On News

Girl Power! (also: I’m back!)

I took a little hiatus there. Sorry about that. I have a Larp thing to get ready for that you can read about at http://larp.kitsufox.com if you’re interested.

Today is a video about single gender education.

It seems obvious that it would back up “us & them” behavior, and create a wider divide between the genders by cutting down the understanding between other genders and building up the ability to communicate amongst each other.

It certainly is a good step in understanding how things function for reality, and why the single-gender schools are more successful (and the current studies doesn’t include the university level). Preparation for the future in the purpose of the school, so cutting out half of the population seems stupid.

Equine Problem Solving Skills

Can Horses Think Through Problems?

By Sue McDonnell, PhD, Certified AAB Jan 09, 2014 Topics:

Q. I am writing a paper in my agricultural ethics class on the treatment of horses, and one of my discussions deals with the equality of horses to humans. My roommate and I were debating whether horses have the capability to think through a problem–something like unlatching a gate. I’m having trouble finding research on this specific problem. Do you know of any research that has been done in this area?

See the Answer

Conjoined Gray Whale…

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Conjoined Gray Whales Found in Baja, Calif. Lagoon

JAN 7, 2014 02:50 PM ET // BY IO9.COM
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Conjoined whale twins washed on shore in California

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This is one of those things that I had never seen before, and think it’s pretty cool. I’m not sure what science can learn from them, save the ways that things can go weird in-utero, but it’s still interesting to see. It’s also nice to know that it’s receiving good coverage (via both io9, a discovery news blog and doubtful news) and getting out there. This needs to cover a little more ground, though.

Anatomy of a Hoaxer

Anatomy of a Hoaxer

Posted by: Craig Woolheater on December 24th, 2013

A lovely article by Craig Woolheater on the hoaxer, what they are and why they do it. Below is an excerpt, but I urge you to read the whole thing!

Why do some people try to pull the wool over other’s eyes? I think there are many reasons and to name a few, there is to push an agenda, to gain notoriety and to make a buck. Some of course are just for fun as well, so not all hoaxers come from the same mold, but those who deliberately misinform to gain a profit of some kind, we should try and peer inside their heads.

While I have been interested in Cryptozology ever since I was very young, the hoaxer is only a fairly recent phenomenon for me. I certainly was aware of their existence, but I mainly thought of it as innocent fun and a buyer beware sort of thing. I knew money could be made off of a good hoax and we have PT Barnum from Barnum and Bailey to thank for the famous quote “A sucker is born every minute” to know that if you make an outrageous claim, there will be many who will line up to buy what you are selling without so much as a second glance. In that respect you only have yourself to blame if you have fallen for such foolery.

Read More

Paper or Plastic?

So, does it help the environment? Well, in cities with anti-plastic-bag laws there is a decrease in trash. Well, apparently it’s kinda complicated. They do neaten things up, and paper bags aren’t as good… But if you use fabric bags that are made domestically you can do all right on carbon footprint and trash impact. It seems like it bears thinking, but the only thing I can tell you for sure is the the best thing isn’t always the most convent (it seems to me the best all around is a reusable bag you’ve made yourself out of environmentally friendly fabrics).

Unexplained Mysteries of 2013

Unexplained Mysteries of 2013

DEC 20, 2013 09:00 AM ET // BY TALAL AL-KHATIB

 

When every year comes to a close we have mysteries left behind. Here are some that at least one discovery news reporter considered the most interesting of 2013! Topics in the article include how Kepler-78b shouldn’t work but does, the unknown identity of the Mona Lisa, and and the bigass stone thing in the see of Galilee.

Will 2014 bring answers to any of these questions? Hopefully it will, and we’ll all be better for it.

8 Places Humans & Wild Animals Clash

8 Places Humans and Wild Animals Clash

OCT 1, 2013 09:40 AM ET // BY TIM WALL

 

Here is an article I decided to share featuring humans and animals, and some of the notable places in the world that they clash. Humans and Animals are in the middle of a long process in which we have to figure out how to coexist with nature, and how to reduce these clashes to save the lives of both humans and animals.

Brain Science #3: Creativity Linked to Mess?

Science seems to indicate a link. And I hope that my desk is an indication of my creativity. I have an organized brain sometimes, but I have to make myself organize and get there sometimes. Messy Rooms seemed to inspire creativity, and guides how we think. So, apparently my wreak of a desk indicates not disorganization, but creativity. Apparently we’re impulsive or something.

Study results are only early indications, however. It seems like something that bears more investigation. And perceptions of people outside yourself are critical…

Brain Science #2: Where Creativity Comes From

Can you cultivate creativity? Is it genetic? Swedish scientist seem to think that Bipolar disorder has a link to creativity, but it also ran in relatives of these patients seem to also share the creative “gene”. There’s some indication that their is genetic link. But, in addition to the gene, there seems to be indications that social element.