True's beaked whale.jpg

Western spotted skunk

Hooded skunk

Yellow-throated Marten

Wolverine

Archive for June, 2009

Sunday, June 28th, 2009

Parasitic diseases are common in the eastern Kentucky Appalachian region. This is one of the topics of a report in June 2008 PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases.

Neglected_diseases_of_poverty_PLoS

The diseases mentioned, Strongyloidiasis and Ascariasis, are parasitic nematode infections!

Strongyloides stercoralis
Strongyloides stercoralis
Ascaris lumbricoides
Ascaris lumbricoides
 
Here is a diagram of the Strongyloides lifecycle from the CDC:

Strongyloides LifeCycle

And the Ascaris lifecycle. The Ascaris worms are huge, 20-49 cm long!

Ascariasis LifeCycle

The University Press

Tuesday, June 23rd, 2009

I saw an article of the problems Univerity Presses are having these days, the problems of an industry facing a changing market combined with university budget cutting during the recession. I think University Presses should embrace change. To me, the Univerity Press looks like the easiest segment of the publishing industry to move completely online. Most of their books are published by academics and mailed to university libraries where they sit bulky and using expensive floor space, rarely read. And for an academic, the electronic book has plenty of advantages, easy searching, cut&paste for quotes and organizing digital research notes, etc.

The physical book is unnecessary, and the price could easily drop several fold. Libraries would save money both buying the books and on shelf space. Without physical books, the main cost is in Univeristy Press is acquisitions and editing staff. The only things holding the Press to physical books are old academics who can’t/won’t use computers (few), the norms of what counts as a book for academic advancement, and inertia.

Socialism watch

Sunday, June 21st, 2009

Keeping track of the rising tide of socialism in the US under that fiend Obama:

0.21% socialist so far!

Still a way to go, but it is never too early to raise the alarm.

Second domestic terrorist attack in two weeks

Wednesday, June 10th, 2009

Today the US had another domestic terrorist attack, the second in two weeks. This time, a long time right-winger, an anti-semite, white supremacist, and anti-Obama birther attacked the Holocaust Museum in DC. Like the guy last week, today’s shooter had a previous conviction for domestic terrorism.

I was listening to right-wing talker Sean Hannity and a listener called in and told a ‘joke’ that was basically death-wish for the Pres. and VP, wouldn’t it be great if they both died, ha ha. Hannity had a laugh along with the caller. I wonder when these right-wing talkers will stop encouraging the violent talk?