According to none other than the US Tuna Foundation, the recent advisory issued by the FDA and EPA “Affirms That Tuna Remains a Safe and Healthy Food Choice.” The USTF’s objective and forthright press release goes on to note that the FDA/EPA release will now help to assure women that it “is safe to eat […]
Reframing an old story
I’ve heard the story of Easter Island used many times as a cautionary tale. Recently, I’ve heard it used in a slightly different, and immensely thought-provoking, incarnation. Here’s the story, more or less: the people of Easter Island, quite obviously, were not born there but arrived there on boats. Liking what they saw—and being able […]
Posted by Ben on March 18, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/reframing-an-old-story/
Wednesday Rundown
U.S. plans to test more thoroughly for BSE (mad cow disease), but ignores recommendations that might help to prevent it. Now 500,000 cattle will be tested instead of 40,000, which was the USDA’s previous plan—but cattle will continue to be fed chicken and ruminant remains, as well as “high risk cattle tissue,” i.e., cow brains. […]
Posted by Ben on March 17, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/wednesday-rundown/
The Tooth Comes Out
Forensic odontologists come under fire—for inflating the accuracy of their bite mark matching in criminal trials. What, you’ve never heard of forensic odontology? Well, read and learn. (via NewScientist: “Bite-mark evidence can leave false impression,” by James Randerson [March 15, 2004]) Note: apologies for the title; it was too bad to pass up.
Posted by Ben on March 16, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/the-tooth-comes-out/
I have this idea for a great car… a great KILLER car!
Nicholas Turse provides an interesting look at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s foray into the natural sciences. It’s kinda interesting. Besides the weird science of remote controlled rats and bomb-sniffing bees, what’s most interesting about the article is what it brings to light about the unique tensions within the organization: “[DARPA] is, perhaps, the […]
Posted by Ben on March 15, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/i-have-this-idea-for-a-great-car-a-great-killer-car/
Not exactly pro/con, but it’ll have to do
The Spanish election results are a good thing for the fight against terror or… The Spanish election results are a bad thing for the fight against terror, maybe.
Posted by Ben on March 15, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/not-exactly-procon-but-itll-have-to-do/
BREAKING NEWS: Rich Afforded Better Health
“Rich people are more likely to survive cancer than poor people in England and Wales, and the gulf in their life chances has been steadily widening, according to research released yesterday.” How incredibly stunning. (via the Guardian: “Rich benefit most from improved treatment of cancer, study claims,” by Sarah Boseley [March 10, 2004])
Posted by Ben on March 13, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/breaking-news-rich-afforded-better-health/
How about some grease to spice things up?
Compare/contrast: US: Saying overeating is a problem for individuals, not the courts, the House easily approved legislation on Wednesday to bar people from suing restaurants on the ground that their food makes customers fat. (NYTimes) UK: A tough action plan to tackle obesity and children’s diets was agreed by the Food Standards Agency yesterday. The […]
Posted by Ben on March 12, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/how-about-some-grease-to-spice-things-up/
The Oil We Eat: Following the food chain back to Iraq
Quick! Which is worse from an environmental perspective: a Hummer, or a bowl of breakfast cereal? Well? What’s your answer? When presented with this (ostensibly) laughably easy choice, most people would pick the Hummer, no contest. In fact, most people wouldn’t even see the point of the question. Believe it or not, the question isn’t […]
Posted by Ben on March 11, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/the-oil-we-eat-following-the-food-chain-back-to-iraq/
The Deprived Dozen
Sayeth Forbes writer Tim Ferguson: “Any modern economy that does not produce at least one huge fortune is, almost by definition, not creating the kind of wealth that is the earmark of a prosperous society.” (emphasis added) The article goes on to earmark the twelve largest countries which, as of yet, have “failed” to produce […]
Posted by Ben on March 11, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/the-deprived-dozen/