Saturday, July 31, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Hope for diabetic patients in remote areas: a new form of more easily transportable insulin
Image: www.abc.net.au |
This story and more updates on breakthroughs is science can be found at http://www.abc.net.au/ra/innovations/stories/s2952498.htm
A Science Odyssey: a TV series about the progress of science
Image: PBS |
I found this video series posted on Youtube, but you can also get them on Netflix.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
This is old news, but one of my all-time favorites, so I just have to share it with you again!
Image: Neatorama |
Among those who showed up were a large party of clowns, who made a most effective counter-demonstration using one of the best possible tools: humor! And lots of it!
Here's the original story, verbatim from Neatorama:
"The white supremacist group VNN Vanguard Nazi/KKK tried to host a hate rally in Knoxville, Tennessee, they were foiled by … clowns!
Unfortunately for [VNN] the 100th ARA (Anti Racist Action) clown block came and handed them their asses by making them appear like the asses they were.
Alex Linder the founder of VNN and the lead organizer of the rally kicked off events by rushing the clowns in a fit of rage, and was promptly arrested by 4 Knoxville police officers who dropped him to the ground when he resisted and dragged him off past the red shiny shoes of the clowns.
http://www.volunteertv.com/home/headlines/7704982.html
“White Power!” the Nazi’s shouted, “White Flour?” the clowns yelled back running in circles throwing flour in the air and raising separate letters which spelt “White Flour”.
“White Power!” the Nazi’s angrily shouted once more, “White flowers?” the clowns cheers and threw white flowers in the air and danced about merrily.
“White Power!” the Nazi’s tried once again in a doomed and somewhat funny attempt to clarify their message, “ohhhhhh!” the clowns yelled “Tight Shower!” and held a solar shower in the air and all tried to crowd under to get clean as per the Klan’s directions.
At this point several of the Nazi’s and Klan members began clutching their hearts as if they were about to have a heart attack. Their beady eyes bulged, and the veins in their tiny narrow foreheads beat in rage. One last time they screamed “White Power!”
The clown women thought they finally understood what the Klan was trying to say. “Ohhhhh…” the women clowns said. “Now we understand…”, “WIFE POWER!” they lifted the letters up in the air, grabbed the nearest male clowns and lifted them in their arms and ran about merrily chanting “WIFE POWER! WIFE POWER! WIFE POWER!” "
Monday, July 26, 2010
162nd Anniversary of the Seneca Falls Convention for Women's Rights
3 fearless pioneers of the women's rights movement: Lucretia Mott, Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton Image from NYPL Digital Gallery |
Ernestine Rose Image from Brandeis University |
Saturday, July 24, 2010
image from BBC.co.uk |
- Bertrand Russell
Laid-off oyster workers in Louisiana receive an outpouring of donations
image from theGrio |
One woman was able to still throw her daughter's first birthday party; others were still able to afford the groceries, school supplies, and other things they needed.
Ameripure has set up a tax-deductible relief fund for their ex-employees, until they can find work again.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Maine teens seek to plant Seeds of Peace in a conflicted world
Just recently, The US Department of State congratulated young members of Seeds of Peace for their work promoting tolerance, understanding, and coexistence for people of all cultures and ethnicities throughout the world, and for completing a three-week program the organization conducts in Maine.
From the Seeds of Peace website:
'Founded in 1993 by journalist John Wallach, Seeds of Peace is dedicated to empowering young leaders from regions of conflict with the leadership skills required to advance reconciliation and coexistence.
From the Seeds of Peace website:
'Founded in 1993 by journalist John Wallach, Seeds of Peace is dedicated to empowering young leaders from regions of conflict with the leadership skills required to advance reconciliation and coexistence.
Over the last 17 years, Seeds of Peace has intensified its impact, dramatically increasing the number of participants, represented nations and programs.
From 46 Israeli, Palestinian and Egyptian teenagers in 1993, the organization has expanded its programming to include young leaders from South Asia, Cyprus and the Balkans. Its leadership network now encompasses over 4,000 young people. Currently, the organization is actively working in the Middle East and South Asia.
Seeds of Peace's internationally-recognized program model begins at its summer Camp in Maine and continues through programming in regions around the world with innovative initiatives in the form of conferences, regional workshops, educational and professional opportunities, and an adult educators program. This comprehensive system allows participants to develop empathy, respect, and confidence as well as leadership, communication and negotiation skills—all critical components that will facilitate peaceful coexistence for the next generation.'
Monday, July 12, 2010
New Orleans Care Clinic offering free medical care for two days in August
'The National Association of Free Clinics (NAFC) will be sponsoring a two day free medical clinic for the New Orleans area uninsured on Tuesday, August 31, 2010 and Wednesday, September 1, 2010.
The New Orleans C.A.R.E. Clinic will offer free basic medical care and health education. Being a volunteer at this event will give you the opportunity to help thousands of people gain access to medical screening and care they otherwise may not receive...'
'The very idea of humanity .. one of the noblest with which man is endowed, seems to arise incidentally from our sympathies becoming more tender and more widely diffused, until they are extended to all sentient beings. As soon as this virtue is honoured and practised by some few men, it spreads through instruction and example to the young, and eventually becomes incorporated in public opinion.'
- Charles Darwin, The Descent of Man (1871)
- Charles Darwin, The Descent of Man (1871)
Shukla Bose: Education activist
Founded in 2003, Shukla Bose's Parikrma Humanity Foundation is a non-profit organization that is transforming education for underserved children in urban India, so that they can have equal access to the best opportunities. Parikrma manages the entire education cycle from kindergarten to college for each child.
She sees to her students' every need, from food to shelter to improving their family's situation, as well as training teachers. Her organization is well run with an experienced staff, and keeps the books open for strict accountability. You can hear her speak at
Friday, July 9, 2010
The science behind the pleasure of doing good
Hello!
I've been dreaming up this blog for some time, because I want to share stories with you that illustrate something that's very important to me.
It seems to be true that human beings want to be decent to one another, and are, in most places, under most circumstances, most of the time. This is evidenced first and foremost by the fact of civilization, which would not be possible if most human beings did not spend not only much of their time cooperating, but also being polite, caring, and altruistic.
I'd like to take it a step further and demonstrate that human beings do this best and most consistently when pressures from forces such as natural catastrophes, the frenzy of mob rule, extreme patriotism, or dogma warp their natural sensibilities. Human beings do not need to be commanded, bribed, or threatened into being good: they just want to be, and are most of the time! This runs counter to the prevalent philosophical and religious trends, which effectively spread the misconception for many hundreds of years that human beings are wicked and must be forced, bribed, or inspired from without to be good, until Enlightenment thinkers and the sciences slowly began to dispel this myth.
Here's an article from three years ago, with a story about some neuroscientists at the National Institutes of Health, whose research confirmed the musings many Enlightenment philosophers, who thought that kindness and generosity are nit only innate, but pleasurable to human beings. This research seemed to show that altruistic behavior activates the pleasure centers of the brain in the same way that other pleasurable activities do, like eating good food or having sex.
I figure this is a great place to start this blog. I am one of those of who agree with the Enlightenment idea that philosophy is all well and good, but to find its true value, your reasonings must be tested and backed up by evidence to keep you honest; that's when you find out whether you have advanced in the search for truth, or just indulged in rhetorical gymnastics.
I've been dreaming up this blog for some time, because I want to share stories with you that illustrate something that's very important to me.
It seems to be true that human beings want to be decent to one another, and are, in most places, under most circumstances, most of the time. This is evidenced first and foremost by the fact of civilization, which would not be possible if most human beings did not spend not only much of their time cooperating, but also being polite, caring, and altruistic.
I'd like to take it a step further and demonstrate that human beings do this best and most consistently when pressures from forces such as natural catastrophes, the frenzy of mob rule, extreme patriotism, or dogma warp their natural sensibilities. Human beings do not need to be commanded, bribed, or threatened into being good: they just want to be, and are most of the time! This runs counter to the prevalent philosophical and religious trends, which effectively spread the misconception for many hundreds of years that human beings are wicked and must be forced, bribed, or inspired from without to be good, until Enlightenment thinkers and the sciences slowly began to dispel this myth.
Here's an article from three years ago, with a story about some neuroscientists at the National Institutes of Health, whose research confirmed the musings many Enlightenment philosophers, who thought that kindness and generosity are nit only innate, but pleasurable to human beings. This research seemed to show that altruistic behavior activates the pleasure centers of the brain in the same way that other pleasurable activities do, like eating good food or having sex.
I figure this is a great place to start this blog. I am one of those of who agree with the Enlightenment idea that philosophy is all well and good, but to find its true value, your reasonings must be tested and backed up by evidence to keep you honest; that's when you find out whether you have advanced in the search for truth, or just indulged in rhetorical gymnastics.
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