As the chaps at Global Dashboard point out, this graph really does not require much comment. It sure as hell requires an explanation though. It’s really enough to make me cry and be thoroughly depressed. The positive side is that we have proved we can get it together to act fast and spend lots of [...]
DNA database ‘breach of rights’ — Two British men should not have had their DNA and fingerprints retained by police, the European Court of Human Rights has ruled. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7764069.stm
Seriously everyone, what’s stopping this? Are we worried that the implications of destroying the entire world aren’t really large enough to make it worth it? http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/dec/02/climate-change-lord-turner
“amandita @girlonetrack This should brighten your day @mikecane put you in his list of Top Writers to follow on Twitter. http://bit.ly/qXvT” But WHY? Let’s take a look: After doing a 16 hour day, seeing @stephenfry saying ‘w00t! *does stupid dance*’ has finally put a much-needed smile on my face. ED> GREAT. SHE’S HAPPY. Holding up [...]
I watched a very good Horizon from 1986 a few nights ago which, whilst not saying anything particularly new (not least because it’s 22 years old..), was a good reminder and layered on one or two details, about cooperation and its biological imperatives. I knew, for example, that tit-for-tat is always the best strategy for [...]
Life seems to keep favouring everyone who is silly or unlucky, and I’m getting quite upset about it, because I’m smart and lucky and so not getting anything. I deliberately didn’t invest in property because I saw the evident bubble. I sold all my shares in January because this was clearly unsustainable. But it turns [...]
It’s tough to know how to react to the two headlines which appeared adjacent on the BBC News website today. Downs’ Syndrome screening seems to be a technology which has backfired. The well meaning people who developed it thought that people would see the quality of life experienced by those with Downs’ Syndrome vs those [...]
“We looked at 8 to 10 activities that happy people engage in, and for each one, the people who did the activities more — visiting others, going to church, all those things — were more happy,” Dr. Robinson said. “TV was the one activity that showed a negative relationship. Unhappy people did it more, and [...]
7 social processes that great the slippery slope of evil: 1. Mindlessly taking the first small step. 2. Dehumanisation of others. 3. De-individualisation of self (anonymity / being part of a crowd). 4. Diffusion of personal responsibility. 5. Blind obedience to authority. 6. Uncritical conformity to group norms. 7. Passive tolerance of evil through inaction, [...]
A small victory for audiobooks and podcasts, and against free papers: http://www.pledgebank.com/no2freepapers
