Scientific studies conducted in the public interest appear to have veered off course, according to a new report that documents government-sponsored research gems such as having shrimp walk on tiny treadmills to measure the impact of sickness on crustaceans.
While the exercises may be adorable to watch, Sen. Tom Coburn says he's not so sure it advances the cause of science.
The Oklahoma Republican issued a new report Thursday that concludes the National Science Foundation has misspent $3 billion on "waste, fraud, duplication and mismanagement." It offers a list of research projects that could have been left as questions for the universe.
Among them, $2 million to analyze 38 million photos on Flickr and cross-reference them against the site's social networking service. Turns out, researchers concluded, that friends generally post photos on the Internet depicting the same place at the same time.
6 comments:
Not to say NSF is perfect, but if the 'shrimp treadmill" is the best example Coburn has, tis is a weak argument. Any disease that may effect fish growth/reproduction would have a direct impact on 100's of millions in business on the Atlantic and Gulf Coast.
I personally like the Jello wrestling research. If that's proven successful (whatever they are looking to prove), a show like this in bikinis would do a lot to increasing business at the Casino.
regarding government waste and abuse: this is just the tip of the iceberg.
"citizens against government waste"; "heritage foundation" and many other groups have warned us for years of this abuse. it never stops; hence the "horrible state of our economy".
we can correct most of this by electing leaders that have a true desire to "clean up" government and make it run as it should. the ball is in our court; we just need to act.......get involved.
They forgot to mention the 70 billion dollars trying to prove the hoax of global warming
"They forgot to mention the 70 billion dollars trying to prove the hoax of global warming"
Just wait a minute! Are you suggesting that Al Gore (once he dried out) was perpetuating a hoax?!?!?!!! Shame on you!
I am really serious about bringing Jello wrestling to the Ocean City are though. It's good wholesome exercise.
ok; bring it to o.c. but don't get us to pay for it......
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