protein folding supercomputer

I've always thought protein folding prediction software is the inevitable and someday dominant future. Also, it is my go-to topic for awkward late-night and often all-too-lubricated "socials" at conferences and the like. Anyway, some big boys announced a new super big boy on the scene, Anton.

Lordi

Maybe everyone already knew this, but Finland's entry into the Eurovision contest a few years back was costume-metal band named Lordi. Lordy. And they won.

Oh well

It strikes me that the Bush administration as a "lame duck" administration is a slightly more decent one. They batted away that absurd gas tax holiday, oppose the farm bill in its current incarnation, and have come clean with government reports on global warming. Of course many manifestations of their misguided ideologies are still offensive to me (taxes, Iran, GI bill, etc.).

I think an attractive hypothesis is that this new-found decency is due to the fact they are no longer running for anything, and as such, can simply govern. To me, the most comprehensive explanation for their policies in the past is that they believed all policy was political; an idea proffered by John Dilulio, Scott McClellan, and others. So without all the political calculations nowadays, they are left to approach issues with reason and honesty.

stay positive 75 hill!

Booger the dog, Kitty the cat and Mousy the rat-- video.

Platypus genome

A fine discussion of the platypus genome

HRC

One of my pals, a two-time W voter (???!!??), has since switched allegiances to Obama and company. His wonderful reversal has been fascinating to watch, although I think I've only caught the tail-end of it, and is a credit to his good sense. He still adheres to certain conservative opinions but does so honestly and with reason. Anyway he's taken to calling Hillary R. Clinton, Hillary "Republican" Clinton, and swears he will abstain from voting if it comes down to her V. McCain.

I have done my best to maintain support for her should she somehow gain the nomination but her recent irresponsibly bellicose comments about Iran and ill-conceived gas-tax holiday have sadly made her nickname all too apt. Like woe. On the gas tax thing: it seems almost unanimous that this it is a terrible idea and TPM thinks it might even further enrich the bogeyman oil companies.

more Manny

Manny Ramirez on his legacy: "After all this is over, all I want is for my kids to go to college and to be their best friend. That’s all I want. I don’t care about home runs or whatever." I love that he is the best hitter on my favorite baseball team.