Up From Facebook

When I was growing up, lots of adults smoked. My piano teacher smoked during my piano lessons. Cigarette commercials were on TV. Their jingles were so addictive, we in the trumpet section would play them before band practice. Airplanes used to have a smoking section and a no-smoking light that went on before take-off and landing. Eventually, America turned against tobacco, although it’s still widely consumed in much of the rest of the world. There’s no real debate anymore—tobacco isn’t food, it’s poison. Now, some folks are comparing processed food to tobacco. It’s true that the packaging and flavoring of both cigarettes and processed foods have been engineered to make them more attractive and more addicting. But let’s not get carried away, like RFK Jr: “The US health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has called ultraprocessed food “poison” and, in at least   one case , “genocide,”   . . . “ You know what’s poison? Arsenic is poison. Most American rice has significant levels o...

The first time I saw a cybertruck in person was when we were eating dinner at a restaurant in East Yellowstone. The restaurant staff were gathered in front of a window, gawking and holding up their cell phones. Someone had parked a cybertruck just outside. I’ve seen a couple here in East Providence RI since then. I don’t pay attention to car or truck design generally, but the cybertruck is  sui generis.  To me, it looks like a giant toy, something carved for the pine box derby. But I’m not part of the target market demographic, so my reaction doesn’t matter. How is that demographic responding? “The EV company sold fewer than 39,000 Cybertrucks in 2024, according to Cox Automotive data — far below the company’s eventual goal of 250,000 per year. As of October, Tesla had delivered just 17,317 units in 2025, a 42% drop compared to the same period in 2024. “Tesla didn’t return to a MarketWatch request for comment sent to its investor-relations team.   “There was a lot of buzz...

Looking at trends in White House décor, it’s easy to conclude the future of gold is bright. But investors see something different in the White House. “Gold futures traded in New York have soared almost 71% this year, on pace for their best annual gain in 46 years. The last time gold had such a strong year, Jimmy Carter was president, a crisis was unfolding in the Middle East, inflation was soaring and the United States was in the midst of an energy crisis. “Today, tariffs are distorting international trade, conflict is raging with Russia’s war on Ukraine, there have been flare-ups between Israel and Iran and the US is seizing oil tankers off the coast of Venezuela. In times of uncertainty, investors turn to safe havens like gold.” I would have added Chinese saber-rattling over Taiwan. Of course, this is why gold, silver and platinum are called fear metals. “Gold is considered a resilient investment, with investors expecting the yellow metal will retain its value in crisis, if inflation...

As a PhD molecular biologist, I’ve spent my entire career in tech, albeit academic tech. During that time, I’ve had the privilege to work with many colleagues on H-1B visas. I believe in meritocracy, and my experience is that most of these H-1B visa holders were eminently qualified. Were there more qualified Americans out there? Probably. But they didn’t apply for the job, and these folks did. You recruit from the pool you have, not the pool you wish you had. America needs bright, highly motivated people to compete in technology innovation. The last thing we need to do is discourage the best and brightest from around the world from coming here. We don’t need affirmative action for homegrown mediocrity.  “A federal judge said the Trump administration can move ahead with a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visa applications, providing a setback for US technology companies that rely on hiring skilled foreign workers. “US District Judge Beryl Howell said in a ruling Tuesday that President Donal...

We moved here in Rhode Island after spending 40 years in St. Louis. We came to St. Louis in 1982 as postdocs. It was supposed to be a temporary gig and I figured we’d settle somewhere else. When I was being recruited to the Biochemistry Department at Saint Louis University, the chairman—who knew I was applying to universities all over the country—asked me how I felt about staying in St. Louis. I told him I was fine with it, that I’ve found things to like about each place I’d lived. We moved east to be near our daughter after Linda retired. We stumbled into this house in Rumford. It hadn’t gone on the market when it was offered to us, and we closed on it without having seen it in person and without a professional inspection. The first 18 months or so were a nightmare of home repairs. Now that those problems seemed to have abated, I can look around and appreciate what we have—a lovely neighborhood, great neighbors, and proximity to the amenities of city life in Providence while living te...

Ever since I started voting, I’ve voted in either red states or blue states. I’ve never missed an election. But why bother voting, since I’m outnumbered? Well, for one thing, millions of people have fought and died for the right to vote. I honor their memory by exercising my franchise. Beyond that, though, there’s the reality that sometimes what seems to be inevitable isn’t.   In 2025, Democratic voters voted in deep red states and red districts. What was the result? “Democrats, buoyed by Trump’s unpopularity and a fired-up base, flipped 21 percent of all the GOP-held seats that were on the ballot throughout 2025.   “According to Bolts’ analysis, Democrats gained 25 state Senate and House seats that were held by the GOP, out of the 118 that were resolved this year in regular or special elections.” Much of the time, I’m voting for the lesser of two evils. I’ve yet to encounter a metaphysically perfect candidate.  In a first-past-the-post voting system like ours, more than ...