Assorted links, vol. 75

*--Winter is growing closer, which can only mean one thing: time to break out the beard hats.
--It looks like robots have once again bested humans, this time at solving Rubik's cubes.
*--A very important independent study on climate change has just been released, proving (unsurprisingly) that it is, in fact, real.  Check it out, and be sure to follow the resources links to the time lapse video and two-page summary, at least.
*--A $1,000,000 prize was awarded to the team who created an oil spill cleaner-upper that works three times as well as the industry's state-of-the-art machines.
--On Republicans and the judiciary.
--The winner of the "Dance Your Ph.D." contest was announced -- go watch "Microstructure-Property relationships in Ti2448 components produced by Selective Laser Melting: A Love Story".
--A comparison of how the various iPhone cameras.
--And AntiSec strikes again, taking down the police this time.

Assorted links, vol. 59

*--A very eye-opening article about the FBI's use of sting operations against Muslims who they fear might some day become terrorists.
--A nerdy but moderately funny web comic.
--The U.S. is apparently facing a "credible but unconfirmed" terror threat for the tenth anniversary of 9/11.
*--New polling data about beliefs in global warming by political affiliation.
--Here's how liberals, neocons, and libertarians are reflecting on the anniversary of 9/11, all in one place.
*--And a 3-dimensional printer, which is pretty awesome.

Assorted links, vol. 58

--A man accused a woman of stalking him after she called him 65,000 times in one year.
*--Fascinating article arguing that "in red America, families form adults; in blue America, adults form families".
*--GOP debate mini-roundup:  Fox News thinks either Perry or Romney won (apparently); MSNBC thinks it was Paul or, if you discount that verdict citing his techno-savvy fan base, Romney.  Huntsman wants the GOP to stop being anti-science, and Perry likened his (non-)scientific views to those of Galileo.  Perry also received applause for executing more than 200 people (including one who was likely innocent).
*--Virginia's political maneuvering about the health care law hit the wall today, as the federal court of appeals declared that the state can't pass a law that contradicts a federal mandate and then use that contradiction to sue.  Duh: any U.S. history student who studied McCulloch v. Maryland could tell you that federal laws trump state laws.  Here are the Washington Post's and Fox News's takes on the ruling.
--A new Australopithecus fossil may tell us more about human evolution.
--Google bought Zagat.

Assorted links, vol. 57

--Those Republican candidates know better than to buy into the ideas that humans might be causing global warming, or that such a thing even exists at all.  Rick Perry especially, whose native Texas is facing a terrible wildfire after a drought, ought to know better.
*--Listen to this whole story about the San Francisco Giants' biggest fan, Billy.
*--Also, listen to this story about the newest way to harvest marijuana: naked, on horseback.
*--A good introduction to recent successes and challenges in Turkey.
--The Long War Journal is the place to read everything about the struggles in Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen, Somalia, etc. that you won't read anywhere else.
--The recession is hitting anti-gay groups, too.
--The campaign for Palestinian statehood began today.
--And a drunk moose in Sweden got stuck in a tree.  Yes, you read that right.

Assorted links, vol. 46

[All good links this time, even though I can't star them all.  Check 'em all out.  :-)]

 --Graphene -- the new chemical structure that is the way of the future.
*--Here's the data that demonstrates why same-sex marriage is inevitable, as well as a breakdown of the data by religious affiliation.
--To help combat the obfuscation of good science, here are some sites that clearly lay out the facts about evolution and global warming.
*--Check out the Center for Affirming Theology -- good stuff!
*--I love that they referred to "The Challenge of Peace" in this article contrasting the costs of Iraq and Afghanistan against things like food stamps and Amtrak.
--Pacifism is good...
--...and "typing in tongues" is just weird (see also: #typingintongues).

Assorted links, vol. 38

*--Here's everything you need to know about Hurricane Irene.
--Here's a follow-up to the "polar-bear-gate" story (which seems to me to be blown completely out of proportion, given that it isn't even clear what led to his suspension).
*--Here's five unforeseen consequences of 9/11 for religion in American society.
--Here's everything you need to know about the International Anglican Liturgical Commission's recent meeting to discuss marriage: the official communique (from ACNS), the favorable British review, and the unfavorable British review.
--Here's Mark Silk's take on the judgment stating that if Catholic foster services in Illinois refuse to accept the state's civil unions, then they are ineligible for state contracts.
*--Here's a wonderful article about one reporter's introduction to the struggle for transgender equality -- with an amazing number of outside links to follow.

Assorted links, vol. 37

--Math concept of the day: sexy primes.
--As Steve Jobs retires as Apple's CEO, take a brief look back through his career at some of the many things on which he has patents.
--Do you know someone who is being abused?  This lengthy but worthwhile blog post is definitely worth reading to help understand him or her better.
*--Since 9/11, there have been a surprising number of people whose curiosity about Islam has led them to convert.
*--What will it mean that astronomy is entering the time domain?
--Here's a new blog that you should be reading if you are interested in global warming (which I also added to the blogroll).
--And have you heard of unschooling, which is basically child-directed education taken to the extreme?  What do you think about it?

Assorted links, vol. 36

*--This Orthodox rabbi is playing an odd matchmaker, matching up gay men with lesbian women.
--A new NatGeo documentary looks at child evangelists -- I hope it will come to Netflix!
*--Supreme Court aficionado Jeffrey Toobin writes a long but fascinating piece for the New Yorker about the Court's silent conservative, Clarence Thomas, and his wife.
--Also, check out the New Yorker's take on candidate du joir, Rick Perry.
--Moses' story is now a Facebook game.
--Are you up on the Christian sports scene?  Check out this story about the Charlotte Eagles.
--Word of the day: cryptomnesia.
*--And in case you didn't hear, the Virginia earthquake yesterday gave the National Cathedral a good shaking.  Here is the link to the section of the Cathedral's page where they are updating the public on their status.

More on global warming

Update: The New York Times had a debate about this very question!

An interesting question: if global warming continues unabated, then would that mean we are on the brink of a new geological epoch, the Anthropocene?

Story of Stuff project

If you aren't already familiar with the Story of Stuff project, you should be.  This great campaign uses simple drawings and accessible narration to help expose some of the major challenges facing our world, which often are hidden from public view and/or the arcane nature of the subject matter.  In her six videos, hostess Annie Leonard has looked at consumerism, cap and trade, electronics, bottled water, cosmetics, and the infamous Citizens United case.  Check out her videos, and share them, too!

Global warming article(s)

In which the ties between oil companies and climate change denial are brought to light.  (See also parts 2 and 3 of this same series.)