What happens when a scientist presents evidence contrary to a law? Scientists are removed from advisory panels
The Paper That Finally Changed The Law on Drugs The case for the end of the war on drugs has never been stronger than it is today. The Independent Scientific Committee on Drugs published a paper in The Lancet last month demonstrating the clear scientific evidence that stands to oppose UK government drugs policy. … Continue reading
North Korea blasts incoming Foreign Affairs chairwoman as ‘human scum’
North Korea’s official news agency blasted the incoming chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee — while mistaking her for a chairman. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.), a Cuban immigrant, has been a regular target of dictator Fidel Castro and his Latin American allies Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Bolivian President Evo Morales. But the Korean … Continue reading
Nice Day for a Green Wedding! Ireland Okays Same-Sex Unions!
On December 23, Irish Justice Minister Dermot Ahern signed the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010, legislation recognizing gay couples and allowing civil unions in the Irish Republic. The law, which secures a range of rights over shared homes, maintenance payments and pensions, goes into effect January 1. But under … Continue reading
FYI: What Is the Evolutionary Purpose of Tickling?
You probably know that you can’t tickle yourself. And although you might be able to tickle a total stranger, your brain also strongly discourages you from doing something so socially awkward. These facts offer insight into tickling’s evolutionary purpose, says Robert R. Provine, a neuroscientist at the University of Maryland and the author of the … Continue reading
Santa Claus Is a Gay Couple Living in Chelsea
Hundreds of kids in New York City think that Santa Claus lives on West 22nd Street. He does not (he lives in the North Pole, duh)—these two guys do. But after receiving 450 letters, they’re helping out anyway. Isn’t it nice, the Christmas spirit? It would be nice to know why so many children are … Continue reading
Scientists find evidence for ‘chronesthesia,’ or mental time travel
The ability to remember the past and imagine the future can significantly affect a person’s decisions in life. Scientists refer to the brain’s ability to think about the past, present, and future as “chronesthesia,” or mental time travel, although little is known about which parts of the brain are responsible for these conscious experiences. … Continue reading
Did ‘Martian’ methane signal come from Earth? – space – 23 December 2010 – New Scientist
Claims that Mars’s atmosphere contains methane, which have fuelled speculations that the planet hosts life, may be premature. A key piece of evidence for methane on Mars may actually be due to Earth-based methane, say researchers led by Kevin Zahnle of the NASA Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, California. “This is not a done … Continue reading
Lebanese government illegally accessing Gmail accounts
So it was 3 AM – i was logged into gmail for 3-4 hours and then the warning goes on. This rules out the possibility that my IP just got natted to theirs – so i logged out all sessions, changed passwords,etc But seriously? Leb Govt ? accessing ppl’s mail accounts while in their … Continue reading
Monsanto to fight GM contaminated organic farmer
A West Australian organic farmer is in limbo, awaiting state government test results and facing genetic manipulation giant Monsanto’s legal wrath. Steve Marsh’s organic farm has been decertified over GM canola contamination from a neighbour’s farm. Monsanto revealed today that it would give legal support to the GM grower if Mr Marsh sought redress for … Continue reading
The Science of Right and Wrong
Ever since the rise of modern science, an almost impregnable wall separating it from religion, morality and human values has been raised to the heights. The “naturalistic fallacy,” sometimes rendered as the “is-ought problem”—the way something “is” does not mean that is the way it “ought” to be—has for centuries been piously parroted from its … Continue reading
A. Valterra
Velvet Storm Press 