Scapegoating Masquerading As Science

Dr. Brian Primack, a University of Pittsburgh professor, surveyed 700 teens about their music preferences and sexual behavior. The study, set to be published next month,  links lyrics in rap music to teen sex . Primack avoids declaring a causal relationship - Rap Music Makes Teens Have Sex - but the headlines reporting the research come dangerously close.   Strictly speaking, you'd need to know if the tendency to engage in sexual behavior at age 15-16 led the teens to seek out music with explicit lyrics.  (I suppose you'd also need an adjustment factor to account for any predisposition to have sex at age 15-16.)

The study doesn't say that teenage fans of Daughtry and ColdPlay and U2 aren't having sex. And while the explicit lyrics include describing "degrading sex acts", there's no indication that the teens are engaging in "degrading sex acts."

Then

After interviewing 95 tween-aged girls, researchers at Iowa State University, led by Prof. Douglas Gentile, concluded that cartoon violence leads to acts of aggression in children . "The study also found that youngsters tended to mimic the negative behaviour they saw on TV such as rumour-spreading, gossiping and eye-rolling." Puh-lease!

The research fails to explore the effects of distress one may experience when he discovers that wearing a dress and batting fake eyelashes while holding a lacy handkerchief will not fool his enemy into falling in love and facilitate his escape from said enemy.

Sadly, I still don't know whether it's Rabbit Season or Duck Season.

Tags: [Dr. Brian Primack]
[Explicit Lyrics]
[Professor Douglas Gentile]
[Cartoons & Violence in Society]

Schools Advised to Reject Middle Class

Professor John White, a member of a committee established to advise on curriculum changes in the U.K., will explain the suggestion that 'middle class' academic subjects should be removed from the national curriculum in junior high schools.

Children should no longer be taught traditional subjects at school because they are "middle-class" creations, the advisory panel concluded. Lessons should instead cover a series of personal skills.
Pupils would no longer study history, geography and science but learn skills such as energy-saving and civic responsibility through projects and themes.     ..the full article..
Energy conservation is a meaningful unit within a broader science course; ecology and conservation belong in geography; civic responsibility lessons are a by-product of studying history. It's necessary to understand how the past influences the present and predicts the future.

Available at chapters.indigo.ca

Geography, history, science and the arts are underfunded in education now - partly because funding levels consider student achievement on standardized tests. The standard tests focus on English and Math, yet an entire generation struggles with arithmetic, grammar, reading comprehension and writing. The panel's report claims that 'the aims [of changing the curriculum] include fostering a model pupil who "values personal relationships, is a responsible and caring citizen, is entrepreneurial, able to manage risk and committed to sustainable development".'

I support these goals, but I don't understand how removing social sciences is going to achieve them; however, I see there may be a buyer for my proposed course on Communication for Youth.

Among the units covered in my suggested class would be Communicating in Spontaneous Situations (Small Talk) and Conventions of Conversation.
The course would cover initiating, participating in and ending conversations. We'd discuss using humor, irony and sarcasm effectively, as well as the importance of thinking before speaking.

I can't decide if Communication for Youth will be a prerequisite or co-requisite of my proposed Common Sense 101.
I'll see what Professor White and his pals think.

Tags: [Prof. John White]  [Curriculum Review Committee]
["Middle Class" Subjects]
[Mark Bauerlein]  [The Dumbest Generation]

Truly Personalized Cellular Service

The phenomenon known as cellular memory was developed by academics to explain characteristic and behavioral changes in organ transplant recipients.

Proponents believe that each human cell has a soul or spirit that has a memory. In a transplant, doctors take care of the mechanical side of the organ and the donor's cells' "memories" survive in the recipient.

There are several cases of cellular memory. A seven-year-old girl had vivid nightmares about a child's murder after being given the heart of the murder victim. The specific details of the nightmares helped to convict the murderer (so the story goes). A woman craved beer and KFC after her lung/heart transplant - the favorite foods of her donor. A man became an accomplished artist after receiving the heart of a scenic artist. The stories (more here) are compelling, but is it valid?

The only case recognized by the scientific community is a 15-year-old Australian girl, whose blood type changed following a liver transplant.

Can consciousness survive a physical death? Are there memories in the organs?

We'll know if the person who receives my donated heart finds my keys.

Tags: [Cellular Memory]  [Organ Transplant]
[Paul Pearsall]  [Claire Sylvia]  [Leslie A. Takeuchi]

Science Explains a City's Sport Discord

Through our children's sports teams we have oft had the displeasure of playing against a particular city's teams. Whether it was in boys' hockey, girls' hockey, volleyball, soccer or football; in exhibition, regular season, tournament or playoff action; from Peewee through Bantam to Midget; I have consistently witnessed cheap hits, a higher incidence of fighting and overall poor sportsmanship by players and even some bench staff of teams from this particular city.

After an especially dangerous season, some boys' hockey coaches refused any more exhibition games against teams from this city. Last month, Jessica's hockey team played against a team from this city. There were ejections, suspensions and a ton of penalty minutes. On the drive home, we discussed several possible theories for the agitated intensity displayed despite the high talent of the players.

Thanks to results of a study released by European researchers, we finally have our answer:
Air Traffic Noise Increases Blood Pressure.

It's not the water. It's not a volunteer recruitment program that only accepts coaches willing to standardize dirty play. It's the planes!

It's not just a source of irritation, it's bad for residents' health, said epidemiologist Lars Jarup, leader of the study at Imperial College London.

Brampton is just 4 km from Pearson International Airport, Canada's busiest airport.

The Greater Toronto Airport Authority's noise contour map clearly includes Brampton within its noise operating area (click map to view map of noise estimate).

Explaining it doesn't justify it.

In the name of fair play, send 440,000 pairs of earplugs to City Hall for immediate distribution...before Jess's team draws them in the first round of the playoffs!

Tags: [Air Traffic Noise]  [Blood Pressure]
[Pearson International Airport]  [Brampton]
[Lars Jarup]  [Imperial College London]

Page Six Goes Blank - There's A Dirt Shortage

John Aeschliman, an agriculturalist from Washington, is renewing calls for sustainable farming methods as a top soil shortage threatens.

"Disappearing dirt rivals global warming as an environmental threat"

"The National Academy of Sciences has determined that cropland in the U.S. is being eroded at least 10 times faster than the time it takes for lost soil to be replaced." It's not just run-off from water, either.

Ethanol from corn is often touted as a solution to the energy shortage. Problem is, those corn stalks that are being considered for clean energy are the same stalks that provide food to microorganisms in the soil. These same creatures aerate the soil which prevents rain run-off and erosion.

The Pacific Northwest Direct Seed Association, a regional farmers' association for no-till farmers is hosting its annual meeting this week. An initiative of PNDSA is the sale of carbon credits from no-till acreage. Land that hasn't been tilled retains carbon. "For every ton of carbon stored in the soil, 3.67 tons of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) are removed from the atmosphere."

Dirt farmers around the world are losing ground. Around the world! The Azerbaijan government identified desertification from erosion as a priority environmental concern in 2004. Azerbaijan!

I will do my part to save topsoil and you can too.
Send a check with your donation -payable to CASH (Concerned About Soil Horizons) to me.
C.A.S.H. -Funding Farmers' Fields of Dreams

Tags: [Sustainable Farming] [David Montgomery]
[Topsoil Shortage] [Joe Aeschliman] [PNDSA]
[Ethanol]

From the Simply Obvious Laboratory

Dr. Patricia Sagaspe released the results of her recent study on sleep:

Naps Work Best to Overcome Sleepiness.

Dr. Sagaspe of the Clinique du Summeil in France studied 12 people between 20 and 25 years old and 12 people between 40 and 50.

Each drove 125 km alert and when sleepy. Subjects were either given a cup of coffee, a cup of decaf or a 30-minute nap before the second drive.

She found that drivers who had coffee or a nap were more alert. Young drivers performed best after a nap.

Eye-opening science!
What's up for tomorrow? Food Satisfies Hunger?

[Dr. P. Sagaspe]  [Sleep Study]
[Driving When Tired]  [Naps]

And Then There Were Three...

Today, Australia voted to ratify the Kyoto Protocol to reduce emissions that impact climate change.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said 'the Federal Government would do everything in its power to help Australia meet its Kyoto obligations, including setting a target to reduce emissions by 60 per cent on 2000 levels by 2050.'    more...

The Kyoto Protocol was introduced in 1997. The objective of the international framework is to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would reduce future impact on climate change. The protocol has been ratified by 175 countries.

The United States, China and India still have not signed on. They are the #1, #2 and #4 worst polluters (respectively).

A conference opened today in Bali for countries to discuss the next phase of emission targets.

Tags: [Kyoto Protocol]    [Prime Minister Kevin Rudd]   [Australia]
[Climate Change]   [Greenhouse Gas Emissions]   [Bali Conference]

Who's Your Daddy? Tests to Go.

Such an obvious title.

Sorenson Genomics is test-marketing a do-it-yourself DNA kit.
The Identigene-branded paternity test, which carries a suggested retail price of $29.99, is the first of its kind to be sold over the counter at pharmacies" Read more

On the U.S. west coast, the sample collection kits are available in Rite-Aid stores. Meijer has the mid-west covered, including Michigan and Illinois. Using the prepaid mailer, and for an additional $119, the DNA samples will be compared by Identigene's laboratory.

4 Easy Steps to Proof * 1 Pick up your kit 2 Collect Cheek cell samples from child & alleged father 3 Send DNA samples for testing 4 DNA test results are provided via phone, mail, & email * Source: Identigene®

Sorenson's C.O.O., Doug Fogg, said, "We would certainly like to distribute this kit nationwide... a lot of people just are not aware that testing for paternity purposes is so readily available and affordable." "Just because something's available does not mean it's safe or effective or worth your money," Kathy Hudson, director of the Genetics and Public Policy Center at Johns Hopkins University, countered. Day-time television viewers around the U.S. were loudly exclaiming, Maury Povich, in the case of paternity testing, you are not the father. Anymore.

Tags: [Sorenson Genomics] [Identigene] [Paternity Tests]
[Doug Fogg] [Kathy Hudson] [Maury Povich]

The Maury Show - Topic: I'm back to Prove the 2nd Baby Is Not Mine

Happy Birthday to the World

Anglican Bishop James Ussher, "the author of the book frequently described as the greatest history book ever written", concluded the world was created Oct. 23, 4004 B.C. – making it exactly 6,010 years-old this week.

In the 1650's, Ussher wrote Annals of the World. "It's the history of the world from the Garden of Eden to the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70." The book integrates biblical history with secular chronicles. MasterBooks commissioned the updating of the material from the 18^th century to present-day; and the translation from its original ancient Latin to English.

The basis for Ussher's date is that ancient civilizations began the calendar year at the harvest. He uses the first Sunday following autumnal equinox to start the year. Because the calendar has been manipulated over time, we now mark the autumnal equinox on September 21.

World, I'm sorry these birthday wishes come late. I suggest we mark your 6010^th birthday the same as all the other years - we'll burn fossil fuels creating pollution that warms the earth and contributes to climate variability.

See your candles in this picture of the earth at night? Remember to make a wish before you blow them out.

Tags: [James Ussher]  [Annals of the World]
[MasterBooks]  [World's Birthday]  [Julian & Gregorian Calendars]
[Global Warming]  [Climate Change]

Carp Diem

I'll be able to sleep at night now.
A report from scientists at Stanford University School of Medicine concludes that fish may suffer from insomnia.

In order to understand sleep disorders, Emmanuel Mignot and his team were looking at how the brain regulates sleep, by studying zebrafish. They report that "some zebrafish have a mutant gene that disrupts their sleep patterns in a way similar to insomnia in humans."

I find it a little surprising that fish have any difficulty sleeping. Sounds from nature, like water and ocean tides, are recommended to create a relaxing atmosphere, reduce stress and induce sleep. Based on that, I would expect the research to find that most fish slept a lot.

Maybe the comforting sonances create a high incidence of Hypersomnolence.

Maybe it's not really an issue, since fish don't have to get up and work in the morning.

O Captain, my Captain.
Carpe Noctis.

Tags: [Zebra Fish]   [Sleep Disorders]   [Insomnia]
[Public Library of Science-Biology]
[Stanford School of Medicine]   [Emmanuel Mignot]
[Dead Poet's Society]   [Walt Whitman] [Carpe Diem]

Socratic Irony?

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency released this warning yesterday:

Undeclared Walnuts in Bella Cucina Cookies
The recall notice begins:

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is warning people with
allergies to walnuts not to consume Bella Cucina
Death by Chocolate cookies. The affected product may contain walnuts which are not declared on the
label... (Read the entire notice)

So, Death by Chocolate cookies are being recalled because eating them may result in death?

Tags: [Anaphylaxis] [Nut Allergy] [Bella Cucina]
[Socrates] [Hemlock Poison] [Death by Chocolate]
[C.F.I.A.]

The Changing Climate of Parenting

Parenting Through the Decades

Decade	Theme	Expert	Reward	Conse- quence
1950s	Strong Values/ Firm Leadership	Dr. Benjamin Spock	Allowance	Extra chores like wash out the garbage cans
1980s	Put children first	Saul Scheidlinger	Psychotherapy	Psychotherapy
1990s	The child's sense of self	Dr. Barbara Colorosa	Spend quality time together recog- nizing the accomplishment	Reward the effort made attempting to meet expectations
2000s	Nurture Nature	Dr. David Suzuki	Select from list of ethical / green choices++	Deduct/Withhold Carbon Credits

⁺⁺ Green Choice Rewards may include:

Jewelry from natural beads	Organic cotton clothing
Clothing purchased second-hand	Eco Jeans (organic material)
Shoes with treads of recycled tires	Anything from Bono's fair-trade-focused fashion label
School bag made from recycled inner tubes

Some suggested music: Dave Matthews, Alicia Keys, Melissa Etheridge, Jack Johnson, The Beastie Boys (especially Mike D), John Legend, Ludacris, Sting, U2


Tags: [Parenting] [Dr. Spock] [Barbara Colorosa]
[David Suzuki] [Climate Change] [Carbon Credits]
[Brushfire Records] [Tibetan Freedom Concert] [Fair Trade]
[Bono] [An Inconvenient Truth]

It's Not Rocket Science

On August 7, 2007 NASA will launch its 22^nd mission to the International Space Station.

Space Shuttle Endeavour was rolled out of assembly to the launchpad at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida this week. NASA celebrated the arrival of Endeavour and welcomed visitors to KSC with a banner in front of the launchpad exclaiming

The problem is that "the orbiter is named after HM Bark Endeavour, the ship commanded by 18th century explorer James Cook; the name also honored Endeavour, the Command Module of Apollo 15. This is why the name is spelled in the British English manner." Read Shuttle's Name Misspelled . Endeavour's mission is expected to last 11 days.

That florist's window sign that offers
'HELLIUM BALOON ARRANGEMENTS'
doesn't seem so bad now.

Another CL Life Lesson Proven True: PDPS (Public Displays of Poor Spelling) are embarrassing and should be avoided. Ask any NASA engineer or scientist how he feels about PDPS; I'm sure you'll find he agrees.

Related Reading: Sadly Mistaken

Tags: [NASA] [Kennedy Space Center]
[Endeavor] [Endeavour]
[International Space Station]

[James Cook] [Commander Scott J. Kelly]

[Canadian Space Agency] [Richard Mastracchio]
[Dave Williams]

It's A Smaller World

Researchers at the University of Bonn used a system known as VLBI (Very Long Baseline Interferometry) to measure the earth. They have found the diameter of Earth is 5 mm smaller than the previous measurement estimates.

Scientifically, this is significant. One factor used to determine satellite launch and orbit positions is the diameter of the earth. With LiveEarth performances ready around the globe (July 7/07), there are some who will be quick to interpret the results of Dr. Axel Nothnagel's study as The World is Shrinking. In fact, the study doesn't report that the size of Earth has changed over time, but that the diameter of the planet is about 5 mm smaller than the original estimates.

I don't want to be one to say I told you so; but in fact, I already knew that the world was smaller than original estimates. Here's how:

It's a Small World
Four years ago, Jessica joined the Etobicoke Dolphins BB hockey team. A talented left-winger on that team was Kim Selke. Since joining the Dolphins, it has been our privilege to mix with Kim and her parents, Debby and Gary Selke.

Kim has 2 sisters who are accomplished equestrian riders. My niece, Shannon is a gifted equestrianist too. She no longer competes, but for several years, Shannon has worked as a groom at a barn north of Toronto. Besides her responsibilities at the home barn, Shannon transports the horses to shows and prepares them for competition. It's very hard work, but she does it because she loves horses. Shannon knows Leanne and Kathleen Selke from the shows. At these levels, the competitions are their own community.

It's a Little Bit Smaller
The school Jessica goes to is not in our city. Her program is available at just one secondary school in our district, which happens to be in a different city. During her freshman year, we discovered that Kim Selke has two cousins who attend the same high school as Jessica. Rebecca played on the school hockey team with Jessica; Maggie and Jess played together on the school soccer team.

This proves to me that it's not just a small world, but that Earth is smaller than we used to think. Thank you Dr. Nothnagel for providing the science to support our theory.



Tags: [University of Bonn] [LiveEarth]
[Measure Earth's Diameter] [NASA]
[It's A Small World] [Etobicoke Dolphins]
[Ontario Equestrian Federation] [Dr. Axel Nothnagel]