Author Archives: Michael Froomkin

Jeb Bush: Devious in Plain Sight

Posted on February 16, 2005 by Michael Froomkin

Mark Lane at Flablog notes Gov. Jeb Bush's fourth iteration of his 'devious plan' to gut the clearly expressed will of the Florida electorate. We voted for smaller class sizes, but Jeb, like all Bushes, thinks that the way to power is to always cut, never raise, taxes and to hell with education.

See Devious Plan Ver. 4.0 for a summary and links to the lurid details.

Note that so far, none of Jeb's plans have worked. Voters want the smaller classes. They'd even pay for it.

He just doesn't get it.

Posted in Florida | 4 Comments

One More for the Faculty Desktop

Posted on February 15, 2005 by Michael Froomkin

Thanks to a recommendation from Ed Bott, I'm adding Copernic Desktop Search to my list of what belongs on the faculty desktop.

Anything else I should be adding?

Posted in Software | 4 Comments

$9 Beer?

Posted on February 15, 2005 by Michael Froomkin

They are selling Dogfish Head: 120 Minute IPA beer in my local for, get this, $8.99 (plus tax) for a single 12oz bottle.

Although curious as to what could possibly justify that price, I did not buy one. First, I didn't want to encourage them. Second, how can you buy just one, when your spouse sent you out you volunteered to go out and buy some nice beer. Third, I could see little chance of a good outcome. Either it would be awful and I'd feel cheated, or it would be great, but I'd still never spend that much for a bottle of beer again and might regret it.

Actually, can something 42 proof really be called beer?

Posted in Food and Drink, Shopping | 18 Comments

Pineapples as Painkillers?

Posted on February 14, 2005 by Michael Froomkin

Apparently, pineapples are painkillers:

It turns out that pineapple has a unique set of enzymes with anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. The main one is bromelin/bromelain, which is an anti-inflammatory, prostaglandin suppressant, anti-coagulant and mild painkiller. I have not confirmed that it's safe to mix pineapple/bromelain with your usual NSAIDs but the Arthritis Foundation does not note this as a risk, nor does this very comprehensive article noting clinical trials (one currently ongoing) and previous studies. Pineapple being cheap this time of year, and non-organic pineapple having a very low probability of pesticide treatment, further investigation is strongly recommended.

And if that doesn't work, try a virtual reality game:

The BBC reports that people absorbed in virtual reality simulations or games are oblivious to pain that normally cripples them. They're so mentally busy that there's no attention left for physical signals. This is a logical extension of how pro athletes are able to continue playing despite severe injury. The project is being developed by the University of Washington Harborview Burn Center, which also developed Spiderworld to use virtual reality to remove fear of spiders

Both items from an odd, and apparently no longer updated, blog I stumbled on called The Clean Shopper .

Posted in Science/Medicine | 3 Comments

YATA (JAG Heroics Dept.)

Posted on February 14, 2005 by Michael Froomkin

New York Daily News – World : Military lawyers at the Guantanamo Bay terrorist prison tried to stop inhumane interrogations, but were ignored by senior Pentagon officials, the Daily News has learned.

Judge advocates – uniformed legal advisers known as JAGs who were assigned to a secret war crimes task force – repeatedly objected to aggressive interrogations by a separate intelligence unit at Camp Delta, where Taliban and Al Qaeda suspects have been jailed since January 2002.

But Pentagon officials “didn't think this was a big deal, so they just ignored the JAGs,” a senior military source said.

The military lawyers' actions had never been disclosed and are the first known cases of lower-level officers resisting interrogations at the Cuban camp that might constitute torture. Some officials called them “unsung heroes” for risking their careers by crossing senior officials who approved the techniques.

(via Balkinization)

Continue reading →

Posted in Guantanamo, Torture | 1 Comment

Happy Valentines Day

Posted on February 14, 2005 by Michael Froomkin

Happy Valentines Day. Be grateful you don't live in Saudi Arabia:

Saudi law forces Valentines underground: Each year shortly before Feb. 14, the country's religious police mobilize, heading out to hunt for and confiscate – red roses, red teddy bears and any signs of a heart.

In a country where Valentine's Day is banned, ordinary Saudis find they must skirt the law to spoil their sweethearts.

The Valentine's Day holiday celebrating love and lovers is banned in Saudi Arabia, where religious authorities call it a Christian celebration that true Muslims should shun.

Our great allies in the fight for 'liberty'.

Posted in Politics: International | 1 Comment