Sunspots 784

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

Christianity: Sojourners tells us what the basic responsibilities of white Christians are, in these times.

Computing: Listverse tells us about 10 persistent myths about high-tech devices.


Environment: Gizmodo reports that COVID-19 is being used as an excuse to roll back various environmental regulations.
 
Finance: FiveThirtyEight analyzes the May jobs report.

Politics: FivethirtyEight argues that President Trump's use of force to break up a peaceful demonstration, for the sake of a photo opportunity, violates deeply held American values, not just Presidential norms.

FiveThirtyEight discusses the effectiveness (and not) of fact checking.

FiveThirtyEight also gives us data on prosecutions of police for alleged misconduct. There aren't a lot of prosecutions, and many of them don't result in conviction.


(and Sports) FiveThirtyEight says that support for Colin Kaepernick, NFL quarterback who refused to stand during the national anthem, four years ago, has significantly increased.

FiveThirtyEight also discusses what protests accomplish. 

Science: (and Christianity) An article in Christianity Today on the importance of birds to us, and, apparently, to God.


One-celled algae evolved into multi-celled organisms in less than a year, under selection pressure from a predator.

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

Thanks for looking!

Sunspots 723

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

 
Christianity: The He Lives blog on what theistic evolution (aka evolutionary creationism) is, and is not.


Finance: Catherine Rampell hopes that President Trump does not appoint Herman Cain to the Federal Reserve.

Food: The Trump administration is being sued by some states, because of roll-backs in standards for school lunches.

Health: FiveThirtyEight discusses the unfairness of the organ donation system.

Politics: S. E. Cupp says that Democrats have repeatedly made errors in reacting to President Trump, and they are doing it again on the Muller Report.

The Associated Press on the recent shake-up at the Department of Homeland Security.

The Associated Press has fact-checked many of President Donald Trump's recent utterances. He has gotten a lot wrong, including where his father was born (!). And he also has been far from the truth on immigration, healthcare, hurricane aid for Puerto Rico, and other issues.

Science: Scientific American reports that cats recognize their names (although the reaction is often not what the owner wants.)

Gizmodo reports that gorillas may grieve for their dead.

Sports: (and race) Kyle Korver, long-time NBA player, who is white, has written an essay on racism.

Sports Illustrated on the struggles, and triumph, of the NCAA women's champion basketball team, Baylor.

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

Thanks for looking!

Sunspots 711

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

Christianity: (and Sports) Relevant on whether God cares about who wins a football game.

He Lives assesses Christian's reactions to the Command to "remember the Sabbath."

Education: NPR reports that school bullying has increased in areas in Virginia that voted for President Trump.

Politics: Yes, it's early, but that didn't stop FiveThirtyEight from analyzing the chances of the top ten or so potential Democratic candidates for President, to actually be the Democratic nominee.

From The Daily Beast: Shepard Smith, of Fox News fact-checked President Trump's speech from the Oval Office. There were "facts" that weren't facts.

Michael Gerson on a crisis that isn't really one, about a wall that really isn't a wall, paid for by Mexican pesos that are really US tax dollars, and he goes on.

Catherine Rampell on trading with China -- we need to be careful!

Earther reports that President Trump is still blaming the wrong people and practices for the increase in forest fires in California and elsewhere.

The Interior Department isn't picking up trash, but it is holding meetings for the purpose of granting oil leases in Alaska.

Trudy Rubin argues that border security is not one of our main security problems. President Trump's inflated opinion of himself is.

Science: NPR reports that religious fundamentalism has led to some really strange claims, at the annual Indian Science Congress.

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

Thanks for looking!

Sunspots 709

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

The Arts: Christianity: (and Education) Ken Schenck tells us 10 top reasons for going to a Christian college.

Relevant quotes from Queen Elizabeth's Christmas message, which included some preaching!

(and Science) David Heddle points out a serious problem for young-earth creationists -- how did so many species come about after the flood?


Education: NPR reports that many teachers are using the Harry Potter books in class. The series was published in the US about 20 years ago. (I have posted about the series, which I like, and think kids should be encouraged to read, here and elsewhere.)

Finance: Catherine Rampell says that the Trump administration's recent handling of the financial system is about as competent as if they had been the Keystone Kops.

The Motley Fool on the future of Social Security.

Politics: Catherine Rampell on how President Trump did not stick to agreements before he became President, and doesn't do so now.

Michael Gerson thinks the Wall is not a good idea. He says it's not a Reagan-like idea.

The Associated Press fact-checks the President on the children who have died while in Border Patrol custody, and, of course, he has twisted these facts.

Science: Listverse tells us about 10 strange species of birds, and their habits and appearance.

A clear and understandable guide to what CRISPR is, why it's important, and the possible dangers, in Vox. I thank one of my brothers for bringing this article to my attention.

Sports: I missed Bob Cousy's 90th birthday, in 2018. Here's a video of some of his best basketball passing. Amazing!


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

Thanks for looking!

Sunspots 599

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

Christianity: Relevant says that the U. S. is not now, or soon won't be, a Christian nation, and suggests how to react to this.

Relevant also has a post on reasons why we don't actually have a quiet time, even though we know we should.

Listverse gives us 10 common misconceptions about the separation of church and state.

From the National Association of Evangelicals, brief statements on "Biotechnology and Bioethics," "Sanctity of Life," and "Bioethics and Stem Cell Research." (These are not new, one going back to 2005, but they seem to be current."

Billy Graham turned 98 a few days ago. Christianity Today (which Graham founded) looks back over his life, which was characterized by "chastity, integrity, sincerity, ambition, humility, and, above all, hope."


Humor: (or something) The BBC reports on giant natural snowballs in Siberia.


Politics: The Presidential election is supposed to be over by now. But the New York Times examines the effectiveness, or not, of fact-checking.

Science: A graphic, showing all of the rivers, and their tributaries, in the 48 US states.

Scientific American reports that one-celled organisms that act like both plants and animals are much more important to ocean life than we had known.

Scientific American also reports on the reason why first-born children make more money than later children.






Image source (public domain)