08 Feb 2006
NASA Public-Affairs Appointee Resigns in Disgrace

If my readers are sometimes puzzled over why a "paleo-libertarian" like me would've pulled the handle for Kerry last November, I offer the following as justification. (Note especially this link from the article on Slashdot.)

The Religious Right, and their puppet in the White House, not only appoint still-wet-behind-the-ears incompetent political hacks to important Administration jobs, they will seemingly stop at nothing in their attempt to eviscerate science. In this particular case, the two trends merged.

The sooner they're out of power, the better: the other side may not be much better, but they sure as Hel can't be any worse.

George C. Deutsch, who tried to muzzle top NASA climate scientist James Hansen and ordered NASA web designers to add the word 'theory' to every mention of the Big Bang, has resigned. The New York Times reports that NASA declines to discuss the reasons for his resignation, but that it came the same day that Texas A&M University, from which Deutsch claimed on his resume to have graduated, revealed that he had attended the university but did not complete his degree.

(link) [Slashdot]

00:00 /Politics | 0 comments | permanent link

Low-Fat Diet Does Not Cut Health Risks, Report Says

This was a huge study, with almost 50,000 participants over a wide age range. That certainly improves it's statistical accuracy. But there one prediction made by a supporter with which I must disagree:

"These studies are revolutionary," said Dr. Jules Hirsch, physician in chief emeritus at Rockefeller University in New York City, who has spent a lifetime studying the effects of diets on weight and health. "They should put a stop to this era of thinking that we have all the information we need to change the whole national diet and make everybody healthy."

No, they won't. In fact, the attacks from experts have already started appearing, and they'll get more intense over the next few days/weeks/months, until by this time next year we'll have forgotten such a study was ever done. "Big Food" is way too tempting target for trial lawyers to let a study like this go unchallenged.

A large study has found that a low-fat diet has no effect in reducing the risk of getting cancer or heart disease.

(link) [New York Times]

00:00 /Politics | 1 comment | permanent link

New places of worship erected in Reykjavík

Good news!

The Association for Medieval Norse Paganism (Ásatrú) is set to receive a 1,500 - 2,000 square meter lot for a 700 sq. m. temple. The temple will include additional facilities for the congregation, a forested area close to landmark Perlan is the lot currently under discussion for the Pagans.

(link) [Iceland Review]

00:00 /Asatru | 0 comments | permanent link

Kiss of life makes Boo Boo better

I can add nothing to this ...

A retired nurse saved her brother's chicken, Boo Boo, by administering mouth-to-beak resuscitation last week after the fowl was found floating face down in the family's pond.

(link) [CNN.com - Offbeat]

00:00 /Humor | 0 comments | permanent link