Law and Science

Won’t you coddle me too, my darling Congress?

S. Melethil — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 15:52:15 +0000

Thanks, Mr Buffet.

Let me first define “We”. It means one or all of the three: the middle class, the electorate that matters, the suckers. Political pundits tell us we vote our pocket books. How long will we have a pocket of our own? Read on…

Stop Coddling the Super Rich”

Personhood and Diamond Lane

S. Melethil — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 18:39:54 +0000

Some -Personhood supporters- want fetus to be declared a person. If that becomes the law, one amusing question would be: Can a pregnant women legally drive in a car-pool lane? [ NPR- All Things Considered, June 1, 2011.]

Bureaucratic efficiency: Make each federal department MORTAL!

S. Melethil — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 18:37:47 +0000

Obama Calls for Bipartisan Effort to Fight for U.S. Jobs
In his last State of the Union address, Mr. Obama emphasized the need for federal bureaucratic efficiency to improve American competitiveness. Bureaucratic efficiency is a repeat of his recent (January 18, 2011) editorial in the Wall Street Journal; his telling example of saccharin is classic inter-bureaucratic idiocy- one agency, FDA says it is OK to put it in your coffee, but another agency, the EPA, says it is hazardous. The White House can learn something from health care progressives: Provide desired outcomes, and base agency survival and funding priorities based on achieving these outcomes. Such efficiency can be fostered if the top 5 (may be 10, at best) goals of each federal agency (department) are listed on the opening page of each agency website, along with the corresponding agency budget. It will be very educational for us suckers (oops, taxpayers) to know whether our money is making a difference or not. For instance, the Department of Energy was established in 1973 primarily to decrease our dependency on foreign oil. However, while we imported about 28% of our oil needs in 1972, it is 55% today and expected to grow to 70% in another 25 years; in addition, by 2025, we will be importing 50% of our oil needs from the Middle East.”US Foreign Oil Dependency on Increase, say Experts. People (all of us, yes?) concerned with national security should take serious note of this growing dependency on foreign oil. Incidentally, out-come based analysis should give Department “haters” legitimate reasons to close them down. Yes, each Department must be mortal: Lesser the effectiveness, shorter the half-life.

Even dumb kids from caveman days must have known this!

S. Melethil — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 22:01:48 +0000

To Really Learn, Quit Studying and Take a Test
DAH!

Wall street and main street will have parity, when the pig of CAPITALISM learns to fly!

S. Melethil — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 21:53:16 +0000

What’s Good for G.M. Is Good For Homeowners

Candidate Obama spoke of this parity on the election trail. But, as President, his so called ‘wunderkinds’, Summers and Gaithner, did not deliver. I have advocated “throw the bums out” for a long time. Unfortunately, this time at the midterm elections, the electorate threw out part of the baby along with the proverbial bath water when they gave the House to the Republicans. Does not matter; I rejoice that finally the voters are beginning to “throw” out things. With practice, they will learn to keep the babies. In the mean time, babies will have a rough time. Sorry, babes!

What is happening to Super Heroes in America?

S. Melethil — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 18:12:31 +0000

‘Spider-Man’ Won’t Open Until March 15
“’Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark’ has delayed its opening for the fifth time . . . (emphasis added)”. Is the curse the use of double negatives- Turn Off the Dark? A philosophical question: Does light automatically follow when darkness is turned off? Isn’t there here something between dark and light?

An omen for the war in the Afghan land

S. Melethil — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 17:27:18 +0000

Post-Holbrooke Question: ‘What Now?’
As I have been saying for a long time, let us get the hell out of there, now! Wonder if “honest” BO is telling us what the war is really costing us and what we can really hope to accomplish there.

Amusing: Teaching problem-solving, that easy, eh?

S. Melethil — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 18:31:04 +0000

Tracing the Spark of Creative Problem-Solving

“In a just completed study, researchers at Northwestern University found that people were more likely to solve word puzzles with sudden insight when they were amused, having just seen a short comedy routine.” (emphasis added) Hurray for Comedy Central!

Finally, you are not alone, Galileo

S. Melethil — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 18:05:45 +0000

Doors’ Morrison pardoned in indecent exposure case

Obscenity is time-dependent, like heliocentricity was in Galileo’s time.

Le’chayim!

S. Melethil — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 17:26:55 +0000

Scientists learn why alcohol can be good for you
But what counts as a “healthy” dose of alcohol? According to The Mayo Clinic:
Drinks (#) Daily max Weekly Max
Women/Men 65+) 3 7
Men (< 65) 4 14

A 12-ounce beer, 5-ounce glass of wine or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits counts as one drink