Traffic, preterm birth, and adaptationism

So, here's a thing:

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This relates to a criticism that I made of evolutionary psychology, but which applies to many naive adaptationist arguments: it is easy to come up with a plausible-sounding adaptive explanation of just about anything. In most cases, it is equally easy to come up with an equally plausible-sounding explanation of the exact opposite phenomenon.

Barnett AG, Plonka K, Seow WK, Wilson LA, & Hansen C (2011). Increased traffic exposure and negative birth outcomes: a prospective cohort in Australia. Environmental health : a global access science source, 10 PMID: 21453550

White Rock paint core

So, I grew up in the science town of Los Alamos, New Mexico, which is actually sort of two towns: Los Alamos and White Rock. The two towns share a lot of things, including a Sonic, a middle school, a high school, and a love of very large bombs.

Well, at the entrance to White Rock (right next to the quickie mart) is the eponymous rock. The white rock is only sometimes white, as it is a long-standing tradition to paint it in different colors an patterns.

Well, apparently Mouser NerdBot (who is, I assume, based on the name, a Palin relation), was curious just how thick the paint was and took a core sample, discovering that it was five and a half inches thick.

Here's a small version of the composite picture, but you should really check out the full-size image here.

via kottke.org

Five and a half inches!?! That's like twice the size of my . . . um . . . pet hamster?

Chewbacca as Axl Rose

So, here's something that will make you yearn for a simpler time, when a Sasparilla cost two bits, everybody knew their neighbors, and wookies still had a sense of dignity.

Warning: if you love Star Wars, this will hurt your soul.

If you love the Star Wars prequels, you will probably enjoy this video in a non-ironic way. Also, you should get that checked.



via Geekologie.

What has become of my intellectual blog?

So, I started this blog as a place to talk about evolutionary biology, poetry, and -- occasionally -- other topics that came up.  How's that working out?  Well, here are the top ten search terms that have led people to Lost in Transcription:

1. ann coulter radiation
2. macho man stops rapture
3. randy savage rapture
4. macho man stops the rapture
5. lost in transcription
6. macho man rapture
7. randy savage stops rapture
8. randy savage stops the rapture
9. ann coulter hormesis
10. sonic hot dog radio commercial

Hmmm. . .

For those of you who have reached this post in error, and were looking for the video of Macho Man Randy Savage rapping while stopping the rapture, you can find it here. 

Minnesota Republican John Kriesel gives moving speech on gay marriage

So, every now and then, something happens in state politics that reaffirms my faith in democracy. It happens when someone governs like a human being who actually loves America and Americans. When they take a stand based on their beliefs, rather than polling numbers and lobbyist dollars.

I'm not sure I've ever seen this at the national level.

In this case, the reaffirmation comes from Minnesota, where state representative John Kriesel gave a moving speech about why he was voting against a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.

The punchline? Kriesel is a Republican -- one of only two to vote against the amendment.

I don't know what political repercussions Kriesel will suffer as a result. But that's what is so beautiful about this speech. It seems that Kriesel doesn't care, and is actually voting for what he thinks is right. If we could figure out a way to fill all of our elected positions with people willing to do that, we would live in a very different and much better America.

Now, it's not all silver lining. The measure passed the Minnesota House 70-62. And, just to make sure we all understand the profound spitefulness of this amendment, there is already a law banning gay marriage in Minnesota.

via Boing Boing

The rapture: Darwin-Eats-Cake style

So, here's this, then.

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Just as an editorial note, the day Harold Camping jumps off the roof of a Pizza Hut will be a great day for America.

Let's Voltron

So, by all indications, the rapture seems not to have happened this weekend. The leading theory seems to be that Macho Man Randy Savage stopped it in dramatic fashion.

Of course, the alternative is that Voltron intervened. After all, he is the Defender of the Universe.

Which leads me to our next video. Apparently, this summer Nicktoons is launching Voltron Force, based on the 1980s-era Voltron. I saw a lot of Voltron back in grad school junior high. Personally, I would be much more excited for a remake of Robotech, and not just because Lisa Hayes is much hotter than Princess Allura.

Perhaps I'm oversharing.

Anyway, here's the theme song from the new Voltron Force, which is just sort of, well, something.