Unjust laws exist: shall we be content to obey them, or shall we endeavor to amend them, and obey them until we have succeeded, or shall we transgress them at once? Men, generally, under such a government as this, think that they ought to wait until they have persuaded the majority to alter them. They think that, if they should resist, the remedy would be worse than the evil. But it is the fault of the government itself that the remedy is worse than the evil. It makes it worse. Why is it not more apt to anticipate and provide for reform? Why does it not cherish its wise minority? Why does it cry and resist before it is hurt? Why does it not encourage its citizens to put out its faults, and do better than it would have them? Why does it always crucify Christ and excommunicate Copernicus and Luther, and pronounce Washington and Franklin rebels?
— Thoreau Civil Disobedience
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A dozen more methane lakes have been discovered near the north pole of Saturn’s moon Titan, according to images from the Cassini spacecraft’s latest flyby of the moon. The lakes may be a seasonal phenomenon, filling with methane rain in the winter, then evaporating in the summer.
Yuck: Feces deposited on our skin by dust mites may make our skin more permeable to different kinds of allergens and irritants, according to a new study in mice. The researchers suggest that reducing early exposure to the tiny pests could help prevent allergic diseases such as eczema, rhinitis and asthma from taking root in people genetically-predisposed to those conditions.
But there is a bit of better news on the allergy front: Allergies could be wiped out in a single blow by tricking the immune system into thinking it is encountering an old foe. The idea is based on the so-called “hygiene hypothesis”, the notion that the cleanliness of modern life deprives the immune system of a proper training against disease so that it ends up out of kilter and reacts to things that are harmless, such as grass pollen.
In laboratory experiments, microscopic oceanic organisms that deposit shells of lime were found to grow deformed shells or die out altogether when exposed to acidified seawater such as are predicted if CO2 emissions go unchecked. Yet an examination of microfossils in chalk beds and sea sediments have not found similar deformities in past periods of high CO2. Thus, some researchers now suspect these creatures may be more adaptable than indicated in the lab study, evolving to meet changed conditions. Whether these creatures, a vital link in global carbon and food cycles, can adapt on the time scale posed by human-induced climate changes is still an open question, however.
Perhaps a better warning example for the future than the fate of Easter Island is the fate of another tiny Pacific island, Nauru. Nauru is the smallest republic in the world, with its 12,000 inhabitants; you can see the entire island in half an hour. It is also, on its 21 square kilometers, an absolute environmental, economic, and human disaster. Thirty years ago, Nauru was the second wealthiest country in the world per inhabitant. Today, the island is bankrupt; electricity is cut several hours every day, and the port has been abandoned. Go read what happened.
Scientists say they have spotted the elusive ivory-billed woodpecker 14 times in the last year in the Florida panhandle, raising hope that the rare bird is truly back from the brink of extinction.
Reports of them coming to their senses are (not surprisingly) premature: The Bush administration has no plans to ease its opposition to national limits on greenhouse gas output despite talk that a change may be under consideration, a White House spokeswoman said on Thursday.
A few diabetics have been able to give up their daily insulin shots after getting transplants of pancreas cells, according to the broadest study of this experimental treatment, but there’s a lot of work to be done before the promise of this treatment bears fruit.
“the cleanliness of modern life deprives the immune system of a proper training against disease”
I once knew a guy who would barely use a bandaid, never mind neosporin for this very reason. Of course, he wasn’t as eloquent and we all thought he was just nuts. Wow, who knew?
That’s great news about the ivory-billed woodpecker. It was so exciting when they spotted the first one last year. I read years ago that John Muir, the great environmentalist wore an ivory bill’s bill around his neck. Environmentalism was a bit different back then, I guess.
Bush reduce greenhouse gasses? Not while there is one functioning polluting corporation in existence.
Link
Not a millionaire? Then you are out of luck with this GOP-run Congress that does not give a squat when it comes to tax breaks for less-than-wealthy individuals like you and me.
As the Associated Press reports: “Democrats worked Tuesday to turn a standoff over taxes to their political advantage, arguing that Republicans are essentially raising taxes by failing to revive popular middle class breaks.
A list of widely popular tax cuts expired more than nine months ago and have not yet been renewed, even as lawmakers stand six weeks away from an election with control of Congress at stake.
Among the expired provisions are federal tax deductions for student tuition and expenses and for state and local sales taxes, intended to help residents in states that don’t have an income tax. Another provision allowed educators to write off some of the money they spend on their classroom supplies.
The war on the middle class may be the only war Bush and his Repuplicans are actually winning. That and the war on the US Constitution, of course.
Among the expired provisions are federal tax deductions for student tuition and expenses and for state and local sales taxes, intended to help residents in states that don’t have an income tax.
Uh-oh: That’s gonna hurt. Maybe I need to do a “dry-run” of my taxes for this upcoming year… 😛
Keep sayin’, what if this guy is a prankster in New Jersey? No? Prove it.
Dems holding press conf. right now msnbc, reg. Woodward’s new book, and Iraq…
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/09/29/amnesty.pakistan/index.html
That brings to mind Musharraf’s proof that Pakistan is tough on terror… the amount of bounty money Pakistan has collected on detainees. This can’t stand. This won’t stand. Republicans have guaranteed future status as pariahs for their terror legislation and trashing of habeus corpus and the US Constitution. Overlord Bush thinks he has it made now. He can now proclaim any US citizen a threat, arrest them, remove them to Guantanamo or elsewhere and throw away the key. Or perhaps do mass arrests and start to fill all those massive detention centers he’s building. I don’t think it will stand, I hope against hope that it won’t stand.
1215-2006 RIP 200 years of history. A night of infamy: Read “A Total Rollback Of Everything This Country Has Stood For”: Sen. Patrick Leahy
Tom Englehardt asks the 21 questions: George Bush’s Iraq at the Gates of Hell
UN’s Secretary General Job for sale? Millions of dollars and a piano may put Korean in UN’s top job
I’m just speechless.
Wasn’t someone just saying something about a culture war?
http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2006/09/foley_resigns_o.html
Great flaming FSM, are there any of these people who don’t have some kind of serious hangup, perversion, or corruption?
I am REALLY beginning to wonder.
A friend of mine says that his district is next to Katherine Harris’ district. Make of that what you will.
Meanwhile, I’ll wait to hear the lecture about “personal responsibility” and the dangers of “it feels good, do it.”
Think I should hold my breath?
Amnesty Intl, has this to say about the recent Detainee/Torture Act.
And this from the Guardian.
Oops, forgot to add the quote as linked on the bottom above.
Totally off topic KP but, have you ever heard a female jazz vocalist named Karrin Allyson? Just discovered her in the last week or so, she is very good IMO. “Everybody’s Cryin Mercy” might become our theme song here at the pond. Or not.
Here’s the lyrics of the song; apparently it’s been recorded by several folks (not sure who wrote it – it’s been covered by Bonnie Raitt, Norah Jones, and Elvis Costello, too):
I’ve heard of her but don’t know much about her. Here’s her website.
Is this a stealth effort to revive Friday Night Jazz Jam or something?
in a similar vein, was written by Mose Allison, a very interesting cat.
Stealth effort??…Could be! Plus I just thought I would see if you had listened to her before.