Sporadic Public Relations

This week’s “Reads for the weekend” is completely off-topic, but is on a subject that I find fascinating: evolution.

Many interpret evolution as the continual “improvement” of a species over time, but this is an over-simplification. Evolution makes no assumptions on what is “good” or what is an “improvement”. It does not favour the fastest or the strongest but rather whatever characteristics ensure survival and spur reproduction.

This week’s links show three observations that have clued us into how we humans play a role in the evolution of other species. Interestingly, the changes in these cases are not of the sort one might expect to be favoured by evolution; it is also certain, that if it were not for our influence, these species would evolve rather differently.

Read the rest of this entry »

It never takes long on CNN.com to find something truly offensive to the intellect, most often found in the site’s “Living” section. Today, however, it came straight from the King himself. From Larry King Live:

Do childhood vaccinations cause or contribute to autism? That’s the question at the center of a case involving an Atlanta girl. The answer may come today. Meet the 9-year-old and her family who are challenging medical and government experts. A Larry King Exclusive!

I was going to sit this one out, thinking that any rational adult would be able to make up their mind. I mean, it is wild speculation versus peer-reviewed science; which would you trust your child’s life to? But at the time of this writing, the CNN.com Live Poll showed that 80% of roughly 9,700 people stated they believed vaccinations cause or contribute to autism*. Below the poll was the necessary disclaimer “This is not a scientific poll”. Damn straight it isn’t.

Read the rest of this entry »