Early Humans Belonged To Same Species

Rather than a set of human species predating homo sapiens it looks like the various homo erectus branches were just normal variations within a single species.  It isn't a question of which species led to us but they are all us.

Denmark Is Considered The Happiest Country

Why might that be?  They have high taxes but they use them to take provide excellent education and take care of each other.  They have a strong sense of being this thing all together rather than just each person just getting as much for themselves.

This is the Tea Party

This isn't just another pundit's opinion, this is real data.  And it isn't very flattering, nor is it indicative of the kind of people that would serve our country well.

When studied it is seen that the content in Tea Party websites dealing with conspiracies, socialism, and government as bad runs about 33% while similar content constitutes about 5% of the material on main stream conservative websites. About 71% of identified Tea Partiers believe that Obama will destroy the country while only 35% of all conservatives believe that.

They are incapable of compromising, despite their rhetoric.  When asked, they see any compromise as complete capitulation.  These are not reasonable people and the sooner they are driven from power, the better it will be for everyone.

An Interesting Discovery

Here is a source of energy as well as a way to improve efficiency in current power plants that has just been discovered.

In a completely unexpected finding, MIT researchers have discovered that tiny water droplets that form on a superhydrophobic surface, and then "jump" away from that surface, carry an electric charge. The finding could lead to more efficient power plants and a new way of drawing power from the atmosphere, they say.

Wind Turbines Kill Humans

This Forbes article explores not only the human death toll from wind turbines, but also provides statistics for the human cost of our other energy sources.  How safe is safe?  There are risks that we accept everyday that are higher than the risks that publicly concern us.  We need to keep things in perspective and target the things that cause the most harm first.

The Obamacare flowchart

Here's a link for reference.  Remember, only a fraction of us are actually significantly affected by Obamacare.

What's it all about?

Ezra Klein tells us:

This is all about stopping a law that increases taxes on rich people and reduces subsidies to private insurers in Medicare in order to help low-income Americans buy health insurance. That's it. That's why the Republican Party might shut down the government and default on the debt.

10 Myths About the Food Stamp Program

Here's some more statistics about the SNAP program: 10 Myths.  But I suppose if one actually knows recipients who are true serial welfare abusers, it makes perfect sense to support cuts in a program that feeds many who need it and even some who underserved by it.

About SNAP Judgments

Krugman analyzes SNAP growth. In 2007, it was no higher than in 1990.  There has been a big jump with the 2008 recession.  He also notes that AFDC has faded away and SNAP is picking up some of that demand as well.

The idea that food stamps represent a problem — not a small blessing that has made this ongoing economic disaster marginally less awful — represents an awesome combination of ignorance and cruelty.

Fantasy Fiscal Policy

How much stimulus should have been done if our government had chosen to do the job correctly?

With the benefit of hindsight, we do know roughly how depressed the economy has been; we have reasonably good estimates of the effects of government spending; so we can put together an estimate of what would have happened if we had, in fact, pursued a policy of government spending sufficient to keep output at potential.

... it would have taken $1.76 trillion in spending over the past 4 1/2 years to close the output gap. Yes, I know, it would have been politically impossible — but we’re just doing the economics here.

Given that revenue from tax collections would be higher, that means this could have been accomplished with $0.76 trillion in government debt.  Stated in terms of GDP (which would be higher), our debt would be at 76 percent of GDP instead of the 72 percent it is now.  This isn't the makings of a fiscal crisis.

'Terminator' Polymer

A new plastic has been invented that can actually heal itself without any help from the outside.  Someday plastics parts will last for a long, long time.

Trayvon Martin's Prosecution Threw the Case

The evidence mounts that Zimmerman's prosecutors intentionally threw the case.  The medical examiner was prevented from testifying that Martin's wound entered his back so Zimmerman's version of the events isn't possibly true.

IRS Scandal Didn't Happen To The Tea Party

A careful analysis of events shows that the IRS scandal was invented by the Tea Party.  Many groups were targeted but it was the Tea Party groups that were planning it and expecting it with the outrage machine fired up and ready to go.

Bill Watterson's "cartoonist's advice."

I have always loved the work of Bill Watterson.

A Price on Carbon

In one of those sneaky bureaucratic moves that could set a long-standing precedent, the government may have just put a price on atmospheric carbon.

Moniz, speaking at Columbia University’s new Center on Global Energy Policy at the School of International and Public Affairs, backed into the carbon price discussion. Moniz’ agency is working with OMB on “speeding appliance energy efficiency” and is preparing to issue a new rule on microwave ovens. Moniz noted almost in passing that the microwave rule will include the first “interagency panel price on carbon” of $36 a ton.

Devil Made Me Do It

Using knowledge about command and execution centers in the brain, researcher were able to establish a brain interface in which one person was able to make another person move his fingers.  The command was properly interpreted in one brain and then sent to another brain and successfully executed.  The future will be an interesting place.

Ending the War On Drugs

Law-and-order hits a high-water mark.  Being too tough on small crimes can be really expensive and these days we simply can no longer afford it.  Especially when there are more effective ways to deal with the problem that are actually cheaper than incarceration.

A Drug Treatment for Heroin Addiction

Perhaps there is pharmaceutical cure for opiate addiction.

Several clinical trials have shown that low doses of ibogaine taken over the course of a few weeks can greatly reduce cravings for heroin and other drugs. There was extensive research on it in the 1990s, with good evidence of safety in animals and a handful of studies in humans. The US National Institute on Drug Abuse invested over $1 million, but then abandoned the project in 1995. A study had shown that at high doses, ibogaine caused some brain cell degeneration in rats. Lower doses similar to those used in human addiction trials showed no such effect, however.

Myth of the Private Sector

This idea that innovation flourishes in the private sector isn't so much.  True wealth-creating innovation comes from government investment in basic research.  Seventy-five percent of the new drugs come from government-funded research.  Perhaps we need a better mechanism by which the government well is reimbursed for the research that leads to great wealth in the private sector.

Welfare Myth

The Cato Institute has a study out that says it pays better to be on welfare than it does to work.  Here's why it is total bunk.  Very few qualify for all the programs.  Single folks don't get all that much.  And many programs have a sliding scale so working isn't excessively penalized.  Nonetheless, programs could be designed better to remove what poverty traps still remain.