Linkee-poo, slow down you crazy child, you're so ambitious for a juvenile

Want to improve your life and thinking about that self-help section at the library/bookstore? There's a podcast for that. "It's the second week of 2018, and if you are still resolved to improve your life in this new year, Jolenta Greenberg and Kristen Meinzer may be able to help. They host a podcast called By The Book, and for each episode, they choose one self-help book and live by its rules for a couple of weeks. So they're well-equipped to tell us which of these books has actually improved their lives — and which ones to avoid."

Tobias Buckell gives a years-end wrap up. "Another quote from my Bullet Journal: 'Anyone who keeps writing is not a failure.' – Ray Bradbury." This. And Truth.

The flavor of color.

Climate change is going to suck for animals whose sex is determined by incubation temperature. "A study published yesterday (Jan. 8) in the journal Current Biology about green sea turtles that nest along island beaches near Australia's Great Barrier Reef found that turtles born in areas most heated by climate change are 99.8 percent female. Turtles born farther south, along a cooler beach, are only about 65 percent female."

"If you’re old enough to remember Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) Televisions, you probably remember that Sony sold the top products. Their Trinitron tubes always made the best TVs and Computer Monitors. [Alec Watson] dives into the history of the Sony Trinitron tube." From back when we had to chisel our pixels out of flint. (Grokked from Dan)

"The expansion of Medicaid helps rural hospitals stay afloat in states like Colorado, which added 400,000 people to the health insurance program under the Affordable Care Act." Because we're the ones who see the most poor people who qualify for Medicaid.

"Pfizer has announced plans to end its research efforts to discover new drugs for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. The pharmaceutical giant explained its decision, which will entail roughly 300 layoffs, as a move to better position itself 'to bring new therapies to patients who need them.'" You know, bringing new therapies by ending the research into those new therapies. Probably because Viagra is going generic they sense a stronger market in helping us older gents get stiffies by developing a new branded pharmaceutical. Say, did you know that drug companies sometimes use inflated research budgets to increase their tax deductions? I'm sure it has nothing to do with the change in the tax laws.

I'm just going to say this first, if you're attempting to build muscles do not take NSAIDs for your post-workout pain. And now to the story, "When taking ibuprofen in doses commonly used by athletes, a small sample of young men developed a hormonal condition that typically begins, if at all, during middle age. This condition is linked to reduced fertility." Note it's a small study. Just because it's over-the-counter doesn't mean it's not doing harmful things to you. NSAIDs can cause stomach problems and, as as with most drugs, prolonged use can adversely affect your liver and kidney function.

"Less than one month after U.S. District Judge Gloria Navarro declared a mistrial in the case against Cliven Bundy, his two sons, and a self-styled militiaman, Navarro has dismissed the charges entirely… Navarro found that the prosecution had committed 'flagrant misconduct' by withholding evidence that could have supported the defendants' case. Namely, Navarro explained that federal prosecutors had failed to disclose information from cameras recording video from the standoff and the presence of federal snipers around the Bundy Ranch." Prosecutorial errors, the same shit as Malheur.

If only someone had a solution to this chronic insufficiency of skilled workers in the US. "Every year, about half a million young Germans enter the workforce through these programs. They provide a steady stream of highly qualified industrial workers that helps Germany maintain a reputation for producing top-quality products." If only someone could think of a way to help build a qualified workforce. " Trump signed an executive order aimed at boosting the number of U.S. apprenticeships by nearly tenfold to 5 million. But, experts doubt the goal will be realized because funding is inadequate."

"Amid opposition from conservatives in the House of Representatives, a group of pro-life activists met with Pence to lobby the Trump administration against supporting a health insurance market stabilization bill on the grounds that it does not contain sufficient language on abortion restrictions, according to sources with direct knowledge of the meeting." (Grokked from Michele)

Remember that Republicans are all about the "free market." "The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Monday unanimously rejected a proposal by Energy Secretary Rick Perry that would have propped up nuclear and coal power plants struggling in competitive electricity markets." Until it affects them, and then they're all for government intervention to prop up failing industries. So while this panel (yes, 4 of 5 were appointed by Trump) said no to this, the proposal will be fined tuned (to overcome the objections) and them resubmitted.