BBC NEWS | Americas | False fax allows US prison escape
A prisoner in the US state of Kentucky was mistakenly freed after a phoney fax ordering his release was sent from a nearby grocery store.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Ridicule invited
Sheryl Crow's view on toilet paper: one sheet a visit | News | Guardian Unlimited Music
The most surprising paragraph from this article is at the end:
Crow's environmental opinions are not limited to toilet paper. She also believes paper napkins "represent the height of wastefulness", while she has designed a clothing line which features a detachable "dining sleeve" that wearers can use to wipe their mouth while eating.
She is truly God's gift to comedy writers.
The most surprising paragraph from this article is at the end:
Crow's environmental opinions are not limited to toilet paper. She also believes paper napkins "represent the height of wastefulness", while she has designed a clothing line which features a detachable "dining sleeve" that wearers can use to wipe their mouth while eating.
She is truly God's gift to comedy writers.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Bad news for Pete
PM gains, but Rudd leads - National - theage.com.au
The Age reports:
People were asked to imagine Peter Costello was PM and then quizzed a second time on how they would vote. Labor's two-party lead rose to 61 to 39 per cent. Asked whether they would prefer Mr Rudd or Mr Costello as PM, an overwhelming 60 per cent preferred Mr Rudd, to 32 per cent for Mr Costello.
I have never really understood Costello's unpopularlity. He doesn't seem to me any more insincere than your average politician, and the media who spend time around him seem to think well enough of him. It's hard to criticise his job as treasurer. He's nowhere near as demeaning to others in his parliamentary performance as Keating was; in any event, Keating showed that nasty headkicking can have an appreciative audience.
So why is he still unpopular?
The Age reports:
People were asked to imagine Peter Costello was PM and then quizzed a second time on how they would vote. Labor's two-party lead rose to 61 to 39 per cent. Asked whether they would prefer Mr Rudd or Mr Costello as PM, an overwhelming 60 per cent preferred Mr Rudd, to 32 per cent for Mr Costello.
I have never really understood Costello's unpopularlity. He doesn't seem to me any more insincere than your average politician, and the media who spend time around him seem to think well enough of him. It's hard to criticise his job as treasurer. He's nowhere near as demeaning to others in his parliamentary performance as Keating was; in any event, Keating showed that nasty headkicking can have an appreciative audience.
So why is he still unpopular?
Sunday, April 22, 2007
The household gas chamber
Lucy Siegle: How can I evict house mice? | Magazine | The Observer
From this story one can learn the PETA recommended way to kill a mouse in the house:
(And anyway, they appear to have been developed in England. Damn!)
UPDATE: It also occurs to me that having such a device in your house must provide one of the most peculiar pretences you could ever use to get out of a date or meeting you were not enjoying: (After checking at your e-mail on your mobile device): "oh, sorry, must rush home, the mousetrap has just emailed me that it has caught something."
From this story one can learn the PETA recommended way to kill a mouse in the house:
...Peta (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) recommends a mousetrap that actually kills the animal, and gave the Radar (Rodent Activated Detection and Riddance device) an award last year. This is allegedly the world's smartest mouse trap: when a mouse trips it, the doors close and a tiny canister releases carbon dioxide. In 10 seconds the mouse is out cold, in 60 it's dead. The device then sends an email to a pest controller - all 'without any toxins going into the environment', boasts Rentokil.I am sorely tempted to wonder out loud if they are manufactured in Germany, but that would be cruel.
(And anyway, they appear to have been developed in England. Damn!)
UPDATE: It also occurs to me that having such a device in your house must provide one of the most peculiar pretences you could ever use to get out of a date or meeting you were not enjoying: (After checking at your e-mail on your mobile device): "oh, sorry, must rush home, the mousetrap has just emailed me that it has caught something."
Some China reading
A few weeks ago, I noted that there seemed to be some pretty compelling reasons to be pessimistic about China's economy. If there was something fundamentally flawed in what Friedman says, I would like to hear the explanation.
On the issue of potential political instability, there have been a few articles around this week of interest. First, this one (reprinted from the WSJ by the looks) paints a glum picture of the potential for reform:
Finally, China continues in the tradition of nations founded as worker's paradises which have appalling workers' safety standards. Today's news is of a particularly gruesome accident:
On the issue of potential political instability, there have been a few articles around this week of interest. First, this one (reprinted from the WSJ by the looks) paints a glum picture of the potential for reform:
Many in the West think that Chinese growth has created an independent middle class that will push for greater political freedom. But what exists in China, Mr. Mao argues, is not a traditional middle class but a class of parvenus, newcomers who work in the military, public administration, state enterprises or for firms ostensibly private but in fact Party-owned.Earlier in the article, it notes that the size of the middle class as follows:
The Party picks up most of the tab for their mobile phones, restaurant bills, "study" trips abroad, imported luxury cars and lavish spending at Las Vegas casinos. And it can withdraw these advantages at any time. In March, China announced that it would introduce individual property rights for the parvenus (though not for the peasants). They will now be able to pass on to their children what they have acquired—another reason that they aren't likely to push for the democratization of the regime that secures their status.
...200 million of China's subjects, fortunate to work for an expanding global market, are increasingly enjoying a middle-class standard of living. The remaining one billion, however, are among the poorest and most exploited people in the world, lacking even minimal rights and public services.The New Yorker, meanwhile, runs a lengthy article on a political prisoner. It's a pretty interesting read that covers a lot of Chinese modern history.
Finally, China continues in the tradition of nations founded as worker's paradises which have appalling workers' safety standards. Today's news is of a particularly gruesome accident:
At least 32 workers were killed and two injured today when they were buried in white-hot molten steel at a metal factory in North East China, officials said.
The mishap was triggered when a 30-tonne-capacity steel ladle sheared off from the blast furnace, spilling liquid metal onto the factory floor three metres below.
The molten steel engulfed an adjacent room where workers had gathered for a routine shift change, the State Work Safety Administration said.
An exam to remember
Indian teachers 'purify' students with cow urine - World - theage.com.au
Extract:
Wittier readers than me can supply their own wisecracks.
Extract:
The Times of India reported yesterday that upper-caste headteacher Sharad Kaithade ordered the ritual after taking over from a lower-caste predecessor at a school in a remote village in the western state of Maharashtra earlier this month.
He told an upper-caste colleague to spray cow urine in a cleansing ceremony as the students were taking an examination, wetting their faces and their answer sheets, the newspaper said.
"She said you'll study well after getting purified," student Rajat Washnik was quoted as saying by the CNN-IBN news channel. Students said they felt humiliated.
Wittier readers than me can supply their own wisecracks.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Evil under discussion
Thought Experiments : The Blog: Evil
Go to the link for a thoughtful blog discussion underway about the concept of evil. (It's in Bryan Appleyard's pleasantly eclectic blog, which is worth checking daily.)
Go to the link for a thoughtful blog discussion underway about the concept of evil. (It's in Bryan Appleyard's pleasantly eclectic blog, which is worth checking daily.)
Friday, April 20, 2007
Accidental deaths of WWII
The friendly fires of hell | Jerusalem Post
This article tells the tragic story of 7,000 odd concentration camp inmates accidentally killed in the very last days of World War II.
(As the article notes, it may have been the intention of the Nazis that they all drown anyway, but it is still somewhat embarrassing that it was the British attack that did the job.)
You can learn something new every day.
This article tells the tragic story of 7,000 odd concentration camp inmates accidentally killed in the very last days of World War II.
(As the article notes, it may have been the intention of the Nazis that they all drown anyway, but it is still somewhat embarrassing that it was the British attack that did the job.)
You can learn something new every day.
I don't understand ...
Janet Elder - On Polling - Campaign 2008 - New York Times
This article points out that President Bush has significantly higher support in polls amongst the under 30's than he does with those over 60.
They also support the Iraq war more strongly, and the same age group did the same even during much of the Vietnam war, apparently.
Very odd, is all I can say.
This article points out that President Bush has significantly higher support in polls amongst the under 30's than he does with those over 60.
They also support the Iraq war more strongly, and the same age group did the same even during much of the Vietnam war, apparently.
Very odd, is all I can say.
Some Virginia Tech commentary
For some well worth reading blog commentary on the Virginia Tech killings, there are a couple of good posts by Former Spook. As you might expect, Neo-Neocon writes well about it too.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
The uncertainties of psychiatry
NEJM -- Treatment of Bipolar Depression
This editorial from the New England Journal of Medicine talks about recent studies on the use of antidepressants for bipolar disorder (the manic/depressive illness). This is of some interest to me because I have recently been reading at work psychiatric reports on someone who was initially diagnosed with this.
It would appear that American psychiatrists don't like to give anti-depressants for it because they believe it increases the risk of manic episodes. Apparently, European psychs don't worry about this much, and a recent study seemingly backing them up. However, the editorial questions whether this is a valid conclusion from the study.
This strikes me as odd: that there are different schools of thought depending on which continent your psychiatrist works.
Given that bipolar and anti-depressants have both been around for a long time, I would have thought that such an issue would have been sorted out long ago.
Instead, you get the feeling that, to a large extent, psychiatric patients are treated by trial and error, with individual biases not necessarily supported by studies playing a significant role.
Everyone should keep their fingers crossed for their continuing mental health.
This editorial from the New England Journal of Medicine talks about recent studies on the use of antidepressants for bipolar disorder (the manic/depressive illness). This is of some interest to me because I have recently been reading at work psychiatric reports on someone who was initially diagnosed with this.
It would appear that American psychiatrists don't like to give anti-depressants for it because they believe it increases the risk of manic episodes. Apparently, European psychs don't worry about this much, and a recent study seemingly backing them up. However, the editorial questions whether this is a valid conclusion from the study.
This strikes me as odd: that there are different schools of thought depending on which continent your psychiatrist works.
Given that bipolar and anti-depressants have both been around for a long time, I would have thought that such an issue would have been sorted out long ago.
Instead, you get the feeling that, to a large extent, psychiatric patients are treated by trial and error, with individual biases not necessarily supported by studies playing a significant role.
Everyone should keep their fingers crossed for their continuing mental health.
Hey you!
This has been one of those weeks when I think my posts are particularly entertaining or interesting. As usual, this means no one makes a comment, at all.
At other times, I make a quick post that I don't think particularly well done, and someone at the top of the blogging chain links to it and I get hundreds of "drop-ins" for a couple of days before going back to a normal 30 - 40 hits a day. (OK, that has only happened a few times.)
Blogging is a weird game. Good thing I amuse myself, I guess.
At other times, I make a quick post that I don't think particularly well done, and someone at the top of the blogging chain links to it and I get hundreds of "drop-ins" for a couple of days before going back to a normal 30 - 40 hits a day. (OK, that has only happened a few times.)
Blogging is a weird game. Good thing I amuse myself, I guess.
Out there
news @ nature.com - Physicists bid farewell to reality? -Quantum mechanics just got even stranger.
This is not that easy to follow - understanding quantum non-locality never was. I can't even summarise it well, and news@nature stories aren't available for long. Just go and read it if it is your thing.
I wonder whether non-realistic understandings of the quantum world lend credence to the idea that the universe is a simulation running on someone else's (God's?) uber-computer? It only needs to "render" something when someone is looking at it.
This is not that easy to follow - understanding quantum non-locality never was. I can't even summarise it well, and news@nature stories aren't available for long. Just go and read it if it is your thing.
I wonder whether non-realistic understandings of the quantum world lend credence to the idea that the universe is a simulation running on someone else's (God's?) uber-computer? It only needs to "render" something when someone is looking at it.
Don't leave home without it
'Deflector' shields could protect future astronauts - space - 18 April 2007 - New Scientist Space
More on research into using plasma shields to protect astronauts from radiation. Good to see.
More on research into using plasma shields to protect astronauts from radiation. Good to see.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
While we are talking about English history..
The past was a stinker | Review | Guardian Unlimited Books
This book review of "Hubbub - Filth, Noise & Stench in England" was re-printed in the Sydney Morning Herald a couple of weeks ago. It sounds like an amusingly appalling read. An extract:
Cockayne has dug deep into the archives and come up with a hundred little snatches of story that show ordinary people bustling about their business and taking care not to step in something nasty. Mostly they don't succeed. The walls of domestic dwellings in the 17th century were routinely bulked out by shit shipped from "the necessary house" and quite likely to dissolve into a nasty goo when the rains came down. One authority noted that few homes outlasted the ground lease of 50 years or so, while one German visitor wondered out loud whether he should venture into the street during a violent storm in 1775 "lest the house should fall in, which is no rare occurrence in London". "Kennels", or drainage ditches, were mostly bunged up with everything from brassica stalks to dead babies, and it was a good idea to carry a stick in case there were any rampaging pigs about (market days got them especially jumpy).
Inside was not much better. In 1756 Harrop's Manchester Mercury advertised a book that claimed to get rid of all household vermin, including "adders, badgers, birds, catterpillers [sic], earwigs, fish, flies, foxes, frogs, gnats, Mice, otters, Pismires [ants], Pole-cats, Rabbits, Rats, Snakes, Scorpions, snails, spiders, Toads, Wasps, Weasels, ... Moles, Worms ... Buggs [sic], Lice, & Fleas &c".
Fish were "household vermin"? Maybe it means silverfish.
This book review of "Hubbub - Filth, Noise & Stench in England" was re-printed in the Sydney Morning Herald a couple of weeks ago. It sounds like an amusingly appalling read. An extract:
Cockayne has dug deep into the archives and come up with a hundred little snatches of story that show ordinary people bustling about their business and taking care not to step in something nasty. Mostly they don't succeed. The walls of domestic dwellings in the 17th century were routinely bulked out by shit shipped from "the necessary house" and quite likely to dissolve into a nasty goo when the rains came down. One authority noted that few homes outlasted the ground lease of 50 years or so, while one German visitor wondered out loud whether he should venture into the street during a violent storm in 1775 "lest the house should fall in, which is no rare occurrence in London". "Kennels", or drainage ditches, were mostly bunged up with everything from brassica stalks to dead babies, and it was a good idea to carry a stick in case there were any rampaging pigs about (market days got them especially jumpy).
Inside was not much better. In 1756 Harrop's Manchester Mercury advertised a book that claimed to get rid of all household vermin, including "adders, badgers, birds, catterpillers [sic], earwigs, fish, flies, foxes, frogs, gnats, Mice, otters, Pismires [ants], Pole-cats, Rabbits, Rats, Snakes, Scorpions, snails, spiders, Toads, Wasps, Weasels, ... Moles, Worms ... Buggs [sic], Lice, & Fleas &c".
Fish were "household vermin"? Maybe it means silverfish.
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