A panel of scientists and ethicists recommended Thursday that the government accept research that tests the effects of pesticides and other toxic substances on humans.

Such research--typically conducted by chemical and pesticide companies--could be used to set safety standards for potentially poisonous substances in the food supply and in the nation's air and water, said a 14-member commission convened by the National Academy of Sciences.

[more on this troublesome issue!]

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Vox Populi: I responded to an overwrought editorial with a brief summary of my sermon on Mel Gibson's new movie. The letter can be found here along with the printed version, which provides an interesting example of newspaper editing at work.

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Scientific Know Nothings In The White House: Intel is not the only area where the White House has cherrypicked information as shown here. A somewhat more hesitant account can be found here that still is suspicious, especially as to how this administration has unstaffed/funded science programs.

Talking about the WH ... I take on the latest judicial recess appointment here.

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inverted civil disobedience - "violating the seemingly clear letter of the law in the cause of a higher principle of equality" [see here]