bbrubaker

Wow, I thought this would be interesting to you guys and gals. Hum. Oh well.

Isn't this a bit like asking why we still have baseball, despite the invention of batting cages? Or, why we still play golf even though we go to the driving range?

For money? Prestige? I dunno, batting cages are a helluva lot more fun to me.

What does the census say?

http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s0075.pdf

Let me know what you find, you'll have to get the total pop. and do the math, I guess.

Or not.

EDIT:

Oh yeah, also this nifty graph,"More Poverty = More Religion"

http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2010/09/religions-correlation-with-poverty/

Which may explain things like this:

http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/results/polls/#CAI01p1

Heard this years ago and always assumed it was true. Figured I'd find out wot's wot...

That leaving tap water in a container overnight dispersed some of the chlorine.

I dunno, but I love talking about myself.

I thought my post was pretty GD clever, lol. No one liked that bit of humor?

Nothing, hh?

Well here's another one:

"The so-called paradox of freedom is the argument that freedom in the sense of absence of any constraining control must lead to very great restraint, since it makes the bully free to enslave the meek. The idea is, in a slightly different form, and with very different tendency, clearly expressed in Plato.

Less well known is the paradox of tolerance: Unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance. If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them. — In this formulation, I do not imply, for instance, that we should always suppress the utterance of intolerant philosophies; as long as we can counter them by rational argument and keep them in check by public opinion, suppression would certainly be unwise. But we should claim the right to suppress them if necessary even by force; for it may easily turn out that they are not prepared to meet us on the level of rational argument, but begin by denouncing all argument; they may forbid their followers to listen to rational argument, because it is deceptive, and teach them to answer arguments by the use of their fists or pistols. We should therefore claim, in the name of tolerance, the right not to tolerate the intolerant. We should claim that any movement preaching intolerance places itself outside the law, and we should consider incitement to intolerance and persecution as criminal, in the same way as we should consider incitement to murder, or to kidnapping, or to the revival of the slave trade, as criminal."

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Karl_Popper

"Internet addiction has for the first time been linked with changes in the brain similar to those seen in people addicted to alcohol, cocaine and cannabis. In a groundbreaking study, researchers used MRI scanners to reveal abnormalities in the brains of adolescents who spent many hours on the internet, to the detriment of their social and personal lives. The finding could throw light on other behavioural problems and lead to the development of new approaches to treatment, researchers said."

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/addicted-scientists-show-how-internet-dependency-alters-the-human-brain-6288344.html

Bizarre.

Coupled with this foul nugget:

"Scientists have found that compulsive internet use can produce morphological changes in the structure of the brain.[24] A study which analyzed Chinese college students who used a computer around 10 hours a day, 6 days a week, found reductions in the sizes of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, rostral anterior cingulate cortex, supplementary motor area and parts of the cerebellum as high as 10-20%.[24] On the other hand, increases in the density of the right parahippocampal gyrus and a spot called the left posterior limb of the internal capsule were also found.[24] It has been theorized that these changes reflect learning-type cognitive optimizations for using computers more efficiently, but also impaired short-term memory and decision-making abilities—including ones in which may contribute to the desire to stay online instead of be in the real world.[25]"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Addiction#cite_note-24

And the study that's based on:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3108989/?tool=pmcentrez

Does it look sound to you guys?

I'm a complete amateur science buff, so...

Thanks. Edit: Since I'm on the 'Alarmist Sky Is Falling Internet Wagon', thought I'd include another link.

This time to a blog from Scientific American, enjoy your nightmares!

(might help if I actually included the link, duh!)

Here:

http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/2011/01/06/can-sitting-too-much-kill-you/

Both, none, trying to 'sum up' the direction the entire world is taking is pointless.

There'd be too many exceptions. Millions upon millions of people left out of any grand pronouncement.

Some people are profiting from the downturn that's hurting others:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqN3amj6AcE

This video has been making the rounds. Note, that I am not agreeing with a thing this man says.

Just that some people view opportunity when everything is falling apart.

Apparently, stock in alcohol is a great investment no matter what the economic climate is.

Also, Bruce Sterling has an interesting bit about a 'good' or 'bad' future, as found on Mavericks of the Mind:

David: Are you optimistic about the future, and do you think that the human race is going to survive the next hundred years?

 

 

Bruce: People always ask me that, but I think it’s a bad question to ask. Are you optimistic about the future? Or are you pessimistic about the future? Nobody would ask that of somebody who was studying the 18th Century instead of the 21st. Like, are you optimistic about the 18th Century? Or pessimistic about it? I try not to allow a set of emotional attitudes to put blinkers on me. I mean, if I were optimistic about the Eighteenth Century I could go and write a history of the 18th Century that said, in the 18th Century things were great! And if I were a pessimist, I could say, the 18th Century was a living hell! But, in point of fact, the 18th century was both at once, depending on circumstances and point of view. And every other century has always been both at once. So I’m inclined to think that most future centuries will also be both at once, and that questions like, “are you an optimist? Or are you a pessimist?” are just an invitation to ignore a lot of the evidence.

The other thread got me thinking...

Here's Justin Halpern's Dad from the book, "Shit My Dad Says":

"You can’t come. Because it’s not a vacation if family is with me. I could vacation in my fucking house if you people left it."

"There won't be humans in 500 years. Enough people choke themselves when they jerk off we gave it a name. We ain't a species made to last."

"You didn't get a good deal, you were just fucked gently. Trust me, Best Buy will not be the one with the sore asshole tomorrow."

"So he likes drugs and hookers. That's the mustard & mayo on the sandwich of life. Problem is, that's all he's got on his fucking sandwich."

"No. Aliens exist, I just don't think they came millions of light years just to see earth. Be like driving 1000 miles to go to an Arby's"

"Everyone thinks their opinion matters. Don't argue with a nobody. A farmer doesn't bother telling a pig his breath smells like shit."

"You don't have to be good to succeed. You just gotta be the least shitty option. Example: We're eating at The Olive Garden."

"Put the rake down. I don't wanna sit around watching you 'give it your best.' Either stop sucking or get the fuck out of the way."

"See, you think I give a shit. Wrong. In fact, while you talk, I'm thinking; How can I give less of shit? That's why I look interested."

"Don’t focus on the one guy who hates you. You don’t go to the park and set your picnic down next to the only pile of dog shit."

"Engagement rings are pointless. Indians gave cows...Oh sorry, congrats on proposing. We good now? Can I finish my indian story?"

"No. Humans will die out. We're weak. Dinosaurs survived on rotten flesh. You got diarrhea last week from a Wendy's."

"I don't want your advice, you're 27 fucking years old...Fine. I don't want your advice, you're 29 fucking years old."

"Stop trying so hard. He doesn't like you. Jesus, don't kiss an ass if it's in the process of shitting on you."

"I found some shit in your room...No, I found actual shit. Feces...Well I should hope it's from your shoes, otherwise what the fuck?"

"Don't start a story with This is SO funny. Be like saying My dick's huge before you screw. Even if you're right you sound like an asshole."

"Fine, let’s take a vote. Who wants fish for dinner?...Yeah, democracy ain’t so fun when it fucks you, huh?”

"It's never the right time to have kids, but it's always the right time for screwing. God's not a dumbshit. He knows how it works."

“The whole world is fueled by bullshit… What? The kid asked me for advice on his science fair project so I’m giving it to him.”

And many, many more...buy the book. Hillarious.

If you could take your head out of your as long enough you might realize....your ass ain't so bad.

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ItWasWithYouAllAlong

By protected I mean in the following sense:

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) defines a protected area as:

 

"An area of land and/or sea especially dedicated to the protection

and maintenance of biological diversity, and of natural and associated

cultural resources, and managed through legal or other effective means."

 

National parks are probably the best-known PAs, but there are many other categories. Protected areas are those which a higher level governmental entity manages, maintains and or oversees directly. For instance in the United States, this would include primarily federal and to a lesser degree, state managed areas, but rarely those managed by a county or city.

I'm mainly interested in whether the US has the more park space for it's citizens to enjoy...than Canada and most of Western Europe.

But, the more information the better...if anyone has a link to a list or some data to share. I'll be forever grateful.

I've been looking for months, all I can find is % and only the top 10 countries or something.

(of which, US is not included, fyi)

So, I'm interested in a comprehensive type listing for area. If at all possible.

Or whatever... your opinions and conjecture would be cool, too.

Thanks.

The only weird thing I know about grapefruit (aside from looking nothing like it's namesake) is that it contains a flavanoid called Naringin that is supposed to use up an enzyme that breaks down many drugs. People may ingest grapefruit to theoretically increase the potency of other drugs.

Not sure if that cuts the mustard here or not. Whatever.

Gazing at the moon will just never be the same.

 

 

What's the moon made of? NASA mission finds it's nothing so simple as cheese.

 

It remains a place of mystery, for sure. But scientists say they now know that the moon has enough water to potentially quench the thirst of lunar astronauts and even fuel lunar rockets. Plus, it has a cache of familiar organic compounds - methane and ammonia, mercury and even traces of sulfur, iron and silver - that were found hidden away in the moon's deep shadows.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/21/AR2010102103666.html?hpid%3Dartslot

Facts can be hard to sort out. The unwashed masses, coming home from a hard day at the smelter, may be experiencing 'decision fatigue' and falling back on whatever *simple* answer is available. Or whatever belief they already hold. Sort of what the NPR intro says...but, to me, they make it sound like people are willfully choosing (faulty) 'beliefs' over 'facts'.

Very interesting article though, thanks.

I'm not sure what to think of it.

It seems to somehow tie in to postmodern philosophy for me.

Or at least the arm chair version I got from this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Reality-Isnt-What-Ready-Wear/dp/0062500171

I liked the book btw, weak chaired and arm sauced as it might be...

Anyways.

I'd really like to hear what else you all think about it.

If anyone is willing to risk public humiliation by actually stating an opinion of their own on here...

as opposed to other people's quotes.

a news paper

 

I got one for you guys, "the devil is beating his wife today" does anyone know what that means?

What does it mean?

I seem to remember coaches in HS saying to stay away from soda because the caffeine would lead to more broken bones.

Is this the carbonation in soda?

Is it a myth?

TIA, wikipedia seems to of no use.

Is there an all natural suplement that you can take that is safe but still give you the fast results that steroids give. And if so can you buy them over the counter. I do not want steroids as they have alot of side effects,,but wish to have the fast results in a natural suplement. Any ideas?

Old weightlifting maxim I learned from a relative who was Mr. Northwoods 1983 or whatever:

"The quicker you gain muscle the quicker you lose it."

I ordered Seed Magazine lo those many months ago and have received exactly one issue...in June of last year.

Supposedly, they are working on a 'redesign'...no word on whether I'll be reimbursed on the missing 8 months. They aren't returning my e-mails.

Can anyone help shed some light on this? Is it settled already?

I can't take a sip of coffee without envisioning pancreatic cancer which, I am reading, is a quick and merciless sentence in most cases.

Is it worth the risk? I'm confused and seeking your scientific opinions.

A few links:

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/NWS/content/NWS_1_1x_Pancreatic_Cancer_Is_Not_Linked_With_Drinking_Coffee_or_Alcohol.asp

http://www.nytimes.com/1981/03/12/us/study-links-coffee-use-to-pancreas-cancer.html

Thanks.

My pet theory is that the gum smackers distracted the non smackers and thus the whole thing was flawed from the start.

I'm not sure if I'm missing something but doesn't the fact that it's a gum manufacturer funding the science draw into question the science being done?

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=99668

Funded by Wrigley's Science Institute™ and I'm not sure if the gum smacking students were dispersed among the non-smacking students.

Seems flaky to me...but what do I know?

Google results:

http://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1GGLS_enUS324US324&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=gum+better+at+math+tests

C'mon...don't be shy. That's right...over here.

C'mon! C'mon boy! Thats a gooood boy! Who's a good boy?? You are! Yesh you are!

Jim Trainor ~ the Bats

aDizcCTUGdw

'Smart clothing'?

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080329121141.htm

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081021190640.htm

http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts-apparel/interactive/a5bf/