But of Course

We don't need no stinkin' science:

The Environmental Protection Agency plans to dissolve its Office of the Science Advisor, a senior post that was created to counsel the E.P.A. administrator on the scientific research underpinning health and environmental regulations, according to a person familiar with the agency’s plans. The person spoke anonymously because the decision had not yet been made public.

The science adviser works across the agency to ensure that the highest quality science is integrated into the agency’s policies and decisions, according to the E.P.A.’s website. The move is the latest among several steps taken by the Trump administration that appear to have diminished the role of scientific research in policymaking while the administration pursues an agenda of rolling back regulations.

Of course, it's all in the interests of efficiency.

By the way, the acting administrator of the EPA, now that that crook Scott Pruitt has left, is Andrew Wheeler, a former coal lobbyist. Big surprise. Not.

Via Joe.My.God.

Science Saturday: Nuts!

Just ran across this article, which I found very reassuring:

According to the largest study of its kind, people who ate a daily handful of nuts were 20 percent less likely to die from any cause over a 30-year period than those who didn’t consume nuts, say scientists from the Harvard-affiliated Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, and the Harvard School of Public Health.

Their report, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, contains further good news: The regular nut-eaters were found to be more slender than those who didn’t eat nuts, a finding that should alleviate fears that eating a lot of nuts will lead to overweight.

I find it reassuring because I eat at least a handful of cashews just about every day, mostly because I love cashews. With this news, I may broaden my repertoire -- I'm rather fond of almonds, too.

A note: This may become another regular feature, although I don't know if it will remain on Saturdays, although that seems like a good day: by the weekend, I'm really sick of all the posturing by the assholes in Washington and the media.