07.30.11
Recovery for Wall Street …
Richard Wolff: Recovery for Wall Street and Wealthy, Austerity for Workers and Poor
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/07/29-13
Congress Attacks Environment
Bob Keefe: With Media, Americans Focused on Debt Drama, Congress Attacks Environmen
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/07/29-10
Use Article I
Thomas Geoghegan: Use Article I to Address Debt Ceiling
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/07/29-6
Why Democracy Is Public
George Lakoff and Glenn Smith: Why Democracy Is Public: The American Dream Beats the Nightmare
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/07/29
GOP Wants to Sabotage the Economy
Katrina vanden Heuvel: The GOP Wants to Sabotage the Economy
http://www.commondreams.org/video/2011/07/29-1
Mass Biodiversity Loss
Protected Land, Ocean Areas Not Enough to Prevent Mass Biodiversity Loss
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2011/07/29-2
Rally for ‘Unity’ in Egypt
Tens of Thousands Rally for ‘Unity’ in Egypt
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2011/07/29-4
Tar Sands Pipeline
Tar Sands Pipeline Could Be Built Before Safety Review
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2011/07/29-5
Stop the Drone Strikes
Former Intel Chief: Stop the Drone Strikes
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2011/07/29-3
When the Super-Rich Cry, “Class Warfare!”
Michael Winship: When the Super-Rich Cry, “Class Warfare!”
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/07/29-2
07.29.11
Genetic Evidence Clears Ben Franklin
Genetic Evidence Clears Ben Franklin: Invasive Tree Afflicting Gulf Coast Was Not Brought to U.S. by Famed Statesman
ScienceDaily (July 28, 2011) — The DNA evidence is in, and Ben Franklin didn’t do it.
Fall of the Neanderthals
Fall of the Neanderthals: Volume of Modern Humans Infiltrating Europe Cited as Critical Factor
ScienceDaily (July 28, 2011) — New research sheds light on why, after 300,000 years of domination, European Neanderthals abruptly disappeared. Researchers from the University of Cambridge have discovered that modern humans coming from Africa swarmed the region, arriving with over ten times the population as the Neanderthal inhabitants.
Overlapping ‘evolutions’ and ‘histories’
History and Evolution: A Paradox
We quarantine our present from the evolutionary past (even as we apply social darwinist tactics to cultural action) but the reality is that there must be a continuum from the earliest social groups of hominids to the most complex civilization in the sense that ‘history’ and ‘evolution’ overlap throughout, at least in principle.
Evolution of free agency?
Is There A Science Of History?
The inability of theoretical evolutionism after the fashion of reductionist Darwinism to explain the ‘evolution of free agents’ should disqualify it at once from the theory table. But the anomaly of history never seems to register with scientists, or else they are silent about the absurdity that the whole shebang can’t say anything about historical dynamics.
‘Macro’ evolutionary dynamics in plain sight
The perception of ‘evolution’ in world history leads us to ask if it tells us anything about earlier (human) evolution. The ‘macro’ aspect clearly out in plain sight gives us an insight into what evolution really is.
That this evolutionary dynamics seems to apply only to culture/civilization seems to disqualify it, but in fact the suspicion arises that real evolution operates at a higher level than genetics.
Rapid epigenetic adaptations
Epigenetic information enables plants to adapt quickly to environmental changes
Faith no more
Faith no more
Andrew Zak Williams
http://www.newstatesman.com/religion/2011/07/god-evidence-believe-worldPublished 25 July 2011
Earlier this year, Andrew Zak Williams asked public figures why they believe in God. Now it’s the turn of the atheists – from A C Grayling to P Z Myers – to explain why they don’t.
Atheism By THE KOJO NNAMDI SHOW
Atheism
By THE KOJO NNAMDI SHOW – WAMU.ORG
Added: Thursday, 28 July 2011 at 10:26 PM
http://richarddawkins.net/audio/642375-atheism
Evolution of Human Longevity
Aging Brains Are Different in Humans and Chimpanzees; Evolution of Human Longevity Led to Both a Large Brain and Brain Shrinkage
ScienceDaily (July 29, 2011) — Brains shrink in humans, potentially causing a number of health problems and mental illnesses as people age, but do they shrink to the same extent in the closest living relatives to humans–the chimpanzees?
‘Brain Cap’ Technology
‘Brain Cap’ Technology Turns Thought Into Motion; Mind-Machine Interface Could Lead to New Life-Changing Technologies for Millions of People
ScienceDaily (July 27, 2011) — “Brain cap” technology being developed at the University of Maryland allows users to turn their thoughts into motion. Associate Professor of Kinesiology José ‘Pepe’ L. Contreras-Vidal and his team have created a non-invasive, sensor-lined cap with neural interface software that soon could be used to control computers, robotic prosthetic limbs, motorized wheelchairs and even digital avatars.
World Population to Surpass 7 Billion in 2011
World Population to Surpass 7 Billion in 2011; Explosive Population Growth Means Challenges for Developing Nations
ScienceDaily (July 28, 2011) — Global population is expected to hit 7 billion later this year, up from 6 billion in 1999. Between now and 2050, an estimated 2.3 billion more people will be added — nearly as many as inhabited the planet as recently as 1950. New estimates from the Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations also project that the population will reach 10.1 billion in 2100.
New Invisibility Cloak
New Invisibility Cloak Hides Objects from Human ViewScienceDaily (July 27, 2011) — For the first time, scientists have devised an invisibility cloak material that hides objects from detection using light that is visible to humans. The new device is a leap forward in cloaking materials
Obama exposed?
Published on Friday, July 29, 2011 by The Nation
Obama’s Bad Bargain
by William Greider
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/07/29-4
The most distressing outcome of the deficit hysteria gripping Washington may be what Barack Obama has revealed about himself. It was disconcerting to watch the president slip-slide so easily into voicing the fallacious economic arguments of the right. It was shocking when he betrayed core principles of the Democratic Party, portraying himself as high-minded and brave because he defied his loyal constituents. Supporters may hope this rightward shift was only a matter of political tactics, but I think Obama has at last revealed his sincere convictions. If he wins a second term, he will be free to strike a truly rotten “grand bargain” with Republicans—“pragmatic” compromises that will destroy the crown jewels of democratic reform.
The myth of the post-racial society
An Economic Draft
The Costs of War
By VIJAY PRASHAD
http://www.counterpunch.org/prashad07292011.html
“The impact of war is self-evident, since economically it is exactly the same as if the nation were to drop a part of its capital into the ocean.”
–Karl Marx, Grundrisse, 1857-58.
Reports come fast and furiously from the Pew Research Center and the National Urban League. The news is bad. The Pew report shows that between 2005 and 2009 every “racial” group lost wealth, but the losses were largest amongst Hispanics and Blacks. Inflation-adjusted median wealth of white households fell by 16%, but Hispanic households lost 66% and Black households lost 53%. As of 2009, the typical white household had wealth (assets minus debts) worth $113,149, which Black households only had $5,677 and Hispanic households $6,325. The myth of the post-racial society should be buried under this data.
ACLU Report
ACLU Report Calls for Radical Reforms to Combat Government Secrecy
http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2011/07/28-1
Tax-Free American Aristocracy
David Benjamin: The Tax-Free American Aristocracy
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/07/28
Taking Down Goliath
Ronnie Cummins: Monsanto Nation: Taking Down Goliath
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/07/28-0
Clamoring for Our Own Demise
Donna Smith: Making Us Clamor for Our Own Demise
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/07/28-2
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