Science Etcetera Mercuryday, 20080130

January 30th, 2008

You Gotta Permit for that thing?

You Gotta Permit for that thing?

Science Progress has the best roundup of coverage for Bush’s SOU Address, first reviewing science in past addresses, then giving a nod to his request for Congress to Double Science Spending, and finally comparing his claims to the reality on his energy record.

As Wired noted, Bush’s speech fanned the Stem-Cell Debate flames, his call to ban human cloning was actually a call to ban therapeutic cloning, and the $2 Billion for clean energy in the developing world amounts to diddly-squat.

Sperm Whales sleep Half a Brain at a Time.

I want a citizen science opportunity like this in America, Pollen Robots.

This video shows the beginnings of Swarm Robotics in action. This is to nanotechnology what punch-card computing is to Deep Blue.

On the anti-citizen science front, NYPD Seeks to Require a Permit for Geiger Counters, because citizens who can measure air-quality might cause a panic. (Maybe they should be panicked?)

Jackasic is currently leading the Name Our New Geological Age Contest

No comments yet to “Science Etcetera Mercuryday, 20080130”

Considering the EPA deliberately lied to all the people in Manhattan after September 11th, saying the air was safe when it wasn’t — this talk of requiring licensing for Geiger Counters is quite a literal insult to injury.

(I’d give my links, but CNN takes down their articles after awhile — that’s how you disseminate news?!? I should boycott them)

Same thing with the Curseen-Morris postal processing center. They told the workers there that everyone would be fine and the air was safe, no anthrax, blah blah. Then Curseen and Morris died because their government lied to them.

People should absolutely have the rights to use whatever technology they want to protect their well being. (Um.. life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, right?)
by Clint January 30th, 2008 at 11:36 am
What’s next, we’re not allowed to use tape measures without a permit? This is the most asinine thing I can think of. What is being covered up here?

-BMF
by BMF January 30th, 2008 at 1:49 pm