Rotundus.com

Vertical farming: does it really stack up?

I recently read the book discussed quite a bit in this article entitled The Vertical Farm. Some interesting ideas, but that author was too optimistic for my liking. This article seems a little more reasonable.

Where Is Women's Intuition? Women don't have more empathic ability; they just try harder.

Basically they seem to be arguing that the existance of this sort of thing is typically due to stereotypes rather than any innate ability - kinda like some of the arguments seen with women and math.

Why I'd rather my daughter marry a rich man than have a brilliant career: The new breed of intelligent, jet-set housewives really do seem to have it all...

When she has both cleaning staff and a nanny to take care of the kids and doesn't hold down any kind of job, can one really call a women a housewife? Should she (as the article helpfully notes is an option available to her if she gets bored) be entitled by half her husband's assets after she initiates a divorce (barring some demonstrable cause rather than "irreconcilable differences")?

Curt “Voice” Allen Raps the Heidelberg Catechism

I found the quote in this article from the book that inspired this challenge to be worth a little pondering: "I freely confess I love the Heidelberg Catechism. I love it because it’s old, it’s biblical, and it’s true. It’s not perfect. It’s not infallible. It says too little about some subjects and too much about some others. But it is through and through trustworthy and beautiful, simple and deep. Most of all, I love the Heidelberg Catechism because I love the gospel it expounds and the salvation it proclaims."

Toilet paper injury lawsuit can go to jury

Yes... the stuff is incredibly hazardous. "She says the cover on the dispenser fell on her right hand, breaking it."

A Deadly Ritual: 5 Men Who Died from Shaving

This is obviously one of life's largest risk factors. Now that Movember has passed here's another excuse if you're looking to grow some facial hair.

'As soon as I saw the squirrel, I knew I needed backup': Police respond after Okla. woman calls 911 to report rodent in her toilet

Squirrels invading your bathroom. Part of their evil plan to take over the world no doubt.

US water has large amounts of likely carcinogen: study

"The group found hexavalent chromium in the tap water of 31 out of 35 cities sampled. Of those, 25 had levels that exceeded the goal proposed in California, which has been trying aggressively to reduce the chemical in its water supply." (If that's not enough in some Vancouver-area schools, you can also fear lead in the water)

"We felt our studies were being viewed not as helpful but as an irritation"

- Graham Fraser, Canadian Commissioner of Official Languages, as cited in the Vancouver Sun

After the nagging over the use of languages in the olympic opening ceremonies, I wonder if he'll take the above discovery into account.

Man marries pillow

For once one of these weird "wedding" stories involves no women. The story is tagged "Japan" but the guy in this case appears to be Korean. I think that the "Japan" tag is due to the mention in here of a Japanese guy who previously "married" a video game avatar.

It's 'the hottest year on record', as long as you don't take its temperature

The GISS is showing temperatures up sharply, while several others are showing a decrease. However, "the parts of the world which GISS shows to be heating up the most are so short of weather stations that only 25 per cent of the figures are based on actual temperature readings. The rest are simply conjectured by GISS."

Financially independent women want a man with experience, study reveals

To quote the psychologist who performed the study: "We'd assumed that as women earn more, their partner preferences would actually become more like those of men, with a tendency towards preferring younger, more attractive partners rather than those who can provide and care for children. However, the preferred age difference did not change as we had expected."

The burden of proving consent under rape law is on the accused in Washington state

Instructions to be given to the jury in rape cases (emphasis mine): "A person is not guilty if the sexual intercourse is consensual. "Consent" means that at the time of the act of sexual intercourse, there are actual words or conduct indicating a freely given agreement to have sexual intercourse. The burden is on the defendant to prove by a preponderance of the evidence that the sexual intercourse was consensual." This is referenced in court rulings such as this one which states that "Because consent is not an element of the crime of rape, but merely a defense, the burden of proof lies with the defendant." Is it just mean or does this article seem to imply that all sex is rape?