Thursday, January 16, 2003

Offered without comment Off the Wagon. As a drunk is to alcohol, the Bush administration is to budget deficits. By by Paul Krugman. [New York Times: Opinion] Clemency Without Clarity. Perhaps the best argument against capital punishment may be that it is an issue beyond the limited capacity of government to get things right. By Scott Turow. [New York Times: Opinion] NYT.  So, the Supremes upheld that a Congress (that was bought off by monied copyright holders) can extend copyrights forever.  This is a classic Pareto problem of rentiers using the legal system to ensure their future revenue streams.   What they can't earn by creating they earn through changes in the law.  The end result of this type of power grab is a static and uncreative society.  Of course, the end result may be different.  New technology is the wild card in the revolution against the rentiers.  Rip, mix, burn, share. [John Robb's Radio Weblog] 10:49:22 PM    comment []  trackback []

Concerns Raised Over Altered Fish. A new study maintains that the government is poorly structured to assess possible environmental hazards posed by genetically modified fish.... The study... comes as the Food and Drug Administration is considering whether to approve a salmon genetically engineered to grow twice as fast as regular salmon. By Andrew Pollack. [New York Times: Science] Will engineered salmon out-compete wild fish for mates or food, if they escape? accumulate toxins like mercury at a faster rate. The fisheries experts I've talked with won't eat farmed salmon, because of the chemical load Folks in the northwest are starting to notice that salmon from different river runs taste different, much like good wines are specific to their terroir. Will salmon that grow twice as fast taste half as good? Speaking of fish, see also Audobon's guide to "which species are in good shape, which are not, and why." Or Environmental Defense's interactive Seafood Selector and Pocket Guide. PS: Atlantic Sharks Found in Rapid Decline. Shark populations in the northwest Atlantic Ocean have plunged by more than half since scientists began keeping careful track in 1986. By Andrew C. Revkin. [New York Times: Science] "It's a giant experiment, and we're not just playing in the laboratory here.... We're playing with the future of our marine food resources." 10:46:03 PM    comment []  trackback []

Can you say "unconscionable?" [NY Times]: In a reversal, the Bush administration has ruled that managed care organizations can limit and restrict coverage of emergency services for poor people on Medicaid. I tried to formulate an insightful observation in response, but all I can do is sputter apoplectically. To paraphrase what the president said recently concerning affirmative action, the motives may be well intended ("to facilitate more appropriate use of preventive care and primary care") but "the method used ... to achieve this important goal is fundamentally flawed." 10:09:00 PM    comment []  trackback []