Wednesday morning links

The "food containing DNA" headline is indeed amusing considering almost all food contains DNA. People are so gullible. That certainly explains Obama's two terms.

#1 DCE (Link) on 2015-01-21 08:08 (Reply)

I don't think the word you want to use is gullible. I think it's ignorant. I wonder how many of the respondents to that survey even knew what DNA was given that there are apparently a sizable section of the population who think that Martin Luther King recently died and do not argue the point that he was the first black man to walk on the moon (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-znXUMp0qk).

#1.1 mudbug on 2015-01-21 10:20 (Reply)

The public's overwhelming ignorance of science and technology is readily exploited by demagogues. It is why calls for increased rules and regulations are such an easy sell.

#1.1.1 feeblemind on 2015-01-21 11:08 (Reply)

If it is not hard to find people who think that MLK Jr. walked on the moon, I'd say that the ignorance goes a lot deeper than science and technology.

#1.1.1.1 mudbug on 2015-01-21 11:15 (Reply)

Is it time to bring out the petitions to ban Dihydrogen Monoxide (DMHO) from our food?

#1.2 walt moffett on 2015-01-21 13:35 (Reply)

".. federal (EPA) regulations are in place to make illegal the disposal of DHMO in landfills, including those licensed for hazardous waste. Regulations also stipulate that any DHMO appearing in a landfill must be removed. Judging from these laws it appears that the U.S. government recognizes the inherent danger DHMO poses to the environment, at least in certain circumstances. "

http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:mvLaO_WIgPIJ:www.dhmo.org/environment.html+&cd=3&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=palemoon

#1.2.1 feeblemind on 2015-01-21 14:24 (Reply)

Re: Obummer skunking the GOP

QUOTE:

Although Republicans are huffing and puffing to rally parts of their base, in the end they are likely to lose both battles, making the president the winner.

BS! The Republican establishment has been contemptuous of it's base for years. The biggest grassroots movement in the last fifty years has been the Tea Party and the Republican establishment has been bad mouthing it since it began.

The column did get it right that Obummer has been on offence. And even after a resounding victory at all levels of government, Republicans have been unwilling or unable so far to show those who voted for them that they are going to do anything they were elected to do: stop or hinder what Obummer is doing.

The reason we are where we are is that the Demoncrats are always the aggressors. They are on offence regardless of whether they win or lose. Consequently, they get more of what they want.

They (the establishment Republicans) are either the gutless party or the stupid party or both.

#2 mudbug on 2015-01-21 09:43 (Reply)

Re: Journalism professor opposes free speech

My guess is that Professor Wickham would be apoplectic of efforts to defund the National Endowment for the Arts after it used tax dollars to display Andres Serrano's Piss Christ. I feel quite certain that he would not be supportive of conservatives rampaging the New York Times and the Washington Post for slanted (and sometimes illegal) reporting.

The next question is what is Morgan State University going to do about this? My guess is - nothing.

#3 mudbug on 2015-01-21 10:11 (Reply)

"Salt Is Not the Killer the Government Says It Is"

The line in the story that "the evidence the CDC's sodium advice is basically a superstition..." says it all. Most of the dietetic advice from the government, the dieticians and the quacks is essentially superstition "that is to say, a belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic or chance, or a false conception of causation".

Why is that? Partly because human nature loves a conspiracy or a secret that they have privy to. Often the food nuts will openly state that the government or your doctor is not telling you something or that "big food" is conspiring to fool you. Dieticians and even doctors are taught incorrect and even intentionally false informtaion in college by teachers who themselves believe in the conspiracies. Some of the most popular videos about food or diet openly sell the whole conspiracy side of food. There is also a popular meme that "Western" for or more pointedly "American" food is somehow bad for you. The "whole food" movement and the "organic food" movement depends upon and plays to the ignorance and biases of people. It's not necessarily "ignorance' in a pejorative way as much as it's simply the result of a very complex issue with many confounding factors. After all salt is indeed "bad" for some people. Sugar and refined carbs are indeed "bad" for some people. It's an easy leap then to think maybe these things are bad for all of us and maybe the nutcases selling snake oil on TV do know something after all. Maybe if I take 1000 mg of vitamin C I will never have a cold again in my life. Maybe if I take 1000 mg of vitamin D3 everyday I will never get cancer or have a heart attack. Maybe if I drink sodas with cane sugar in it instead of HFCS I won't become obese or get diabetes. The fears and misinformation seduce the intelligent and the fools just as easily. Maybe if I pay twice as much for food in the Whole Foods store I will never get sick. Maybe if I only consume raw milk I will get those mysterious missing nutrients that "big food" is trying to deny me...

#4 GoneWithTheWind on 2015-01-21 11:02 (Reply)

I am a little unclear how Obama 'won' by saying he would veto anything and everything. Why not just continue on with legislation and let Obama veto it? Why does that make Obama the winner? Eventually, there will be bipartisan support for many bills in Congress...and when Obama continues to veto, he will look the fool.

Being upset at Obama saying he will veto stuff is silly. Go ahead, Barack, do it. He hasn't had to veto hardly anything (has he at all??) during his presidency. He doesn't know what it is like when you can't get anything passed because you are obstructionist.

The more bills Congress can send his way with support from at least a handful of Democrats, the better.

#5 MissT on 2015-01-21 11:18 (Reply)

One problem the pubbies have is that the Demoncrats in the senate will continue to provide cover for Obummer by filibustering most of what gets to the Senate. In that event, they should keep passing bills and let them get filibustered and, as you say, the ones that don't get filibustered should be sent to Obummer regardless of his veto threat. Of course we'll have to see how things play out, but I have very little confidence that the establishment pubbies have the stones to do that on any consistent basis.

#5.1 mudbug on 2015-01-21 11:39 (Reply)

"Demoncrats in the senate will continue to provide cover for Obummer by filibustering most of what gets to the Senate."

My response to that would be the application of the Nuclear Option, which should be renamed the "Harry Reid Rule" now that it has been exercised by him.

Pass everything out on a simple majority. No more 60-vote thresholds, no one-senator holds on legislation.

#5.1.1 Jim on 2015-01-21 17:58 (Reply)

Re: the submarine racing photo. Sent me on a little trip down memory lane.

There is a lake near the town where I grew up. Lots of wooded areas and secluded spots. A popular place to take your girlfriends for a little extracurricular activity. Also known locally as "going to watch the submarine races". Sweet memories.

#6 altered states on 2015-01-21 12:17 (Reply)

At Ohio State is was along the bank of the Olentangy River. At least in the '50s it was.

#6.1 BillH on 2015-01-21 16:20 (Reply)

Who won the sub race?

#7 Ron Snyder on 2015-01-21 12:45 (Reply)

re Washington's parrot article; best line:
.
William McKinley had a parrot named "Washington Post,"
.
I have a sudden new-found love and respect for President McKinley.

#8 Tom Armstrong on 2015-01-21 13:04 (Reply)

Amazon Not The Reader's Friend? Sarah Hoyt, an author, says it's friendly to her:

http://accordingtohoyt.com/?s=amazon+publishing

#9 Sam L. on 2015-01-21 13:14 (Reply)

Watching the video at the Porsche engine factory was interesting. One thing that was interesting to me was what things are done by hand and what are done by robot. Installing the cam covers - which is not difficult nor critical - was done by robot, but the spark plugs were installed by hand which is much more critical.

Certainly, not all of the assembly could be done by robot, but there seems that there were a lot of processes that could be done more precisely with robots.

My guess is that union rules play a part in this.

#10 mudbug on 2015-01-21 13:32 (Reply)

Thank you! I just realized that I have actually witnessed submarine racing. I just didn't realize it.

#11 Swohawk on 2015-01-21 18:01 (Reply)

That was funny, Swohak... and as have so many us!

#11.1 XRay on 2015-01-21 19:48 (Reply)

Back in the day when - pregnant with first child - my blood pressure was elevated, my doctor said 'no salt'. Confusion at our house as my husband figured sodium gluconate was an acceptable substitute. Went along with doctor's advice until pre-natal classes where god the warning that strict adherence to this ban caused other problems. Then said 'what the heck'. Delivered perfectly normal child and am still here to tell about it.

#12 Frances on 2015-01-21 23:45 (Reply)

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Wednesday, January 21. 2015

Wednesday morning links