commented news

Some stuff I read and what I think of it:

A huge part of the obesity problem in America. People need to stop throwing money away on things that don't work and believing that there is an easy answer. And the government should stop letting slick salesmen take advantage of unhealthy people.


This is setting a dangerous precedant. This kid thinks he knows better than doctors and is risking his life because he doesn't want to be uncomfortable for a few months. First of all, getting away from Dr. paternalism should only be ok for optional procedures or things that have slim chances of sucess, not obvious life or death treatments. Also the courts are allowing a banned supplement to be legally used as a medicine. And finally, they are letting a minor make a life changing choice in a moment of weakness. He is short sighted and immature and should not be making decisions that could killhim in several years. (That is why they don't let 16 year olds join the military). On his death bed in a few years, he will be regretting this one, and Darwin will be laughing.


This is the future of food and agriculture. First, it is less messy and does not involve animals. second, it could be scaled up easier and does not require fertile land, a major achievement towards feeding an ever growing world population. It may have little investment interest now, but once it becomes economically viable, food companies will force it mainstream (see Genetically modified crops, bovine hormones)


David Ortiz is the best clutch hitter in Baseball. No matter who you cheer for, you have to admit that if you were managing a team and it was in extra innings, you would want him at the plate.



Nurse practioners are replacing primary care physicians. The AMA thinks this is irresponsible. the patients think they get better care. Did these patients have a choice between doctor and nurse, and would they have picked the nurse? The only advantage with nurses are that there is more of them and they are therefore cheaper.

Progress

A running list of events, to be updated occasionally

9/06 - 6 million dollar man a reality? prosthetics can be safely attached to human nervous system.

6/06 - Women have finally been figured out


6/06 - US population over 300 million people.


6/06 - Spider Silk properties can be modified through genetic engineering


6/06 - Vaccine is available to stop HPV


5/06 - It is cheaper to use digital effects to fabricate scenes in movies than to actually shoot them.

Opinion : Traffic Circles

I have been driving around Massachusetts a lot this week (and likely for the rest of the summer) and I must say that I hate it (the driving, that is). About a half mile down the street from where I am living is a double traffic circle. For the uninitiated, that is two roundabouts next to each other. Now there is a lot of good reasons that pretty much every state in the union has gotten rid of the roundabout intersection. They take up a lot of real-estate, the are a danger to pedestrians (no stop signal, cross at own risk), they are a disaster during heavy traffic conditions (if you think blocking the box is bad, conside that it is not possible to avoid blocking the circle in a roundabout), and they cause people to get lost very easily. People who support them (the MASS DOT?) have good reasons as well however. It turns out that rotary intersections are a very efficient way to move traffic through intersections of more than 4 streets (common in mass because the roads are not layed parallel to each other) and make driving through suburban areas quicker because you don't have to stop at intersections. Without the electricity that would be used for stop lights and the gas used by idling vehicles, these intersections can be a very energy efficient trafic solution if implemented in the right areas. Unfortunately, it is my impression that the traffic planners in Mass have abused a good thing, often placing roundabouts where a good old fashion stoplight would be much better. The entire traffic system in parts of Mass is actually designed to minimize the need for traffic light intersections. The result is a series of complex merging areas that can (should) move traffic between roads without stopping the flow of any of them using rotaries and flyovers (see Harvard square or BU bridge). This only happens in practice if there is light traffic however (not likely in Boston) as the capacity to merge is not infinite, and right of way is hard to establish without traffic signals. Use of rotaries in high traffic areas can lead to disasters like the roundabout in front of MGH, simply the worst intersection in the history of automotive transportation. It is dangerous and difficult to drive through and always backed up. If the DOT could get rid of disasters like this and use these unique traffic moving techniques correctly, it could make the state's roads into a model for the rest of the country, as opposed to the over-crowded, stressful mess they frequently are now.

Review : Planet Simpson

Planet Simpson: How a Cartoon Masterpiece defined a generation, by Chris Turner

I have been reading this book on and off for a few months since getting a great deal on it in a used book store in Central Square. This is a very deep and insightful book, but not in the way that one might expect from looking at the cover. This book is a sweeping commentary on pop culture movements of the 90's, based mainly on what the author argues is its most representative symbol, The Simpsons TV show. The book starts with a chapter or two raving about the show and reviewing some trivia, while making the case that it is the symbol of culture for the 90's. The subsequent chapters generally start by making some point about the characters in the show and then using that point to jump to a detailed analysis of some other aspect of pop culture. These pop culture aspects included the rise of grunge music and the transformation of alternative rock, reality television, comedy, several underground movements and the internet. The author also provided interesting and generally middle-of-the-road observations on American politics (not bad for a radically liberal Canadian) and described how the rest of the world interacts with American culture. Not bad for a book about a cartoon. I enjoyed it and recommend it, unless you are just looking for empty Simpson trivia.

Opinion : Immigration

I can't resist commenting on an issue this hot. It seems that congress wants to limit the number of immigrants in this country while Bush wants them to work here temporarily and then go back. Sounds like the usual uninspired politician crap. Militarizing the Mexican border will cost a lot and probably not accomplish much, other than to shoot several poor people whose only crime is wanting to live in the US. Building a wall falls under the same category: people will likely have no trouble going over, under, around, and through. Bush's guest worker plan is good for america if it works (cheap labor and tax revenues to spend on ourselves) and good for others if all the immigrants want is money. Of course most of them are seeking a higher standard of living, and therefore do not want to go back to their original homes without realizing the longterm fruits of their labor. Also, I cant imagine how Bush plans on implementing or enforcing this plan (other than "poorly") which would have to involve rounding up and deporting farm workers (millions) at the end of every harvest season. The only good that this plan would have is stopping smugglers. (a serious problem that does need to be addressed)

Stopping immigration altogether as some have proposed would be a disaster for the economy. (as well as an affont to what this country stands for). Someone has sugested that seasonal workers are taking jobs from working class americans. In reality there are simply not enough working class americans to take those jobs, and even if there were, how many americans want to work 12 hr days for minimum wage in a manual labor job? Good luck replacing 4 million mexican workers with 100k or so americans. And the $50/lb produce won't cause inflation...

The only solution that I see to this problem is to go back to the system that let my grandparents into this country: Simply allow anyone who is healthy, has some money and plans to survive, and respects american ideals to come in freely. If they stay and thrive for several years, then they can apply for citizenship. This solution would be simple and democratic, easy to implement, and allow our country to grow. I have never been comfortable with America as an exclusive birthright, and we should not limit it. "Give us your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free"

Dateline 5/19/06

Well, its official, I have graduated from college.  The commencement was during the biggest rain storm in 70 years, so we got wet.  The ceremony was great though, and it went off without a hitch.  Speaker Dean Kamen pointed out that there were more graduates in this country last year with degrees in sports management than in engineering.  Guess that’s why were better in spots than India..
I am also settling into my new apartment.  My supposed roommate seems to have pulled out last weekend, but that hasn’t really effected me (other than giving me more room and quiet time).  Anyway, I got a desk and a futon and unpacked all my stuff, and so far so good.  I have started learning the area and went shopping in the area yesterday.  I also went jogging this afternoon.

I start working in my new job on Monday, but I wanted to finish up things at the imaging lab.  I am hoping to publish 2 papers on my Sr. project work.  I got a chilly reception however, including a talk about how you can't name things you create after yourself (others have to name them after you) and the Lab director claiming he was having second thoughts about coauthoring the papers with me (but he will support me to publish the work myself).  Anyway, hopefully I can wrap that work up soon and get some kinds of credit for a yeas worth of work.  I have put so much effort into something I think is interesting, it would be a shame if noone else sees it.    

AIDS at 25 years

An amazing article in Newsweek about the 25 years of AIDS. This is a clear reminder of the need to study history so we don't repeat it. I think major progress is being made in disease control if you look at reactions to SARS and birdflu, but this story reminds us what happens when politics interferes with public health and medicine.

Dateline 5/9/06

The finish line is in sight. I finished my last two undergraduate exams yesterday so class is officially over. With 4 of 5 frades posted, I am looking at a 3.9 this semester, a new high. For the record, I have officially gotten an A in every 500-level biomed class I have taken at BU. Lets hope that trend will carry over to Drexel... Another era ended last night as I sold my Big screen TV. I had pretty much given up on getting a huge premium for it so I put it on Craig's lit for 250 or BO. I promptly got 6 calls and 2 people came down that night (one came in as the other was leaving). The second person (actually a group) came in and pointed out that it was old and the projection quality was shot (true) but said that he had almost the same one at home and it died and this was cheaper than fixing it. anyways the guy dropped the cash and carried it out then and there. Him and his crew managed to get the thing in the back of his Ford Explorer and that was that. I am going to miss that TV...
Every ending is a new begining, however. Last week I moved most of my worldly possesions (except my computer, a few sets of clothes, and toiletries) to my summer apt. in West Medford. The rest will go this weekend when my parents get here for graduation. I also took a brief tour of Bioscale inc. in Cambridge where I will be working over the summer. I got an offer from them this week and decided to work there over the hospital research lab. In reality this probably means that I will be volunteering in the hospital research lab. I am really hoping to publish several papers based on my Sr. Project research (which I got an A on by the way). Looking ahead, I have the Sr. Ball tommorrow and the commencement on Sunday, then I will be back in Rochester for a few days before driving back and starting work.