Spartacus

Sciatic Attack

Apologies for the light blogging of late. I hurt my back a couple of weeks ago either coming down hard on my backside while bouncing around on my Kubota tractor or while tossing newly-cut logs into piles for later splitting. Either way, the result has been painful inflammation of my sciatic nerve which makes it very painful for me to sit in one place for any length of time. While I can read perfectly well while lying flat, I find it hard to write. Please bear with me as I try to learn how to type with the keyboard lying on my stomach (or find better drugs, whichever comes first). . .

Why People Are Paid for Drug Trials

. . . Because sometimes things like this happen. More here and here.

I'm surprised that the US media has not picked up on this horrific story.

What the Boys Want for Christmas

The M-32 Multiple shot Grenade Launcher: “You can put six rounds on target in under three seconds. . . I thought this thing was sick.” ("Sick" being a good thing, if you are a Marine.)

WTF Department: Trust in a bottle?!

Yet another reason to use a discount, online broker. (Via bookofjoe.)

Santa? Are You Out There?

What I really want for Christmas. (Though I don't think I've really been good enough to deserve it.)

Japan's New Blog Queen

Japanese internet companies are concerned that there aren't enough Japanese people writing blogs. Celebrity Kaori Manabe has been hired to remedy the situation.

Jonas Salk Should've Been A Lawyer

Pediatrician and vaccine expert Dr. Paul Offit explains how unwarranted lawsuits stop investment in vaccine research and manufacturing in today's WSJ. [Links WSJ Subscriber | Temporary] His bottom line:

. . . if companies are left exposed to the vagaries of juries (as is likely with the thimerosal litigation), vaccine makers won't make a pandemic-influenza vaccine. It's that simple. And young Americans will be able to experience firsthand just what an influenza pandemic looks like -- something that all of the lawsuits in the world won't be able to stop.

Here is a less concise (but permalink-able) version of Dr. Offit's argument, from Pharmaceutical News.

Fundamentalism vs. Science

This time in the UK.

Robocop meets Repoman

This is a cool use of technology.

The Price of Freedom is Internet Vigilence

Former Delaware Governor Pete du Pont warns that we shouldn't be too quick to declare victory in the war to keep the UN's hands off the internet. The WaPo's editorial board seems to agree, arguing that if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Me? I don't trust the Turtle Bay crowd any further than I can throw them.