A "Christian" Suit

When someone in the media points out the stupid things you say, you can always compound the problem by filing a baseless lawsuit.

The Tipping Point for the Spread of Ideas

The brainy folks at Rensselaer Polytechnic have done a study that shows if as few as 10 percent of a population doggedly holds on to a set of ideas regardless of how wrong they might be, they can eventually win over the people who make the mistake of being reasonable.

Republican Leaders Voted for U.S. Debt Drivers

It should be noted and repeated that the big drivers in our debt problem were put is place by Republicans.  We should ask our Republican representatives, "In light of the fact that you now see the debt as a major problem, do you have any remorse that you voted for the biggest causes of that debt?"  These causes include the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts, the Medicare prescription drug benefits, and TARP.

Sugar Doesn't Melt

The actual melting point of sugar has always been a bit slippery.  It seems to vary with the intensity of the heat that is applied.  Now we better understand why.  Sugar doesn't melt like a metal.  Under heat it decomposes in any number of different methods.

The Lesser Depression

Some Paul Krugman quotes:

For those who know their 1930s history, this is all too familiar. If either of the current debt negotiations fails, we could be about to replay 1931, the global banking collapse that made the Great Depression great. But, if the negotiations succeed, we will be set to replay the great mistake of 1937: the premature turn to fiscal contraction that derailed economic recovery and ensured that the Depression would last until World War II finally provided the boost the economy needed.

There’s an old quotation, attributed to various people, that always comes to mind when I look at public policy: “You do not know, my son, with how little wisdom the world is governed.” Now that lack of wisdom is on full display, as policy elites on both sides of the Atlantic bungle the response to economic trauma, ignoring all the lessons of history. And the Lesser Depression goes on.

Eric Cantor's Hypocrisy

Reducing the deficit is just fine with him except when it means losses to a big contributor.  The pandering is just so transparent.

Question

A question that needs to be asked of our political extremists of both sides is "How far in your preferred direction is too far?"  Ask the Republicans what they see as the realistic limit of tax cuts.  Ask the Democrats what they see as the realistic limit of entitlements.

Early detection of tsunamis may be possible

It seems that the minuscule disturbances in gravity caused by a propagating tsunami have a detectable effect on a certain layer in the upper atmosphere.  A system that perform careful observation can give clear warning that one is on the way.

Darrell Issa's Investigation Backfires

If you're going to investigate the activities of a commission hoping to find ammunition that hurts the other party, you had better make sure your own party is playing by the rules.  But when it comes to Republicans that is really difficult to do.  Republicans fare better when they stymie the investigative process altogether.

Runaway Union Violence?

Not so much.  Only in the minds of the right-wing blogosphere.  But in reality?  Nope.  Not even close.

Wave-power ships for cheaper clean electricity

Instead of stationary installations that must be sufficiently robust to deal with all sorts of weather, what about cheaper mobile units that can come into port when the weather get ugly?

'Elections' Haven't 'Worked'

Mitch McConnell hates democracy because it doesn't yield the results he likes.  Perhaps he would like someone to die so he could become king.

Outcome of Insuring the Uninsured

A formal study has confirmed what intuition would lead one to think.  When the uninsured have access to Medicaid, they seek out more healthcare and have better health outcomes.  Moreover, their overall financial situation improves.  Those who wish to deny insurance need to explain why they think it is better for the low income folks to suffer.

Portugese drug law show results

Ten years ago, Portugal shifted it's drug laws from punishment to treatment.  Now, addiction is declining.  It could be a model on how to really win a war on drugs.

What Really Happened at Fukushima?

An update and assessment of the aftermath.  Unfortunately, there seem to be a number of problems in how the risk was assessed over the years.

More reasons for nuclear renaissance

The recently noted problems of our aging fleet of nuclear powered generating stations serves to point out that rather than abandon nuclear power, we need to start aggressively replacing them.  Replacing old plants with newer, safer ones is much better than trying to keep the old ones up to snuff.  These bad economic times are perfect for investments that create American jobs and revive some major industrial production.  In the end, you have an improved power base that will be ready to support a revitalized economy.

About Big Busts

Now that I have your attention, our banking laws are in serious need of reform if we ever hope to have a stable economy.  Until that happens, all we should expect is one disaster after another while the guys creating the disasters run off with our nation's wealth.

Let's keep our illegal immigrants

Despite the stereotypes to the contrary, many illegal immigrants represent what is best about our country.  They work hard and enrich our society in a great many ways.