science

Nobel Peace Prize winner Norman Borlaug passed away last week.  Among other accomplishments, he’s credited with saving the Indian subcontinent from mass famine in the 1960’s.  Contrast Borlaug with Al Gore.  No wonder Borlaug didn’t brag. Read more

…but it’s a swell optical illusion. Tip from the Geek Press. Read more

If I shouted "Crap artist!" would a border collie run and fetch President Obama? Update (12 August).  Whole Foods’ John Mackey has a "fishy" alternative health plan, and it doesn’t take 1000 pages to explain. Update (13 August).  Gary Jones  pokes Mackey in the eye for sticking a subtle pitch for his produce department on… Read more

Bill Gates has put nine of Richard Feynman’s recorded lectures online, free to the world.  You do need to install the Microsoft Silverlight video plugin, and it’s a resource hog. Tip from the Geek Press. Read more

The animal rights people don’t think mice and rats are getting a fair shake. "I used to see rats and think, ‘Ew,’ " Mr. Sandusky said. "Now I see rats and think, ‘Those rats have probably got a family somewhere.’ " Me too, and I have to put out enough traps and bait to bump them all… Read more

I had no idea there was so much money in counterfeiting old whiskies. Tip from The Corner.  Say what you will about conservatives, but we’re not squares. Read more

Looks to me like the Italians are getting gypped by their scientists–but maybe it’s just "an Italian thang": Enzo Boschi [head of the National Geophysics Institute] said the real problem for Italy was a long-standing failure to take proper precautions despite a history of tragic quakes. "We have earthquakes but then we forget and do… Read more

…isn’t convinced about global warming.  Ignore him, he’s just some old crank. Tip from the Instapundit. Read more

Grandpa Percy was a steamshovel operator on the Handford Project.  I wonder if he helped bury this stuff. Tip from American Digest. Read more

Maybe I’m over-sensitive, but I think 44,750 is frighteningly close.  I don’t like flying rocks. Read more