as IE.]"
This is clear evidence of capitalism at work!
This is clear evidence of capitalism at work!
Publicola
Publicola: "1. Liberals who are looking for Sen. Maria Cantwell to lead on health care reform, should check this behind-the-scenes action out: Cantwell wants to impose a 1.45 percent tax on short-term capital gains to help fund Medicare, and she’s asked the Senate Joint Committee on Taxation to look at the budgeting details of her populist tax idea.
Currently, short-term capital gains—which includes profits made on day trades and short-sales by hedge funds—aren’t subject to Medicare taxes like a workers’ income is.
Cantwell’s office tells PubliCola: 'This is … about fairness. People who live on profits they make in day trades don’t contribute into the Medicare trust fund in the same way as a worker who earns wages.'"
What does this mean? I assume that these people do pay taxes on their net income? Why would one wanty to tax ojnly nthe up trades?
Currently, short-term capital gains—which includes profits made on day trades and short-sales by hedge funds—aren’t subject to Medicare taxes like a workers’ income is.
Cantwell’s office tells PubliCola: 'This is … about fairness. People who live on profits they make in day trades don’t contribute into the Medicare trust fund in the same way as a worker who earns wages.'"
What does this mean? I assume that these people do pay taxes on their net income? Why would one wanty to tax ojnly nthe up trades?
Danger Room
Danger Room: "As the BBC reports, the ad is a “rare nod to commercial motives” in decidedly anti-capitalist North Korea, and the ad features young women in traditional dress serving Taedong River to men in suits. But if you watch closely, you’ll also see the image of a happy proletarian hoisting a frosty one."
Apple's iPhone and iPod Monopolies Must Go - Business Center - PC World
Apple's iPhone and iPod Monopolies Must Go - Business Center - PC World: "Apple's iPhone and iPod Monopolies Must Go"
Palin's Posse
FiveThirtyEight: Politics Done Right: "Sarah Palin's political action committee -- SarahPAC -- raised $733,000 in the first half of the year and is set to push past $1 million in the wake of the recent attention she's gotten herself. On the one hand, this isn't that impressive ... but $443,608, or 60 percent of SarahPac's total, which came from small donors. That is a very high percentage -- higher than for any of the '08 presidential candidates but for Ron Paul -- as you can see from this chart where I've colored Palin's total in Misogynist Pink."
Rape and Bra Straps
A Slip of a Girl: "Johnny Can't Concentrate On His Math Because Sue's Bra Strap Is Showing - I Guess His Only Option Is To Fail Math & Rape The Girl"
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Death with Swiss Dignity
LONDON — He spent his life conducting world-renowned orchestras, but...
More on Collins
Short Sharp Science - New Scientist: "Last week, President Barack Obama announced his nomination of geneticist and physician Francis Collins as the new director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the government organisation that funds medical research in the US. The appointment has sparked a flurry of mixed reactions across the country, largely because Collins, former head of the Human Genome Project, is an outspoken evangelical Christian.
Collins is a staunch supporter of evolution and a highly-respected scientist who is responsible for the discovery of genes responsible for several diseases, including cystic fibrosis, neurofibromatosis, Huntington's and adult onset diabetes. He is also the author of The Language of God: A scientist presents evidence for belief (Simon & Schuster, 2006) and recently the founder of the BioLogos foundation, which aims to reconcile science and religion by promoting 'theistic evolution' - the idea that God chose to create life by way of evolution."
Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.
Collins is a staunch supporter of evolution and a highly-respected scientist who is responsible for the discovery of genes responsible for several diseases, including cystic fibrosis, neurofibromatosis, Huntington's and adult onset diabetes. He is also the author of The Language of God: A scientist presents evidence for belief (Simon & Schuster, 2006) and recently the founder of the BioLogos foundation, which aims to reconcile science and religion by promoting 'theistic evolution' - the idea that God chose to create life by way of evolution."
Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.
Can Apple Spell "Monopoly?"
PreCentral.net | all things Palm Pre: "It has begun. With the release of iTunes 8.2.1 (via TiPb), gut46 tells us, Palm Pre syncing with iTunes is indeed kaput. At least on this Pre user's Mac, iTunes sync isn't working after the 8.2.1 update.* According to Apple's surprisingly forthcoming release notes:
iTunes 8.2.1 provides a number of important bug fixes and addresses an issue with verification of Apple Devices."
iTunes 8.2.1 provides a number of important bug fixes and addresses an issue with verification of Apple Devices."
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Popular Science
Popular Science: "SpaceX Successfully Delivers First Payload to Space
The first successful commercial space mission deposits a Malaysian satellite in orbit"
The first successful commercial space mission deposits a Malaysian satellite in orbit"
Questioning Sotomayor
FiveThirtyEight: Politics Done Right: "Ann Althouse, a professor of law at the University of Wisconsin:
If a diverse array of justices is desirable, should we not be concerned that if you are confirmed, six out of the nine justices will be Roman Catholics, or is it somehow wrong to start paying attention to the extreme overrepresentation of Catholicism on the court at the moment when we have our first Hispanic nominee?"
and from the NY Times two years back:
"Should (religion) even be discussed? In the wake of the 5-4 ruling in Gonzales v. Carhart, these questions have been raised and debated in venues from the blog of the American Constitution Society (where Geoffrey R. Stone, a constitutional law professor, said the justices’ religious identity was “too obvious, and too telling, to ignore,”) to ABC’s “The View,” (where Rosie O'Donnell declared, "How about separation of church and state in America?" according to ABC News.)
If a diverse array of justices is desirable, should we not be concerned that if you are confirmed, six out of the nine justices will be Roman Catholics, or is it somehow wrong to start paying attention to the extreme overrepresentation of Catholicism on the court at the moment when we have our first Hispanic nominee?"
and from the NY Times two years back:
"Should (religion) even be discussed? In the wake of the 5-4 ruling in Gonzales v. Carhart, these questions have been raised and debated in venues from the blog of the American Constitution Society (where Geoffrey R. Stone, a constitutional law professor, said the justices’ religious identity was “too obvious, and too telling, to ignore,”) to ABC’s “The View,” (where Rosie O'Donnell declared, "How about separation of church and state in America?" according to ABC News.)
The pushback from conservative Catholics was immediate - even pre-emptive. Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, declared, “We need more, not fewer, Catholics on the Supreme Court.” On his Web site, the Rev. Richard John Neuhaus, an influential conservative, wrote last week, “I expect it is on the minds of many, but so far there has been only marginal public comment on the fact that all five in the Carhart majority are Catholics.” He added, “What can one say? Know-Nothings of the world unite?”
"Eureka! Evolution Is Real!
A new study finds that a change in a single gene has sent two closely related bird populations on their way to becoming two distinct species. The study, published in..."
Monday, July 13, 2009
Moscow News - Business - Pepsi opens new factory
Moscow News - Business - Pepsi opens new factory: "Pepsi opens new factory
> print version
Ayano Hodouchi
Amid some fanfare, PepsiCo opened its largest bottling plant in the world last week in Domodedovo, on the southern outskirts of Moscow.
The opening came immediately after US President Barack Obama's visit to Moscow, and a day before the 50th anniversary of Pepsi coming to the Soviet Union. Exactly 50 years earlier, then-CEO Donald Kendall personally helped hand out 3 millions cups of Pepsi to visitors at the American National Exhibition in Moscow, and Nikita Khrushchev was said to have downed several cups of the drink."
> print version
Ayano Hodouchi
Amid some fanfare, PepsiCo opened its largest bottling plant in the world last week in Domodedovo, on the southern outskirts of Moscow.
The opening came immediately after US President Barack Obama's visit to Moscow, and a day before the 50th anniversary of Pepsi coming to the Soviet Union. Exactly 50 years earlier, then-CEO Donald Kendall personally helped hand out 3 millions cups of Pepsi to visitors at the American National Exhibition in Moscow, and Nikita Khrushchev was said to have downed several cups of the drink."
Jim Crow in China
The Daily Dish | By Andrew Sullivan: "Jim Crow In China
by Patrick Appel
Fallows posted a picture on Friday of a help wanted sign in the Xinjiang region that read 'This offer is for Han Chinese (汉族) only.' This sort of racial bias is widespread in China according to Jim's readers. Here's a bit from a 'foreigner with experience in China':"
by Patrick Appel
Fallows posted a picture on Friday of a help wanted sign in the Xinjiang region that read 'This offer is for Han Chinese (汉族) only.' This sort of racial bias is widespread in China according to Jim's readers. Here's a bit from a 'foreigner with experience in China':"
Has The OS Grown Up?
Latest news headlines - CNET News: "Survey: Many businesses plan to skip Windows 7
July 12, 2009 10:01 PM PDT
In a new poll, 60 percent of IT administrators said they have no plans to move to Redmond's new operating system.
By Ina Fried in Beyond Binary"
July 12, 2009 10:01 PM PDT
In a new poll, 60 percent of IT administrators said they have no plans to move to Redmond's new operating system.
By Ina Fried in Beyond Binary"
Autotopia: Autos To Throw Down a Black Hole | Autopia | Wired.com
5 Auto Atrocities To Throw Down a Black Hole | Autopia | Wired.com: "There are no shortage of automotive abominations that should be cast into a black hole with narration from Rod Serling. We’ll begin with three obvious candidates: the Pontiac Aztek, the Hummer H2 and the Renault Dauphine. They will be spared.
Why? Because as horrible as these “cars” are, they are too horrible to be destroyed. Nature abhors a vacuum, so if we destroy something so hideous as the Aztek, so garish as the H2 or so unreliable as the Dauphine, something will replace them. We simpl
y cannot fathom the hellish creations that might spring forth to take their places, so we shall spare those cars for the sake of the planet.
We drew up a list of cars that should be wiped from the pages of automotive history. Feel free to set us straight or make any additions — just know that whatever goes in will never come out."
Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.
Funny the cars they left out. I would have included the monster finned Caddy, Mercedes Hummer-like tank, the Yugo, the six figure Rolls, the Corvair, ... funny think, I can not think of a Japanese car to include?
Why? Because as horrible as these “cars” are, they are too horrible to be destroyed. Nature abhors a vacuum, so if we destroy something so hideous as the Aztek, so garish as the H2 or so unreliable as the Dauphine, something will replace them. We simpl
y cannot fathom the hellish creations that might spring forth to take their places, so we shall spare those cars for the sake of the planet.We drew up a list of cars that should be wiped from the pages of automotive history. Feel free to set us straight or make any additions — just know that whatever goes in will never come out."
Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.
Funny the cars they left out. I would have included the monster finned Caddy, Mercedes Hummer-like tank, the Yugo, the six figure Rolls, the Corvair, ... funny think, I can not think of a Japanese car to include?
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Danger Room
Danger Room: "Dozens of U.S. Troops Found on Neo-Nazi Site
* By Noah Shachtman Email Author
* July 9, 2009 |
With nearly three million people in the U.S. military, there are bound to be a small handful of nut-jobs and foam-at-the-mouth radicals. Still, the idea that you can find dozens of active-duty servicemembers on a single neo-Nazi website is sickening, and more than a little disturbing."
* By Noah Shachtman Email Author
* July 9, 2009 |
With nearly three million people in the U.S. military, there are bound to be a small handful of nut-jobs and foam-at-the-mouth radicals. Still, the idea that you can find dozens of active-duty servicemembers on a single neo-Nazi website is sickening, and more than a little disturbing."
As Space Station Nears Completion, It Faces End of Mission - washingtonpost.com
As Space Station Nears Completion, It Faces End of Mission - washingtonpost.com: "Space Station Is Near Completion, Maybe the End
Plan to 'De-Orbit' in 2016"
Plan to 'De-Orbit' in 2016"
Hawaii considers adding space flights - Outdoors - The Olympian - Olympia, Washington
Hawaii considers adding space flights - Outdoors - The Olympian - Olympia, Washington: "Hawaii could become the first place where travelers can use the planes for real transportation. Planners envision planes taking off in one place, traveling through space, then landing in another, going from the Big Island to Oahu. Within a decade, space travelers could island hop from Hawaii to Japan in 45 minutes."
Private tuition soars in India
Al Jazeera English - Focus - Private tuition soars in India: "Private tuition soars in India
By Amrit Dhillon in New Delhi"
By Amrit Dhillon in New Delhi"
Despite the fact that half of India's population is below the age of 25, the Indian government has not built a new university for 50 years.
India has 338 government universities. A government commission looking into the state of higher education said last month that it needed 1,500 universities.
Kapil Sibal, India's education minister, has promised long overdue root-and-branch reform of the educational system, saying it had to be 'de-traumatised' for the sake of pupils and parents. He also plans to encourage foreign universities to open shop in India to alleviate the shortage of places.
He also wants the Grade 10 exam for 15-year-olds to emphasise grading a pupil's work throughout the year so that the focus switches from marks-based to knowledge-based learning.
Sticks and Stones
Haaretz Daily Newspaper Israel, Israeli News Source: "Netanyahu: Palestinian recognition of Jewish state 'key to peace'
Paleontology & Archaeology | Eureka! Science News
Paleontology & Archaeology | Eureka! Science News: "Analysis of Copernicus putative remains support identity
This Copernicus book in Museum Gustavianum, Uppsala University, contained some hairs that were DNA analyzed.Swedish and polish researchers now publish results from the analysis of the putative remains of Copernicus. A DNA-analysis of shed of hairs found in a book from Museum Gustavianum, Uppsala..."
This Copernicus book in Museum Gustavianum, Uppsala University, contained some hairs that were DNA analyzed.Swedish and polish researchers now publish results from the analysis of the putative remains of Copernicus. A DNA-analysis of shed of hairs found in a book from Museum Gustavianum, Uppsala..."
Picture This: Tractor Art - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News - International
Tractor Art
AP
Barack Obama is used to having his picture taken, but something he is probably less accustomed to is having his image carved out in grass by a tractor. This aerial photograph shows how the US President's face now adorns an area of countryside near Verona in Northern Italy, as the result of artist Dario Gambarin's most recent project. The portrait, accompanied by the words, "The Hope is in the Land", covers an area of 27,000 square meters and was created during a 90 minute performance by the Italian on July 5 2009. The release of the image coincides with Obama's visit to Italy for the G-8 summit in L'Aquila.
Homesick for the DDR
Homesick for a Dictatorship: Majority of Eastern Germans Feel Life Better under Communism - SPIEGEL ONLINE - News - International: "Majority of Eastern Germans Feel Life Better under Communism
By Julia Bonstein
Glorification of the German Democratic Republic is on the rise two decades after the Berlin Wall fell. Young people and the better off are among those rebuffing criticism of East Germany as an 'illegitimate state.' In a new poll, more than half of former eastern Germans defend the GDR."
By Julia Bonstein
Glorification of the German Democratic Republic is on the rise two decades after the Berlin Wall fell. Young people and the better off are among those rebuffing criticism of East Germany as an 'illegitimate state.' In a new poll, more than half of former eastern Germans defend the GDR."
Rethinking Retirement in Germany
International - SPIEGEL ONLINE - Nachrichten: "Germany's Increasingly Powerful Seniors
Things are changing for Germany's aged. On one hand, their influence is growing and, controversially, they got the biggest pension increase in more than a decade last week. On the other hand academics are calling for a rethink on retirement, arguing that the old must work longer and harder. By SPIEGEL Staff more..."
Things are changing for Germany's aged. On one hand, their influence is growing and, controversially, they got the biggest pension increase in more than a decade last week. On the other hand academics are calling for a rethink on retirement, arguing that the old must work longer and harder. By SPIEGEL Staff more..."
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Baitullah Mehsud
A profile of Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud - By Imtiaz Ali | Foreign Policy: "Until he is finally taken down, Mehsud will continue bullying Pakistan's military, challenging the state, uprooting centuries-old tribal structures, and sowing the seeds of chaos across the country. Mehsud recently announced that his next target would be the heart of U.S. power -- the White House in Washington. He hasn't failed to come through on such a promise like that yet."
Friday, July 10, 2009
Why an Atheist Can Not be Selected to Head a US Science Agency7
Deek, the masked one.
Lee, Thehim
As for religious bigotry, I actually agree with Dawkins' critics. There is nothing "scientific" about dissing mysticism, blaming all of the world's woes on religion, or raionting all re3lgions with the tarred brush arising from the crimes of FChristianity and Islam.
I am, however, a strong supporter of PZ Meyers and recommend his web site. Have either of you read it? As shrill as Dawkins or Bill Maher are, there is the fact that no aetheist can run for President or ... I suspect .. even be chosen as NIH Director.
The fact that Collins' beliefs are a major factor in his benbg chosen for this job is sad. imagine the horror is the niminess were ... horror of horrors .. an outspoken aetheist.
Lee, Thehim
As for religious bigotry, I actually agree with Dawkins' critics. There is nothing "scientific" about dissing mysticism, blaming all of the world's woes on religion, or raionting all re3lgions with the tarred brush arising from the crimes of FChristianity and Islam.
I am, however, a strong supporter of PZ Meyers and recommend his web site. Have either of you read it? As shrill as Dawkins or Bill Maher are, there is the fact that no aetheist can run for President or ... I suspect .. even be chosen as NIH Director.
The fact that Collins' beliefs are a major factor in his benbg chosen for this job is sad. imagine the horror is the niminess were ... horror of horrors .. an outspoken aetheist.
House overwhelmingly rejects signing statement
TheHill.com - House overwhelmingly rejects signing statement: "The House rebuked President Obama for trying to ignore restrictions to international aid payments, voting overwhelmingly for an amendment forcing the administration to abide by its constraints.
House members approved an amendment by a 429-2 vote to have the Obama administration pressure the World Bank to strengthen labor and environmental standards and require a Treasury Department report on World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) activities. The amendment to a 2010 funding bill for the State Department and foreign operations was proposed by Rep. Kay Granger (R-Texas), but it received broad bipartisan support."
Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.
House members approved an amendment by a 429-2 vote to have the Obama administration pressure the World Bank to strengthen labor and environmental standards and require a Treasury Department report on World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) activities. The amendment to a 2010 funding bill for the State Department and foreign operations was proposed by Rep. Kay Granger (R-Texas), but it received broad bipartisan support."
Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.
The New Economy
@55 David
I have heard a similar story abut an entrepreneur sending his business to China because the technology was not available here. A Seattle firm developed and sells a carbon fiber bike. All American tech, high value added. But they off shored the manufacture because China had ready to go factories with equpt not avail here.
An even worse story comes from Affymetrix, the “gene chip” guys. They have recently off shored their entire manufacture to Malaysia. This means a technology that is clearly nuin grwoth phase will now be grown in foreign soil.
Roger and the usual “service economy” bunnies seem to forge6t that very few jobs are generated by services unless there is someone who is able to buy thise services.
If the US is to continue to be competiti9ve we need an industrial policy that is competitive rather than prot4ective. This means we can not simply decide to close our markets the way the Koreans or Japanese have but we do need to to invest in American productivity.
Here are some examples:
1. education. Our current system is only rational by the lights of our healthcare system. No other nation finances mass education through personal debt, no other nation wastes as much as we do on “education” for everybody as opposed to a competitive education for the best students.
2. IP. The USA generates a vast amount of IP but we have only one major agency, DARPA. that attempts to industrialize that IP here and we place no limits on sale of OUR IP to other countries.
3. Infrastructure. A major argument FOR making things here has been our great transportation system. Now we are falling behind the rest of the world while they also pass us in the new infrastructure needed to support computing.
4. Immigration. While we fight over wet back farm workers or Salvadorian laborers lined up at
Home Depot, Canada and Europe are importing the world’s elites to work and produce jobs.
With all that, the hardest nugget may be rethinking what we mean by both “rich” and “middle class.” A system that creates Paul Allen Profligate Plutocrat Plural Palaces is wasteful. However, the suburban mini-mansions that once surrounded Detroit and now infects Bellevue are even more costly to our society. European, Canadian, and Asian developed countries all have successful middle classes with far less expensive life styles than our ours. The average Swede lives better on less money than the average American because their social system deals with issues like education and healthcare."
Thursday, July 09, 2009
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EFFin’ Unsound » Blog Archive » Well, if he Supports Stem Cell Research
Many people in the scientific community are worried about the appointment of Francis Collins as head of the NIH.
Part of this reflects Collins' stature in the community. We live in an era of biology where a number of people, often those awarded the Nobel, are truly historic because of their level of innovation. Collins, however, is mainly known as a scientific administrator, a coordinator rather than an innovator. While these administrative skills will serve us all well, his ability to lead is less clear.
As one example, despite using a very large part of the NIH budget and having its own version of a tenure system, the intramural effort is not be ranked among the top five or ten US (or world) research efforts. Many, including myself, feel the NIH should either be spun off as an independent unit competing for grants the way we all do or reformed to serve needs research institutes on the outside can not support from grant funds.
As another example, there is an ongoing war in in science over publication. Most of the community wants all publications in the public domain. Publishers and scientific societies oppose this. We need legislation to make the work YOU pay for available to all. Similar issuers apply to patent reform. Under the Repricans, the US has given away an awesome amount of government funded IP.
Obama efforts on these first two issues may benefit from Collins' credibility with the religious right. Other issues are more worrisome. As an outspoken theist, Collins credibility with the scientific community may become an issue.
Robert Cook-Deegan, director of Duke University's Center for Genome Ethics, was quoted as saying:
This quote is itself very disturbing since it assumes that the only constituency Collins needs to assuage is the fundamentalists, the quote implies that Collins is backed by that community is issues where he may disagree with the scientific community.
"I suspect his religious beliefs cost him among some science groups," wrote Cook-Deegan in an email to The Scientist. But Cook-Deegan, continued that Collins's religious beliefs might actually improve his relations with Congress and the American public. "I believe it is good for NIH and good for the country to heal some of the ideological rifts that have opened up in biomedical research policy," Cook-Deegan wrote. "[Collins] has strong connections among both parties and across the ideological spectrum. His commitment to Christianity builds trust with many policy makers and constituencies who otherwise might distrust a molecular biologist of international stature."
Here are a few specific examples:
'
1. Stem Cells ... The stem cell wars are not at all over. The new regs, conveniently published before the announcement to minimize issues for Francis, are very controversial among scientists. Under these regs some lines that were legal under GWB are no longer legal. Many grants are now in suspension because of this issue.
2. "cloning" this is actually a different issue but it is one that has been intentionally obfuscated under Bush. The reality is we likely can no clone people, including adults. The NIH director's opinion in the limits of cloning will have a huge impact.
3. role of the pope. FC became a Catholic. The Pope claims to be able to legislate ethical laws that affect all people. While I assume FC will take the rational stand, his outspoken religious beliefs may well put him in an impossible position if the radical religious community makes HIM an issue as it has other RC public figures.
4. evolution. Collins' website specifically disses social evolution, apparently asserting that somehow behavior is exempt from the same rules that control all other biology. This is not a stand I would want any scientific authority taking. Moreover, there is a very real effort now to discover the biochemical/mechanistic basis for religion. However the NIH rule son this, Collins9 beliefs will become an issue.
5. resources. Biology is exploding to9 the point where we . that is the government .. is going to need to set priorities. Those priorities are the number one job of the NIH director but, his ability to carry them off depends on the confide3nce of the scientific community. Collins beliefs will (and should) affect his personal judgements but may taint the acceptance of those judgements by the scientific community. Here are a few examples:
a. genomic research into speciation of man from other apes. How much money should go to this end?
b. prevention of spontaneous abortion. About 1/3 of all zygotes fail to thrive. How much money should go to this end?
c. parthenogenesis. Human parthenogenesis is clearly possible. How much money should go to this end?
d. assisted suicide. If this is to become accepted practice, we need to know a lot more about the events surrounding voluntary death. How much money should go to this end? Would Collins oppose the Pope on this issue?
e. artificial life. Again this is clearly possible. How much money should go to this end?
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