The Hidden Brain podcast with Shankar Vedantam. On our society and how we actually act, instead of how we wish we acted (you may know Shankar Vedantam from reporting about economics/sociology research on NPR).
Say, you know how we're all crawling with bacteria, viruses, amoeba and all the other little things (you're itching right now, aren't you). Well, it turns out we also have our personal cloud of microbes around us. "Our results confirm that an occupied space is microbially distinct from an unoccupied one, and and demonstrate for the first time that individuals release their own personalized microbial cloud." Yea, so no more blaming it on the dog, eh. And the researchers found it's almost like a fingerprint (note, for various values and validity of fingerprint analysis). The world is weirder than you think. So the next time someone gets all up in your grill, tell them to back off or you'll release your noxious cloud… of bacteria. Also, if you remember in Star Trek where they investigate crimes looking to find DNA evidence to link to someone, you don't even have to go that far. Just sniff the cloud left behind. (Grokked from Dan)
"NASA-supported researchers have found that ice covering Greenland is melting faster than previously thought. The action is happening out of sight, below the surface." We're boned.
Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday you rascal you, happy birthday to you. Judge rules lyrics of Happy Birthday are in the public domain. (Grokked from Dan)
Ever wonder why learning history is important? It's so you don't make an ass of yourself. A TV station uses stock art of the yellow star Nazis forced Jews to wear to tell all their jewish viewers, "Hey, happy Yom Kippur." Plus, um, I don't think you understand the importance of the closing of the gates of heaven.
"'The right-wing Marxist [sic] have teamed up with Pelosi. They’re the ones who always team up with Pelosi. They are the Pelosi Republicans,' Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA), a Boehner ally, told The Hill." Note that this group that is planning for the shutdown are always described as "hard-right." Communists to the left of me, communists to the right, stuck in the middle with Boehner. Dear Rep. Nunes, really, dude, take a history lesson already. Those words you're using, they have meanings.
"On the other hand, human beings have built a 2,000-mile-long frontier wall exactly one time. Once. And it was accomplished only through a centuries-long building campaign that necessitated the forced labor of millions of Chinese peasants." About that wall that the Trumpster (and much of the GOP) would want built with some hard numbers. That's a hellalotta concrete. (Grokked from Dan)
"Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush today pledged to 'repeal or reform the most onerous Obama rules and regulations,' and net neutrality would be one of the first things on his chopping block." Hey, remember when his brother came into office the the slam-dunk anti-trust lawsuit against Microsoft kinda just fell into pieces? Again, remind me of who they're supposed to be working for, 'cause that joke just never gets old. (Grokked from John)
"Fox News was found in breach of British broadcast code that says, 'Factual programmes or items or portrayals of factual matters must not materially mislead the audience.'" Uh, oh Lucy, you got some 'splainin' to do. See, other countries still have laws on their books that require programs that say they're news to actually report news instead of speculation and rumor.
Tweet of my heart: @AcademicsSay Behind every uncomfortable syllabus clause lies an even more uncomfortable teaching experience.
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