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.
Results from last week's poll: no one who responded has or has ever been a member of the Libertarian Party.
More news, science and randomness below...
HEALTH, SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS:
Solar power in Africa: Mobile offers brighter future for Africa's rural homes
BBC continues its coverage of antibiotic resistant superbugs (an issue America is ignoring at its own peril...like we never do THAT!) Antibiotics: End of the line
More on this important issue: Concerns grow over farm drugs used like 'sweets'
Iron Age dentistry! Grave find may be Western Europe's earliest false tooth
The results of NOT vaccinating: Measles cases in the US reach 20-year high. Note that in the year 2000 measles had been ELIMINATED in the US thanks to widespread vaccination. Now, thanks to people not vaccinating, it is back.
POLITICAL NEWS:
Another great way to save money that Republicans will NEVER listen to: Leaving Homeless Person On The Streets: $31,065. Giving Them Housing: $10,051. Other proven money saving programs Republicans hate: education, single payer health care, vaccination programs, drug rehab programs...
Rachel Maddow "Threat of Right Wing Terrorism Being Ignored":
This very discussion would be anathema to the Greedy Oil Party, for whom capitalism means only greed and redistribution of wealth to rich. Viewpoints: What should capitalism do?
European Teabaggers: European elections: Nationalists look to build alliances
If you want yet ANOTHER reason to not smoke, how about child labor: US tobacco child labour criticised in report
HISTORY:
History written by the winners: A Brief Look at the Treatment of American Indians in US History
Race in America: 'When Affirmative Action Was White'
RANDOMNESS:
A great comment from my son when assigned to write a "precept":
Money doesn't matter. Being awesome does.
In science you have to be careful to distinguish between correlation and causation. As a former boss of mine used to say, things that correlate could be "true, true, but unrelated." Here is a website that illustrates many correlations that may look strong but remain unrelated:
Spurious Correlations
A Jon Stewart moment of Zen:
A real moment of Zen: From One Shot, One Life. This scene is shot at a Zen temple I have had the pleasure of visiting.
This week's moment of jbou: You can lead poison a horse, but you can't do anything about corporate responsibility.
And somehow this just seems to flow from the jbou diary...This can only contribute to the Darwin Awards: Oklahoma gun range gets liquor license
The price of happiness? $75,000 Buys Happiness; More Money Does Not
For last week's issue: Mole's Cool News Roundup 6