Apparently, Honey has found its place in Olympic gymnastics, but not as some sort of sugar energy-booster as you might think from all the honey-based candy energy bars you find in sport shops. Nope, Honey is being prized for its stickiness - Olympiads are using it to keep their hands stuck to their swing bars. Have a read.

Class blurb:

Catch the Buzz About Honeybees!

Find out all you ever wanted to know about those busy little insects that pollinate our crops and turn nectar into Honey. Hobby Beekeeper and science enthusiast Karl J. Mogel will be teaching a class on all the fascinating little things we know about bees: Queens and workers, the “Bee Dance”, swarms, stingers, and the fun and challenges of beekeeping. And of course the best part, come spin some honey yourself and take it home in a jar!

This class is free and open to the public. It runs from 7-8 pm at the Eagle Heights Community Center on the UW-Madison campus. For information on how to get there, visit this map link.

Ariela and I just pulled a whole medium-depth honey super and four full-depth frames out of our hives today… time to wipe down the centrifuge - it’s honey extracting time!

The identification was made from those samples, with DNA samples taken from the victims to confirm.

A government scientist told the Associated Press Sunday that investigators started with DNA from some of those victims and matched specific DNA patterns to anthrax cultures that the suspect, Army scientist Bruce Ivins, 62, was responsible for in the lab.

This scientific technique took years to develop.

That sounds like standard run-of-the mill PCR to me. Take some unique sequences in the anthrax samples that can be used to differentiate it from all other samples, then create PCR primers to make copies of, and sequence those sequences in each sample. The victims, anthrax from letters, and the suspected anthrax lab. If the sequences match, you have a winner. (or loser) I could do it.

So I don’t see what is so new about this mystery DNA technique… must’ve been new to Fox News or something.

Still, it is nice to know that we know the source of those anthrax letters, although the suspect committed suicide, this means that if it ever happens again, we can always call on this secret technique involving this “DNA’ thing!

Rather than distribute searches amongst many servers around the world, Cuil sends each search to a specific computer. I tried typing “The Inoculated Mind” into Cuil, and before I was halfway, it already suggested the full title of my blog. “The Inoculated Mind” actually has a place on one of their servers, facilitating any search for it. How special!

When I hit the search, the differences between Google and Cuil became palpable. Cuil organizes its search results into columns, an array of boxes on one screen, and puts a related topic/category menu on the right. Anti-creationism, Space Shuttle Missions, and Science Blogs comes up for me. Strangely, so too do “american films” maybe because of the scifi soundtracks in my podcast? Images related to each search hit POP up in some of each of the 11 boxes, usually a generic “Science News” button.

But what should come up in those search hit boxes is what concerns me. Hit after hit, and page after page are merely piles of podcast feed hits, from all those sites that index podcasts. Mefeedia hits dominate a search for my site, and wikipedia appears at the top. But no where in the search does this site even come up! I searched through 20 search pages and not once did www.inoculatedmind.com come up. My profile on typepad came up, and that was about it. Apparently, you cannot reasonably find my site by searching for it with Cuil.

Google, by comparison, puts it right at the top. Search for my name, my podcast, or whatever, and my site is right at the top, very easy to find. Why is this? It is because every time someone links to my site with the words “Inoculated Mind” or “Karl Mogel”, etc, Google bumps my site up in importance for that search. This has led to something called Google Bombing, where you get many people to link to one site or page with the same words, bumping that site up very rapidly. It worked for Expelled!

Cuil, in contrast, works by ranking pages more in terms of the content of those pages, like how often an entered term shows up on the page. This explains why The Inoculated Mind turns up mirrors of my podcast feed over and over again, because each one shows “The Inoculated Mind” like 60 times. So supposedly, a good idea to help people find what they’re looking for more easily, results in a huge cloud of useless links, at least when you have a podcast.

To give Cuil another test, I was looking for a metal canister with a pour spout for Ariela’s candlemaking enterprise, and Cuil failed again. The handy-dandy images that display in the search hits on Cuil invariably showed pictures of metal golf club heads. On a search about metal oil cans, or teapots, etc. On the search hits for metal oil cans themselves. Looks like a bad algorithm, for what seems to be a nice idea.

So at least for a few months; I don’t expect Cuil to be very popular, because it doesn’t seem to be very useful for finding what I need.

The second is Malaysia4Biotech, another blog popping up overseas, which has already started churning out the posts. Author Mahaletchumy Arujanan opens with the big Why for blogging about biotech:

The 21st century is hailed as the century of biological sciences, particularly biotechnology which is revolutionizing all aspects of our lifestyles from food to agriculture, environment, industry, and healthcare and medicine. Biotechnology is changing the terrains and landscapes of these fields to enhance the quality of life and environment. Countries are racing to embrace this powerful tool to create wealth though innovation. Malaysia is not spared as the government has pledged it strong commitments to develop this sector.

However, we are lagging behind many nations which seriously points out that the current efforts put into this area are insufficient or ineffective. Many constraints and hurdles are faced by those involved in the biotechnology sector. Lack of funding, grants, expertise, pool of skilled workers, experience in commercialization, collaboration between scientists and the industry, and commitments from venture capital and bankers are some of the glaring constraints and hurdles faced. This is coupled with the anti-technology movement spearheaded by activists, environmentalists and consumer groups. Sentiments such as anti-technology, globalization, and monopolization by certain multinational companies have been planted into the minds of the general public.

This phenomenon is further magnified by the resistance of the media to publish or air more news on science and technology. Often negative news on biotechnology captures the headlines, which is further sensationalized by the media to gain the attention of readers. This certainly does not augur well with our aspiration to make Malaysia a global biotechnology player.

This blog aims at providing a platform for all stakeholders, including general public to read and discuss the issues plaguing the biotechnology sector in this country and counter the negative and unfounded accusations hurled at this powerful technology. It is hoped through this blog, the public will have better understanding of the technology and raise valid concerns over the implication of the technology.
- Mahaletchumy Arujana

A very well-thought out summary of why this growing group of genetic engineering bloggers is engaging in this topic. Mahaletchumy is joined by Joel WIlliams and KC Liew at Malaysia4Biotech. The question still remains for me, why now?

I could answer it for myself. I’ve always given genetic engineering particular attention on my show, and while I was jusst producing my show in Davis, I didn’t write much on my blog, although I intended to. Temporarily halting the mindcast coincided with going to grad school, which has been a major driver of thought for me on the subject. Bombarded with papers, issues, facts about genetic engineering, breeding, interactions with other grad students and professors - how can I not think about it, and want to start writing about it too?

But what can explain the rise this year in particular, is genetic engineering getting talked about more than ever? Actually, looking at Google Trends, it seems that the volume of news and discussion about GE is not particularly high right now. (Blue: Genetic Engineering, Red: GMO)

Perhaps, then, it reflects a change in attitude. There have been some pretty big developments this year, and as food production is being called into question for its long-term sustainability, biofuels come into the picture, and people are listening. Maybe we see an opportunity to educate, maybe we’re cognizant of a slightly different situation, or maybe we all figured it was just about time. Who knows, let’s go with it. We’re spreading like runaway transgenes!*

Check out the blogs on my Genetic Engineering blogroll on the right. Bit by bit we’re linking together. If only there was a place we could all post information and build a community of plant genetics communicators?

I shouldn’t tease… but stay tuned.

*Which of course hasn’t really happened.

Wait a second, that looks like something that we had a jeweler in Madison make us for our…

WEDDING!

Great Darwin’s Galapagos, I’m married!

Currently, my name is still Karl Joseph Mogel, and my spouse’s name is still Ariela Haro, as we have to go through court to get our new fantastic name. I’ll be sure to inform of that change in official nomenclature when it happens.

Here’s another picture of the side of my ring.

I’ll have plenty of time to describe the details of the wedding later. And what went into it. For now, it seems the videographer has finished their work and the whole thing is viewable on Youtube, so enjoy!

Now that I’m back it’s time to hit the ground running tomorrow - field, film, grad student get-together… back to life.

Update: Due to popular demand for wedding pictures, there are a few available to check out on Ariela’s MySpace page, just check the tagged photos in her profile.

The removal of schistostic stone
erects a talus in the vale,
exposing igneous plutons that
in time shall also fail.

The forces of wind and water
and the quakes from underneath,
will rend the very monuments
that my love for you will leave.

But they who only seek to carve
A canyon between us each,
will never know the heat that boils
where shivers never reach.

For far beneath the crust upwells
a heat that none can quench.
It turns their water into steam
when leaks attempt to drench.

The spires my magma builds for you
will fault and fall someday,
but this burning love will build anew
a stone that won’t give way.

Together we will touch the stars
where clouds will never go,
and let our love build mountaintops
that winds will never know.

Upon reflection, and reading many of the comments made, I feel that no matter how mad I was, it did not make it right for me to use the language or tone I used. In fact, I think there would have been many more constructive things I could have done, the angry email was just the simplest way.
And I’m sorry.

But then his confession turns bizarre and he starts talking about Muslims… who ever mentioned Muslims in this issue? It sounds like a complaint that they think one religious group gets to make death threats but their group cannot?

As mr. myers, should know, and most intellectually honest people do know, attacking the Muslim religion or advocating attacks of it’s symbols and traditions would not have resulted in a stupid but boorish email from a “Nutjob whacko, and all-around asshole catholic ” as ole ylooshi here, so eloquently posted above.

It may very well have resulted (if the recent 30 or so year past is any indication) with the good professor hearing the words Allah Akbar shouted into his ear, while not so nice things were happening to him, perhaps things like, being shot in the lobby of a travel agency, being thrown overboard of his cruise ship, or being shot at the airport ticket counter at lax, or maybe being driven over by a student in the college parking lot, could be the bus he rides would have been torn to shreds by a homicide bomber, or even being murdered while riding his bicycle to work, or perhaps he would have been sitting at his office computer, when one the offended folks drove an airplane through his window.

Wow, look at that. It simply must be the Muslims’ fault - I mean a few guys flew planes into the World Trade Center and that’s why Chuck Kroll had to threaten the life of PZ…? Yeah, whatever floats your boat. What I find interesting is that this guy, although he is saying that he’s sorry for, well, committing a federal crime, he’s indicating that he’s really not sorry. Instead of threatening PZ Myers directly, he is veiling his threat behind The Mythical Muslim Menace™ and using them to scare the professor.

And while admitting that he bears full responsibility, he demonstrates that his apology is instead a notpology:

However, this whole incident has caused someone who had nothing to do with the email to mr.myers,.a wonderful, sweet person who would never threaten anyone terrible troubles. Great harm has been done to this wonderful lady, without proof or a question asked, you just accuse, and assume. Wow and I thought you liberal folks were supposed to be the open minded ones.

It is my hope that since the mystery is now removed, and now that the Identity of the horrible person who dared write such crude things to the mr. myers is known, that the same people who put so much effort into harming Melanie Kroll, will use as much effort to right the wrong that has been done to her.

Yes, the wrong that was done to her was totally the fault of everyone else. 1-800-Flowers.com probably fired her because they did not want to get into the business of figuring out to what extent she was at fault, and couldn’t guarrantee to themselves that it wouldn’t happen again. And that’s totally classy - to blame the firing on those outside sources that complained about getting their lives threatened. Sounds like someone else might get fired, from their marriage. Yikes. I’d better make sure to include “I pledge never to send death threats through your work email” to my vows this Saturday!

Update: Five minutes later, I see that Melanie Kroll stopped by Greg Laden’s Blog. Defending her husband, she says:

First off, it is amazing at all the speculation out there. Number one, i will not be leaving my husband due to this mistake. Number two he is not a crazy lunatic, but a very passionate man when it comes to his party and his religion. He’s a great person, great father and yes feels absolutely horrible about what has happened to me.

(…)

My husband went on to the drudge report site that he reads and clicked on a link and came across that man pz’s notice and responded as he always does when he is upset.

Great… that’s how he always responds when he’s upset. Sounds like a dynamite fellow!

Update 2: Simon addresses the question - should bloggers post emails sent to them?

It also makes a good lab fridge magnet, too. But at a distance, it looks like a lab supply company advertisement! Ariela got to put music notes in the invitations we made. This isn’t the last time you’ll see DNA or hear about music notes in interesting places… Stay tuned. Gotta fly!

There are simply too many things for me to do before I leave Wisconsin this week to get hitched - I’ve got some good stuff for a show, and it’s half completed, but it will have to wait until I get back to Madison. Fear not! We’re not going on some long honeymoon that will take us to the other side of the world, we’re just taking a nice two-day ‘mini-moon’ that will land us back in Madison on the 24th. So during the weekend after I get back, I’ll finish up episode 79 and get it posted right away.

This will work better anyway, why upload only one episode only to have a two week gap before continuing? I’ll still be able to write and post some more wedding details this week, I haven’t told everyone all about the fun details yet!