Health & Science Update

This is a loooooong one.... Science doesn't wait for me.

Circumcision has been on the medical news for a few years now, with medical authorities claiming that it reduces the risk of HIV transmission. Should we encourage it? Are there differences in transmission between homosexual and heterosexual men? This article answers some of these questions. This other article addresses the shortcomings of circumcision among gay men.

I guess I should stop smoking the hookah (or shisha, as Brits apparently call it). A study reported by the BBC discovers that it causes as much harm as cigarettes.

There is now an Encyclopedia of Life, culling information on all known species in the world. The resources will be available and useful to people from many fields of life.

Scientists have discovered that dog hair types are controlled by three genes. Moreover, their discovery might help scientists learn more about cancer genes in humans, since cancers in dogs and humans are very similar.

Mercury levels in fish are rising, according to an article in The Economist. The traces are high in freshwater fish because of mercury leaked into freshwater streams and rivers from the coal industry. They are the highest in larger fish, however, such as shark and tuna, since they accumulate in the food chain.

The Economist also reports that the origin of men's muscle mass and its differences with women's muscle mass is the product of evolution... sexual selection, to be precise.

The intake of folic acid, which helps women to get pregnant, is a territory to be treaded very carefully, since high amounts of the substance in the body can help the growth of cancers.

The New York Times summarizes a study by the New England Journal of Medicine pointing out that people who undergo imaging tests are exposed to more radiation than is allowed for a one-year period among nuclear power plant workers.

According to Reuters Health, one's diastolic blood pressure can affect one's memory and other cognitive functions. For every increase of 10 mm Hg in diastolic blood pressure, there is a seven percent increased chance of developing cognitive impairments.

It has been found that the human papillomavirus (HPV), which has been considered for some time as a cause of cervical cancer, is also the cause of about half of the instances of penile cancer in men.

Sugar is now linked to greater risks for heart disease via the obesity it creates, primarily through the intake of soft drinks high in sugar. Even a single can of soda contains more sugar than the total recommended daily sugar intake.

Second-hand smoke was never a friend of passengers stuck in a car with a smoker. Now there is proof of it.

Nobody likes the dreaded colorectal exam, but males of South Asian descent are more likely to refuse to take it, despite being at high risk for it colorectal cancer. Overall, fewer than 60% of people who need it are getting tested.

Drug advertised on TV for cancer patients may create tensions between a patient and his/her doctor, not help patients at all, or even worsen their condition with side effects if the advertised drugs are taken.

This article is in French, but it basically says that the sun has lost its spots and has been cooler in the past few weeks.

Israeli scientists have constructed abdominal tissue, which, when injected in the heart, can restore and strengthen the areas of the heart that have been damaged by a heart attack. The experiment only took place in rats.

Low-carb diets, whether high in fat or protein, can increase the risk of atherosclerosis by 9% of 15%, respectively.

Yet another adverse effect of obesity in women: 40% higher chance of asthma in 'apple-shaped' women. I know, I never heard of the 'apple-shaped' either... and doesn't seem particularly appropriate since they're talking primarily about the weight around their abdomens. That would make them pear-shaped.

Hormonal therapy in treating prostate cancer in men can create bigger problems for them, such as bone loss and hot flashes. They suppress testosterone production and, I'm guessing, inject female hormones, which would explain the menopausal side effects.

Scientists are able to create viable monkey embryos and live monkeys from eggs whose mitochondrial DNA had been removed, paving the way for women to choose the procedure if they want to protect their children from hereditary problems carried in mitochondrial DNA.

This short Q&A in The New York Times describes the differences and similarities in age-related hearing loss between men and women.

Hip fracture rates have been steadily declining for the past 20 years in both Canada and the U.S., despite an ever-aging population. Experts credit multiple reasons.

E.D. problems in men are not so easy to solve. Most importantly, they are indicative of deeper-lying health problems.

Skin cancer is more prevalent among the elderly because their skin is less able to signal the immune system to send T-cells to the damaged area. The problem may be reversible and may give clues about how to remedy it in other tissues.

This is unbelievable! Scientists were able to view a molecule at the molecular level. The image and the diagram of the molecule are at this link.

Doctors at MIT have created a monitor the science of a grain of rice in order to track the development of tumors inside a patient's body.

The video below describes and explains 'aquaponics,' a cohabitation of fish and plants, whereby the fish excrement feeds the plants and, in return, plants clean the water when absorbing those organic molecules.

Pianiste e paparë

E di vetë se cila është.... ;)

Kitty-ing Around

Kitty keeps 'saying' yum-yum-yum-yum-yum while eating. Now I want a cat again.... :(

(Source: BuzzFeed)

«Vuejtja»

Ka do dit

që po shof fare mirë
se si nga vuejtja syt po më madhohen,
nepër ball dhe ftyrë rrudhat po më shtohen
e si buzqeshja m'asht e hidhun...
... dhe po ndij
se si mëngjeset e mia
nuk janë ma mëngjese hovi e pune,
as ndërtimi, por të shtymt dita më ditë
e një jete që s'durohet.
Dalngadalë po shof
si jeta një nga një
secilin ndjesi
me tradhti
po ma vulos
dhe s'po më mbetë asgja
që me u nda
si shej gëzimi,
përpara
nuk e dishe, o jetë,
se kaq i tmerrtë
asht grushti i yt
që mbyt
pa mëshirë.
Por kot
në pasqyrë po shof
se si nga vuejtja syt po më madhohen
nëpër ballë dhe në ftyrë rrudhat po më shtohen,
dhe shpejt do të bahem
flamur i vjetruem
i rreckuem
ndër luftat e jetës.

MIGJENI

(Me rastin e 71-vjetorit të vdekjes)

Public v. Private

This article from the Associated Press discusses the possible scenarios of the competition that will spring up with a public health insurance option in the arena.

If health insurance companies think they're so good and that the government plan will be so bad, why are they afraid? If they deliver, people who have the means will go to them. Unless they continue to be the mountebanks they already are, of course, on which there is no doubt.

Meanwhile, California nurses, those who fight in the trenches of the war we call healthcare, react and predict that insurance premiums will increase by 94% by 2020, unless measures are taken by the government in the form of a public option in order to curb that.

Lieberman Sways in the Wind

As always, the 'independent' senator doesn't know what he's talking about. Healthcare, he says, 'may have to wait.'

This is just as bad as when he supported McCain for the presidency, knowing fully well that his running mate was a dolt.

And, speaking of McCain, here he is, singing the same tune.

Econ 101

Paul Krugman educates on why the GDP can rise while unemployment also rises. Graphs within.

More here on what he terms an economic 'purgatory.'

Healthcare Reform Myths

The Daily Dish considers the issue of coverage for illegal immigrants and how it's being viewed in the blogosphere. There are provisions for legal immigrants, but none for illegal immigrants, despite popular right-wing nonsense claiming the contrary.

Wireless Electricity

Cool stuff! Maybe in a few years it will be commonplace....

Bike Info (For Royce... though he never reads my blog)

Some European bike styles presented with their advantages, perks, and shortcomings.

Easy Does It

Try not to bite more than you can chew. This study shows that if you take on multiple task, chances are you won't do them so well. Makes sense.

For Albanians: Du kunguj nën një sqetull nuk mbahen.

Dead Before You Know It

For real! Well, maybe not you, but all people of note. Slate magazine reports some details on the well-known fact that newspapers and news agencies write obituaries well in advance.

On Public Option

First, what is the public option? It's an insurance policy funded and managed by the government. That is all... nothing more, nothing less. Here's an article describing how it came about. Chris Hayes of The Nation does a good job of explaining it for the lay man in the video below. Keep reading for more on the controversy started last weekend over it.

Second, why has it been in the news so much?

A week ago, both Health and Human Services secretary Kathleen Sebelius and president Barack Obama stated in different places and times that the public option was not essential to the healthcare reform bill, that it was not an integral part of it, thus signaling their willingness to drop it from the proposal.

Outrage and speculation ensued, and rightfully so, over the importance of the so-called public option and the futility of a healthcare reform bill without it. Howard Dean was one of the first and most vocal supporters of the public option, claiming that a healthcare reform bill without it was no reform at all. At the same time, the Obama White House started to juggle with the idea of non-profit co-ops, which would bring the government and private insurance companies together in providing healthcare subsidized by the government and with no profit for the partaking private insurance. Needless to say, people discussed that option, as well, with some experts saying that the measure has a 'checkered history.'

The administration's statements on dropping the public option from the healthcare reform bill drew ire from the more liberal factions of the political spectrum: The Nation had an article calling a healthcare reform bill without a public option 'a squandered opportunity,' and another article analyzing the public option more in depth, while many progressive groups made it clear they would not give up on it. The more liberal Democrats in Congress, for their part, vowed the same, as the NPR report below shows, though Nate Silver of fivethirtyeight.com added that they might 'cave' and vote for a bill that has other perks, if not public option.

As the week progressed, Democrats seemed more supportive of public option and more united behind it. And, as of late this week, both Sebelius and Obama had all but recanted their statements. In the immediate aftermath of their announcement last weekend, White House Press Secretary, Robert Gibbs, dismissed rumors that the public option was dead, prompting Paul Krugman to write an op-ed in The New York Times restating the importance of the public option from an economic perspective. Most recently at Ohio State University, Sebelius stated she supported a state-run health insurance.

The Evolution of Visual Effects

We have come a long way from simply shifting frames or drawing on them. But there is something to be said about the ingenuity of all these effects, from the most rudimentary to the most complex. (Source: BuzzFeed)

Lëvizja Socialiste për Integrim jo aq integrale

LSI-ja e përçarë.

BBC njofton se figura të rëndësishme brenda partisë shprehin ngurrim për bashkëpunimin ndërmjet PD-së dhe LSI-së.

Po të njëjtën gjë lexojmë edhe tek Shekulli, ku persona me rëndësi brenda partisë i bëjnë thirrje Metës të heqë dorë nga kalimi nga majtas djathtas, duke e kujtuar se nuk është ende vonë për t'u tërhequr nga një bashkëpunim me PD-në.

Reality Check

A few weeks ago I posted an entry on the number of uninsured people in the United States. Here's a different article on the same subject, this time from The New York Times.

I continue to have the same position as before: not one life should be ignored.

Most people continue to think that they have a great insurance policy, and that any attempts to hold insurance companies more accountable before patients are attempts to ration healthcare. Without getting into the selfishness of those who can afford decent healthcare and who make no attempt to extend it to others, I must say that they are at the very least deluded if they think it will always be affordable and reliable.

The video below, launched by Americans United for Change, reminds us that so-called 'death panels' already exist in the United States with regard to healthcare. They are set up by the insurance companies who provide policies and services to individuals very selectively, so as to charge them the high premiums that supposedly keep competition alive and make great healthcare possible, but not actually 'waste' money on them by delivering medical services. (Source: Daily Kos)

Reconciling Creationism & Evolution?

This is what Robert Wright, author of The Evolution of God, attempts to do in an editorial in The New York Times.

His proposals for a middle ground, albeit sensible, are too cloy and reconciliatory. I continue to believe that evolution and creationism are mutually exclusive and that middle ground between the two of them is no ground at all. These attempts to give credence and authority to an unscientific theory like creationism cause the greatest harm to our nation's educational system, the trenches and the front line of this war that is still being waged, eighty-four years after the Scopes Trial.

Religion in France

A recent poll conducted by the Institut Français d'Opinion Publique (IFOP) and released as a .pdf document shows that Catholicism is an aging and decaying breed in France. More than a quarter of the population identify as 'non-religious', while those who identify as 'Catholic' have declined since the end of the Second World War.

The graph below shows not only a decrease in people who identify as 'Catholic,' but also a decrease in church-going Catholics that is disproportionately greater than the overall decline.

The study also found that a majority of Catholics in France tend to vote for the UMP, the center-right party currently in power.

Ik e mos e kthe kokën prapa!

Këtë parim ka më se një e treta e shqiptarëve në Shqipëri sot. Jam vetë i larguar, ndaj nuk kam sy e faqe të gjykoj. Ç'është e vërteta, nuk kam asnjë arsye për të kundërshtuar e as gjykuar kurrkënd që dëshiron të largohet nga Shqipëria.

Çfarë ka për ta atje? Vota që s'numërohen. Qeveri që mbush xhepat e vet. Shtet që nuk i mbron. Vrasje të rëndomta. Shkelje të të drejtave, etj., etj.....

Right Wing's Century-Old Battle Against Healthcare

This article by a political journalist shows that the battle for healthcare has been a long one in the world and in the United States. Some countries like Britain and Germany were successful in passing legislation that insured all citizens. Those reforms are still successful and active today, in one shape or form.

The battle for universal healthcare in the United States was just that: a battle—and a lost one at that. Early in the 20th century, there was no room for dialogue when those who were willing and eager to pass such legislation were faced with demagoguery that even Rush Limbaugh would envy. But whether his vitriol is a match or not for that of the fear-mongering right-wingers during the days of WWI and the Russian Revolution, it's at the very least clear that he speaks the same language today.

Jews and Catholics Go at It

That's it, guys! Go ahead... be a thorn in each other's eyes....

Jews are opposing a recent document issued by leaders of Catholicism in the United States on the grounds that the document attempts to proselytize to Jews and convince them to accept Christ as their savior.

This is why I hate all religions: they all claim to be the right one or the real one, the only one who has the power to save you and your soul. Oh, and they promise an afterlife, too, but only if you live this one to a fraction of its full extent.

Pussy Politicians

Recently, much has been said in the form of complaints about the length of the healthcare reform bill. Aspersions have come almost exclusively from the right, but, as this Slate magazine article shows, the length is nothing to fear or look at with suspicion. Bills requiring guidelines for expenditures as massive as those for healthcare or the stimulus plan do require precise wording, so as to avoid the ambiguities and holes that many claim are present in bills of this length.

If you ask me, politicians are just pussies.

Deputetëve u shkurtohen këmbët

Para disa ditësh, kryetarja e parlamentit, Jozefina Topalli, dha urdhër të prerë që të gjitha automjetet në përdorim nga deputetët të dorëzohen brenda datës 25 gusht.

Berisha shpalli pak a shumë të njëjtën gjë, duke shtuar, gjithashtu, se automjetet do t'u hiqen edhe disa zyrtarëve të tjerë jashtë parlamentit. Ai ka propozuar që Shqipëria të ndjekë shembullin e Suedisë, ku deputetët shlyhen me bonuse për shpenzimet e lëvizjeve nëpër Republikë.

Më në fund u hoqën edhe nderet e tepërta që u bëheshin deputetëve tanë të llastuar. Si shtet i varfër shpenzojmë një shumë marramendëse për të mbajtur makina dhe shoferë që u rrinë deputetëve lepe-peqe. Ndonëse besoj se Berisha ka vendosur për këtë veprim për arsye politike, ose thjesht nga inati se duhet ta ndajë parlamentin gjysmë-për-gjysmë me kundërshtarët e tij politikë për të cilët nuk do të japë asnjë majë gjilpëre, nuk kam si të mos e duartrokas e mirëpres. Shpresoj vetëm që paratë që do të kursehen të shpenzohen në mënyra më të dobishme.

Putpocketing

No, I did not spell it wrong. I did mean PUTpocketing. It's apparently catching on in the United Kingdom, as former pickpockets are trying to make amends.

Source: BuzzFeed

Vivaldi viva ancora

Vivaldi apparently faced hard times during his lifetime, and his legacy had tougher times until early in the last century. Now, his creative prowess is more richly appreciated.

Women in the News

Forbes magazine compiled a list of the world's one hundred most powerful women. Just like the past three years, Angela Merkel, chancellor of Germany, is at the top, primarily because of her coveted influential position, and also because of the success that her cabinet's measures had in getting Germany out of the financial crisis. Other influential ladies like Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton, Queen Elizabeth II also make the list.

South Africa's champion runner Caster Semenya is fighting allegations calling her gender into question. The allegations came after she won the 800-meter race with over 2.5 seconds between her and the racer in second place.

La piovra

Funny how our brains are receptacles for an infinite amount of useless stuff....

I was watching a video earlier and a few notes from the music in it reminded me of the theme of the very famous La piovra series that I and all Albanians used to watch in the late 1980s. Needless to say, I had to find it, so here it is.

Golden Girls Tattoo

BuzzFeed brought this to my attention. The original page showing the tattoo is here. I'm borrowing the image below.

The Unequal States of America

Do not take this to mean that I am for redistribution of wealth, but news of the inequalities made possible by the Bush years in terms of wealth and income in the United States are a sobering reminder of the kind of taxation and regulation under Republicans that led to a deeper and darker chasm between economic classes in the U.S., and also to the recession we are still fighting.

The New York Times reports that the rich are finally beginning to feel the consequences of a recession. Not surprisingly, the lower-income brackets are usually the first to suffer, for lack of a cushioning mattress of money, if you will.

The Nation analyzes the numbers a little and informs us that during the expansion of the Bush years was only an expansion for the very, very wealthy, whereas the rest of us not only lingered, but lagged behind and actually lost money.

Super Granny

A 91 year-old drummer. 'Nuff said.

Health & Science Update

According to scientists, activities such as running create chemical changes in your body that contribute to your state of being. Running, in other words, can give you a high. And if you stop running, you are susceptible to bouts of depression and other symptoms typical of withdrawal from drugs.

This is for all the global warming skeptics: ocean water temperatures are on the rise. The change is more noticeable toward the poles, forecasting an accelerated melting of the polar ice-caps, which is predicted to dramatically raise water levels around the world.

Talk about extreme cosmetic surgery! How about we break your bones, keep separating them as they fuse, and make you gain 5 cm in the process? Apparently, many Siberian women are lining up for this.

Earth suddenly feels less special now that we have discovered that extraterrestrial environments support organic molecules vital to life such as the amino acid glycine, which was recently found to be present in a comet.

If you have ever blamed your parents for your drinking problem, now you have more of a reason to do so. Certain gene variants in monkeys make them more predisposed to drinking. Yes, they gave monkeys alcohol for this experiment.

Stem cell research seems even more promising now that we can refine and target its benefits through the use of magnetic nanoparticles injected in stem cells and which are then guided throughout the body by using magnets, thus easily targeting problematic areas.

Does psychological stress affect your allergies? Yes—it can both worsen and prolong allergic reactions.

Healthcare Coverage in San Francisco

Apparently, San Francisco is the only city in the United States that requires health insurance in approximately the same way in which Massachusetts requires it for its residents.

This editorial in The New York Times shows how it works, how many have been covered, how employers are dealing with it, and also addresses issues of funding and job losses. All the above were common fears before San Francisco required this health insurance program, and continue to be fears and preoccupations on the national level as the nation discusses passing national healthcare.

The authors' conclusion:

The San Francisco experiment has demonstrated that requiring a shared-responsibility model — in which employers pay to help achieve universal coverage — has not led to the kind of job losses many fear. The public option has also passed the market test, while not crowding out private options. The positive changes in San Francisco provide a glimpse of what the future might look like if Washington passes substantial health reform this year.

California in the News

A couple of developments from California:

First, the governator [sic, though I am henceforth abandoning the 'sic'] called the state legislature in a special session to vote for the removal of what he termed a 'firewall,' which prevents the state from applying for a $4.35 billion for an education stimulus fund. I assume it is to rectify the grievous ill that public education suffered in the state after the cuts to balance the budget.

Second, as part of efforts to curb increases in the deficit, some prisoners may be released earlier, or some other individuals facing charges might not even serve any time. The senate approved the decision with a 21-19 vote, with Republicans opposing it and law enforcement advocating against it.

Personally, I think the prison system in the United States is shameful. It does a good job of keeping people locked up, but the conditions it allows within prisons are downright 'cruel and unusual,' and they provide more hardening than reformatory conditions for criminals.

Gjinushi për zgjedhjet, të majtën, PS-në

Skënder Gjinushi, kryetar i Partisë Socialdemokrate të Shqipërisë, flet për zgjedhjet e qershorit, për gjendjen e të majtës në Shqipëri e veçanërisht për kryesinë e PS-së në këtë intervistë për Shekullin.

Zgjedhjet, sipas tij, kanë qenë jo krejt të drejta dhe e kanë nxjerrë të majtën sërish si forcë të parë politike në Shqipëri, ndonëse jo në fuqi. Për sa i përket PS-së, ai ka ngurruar të bëjë dallime midis Ramës, Blushit dhe Malajt, por gjithsesi është shprehur se përvoja e bashkëpunimit me PS-në nën udhëheqjen e Ramës ka qenë përgjithësisht e mirë.

Vendosa ta vë këtu këtë artikull sepse besoj se Gjinushi ka qenë dhe mbetet një nga politikanët më të zgjuar, më të mprehtë dhe më të ndershëm në Shqipëri.

On Crazy Politicians

I found this Time magazine article via Matthew Yglesias's blog. The article laments the deplorable state of the Republican Party today, where the de facto leader is someone like Rush Limbaugh, and where the rest of the party hasn't the gall to get up and say to him or others who speak in fascist, racist, or otherwise bigoted tones: 'Have you no sense of decency, sir, at long last?'

Matthew Yglesias adds his own two cents by bringing up other examples of crazy politicians, showing, at the same time, that this sort of derangement is not a monopoly of the Republican Party. Never doubted it.

Americans on Gay Issues

Nate Silver of fivethirtyeight.com has analyzed data from 1994 until 2008 about Americans' attitudes on gay issues.

His post on his website shows people's stance on questions such as gay marriage and laws protecting gays, while trying to relate them to whether the individual personally knows a gay person or not.

Some surprising results and attitudes, I must say....

Healthcare Reform Made Easy

I found this napkin explanation of healthcare via The Daily Dish.

The illustrator, Dan Roam, is apparently known for his napkin explanations of things and phenomena. I was able to find the slide show below describing healthcare reform issues. It conveniently shows all the napkins in one place and you can even make it into a full-screen presentation. The pictures and explanations really get to the important things and explain them in a way that is accessible to many. Highly recommended.

Walking in Circles

We really do it and, apparently, we can't do anything about it.

According to this study in the University of Tübingen, Germany, when lost, people really do walk in circles, especially in forests.

Gays and Lutherans

After a week of discussions, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has slightly updated (pun intended) its position on gay clergymen and women. They had formerly allowed openly gay individuals to serve in the church only in cases where the individual was celibate. As of today, the ELCA will allow even sexually active men and women that are in committed relationships with individuals of the same sex.

The resolution passed with a super majority of over two thirds. In both these articles, there are individuals within the church who speak both for and against the resolution. One of the most sensible quotes:

We can learn not to define ourselves by negation... by not only saying what we are against, which always seems to be the same — against gay people. We should be against poverty. I wish we were as zealous about that.

Fear and Loathing in Bushland

Tom Ridge, Homeland Security secretary during the George W. Bush administration, has given more credence to the mounting allegations that Bush and his officials attempted and successfully managed to sway public political opinion through the use of pollitically motivated fear tactics on the nation.

According to The New York Times and other sources in the media, Ridge claims in his upcoming book that, shortly before the 2004 presidential election, he was asked by the administration to raise the threat level because of a newly emerged video of Osama Bin Laden. What is unusual about this? Two things: (1) the fact that videos had not necessarily constituted grounds for an increase in the threat level until then; and (2) the strong coincidence of this increased threat level with the imminent presidential elections at the time, and the breaking of the virtual tie between Bush and Kerry that had existed in the polls up to that time.

Paul Krugmans thinks this should not come as a surprise to any of us.

Betsy McCaughey is a Raging Idiot

And John Stewart shows us why. For those of you who do not know, she is the one who first started the rumors about the government wanting to kill the elderly. Her extended interview is below, in two parts. As you can see, she has a skewed way of looking at things....

Internet Telephony

The New York Time's Frugal Traveler blog published a very nice summary of many available methods of contacting people through the internet and the telephone.

Skype might soon face problems, Google has a similar project, and other companies are also launching products that compete with the oldies.

The Frankness of Barney Frank

A friend of mine posted this video of Rep. Barney Frank at a town hall meeting, showing his answers to allegations of nazism, etc. in the healthcare reform bill. (Thank you, A.S.)

I later found a list of nine more Barney Frank videos on this Buzzfeed page, showing him during other outbursts on television. If you have time, some of them are a lot of fun to watch. My favorite among them:

Can't Sing to Save Your Life?

It's all in your head. No, not that way... cheap wiring.

(You can probably blame Mendel, too!)

Tone-deafness explained by brain connections.

Worsts of Healthcare Reform

Foreign Policy magazine enlightens us with a list of four of the worst healthcare reforms attempted around the world. Not surprisingly, the United States makes the list, alongside Russia, Turkmenistan, and China.

End-of-Life Realities

This article in The New York Times gives a wide and detailed perspective on end-of-life issues, attacking myths and defending openness between doctors and patients, and patient and family.

True Conservatism

Amid the steady poppycock of 'death pannels,' 'pull[ing] the plug on grandma,' and tax-funded sex changes, there is hope here and there for true conservatism. While the Limbaughs and the Palins, the Gingriches and the Grassleys propagate utter fabrications about the healthcare, Andrew Sullivan reminds us what the true concern of conservatives should be regarding the healthcare reform bill:

IT'S A FISCAL QUESTION, STUPID!

This is conservatism I can respect.

Dartmouth in the News

The Dartmouth reports that Dartmouth College was ranked 11th in a U.S. News and World Report ranking. This is the list that comes out every year around this time. The college has maintained the same rank as last year in overall ranking, but takes the first spot in 'commitment to undergraduate education.'

As with all rankings, this is to be taken with a grain of salt. No grade can be representative of the overall experience of being at Dartmouth or elsewhere.

The State of Public Discourse in America

I found the video below on the Huffington Post website. It shows two participants at a town-hall meeting organized by a conservative radio host in Las Vegas—I don't know exactly who. The first is a Jewish Israeli man going on and on about how Israeli healthcare is much better than that of the United States, and how Israel is better at other things, too. As he speaks, a woman yells out 'Heil Hitler!' off-camera and the man stops and begins to address it. It goes on for a while. The man yells 'shame of [sic] you,' the woman says he needs to criticize Obama, she mocks his healthcare complaints, he keeps yelling—very, very sad on so many levels....

«Caro amore»

Caro amore
nei tramonti d'aprile
caro amore
quando il sole si uccide
oltre le onde
puoi sentire piangere e gridare
anche il vento ed il mare.

Caro amore
così un uomo piange
caro amore
al sole, al vento e ai verdi anni
che cantando se ne vanno
dopo il mattino di maggio
quando sono venuti
e quando scalzi
e con gli occhi ridenti
sulla sabbia scrivevamo contenti
le più ingenue parole.

Caro amore
i fiori dell' altr' anno
caro amore
sono sfioriti e mai più
rifioriranno
e nei giardini ad ogni inverno
ben più tristi sono le foglie.

Caro amore
così un uomo vive
caro amore
e il sole e il vento e i verdi anni
si rincorrono cantando
verso il novembre a cui
ci vanno portando
e dove un giorno con un triste sorriso
ci diremo tra le labbra ormai stanche
«eri il mio caro amore».

Fabrizio de ANDRÈ

Obama is Bipolar

The redoubtable ONN explores the irrefutable symptoms of bipolar disorder in the president in the video below.

The United Bigots of Alaska

Bigotry is alive and well in the land of Sarah Palin. The mayor of Anchorage, AK vetoes a law condemning discrimination based on sexual orientation on the grounds that 'it was unclear that such discrimination existed.' A religious figure from the same town practically says that being gay is a choice of lifestyle, and affirms that such protection would be giving 'special rights' to homosexuals.

Healthcare Flowchart

I found this link via Paul Krugman's blog on The New York Times. It has a chart (below) illustrating what the proposed healthcare bill would do. Take a look. Click on image for larger view.

Those Commie Europeans

They have things figured out pretty darn well if you ask me. The French are probably the kings of vacation time in the world and the rest of Europeans are right behind them. There's good news for all of them: vacation time leads to happiness and health.

On the Origins of Skin Color

The video below by Nina Jablonski addresses the issue of the origin of skin pigmentation. Needless to say, sunlight (i.e. UV radiation), melanin, and Vitamin D factor into her equation for the origin of variation in skin pigmentation. The presentation goes beyond that, of course.

America's Voice on Healthcare

For a few weeks now, Andrew Sullivan of The Daily Dish (yes, I read conservative bloggers, too) has been culling and publishing accounts from readers on their experiences with healthcare in the United States. Today, he (or his substitute, rather) posted a collection of all those accounts on one page for practical viewing. It is definitely worth taking a look at.

His readers' feedback has been mixed at times, but the overall tone has been one of dissatisfaction. Most of them describe trials and tribulations stemming from the current state of the system, rather than appreciation for it.

On Morals of Liberals and Conservatives

I watched this video with a very open mind and I agree with most of the things he says and concludes, but take issue with certain others that appear overly simplified. Nevertheless, it is a very interesting analysis of morals that strengthens my conviction that we are innately moral.

In his speech he mentions his website and the questionnaire he has in terms of morals. I took it and the results are below. Not surprisingly, I am quite liberal and more so than other liberals who have taken the test (mine is the green column). I am not so sure the questionnaire's answers are accurately indicative of one's true leanings, morals, or goodness/badness. It is all relative and case-dependent. Click for larger view.

The Case for Bicycles

This article in Slate magazine highlights the need for bicycle parking places across America. According to the author, the lack of bicycle racks alongside car parking is the primary obstacle for their use in the United States. I somewhat agree, but I cannot ignore how deeply entrenched car-driving is in the American psyche and culture. The massive size of the country, its long expansion west, the early development of the automotive industry, and the entire infrastructure built to support it all favor car-driving to the detriment of bicycles.

Gun-Toting

There's been a rise in participants who carry guns at rallies and meetings by president Obama. We all know what it means. We all know that they're being more than suggestive, however much they might insist that it is their right to carry guns wherever they go.

If you ask me, the guy who first did it in New Hampshire was simply an ignorant who chose to speak with an intimation (or outright incitement) of violence against the president. All others who have done and will continue to do so subsequently, such as this guy, are simply copycats and just as ignorant. A gun does not belong in the public discourse, it does not belong in a democratic gathering where you are invited to listen to policy-makers and to voice your opinion. If you cannot express yourself rationally and in a civilized manner, do not rely on your gun to speak for you. It says something about what you have to say and how you choose to say it... and it ain't good....

And What Are You Watching?

According to this poll, 12% of those polled watch Fox News, 15% watch CNN, at 6% watch MSNBC on a daily basis. The numbers are slightly different for weekly and monthly viewership.

The numbers also appear to show a geographic bias. Fox News appears to be extremely popular in the South and extremely unpopular in the Northeast. MSNBC reverses that trend. CNN seems to be the more mainstream one, as well as the most trusted source of news overall. I don't know why... they kinda suck. And we all know how I feel about Fox News.

Fungi to the Rescue

According to the speaker in this video, fungi have a lot of advantageous uses for humans and for the earth itself. They really are interesting organisms.

On a related note—and I've been aware of this since high school—it astounds me that the Albanian word for 'mold' has been derived from Latin and that it has been retained almost unchanged—more so than the corresponding words among Romance languages. The root of the Latin word was muc- (hence the -mycin ending in certain antibiotics) and the Albanian word is myk (pronounced as if it were in IPA). The next closest words, from what I gather, would be mucegai (Romanian) and moho (Spanish).

«hoary temples»

my hoary temples

remind me of dominant genes

and absent melanin

these stubborn white strands

of dead keratin

so colorless that at times can seem translucent

protrude and extend

like symmetrical strings

on a marionette

in the hands of age

Fusiform Gyrus, Phantom Limbs, Synesthesia

All explained through brain function for the lay man in this very entertaining video by V. S. Ramachandran. I must admit, his solution to pain from phantom limbs is ingenious.

Stem Cells & Tissue Regeneration

Another interesting video from TED, this time on the advantages of stem cell use for tissue regeneration.

Militant Atheism

Richard Dawkins calling on all atheists to come out and fight the smothering influence of religion in public and political life in America. He has a refreshing style of delivery and uses funny and lay examples in order to better illustrate his message. Always entertaining.

The Democracy We Engendered

According to a Human Rights Watch report, Iraqi gays are victims of violence from militiamen. Militiamen, let me remind you, are members of the many factions that sprang up in Iraq after the invasion of that country by the United States. They may be considered by Iraqis as patriots due to their fight against the United States, but they are also criminals with distorted visions of a future Iraq, which, apparently and unfortunately, excludes the right to life for homosexuals.

Da Vinci's Mug Shot

I know I've posted too many TED videos in the past few hours and will probably do so for another day or two. I hadn't monitored the site in a while, so I'm catching up and sharing them here.

For now, an artist's deductions on the real face of Leonardo Da Vinci and his reasons behind them.

«When We Two Parted»

When we two parted
In silence and tears,
Half broken-hearted
To sever for years,
Pale grew thy cheek and cold,
Colder thy kiss;
Truly that hour foretold
Sorrow to this.

The dew of the morning
Sunk chill on my brow—
It felt like the warning
Of what I feel now.
Thy vows are all broken,
And light is thy fame:
I hear thy name spoken,
And share in its shame.

They name thee before me,
A knell to mine ear;
A shudder comes o'er me—
Why wert thou so dear?
They know not I knew thee,
Who knew thee too well:
Long, long shall I rue thee,
Too deeply to tell.

In secret we met—
In silence I grieve,
That thy heart could forget,
Thy spirit deceive.
If I should meet thee
After long years,
How should I greet thee?
With silence and tears.

Lord BYRON

Hairy Bipeds

This presentation by Susan Savage-Rumbaugh on Congo's bonobos is to remind us that, no matter what we evolved from, we share similarities with these astoundingly humanoid creatures of the wild.

Two Op-Eds

Two op-eds in The New York Times discuss the issue of healthcare with two different goals in mind.

The first op-ed analyzes the reaction that the elderly across the country have shown in response to the fear-mongering about cuts in Medicare that have been propagated by Republican leaders and representatives, as well as the right-wing media. The op-ed also addresses the hypocrisy in the politics that Republicans are following, choosing to incite the elderly to defend something that they, the Republicans, would normally oppose and advocate against.

The second op-ed is written by Paul Krugman and describes the proposed American healthcare plan with other healthcare systems around the world in perspective. He concludes that it is more similar to the existing Swiss system, but that there are better plans out there, such as the French and the Canadian ones.

Healthcare Reform Falters, Ctd.

The New York Times reports as well that the public insurance option will most likely get dropped once Congress is back in session.

Nate Silver of FiveThirtyEight.com gets down to the nitty gritty—and downright nasty—politics and bartering that has been going on and will most likely continue once the bill goes to the House and Senate floors.

Ben Stein's 'Expelled' Pwned

Skeptic magazine compiles a list of links addressing claims made by Ben Stein in his anti-evolutionary movie Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed.

I must say, I never doubted that the movie wouldn't have an ounce of scientific veracity in it, but it's nice to see him getting owned, and by numerous sources no less.

Skeptic Watchdogs

Michael Shermer of Skeptic magazine talks about some beliefs that people have and how they go about making sense of and debunking them.

It's a Queer Queer Queer Queer Universe

As evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins shows in the video below.

World Statistics Made Fun & Easy

Hans Rosling, a Swedish professor presents statistics on world development, wealth, and population. Very informative and educational.

'Becklash'

Keith Olbermann's 'Becklash' segment from Friday's Countdown.

Healthcare Reform Falters

The Secretary of Health & Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, announced today that the public health insurance option, which has been the topic of much debate lately, is not 'essential' and appeared ready to drop it. The White House followed suit by saying that they might settle for non-profit co-ops with insurance companies instead. I think this is Obamas biggest cop-out to date. It is obvious that they are bowing down to Republican and lobbyist pressures. It is an indication that the latter are still in charge of Washington and change is not really happening, and that the former are merely bullies that are still pulling vital strings despite being in a pronounced minority.

Why is it that Democrats cannot get anything good and consequential passed even with a crushing majority in the House and a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate?! Republicans seem to do it very well with a +1 majority. What the devil is the majority whip doing?! Crack the damn whip, dammit!

Inappropriate Statuary

Here's a collection of photos of inappropriate statues from around the world. They're not graphic in any way... they're just badly positioned or not quite thought through.

I believe the creators of the collection were inspired by the picture in this page, which I am posting below because it's the only one from the list that I have seen myself. It happens to be in Worcester Commons and it's not as inappropriate as it looks.

Naked Aquatic Bipeds

I found the video below via The Daily Dish. It puts forth the hypothesis that, unlike previously thought, man might have evolved from aquatic animals rather than the ape family. It does seem plausible, but I am sure nothing will be confirmed for a long while.

The State of the Economy

The Fed told us in the past week that the worst is over, that the economy is 'leveling out,' and that the recession is nearing its end. It credited, in part, its actions and those of the current administration with helping the economy. It also outlined its plans for the future, namely that interest rates will remain flat and that they will halt the buying of Treasury bonds.

«Kristal»

Ka kohë që s'shihemi dhe ndiej
Si të harroj unë, dalëngadalë,
Si vdes tek unë kujtimi yt
Si vdesin flokët dhe gjithçka.

Tani kërkoj unë posht' e lart
Një vend ku ty të të lëshoj.
Një strofë, notë a një brilant
Ku të të lë, të puth, të shkoj.

Në s'të pranoftë asnjë varr
Asnjë mermer a morg-kristal
Mos duhet vallë prapë të të mbart
Gjysmë të vdekur, gjysmë të gjallë?

Në s'gjetsha hon ku të të hedh
Të gjej një fushë a një lulnajë
Ku butësisht porsi polen
Gjithkund, gjithkund të të shpërndaj.

Të të mashtroj ndoshta kështu
Dhe të të puth e t'ik pa kthim
Dhe nuk do të dimë as ne, askush
Harrim ish ky, a s'ish harrim.

Ismail KADARE

Americans and Abortion

This blog posting compares Americans' view on abortion between May and August of this year. Back in May, there was a 'Pro-life' majority of 51-42% across the nation.

In a new poll that came out last week, that majority has been whittled down to a virtual tie of 47-46% with the 'Pro-life' still on top.

Honestly, it matters little what the majority of the population thinks. The decision belongs to the individuals involved directly in the situation and, ultimately, to the pregnant woman. The law is right to allow her a choice and say over her body and reproductive rights.

Looming Troubles

Although Social Security is on the back burner while we are discussing healthcare, it is a deep trouble looming on the nation's horizon. Along with Medicare and defense, it is contributing to the national debt which is ever on the rise.

If you ask me, this should be the biggest worry of the elderly, not the public insurance health plan. And let them remember, too, that the latter Bush wanted to privatize it. Where would Social Security money be now had he done that before the volatile days of the stock market?

Bill Clinton for Health

Former president Bill Clinton is trying to make amends for his failure to pass a health plan during his administration.

In a meeting with progressives in Pittsburgh, he expressed support for president Obama's health plan and urged the participants to hold on to their progressive goals. At the same time, he condemned Republican efforts to portray the health plan as a bureaucratic ruse to kill the elderly and the disabled.

Obama on the Offensive

President Obama has finally come to the aid of the Democratic congressmen and women who are going around the country advocating for the passage of the health bill. In his town hall meetings across the country he has attacked high insurance premiums; criticized the nature of insurance companies, reminding citizens that the latter care more about their profits than the well-being of the insured; reprimanded the same insurance companies for making a bureaucracy out of patients' health while themselves scaring the nation that a government-run insurance plan will do the same; addressed concerns of citizens about the funding of the healthcare program; given his listeners examples of Americans who have gone bankrupt because of unaffordable healthcare, and all the while has debunked Sarah Palin's outrageous lies and fear-mongering propaganda about the non-extant 'death panels.'

NPR coverage of one of those town hall meetings is in the audio below.

Let's Get Some Shoes!

Southern Discomfort

I don't know what's more surprising about this report: the fact that corporal punishment is still allowed, or the fact that disabled students are the more likely victims of it.

The graphic below illustrates the chilling data. The southern states seem to be especially more inclined toward corporal punishment. Aren't those states also part of the bible belt? I guess the religion they purport to uphold does not really dictate how they live their lives and comport themselves... damned sadists!

Health & Science Update

Fish is not only good for your cardiovascular health, but also very good for the brain. No, not the 'makes you smart' thing; rather, lowering your chances of dementia. So cut out the meat and introduce the fish. Your only worry, then, should be mercury poisoning.

While reminding you of the ever-expanding list of benefits from aspirin, doctors would like to remind you of its adverse effects, as well. Fair enough.

For women that don't like condoms, a spermicidal and microbicidal gel is available. It has been shown to block, among others, HIV. Still not finely tuned, though.

And for those ladies who find themselves in a family way, a good advice is to breast-feed their baby. Not only is it good for its health, but it also lowers the mother's risk of breast cancer.

Babies Are Smart?!

So it seems. Smarter than we normally think, to be precise. And considering the questions that toddlers ask, I'd have to say the younguns do, indeed, have more intellectual curiosity than their adult counterparts.

I don't know how well intelligence bodes for babies, though. Our consideration of them as merely dumb miniature people is the best thing they've got going for them. That's why I play with them when they're around. Without that, they're simply pooping machines....

California in the News

California seemed to be the main preoccupation of last week's edition of The Economist, from the expansion of the state in the 1960s and its initial and recurring problems, to the troubled state of the University of California system, and the legalization of marijuana and the economic consequences that accompany it.

NPR follows up with a report on the popularity of medical marijuana in the state. The audio can be found at the same link, since it cannot be embedded here. More marijuana news from a retirement community in Orange County, where the residents are trying to popularize the use of marijuana, as well as encourage its cultivation within the community. The accompanying audio is, again, at the same link.

Birth Rates

According to The Economist, a new study in Nature contradicts the popular belief that the rich have fewer children. With a rise in the Human Development Index (indicator of better life), populations in those countries began to have fewer children. As the HDI increased further, however, those same populations began to have more children, as indicated by the graph below. Many factors are suspected to be behind this trend.

On related news, Europe is showing an overall increase in its birth rate. Certainly good news for those xenophobic nativists who fear that the increases occur only within muslim immigrant populations.

Reality Check

How many people are actually uninsured? How does that affect Congress's decision on healthcare?

The numbers are not quite clear, but they certainly are in the millions. Not one life is to be ignored, and when we are talking millions, the urgency of affordable health insurance for everybody becomes even more pressing.

Shqipëria në shitje

Ujditë e Zogut me qeverinë fashiste të Italisë dhe përpjekjet e tij të mëpasshme për t'u rikthyer në fron si mbret i shqiptarëve.

Those Commie Europeans

Call them what you will, but France and Germany both experienced an increase in their GDP for the second quarter, signaling what many believe to be an easing recession or even an exit from the recession for both those countries as well as an ease on the European economy at large. Experts are crediting government support of the automotive industries for this progress.

Clarifying the Koran

Robert Wright shares an excerpt from his book, The Evolution of God, in which he clarifies for the reader that the often-quoted 'kill the infidels' phrase from the Koran is not to be interpreted quite so literally.

This is for all those who think Islam is a more violent and unforgiving religion than Judaism or Christianity.

«Ferexheja dhe qytetërimi»

Tajar Zavalani tek faqja e internetit «Ateistët» flet për ferexhenë dhe përpjekjet që po bëhen për ta përhapur dhe për ta ruajtur atë në shoqërinë shqiptare. Mes argumenteve të tij për heqjen e ferexhesë si hap i domosdoshëm për emancipimin e gruas, ai citon edhe poetin tonë kombëtar dhe pikëpamjen e këtij të fundig për ferexhenë dhe mbulimin e grave në përgjithësi:

Të mëshehurit dhe të mbuluarit e fytyrës së gruas s’ka qenë në kohën e profitit por është çpikur më von. Ndalim i math në përparimin e një kombi! Si mund të vejë mbroth një komb kur gratë, domethënë gjysma e njerëzisë rron e mbyllur si në kuvli? Si mund të jetë i zgjuar e i mbarë një komb pa pasur në vijë jetën e shtëpisë e të fëmijës, dhe këto qysh mund të bëhen kur burri rrin veç gruas? Ç’dashuri, ç’arsye mund të mësojnë e të marrin djemtë në një të tillë familje... Gruaja duhet të jetë e mësuar më shumë nga burri se fëmija së pari nga mëma e marrin arsimin dhe mësimet... Gruaja është mëmë e fëmijës, zonjë e shtëpisë dhe krejt i njerëzisë.

Naim FRASHËRI