Politics: Riots in Hungary, a military coup in Thailand. (Random note about the latter: when we were in Thailand a few months ago, I told that it was good that we went then, since there had been unrest a few months before and there was going to be a coup by October. I don’t actually know much of anything about Thai politics; it was clear enough that picking up the paper a few times and staring out the window was information enough to tell. It’s too bad there isn’t an obvious way to do something useful with “there will be a coup here on such a date” information, apart from the usual “get you and everyone you care about out of the way.”)
Israel says it will pull the last of its troops from Lebanon by this weekend. At some point I’ll write a big post about all of the politics around this, really.
Potentially (much) more important news: Major openings forming in the Arctic ice sheet. They quote Mark Drinkwater of the European Space Administration as saying that the North Polar Sea should be seasonally navigable in 10-20 years. Key conclusion: If you can get your hands on land way up North, especially useful sea ports, now would be a good time. There will be shipping traffic there, there will be oil exploration, and if James Lovelock’s really gloomy predictions come to pass, it may be some of the most pleasant real estate left on the planet 100 years from now…
And your oddball news: A recent study of almost 25k women with breast implants showed that they did not have a significantly higher mortality rate than women without them. They did, however, have a 73% higher suicide rate than the population as a whole.
Yonatan Zunger’s Blog 
Because the other things depress me deeply
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093779/quotes
Because the other things depress me deeply
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093779/quotes
The implant-suicide report seems highly suspect to me. They acknowledge that breast implants correlate with other features (like “disposable income”, for starters) to writeoff the lower mortality rate, but then claim their numbers are still meaningful for suicides.
The implant-suicide report seems highly suspect to me. They acknowledge that breast implants correlate with other features (like “disposable income”, for starters) to writeoff the lower mortality rate, but then claim their numbers are still meaningful for suicides.
I suppose it isn’t a requirement for being head of the ESA’s Oceans/Ice unit, but I bet having a name like Mike Drinkwater sure helps.
I suppose it isn’t a requirement for being head of the ESA’s Oceans/Ice unit, but I bet having a name like Mike Drinkwater sure helps.
A friend of mine is scheduled to go over for the Peace Corps early next year. We’ve been on tenterhooks today wondering if her posting has just blown up.
A friend of mine is scheduled to go over for the Peace Corps early next year. We’ve been on tenterhooks today wondering if her posting has just blown up.
Actually, it makes some sense to me. Most of the people I know who’ve been suicidal have body dysphoria to one extent or another. While body dysphoria is not the only reason people get breast implants, it’s one of the big reasons. Sometimes problems resolve with body-adjustments; other times they don’t.
Actually, it makes some sense to me. Most of the people I know who’ve been suicidal have body dysphoria to one extent or another. While body dysphoria is not the only reason people get breast implants, it’s one of the big reasons. Sometimes problems resolve with body-adjustments; other times they don’t.
I don’t take issue with the conclusion (I also think breast implants are indicative of people missing something more than fatty tissue). My issue is with the methodology, at least as it was presented in the article.
I don’t take issue with the conclusion (I also think breast implants are indicative of people missing something more than fatty tissue). My issue is with the methodology, at least as it was presented in the article.
The Thai baht did some interesting things after the announcement.
Currency speculation, anyone?
The Thai baht did some interesting things after the announcement.
Currency speculation, anyone?