Over at Asymmetrical Information, here's some interesting speculation on what would happen if someone actually developed an HIV vaccine that worked. Plus, bonus mix of Paul Krugman-bashing and grudging Krugman approval!

What's the difference between an inventor and a tinkerer? Any why don't more people realize that there is one? Thoughts on this, with reference to the Wright Brother's alarming aircraft engine and the man who built it, here. Bonus Jared Diamond-bashing!

Monitoring mosques and other buildings for radiation, are we? It's interesting that we need to get as close as we are. . .and are we actually pointing any instruments at these sites while we do it? Jay Manifold connects the dots, since the media are doing such a lousy job of it. Bonus two-cultures complaint included, in this link.

You don't see quite as much of it in chemistry, but here's a blast at accelerated publication policies in scientific journals.