The Boston Globe posted Recent Hindu festivals and rituals. Go there and look at the pictures.
"Many Hindus throughout India recently celebrated Ganesha Chaturthi, a 10-day festival celebrating the birth of Ganesh, their supreme god of wisdom, prosperity and good fortune. Hinduism, the predominant religion in India, is rich with traditional festivals and rituals, celebrated in many ways and locations around the world. Collected here are a few photographs from recent Hindu festivals and of Hindu devotees worshipping and practicing ritual ceremonies in India, England, Nepal and Indonesia. (36 photos total)"
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
Did this Guy Lie or Not?
I'm cleaning up some old saved links. In July, dday wrote Cannot Tell A Lie, about an article about Cheney's last minute efforts to get Scooter Libby a pardon. Fun read.
Seven hours of Feynman lectures online
Seven hours of Feynman lectures online. "Microsoft is presenting a series of lectures on physics by Richard Feynman. The lectures, shown in seven hour-long segments, were recorded by the BBC at Cornell University in 1964." The Silverlight plugin is required.
Robert Reich Public Option Video
This is very clear, concise and short. I hope it's the start of a trend...
I also hope the bill has more in it to bring down costs...
I also hope the bill has more in it to bring down costs...
A Fun Visit to the Genius Bar
Mike's written A fun visit to the Genius Bar, one of the best descriptions I've read of what Apple Stores have done right.
Sunday, September 06, 2009
Saturday, September 05, 2009
The Origin of Diabetes: Don't Blame Your Genes
This week's Economist wrote The origin of diabetes: Don't blame your genes
"Genes are acquired at conception and carried to the grave. But the same gene can be expressed differently in different people—or at different times during an individual’s life. The differences are the result of what are known as epigenetic marks, chemicals such as methyl groups that are sometimes attached to a gene to tell it to turn out more of a vital protein, or to stop making that protein altogether."
"Many researchers believe epigenetic marks hold the key to understanding, and eventually preventing, a number of diseases—and one whose epigenetic origins they are particularly interested in is type 2, or late-onset, diabetes. Juleen Zierath and her colleagues at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, are trying to find out how people develop insulin resistance, the underlying cause of type 2 diabetes."
"Genes are acquired at conception and carried to the grave. But the same gene can be expressed differently in different people—or at different times during an individual’s life. The differences are the result of what are known as epigenetic marks, chemicals such as methyl groups that are sometimes attached to a gene to tell it to turn out more of a vital protein, or to stop making that protein altogether."
"Many researchers believe epigenetic marks hold the key to understanding, and eventually preventing, a number of diseases—and one whose epigenetic origins they are particularly interested in is type 2, or late-onset, diabetes. Juleen Zierath and her colleagues at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, are trying to find out how people develop insulin resistance, the underlying cause of type 2 diabetes."
Friday, September 04, 2009
Cancer Rates and Unjustified Conclusions
Cancer Rates and Unjustified Conclusions | FactCheck.org
"A number of opponents of new health care legislation, most recently our old friend Betsy McCaughey on 'The Daily Show,' have claimed that cancer survival rates are higher in the U.S. than in countries with nationalized health care."
"It’s certainly the case that we have higher survival rates than the United Kingdom and other countries with nationalized health care."
"But survival rates also differ within the United States, between insured and uninsured populations. The American Cancer Society found that the five-year survival rates for colorectal cancer averaged 63 percent for the privately insured but 49 percent for the uninsured. According to the Lancet study, five-year relative survival rates for colorectal cancer were 59.1 percent in the U.S. and 45.3 percent in Europe. Breast cancer survival rates among the uninsured were also similar to Europe – 85 percent survival for those with private insurance, 75 percent for the uninsured, close to the European average. Rates for people on Medicaid were similar to the uninsured."
And it gets more complicated. Then in another post they describe how it's easy to make claims and often more involved to disprove them. " It really is true that a lot of what we do here is to take what appear to be pretty simple claims and show that the reality is far more complicated than it might appear at first glance. Quite often we find ourselves saying things like, "That’s true, but it’s misleading…""
"A number of opponents of new health care legislation, most recently our old friend Betsy McCaughey on 'The Daily Show,' have claimed that cancer survival rates are higher in the U.S. than in countries with nationalized health care."
"It’s certainly the case that we have higher survival rates than the United Kingdom and other countries with nationalized health care."
"But survival rates also differ within the United States, between insured and uninsured populations. The American Cancer Society found that the five-year survival rates for colorectal cancer averaged 63 percent for the privately insured but 49 percent for the uninsured. According to the Lancet study, five-year relative survival rates for colorectal cancer were 59.1 percent in the U.S. and 45.3 percent in Europe. Breast cancer survival rates among the uninsured were also similar to Europe – 85 percent survival for those with private insurance, 75 percent for the uninsured, close to the European average. Rates for people on Medicaid were similar to the uninsured."
And it gets more complicated. Then in another post they describe how it's easy to make claims and often more involved to disprove them. " It really is true that a lot of what we do here is to take what appear to be pretty simple claims and show that the reality is far more complicated than it might appear at first glance. Quite often we find ourselves saying things like, "That’s true, but it’s misleading…""
Investigate the Torture Already
corpus delicti is digby quoting Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), two of my favorites. Former prosecutor Whitehouse says there's obviously enough information about torture to begin an investigation and it's their job. Digby concludes with:
'We know what's happening here. Dick Cheney and his Republican allies are saying that if they are investigated they will launch a jihad against this administration once they retake power that will make previous witch hunts look like ring around the rosie. My only question is why anyone thinks they won't do it anyway?"
'We know what's happening here. Dick Cheney and his Republican allies are saying that if they are investigated they will launch a jihad against this administration once they retake power that will make previous witch hunts look like ring around the rosie. My only question is why anyone thinks they won't do it anyway?"
The Latest on Sarah P.
Kevin Jones gives The Latest on Sarah P.. He reads the Vanity Fair interview with Levi Johnston so you don't have to. McCain was a fool.
How Did Economists Get It So Wrong?
Lengthy Paul Krugman article, How Did Economists Get It So Wrong? is really a lesson in Macroeconomics.
Brad DeLong comments on it here and here.
Brad DeLong comments on it here and here.
Obama Will Release White House Visitor Logs
NPR reports Obama Reverses Course, Will Release White House Visitor Logs. "Today, President Obama -- in what his press office described as 'another indication of his commitment to an open and transparent government' -- announced that records of White House visitors will be released, and that each month, records of visitors from the previous 90-120 days will be made available online."
Here's the new policy, and a White House blog post on the matter.
Nice to see him correcting a previous mistake.
Here's the new policy, and a White House blog post on the matter.
Nice to see him correcting a previous mistake.
Al Franken Talks An Anti-Healthcare-Reform Mob Down
Al Franken talks an anti-healthcare-reform mob down:
I think I recognized all the articles he quoted from. I wonder if he reads Castro's Favorite Color?
I think I recognized all the articles he quoted from. I wonder if he reads Castro's Favorite Color?
Contrasts
The Boston Globe reports The Cushing Academy is one of the first schools in the country to remove the books from its library.
"Tia Alliy, a 16-year-old junior, said she visits the library nearly every day, but only once looked for a book in the stacks. She’s not alone. School officials said when they checked library records one day last spring only 48 books had been checked out, and 30 of those were children’s books."
In contract, here are some photos of Neil Gaiman's personal library. Here's one:
"Tia Alliy, a 16-year-old junior, said she visits the library nearly every day, but only once looked for a book in the stacks. She’s not alone. School officials said when they checked library records one day last spring only 48 books had been checked out, and 30 of those were children’s books."
In contract, here are some photos of Neil Gaiman's personal library. Here's one:
The Gonzales Cantata
Thank you Rachel Maddow for pointing me to The Gonzales Cantata. "A cantata based on the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings of former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales." It's being performed this weekend in Philly and if I were there I'd be going.
Thursday, September 03, 2009
MO School Bans Band's Evolution T-Shirt
Band shirts hit wrong note with parents "The shirts, which were designed to promote the band’s fall program, are light gray and feature an image of a monkey progressing through stages and eventually emerging as a man. Each figure holds a brass instrument. Several instruments decorate the background and the words ‘Smith-Cotton High School Tiger Pride Marching Band’ and ‘Brass Evolutions 2009’ are emblazoned above and below the image."
"The band debuted the T-shirts when it marched in the Missouri State Fair parade. Summers said he was surprised when he received a direct complaint after the parade. While the shirts don’t directly violate the district’s dress code, Assistant Superintendent Brad Pollitt said complaints by parents made him take action."
Idiots.
"The band debuted the T-shirts when it marched in the Missouri State Fair parade. Summers said he was surprised when he received a direct complaint after the parade. While the shirts don’t directly violate the district’s dress code, Assistant Superintendent Brad Pollitt said complaints by parents made him take action."
Idiots.
Justice Stevens to Retire?
Yesterday the AP reported Justice Stevens' hiring at high court slows "Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens has hired fewer law clerks than usual, generating speculation that the leader of the court's liberals will retire next year."
"Stevens confirmed through a court spokeswoman Tuesday that he has hired only one clerk for the term that begins in October 2010. He is among several justices who typically have hired all four clerks for the following year by now."
"Stevens also is nearing two longevity records. When he joined the court, he replaced the longest-serving justice, William O. Douglas, and would need to serve until mid-July 2012 to top that service record. He would surpass Holmes as the oldest sitting justice if he were to remain on the court until Feb. 24, 2011."
The Blog of Legal Times adds in Justice Stevens: Exiting Next Year?: "'His pattern is fairly consistent to hire a whole slew of clerks by the end of the term,' said former Stevens clerk Joseph Thai, a law professor at the University of Oklahoma. Some justices hire their full allotment of clerks for a future term even if they are thinking of retiring, but Thai thinks that 'Justice Stevens is not that kind of guy. He is very considerate of the personal lives of his clerks, and he would not want to give people the false hope that they will be working for a sitting justice.' That would explain why he would hire one clerk for the 2010 term; retired justices are allowed to hire one clerk instead of four."
"Stevens confirmed through a court spokeswoman Tuesday that he has hired only one clerk for the term that begins in October 2010. He is among several justices who typically have hired all four clerks for the following year by now."
"Stevens also is nearing two longevity records. When he joined the court, he replaced the longest-serving justice, William O. Douglas, and would need to serve until mid-July 2012 to top that service record. He would surpass Holmes as the oldest sitting justice if he were to remain on the court until Feb. 24, 2011."
The Blog of Legal Times adds in Justice Stevens: Exiting Next Year?: "'His pattern is fairly consistent to hire a whole slew of clerks by the end of the term,' said former Stevens clerk Joseph Thai, a law professor at the University of Oklahoma. Some justices hire their full allotment of clerks for a future term even if they are thinking of retiring, but Thai thinks that 'Justice Stevens is not that kind of guy. He is very considerate of the personal lives of his clerks, and he would not want to give people the false hope that they will be working for a sitting justice.' That would explain why he would hire one clerk for the 2010 term; retired justices are allowed to hire one clerk instead of four."
Good Novels Don’t Have to Be Hard Work
Good Novels Don’t Have to Be Hard Work.
"This is the future of fiction. The novel is finally waking up from its 100-year carbonite nap. Old hierarchies of taste are collapsing. Genres are hybridizing. The balance of power is swinging from the writer back to the reader, and compromises with the public taste are being struck all over the place. Lyricism is on the wane, and suspense and humor and pacing are shedding their stigmas and taking their place as the core literary technologies of the 21st century."
"This is the future of fiction. The novel is finally waking up from its 100-year carbonite nap. Old hierarchies of taste are collapsing. Genres are hybridizing. The balance of power is swinging from the writer back to the reader, and compromises with the public taste are being struck all over the place. Lyricism is on the wane, and suspense and humor and pacing are shedding their stigmas and taking their place as the core literary technologies of the 21st century."
Google Patents World's Simplest Home Page
Google Patents World's Simplest Home Page
"The home page, in contrast, was split off into a separate application, receiving its design patent for a 'Graphical user interface for a display screen of a communications terminal' just yesterday. The document (see below) is as minimalist as the interface, containing a single illustration of Google.com, with the company logo depicted in dotted lines to indicate it is not an integral part of the patent. In other words, subject to how the patent is enforced, Google owns the idea of having a giant search box in the middle of the page, with two big buttons underneath and several small links nearby."
That's just wrong.
"The home page, in contrast, was split off into a separate application, receiving its design patent for a 'Graphical user interface for a display screen of a communications terminal' just yesterday. The document (see below) is as minimalist as the interface, containing a single illustration of Google.com, with the company logo depicted in dotted lines to indicate it is not an integral part of the patent. In other words, subject to how the patent is enforced, Google owns the idea of having a giant search box in the middle of the page, with two big buttons underneath and several small links nearby."
That's just wrong.
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Placebos Are Getting More Effective
Interesting article in Wired, Placebos Are Getting More Effective. Drugmakers Are Desperate to Know Why. I know a few of you probably have thoughts on the matter and I'm curious to hear them.
Siracusa on Snow Leopard
A friend described John Siracusa's 23 page Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard review in Ars Technica as "epic" and he's right.
The third page alone on HFS+ compression is worth it.
Then there's this possibility: Snow Leopard Is a Touchscreen Operating System
The third page alone on HFS+ compression is worth it.
Then there's this possibility: Snow Leopard Is a Touchscreen Operating System
Roeper: (90) Days of Summer
I still have a few to see but Roeper's picks for summer films. is pretty good.
Movie Review: La Dolce Vita
I saw Fellini's La Dolce Vita tonight. I'd write a review but I think Ebert already said it all in his review. Seriously I think it's the best of his reviews that I've ever read.
For a film that's supposed to be so iconic, I don't think I've ever seen any of the shots in it. If the point is to show that the life of the idle rich is empty, I got the message in the first hour and unlike Sunday night's Mad Men, I don't think anything would have been lost by trimming it down from it's 3 hours. Also, Yvonne Furneaux looked just like Carla Gugino.
For a film that's supposed to be so iconic, I don't think I've ever seen any of the shots in it. If the point is to show that the life of the idle rich is empty, I got the message in the first hour and unlike Sunday night's Mad Men, I don't think anything would have been lost by trimming it down from it's 3 hours. Also, Yvonne Furneaux looked just like Carla Gugino.
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