Everybody hates athiests

Nobody loves an athiest. Well, at least according to a University of Minnesota study.

The study found that Americans: "rate atheists below Muslims, recent immigrants, homosexuals and other groups as 'sharing their vision of American society.' Americans are also least willing to let their children marry atheists," according to a story in the Minnesota Daily.

I suppose the purpose of this study is to inform you that if you were thinking of choosing atheism as a career path, you might want to think again. Perhaps you could pretend to be some other religion, or homosexual, so that you get more feel good vibes from the rest of the population.

It's just un-American to not believe in some sort of God, the article continues:

"Americans traditionally have been a religious people and associate faith with being a good citizen. The survey results indicate that this belief hasn't changed.

...

Those surveyed tended to view people who don't believe in a god as the 'ultimate self-interested actor who doesn't care about anyone but themselves,' said Penny Edgell," author of the study.

So much for separation of church and state, eh?

Cheers,
-SueVo

Oh the evils of "Power Rangers"

I pity the researchers in this University of Washington study, who must have had to watch endless hours of horrid children's television programs.

The results? "Arthur" and "Barney" good, "Rugrats" and "Power Rangers" bad.

Good thing somebody is looking into this. Of course, there's also this more novel thing called "going outside to play."

Here's some tidbits from the Associated Press story:

"Every hour per day that kids under 3 watched violent child-oriented entertainment their risk doubled for attention problems five years later, the study found. Even nonviolent kids' shows like 'Rugrats' and 'The Flintstones' carried a still substantial risk for attention problems, though slightly lower.

On the other hand, educational shows, including 'Arthur,' 'Barney' and 'Sesame Street' had no association with future attention problems.

Interestingly, the risks only occurred in children younger than age 3, perhaps because that is a particularly crucial period of brain development.

...

The researchers called a show violent if it involved fighting, hitting people, threats or other violence that were central to the plot or a main character. Shows listed included 'Power Rangers,' 'Lion King' and 'Scooby Doo.' "

Damn that violent Scooby!!!

Cheers,
-SueVo

Look! It's a tree!

OK, this may fall in the not quite so stupid study category, but it's interesting.

Apparently kids would prefer to hang out online or play video games than go outside, hike or camp.

I admit, I resemble that remark, but I do like the occasional hiking or camping trip.

According to a Scripps Howard News Service story:

"National polls indicate that children and teenagers play outdoors less than young people did in the past. Between 1997 and 2003, the proportion of children ages 9 to 12 who spent time hiking, walking, fishing, playing on the beach or gardening declined 50 percent, according to a University of Maryland study.

The lack of outdoor activity is more pronounced in minority and lower-income communities. Latino parents, for example, were twice as likely as white parents to say their child never participated in an outdoor nature activity and three times more likely to say their child did not go to a park, playground or beach this past summer, according to the Public Policy Institute poll.

...

Children between the ages of 8 and 18 spend an average of nearly seven hours a day with electronic media, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. The trend starts early. A 2002 study found that 8-year-olds could identify 25 percent more Pokemon characters than wildlife species."

All you really need is to pull out one of those hunting games and it's almost like being there in real life. Almost, but not quite, exactly unlike it, in fact.

Cheers,
-SueVo

Texas study finds Texas produces too many studies

Oh yes... this one is just perfect.

A new 668-page report by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission found that the state of Texas produces too many reports.

In the past, the state produced about 400 reports as mandated by the Legislature. But the commission found more than 1,600 of them in it's 18-month study of the studies.

According to an Associated Press story:

"State Records Administrator Michael Heskett's initial findings indicate more than 400 report requirements are obsolete, duplicative or not needed as frequently as now required."

Way to go! A report saying there's too many reports.

Cheers,
-SueVo

Employers look for people with skills... Really?

Here's one from the no duh department...

This study, from OfficeTeam, notes that employers are looking for people with skills. Who woulda thought?

Here's a gem of a quote from their press release:

“A competitive hiring environment has led to increased demand for administrative professionals with advanced skills and experience,” said Diane Domeyer, executive director of OfficeTeam. “Companies are offering higher compensation and other benefits to attract highly skilled candidates - especially those who possess strong industry knowledge and are a good fit with the organization.”

The study, part of the group's 2008 salary guide, also found that employees with more skills made more money.

Oh really?

Thanks for the info, guys.

Cheers,
-SueVo

Help! Alien bacteria are attacking!

Here's a little gem of science fun from my buddy Amedeo. The bacteria, it seems, are trying to turn us all into pod people.

I'm sure there's value in this somewhere, but on my scale of preferred things to think about - well this is down pretty damn low.

From the Wired story "People are Human-Bacteria Hybrid" we get this:

"More than 500 different species of bacteria exist in our bodies, making up more than 100 trillion cells. Because our bodies are made of only some several trillion human cells, we are somewhat outnumbered by the aliens. It follows that most of the genes in our bodies are from bacteria, too."

If they were made of metal, at least then we could call ourselves cyborgs. What does this mean we are? Bactoborgs?

Cheers,
-SueVo

America's reaction to non-existant technology

If you're eager to get a brain implant that will let you access the Internet, you're not entirely alone - about 11 percent of poll responders want one too.

Not that it matters, though, because such technology doesn't exist yet.

But when it does - I guess the market potential has already been laid out.

Cheers to the folks at Zogby International/463 Communications for bringing us this data, and more:

-SueVo

Go Cyborgs: In the survey, men were much more eager than women to get an Internet-surfing brain implant. 17 percent of men said they were up for it, compared with only 7 percent of women.

My virtual man: 24 percent of Americans in the poll said the Internet could serve as a replacement for a significant other. The percentage was highest among singles, of which 31 percent said it could be a substitute.

What about a behavior control chip: About 20 percent of the respondants were willing to insert a chip into a child 13 or younger to help track them if they are lost, abducted, or just tend not to be where they are supposed to be. Nearly one in five Americans said they would do so to track a child’s whereabouts. Interestingly, there was no difference in opinion among parents who had younger children and those who did not.

God in the machine: Ten percent said the Internet made them closer to God, while 6 percent said it made them more distant. Those who call themselves “Born Again” were the most likely to feel it affected them spiritually. Twenty percent of Born Agains said it made them closer while 11 percent said it made them more distant from God.

Happy Halloween

So I actually found some of the information from this Associated Press/Ipsos study about superstition interesting - but once it gets into the minutia it goes way downhill.

Check out this bit of information from the Associated Press story:

"Democrats were more superstitious than Republicans over opening umbrellas indoors, while liberals were more superstitious than conservatives over four-leaf clovers, grooms seeing brides and umbrellas."

Then, of course, there's the urban-rural superstition divide among singles:

"Twenty-six percent of urban residents - twice the rate of those from rural areas - said they are superstitious, while single men were more superstitious than unmarried women, 31 percent to 17 percent."

Poor single guys, maybe they should get more of the single women to protect them.

And keep an eye out for those four-leaf clovers:

"The most admitted-to superstition, by 17 percent, was finding a four-leaf clover. Thirteen percent dread walking under a ladder or the groom seeing his bride before their wedding, while slightly smaller numbers named black cats, breaking mirrors, opening umbrellas indoors, Friday the 13th or the number 13."

They pay somebody for this?

Cheers,
-SueVo