Politics:
- Ezra Klein shows just how ridiculous the "this isn't a stimulus bill, it's a spending bill" argument is.
- Holy crap. Just, wow.
The Internets:
- There have been a lot of articles slamming the "25 Random Things" meme on Facebook. I like this article's take on it better.
Science
- Oh, look. The anti-vax thing is even worse. It turns out the paper that started it all, in 1998, was not only bad research, but possibly also fraud. Perfect.
- Many renewable energy technologies rely on non-renewable materials, like indium and platinum, that could be dry in 10-15 years. Lovely.
As always, leave your comments on these or anything else below.
5 comments:
I read that Ezra Klein thing in your shared folder and for a minute literally forgot it wasn't your blog - sounded just like something you would have written yourself!
Liked the FB article.
The vax thing - I understand it's silliness - but you just don't understand what it's like having kids. You don't want to do anything that could even possibly harm your child. And not everyone is as smart as you at figuring out the facts from the crap. I'm not trying to argue with you on this, I know vaccines are important and your niece & nephew are getting all of theirs - I'm just saying.
BTW - did you happen to hear about the Private Practice episode a few weeks back? You would have loved it (even though that show is REALLY bad) (and I watch it anyway...) ANYWAY - a mom was antivax, had three sons, one w autism, one who got sick - doctor wanted to vaccinate son #3 but she was scared to death of him getting autism. In the end the sick son died (really sad) and the doctor was so upset he went and vaccinated the other son who was waiting in the lobby without the mom's permission. Which is ludicrous, but - you would have liked it, it was definitely a pro-vax episode even though the mom argued her side too.
It isn't the rank-and-file anti-vaxxers that drive me crazy so much as the people doing the convincing. Plus my biochem-PhD coworker who's antivax. What the hell? Arrggh!
> "this isn't a stimulus bill, it's a spending bill"
Just saw a news clip of BO saying, "of course it's a spending bill. That's the point."
Re: Libby's comment.
I've mentioned this before over at CoCT. In 2000 our younger daughter came down with Hodgkin's Disease. We couldn't help but wonder if something we had done contributed... household pesticides, cleaning products, new carpet with volatile solvents, paint, something, anything. How can you know? We're not the type to suspect power lines, cell phones or vaccinations but then we're more educated than average. Still, one wonders.
Libs,
Respectfully, I've heard "until you have kids..." before but it just doesn't wash with me. How does one go from being an educated person grounded in science to a superstitious throwback jumping at shadows? Does one safeguard their children against the growing undead menace by adorning their bedroom windows with garlic?
I'm really not trying to be a dick here (and it's pretty difficult seeing as how easily it comes) but I just can't ever see myself under any circumstance saying "I believe in X! Unless of course..."
This is a real sore spot with me.
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