Bad news: Apparently medical tourism can help spread antibiotic resistant bacteria, including a strain of pneumonia that, once it progresses into a severe infection, seems not to be treatable with any known technology. I suppose the doctors just quarantine you and keep an eye on you until you get completely better or die ( Read more... )

( is wikipedia being used as a surreptitious free porn host? )

Frank Rich on the continuing battle over race in America

So apparently Massive Attack, knowing their music is always poised neatly between sensual and cerebral, decided to intercut a song of theirs, footage from one of three early-70s pornographic films generally considered pornographic classics, "The Devil in Miss Jones," and 2009 footage of the film's star, "Georgina Spelvin," now 73, eloquently ( Read more... )

( 5 things: Latin American economic growth and Chinese commodity stockpiling, racial identity in the World Cup, online harassment and political protest, US cops chasing federal funding by harassing stoners, and an incredible Chinese gymnastics routine )

( on the idea of robot pets for nursing home residents, especially those with dementia )

1) The guy who discovered and publicized the AT&T/Apple privacy fiasco is also a racist, an internet troll, and generally a jerk, and shortly after publishing the fiasco got busted for drug possession, which is interesting, because no one seems quite sure what prompted the police to search his residence. Perhaps when one publicly disgraces one of ( Read more... )

5 things:

1) The bluefin tuna popular as sushi are endangered, although they'll probably still be served for a while until they finally get protected or much more endangered than they already are. The NY Times Magazine has a great new article about humanity's systematic destruction of various aquatic species, and approaches being used now to stop ( Read more... )

( McChrystal, Petraeus, and Obama )

Contemporary artistic masterpiece: costumed musical gymnastics at a little show in London called Madame Pain's Boudoir Circus.
http://www.vimeo.com/12569542 http://www.vimeo.com/12541498