Science
The Master and His Emissary by Iain McGilchrist
The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World by Iain McGilchrist relates how the two very different parts of the human brain – the detail-oriented, self-centered left side and the flexible, generous right side – have shaped Western culture and thought. Read a review in The Guardian
Donate Your Body to a Dungeon
Scottish couple Andrew and Janine Leishman (who are very much alive and kicking) have pledged to donate their skeletons to an Edinburgh dungeon tourist attraction so they can avoid having a funeral. They also want to raise awareness of the shortage of bodies donated to medical science. Read the full article on BBC News.
Be sad: get ice cream
You need one of these in your office… British artist Demitrios Kargotis, has invented Dr. Whippy, an ice cream machine that asks you several questions to ascertain how stressed you are and then dispenses a dose of ice cream depending on how stressed or unhappy you are – the more in need of cheering up, [...]
reSTART Internet Addiction Programme
ReSTART is Washington (close to the home of Microsoft) based internet recovery program. The 45-day program is designed specifically to help internet and video game addicts overcome their dependence on gaming, gambling, chatting, texting and other aspects of Internet Addiction. Co-founded by Cosette Rae, MSW, and Hilarie Cash, Ph, the 6-bed facility provides a family-style [...]
The Poisoner’s Handbook
The Poisoner’s Handbook: Murder and the Birth of Forensic Medicine in Jazz Age New York by Deborah Blum tells the story of the birth of forensic toxicology. It’s the story of Dr. Charles Norris, Manhattan’s first trained chief medical examiner, and Alexander Gettler, its first toxicologist and New Jersey medical examiner Harrison Martland who together [...]
Why Men Go For Younger Women – And Are Missing Out.
If you like graphs you’ll like this: an article that argues that men on online dating sites are looking in the wrong direction for their mate. Instead of chasing 18-yr-old women they should be setting their sights on women in their 30s and 40s.
How to Build a Medieval Castle
French landowner Michel Guyot has been conducting an unusual architectural experiment since 1998 – he’s building a medieval castle in the style of a design by 13th century French King Phillipe-August. The Chateau de Guedelon is being painstakingly built using materials and techniques used in 1200s. Read more at BBC News
Greenlit: Scaling Britain, BBC2
Scaling Britain (15×30′) – A new series celebrating the history of architecture and engineering in Britain. In each episode, presenter Dr Jonathan Foyle – an expert and broadcaster in architectural history – will climb the exterior of an iconic structure as he reveals its design, construction and role in the history of British architecture and [...]
18th Century Ship Emerges From Ground Zero
The New York Times reports that construction workers at Ground Zero have uncovered the remains of a 30-ft wooden ship believed to be from the mid- to late 1700s. In 1982 an 18th century cargo ship was discovered at 175 Water Street. Read the full article.
Mom Jailed for Sex with Son
A Detroit woman has been jailed for up to 30 years for having sex with the 14-yr-old son she gave up for adoption as a two-day old baby. She tracked him down via Facebook before arranging to meet him. The 36-yr-old reportedly said that she didn’t understand what had happened to her to make her [...]
