The Oldest Organisms on Earth

It is amazing to think that today there exist living things—mostly plants—that were already around at the time of Caesar or even before.... Absolutely astounding....

2,150-year-old Sentinel Tree, Sequoia National Park, CA

(Source: The Daily Dish; Image source & other images here)

Glücklich Oktoberfest!

I'm definitely going to try to make these pretzels one of these days....

(Source: Wired)

Immigrants & National Pride

The chart below, taken from The Economist, shows pride in one's country. Australia and Canada top the list. (Flip of the middle finger to you Canada scorners!)

This second chart taken from Think Progress shows the percentage of foreign-born individuals in the top three countries with foreign-born population. Australia and Canada once again top the list—and in that order, too!

Whaddya know?! Immigrants are not detrimental to 'trust, admiration, respect and pride in [one's] country,' to use the language of The Economist.

Suck it, Xenophobia!

Kalashnikov Going Kaput

According to an article in Der Spiegel, the makers (and the inventor) of the Kalashnikov are on the verge of declaring bankruptcy. The most popular weapon in the world might become a victim of its own popularity and of the popularity of its forgeries....

Relentless Thuggery

Conservatives are behaving like piranhas: they attack a prey and never leave until all that is left are its lifeless bones. And they succeed by virtue of their numerous appeals to the masses and the reactions they elicit, among which are the worst and ugliest of human nature.

ACORN is the conservatives' latest victim (though they still are attacking president Obama and others). Rachel Maddow does a tremendously good job of exposing and unmasking the forces behind the conspiracy against ACORN:

What happened to Republicans' appeal to the 'better angels of our nature,' so vivid 150 years ago?

We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.

Abraham LINCOLN

«O Captain! My Captain!»

O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done;
The ship has weather’d every rack, the prize we sought is won;
The port is near, the bells I hear, the people all exulting,
While follow eyes the steady keel, the vessel grim and daring:
But O heart! heart! heart!
O the bleeding drops of red,
Where on the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.

O Captain! my Captain! rise up and hear the bells;
Rise up—for you the flag is flung—for you the bugle trills;
For you bouquets and ribbon’d wreaths—for you the shores a-crowding;
For you they call, the swaying mass, their eager faces turning;
Here Captain! dear father!
This arm beneath your head;
It is some dream that on the deck,
You’ve fallen cold and dead.

My Captain does not answer, his lips are pale and still;
My father does not feel my arm, he has no pulse nor will;
The ship is anchor’d safe and sound, its voyage closed and done;
From fearful trip, the victor ship, comes in with object won;
Exult, O shores, and ring, O bells!
But I, with mournful tread,
Walk the deck my Captain lies,
Fallen cold and dead.

Walt WHITMAN

The Democracy We Engendered

If that democracy was supposed to be a hub of criminality, violence, and relentless unrest with no end in sight, then we have succeeded.

A Parrot Dancing to Egyptian Music

At least, I think it's a parrot... might be something else....

(Source: BuzzFeed)

The Brain and Moral Judgments

It's all in the physiology of our bodies and it is acquired with its development with age.

Skica e ditës

Burimi

The Pontiff Speaks...

... and in his words, nonsense abounds.

Nonsense such as blaming people of no faith for our environmental woes:

Is it not true that inconsiderate use of creation begins where God is marginalized or also where is existence is denied? If the human creature's relationship with the Creator weakens, matter is reduced to egoistic possession, man becomes the "final authority," and the objective of existence is reduced to a feverish race to possess the most possible.

Is he on something?! Because I'd like a free sample of it....

What about the millennia of Judeo-Christian principles teaching us that the Earth and everything in it is for our use because we're god's chosen creatures?

I think the pope and his coterie might just be losing it....

New York Times On 50 + 1 majority

The New York Times had an editorial a couple of weeks ago highlighting the ins and outs of the so-called budget reconciliation method of voting in the Senate, as opposed to a filibuster-proof majority. The latter seems to be sought by every democrat who is for healthcare reform, even though the probability of sixty votes for a strong healthcare reform bill is out of reach. With this in mind, the former is the more viable option, albeit imperfect.

Healthcare Reform Questions Answered

Via The Daily Dish, eight frequently asked questions answered on The Washington Post.

Media Matters, as always, doing a good job of debunking right-wing lies and exposing their fraudulent claims in a Q & A rubric.

Questions about the public option answered concisely and precisely by Robert Reich, former Secretary of Labor under president Clinton.

Happy Birthday, Sophia Loren!

A beautiful woman full of grace. She is seventy-five.

Image Source

Wanna Save Traditional Marriage?

Let gays marry. Seriously. In Massachusetts, where same-sex marriages have been allowed for the past five years, divorce rates are the lowest in the country. Not only that, but they are also at the same level as in 1940.

Queer, ain't it?

I knew that the argument that same-sex marriages would destroy traditional marriage were all fallacious, but this really packs a punch....

Way to go, Massachusetts! Lead the way and give the rest of the country a taste of what is progressive.

(Found via The Daily Dish)

'A Liberace Stunt Double'

I am using the Robin Williams comparison (from Robin Williams Live on Broadway) in talking about the pope and his choice of vestments and accessories because it is the only one to suggest an image commensurate to the pontiff's true dressing habits.... as this slideshow will prove.

On Vice

The Economist reports that violent crime has fallen in the past two years, as well as in the first half of 2009 in comparison with the same period last year.

When it comes to drinking, we know it's a big problem in college campuses in the United States. However, when it comes to teenage drinking, Brits take the lead and the U.S. a more modest position.

Ever wonder how Americans fare on the Seven Deadly Sins? Take a look. The Bible Belt sure is in trouble.... And, unsurprisingly Southern California is a hub of greed.

Image Source

Cruel & Unusual Punishment

This is why we need to abolish the death penalty.

Global Warming Caught on Camera

Despite what Glenn Beck will tell you, cooler summer temperatures do not translate into cooler global temperatures.

As the video below shows through time-lapse pictures of strategically placed cameras, global warming is a global event to the reality of which all of us need to warm up... no pun intended.

The Workings of a Brain in Argument

A funny flowchart found through BuzzFeed diagramming how a man's brain and how a woman's brain works during an argument. Click the image for a larger view.

Image Source

Professions in America

A graphic called Job Voyager shows the evolution of professions in America from the 1850s until today.

Behold, the bartender:

(Via Matthew Yglesias)

Free Press & Conservatives

Apparently, they don't match.

At a forum of sorts called Values Voter Summit, an MSNBC reporter gets harassed by audience members.

But wait, there's more! Two for the price of one: they do the same to a Fox News reporter who seems more compliant than his MSNBC colleague with the unreasonable requests to leave and stop reporting.

(Source: TPM)

Sensible O'Reilly?!

Is it by genuine changes in him, or by sheer contrast with greater species of loons like Glenn Beck and Rush Limbaugh that he is making sense?

First, he admits that Fox News is 'center-right,' which flies right in the face of the 'fair and balanced' network they always shove in people's faces.

Then, he comes out for public option... no, not just in a heated moment; he's calm and composed as he describes the public option he wants for the American people.

Has he gone full circle and become, by his own efforts and ever-growing insanity, a voice of sanity in the network? Or has he merely been displaced by Beck?

Soulless Basterds (sic)

There's always a fresh supply of them on Wall Street.

Because the shuffling of mortgages worked so well for our economy and in particular for their pockets, investors and bankers on Wall Street have now turned to shuffling, packaging, and repackaging life insurance policies that the elderly are selling for less than they are worth.

The elderly, of course, do nothing about this. Instead, they refuse to change their channel from Fox News and keep telling representatives all over the country to keep the government out of Medicare.

Health & Science Update

On prostate news:

The average age of detection for prostate cancer has decreased from 72 to 67 between 1989 and 2005. The racial gap has somewhat closed, too.

Scientists have also discovered stem cells in the lumen of prostates that give rise to some types of prostate cancer, paving the way for better ways of controlling cancers once they develop.

On fat news:

A new fat-fighting medicine has not only helped mice lose weight, but also lowered cholesterol and reversed diabetes.

According to a study, a Mediterranean diet is more effective than a low-fat diet in coping with diabetes. It also leads to weight loss and lower cholesterol.

If you want to lose weight, you may want to eat during the day and limit consumption at night... at least mice can do that for now.

If you go for a liposuction, ask if the center also produces stem cells from fat they suck out of you. They can do that now.

On brain news:

It has been discovered that you can now remember facts without being aware of it.

Epileptic seizures can cause different sensations, among which that of being the opposite sex.

Ever wonder what goes on in your brain and why you get excited when you watch porn? Here it is (via The Daily Dish).

Mammals have something to boast about with respect to giant squid. Our neurons are more efficient at transmitting chemical messages than the neurons of the giant squid.

On cardiovascular news:

It has been learned that men and women have different mortality rates within 30 days of a heart attack or angina.

A new study reinforces the belief that smoke and other pollution in the air can result in higher rates of heart disease. Move to the country!

And yet another use has been discovered for statins: they can now protect patients from post-operative heart attacks.

If you have high blood pressure and you're over 45, there's a higher chance you have or will have memory problems.

Ladies and gents with large thighs (muscular ones, of course) are better off than those with smaller thighs. The large thigh muscles help to deal better with the hormone insulin, which, in turn, keeps one's heart healthier.

Yet one more reason to eat your broccoli: a substance in it helps to keep problematic arteries unclogged by activating a molecule that clears them up.

And if you'd like to help government cut the cost of healthcare by something in the vicinity of $20 billion, eat less salt!

On genetics news:

A new test for chromosomal defects makes it possible to detect irregularities earlier and help pregnant women carry their pregnancies to term.

Genetics also controls acne in teens: if your parents had acne, there is a strong chance you will, too.

British scientists have discovered three genes linked with Alzheimer's and are considering the discovery as one of the most important in the past fifteen years.

On libation news:

This one surprised me: heavier drinkers tend to exercise more. I'm guessing guilt has a role in that. Either guilt or the policy, 'work out hard, party harder.'

Mothers across the world have known this for centuries, but a study now confirms what they've known: chamomile calms colicky babies.

Need another reason to drink wine? If you're undergoing radiation therapy, wine can help youcope with the effects of radiation.

And this is not really a 'drink' per se, but it is an oil. Cinnamon oil is apparently quite effective as an antiseptic.

On animal news:

The domestication of dogs is yet another one of the many exports of ancient China. Why in the world would they domesticate wolves?! FOOD!

The discovery that certain cells in moths and caterpillars react to chemicals in the same way as in mammals will substitute mice in laboratory experiments and save a lot of mice... at the expense of moths and caterpillars, of course.

Evolution in action can be seen in the different coats of mice, since their camouflage is dictated by their different living environments.

If you want to get rid of cockroaches, make sure you kill a few of them in certain key places and that you let them stay there for a while. No living insect will dare approach the area then.

On miscellaneous news:

A new cancer pill has shown promise in treating difficult cancers. Though promising, those who take it eventually build a resistance to it.

The discovery of two new antibodies on the surface of the HIV virus has paved the way for a possible vaccine that is likely to be more successful than any attempted before.

Living in a neighborhood with people of the same cultural background can have its health benefits.

Iceland is at the forefront of ways to cut CO2 emissions, primarily by isolating the gas into the ground, thanks to its reaction with basalt.

Your other half will hate this, but if you want to sleep better, kick him/her out of your bed at night.

A study has shown that the cause of antibiotic resistance in bacteria is an enzyme. Finding ways to inhibit that enzyme can make antibiotics very potent.

This sadly seems like a vicious circle, but depression in cancer patients can cut their rate of survival.

For your viewing pleasure, behold—the Milky Way....

Vox Clamantis in Insanity

The title says it all.

(Source: BuzzFeed)

Visualizing Music

I found a video of Beethoven's 5th Symphony on The Daily Dish and followed it all the way to youtube. The user who posted it has an impressive number of musical pieces set in animation.

Of course, I was lucky enough to find my favorite piece by Beethoven, 7th Symphony 2nd movement. It is absolutely mesmerizing and sounds as funereal as I want it to sound at my funeral.

Yo no hablo español

Education itself is the first to get cut in budget restrictions, but if you look at individual schools, languages are the first to go.

Sad, sad, sad....

«Refusal»

Beloved,
In what other lives or lands
Have I known your lips
Your Hands
Your Laughter brave
Irreverent.
Those sweet excesses that
I do adore.
What surety is there
That we will meet again,
On other worlds some
Future time undated.
I defy my body's haste.
Without the promise
Of one more sweet encounter
I will not deign to die.

Maya ANGELOU

'Judgment Day'

A beautifully researched and fairly presented Nova documentary on PBS portrays the struggle between evolution and intelligent design (you'll see in the documentary that intelligent design = creationism) in a small Pennsylvania town after the school board required that intelligent design be taught as an alternative to evolution in the town's schools.

The trial that ensued and the arguments brought forth by either side are all included in this documentary, a must see for people on both sides of the debate. As I said, it is a fair portrayal of either side, with judgment or condemnation for neither.

Sarkozy Shortcomings, etc.

Sarkozy's height has been making the rounds in the European and American press this past week. Here's an interesting article in the BBC. I particularly like the comparative diagram, comparing heights of Obama, Brown, Medvedev, Sarkozy, and Berlusconi among one another, as well as with Napoleon.

Dartmouth in the News

Dartmouth's 17th president, Dr. Jim Yong Kim, appeared on the Bill Moyers Journal tonight. Dr. Kim spoke about his life, Dartmouth, and, most importantly, health problems and challenges around the world, as a foremost expert on the issue, given his work in Partners in Health, which provides healthcare for the neediest around the world and in the United States.

Video Source

Facebook & Twitter for Parents

The ultimate stalking tool.

Cymatics

Cymatics is the science of visualizing sound, which I just learned now by watching the short video below. Quite interesting and very inviting for somebody with a passion for the intersection of art and science.

Hypocrisy in Orange County

Michael D. Duvall, a state lawmaker from Orange County, CA, has resigned following revelations that he, a staunchly conservative lawmaker, married man, and purported defender of 'family values,' had engaged in sexual acts with two women lobbyists in Sacramento. The revelations came from a tape (clips of which are included in the report below) showing the state assemblyman boasting about his affairs with the women in question, and being recorded unawares.

The issue of extramarital affairs, in my opinion, should never make it on the news. It is a private issue that concerns nobody out of the circle of the individuals involved. In the case of Duvall, as in the case of Sanford, Ensign, Vitter or any other preachy holier-than-thou philanderer, however, these affairs should be made as public as possible, and the lawmakers or state executives perpetuating those actions after having preached 'family values' should be held under the harsh light of public scrutiny, discredited, and exposed for the hypocrites that they truly are.

Turing Apology

In response to a petition signed by British intellectuals, British prime minister Gordon Brown has issued an apology for the British legal system's treatment of Alan Turing in the 1950s.

Turing was a computer scientist famous for breaking the Nazi code during World War II and for his work in advancing computer science and, some would say, founding, modern computer science. He was convicted after admitting to having committed consensual sexual acts with another adult male. As part of the conviction, he underwent chemical castration, which, it is widely believed, led to his premature suicide by cyanide.

The Iron Lady Had a Rusty Interior

I just read on The Daily Dish that Margaret Thatcher wanted to prevent the reunification of Germany, and pleaded with Gorbachev to try to do the same. To learn more, read the original article in The Times, as well as the transcript of the newly disclosed Thatcher-Gorbachev conversation from the same source. The stance against the reunification of Germany is made known on page 2 of that transcript.

Leku i varfër

Leku zhvlerësohet dukshëm në tregun e këmbimit, çka tregon zhvlerësimin e tij të përgjithshëm në këtë krizë ekonomike botërore. Pritet rritje e çmimeve në treg.

Ndërkohë, mësohet se Banka e Shqipërisë pat dhënë urdhër që në muajin mars që fitimet e përftuara nga bankat e Shqipërisë, si dhe ato të degëve të bankave të huaja me veprim në Shqipëri, të ruhen dhe të mos shpërndahen midis aksionerëve të tyre, për të mundësuar tek ato një sasi rezervash në masë sigurie kundër një gjendjeje ekonomike më të vështirë, apo kundër tërheqjes së parave në masë nga llogarimbajtësit.

Times Are A-Changin'

The Economist had an article today about the discrepancy in approval rates of the United States between Eastern and Western Europe. Approval rates apparently soared in countries like Germany or Great Britain, but merely budged upward in countries like Poland and Romania. The article puts a lot of the blame for the phenomenon on the U.S. stance on the missile defense system that had been promised to eastern European countries but is no longer planned, as well as on the NATO actions regarding the region.

I would venture to add that many countries in Eastern Europe still have a lot of misconceptions about the United States and its role in European and world affairs, as well as in the politics that each party represents in the United States. In other words, it makes no difference whether a Democrat or Republican is president; to Eastern Europe, America remains America. Obama's race may have a role in it, too... but that's just my opinion and I cannot support it statistically.

And I also liked their cartoon on the article.

Congress and Lobbyists

Ever wonder why there are Democrats (assuming it makes sense that Republicans act this way) that so staunchly oppose healthcare reform? Look no further. They are fattened up by money from health insurance corporations and seem intent on voting against reform, despite support for it among their constituents, and, if you ask me, not because of ideology.

Here are the shares they get from the healthcare industry:

And why would health insurance companies do this, you ask? Because without any limits on premiums and conditions for their coverage, they can do this: increase premiums by 29% just like that.

On more positive related news, lobbyists are feeling the pinch of the economy on their derrières and no longer have the clout to which they had been accustomed until now (via Huffington Post). Nevertheless, lobbyists have been unleashed on congressmen and congresswomen and are pulling strings left and right to influence their votes.

Meanwhile, Rep. Henry Waxman of California is tightening the purse strings for money going to drug companies in trying to cut a deal with the industry in question, which aims to save billions of dollars in the future.

In remembrance of Sen. Ted Kennedy and his incorruptible struggle for healthcare reform:

Image Source

The Democracy We Engendered

As I have posted before on this blog, our 'democratizing' mission in Iraq has miserably failed with gays in that country, as with other issues or areas of life. We have created an environment where individuals are being persecuted and sought out to be killed for having committed inconsequential, consensual actions that regard only their personal lives.

On a similar note, NPR reports that women-run Iraqi businesses will suffer once the United States leave the country. The fact that women will be worse off if the United States leaves notwithstanding, it is important to also view the flip-side of this scenario: that of an economy and of a society that is, at present, so steeped in religious bigotry and clan mentality that the secularism defended and upheld by Saddam Hussein, despite its dictatorial and violent nature, may soon appear like a pleasant past deserving of nostalgia. Accompanying audio below.

My Fellow Americans

A dose of truth about healthcare, supported by a strong backbone of a speech... though still weak on the importance of a public option, if you ask me:

Happy Birthday, ATM!

The ATM turns 70 tomorrow (09.09.09—yes, I just wanted to write '09' three times).

Thank you for being a friend.

Reagan's Speech to Kids

Now this is indoctrination we can believe in!

(Source: Daily Kos)

'Republican' Alternative to Obama's Education Speech

By comedian Hal Sparks, found through The Huffington Post.

Henri Salvador - «Petite fleur»

I just found out that Henri Salvador died over a year ago, in February 2008.

In his memory, one of my favorites songs by him:

I Can See Clearly Now...

...the fluid's in.

Liquid-filled prescription eyeglasses that can be adjusted by the wearer.

Sex and the French

An article in French describing the phenomenon of the cocu.

Another article reviewing a newly published book on a wife of Louis XIV, as well as French attitude towards sex.

Bookishness

Schools across the country are revolutionizing the way students read for school. Instead of assigning them books, many school districts or individual teachers are choosing to give students a wide array of options or a complete carte blanche on their reading pick. It is showing some promise.

On related news, which I found through The Daily Dish, Google estimates that, at present, there are 168,178,719 books titles that have been published in the history of the world.

You Reap What You Sow... or Save

A scientist gives a TED talk about the diminishing genetic diversity in crops, the importance of genetic diversity for a future with climate changes, and the Norwegian project to preserve samples of seeds across the world.

«Dashuro»

Shëko lisi si më flet
Fjalë t'ëmbla si më ushton,
Degët unj e më thërret
Dashuro, se koha shkon!

Maj' e plepit gjithënjë,
Kur tunt kryet më qorton,
Përpjek fletë më çon zë
Djalë ç'pret e s'dashuron!

Er' e malit me një ushtim
Dhe mburimi që kullon,
Gjithë më thonë plot gëzim:
Dashuro, se koha shkon!

Kopështit vasha që po pret
Si zog pylli që këndon,
Buzëqeshur më thërret,
Djalë ç'pret e s'dashuron!

Mua zemëra gjith më rreh
Brenda gjaku më valon
Ma ndes mallin më vë re
Dashuro, se koha shkon!

Çdo gjë rrotull më pyet
Djalë ç'pret e s'dashuron
Ditët shkojnë, jeta shket
Dashuro, se koha shkon!

ASDREN

Gayning Ground

A few strides have been made in the past week on gay rights, mostly in the Northeast. They are not clear-cut, though, and resistance to them is also growing.

The start of September 1 in Vermont signaled that state's recognition of same-sex marriages, prompting certain couples to take advantage of it immediately. The change was not that welcomed for representatives of the Westboro Baptist Church in Montpelier, VT, who themselves faced a crowd of supporters of same-sex marriage. To celebrate the occasion, Vermont's 'gayest duo,' Ben and Jerry of Ben & Jerry's ice-cream, changed the name of their Chubby Hubby ice-cream to 'Hubby Hubby' and offered free scoops of it around the state.

Meanwhile, opponents of same-sex marriage in Maine, which is supposed to start allowing those marriages on September 12, have gathered enough petition signatures to put a measure on the ballot in a November election, which would overturn the decision to allow same-sex marriages. Their efforts are met with resistance, however, as supporters of same-sex marriage have raised their own groups advocating the upholding of the decision. As an NPR report states, battle lines are drawn in this upcoming election. The NPR audio on the issue is below.

Proponents of same-sex marriage have also launched an ad campaign on television, appealing to the independent nature of Maine residents, hoping to garner their votes when the issue goes on the ballot. One of these ads is below.

Despite all these advances, gay rights advocates are not satisfied with president Obama's performance on the issue, claiming that he is not working fast enough on national issues such as Don't Ask, Don't Tell, or the Defense of Marriage Act.

On a national level, Congress is closer to passing the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, protecting LGBT individuals from discrimination at work because of their sexual preference or gender identity.

Tërmet në Shqipëri

Të dhënat disi të përmbledhura.

Indoctrination?

Via TPM, I found a release from the White House with the entire speech to be given by president Obama tomorrow. He asked that it be broadcast in schools across the nation, but the idea has been extremely controversial among right-wing ranks, which fear liberal indoctrination.

Well, here is the speech in its entirety, as it will be delivered. Unless telling kids to try hard and stay in school is indoctrination, the right-wing has lost this battle and had better shut up.

Newt Gingrich apparently has and is now praising the speech.

The Memory of Al Franken

Found via Huffington Post.

Érotisme à Sciences-Po

Students at Sciences-Po, a political sciences university in Paris where I had the chance to TA one semester, have decided to compile articles and photographs for an erotic magazine due to be published in October of this year. An article in Le Monde has an audio interview with the creators of the magazine, called L'imparfaite.

If interested, you can pre-order it here.

PS-ja dhe parlamenti

Në kongresin e saj të jashtëzakonshëm, u duk qartë se Partia Socialiste ka sadopak përçarje mes krerëve të saj, jo vetëm në përpjekjet e secilit për të fituar frerët e partisë, por edhe për mënyrën si ata mendojnë duhet vepruar me parlamentin.

Pas shqyrtimesh të shumta, kongresi i PS-së vendosi të mos njohë zgjedhjet e 28 qershorit, por gjithsesi të marrë pjesë në parlament nëse parlamenti plotëson kushtet e saj.

Pas mbylljes së kongresit, kryetari i PS-së, Edi Rama, parashtroi kushtet që kongresi i partisë së tij vendosi t'i kërkohen parlamentit dhe presidentit, mes të cilave kërkohet krijimi i një grupi parlamentar për të hetuar zgjedhjet, si dhe vënia në dispozicion e gjithë materialeve zgjedhore, sidomos për zonat ku numërimi është vënë më tepër në pyetje.

Ky vendim, ndonëse lidhur me zgjedhje të dyshimta, është i drejtë dhe shpresoj se deputetët e Partisë Socialiste do të marrin pjesë në parlament për t'u dhënë zgjedhësve të tyre përfaqësimin që ata kërkuan me votën e tyre.

E ardhmja e gjuhës shqipe

Ardian Vehbiu ka shkruar një artikull tek gazeta Shekulli, tek i cili bën thirrje për krijimin e një fjalori gjithëpërfshirës, ku përdoruesit e gjuhës shqipe të mundin të gjejnë fjalët përkuese në shqip për fjalët në anglisht dhe anasjelltas.

Ndonëse sot jemi larg asaj dite, autori dhe ideatori duhet të përgëzohet për thirrjen e tij dhe, nëse ndërkohë dikush tjetër merr nismën për të krijuar përmbledhjen në fjalë, ai duhet përkrahur me çdo kusht. Vetëm në këtë mënyrë do të kemi mundësi ta ruajmë gjuhën shqipe në konkurrencën e pamëshirshme mes gjuhëve, si dhe t'i japim asaj hijen që meriton.

Monsieur le Président

Bill Moyers sends an open video-letter to the president, urging him to pass healthcare reform, calling it a step into greater democracy, a second 'American Revolution.' I second his call for a tough guy instead of Mr. Nice-Guy.

Video source

Wasting on the Seas

Slate magazine has a poignant and sobering article on the wasteful nature of cruises. On average, a person on a cruise creates more than 2.5 times the normal waste in CO2 emissions. That's without counting the waste caused by the amenities and the all-you-can-eat buffets catering to insatiable gluttons.

On Evolution & Related News

The most popular—and I would dare add singular—argument of proponents of creationism (masked, of course, under the euphemism 'intelligent design') is that the complexity of life implies a designer/creator that is more complex than its creations. On the cellular level, proponents of this view would argue that certain cellular structures are so intricate that they are irreducible. In other words, taking away one of their components would obviate them. A recent comparison of proteins between mitochondria and simpler bacteria shows that component proteins found in complex structures in mitochondria are, indeed, present in those bacteria. The only difference is that those components are not combined into the complex structure of the mitochondria, but rather exist independently. However, they are still functional... they simply carry out different functions. They were only able to perform their mitochondrial function when they evolved (through mutation or otherwise) into a different, more complex structure.

QUESTION: How do gene mutations that cause morphological differences still result in viable offspring?

ANSWER: Most multicellular organisms contain duplicate copies of the gene. A mutation occurring in one of them causes the morphological change, while the intact second copy of the gene ensures viability.

Richard Dawkins has published a new book somewhat distanced from his recent anti-religious rhetoric. The book, entitled The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution, highlights the irrefutable evidence for evolution and goes so far as to claim that evolution is 'as incontrovertible a fact as any in science.' I look forward to reading it.

There is also a new book by Frans de Waal, entitled The Age of Empathy: Nature's Lessons for a Kinder Society, which supports my belief that our morals, among which empathy, do not take their origin from a divine being, but are simply innate among humans. The author shows that they are also common in the animal kingdom, citing multiple examples of empathy in the animal kingdom. He also proposes a theory on how and why empathy evolved and how it favored the survival of these animals.

A scientist wondered about the consistent size within a human population and was baffled that the answer was not as simple as that for animal groups. Evolution may have something to do with it, but like any reasonable scientist, he is the first to admit he doesn't know exactly how.

Charles Darwin's great-great-grand-daughter is setting about to retrace the famous voyage of her great-great-grand-father more than 150 years ago, when his observations of living things led him to propose the theory of evolution and natural selection.

Evolutionary biologists have used new gene sequencing techniques to identify, map, and compare genes in humans and apes. They have found that, in humans, three genes evolved de novo, which first distinguished them from their common ancestor with the apes.

And, speaking of genes and mutations, another group of scientists have found that each of us is 'a mutant' by 100-200 genes that have mutated. Some of these mutations are good, some can lead to detrimental consequences such as cancer.

A new book aims to change the way we view medicine and to use evolutionary knowledge—nay, to teach it—in order to expand our medical capacities. Sure seems interesting....

Lastly, for a broader application of the word 'evolution,' and for the enjoyment of Mac aficionados, here is the evolution of the Mac OS X, found via Think Progress's Matthew Yglesias.

What's That Smell?

Tell me where you are and I'll tell you what it is. Or The New York Times will. The newspaper provides a smell map of Manhattan, noting the scents that characterize each area of the island, day or night. I can attest to some of them myself....

Transportation in America

This website is indispensable for those who wish to know and talk about transportation in America. It has, among other things, a comparison of road conditions, CO2 emissions, and accidents between every state and the national average.

(Source: Matthew Yglesias)

Healthcare & Immigrants

There has been much ado and speculation about the proposed healthcare reform bill and how it addresses the issue of coverage for immigrants of different statuses. The New York Times has written an article describing the scenarios covered under the proposed bill. The article shows that, despite the widespread right-wing propaganda stating the contrary, the bill does not intend to cover illegal immigrants, and that there is a lot of talk among congressmen and women as well as between them and their constituents on the question of immigrants and healthcare. A great number of them are seeking citizenship status as a qualification for state-subsidized health insurance or enrollment in a public health insurance option.

As this article states, however, procedures verifying citizenship for applicants end up costing disproportionately more when considering the number of people they end up disqualifying. Furthermore, I must add that excluding legal, tax-paying, non-citizen residents from the possibility of state-subsidized or public healthcare is not a fair option and should not be entertained by any congressmen or women. In addition, there is something to be said even about illegal immigrants (or, for that matter, tourists or visitors) being turned away at hospitals' doors simply because they do not pay taxes. As an American, I would not like to see that happen. Emergency care—which is all that would reasonably be required by illegal immigrants/visitors/tourists before immigration and deportation agencies move in to act—is, by definition, a question of life or death, and I would not like to see anybody turned away or die because of our xenophobic attitude on healthcare.

As far as the U.S. being turned into a haven for foreigners seeking good healthcare, one must simply consider the current and possible future cost of healthcare and medication in this country. Even if those costs were halved, they would still be unaffordable to our neighbors in the south (because, let's face it, we only think of them when we say 'immigrants').

What we need to do is look at the example of other countries who have been dealing successfully with healthcare for decades and have, indubitably, dealt with measures for immigrants. Or, lest we start spreading fears of following the example of 'socialist' countries, we could look further than the example of Massachusetts, which has just limited certain covered services for recent, legal immigrants, and learn from its mistakes about how to avoid such limiting measures on the national level.

A Jab at the French

According to statistics reported in Le Monde, TOEFL scores rank French students 69th (out of 109) worldwide, and 25th (out of 43) among their European peers.

The article also mentions Albania (along with Kosovo and Cyprus) as having the lowest TOEFL scores in the continent.

Moda Harvardiana

A Harvard-inspired preppy (and not so preppy) line of clothes is hitting the market under the 'Harvard Yard' label. Apparently, no logo, no 'Veritas,' no 'Harvard;' just crimson details.

The New York Times's accompanying slideshow can be found here.

Living Architecture

Patrick Blanc is a botanist with a possible latent desire to become an architect. He uses his knowledge of botany to construct 'living' structures with plants of all sorts, spaced and situated at appropriate positions for their living demands. His latest project is the Athanaeum in London and his previous projects are found all over the world, such as the one below, in Aix-en-Provence, France.

The C-Word Not What It Used to Be

I'll give you a clue: it rhymes with 'runt.'

I must say, it is a very harsh word to use, though I also cannot deny having used it myself on a few occasions.

According to this Newsweek article, it is apparently not as bad as it used to be, though still quite unacceptable, mostly by virtue of the shock effect it produces.

Paris en transition

Libération published a slideshow of a few photos of Paris during the time of the Haussmann projects. They portray Paris under a light that most of us are not accustomed to seeing.

Avenue de l'Opéra then:

Avenue de l'Opéra now:

(Image source)

Catholic Bishops Against Healthcare

A number of Catholic bishops have expressed their opposition to the proposed healthcare reform bill, stating as primary reason its coverage of abortion.

Although Catholic officials have repeatedly pushed for healthcare coverage until very recently, some of them now seem eager to drop that support for healthcare that would cover millions of people over their closed-minded, out-of-date doctrine that does not make room for abortion... even if that means savings millions of others.

Get over yourselves!

On Iran

I haven't posted much on the situation in Iran, because things have been relatively 'quiet' for a number of weeks now. This past week, though, I did see a few interesting articles and would like to share here.

The New York Times's Roger Cohen writes a very good editorial on the flip-flopping politics of Ayatollah Khamenei. He beautifully illustrates his diverging stances and statements on numerous issues since the elections, showing that, as he puts it, the Iran régime is becoming 'inwardly consumed.'

Meanwhile, a senior ayatollah and former contender for the position of the Supreme Leader, has called the current régime and its practices 'a dictatorship,' highlighting as evidence the violent crackdown on protesters, as well as the show trials, which he considers, 'ridiculed Islamic justice.'

Ahmadinejad secured a strong backing for his cabinet from the Iranian parliament, which approved 18 out of his 21 proposed cabinet members. The driving force was apparently the Supreme Leader, Khamenei, showing once again that the sham that is the Iranian government is one and the same, despite its many faces.

On the other side, Mousavi who purportedly lost the June presidential election to Ahmadinejad, has called for more civil disobedience, despite being faced with the chance of being labeled an 'enemy of the state.' He also requested once again that the government launch an independent investigation on election violations.

As this article shows us, civil disobedience is not taken lightly in Iran. University officials have begun repercussions on students who participated in the post-election uprisings. Retaliatory measures include suspensions, barring from dormitories, and extensive questioning. At the same time, a panel is investigating the curricula in the humanities for possible secular indoctrination, which they believe are, in part, to blame for the anti-government uprisings.

Gjendja e ekonomisë

Leku shqiptar ka pësuar rënie gjatë stinës së verës në krahasim me një vit më parë. Ekspertët ia vënë fajin një turizmi më të ulët në krahasim me 2008-n.

Një tjetër burim bën të ditur se ky zhvlerësim i lekut do të çojë në rritje të çmimeve të mallrave në Shqipëri (padyshim pa rritje të rrogave) në muajt në vazhdim. Kjo gjendje pritet të çojë në një thellim të mëtejshëm e më të shpejtë të varfërisë.

California in the News

Pot growers in the California mountains are a two-fold problem: they grow illegal marijuana and are also blamed for causing forest fires.

Prisons are extremely problematic in California. The legislature had, for a long time, failed to ease repercussions on parole violations, which would reduce the number of prisoners in California. On 1 September, however, the legislature did approve the prison legislation, although as a much weaker version of what it used to be and with a slim majority along party lines. At the same time, the Schwarzenegger administration filed for a delay on the order to reduce the prison population, which was denied by a special judicial panel.

On a similar note, Los Angeles County prosecutors are doing their 'best' to help prison overcrowding by asking for cruel and unusual punishment—the death penalty—in a gang-related murder.

As the economy weakens and California suffers in this recession, a migration is taking place. Many Californians are now looking eastward... ironically enough. Nevada is now a popular destination for migrating Californians looking for jobs and other opportunities.

Last week California, like most financially ailing families, cleared its 'state attic' and held a 'yard sale' in Sacramento. The items sold came mostly from surplus equipment or cutbacks in objects such as police cars.

Sacramento is also asking the federal government to ease its restrictions on water use in California, despite the drought, citing the farming economy as its reason.

A congressional district near San Francisco held its elections and it became obvious during the campaign that healthcare reform is the forefront issue among the Democratic candidates. They were all supporting it. Republicans, on the other side, had family values and trade policy on their platform, and were attacking healthcare reform. Election results require a runoff between the leading Democrat (26%) and leading Republican (21%).

California also serves as one example and reason out of fifty for why we need a national healthcare reform: As part of its budget cuts approved a couple of months ago, healthcare for the poor is suffering in California, prompting Schwarzenegger and California Democrats to levy a new tax on insurance companies.

Finally, California can now say, 'IOU nothing,' as it begins to replace previously issued IOUs with checks.

Pasuritë e socialistëve

Ky artikull i Shekullit jep vetëm pasuritë e Ben Blushit dhe Arben Malajt.

Fidel Castro is Right

The American right wing does hate Obama because he is black.

Its representatives have tried and are still trying to portray him as an outsider from the moment he became a serious contender for the presidency. We had Sarah Palin and her nutty followers who screamed 'terrorist,' 'muslim,' and 'Arab,' disregarding both facts and geography and thereby showing their ignorance and bigotry. Nowadays many others, so-called 'birthers,' are questioning his status as a natural-born citizen of the United States.

All those who still propagate these rumors and promulgate the idea that he is not a natural-born citizen, un-american, a terrorist, a muslim, or a socialist are simply racists and demagogues who are coping very badly with their fears of a more equal-opportunity America.

Women in the News

In light of the latest gender scandal in sports, BuzzFeed has compiled a list of famous disputed/questionable genders in Olympic history. They are all interesting, I must say.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has made the news thanks to her way of doing diplomacy around the world. NPR audio below.

On the other side of the spectrum, Sarah Palin remains in the news, this time thanks to the Huffington Posts, which posted some of the most memorable videos of her from this past year in the national arena.

On two separate articles, the BBC reports that England and Wales have made it possible for lesbian couples to have each of their names put on birth certificates of their children. Criticism, no doubt, followed.

Meanwhile, in Afghanistan, women's rights have suffered, as fewer women showed up at the polls, reminding the world that progress is too distant for Afghani women.

Newsweek has an interesting article on women's efforts to break the glass ceiling. Apparently, their success depends on their ceasing to be 'good girls' and becoming 'bitches.'

World Statistics

Hans Rosling does it again. Another lecture on our 'flat world,' with some updates.

The data in the video can be accessed on his website, Gapminder World.

What's in a Name

The statistics are out and Emma is the most popular name among girls in America, as it had been for more than a century, along with Emily.

My favorite site for name data: Baby Name Wizard.

20s Lingo

Here it is.

My favorites:

(20s - today)

mouthpiece - lawyer

handcuff - engagement ring

butt me - give me a cigarette

(Via: BuzzFeed)

Amsterdam Pwns O'Reilly

O'Reilly has apparently been pontificating about the crime rate in Amsterdam, as of late. I wouldn't know, because I never listen to him. Now, a Dutchman responds and, frankly, owns him pretty well, albeit amateurishly.

(Source: BuzzFeed)