Below is a roundup of news, politics science, and humor. I hope you enjoy.
First, I am still unemployed AND uninsured, so I will keep putting in a plug for myself. If you want to skip to the news roundup, just go straight below the fold.
Until unemployment benefits kick in or my tutoring and editing freelance gigs start bringing me work, my only real source of income is the trickle from my Amazon Affiliate store. If you are doing any Amazon shopping, consider doing it through the above link. As always I would like to recommend ALL Kossacks read The Political Brain, because reading it will help Democrats win. I also want to highlight this book about Holocaust Hero Raoul Wallenberg written by a dearly missed friend.
Second, anyone in the NYC area, if you know someone who needs tutoring or other kinds of help, here is my page on the University Tutor website. I am also available for editing college essays, scientific papers, resumes, etc.
Finally, any scientists out there who need someone to edit a paper, I am freelancing through ScienceDocs.com. Soon will be blogging for them as well!
Sorry for the self-advertising. Now onto the news, science and randomness below...
HEALTH, SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS:
Ecological AND Reliable: Germany Added A Lot Of Wind And Solar Power, And Its Electric Grid Became More Reliable
Journalism, Science Groups Decry EPA Move to Muzzle National Science Advisers
An amazing woman speaking on Environmental entrepreneurship: Majora Carter 3 stories of local eco entrepreneurship
Fun with math: How many total ancestors do you have?
Ebola: Mapping the outbreak
Understanding Science: Regarding the "science made mistakes" tropes? Debunked by real science
Too often people assume we are powerless as individuals and we depend on governments to do everything. Now I am NOT in favor of small government. I think government plays a strong, positive part of our lives. But local action and small donations by folks like us can go a LONG way as well. When faced with the decline of pollinators and with climate change, we need to take responsibility and act as well as pressure government to act. From the New Scientist: Local people preserve the environment better than governments
This year may be record low populations for pollinators. About a third of our food supply depends on these pollinators, so some of these crops might hit some levels of scarcity which will drive up food prices. Here is a list of crops that depend, to varying degrees, on pollinators that are in decline. Now is the time we need to act. Pesticides are one aspect of this decline, so purchasing organic foods helps. Habitat loss is another cause of decline for species like the monarch butterfly. Restoring the Monarch Forest in Mexico helps combat climate change, soil erosion, AND helps the recovery of the monarch butterflies. Finally, you can sponsor a hive to help responsible bee keepers who are trying to restore honeybee populations. You can get a share of the honey produced in return for your help. Your help goes to establishing community apiaries.
POLITICAL NEWS:
Ferguson, Mo: Police attack unarmed crowd with their hands in the air.
You know you have sunk really low when the KKK is raising money for you: KKK Raising Money for Police Officer Who Shot African-American Teen
If you haven't seen this yet, here it is...better even than a SNL parody of Sarah Palin is Sarah Palin herself:
So will this be the next labor anthem in honor of Sarah Palin? (hat tip to the Monkees)
Fighting back against racial stereotypes in the media: The two faces of Michael Brown
Moving New York Forward: Unanimous LGBT Endorsements for Sept. 9th NYC Primary
People defend the stupidest things in the name of "tradition": Jewish group asks France to rename 'Death to Jews' hamlet
Don't let your bank misuse your money: How much does your bank spend on politics?
An analysis of how President Obama has changed our foreign policy strategy from that of Bush's: US 'war on terror' is now a local fight
Perhaps not quite as good an analysis, but still interesting: Iraq and the Obama Doctrine
The Democrats CAN and almost certainly WILL hold the Senate...as long as we don't fumble it: Can the Republicans Take the Senate? Not according to them!
Remember, you can choose to bank with companies that reflect your values: How much does your bank spend on politics?
HISTORY:
Born Aug. 12, 1887 - Erwin Schrodinger (famous uncertain cat owner)
On Aug. 12, 1955 - Pres Eisenhower RAISES MINIMUM WAGE from 75 cents to $1 an hour. (YES...a REPUBLICAN raising the minimum wage!!!)
Today in America, unions have a secure place in our industrial life. Only a handful of reactionaries harbor the ugly thought of breaking unions and depriving working men and women of the right to join the union of their choice. I have no use for those -- regardless of their political party -- who hold some vain and foolish dream of spinning the clock back to days when organized labor was huddled, almost as a hapless mass. Only a fool would try to deprive working men and women of the right to join the union of their choice.—Dwight D. Eisenhower
On Aug. 12, 1977 - Space shuttle
Enterprise makes 1st atmospheric flight (paid for by tax money, of course!). As a side note, the original name for the space shuttle prototype was the
Constitution. Lobbying by Star Trek fans convinced NASA to change the name to
Enterprise. NEVER think lobbying is a waste of time!
On Aug. 13, 1919 - British troops open fire on demonstrators in Amritsar, India; killing 350
On Aug. 14, 1281 - The origin of the term "Kamikaze": During Kublai Khans 2nd Invasion of Japan his invading Vhinese fleet of 3,500 vessels.
On Aug. 14, 1907 - "Ha-Tikva (The Hope)" adopted as official Zionist hymn:
On Aug. 14, 1980 - Start of Solidarity Trade Union movement in Gdansk, Poland. 17,000 workers go on strike.
Born Aug. 14, 1950 - Gary Larson, cartoonist
History is never inevitable: The war that (almost) never was: why World War I was NOT inevitable
Zoroastrian/Nestorian Christian/Islamic syncretism: Who are the Yazidis?
RANDOMNESS:
I think this was my introduction to Robin Williams:
Quote of the week:
Jesus never said a word about homosexuality. In all of his teachings about multiple things - he never said that gay people should be condemned. I personally think it is very fine for gay people to be married in civil ceremonies.
--President Jimmy Carter, Evangelical Christian
This week's moment of jbou:
One man's wheat is another man's gluten.
Jon Stewart Zen Moment:
A real moment of Zen: (From Deoxy Koans)
A man traveling across a field encountered a tiger. He fled, the tiger after him. Coming to a precipice, he caught hold of the root of a wild vine and swung himself down over the edge. The tiger sniffed at him from above. Trembling, the man looked down to where, far below, another tiger was waiting to eat him. Only the vine sustained him.
Two mice, one white and one black, little by little started to gnaw away the vine. The man saw a luscious strawberry near him. Grasping the vine with one hand, he plucked the strawberry with the other. How sweet it tasted!
From
BBC News: Today's African Proverb:
“If you follow a dog, it will lead you to the rubbish heap”
--A Krio proverb sent by Alhasan Wandunni Bangura in Freetown, Sierra Leone
For last week's issue:
Mole's Cool News Roundup 17