Do A Dobie For Science, Get Paid

[bejohnson]

UI scientists seek marijuana smokers for pot study (http://www.whotv.com/Global/story.asp?S=8157524&nav=2HAB)

Associated Press - April 12, 2008 3:04 PM ET

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) - A group of University of Iowa scientists is looking for marijuana smokers to help gain insight into the drug's effects. And they plan to pay subjects as much as $600 to smoke their pot.

The study examines how marijuana affects brain function and cognition, with particular attention to the duration of use and the age of first use. The measure is brain imaging studies and achievement tests, such as for math and verbal skills.

Robert Block is an associate professor in the school's Department of Anesthesia and the lead investigator on the project. He says the group is looking for pot users and control subjects who consume alcohol and tobacco - but not marijuana - to participate in the study.

Subjects receive $20 for an initial screening session. Those that participate fully pocket $600.

Block said that, depending on the results, the study might ultimately be used to support political positions on marijuana. Those could include whether there should be harsher criminal penalties, whether it should be decriminalized, or whether it should be allowed for medicinal purposes.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press.

I want the Twinkies and Doritos concessions. :smokin :food

[robodude666]

Iowa you say? Hmmm...

[egarrard]

Ah. I saw the thread title and wondered why somebody was being paid to have sex with a Doberman. I guessed that they must have been making animal husbandry films.

[nilzxx]

Can that even be legal?

[bejohnson]

Ah. I saw the thread title and wondered why somebody was being paid to have sex with a Doberman. I guessed that they must have been making animal husbandry films.

It's the damn vbulliten software. The double "o" typed as a single "o" (crappy keyboard) and when I corrected it the thread title didn't change.

[robodude666]

It's the damn vbulliten software. The double "o" typed as a single "o" (crappy keyboard) and when I corrected it the thread title didn't change.

Its not the vBulletin software. vB supports editing titles but the right is not enabled for regular users. All you need to do is pound Zeek on the head a few times with a shovel so he can read the vB manual and change the rights.

[gkpeter1]

I guess we do things right in Iowa, huh?:thumb

[bejohnson]

I guess we do things right in Iowa, huh?:thumb

Hey, you are only a couple of miles from the Iowa City Campus. Are you gonna volunteer?

[Fuzzfool]

Iowa! Never thought the midwest would open up like that. But, hey, all in the name of science! I thought it would be more likely to be conducted in california or canada.

[gkpeter1]

Probably not. Don't think that would be a good message for the kids and the students I teach :) I definately will follow it. I think they did stuff with marijuana and the driver simulator a few years back too.

[bejohnson]

Iowa! Never thought the midwest would open up like that. But, hey, all in the name of science! I thought it would be more likely to be conducted in california or canada.

Iowa City (University of Iowa) and Ames (Iowa State University) are about as liberal as they come. Two islands of California dreaming in the Heartland. :rofl2

My mother-in-law, father-in-law and late wife obtained degrees from both schools. Floyd, my father-in-law, tells a story of a professor at the University of Iowa making a statement that the planet would be much better off if farming was outlawed worldwide. He confused the crap out of the professor when he asked how the world's population would be fed if farming were outlawed. :Wink

[Manic Mouse]

Makes me wonder about the value of a doctorate from that school...

[bejohnson]

Makes me wonder about the value of a doctorate from that school...

I agree. UI is a strange place. At least ISU has a great school of agriculture. Though I have to admit that 30 years ago they were both excellent.

[gkpeter1]

First, make sure your statements are valid.
http://www.news-releases.uiowa.edu/2008/March/032808usnews_report.html (http://http://www.news-releases.uiowa.edu/2008/March/032808usnews_report.html)
Second, most Universities tend to be liberal, it is the nature of the beast. New ideas tend to be liberal in nature.

In a state of red, Iowa City is bright blue and I LOVE it.

[gkpeter1]

Makes me wonder about the value of a doctorate from that school...

Please elaborate on this when you have time.:)

[bejohnson]

First, make sure your statements are valid.
http://www.news-releases.uiowa.edu/2008/March/032808usnews_report.html (http://http://www.news-releases.uiowa.edu/2008/March/032808usnews_report.html)
Second, most Universities tend to be liberal, it is the nature of the beast. New ideas tend to be liberal in nature.

In a state of red, Iowa City is bright blue and I LOVE it.

Rankings by media need to be taken with a grain of salt.

My father-in-law has a BS, a MS, a MBA and a Ph.D from ISU and another Ph.D from UI.

My mother-in-law has a BA and two MAs and a Ph.D from ISU and another MA from UI.

My late wife had 4 BS degrees from ISU, 4 BS degrees from the Naval Academy, 3 MS and 2 Ph.Ds from MIT, 2 MS and 2 Ph.Ds from Cal Tech, 3 MS and 3 MA from the Navy War College, a JD, a MBA and a PH.D from Harvard.

The all have been there and they all agree that rankings by media are only as good as the reporter's bias and the people that analyze the statistics.

My wife's experience with most UI graduates was less than stellar. She was not impressed. My father-in-law states that today's graduates from either of the Iowa schools are way below par from the graduates of a generation ago and this trend has been occurring since the late 1970s.

In defense of the schools' performances and standing I will concede that my in-laws and my late wife had extremely high standards of performance and expectations from anyone that had invested five plus years of their life into a college education.

Their attitude is/was to perform less than your best is a waste of time and money.

BTW, new ideas are not necessarily liberal. Controversial at times, but an idea can be either conservative of liberal. A case in point is the Fair Tax (http://www.fairtax.org/site/PageServer). That is a conservative idea that is definitely controversial (at least until one understands the idea). :Wink

[gkpeter1]

Media can skew things, I agree. However, I think around that nation we are probably seeing a "dumbing" down occurring. So, that statement may relate to other institutes around the nation.

[bejohnson]

Media can skew things, I agree. However, I think around that nation we are probably seeing a "dumbing" down occurring. So, that statement may relate to other institutes around the nation.

Dumbing down is a given. This will sound like a conspiracy theory rant but the government does not want an educated and well informed electorate. That is why our public (government) schools are in such foul shape.

I was in school when the schools were integrated. The white schools were of fairly high standards while the black (they were called "colored" then) schools were marginal at best. In the process of integrating the schools the government had a golden opportunity to assure that are schools were excellent. This did not occur. Rather than expend the time, effort and money to bring the black kids up to the level of the white kids the choice was made to set the standards so the average black student would be the norm.

BTW, I'm not a bitter black guy but a white guy that tells it like it is.

This was an affront to the education of both the black and white kids and resulted in the conditions that we see today. I see way too many high school (and college) graduates that cannot pass the sixth grade coursework that I had 1964.

[Salavat23]

Dumbing down is a given. This will sound like a conspiracy theory rant but the government does not want an educated and well informed electorate. That is why our public (government) schools are in such foul shape.


This was an affront to the education of both the black and white kids and resulted in the conditions that we see today. I see way too many high school (and college) graduates that cannot pass the sixth grade coursework that I had 1964.

Well, lowering the standard of the eduction system is indeed a good thing to a certain extent.

Think about it, you cannot have every single student striving to be a lawyer, surgeon or doctor. This undervalues those jobs, and leaves out crucial occupations in the dark such as truck drivers and forklift operators.

Take the United States as an example. Their educational department (per state) does not strive to create over-achieving students. Their system splits up the students into two categories; those who are motivated to do well, and those who aren't. Those who aren't would naturally take the more hands-on, lower paying jobs. Those who do well would take on more academic positions. This creates a balance.

Having everyone go only into academic jobs or only into hands-on trades can cause a very unpleasant scenario.

One of the reasons that the USSR broke up was that they were too focused on eduction. This created many conflicts among the people of the country. Too many people were striving for "high-end" jobs.

What is necessary to have is a balanced educational system. One that is not excellent, yet not horrible.

[bejohnson]

Well, lowering the standard of the eduction system is indeed a good thing to a certain extent.

Think about it, you cannot have every single student striving to be a lawyer, surgeon or doctor. This undervalues those jobs, and leaves out crucial occupations in the dark such as truck drivers and forklift operators.

Take the United States as an example. Their educational department (per state) does not strive to create over-achieving students. Their system splits up the students into two categories; those who are motivated to do well, and those who aren't. Those who aren't would naturally take the more hands-on, lower paying jobs. Those who do well would take on more academic positions. This creates a balance.

Having everyone go only into academic jobs or only into hands-on trades can cause a very unpleasant scenario.

One of the reasons that the USSR broke up was that they were too focused on eduction. This created many conflicts among the people of the country. Too many people were striving for "high-end" jobs.

What is necessary to have is a balanced educational system. One that is not excellent, yet not horrible.

No one said anything about everyone going in to academics. There are plenty of people out there that strive for higher education because they want to better themselves and to do the best in a job that they love.

My father-in-law is a farmer that used his farming skills and his education to develop a farm into a multi-billion dollar agribusiness. My sister-in-law used her education to turn her love of photography into a multi-million dollar photography business. My two brother-in-laws both have multiple post graduate degrees (two Ph.Ds each) and they turned their love of the business world into very lucrative financial businesses worth billions.

MY father-in-law also makes sure that the kids of his farm workers have every opportunity to succeed. The kids are educated on the farm and their college is paid for by my father-in-law. He has kids that have gone on to be doctors, lawyers, business people, restaurant owners, teachers, pilots, scientist, mechanics, technicians, you name it there's a kid from the farm probably doing it.

Lowering standards is NEVER a good thing to do. Everyone should strive to set the highest standards possible and then meet those standards. It doesn't matter what job you do. From janitor to auto mechanic to brain surgeon to rocket scientist, one should always meet the highest standards and strive for perfection.

Some of the smartest and most educated people I know work with their hands and don't really care about the money as long as they are comfortable. I have a friend that is a farm machinery mechanic. He is also a mechanical engineer and uses his education to solve problems with equipment rather than writing the equipment off. He is in very high demand and makes very, very good money.

You will find that there are several engineers on every one of the NASCAR race teams also. A high education does not preclude working with one's hands or enjoying the satisfaction of doing manual labor.

[Salavat23]

You will find that there are several engineers on every one of the NASCAR race teams also. A high education does not preclude working with one's hands or enjoying the satisfaction of doing manual labor.

I never stated that it is a must for those with a higher eduction to avoid hands-on careers. What I meant is that for the most part, those with a average-sub-average eduction do more hands-on work such as cleaning, repairing etc.

For the most part, those with a higher education strive to do more academic, less hands-on work. This may include an engineer as you mentioned.

[egarrard]

Please elaborate on this when you have time.:)Sounds like it starts out as a BS...and never gets better... Although as an agricultural college, BS is a good thing. :Wink

[egarrard]

Well, lowering the standard of the eduction system is indeed a good thing to a certain extent.Speaking of BS... Lowering educational standards is NEVER a plus. If they are too stupid to meet the standards, they are too stupid. Period. Not everybody can be, or is, smart.

[egarrard]

One of the reasons that the USSR broke up was that they were too focused on eduction.No, the reason they broke up was that they couldn't keep up. Communism is a failure and unworkable. China is a case in point. It is not rising from within through innovation. They are rising through theft and mimicry. Lack of ideas means stagnation and eventual collapse of civilization. Again, an inability to compete. If America falls, as it seem destined to - from within, then Europe, Canada, and Australia/New Zealand will quickly follow. But is the world better with the lack of incentive to innovate? Or is it better for inspiring people to be mediocre? When there is nothing left for China to steal, they are doomed too since they have no ideas of their own.

[Fuzzfool]

Wow, such in-depth discussion that doesn't relate to the topic. But I do agree that USA will collapse soon because of so much corruption in the government and business world. Too many laws and loopholes will eventually destruct itself then we'll have to rewrite the laws again to be very frickin clear as to make no gray laws... I have been in construction all my life but I didn't enjoy it for the most part as it hurts my back or legs. So I'm in school right now for a business accounting major. Which my apitude puts me into. Anyway....um... I'm lost in thought

[bejohnson]

No, the reason they broke up was that they couldn't keep up. Communism is a failure and unworkable. China is a case in point. It is not rising from within through innovation. They are rising through theft and mimicry. Lack of ideas means stagnation and eventual collapse of civilization. Again, an inability to compete. If America falls, as it seem destined to - from within, then Europe, Canada, and Australia/New Zealand will quickly follow. But is the world better with the lack of incentive to innovate? Or is it better for inspiring people to be mediocre? When there is nothing left for China to steal, they are doomed too since they have no ideas of their own.
I was coming back to this today. The main reason the Soviet Union broke up was because it was bankrupt. The had expended fantastic sums of money in building their standing army, in building a huge fleet of surface ships, and on the war in Afghanistan. They also had spent obscenely amounts on trying to develop quiet submarine technology to keep up with the U.S. and as a countermeasure to the U.S.'s vast lead in the use of submarines as nuclear launch platforms. The six Typhoon class, type 941 (Akula), ballistic missile subs, while not as elaborate as the sub in "The Hunt For Red October" were very costly at an estimated cost of over two billion dollars each.

The straw that broke the financial back of the USSR though was Reagan's "Star Wars" proposal. In trying to develop ways to circumvent the proposed anti-missile system they spent themselves into bankruptcy. The huge amount of money spent on all of the cold war defensive and offensive programs is the number one reason for the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The number two reason was the general lack of well being of the Soviet people caused by the massive economic failure of the communist system. The systems failure to provide even basic human needs for the population eventually help cause the collapse from within. With almost all of the resources (well over 80%) going for defense spending, there was nothing left for the state to use in support of the people. In a communist system it is up to the state to provide for the needs of the people and not the individual to provide for him or herself. When the population suffers in abject poverty it can only lead to collapse.

[Salavat23]

No, the reason they broke up was that they couldn't keep up. Communism is a failure and unworkable. China is a case in point. It is not rising from within through innovation. They are rising through theft and mimicry. Lack of ideas means stagnation and eventual collapse of civilization. Again, an inability to compete. If America falls, as it seem destined to - from within, then Europe, Canada, and Australia/New Zealand will quickly follow. But is the world better with the lack of incentive to innovate? Or is it better for inspiring people to be mediocre? When there is nothing left for China to steal, they are doomed too since they have no ideas of their own.

There were many contributing factors, some more crucial than others.

[bejohnson]

There were many contributing factors, some more crucial than others.

That statement is like saying the sky is many different shades of blue. It may be true but it avoids the answer to the question of why the sky is blue.

You stated:
One of the reasons that the USSR broke up was that they were too focused on eduction. This created many conflicts among the people of the country. Too many people were striving for "high-end" jobs.

This is just not true. In actuality, well-educated professionals had become a significant social group and they were ready to embrace the cultural liberalization introduced early in the Gorbachev era. They also understood the benefits of the ideals of a democratic society. It was liberalization and democratization that help bring the regime to the crisis point and was one of the leading factors that contributed to the collapse.

[Salavat23]

That statement is like saying the sky is many different shades of blue. It may be true but it avoids the answer to the question of why the sky is blue.



The sky is dark grey at night;)

[bejohnson]

The sky is dark grey at night;)

Only when there is moisture present along with lights from a populated area.

In the desert or at sea on a moonless night the sky is dark black with countless stars that sparkle like diamonds with an opalescent pale ribbon of the Milky Way running through it.

When at sea on a cloudy night, the sky is coal sack black to the naked eye and I have seen it so dark that even night vision equipment was useless.