Did 13 Reasons Spark A Spike In Suicides?

We do not know if the airing of “13 Reasons Why” caused an increase in suicide or not, and that in and of itself is astonishing. In the world of very advanced techniques for collecting and monitoring data, and in a world that we are led to believe is on the edge of the next…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/07/31/did-13-reasons-spark-a-spike-in-suicides/

Focus on one thing, do not be distracted by anything else. Oh look tacos!

I don’t use clickbait titles very often, but this was one, because I want to talk to people who think that nine out of ten things that the collective known as Donald Trump, his white house staff, and the Republicans in Congress do is a distraction from … whatever. Yes, distractions can happen, but most…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/07/31/focus-on-one-thing-do-not-be-distracted-by-anything-else-oh-look-tacos/

Do you use Kaspersky security software?

I don’t, and a couple of months ago I decided I probably wouldn’t, because of apparent possible connection to Russian hacking. Check this out: There is absolutely nothing to see here.

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/07/29/do-you-use-kaspersky-security-software/

What computer mouse is best?

I did some research on mice, and I thought I’d pass it on. First, though, let me suggest that you get some of this stuff. Use it to paint a symbol on each of your wireless mice that matches a symbol on each of your mice dongles. It will help keep you sane. You’ll still…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/07/29/what-computer-mouse-is-best/

Trump to Cops: You should do more to physically harm American citizens

And the cops cheered. Trump gave a talk to a gathering of police out on Long Island, earlier today. It went horribly. There are cops that are going to take Trump’s lead, take what he said seriously, and because of that, they are going to harm or kill Americans and end their own careers, destroying…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/07/28/trump-to-cops-you-should-do-more-to-physically-harm-american-citizens/

Transgender people poised to destroy US military

Donald Trump has consulted with his generals and military experts … After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow…… — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 26, 2017 and declared that Transgender individuals will not be allowed to serve in the US Military…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/07/26/transgender-people-poised-to-destroy-us-military/

Trump touts racial segregation, antisemitism, lewd behavior, at Boy Scout rally

If you give your children over to the Boy Scouts for a day or two, they may do something to them akin to abuse. This happened. The Boy Scouts knew what they were getting into when they invited Donald Trump to speak at their national event. They even posted warnings for the troop leaders and…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/07/25/trump-touts-racial-segregation-antisemitism-lewd-behavior-at-boy-scout-rally/

Senate Health Care: John McCain is busy

John McCain has a good heath care plan, and if has his way, you won’t. The Senator most often accredited for thinking for himself (that’s a lie) will vote with Russian agent Donald Trump and the rest of the Republicans to take away Obama care. The moment he gets a chance. However, he can’t right…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/07/16/senate-health-care-john-mccain-is-busy/

How to replace a US Senator who leaves or dies in office

The Constitution of Great Britain, which was famously not a thing, defined three entities of what Americans would call government, one elected by the common people, the King or Queen, and in between, the House of Lords, inherited and fancy like the Monarch, but many, and representing the wealth and power of the people. In…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/07/16/how-to-replace-a-us-senator-who-leaves-or-dies-in-office/

1776: A man, his war, and their year

1776 by David McCullough is not a new book — it was published in 2006 — but I just got around to reading it, enjoyed it, and wanted to say a few words about it. But first my David McCullough story. You probably don’t know Scotty MacNeish (aka Richard Stockton MacNeish), but you should. He…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/07/15/1776-a-man-his-war-and-their-year/

Arduino Inventor’s Guide

First, a word about Arduino and why you should care. An Arduino is what is called a “prototyping micro-controller” aka “really fun electronic gizmo toy.” Micro-controllers are everywhere. When you “turn on” a machine in your house, chances are there was already a micro-controller sitting there, running on a minute bit of juice from a…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/07/15/arduino-inventors-guide/

Dinosaur eating insects!

Giant insects can eat tiny dinosaurs. In this case, the giant insects are praying mantis, and the dinosaurs are hummingbirds and other small birds. In some cases, maybe most cases, this involves small birds like hummingbirds being taken at nectar sites (natural or otherwise) by introduced species of praying mantis in the US. Here’s the…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/07/15/dinosaur-eating-insects/

Some books in the sciences pretty cheap

At the moment, all these are anywhere from free to two bucks. The Darwin books are always cheap, the others are probably temporarily cheap. If you’ve not read The Autobiography of Charles Darwin, you should. It is always avaialable for next to nothing on the kindle, currently this version is 99 cents. Concerning his autobiography–written…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/07/08/some-books-in-the-sciences-pretty-cheap/

BLM+ responds to NRA and White Supremacists

You’ve seen this horrid person in this horrid video calling for white people to take up arms and kill black people (and maybe Jews). The ad uses mostly dog whistles, so if your head is stuck deep in the sand, or up some orifice or another, you may be able to block out the message.…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/07/08/blm-responds-to-nra-and-white-supremacists/

Michael Mann Did Not Sabotage His Law Suit, But Deniers Are Sabotaging The Planet

It starts with a very simple question: Is global warming real and human caused? It ends with a very simple answer: Yes to both. But in the middle we have, like every other good story, sex, intrigue, and intriguing sex. In the beginning, there was a strong theory that said, “If we add greenhouse gasses,…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/07/08/michael-man-did-not-sabotage-his-law-suit-but-deniers-are-sabotaging-the-planet/

Starting from scratch, creating a complete pox virus

People talk about resurrecting the Mammoth, the Dodo, the Quagga, or the Tasmanian devil, or any number of extinct (or mostly extinct) creatures. I’m all for that. I suggest removing cattle farming in Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana and adjoining areas of Canada, and repopulating the region with extinct megafauna. That would just be cool. There are…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/07/07/starting-from-scratch-creating-a-complete-pox-virus/

Faking explosive evidence to discredit the legit press to protect Trump

Part of the active effort to defend Trump and his administration and campaign against accusations that they directly engaged with the Russians to alter the outcome of the 2016 presidential election appears to be the faking of explosive documents, sent to news agencies. When these fake documents are then used, and subsequently discredited, the news…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/07/07/faking-explosive-evidence-to-discredit-the-legit-press-to-protect-trump/

These heat waves are global warming connected

It really is true that global warming has made heat waves more common and more severe. The heat wave last month that affected the American southwest was one of these. Yet, of the 433 local broadcast events in local TV affiliates in Phoenix and Las Vegas to mention the heatwave (which was current news at…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/07/05/these-heat-waves-are-global-warming-connected/

Science and the Fourth of July

Science and The American Experiment Click here to find out how attacking science is attacking the Declaration of Independence. Read this book to discover the link between science and democracy. We have Three Years to safeguard our climate, and the world probably needs America to take part in that. From the Striving to Kill Civilization…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/07/04/science-and-the-fourth-of-july/

A loved one just died, and today is their her birthday. #Sad

I speak, of course, of America. America became very ill early last year when one of the two main political parties seriously embraced a fake candidate for the most important job in the land. America was given a very poor prognosis in August when that party endorsed this clown for president. Then, in November, the…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/07/04/a-loved-one-died-and-today-is-their-first-birthday-sad/

Tesla Model 3 is Breakthrough Technology

The Tesla Model 3 will have a 215 mile range. Zero to sixty in 6 seconds, in case you ever have to do that. Seats five adults. Five star safety rating. Uses supercharging (so, if supercharged, charges in something like the time it takes to fill up a gas car IF you also use the…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/07/03/tesla-model-3-is-breakthrough-technology/

The Koch Brothers Documentary

Here is that famous documentary on the Koch Brothers. I’ll just put it here for you to watch and comment on.

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/07/03/the-koch-brothers-documentary/

You are entitled to your own opinion, but not your own facts. Unless you live in Florida

This is disturbing, but since civilization is ending as we speak, I suppose it is not surprising. From the Washington Post: Any resident in Florida can now challenge what kids learn in public schools, thanks to a new law that science education advocates worry will make it harder to teach evolution and climate change. The…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/07/03/you-are-entitled-to-your-own-opinion-but-not-your-own-facts-unless-you-live-in-florida/

Affluence Without Abundance

My father in law is an excellent amateur mixologist. I don’t drink alcohol very often, but we’re all up at the cabins, so last night I had a paper plane. And I believe this is what led to a night of strange and extensive dreams, and in my dreams was my recently deceased PhD adviser,…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/07/03/affluence-without-abundance/

Amazon Echo Dot Review

I got an Amazon Echo Dot for my birthday. This allows me to command a computer, using voice, to do things. The voice response on the echo is amazing. It does not get much wrong, and you can speak in a fairly normal voice from another room and the mysterious entity that apparently lives inside…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/07/02/amazon-echo-dot-review/

Your Summer Novel Reading List

I’m avoiding books that are to recent so you can get a deal on price, and to bring books from the past that you didn’t read but should have back into focus. Each of these, I’ve either read (most of them) or have a recommendation from top notch sources. You should be able to finish…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/07/02/your-summer-novel-reading-list/

A vaccine for heroin addiction

Since reading this book, and listening to certain episodes of this podcast, I’ve been thinking about addiction now and then. Today, this came across my desk: I’ve not read the original article, but it certainly looks interesting. On the other hand it also brings up several difficult questions. Which, I’m sure, you immediately see.

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/07/01/a-vaccine-for-heroin-addiction/

Trump went full on dictator this morning

I’ve made the point several times now. We live in a constitutional democracy, but many of the first line (and last line) protections are not enforceable laws, but rather, agreements made among people who all want to live in and respect a constitutional democracy. But if a large enough cadre of members of Congress, a…

source http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2017/07/01/trump-went-full-on-dictator-this-morning/