at CNN.

The article mentions an Autism bill which passed the Senate two weeks ago to increase funding for autism support services. I'm not a fan of big govt, but for parents of autistic kids, this is essential. Further, autism spectrum disorder is markedly increasing throughout the developed world for unknown reasons. So we need more services to cope with the huge increase of autistic kids. Perhaps if we have to strip funds from other endevours like AIDS and cancer it may be worth it; since treatment & research in autism is sorely lacking, whereas we know a ton about cancer and AIDS, and the treatments are already well established.

Outside the beltway looks at the phenomina. It happens, very commonly; you start a blog, and stop it b/c of reason x y and z. I will go on hiatus occassionally and have periods where I am very prolific. Just depends on my mood. I don't have the issues that big bloggers have, such as bad commentators (who are, more and more, making their way into the mainstream news via op/eds. Ie: a commentator at Ann Althouse said this horrible thing, and it's all Ann's fault...

Update: Speaking of Ann, she's on the road, going to some woman blogger conference in San Jose. But check out the cool picts! Here too.

She also has a strange post on rat behavioral genetics. I noted that many genetic mutants create really odd abnormalities, such as my mice with a malocclusion; their incisors didnt' close properly. It was due to a recombination of the osfx gene I think. Sadly it will never be followed up. One of those things about research getting buried; i was working on pulmonary fibrosis at the time, and dental processes has absolutely nothing to do with it. (it's buried in my thesis, though, although w/o pictures).

Some thoughts on the Kyoto greenhouse gas treaty over at CNN/Money. Surprising data.

Pretty good interview with Paul Bremer (former head of CPA in Iraq). It discusses some of the top-level issues such as the disbandment of the army and the deBaathification process. I agree w/ him on these points at least.

His wiki page is here.

It's nothing we didn't know, but here's proof. Pictures showing Hezbollah militants in civilian clothes with military equipment (AAA gun?) in the middle of a suburban neighborhood. So when isreal attacks the neighborhood, they can claim rightious indignation.

I just 'met' one of my readers playing online bridge. Pretty cool!

Another great post by Mr. Totten, who is one of the premere mid-east American bloggers. It is hard to understand the situation and not weep for what has come and what will come.

Heartbreaking, if true. Also, if true, point out that its hard to get away doping during the Tour, especially if you are the yellow jersey.

The UN wants $150 million in immediate humanitarian aid. The US has already ponied up $30 million (that's 20%). I'm going to make a prediction that the rest will come from Europe and other US-alligned states; in other words, not the Arabs, who are sitting on the largest reserves of oil now trading for $75 /barrel.

Update: More on the UN aid here.
(From Al Jazeera of all places). Key quote from UN humanitarian guy Egeland (worse than FEMA?)

"The whole thing has to stop. It's no natural disaster but a man-made crisis. This is a senseless war. It should never have started. It should never have been carried out like it is now."

That's how things go in the mid-east I guess. Senseless wars. I agree about the humanitarian crisis, and its going to get far worse. One thing I've come to realize recently (and I'm sure many others have to) is that without electricity and plumbing, people like me are up a creek. We buy all of our food from stores, and we store it in refrigerators. We need air conditioners to function. Without these simple things, life becomes very very difficult.


Now the EC (European Comission) is donating 10 million euros (about 15 million USD).

The Kuwait Red Crescent (RC)is sending medical supplies by the ton.

Also from the UAE RC $300,000 in aid. (from above story)

I'll be glad to eat crow if the Arab countries actually come through and help out Lebanon. We'll see. Also its hard to equate price tags on aid. Food and water is the cheapest but saves the most lives. Medicine is more expensive. Structures and vehicles more expensive still.


Update: Feed me crow. The Saudis have really stepped up to the plate, pledging 1.5 billion USD in (presumedly long term) aid. Don't know what that aid will consist of.

Also the UK has pledged a small amount.

One could cynically say that only western-aligned nations have contributed aid so far; not Iran, not Syria, both of these countries are rolling in dough. Of course with most of the Mid-East now western aligned (with those two major exceptions or in civil war (ala Iraq, occupied Palestine, Somalia) most aid to Lebanon would occur from western-aligned Mid-east states.

Also the recent reports mention a possible humanitarian corridor between Syria and Lebanon, so that's an indication. One thing that we don't hear in the US is what our enemies have done good lately.

This first shot is J after her defense, with fortifications (our first celebration)


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This second shot is her 'hiding' behind a huge podium during her defense.


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This third shot is a cool 'still life' composition during her defense party.


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This fourth shot is Luci hiding in her favorite area, behind the TV. Notice the towel.


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FEMA is on the way.

Whew, I was somewhat panicing that the govt would do something and screw everything up.

Why do people like this exist?

Why are parents so cruel to their children?

Why have the children in the first place, if they are going to intentionally and slowly kill them?

Why are people so stupid?

Some interesting stats here, bears a glance. I didn't realize the high school dropout rate was so high. I think people owe it to themselves to get at least a high school level education, so they know something of history, geography, writing, and math. I feel somewhat saddened by those who have almost no education, and are missing out of so much...To me education opens a very large door to future possibilities and life satisfaction. Of course over-education is a problem too; hard to find a job at the very top levels (PhD level).

Duh. Especially if you don't read chinese. Not a threat for Americans, really. Speaking of junk like this, i get a ton of junk email with russian or chinese characters...or without any reference of contact info. I mean, what is the point of spam if your business won't profit in any way from the recipient actually wanting the product.

The Tour has been riviting so far, but the key quote must be from this intreped journalist:

Then, at a press conference on Thursday, after Landis chased down an 11-man breakaway, killed them and ate them, built a new bicycle out of their bones, and roared away in a pillar of fire to win the stage to Morzine and jump back to within 30 seconds of the yellow jersey, he mentioned beer once again.

Go Floyd! A real American hero.

Interesting Fox story on the power of the internet. Except we knew this years ago, and they're just picking it up. Well, the old media moves slowly.

The other issue is how quickly people reacted to Bush 'gaffs', ie the four-letter word regarding the new war in the Mideast, and this odd backrub thing he gave Germany chancellor Merkel. I guess i don't see the big deal regarding the former. The later...its just something you don't do to women you aren't intimately familiar with...especially heads of state...how well does he know Merkel? Can't be that well. Oh well...Bush...


James Wolcott has more in-depth analysis of this important issue. I agree with everything he said. I think Laura ought to discuss appropriate things to do at a world meeting. I know if i did that to anyone at work i'd be in deep-shit trouble. They treat even the hint of sexual harrassment very seriously (the govt is such a fun place to work)

I decided it's not war, it's genocide or a crusade, take your pick. What else can explain the targeting of civilians in Palestine? There are two issues here.

One is that Isreal is tired of dealing with terrorist groups and threats to its sovernty. So, they attack Hezbollah and Hamas.

The other is that said terrorist groups are essentially civilains with guns. No or loose organization, little training, no uniforms. So to attack these groups, Isreal must strike civilians and hope to kill a few terrorists/freedom fighters/guerillas.

I don't see the situation getting better any time soon, I keep wondering when the two populations (Isreal and everyone else) will get tired of killing each other. WHen that happens, peace will break out. I'm just glad i'm not there, or know anyone who lives there. Both sides are to blame in this conflict, like most others (ie Iraq).

A physician and two nurses were charged with multiple counts of second degree murder related to Hurricane Katrina, as they tried to save the lives of hundreds of patients in 100+ degree temps without water, electricity, food, etc. So, the state of LA, after screwing up so massively in Katrina, has now decided to blame these caregivers for the deaths of several of the hundreds that perished due to LA's negligance? Give me a break!

I just hope they get a trial by a jury of people who survived Katrina in New Orleans.

Update: I added this at the chronicle blog:

Does the AG not know how triage is done? In a crisis stituation, patients are sorted by those who are not life-threatening, mortally wounded (ie will die no matter what), and those who have potentially fatal wounds and need priority care. Sounds like those heroic MDs/RNs did the best they could and if euthenasia did occur, it did so because of the absolute lack of facilities; ie no meds, no power for life support. They can't keep hand-ventilating for days on end. I predict not guilty. As I mentioned in my blog i hope they get a trial by a New Orleans jury who went through Katrina.

Thank gooseness

Goose on the Loose? Call in the Collies

GREENWICH, Conn. (AP) — Annoyed by the mess that geese leave on town beaches and park lawns, the town has hired a company to harass them until they move elsewhere.

Geese Relief, a Norwalk-based company, is receiving $5,000 under a preliminary contract, and town officials are drawing up a full-year pact.

Company owner Chris Santopietro's border collies have spent the past few weeks finding and chasing the Canadian geese out of town parks and off beaches. The work will take place nearly year-round, except in winter's coldest months.

The idea is to harass the geese until they return to Long Island Sound.

"You have to be more persistent than the geese and it's not a quick cure — it's an ongoing thing," Santopietro told The Greenwich Time.

Last year, Greenwich started using border collies to control the non-migratory Canadian geese. But the college students in charge of the dogs returned to school, so the town decided to hire the company as a longer-term solution.

"We want them indoctrinated, to continually think that they're not safe here," Town Conservation Director Denise Savageau said of the geese.

I guess i don't see the issue, but I don't live there. But really...can't we all just get along? OTOH if geese were outside my house and honking and I couldn't sleep and I couldn't shoot them, i'd go crazy. If that were the case. Not that i would know about annoying animals living next to me that I can't legally kill.

From Opinion Journal

"A 46-year-old man is accused of assaulting his wife with a carrot, causing her to lose sight in one eye," reports the Associated Press from Monroe, Conn.:

Pamela Vecsey, 46, underwent six outs [sic] of surgery after being hit in the left eye with the vegetable Saturday night, but doctors were not able to restore her vision, prosecutor Stephanie Damiani said.

The couple was arguing when Roderick Vecsey tossed the carrot, Damiani said.

It is a scandal that thanks to the carrot lobby, Americans--even the mentally ill, convicted criminals and stalkers--are able to buy these dangerous weapons without so much as a license or background check. We need carrot control! It's the only way to deal with crime at its roots

Omar at Iraq the Model has useful insights on the current Isreal/Lebanon action. I completely agree with all of his points. If Hamas/Hezbollah aren't fatally weakened sooner or later this cycle will repeat.

Update: It's over at the Wall St Journal too. (Omar is moving up in the world).

Austin Bay has related thoughts too. Sure to appear in a op/ed section sometime this week in your local paper (ie Houston Chronicle). Hmm, in an early post Bay references the Chron, and writes this:

UPDATE: The US prepares to evacuate American nationals. If Hezbollah gets desperate, Americans in Lebanon could become real human hostages. Don’t dismiss the terrible thought out of hand. Iranian revolutionaries took the US Embassy in Tehran hostage. As StrategyPage noted, this is an Iran-Israel war, with Hezbollah and Hamas as Iran’s proxies. Of course taking American hostages opens the door for US reprisals. George W. Bush won’t dither like Jimmy Carter.

Right, that's a real possibility. My sense isn't that Hezbollah will get desperate soon, but they will get desparate. Here I am glad we have Bush at the helm, nobody will screw with America as long as he's president. Can you imagine the situation if JF Kerry was in charge?

CNN dutifully reports the latest UN report on Iraq. It's not good, of course. But my question is what has CNN or the UN done to stop the violence in Iraq? All CNN reports are car bombs. All the UN does is pontificate and shame. I note an increasingly liberal/anti-Bush screed coming from the CNN in recent years. Not that I am pro-Bush, but where's the objectivity?

The report lists examples of bloody suicide bombs aimed at mosques, attacks on laborers, the recovery of slain bodies, the assassinations of judges, the killings of prisoners, the targeting of clergy -- all incidents dutifully reported by media over these three-plus years of chaos in the streets.

I feel that we are turning the tide in Iraq, but given the barrage of reports like this, it's hard to be sure.

Hah. So, the AL, which has staunchly opposed US action in Iraq, is now pleading for the US to get Isreal to stop their attacks, and basically preserve the status quo. I think everyone is tired of the status quo, at least on the US/Isreal side. We're tired of islamic extremsists, we're tired of Syria/Iran making trouble for the region, we're tired of teh backwardness of teh Arab world. It's too bad Lebanon has to suffer, and I blame both sides for the conflict (which is not a voice i've heard in any forum). But if it pushes out Hezbollah and Hamas, then it's maybe worth it (is war ever worth it?)

Well, since Bill Frist decided to launch a medical blog, I figured I might as well blog about something I know next to nothing about (but apparently have credentials, being at MDACC in Neurosurgury dept).

It's essentially a war. At issue is the Hezbollah guerillas/terrorists who set up shop in southern lebanon, complete with functional government. Hezbollah is supported by Syria and Iran. These are the guys who kidnapped the Israeli soldiers yesterday. The reaction by Isreal doesn't make a whole lot of sense; they are systematically destroying Lebanon instead of going after Hezbollah. Essentially they are destroying Lebanon, but what will replace it? Hezbollah could then control all of Lebanon, and indeed the region will be set back 20 years, as the Isrealis claim they will do to Lebanon. This stance by Isreal isn't going to be effective, and may drag in (should drag in) Syria and Iran. Otherwise, there is no point in this action.

Read full text here.

I won't say it's unbaised, and there is alot of stary-eyed wonder and hope for the future. But this is certainly not what we are getting in the media. Somehow the WaPo came away from this speech with this report:

America's top envoy in Baghdad yesterday denied that Iraq is now embroiled in a civil war but acknowledged growing concern that sectarian clashes could derail the new government if violence is not brought under control. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad also said the new security crackdown in Baghdad has been a disappointment and is being reviewed to make "adjustments."

"I do not believe that what's happening could be described . . . as a civil war. But there is significant sectarian violence, there's no question about that," he said in a speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. ". . . There is a risk that the sectarian conflict will expand, state institutions will be overwhelmed. And that's what needs to be avoided." For now, however, he said the government is holding together, and political parties are committed to trying to prevent a full war.

(HT: Mudville Gazette)

Is crawling along in Congress. If it helps maintain American science I'm all for it, but more at issue is the dismal state of science funding in terms of fellowships and R01s. If they are only funding 10% of people, then the other 90%, people already with PhDs and doing science, will have to leave the field. Pretty simple math.

...After kidnapping of two IDF soldiers by Hezbollah, based in southern Lebanon. It would be tragic if Lebanon, who is finally emerged from a brutal civil war, is embroiled in this conflict.

(rumor here) On Lebannon? On Syria? On Iran? Regardless, it's not a pretty picture.

U.S. says that Iran, Syria are to blame. I agree.

The next biofuel? Could be good; it only requires a source of carbon, unlike ethanol produced from corn alone.

Why aren't Americans not taking vacations? I'd like to take a vacation, but my wife can't this summer. Also I only have 9 days of vacation to last until next summer. That's not much at all; i'll likely burn most of it this winter for xmas.

More terror attacks, this time in Bombay. My lab mates are from the region. I smell Al Qaida, it's their MO. This is, unfortunately, a long, bloody war, of extremist muslims vs the rest of the world. One day the muslim world will wake up and pull themselves from this dark age. Until then, more bombings.

Why is a foreign exchange student flipping burgers in Gulfport MS (destroyed in Katrina), and paying an arm and a leg for company-owned housing? Where is the outrage? If it happened to me I'd be pretty pissed.

He's in Afghanistan doing his famous embedded work. My take is that Aghanistan will eventually become a powerful unruly place, with a tin-pot dictator in the next ten years, producing all of the worlds supply of heroin. Iraq will be a model of the Mideast, with a highly educated working class and good infrastructure made possible by oil revenue (if they can just stop shooting at each other). Everything else in the mideast will stay the same.

Says his hip is pretty much shot. And he's in constant pain when he bikes. This could hurt his tour chances, obviously. But Landis is as tough as nails. But so far he's #2 in the Tour, and the American most likely to win it all. (Big George is 2:30 back, which hopefully he'll make up in the mountains).

All i got to say is, go America! I hope some American wins it, but I wouldn't be unhappy at all to see Aussie Robbie McEwen win (he's 5:50 back overall, not good, but winning stages).

...even in space.

Hidden inside was this gem:

"That was a great (spacewalk) and it showed that Aggies can be taught to work locks, latches and anything else," flight controllers wrote in their daily morning electronic message to Discovery's crew, referring to Fossum, a graduate of Texas A&M. "Miracles never cease."

The flight controllers must be UT people; there is a rivalry there, and Aggies are usually the butt end of jokes.

Is it duck or duct tape? Duck makes duct tape.

Says the Census Bureau. Apparently the Boss (Bruce Springsteen) was born there (but left as soon as he could?). That explains all those depressing songs about steel mills and collapse of blue-collar small town economies.

And, did you know, NJ has the higher population density? Its fairly obvious when you go there and all you see is cars and towns, so many towns its hard to figure out where one ends and another begins.

Ah, Jersey, the armpit of the world.

Since Chinese typically pirate anything that isn't nailed down. So when Chinese try to make money on intellectual property, ie software, music, games, etc, it's very difficult to do so, since only one copy is actually bought, and 99 copies are pirated.

I think America is becoming less piracy oriented, as things get more difficult to copy, and the cost of 'legit' goods goes down. Example, for UT students, we can get legit copies of anything Microsoft makes for $10 or so. This is because UT has a 'site license' with MS, so they pay MS millions per year to run windows on their 10,000 machines or whatever. Another example: DVD kiosks that cost $1. Why would you spend a day downloading something when you can rent it for a buck? Music, same thing. Songs are a buck or less. And you can get whole, new CDs from Amazon for $9. Or much less if the CD is old and you want it used.

Also it's actually very difficult to pirate the flagship OS, Windows XP, and Microsoft Office, since MS has a 'genuine advantage' online registration requirement. Norton does the same thing with it's software, but it's avoidable. Now games have multiple layers of protection, from serial keys, to uncopiable layers on the CD, to online validation requirements. Often all three are employed; making it very difficult to break. (However, all games are piratable so far, it's just how much effort you want to go through to run the thing)

He's riding RAGBRAI this year.