Sunspots 329

Things I have recently spotted that may be of interest to someone else:

Science: According to an article in Discovery, a parasite which lives in cats, in one stage of its life cycle, and in other animals, like rats, in the other, affects the brains of affected rats, so that they are less frightened, even -- you are reading this correctly -- attracted to cats! (This means that the parasites are more likely to continue their life cycle.)

The New York Times reports on a study of sharing behavior in chimpanzees. Chimpanzees, given the opportunity, are likely to help other chimps.

Politics:  (or Science) National Public Radio reports that supposedly silly scientific research, often cited by politicians, as an example of government waste, is usually not silly at all. I'm not suggesting that all taxes are good, but see my post, "Taxes create jobs!," which is related to this issue.

Sports: I am sorry to have read, in Sports Illustrated, that Pat Summitt, the winningest coach in major college basketball, has been diagnosed with the beginnings of dementia. SI has a tribute, which says, correctly, that Summitt made us take women's sports seriously.

Image source (public domain)