Sunspots 613

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

Christianity: Relevant on avoiding the Gospel of Comfort.

A Washington Post columnist on what the Bible says about immigration. (Some Christian leaders say it has nothing to do with that subject!)


Food: Relevant says that Valentine candy may be supporting exploitation of the poor in other parts of the world.

Health: The National Gardening Association has posted a Garden Planting Calendar. You enter your location.

Scientific American reports that being affected by a traffic jam makes it more likely that you will engage in domestic violence.

History: Scientific American points out that people of African descent, including women other than those shown in Hidden Figures, have been part of space exploration for decades.

Humor: (not really) ListVerse reports on why we are afraid of clowns.


Politics: FiveThirtyEight points out that raising the minimum wage usually doesn't affect waitresses and other workers who depend on tips.

Relevant reports that Amnesty International claims that 17,000 people have been wrongfully put to death in Syria, by the court system, from 2011-2015.

FiveThirtyEight discusses four types of constitutional crisis, with examples.

Science: National Public Radio reports that scientists have begun using DNA that wild pigs leave behind, to find out where they live, so that they can be destroyed. They are serious pests.

Image source (public domain)

Sunspots 524

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

Computing: Windows 10 is supposed to be out next month, free on computers with Windows 7 or 8. Gizmo's Freeware tells Windows users what to do if you don't want to upgrade to the new operating system.


Education: National Public Radio reports on a public school kindergarten teacher in Vermont, who has been taking her kids outside, one day a week, all day, regardless of the weather.


Politics: (or philosophy, or The Law) NPR reports that the legal status of chimpanzees is still undecided -- it is possible that they may be granted some legal rights, following a trial. (The judge hadn't ruled yet, at the time of the report.)


Christianity Today reports that evangelical Christians, including the Southern Baptist Convention, are starting to fight against predatory lending. (Some predatory lenders charge 300% annual interest.)


Science: Wired reports on why road rage is so common.


NPR reports that the use of embryo transfer techniques is fairly common in cows. Some "elite" cows have numerous offspring, but have never given birth themselves -- surrogates do this.



Image source (public domain)