Greg Laden's Blog

Sarah Palin Comes On the Scene: A moment in history

This is a very fun video to watch for so many reasons ......

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Posted by Greg Laden at 5:00 PM • 2 Comments • 0 TrackBacks

Explaining the Spread of Agriculture into Europe

Category: Archaeology

The practice of growing food and keeping livestock was invented numerous times throughout the world. One 'center' of agriculture is said to be the Middle East. Despite the fact that calling the Middle East a "center" in this context is a gross oversimplification, it is...

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Posted by Greg Laden at 3:51 PM • 8 Comments • 0 TrackBacks

Carnival of the Elitist Bastards XVI

... is waiting for you at Quiche Moraine....

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Posted by Greg Laden at 12:26 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks

The poor and the dark skinned have more babies than the rich and the light skinned

Category: Falsehoods

Today's falsehood is the assertion that the poor have more babies than the rich, or that the poor just have more babies to begin with. In comparison to ... whatever.

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Posted by Greg Laden at 11:39 AM • 96 Comments • 0 TrackBacks

Funny new ads on Science Blogs

First it was woo. Then it was Russian Brides. And now........

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Posted by Greg Laden at 8:46 AM • 12 Comments • 0 TrackBacks

"Ignorance of how evolution works is amazing to behold" ... or, Happy Birthday Mike!

Category: Birthdays

That's The Mike, of Tangled Up in Blue Guy, and Quiche Moraine. The title of this post, "Ignorance of how evolution works is amazing to behold. " is a quote from one of my favorite (recent) posts by TUIB Guy, which is called: The Agony...

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Posted by Greg Laden at 12:00 AM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks

First Tech Support Guy

Enjoy this before it goes away. Embeding may get disabled at any moment. Hat Tip: Lightning Fingers Liz...

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Posted by Greg Laden at 10:46 PM • 2 Comments • 0 TrackBacks

Why I like the State-Fair even though most of my friends don't

Category: Minnesota

... the reasons turn out to be rather personal. So, if you don't want to explore this personal stuff, don't go below the fold where I tell you what those reasons are ...

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Posted by Greg Laden at 10:41 PM • 15 Comments • 0 TrackBacks

Wizard Rap Battle: These people are going to get so sued!!!

".. here's the toll free number for the hair club for wizards!.." The wrap-up is totally stolen from Indiana Jones. Sorry about the ads at the end. Hat Tip: Miss Cellania...

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Posted by Greg Laden at 7:38 PM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks

Ted Kennedy Tribute Video

The DSCC just sent me this nice video:...

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Posted by Greg Laden at 7:18 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks

Major Upgrade for Goddard Climate Simulation Machine

In August, Goddard added 4,128 new-generation Intel "Nehalem" processors to its Discover high-end computing system. The upgraded Discover will serve as the centerpiece of a new climate simulation capability at Goddard. Discover will host NASA's modeling contributions to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC),...

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Posted by Greg Laden at 6:39 PM • 8 Comments • 0 TrackBacks

Income, IQ, and profession

Research from Bristol: Doctors and lawyers are more likely to come from wealthy backgrounds according to new research from the Department of Economics that indicates that the 'social gap' that prevents poorer people from entering the top professions is becoming more pronounced over time. Using...

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Posted by Greg Laden at 2:38 PM • 16 Comments • 0 TrackBacks

Which is more annoying, cats or dogs?

Dogs: Cats:...

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Posted by Greg Laden at 12:00 PM • 9 Comments • 0 TrackBacks

Bachmann's Town Hall

Category: Politics

I did not go to the Michele Bachmann "town hall" meeting yesterday because of a schedule conflict (I was out of town) but there is some news. Check out the last few posts on Dump Michele Bachmann blog. There is evidence, apparently, that Bachmann supporters...

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Posted by Greg Laden at 10:50 AM • 3 Comments • 0 TrackBacks

People who read my blog: Please provide feedback on this new idea!

Category: Blogging

Your feedback is requested on the following item. The Keepers of the Blogs at Scienceblogs are discussing a new thing that we would like your feedback on. Please read this over and comment below. Thank you very much. In the next three to four weeks,...

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Posted by Greg Laden at 9:35 PM • 71 Comments • 0 TrackBacks

Tiniest Photograph Ever Explained

I posted a photo of a itty bitty molecule that is making the news these days ... the photo, not the molecule ... but I didn't have much to say about it except that it was cool. Ethan Siegel has picked up the thread and...

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Posted by Greg Laden at 9:31 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks

Study of 16 developing countries shows climate change could deepen poverty

Category: Climate Change

Here is a major press release by Elizabeth K. Gardner on the link between climate change and poverty, reproduced below the fold for your edification. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~...

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Posted by Greg Laden at 8:39 PM • 4 Comments • 0 TrackBacks

Sb Blogospherics

Kennedy and Nixon is an excellent essay by Chad Orzel comparing the post-death whitewashing phenomena for each case. The Idiot of the Month Award goes to..... (Ed Brayton's blog has it) Are scientists two years from curing cancer or not?...

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Posted by Greg Laden at 8:03 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks

The Health Care (Insurance) Gap

Category: Healthcare

There are two major cracks in health care insurance. One is the uncovered or uncoverable. The other crack, and the one that about half the middle class falls into, and the one that should have galvanized the politically powerful in this country, is this one:

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Posted by Greg Laden at 6:11 PM • 11 Comments • 0 TrackBacks

Lockstep Republicans = Stoopid

Category: Republicans

Does that sound like a typical Greg Laden over the top bit of hyperbole? It does? Ha! This time it is not!

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Posted by Greg Laden at 5:56 PM • 13 Comments • 0 TrackBacks

Should stim-bucks be linked to school test scores?

DURHAM, N.C. -- Two Duke University education experts have serious concerns about the Obama administration's proposal to link teacher evaluations to student tests scores as a criterion for how much federal stimulus money states will receive for K-12 education. Friday (Aug. 28) is the deadline...

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Posted by Greg Laden at 4:39 PM • 6 Comments • 0 TrackBacks

Eudy Simelane Murder Trial Resumes in South Africa

Category: Rape

Eudy Simelane was a brilliant soccer star, captain of South Africa's national women's team. She was also an out lesbian and an activist for LGBT rights. In April 2008, a group of men attacked her with a sickening brutality. She was gang-raped, beaten, and stabbed...

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Posted by Greg Laden at 4:07 PM • 2 Comments • 0 TrackBacks

You can't see atomic bonds. Or can you?

Atomic bonds are too small to see, right? Well, what do you suppose THIS is a picture of!?!?!? That B&W structure is an actual image of a molecule and its atomic bonds. The first of its kind, in fact, and a breakthrough for the crazy...

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Posted by Greg Laden at 4:01 PM • 12 Comments • 0 TrackBacks

Vaccine for ovarian cancer and melanoma

Trials are staring on a new cancer vaccine....

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Posted by Greg Laden at 2:39 PM • 4 Comments • 0 TrackBacks

Is it a Falsehood that Humans Evolve from Apes?

Category: Human Evolution

Did humans evolve from apes? It all depends on what you mean by "from." And "did." And "apes."

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Posted by Greg Laden at 11:10 AM • 49 Comments • 0 TrackBacks

Behe on Bloggingheads

I could just point you to Bloggingheads for this, but it might not be there. In any event, much more fun than Michael Behe on Bloggingheads or anywhere else is THIS POST by ERV telling us about how she is not pregnant. Confused? Just go...

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Posted by Greg Laden at 9:40 PM • 6 Comments • 0 TrackBacks

Your psychologist could be an Intel chip....

Well, not really, but if on line CBT takes off, how will we know when they make the switch? Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) seems to be effective when delivered online in real time by a therapist, with benefits maintained over 8 months. This method of...

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Posted by Greg Laden at 8:38 PM • 7 Comments • 0 TrackBacks

Blogospherics

Category: Blogospherics

The first time I saw a star-nosed mole, I did not know such things existed. Somebody should have warned me!!!!! Lake Natron is an amazing place in Tanzania, and is one of the key habitats for the nearly threatened lesser flamingo. And, that threat has...

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Posted by Greg Laden at 7:46 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks

Simostronomy has the Carnival of Space

Category: Blogospherics

Carnival of Space 117 is HERE....

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Posted by Greg Laden at 6:45 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks

How do you tell when a bird is really extinct?

Category: Birds

BirdLife International is launching a global bid to try to confirm the continued existence of 47 species of bird that have not been seen for up to 184 years. The list of potentially lost birds is a tantalising mix of species ranging from some inhabiting...

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Posted by Greg Laden at 4:38 PM • 12 Comments • 0 TrackBacks

Latest Roy Zimmerman

A rough guide to your Western Heritage. I like "We've all got a birth certificate from Kenya" Hat Tip: Pharyngula...

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Posted by Greg Laden at 3:25 PM • 6 Comments • 0 TrackBacks

Blog Carnival of the Godless

Category: Blogospherics

The Carnival of the Godless for August 23rd is HERE....

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Posted by Greg Laden at 2:45 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks

Falsehood: Nature maintains balance.

Category: Falsehoods

There is a lot of evidence that nature is in balance. An invasive species throws off the balance of nature in a given region by out-competing some similar indigenous form. When something destructive happens there is a return to status quo, eventually. A few...

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Posted by Greg Laden at 11:04 AM • 35 Comments • 0 TrackBacks

Tropical Storm Danny: Cool Moving Picture

Category: Hurricane

Danny is probably not going to become a hurricane, but it may cause some wet weather along the East Coast. But, I did want to draw your attention to a fun bit of animated video. Watch the baby ghost hurricane pop out of the left...

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Posted by Greg Laden at 10:59 AM • 6 Comments • 0 TrackBacks

Putting a fine point on the health care debate

Category: Healthcare

Zuska is writing quite a bit about the Health Care industry, from both a personal and analiticopolitical perspective. You should check out her last few posts on this topic. These are must read posts....

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Posted by Greg Laden at 10:20 AM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks

Name the Health Care Bill after Ted Kennedy (Petition)

This petition is being fairly widely circulated. If you are blogger, please pass it on. If you are a normal person, please sign it. THE PETITION...

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Posted by Greg Laden at 10:15 AM • 8 Comments • 0 TrackBacks

Judge: Take "god" out of recent Kentucky bill

Category: Atheism

According to the constitutions of the United States and the State of Kentucky, church and state must remain separate. But then the Kentucky Legislature passed a homeland security related bill that stated that the security of the Commonwealth (State) depends on Almighty God. That wording...

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Posted by Greg Laden at 8:29 AM • 11 Comments • 0 TrackBacks

Using your foundation to cool your PC

Category: Technology

Hardware hackers have done all sorts of interesting things to cool down their PC's so they can be wildly over clocked. Roughly speaking, two otherwise identical processor chips rated at different speed are not necessarily designed differently. They are just capable of running at different...

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Posted by Greg Laden at 2:43 AM • 20 Comments • 0 TrackBacks

Two items on Ted Kennedy

Fellow Blogger Pat on Fairer Science has a tribute. And, for some reason, so does MIT, the school....

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Posted by Greg Laden at 10:39 PM • 3 Comments • 0 TrackBacks

Carnival of the Vanities

... The original blog carnival ... is out, and it is here....

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Posted by Greg Laden at 10:17 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks

Science blogospherics

Category: Blogospherics

Interesting reading: The Origin of the Hepatitis C Virus. Resistance shmisistance. Viruses will save our butts. A write-up of London Science Online 09...

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Posted by Greg Laden at 8:45 PM • 0 Comments • 0 TrackBacks

Blogospherics

Category: Blogospherics

Funniest religion related video I've seen in months: HERE. Signs of the time: Judd Gregg does not want you to know that the stimulus is working. Some guys are paddling down the Mississippi river to raise awareness of the word's global water crisis. Interview with...

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Posted by Greg Laden at 7:45 PM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks

Can Bachmann be beat in 2010?

Category: Michele Bachmann

An analysis by Eric Ostermeier says ... In only one instance since the DFL merger has a political party both taken back control of the Governor's mansion and lost a U.S. House seat.... ... so it depends. It does make sense that a strong race...

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Posted by Greg Laden at 7:22 PM • 2 Comments • 0 TrackBacks

Fat Body = Not Fat Head?

A new study finds obese people have 8 percent less brain tissue than normal-weight individuals. Their brains look 16 years older than the brains of lean individuals, researchers said today. Those classified as overweight have 4 percent less brain tissue and their brains appear to...

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Posted by Greg Laden at 6:21 PM • 10 Comments • 0 TrackBacks

Let The Eagle Soar

Category: Birds

Golden Eagle I hope I won't disappoint you ... this is not about John Ashcroft. It is about golden eagles (actually, maybe its about one golden eagle in particular)....

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Posted by Greg Laden at 5:42 PM • 12 Comments • 0 TrackBacks

Ted Kennedy 1932 - 2009

It has been said that everyone who grew up or lived in Kennedy country has at least one Kennedy story. This is true, of course, though mine are not especially impressive. But since this is a wake, you have to hear them anyway. Grab...

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Posted by Greg Laden at 2:48 PM • 12 Comments • 0 TrackBacks

Wikipedia will limit changes to bio pieces

...within weeks, the English-language Wikipedia will begin imposing a layer of editorial review on articles about living people. The new feature, called "flagged revisions," will require that an experienced volunteer editor for Wikipedia sign off on any change made by the public before it...

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Posted by Greg Laden at 2:21 PM • 8 Comments • 0 TrackBacks

Back to school: Books on Creationism

Category: Creationism

If you are a teacher or a parent you may find some of these books especially useful to: a) prepare yourself; b) give to your child's teacher or a colleague; or c) give to a school administrator. Seriously. Each link is to a review of...

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Posted by Greg Laden at 2:21 PM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks

Back to school: Books on science

Category: Science Education

The following may serve well in a home study environment, or for the parent to keep up with what the school kid is doing or for the overachieving youngster to get ahead of the teacher!...

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Posted by Greg Laden at 1:22 PM • 1 Comments • 0 TrackBacks

Ted Kennedy has died

I just saw the news. I will have some remarks later....

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Posted by Greg Laden at 9:40 AM • 9 Comments • 0 TrackBacks