Sunspots 643

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

Christianity: Christianity Today points out that (in spite of Article VI of the US Constitution) there now seem to be religious tests for public office.


Computing: A Scientific American commentary argues that e-mail should go back to being text-only, for the sake of cyber-safety.

Food: Relevant tells us that there is now a new kind of chocolate -- and it's pink.

History: Listverse tell us some facts about hurricanes, including how the naming system has changed.

Humor: (and health) Relevant reports that the tooth fairy refused to accept a tooth, because the child had not taken proper care of the tooth -- too much sugar, etc.

Scientific American has an article entitled "The Rise of the Recliner as a Male Social Space." Really.
 

Politics: FiveThirtyEight analyzes the changing religious affiliation (or lack of one) of voters for both political parties, and finds that both parties will have to change to continue to attract voters.

National Public Radio looks at Steve Bannon's view of US history, and finds it to be rather inaccurate.


Science: Nature reports that humans are evolving toward living longer.

Scientific American tells us how global climate change is making severe hurricanes more likely.

And Scientific American also reports that fireflies are in danger of going extinct in China, and why.



Image source (public domain)

Sunspots 538

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

Computing: Jotti is an on-line site that lets you submit a possibly dangerous file for checking. The site checks with several malware detection processes, and gives you a report.

Education: Wired asks if speed reading is really possible.

Difference Between is a web site that posts -- what else -- the difference between lots of things, such as Greek and regular yogurt, Oxycodone and Oxycontin, after and afterward and a lot more. Searchable.

Politics: National Public Radio discusses why Donald Trump appeals to some on the religious right, even though he doesn't have evangelical Christian credentials.

Science: Christianity Today (!) has a splendid display of photos of plankton, near-microscopic organisms that are suspended in the ocean in vast numbers, and in a great variety of species.

Wired tells us that scientists are learning a lot about individual brain cells by making them light-sensitive. Really.

Wired also reports on cochineal, a substance derived from scale insects, which is an important food coloring.

And Wired reports on the largest insects in the world. They live in New Zealand.


Image source (public domain)

Sunspots 492

Things I have recently spotted that may be of interest to someone else:
Christianity: A post in Relevant magazine, on how many Christians do not accept the End Times view that the Left Behind movie is based on.
Also in Relevant, a post on why Christians should have Muslim friends, real ones.
And, also from Relevant, a great post on the uses and misuses of anger.
In Christianity Today, an article about the first Protestant missionary to India (you've never heard of him).
Computing: Gizmo's Freeware has a free anti-virus utility that they rate highly.
Science:  In Wired, video of an Icelandic volcano, erupting, taken with a drone.
From the BBC, a good article on keeping very accurate time. (A second is no longer a fraction of a day, by the way.) Thanks to one of my brothers for the link.
NPR interviews an expert on teenage brain development, who has some radical suggestions for high school (and later) education.


Image source (public domain)

How to make your browser safer

Gizmo's Freeware has done it again. They have published a fine article on how to make your browser safer.

The article includes separate instructions for all common browsers. I highly recommend that you read it, and take at least some of the precautions suggested.