Random links
- Are Greeks Lazy? Europe is a mess because Germans work hard and Greeks are shiftless. False!
- Seems as though German workers put in fewer hours than those in some of the countries in financial crisis. The article notes that "Closer to the mark is the observation that Germans (like the Dutch and the Austrians) are thrifty, net savers who consume less than they produce and therefore export more than they import" but goes on to talk of the fairly obvious limits of that - someone can to import your exports after all.
- Seeing Terror Risk, U.S. Asks Journals to Cut Flu Study Facts
- It almost sounds a bit like the journalist hasn't heard of classified documents (although I guess there may be a few slight differences here). "The panel cannot force the journals to censor their articles, but the editor of Science, Bruce Alberts, said the journal was taking the recommendations seriously and would probably withhold some information — but only if the government creates a system to provide the missing information to legitimate scientists worldwide who need it." - looks like the information will be getting to scientists anyways, just in a more-controlled fashion. In an interview with the lead researcher he argued that "We have made a list of experts that we could share this with, and that list adds up to well over 100 organizations around the globe, and probably 1,000 experts. As soon as you share information with more than 10 people, the information will be on the street. And so we have serious doubts whether this advice can be followed, strictly speaking."
- Waiter, I'll Have the Crowd-Pleaser:
Casual Restaurants Try to Lure Foodies Without Alienating Other Diners; What Makes a Dish 'Cravable' - "At Olive Garden restaurants, diners were casting a wary eye at the gnocchi... dishes failed these field tests until chefs at the company's Orlando, Fla., headquarters tried gnocchi in chicken soup, billed as a 'traditional Italian dumpling.' Sales took off. ... In several years of tests, Olive Garden diners often deemed pesto too oily, bitter or green. Capers, with their salty, pickled flavor, are too unexpected for many customers, says a spokeswoman." *sigh*
- Killing us Quietly: How the US Government legally favors the health and well-being of women over men
- "Despite an already longer and healthier life span, Congress and the President, between 1970 and the present, have passed over 70 different medical programs, research projects and treatment initiatives, at costs exceeding $100 billion dollars, which are specifically allocated for women and girls." - an survey and assessment of US government gender-specific health program funding.