November 6, 2013
Science Journalism Award winners
2013 Science Journalism Award winners from the American Association for the Advancement of Science:
- Large Newspaper: Deep Trouble, about invasive Asian Carp, sewage, the Chicago River and Lake Michigan
- Small Newspaper: Warning: Quake in 60 Seconds, about why California doesn't have a decent early warning system for earthquakes
- Magazine: Attack of the Mutant Pupfish, about genetic integrity vs. genetic restoration in the fight to preserve endangered species
- Television (20 minutes or less): NOVA's profile of computer scientist Adrien Treuille and Foldit, a crowd-sourced protein-folding game
- Television (more than 20 minutes): Smithsonian Channel: Killer in the Caves, about bats and the deadly white-nose fungus
- Radio: NPR and The Center for Public Integrity - As Mine Protections Fail, Black Lung Cases Surge and Black-Lung Rule Loopholes Leave Miners Vulnerable
- Online: An environmental scandal that’s happening right underneath your feet, about the hidden cost of natural gas leaks in pipelines underneath cities
- Children's Science News: Cold Water Corals: Paradise on the Seabed [pdf]
Workalcoholics
"We pressed up Infinite. We might have pressed up maybe five hundred, a thousand records tops. We couldn’t give them away. Nobody was feeling it. We don't know why. Then Marshall, I think he was sitting on the toilet making a poop, and he came up with the alter ego. He came into the studio, talking about this alter ego that he has now."
An interview with Jeff Bass, who, along with his brother Mark, produced and co-wrote Eminem's first two albums (plus Lose Yourself from the 8 Mile soundtrack). [more inside]
An interview with Jeff Bass, who, along with his brother Mark, produced and co-wrote Eminem's first two albums (plus Lose Yourself from the 8 Mile soundtrack). [more inside]
The Best Hundred Novels (1898 Edition)
The Queenslander, April 4, 1898: "Mr. Clement K. Shorter, asked by 'The Bookman' to write out a list of 100 of the best novels in the English language, supplied the following list, naming only one book of each author, and giving the date of publication :--" [Via.] [more inside]
"Little lost ligament" may explain why some ACL surgeries fail
In 1879, a French gynecologist / knee expert suggested that a tiny but very important body part existed. No one seemed to be in any hurry to test his hypothesis, although there was some desultory interest shown in the 1970s and 2000s. This Tuesday, two Belgian researchers (Steven Claes and Johan Bellemans) confirmed that the anterolateral ligament (ALL) exists and that about 97% of us have it. (Press release; abstract.) "The doctors wanted to know why some patients with ACL tears suffered from pivot shifts, or knee collapses, even after successful reconstructive surgeries. ... Patients with ACL tears were likely suffering knee collapses because of ALL injuries." [more inside]
FDA Cheese Ban: Mite vs. Right
Despite the cries of "Save the Mimolette!", the FDA has decided to ban the sale of the French cheese Mimolette over mites used in the rind. [more inside]
"They love Steam, but they also... like their families"
The Internet Bug Bounty
Rewarding friendly hackers who contribute to a more secure internet. "We've selected some of the most important software that supports the internet stack, and we want you to hack it. If the public is demonstrably safer as a result of your contribution to internet security, we'd like to be the first to recognize your work and say "thanks" by sending some cash to you or your favorite non-profit." This is a full disclosure bug bounty program, and all vulnerability reports will eventually be made public. Also featuring an Allie Brosh logo for The Internet.
Zip it.
For those of us who remember, it's hard to believe that the "Morton Downey Jr." show (and consequently the height of Downey's stardom) lasted just two years. A new documentary has attempted to fill in the blanks of his life before and after that very brief celebrity. [more inside]
Bullying and Racism in the NFL
On October 30th, it was reported that NFL offensive tackle Jonathan Martin walked out of the Miami Dolphins' facility after a cafeteria prank. It was subsequently reported that Martin had been subjected to bullying by his teammate Richie Incognito, long considered to be one of the NFL's dirtiest players. Though the incident was initially thought to be a product of rookie hazing gone haywire (resulting in, among other things, Dolphins rookies footing thousand dollar bills at strip clubs), the backstory turned out to be far more serious. Incognito allegedly sent Martin threatening and racially charged text messages and voice mails.
The revelation kicked off a flurry of discussion about bullying in the NFL workplace. While many pundits and ex-players supported Martin, others blasted him for violating the "NFL Code."
Incognito was then suspended for conduct detrimental to the team, while claiming that the truth would come out. Several days later, it was reported that Incognito had been asked by the Dolphins' to "toughen Martin up" because Martin, a Stanford grad, was considered by some in the NFL to be "soft", a characterization which disappointed some ex-teammates.
So what has been the reaction from the Dolphins' locker room? In recent days, a number of teammates have vocalized their support for Incognito. Some defended his use of the n-word by claiming he was honorary which prompted a rebuttal from Deadspin.
Europe's junkie princess, 35 years later
"Hardly anyone at the time would have believed that I would still be here today." Christiane Felscherinow, better known as Christiane F., has published Mein Zweites Leben (My Second Life), the follow-up to her (in)famous autobiography, which was originally published when she was 17. Christiane's story became a sensation in Germany and a cult classic around the world (as well as the basis for a cult film, with a soundtrack by David Bowie), and has recently been republished in America in a new translation. (Previously)
Those years have accomplished very little.
The A-Team Killings
"Last spring, the remains of 10 missing Afghan villagers were dug up outside a U.S. Special Forces base – was it a war crime or just another episode in a very dirty war?"
"Last spring, the remains of 10 missing Afghan villagers were dug up outside a U.S. Special Forces base – was it a war crime or just another episode in a very dirty war?"
A window for early intervention against autism?
Researchers using eye-tracking technology found that 3-year-olds diagnosed with autism looked less at people’s eyes when they were babies than children who did not develop autism. But contrary to what the researchers expected, the difference was not apparent at birth. It emerged when babies were 2 to 6 months old, and autism experts said that may suggest a window during which the progression toward autism can be halted or slowed. Article in the NYT. Also SciAm, etc. Reduced eye contact for autistic babies has been documented previously (e.g.), but this study captures the exact window of the decline. [more inside]
"it's like trying to sleep in a beehive"
"[Walmart]'s policy of allowing overnight stays in their parking lots is intended to boost sales, but has the tangential effect of creating a subculture around its locations... The two separate Walmart parking lots in Flagstaff, Arizona are specifically known for their long-term residents, and this past summer photographer Nolan Conway spent several days making a series of portraits of both the overnighters and the people who call these asphalt grids a temporary home."
Waking Up At Walmart (via)
Waking Up At Walmart (via)
The Fateful Games of Victor Gijsbers
Stalin's Story, by Victor Gijsbers, is a game combining Vladimir Propp's folktale archetypes with totalitarian manipulation. One player assumes the role of Stalin, and with it the power to dictate the rules and order executions; other players are either actors trying to beguile him with a traditional rustic tale or courtiers trying to twist the tale's elements to their rivals' discredit. [more inside]
London Pigeons; a ten year study
A website by Luke Taylor has all you ever needed to know about the London pigeon.
Skydiving plane collision.
In Flanders Fields
In Canada, poppy pins are worn for the two weeks before November 11, Remembrance Day. The pins, inspired by the poem In Flanders Fields, commemorate Canadian soldiers who have died in war (any war), and are distributed by the Royal Canadian Legion in exchange for small donations.
There has been some discomfort with the pins in recent years, however, with activist groups claiming that they contribute to the glorification of war. The Rideau Institute has now started distributing white poppies symbolizing peace. Veterans are not pleased, and some are pointing out that the red poppy already symbolizes peace.
There has been some discomfort with the pins in recent years, however, with activist groups claiming that they contribute to the glorification of war. The Rideau Institute has now started distributing white poppies symbolizing peace. Veterans are not pleased, and some are pointing out that the red poppy already symbolizes peace.
Arafat may have been poisoned by polonium
Yasser Arafat may have been poisoned by polonium, like Russian Litvinenko before him.
Just before the lovemaking there's a fade out
Ringo is brought to you with the best wishes of your local Craig dealer.
Ringo, the TV Special, 1978.
With guest stars Art Carney, Angie Dickinson, Mike Douglas, Carrie Fisher, John Ritter, and George Harrison.
I shit you not.
With guest stars Art Carney, Angie Dickinson, Mike Douglas, Carrie Fisher, John Ritter, and George Harrison.
I shit you not.
Leslie’s House
I felt like we were intruding on Mr C. As if we’d interrupt him at work on a new manuscript. The housekeeper spoke not a word of English, but led us into his office... and then left. Michelle and I were there, alone. This was no museum. This was no shrine. This was Arthur C. Fucking Clarke’s office. His office with everything.
On "Survivor" and Sexism
Does the long-running reality TV program Survivor have a sexism problem? A few weeks back (Mefi's Own) Linda Holmes published "The Tribe Has Broken: How Sexism is Silently Killing 'Survivor'" in response to a controversial episode where a male contestant was soundly ridiculed by host Jeff Probst for following a suggestion made by his wife ("Does she tell you what to do all the time?"), while a female contestant who followed a much more direct command from her husband did not receive similar teasing. Over the weekend, Holmes joined former Survivor contestants Rob Cesternino and Stephen Fishbach on Cesternino's Robhasapodcast show for a lively discussion of this topic (runs just over an hour).
The Schedule Makers
A 30 for 30 short tells the story of the husband and wife team who created MLB's schedule every year for two decades, using only pencil and paper.
"...research that is scientifically valuable but morally disturbing."
The Nazi Anatomists. "How the corpses of Hitler's victims are still haunting modern science—and American abortion politics."
You're all, "It's too quiet, guys." Instant weird shit
String Theory is a character-driven serialized comic book published on the web and written/illustrated by Dirk Grundy (Twitter cat feed). Following the adventures of grumpy, socially inept super scientist Dr. Herville Schtein, it is set in an alternate timeline where "the Cuban missile crisis went terribly wrong," the Cold War never ended, super scientists and super powered individuals run amok, the American Southwest is an irradiated postnuclear desert, "America...is not doing so well," and Chicago... Let's not talk about Chicago. It is about failure and families and how we all kind of mess each other up a little, but only because we care. It's kind of sad. But also kind of funny. Think Venture Brothers with the satire and comedy turned down, and the characterization and plotting turned up. Oh! There is also a very cute talking cat, if that helps sell it for you. [more inside]
Mary Hastings Bradley, and the literary debut of James Tiptree Jr
Mary Hastings Bradley (1882 – 1976) was a writer from a young age (Google books), publishing articles as early as high school. She was also a traveler and explorer, bringing back views of the wider world to American readers, first with The Palace of Darkened Windows and The Fortieth Door, both inspired by her trip to Egypt, where she took note of the purdah system of the veiled and secluded women. These books were made into movies in 1920 and 1924, respectively. After marrying Herbert Edwin Bradley, a lawyer and big game hunter, traveler and explorer, she traveled to Africa with her husband and other explorers, and the couple later took their daughter, Alice. Mary wrote stories from these experiences, including stories about Alice's adventures, providing the literary debut for her daughter, who would later take up the nom de plume of James Tiptree, Jr., in part as an effort to move out of the shadow cast by her mother. [more inside]
The true cost of pollution
According to an article in the South China Morning Post, "fog" in Northern China is so bad that the government is finding it interferes with surveillance cameras. (via Quartz.com and mefi's own @ftrain)
I come to steal the "Diamond of Happiness."
Vocaloid producers Hitoshizuku x Yama△ (previously on meta) have just released a new song/video: Phantom Thief F's Scenario ~Mystery of the Missing Diamond~. Can you figure out who the culprit is? [more inside]
Cutscenes:video games::intertitles:silent movies
"I’m going to ruin sea otters for you."
Say It With Sea Otters is a blog where adorable cartoon animals deliver difficult messages. Here are some examples: 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. While the sea otter has a well deserved reputation for extreme cuteness, these aquatic weasels engage in behavior that to humans seems truly reprehensible. Of course, we humans haven't exactly treated them well throughout history. Indeed, the first scientist to describe them, George Wilhelm Steller, emphasized their valuable fur in his description of them.
The Art of War: Sketching the Soldiers of WWII
"At the height of World War II, [Elizabeth] Black abandoned a promising Pittsburgh art career to join the American Red Cross effort overseas. She proposed a project to sketch soldiers and send the portraits to worried families in the United States. For two years, she sketched her way across Europe, choosing her subjects through a lottery and completing as many as a dozen portraits a day." A footlocker full of her work was discovered recently by family members, and is now the subject of a documentary, “Portraits for the Homefront: The Story of Elizabeth Black.” [more inside]
When Logos Go Wrong
Mike Tanier of Sports on Earth discusses poorly designed sports team logos throughout history.
Mvua ya mawe kwa mfalme
Sir Elvis is his stage name, but his real name is Elvis Otieno, and he may be the most successful country musician in Kenya. That's partly because Kenya doesn't have many country musicians. [more inside]
The Bechdel Test. Coming to a (Swedish) cinema near you.
Cinemas in Sweden are introducing a new rating to highlight gender bias, or rather the absence of it. Bio Rio is one of four Swedish cinemas that launched the new rating last month to draw attention to how few movies pass the Bechdel test. Most filmgoers have reacted positively to the initiative. "For some people it has been an eye-opener," said Tejle. [...]For some, though, Sweden's focus on gender equality has gone too far.
As Paracelsus put it, "the dose makes the poison."
Dr Bruce Ames, a toxicologist and one of the world's most cited scientists, discusses the impact of his Ames test, "toxic chemicals," and scaremongering [more inside]
PLUTONIUM MOUNTAIN
From 1949 onwards, the closed city of Semipalatinsk (now Semey, Kazakhstan) was the test site for 456 nuclear devices. The test site was known as "The Polygon." Testing was stopped in 1989, but the long term effects remained. [more inside]
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