Sunspots 716

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

Christianity: Relevant asks whether Christians should participate in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Christianity Today, and other sources, report on a survey as to whether people believe that humans have evolved or not.

Cliff Sims, evangelical Christian and former White House Staffer, was interviewed by Christianity Today. He said that, although he supports the President on many things, he does not believe that Trump is a born-again Christian.

He Lives has a good post on "Christians and gambling."

The Houston Chronicle reports on sexual abuse by Southern Baptist youth pastors. Anything but a pretty picture.

Environment: The much-reported spending bill, recently signed into law, includes establishment of a new US National Park, Indiana Dunes NP, according to USA Today.

Finance: Robert J. Samuelson says that not many retirees live in poverty, or are anxious about their finances.

Health: NPR reports that microbes living in insects may be a source of new germ-fighting drugs.


History: Listverse tells us about the accomplishments of 10 African-American women, most of whom you probably have never heard of.

Humor: (or something) NPR reports on speed dating on a ski resort chairlift. Really.


Politics: NPR reports that the national debt is higher than it has ever been, and will almost certainly rise more.

A report in Scientific American on research that suggests that both left- and right-wing people are susceptible to Fake News.

Catherine Rampell suggests that we abolish Congress, and says why.

Science: Listverse reports on 10 interesting facts about frogs and toads.


The graphic used in these posts is from NASA, hence, I believe, it is public domain. 

Thanks for looking!

Sunspots 434

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

The Arts: Frederik Pohl, who wrote excellent science fiction novels from 1954 to 2011, recently passed away. (He also wrote many short stories.) His novel, Gateway, won about every award possible.

Computing: ABC News tells us that the next version of the Android operating system (used on over half of all smart phones, and on tablets) will be named Kit Kat, after the candy bar. (Previous versions have been named Jelly Bean and Ice Cream Sandwich, among other names.)

Health: (and Christianity) National Public Radio reports on a Texas megachurch where 21 people have caught the measles.

Science: National Public Radio reports on the discovery of a canyon, longer and wider (but not deeper) than the Grand Canyon, beneath the ice of the Antarctic.

Discovery.com reports that some tiny frogs use their mouths, rather than the middle ear, to magnify sound.


Image source (public domain)

Sunspots 380

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

 

Science: Yes, amphibians (frogs and such) have recently taken some big hits. But Wired reports that several new species have recently been found.

 

The Arts: Wired has a gallery of artists' conceptions of humans exploring Mars.

Computing: I was amazed to read that a court has ruled that "liking" on Facebook is not protected as free speech. According to Fox News, this will be appealed.

Christianity: (or philosophy) Ken Schenck has a brief, but excellent post (11 lines long!) on the relationship between objectivity and faith.

A good summary of what Theistic Evolution is all about, from the BioLogos Forum.

Image source (public domain)