From RF_alum:
The Phrase Finder (one of my favorite sources) writes there are several possible origins of this expression. However, the most logical origin is that it is from medieval England when it was allowed for “…peasants to take from royal forests whatever deadwood they could take down with a shepherd’s crook.”
Extraordinary accomplishments do happen. Too often, they go unreported or unremarked. If you ever feel gloomy with current events, take a moment to look at these:
The first animal ever to be resurrected from extinction was the Pyrenean ibex. Unfortunately, I use the past-tense because the cloned kids died shortly after birth. But, if anyone cares enough, with some practice on the cloning and an elegant technique to create a male fetus from the female cells scientists have, the ibex can come back. Continue reading
Anyone who’s ever been on a diet knows the advice: don’t buy the junk food. You only need will-power for an hour while you shop, instead of every minute you are within reach of the kitchen. That’s using your own human nature to nudge yourself towards your goal.
How do you feel when the government sets up the “nudge”? Suppose it is Facebook, or your bank “helping” you? Continue reading
This autobiography’s description says “Ever since he was young, John Robison longed to connect with other people, but… his odd habits… had earned him the label ‘social deviant.'” While author John Elder Robison’s descriptions of his humiliating childhood failures are heart wrenching, at many times it seems Asperger’s syndrome is the least of his worries. His father spirals down into violent, abusive alcoholism and his mother has repeated psychotic episodes. Even the therapist who convinces Robison’s father to stop beating him goes a bit crazy, growing a white beard and wearing a Santa Claus hat all the time. Robison relates these troubles, as well as his many successes in life, in a matter-of-fact tone that never seems to exploit the tragedies of his life or brag about his successes.
Robison is unstinting is his description of his childhood troubles, and also describes the elaborate, often strange or dangerous, “pranks” he plays. His victims may be individuals who are mean to him or innocent bystanders. Other stories of his exploits are quirky and delightful. Continue reading
I like to think I am a rational person and that I make decisions based on evidence. So this item by the Knight Science Journalism Tracker worried me: “Big media splash over claim of lead in rice; barely a ripple when claim is withdrawn. http://bit.ly/15F9rVg ”
From Time magazine to Science Daily, the media reported that troubling amounts of lead were found in rice. But the results could not be replicated. The original researcher found his equipment was giving bad numbers and withdrew his results (kudos to him!), hardly anyone reported that retraction. Continue reading
I seldom do reviews of fiction books, but Glitch by Kate Rauner deserves to be an exception. It is science fiction, but the descriptions of space exploration missions are based on fascinating science. The book is creative and thought-provoking, and I think it should be used as a primer by those planning future space explorations. There are speculative views of life in the future, such as voice activated amenities in the homes and apartments and “Smart Cabs” replacing most private autos. Of course, there are all manner of personal communication devices. The author writes, “The story is set in a world authentic enough, and messy enough, to be real.” Continue reading