Links: Of Squirrels, Deceit, Terrorists, and Orchids
Heroic Squirrel Saves It’s Baby From Dog.
The Economist on The conceit of deceit: How people make up good reasons for bad behaviour. (Via Neuroanthropology)
Bruce Schneier on How Smart are Islamic Terrorists?
Drima the Sudanese Thinker on Taqwacore – The Birth of Punk Islam.
Susan Russell on Suffragan Q&A Link for the upcoming Episcopal Church suffragan bishop election in Los Angeles.
New Books: Different Aspects of Asian American Life.
A Mormon (Feminist!) Image: Fearless.
The Perfect is the Enemy of the Good.
David Dobbs on dandelions vs. orchids
Most of us have genes that make us as hardy as dandelions: able to take root and survive almost anywhere. A few of us, however, are more like the orchid: fragile and fickle, but capable of blooming spectacularly if given greenhouse care. So holds a provocative new theory of genetics, which asserts that the very genes that give us the most trouble as a species, causing behaviors that are self-destructive and antisocial, also underlie humankind’s phenomenal adaptability and evolutionary success. With a bad environment and poor parenting, orchid children can end up depressed, drug-addicted, or in jail—but with the right environment and good parenting, they can grow up to be society’s most creative, successful, and happy people.
More at the link. Via Eve Tushnet.
The Economist on Turning the screw some more: A UN report suggests that striking progress is being made in the fight against AIDS.
November 25th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
That series of squirrel pics is so endearing. I love how the mom squirrel has her arm around her baby once they’re back up in the tree. And the dog’s expression at the end never fails to make me LOL.