THE COLOR PURPLE AND OTHER THINGS

THE COLOR PURPLE AND OTHER THINGS

THE WEEK (2009) 12/11/26

Researchers discovered that 3 stock photos of Obama were shown to folks of all

political stripes. One picture was his true color; a second showed him lighter, and the third showed him darker. The outcome of the study was that those who disliked Obama

always picked the darker picture. Color counts. In a related story, essayist Leonard Pitts

a black man discusses Sammy Sousa in THE GAZETTE (2009: 11/19/ 17: A) Sammy is

African and dark. He uses a bleach crème. What Pitts is trying to say too many white readers, but does not say directly is if you are “black stay back, if you are brown stick around.” In other words, the lighter the skin of a Black person and more likely to have Anglo features, the chances are greater that they will be accepted in the wider white world.  So Sammy is going white to blend with more white folk. To Pitts, that is sad.

And yet, more lightly color young ladies are more likely to get the dates from black men.

Light folks show up in commercials on television. Now you know the drill.

HEALTH AND TECHNOLOGY

Cigarettes not only are tough on you, but also carry bacteria that can infect your lungs and related areas.

Some 20,000 creatures have been discovered on the ocean’s floor that is in areas that are miles from shore. It was thought even up to a few years ago, that where the sun light could not reach, creatures would not exist.

Kids should be raised with a few germs around them. If they are brought up in very clean hygienic areas they are more vulnerable to germs in the future as adults.

You got to get angry once in a while.

NEWSWEEK (2009) 12/7/39

BEGLEY

Perhaps, the genetic area of science is not quite as robost as once thought. Although the

blank slate of environmentalism is gone, the environment may be stronger than once

thought in the early 80’s. At any rate, complex diseases can not be explained by just a few genes. It takes many intermixed with the environment to explain the disease.

On the gene front, babies create their own persona and make their own territory by their behavior. So that appears to be in-born. However, once they are out, parents really tune in on pretty babies with nice dispositions that are easy to get along with others in the family.

If the families loves them so do teachers. They learn how to point, gestures and say

emotionally winning statements like “Daddy’s chair.” So native intelligence is strongly

complimented by emotional reinforcement to boost IQ. DNA takes you only so far.

BUSINESS WEEK (2009) 12/7/09 52-53.

CAREY

There are a number of chemicals that come from plastic that can make changes in

human behavior. One is Phthalates. Most quickly pass from the system. However, small amounts have a tendency to bond with hormones so that young males are less masculine.

Thus, boys move from rough house to solving puzzles. Not much is said about girls.

If this research holds up, we should look at not only the cost but the benefits. If you have less aggressive males, you have a gentler society. Further roughly 6 % of aggressive males, do most of the crime. On other hand, America is usually at war. Football and other aggressive sports are emulated. Perhaps, parents can make conscious choices if they want their kids to be aggressive. Aggression has many causes, but this may be isolated and

helpful to bring about a lower crime society. Some parents want warriors, the rest want

dear hearts and gentle people. At any rate, there may be more choices than we think.

THE ECONOMIST (2009) 12(SPECIAL ISSUE)

GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS (RIDLEY)

The most unmitigated environmental miracle is genetically modified crops. You can

create crops that need little water, herbicide or fertilizer. Although the article continues on with a whole list special adaptabilities, it appears that we have come upon something that is a green revolutionary phenomenon.

TIME (2009) 12/14

WALT

In the third world, little babies can easily get diarrhea and worse dysentery. Babies die.

However, there is a miracle mineral. It is cheap and available. It is a zinc tablet. The rainy season comes and it is followed by wet sloppy topography that gives rise to the bacteria

that kills and maims. Now Zinc can heal.

THE MORAL UNDERGROUND by Lisa Dodson

23/

Corporations are amoral giants. People are kept or tossed. However, there are people all across the country of which many are professional and managerial. They are the moral guardians. They are medical doctors that work the books so that a whole family can get drugs. Nurses who have extra cots so that kids who should go home stay at school so the parents can work their jobs. Another manager tweaks the time clock so that some can go home because they are exhausted. These moral underground folks are not radical, but rather moderates who see a very unfair society. This is there way of fighting back and pissing in the soup of the giants.

BEYOND COPENHAGEN

LOMBORG/ 65

Instead of taxing carbon fossil fuel, put the money in increasing and improving alternative energy.

HUMANMANURE

FISHER/74

Rather than flush toilets, have an in-door crapper. After each person goes to the bathroom, they flush the material with saw dust. (He does not say what to do with toilet paper.) Then take the buckets of residue and put it on your garden or compost. It does not smell when mixed with saw dust.

FLO TV

HA/ 73

It is about the side of a credit card, but it is a little thicker and can stand alone. It cost

250 dollars and 15 dollars a month and you get all the cable channels that you want.