Below is a roundup of news, politics science, and humor. I plan on doing this about once a week as long as people seem interested. I hope you enjoy.
But first, to us cat lovers (l like dogs too, but not my style of pet) this is the best video of all...a cat defending a kid from a dog attack: (I am sure most of you have seen it...I seem to be one of the last)
What impresses me most is that once the cat has driven off the dog, it goes BACK to the kid. It wasn't just going for the dog, it was clearly protecting the kid. Also I should note that the cameras are security cameras (one person wondered who would just film it and not intervene).
GLOBAL TRENDS IN ANTI-SEMITISM:
There is an interesting survey that shows the tendencies towards anti-Semitism in many countries around the world. Iran isn't as bad as you'd think. Greece and France are disappointingly anti-Semitic. And Laos and the Philippines are the least anti-Semitic nations surveyed! Who knew?
More news, science and randomness below...
HEALTH, SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS:
Well...gotta say I have often seen doctors use the bathroom and NOT wash their hands. So this article (by a man I have met and greatly respect) makes sense: Fist Bump, Doc? Handshake Ban Suggested in Health Care
Environmentally friendly plastic may just have been discovered...by accident! New family of recyclable plastics created 'by accident'
And another accidental discovery? This actually sounds like something from the TV show House: Woman's cancer killed by measles virus in unprecedented trial
As many predicted, overuse of insecticides may be behind Colony Collapse Disorder, the die off of bees that threatens one third of our food supply: Nicitinoid Insecticide Impairs Winterization Leading to Bee Colony Collapse. I would add that there are almost certainly other factors involved, but this may be key.
And in related news, it might not just be bees that we are harming with our overuse of pesticides: Are pesticides linked to health problems in Argentina?
This comes from the National Center for Science Education: NCSE and the National Climate Assessment
IMPORTANT POLITICAL RESOURCE:
Wellstone Action's Native American Leadership Program
I was saddened by the demise of Kalyn Free's INDN List, a resource that helped Native Americans get elected within the Democratic Party. Something of a substitute, perhaps, is Wellstone Action's Native American Leadership Program.
Continuing Paul and Sheila Wellstoneâs commitment to Indian Country, Wellstone Action developed the Native American Leadership Program (NALP) in 2007. The program was created by, for, and with American Indian leaders to strengthen leadership capacity and civic engagement in Indian Country. NALP recognizes and honors that Native American people are natural organizers, messengers, and storytellers, with a community power that is rooted in relationships. Our program builds on these inherent assets and provides for culturally-specific training on organizing to address the economic, social, political, and cultural issues facing tribal communities.
In partnership with tribes throughout the country, our all-Native training team empowers Native people and effects positive change through community-based organizing, advocacy, public policy, and nonpartisan electoral work. And our ultimate goal is to create a pipeline of American Indian leaders who will seek â and win â key leadership positions in our communities.
Click here to find out more.
POLITICAL NEWS:
A damned impressive speech:
Rachel Maddow on Midterm elections (particularly Mark Pryor):
HELP WIN THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS AT MY ACT BLUE SITE: (Arkansas in particular has a lot of very close races). I am still trying to get this fundraising site to the $1000 mark. Can we hit that this week?
I will proudly avoid eating crappy fast food in solidarity with the workers: US fast food staff protests over wages spread globally
And to find restaurants that actually treat their workers well, check out the Restaurant Opportunities Centers United. They have some great resources, and suggestions how you can Eat Ethically. And a video:
If you want yet ANOTHER reason to not smoke, how about child labor: US tobacco child labour criticised in report
The economic "disaster" following an increase in minimum wage: JOB GROWTH!
Fighting against right wing extremism: Teaching Tolerance magazine offers road map to help teachers create anti-bias curriculum
HISTORY:
A bit of history people have tended to forget. This is the kind of thing that anti-immigrant and racist ideology in the US leads to: SS St Louis: The ship of Jewish refugees nobody wanted(and to be fair, in the end four nations took them in, though three of those later were overrun by the Nazis). For anyone interested in this bit of history, the book Voyage of the Damned: A Shocking True Story of Hope, Betrayal, and Nazi Terror is excellent and compelling reading, and MOST people, including many Germans, come off looking good.
Two conflicting landmark Supreme Court cases: Separate inequality: Homer Plessy and discrimination by law and Brown V Board at 60: Separate, Unequal, Unsolved. Education's Next Great Divide
RANDOMNESS:
The gold medal winner of drunken benders: The 3,000-mile drunken escapade
Blast from the Past: Mojo Nixon vs. Pat Buchanan on Crossfire (actually a good debate on both their parts)
And finally, this week's moment of jbou
For last week's issue: Mole's Cool News Roundup 4