Stimulus money and weird science: Benefit or boondoggle?

South Florida Sun-Sentinel ^ | February 15, 2010 | Robert Nolin and John Maines

[ConservativeStatement]

Tipsy mice and sexed-up cactus bugs have been enlisted to help in America's economic recovery. But will they do much to boost employment?

The critters are the stars of two seemingly flaky projects among several at Florida universities being funded by hundreds of thousands of federal stimulus dollars. The projects, whose usefulness is keenly debated by America's politicians, are also a subject of dispute among academics: Are they scientifically worthy? Is the stimulus cash wisely spent?

[GeronL]

We need a Constitutional amendment to ban government spending on non-government activities.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

How about another Constitutional amendment shutting down all the J-Schools? Or at least you can't get a J-School degree until you are 45 and have had to hold down a real-world job for 20 years?

Anybody writing "two seemingly flaky projects" and "Is the stimulus cash wisely spent?" shouldn't be allowed to hold a pen or turn on a word processor.

[SunkenCiv]

two seemingly flaky projects among several at Florida universities being funded by hundreds of thousands of federal stimulus dollars

Thanks ConservativeStatement.