This entry was published at least two years ago (originally posted on September 15, 2009). Since that time the information may have become outdated or my beliefs may have changed (in general, assume a more open and liberal current viewpoint). A fuller disclaimer is available.
Sometime between September 11th and September 15th, I thought this stuff was interesting. You might think so too!
- Sexual Assault Prevention Tips Guaranteed to Work!: "1. Don't put drugs in people's drinks in order to control their behavior. 2. When you see someone walking by themselves, leave them alone!" Etc.
- Violent Crime Decreasing in Washington State: "In Washington state, violent and property crime rates declined in 2008, according to the FBI's Preliminary Annual Uniform Crime Report. The FBI annually releases statistics on violent crimes like murder, rape and robbery and on property crimes such as burglary and vehicle theft. Not all agencies participate in the voluntary UCR program and therefore are not reflected in the data. Below you can search nationwide crime statistics, including 185 agencies in Washington. "
- If Lottery Tickets Told the Truth: Funny and sad, all at the same time — and an excellent antidote for those times when I think that must maybe I'll blow a couple bucks on a lottery ticket (something I've never, ever in my life done). Fun fact: I have better odds of being Tom Cruise than of winning the Lottery.
- The Muppets and Gnosticism: "The other thing about the Muppet movie that struck me as particularly gnostic was the way the characters recognize each other. In gnosticism some people have that 'spark' of god in them and these are your people — you have to find them, especially because as part of the fall into the mortal world they have forgotten where they come from and may not recognize themselves as chosen (think of how Morpheus finds Neo in the Matrix). Gonzo's 'There's not a word yet, for old friends who just met' is an absolutely gnostic maxim. You are old friends because the spark of god comes from the same ancient source, but you have not yet met in the fallen world. "
- American Vice: Mapping the 7 Deadly Sins: "We're gluttons for infographics, and a team at Kansas State just served up a feast: maps of sin created by plotting per-capita stats on things like theft (envy) and STDs (lust). Christian clergy, likely noting the Bible Belt's status as Wrath Central, question the 'science.' Valid point–or maybe it's just the pride talking."
- Lost World of Fanged Frogs and Giant Rats Discovered in Papua New Guinea: "A team of scientists from Britain, the United States and Papua New Guinea found more than 40 previously unidentified species when they climbed into the kilometre-deep crater of Mount Bosavi and explored a pristine jungle habitat teeming with life that has evolved in isolation since the volcano last erupted 200,000 years ago. In a remarkably rich haul from just five weeks of exploration, the biologists discovered 16 frogs which have never before been recorded by science, at least three new fish, a new bat and a giant rat, which may turn out to be the biggest in the world."