October 22, 2003
Rejection really hurts
In an experiment, scientists found that rejection really hurts: The shock and distress of rejection registered in the same part of the brain that responds to physical pain.
22 Oct 1:00 | Link | Category: Science
50% of us are under 25
New Scientist reports that one in five people on Earth are adolescents between 10 and 19, and about half the world's population is under 25. This statistic seems a bit staggering. The challenges and possibilities are immense.
22 Oct 0:45 | Link | Category: Human/Primate Evolution & Behavior, Science
October 3, 2003
World Sunlight Map
This is kinda cool: World Sunlight Map, a rectangular projection of our planet showing current sunlight and cloud cover. Back in the Eighties, my dad's office had one of these (sans the cool graphics), and I was fascinated by it. Also see the hemisphere view and a look at the moon.
03 Oct 1:01 | Link | Category: Cool Links
American Masters
PBS is running a series called American Masters. It's on when I come home from work on Saturdays, so once in a while I find myself watching it. (It may be on at a different time in other areas.) You can check out the full list for brief biographies. (Here's hoping they keep the show going, if only to even out their lists a bit to add some oddly absent names. I see George Lucas, but no Orson Welles, which seems wrong. No Jimi Hendrix. They've done Paul Simon and Lou Reed, but not Bob Dylan? What's up with that?) Anyway, it's an interesting series. This week's episode is on Muddy Waters.
03 Oct 0:48 | Link | Category: Art & Entertainment
October 2, 2003
Cheaper solar energy?
Many "breakthrough discoveries" are later found to have drawbacks or unexpected problems, and we never hear about them again. Here's hoping that's not the fate of a discovery I read about today: new ways to produce solar cells which will generate electricity twenty times cheaper than today's solar panels.
02 Oct 23:55 | Link | Category: Science
Schwarzenegger plays the governor
Check out the latest Peter H. King column. The ridiculous photos he's referring to can be found on the Chronicle's site.
The whole inexperienced actor-turns-politician scheme is starting to seem like a rehashed, unoriginal Hollywood script. I think we should figure we've "been there, done that" with folks like Reagan. (I might note, however, that Ronny was better qualified than Arny when elected governor.) It's just that I think perhaps we should let non-actor rich & famous people have a chance. Or - gasp! - even people who aren't rich and/or famous!
Still, I must admit Governor Gary Coleman does have a certain ring to it (in a sick, apocalyptic sort of way).