Sunspots 811

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

Christianity: A Christianity Today article indicates that, although many people are cautious about altering our genes, evangelical Christians are more skeptical than the general public.

A Relevant article considers the question of whether God may have created (or allowed) intelligent beings on other worlds. (There are about 2 trillion galaxies, and it is supposed that there are many possibly habitable planets in most or all of these.

Relevant also reports that Beth Moore, an evangelical leader, has spoken out against "Trumpism." (And "Bidenism.")

(And politics) Relevant also has an article discussing Christian Nationalism.

Environment: According to a USA Today article, the total mass of all human-produced objects on earth is now greater than the total mass of living things.

(and politics) Gizmodo reports that Ryan Zinke, formerly Secretary of Interior, who facilitated removing over a million acres from Bears Ears national monument, has had an official portrait, featuring him on a horse in that monument.

(and politics) NPR reports that contractors are pushing to get as much of the border wall erected as possible, before Donald Trump leaves office. Environmental groups, and others, are against this.

(and politics) President Trump has done less to protect endangered species than any President since Johnson, according to Gizmodo.

Health: A tool to let you see how full your local hospitals are, and how many COVID patients there are.

Politics: FiveThirtyEight provides a thorough discussion of Presidential pardons.

Science: Some bees have been found to add to their colony defenses by spreading animal feces near the opening. Scientists aren't sure why this works, or if it would repel so-called murder hornets.

The graphic used in these posts is from NASA, hence, it is free to use like this.

Thanks for looking!

Sunspots 797

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

Christianity: Relevant reports that a study found that about a third of self-proclaimed evangelicals do not believe that Jesus was God.

Relevant also suggests that some of us are misusing Jeremiah 29:11 -- you know "I know the plans I have for you ..."

Education: Grammarphobia on why Smith is such a common name.

Environment: Gizmodo reports that the Trump administration to open up the Arctic to drilling is probably a human rights violation, leaving aside environmental damage.

Gizmodo reports on important climate effects on Greenland and Antarctica.

Politics: FiveThirtyEight discusses the Republican convention, and how it pointed toward one-person rule.

FiveThirtyEight also points out that President Trump has significant support from college-educated whites, Blacks and Hispanics.

Science: The Scientist reports that the singing wild dogs of New Guinea are not extinct, as had been thought.

ListVerse reports on some strange scientific names. Some of them are a bit off-color.

Sports:

The graphic used in these posts is from NASA, hence, it is free to use like this.

Thanks for looking!

Sunspots 783

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

Christianity: Christianity Today was not pleased by President Trump's photo-op with a Bible in front of a church in the Washington D. C. area.

Computing: Gizmodo describes a system that allows you to send large files without signing in being required by the sender or recipient.

Gizmo's Freeware has published an extensive guide to keyboard shortcuts for Windows 10 and various apps.


Environment: Gizmodo reports on a study, which shows that the size of the earth's forests is declining, and, also, the size, and age, of trees in those forests are also getting less. These changes have serious environmental effects.

Gizmodo reports on a study that indicates that 500 species of land vertebrates are close to extinction.


Health: FiveThirtyEight considers why COVID-19, a respiratory disease, affects hearts and brains.


Politics: FiveThirtyEight discusses President Trump's complaints about voting by mail.

Gizmodo reports that a lawsuit, claiming that major social media companies have conspired to suppress conservative views, was dismissed by a court. (President Trump was not part of this legal dispute.)

Twitter has reacted to a tweet by President Trump (and an identical one from the White House) saying that, if there is looting, the National Guard, or other military or police, should shoot them.

FiveThirtyEight reports that killings by police, in our largest cities, have become somewhat less common, although the total number of killings by police has not gone down recently.

FiveThirtyEight also reports that escalation of force by police, in protest situations, causes the situation to get worse.

Science: Gizmodo discusses cicadas (a large brood has recently emerged from 17 years underground.)


Science reports on how carnivorous plants probably evolved their meat-eating tendencies.


Sports: FiveThirtyEight says that Cynthia Cooper, now known as Cynthia Cooper-Dyke, is the best women's pro basketball player of all time. I recall watching her play on TV, and have no disagreement with that assessment. See here for more.


The graphic used in these posts is from NASA, hence, it is free to use like this.


Thanks for looking!

Sunspots 765

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

Christianity: (and Sports) A "prophet" has apparently claimed that, if the Kansas City Chiefs win the Super Bowl, it will be an important sign of Christ's return, or something, according to Relevant.

Relevant also has an article on the difference between praise and worship.


(or something) Relevant also reports that President Trump's spiritual advisor prayed that "satanic pregnancies" would miscarry. What?!


Computing: NPR tells us how to avoid having a smartphone hacked.

Gizmo's Freeware tells how to add a webpage address to a smartphone's home screen.


Environment: The Trump administration has taken steps to drastically change water protection regulations, making it easier for some polluters to pollute, according to Gizmodo.
Politics: The New York Times has an article discussing the different challenges facing the two main parties. Basic conclusion: Democrats have to stay close to the center if they want to win. I thank one of my sons-in-law for a link to the article.

Science: Listverse tells us 10 things our body has or does, that you probably didn't know about. Sample: we give off light.


Sports: Maya Moore, one of the best WNBA players ever, has put her career on hold to work for the release of a man she believes was imprisoned unjustly.

FiveThirtyEight says that there will probably never be another Kobe Bryant -- he took shot s that aren't taken now.

The graphic used in these posts is from NASA, hence, it is free to use like this.

Thanks for looking!