A Dog That Does Not Play Is A Depressed Dog

Another reminder that dogs need to get outside for a walk and play every day.

Via PsychToday: How Outdoor Play Can Cure Depression in Dogs

The Dog Genome Project

NHGRI Dog Genome Project

This project has been in the news with the recent report that three dog genes account for the coats in 95% of all dog breeds.

See NYT: Three Genes Determine the Nature of a Dog’s Coat

Studying Geologists In Their Natural Environment

Because a great geologist is a great person - someone you'd be lucky to know - but what makes them such wonderful and smart people and the best lovers on the planet?

Via PhysOrg: Cognitive scientists use eye-tracking technology to learn what makes a great geologist

An Evolutionary Explanation Of Depression

It is for analysis of complex problems perhaps.

See SciAm: Depression's Evolutionary Roots

Uh Oh

Maybe if we ignore it it will go away?

Not sure how else to explain the lack of attention to this news from NOAA:

"Recent observations have suggested that the air above Alaska may already hold the first signs of a regional increase in greenhouse gas emissions that could contribute to climate change around the globe."

See: NOAA, Coast Guard Hunt for Alaska Methane, Carbon Dioxide Sources

Just as I posted last year: Game Over Man...

Real Good Wood

I don't get the fixed gear bicycle fad, but wood frame bikes are things of beauty. Here's another one - Renovo Hardwood Bicycles

The smoothest bike you'll ever ride, stealth quiet, light and responsive, stiff as you want. Renovo hollow wood and laminated bamboo frames will forever change your understanding of what a bicycle should be, and how these natural materials can perform when designed to their strengths.

Speaking of real good wood:

More Important People Than Me Are Recognizing What Ford Is Doing

As I recently mentioned in Ford Seems To Get "It"

See TheBigMoney: Ford’s Ferocious Message

The Arguments Against Inter-City Rail Make The Best Argument For It

And that is inter-city rail will encourage population density.

See Newsweek: High-Speed Boondoggle: Why Obama's bet on rails is an expensive mistake

What works in Europe and Asia won't in the United States. Even abroad, passenger trains are subsidized. But the subsidies are more justifiable because geography and energy policies differ.

Densities are much higher, and high densities favor rail with direct connections between heavily populated city centers and business districts. In Japan, density is 880 people per square mile; it's 653 in Britain, 611 in Germany and 259 in France. By contrast, plentiful land in the United States has led to suburbanized homes, offices and factories. Density is 86 people per square mile. Trains can't pick up most people where they live and work and take them to where they want to go. Cars can.

Distances also matter. America is big; trips are longer. Beyond 400 to 500 miles, fast trains can't compete with planes. Finally, Europe and Japan tax car transportation more heavily, pushing people to trains. In August 2008, notes the GAO, gasoline in Japan was $6.50 a gallon. Americans regard $4 a gallon as an outrage. Proposals for stiff gasoline taxes (advocated by many, including me) go nowhere.

August Arrested Development Updates

Zap2It: 'Arrested Development' movie is nowhere near happening

"I don't think Mitch is gonna do it," an insider told me. "It seems like he's moving off the idea. So much time has passed."

THR: Arrested Development Three Reunite

AD's creative mastermind Mitch Hurwitz and his co-executive producer Jim Vallely are putting together the single camera comedy for Arnett, who will play another smug privileged rich boy (see also Let's Go To Prison, 30 Rock and his quirkier take on the type in Arrested Development) who despite his own protestations falls for a hippy who hates his lifestyle and values.

ChiTribune: The sad tales of comedy writers

Mitch Hurwitz ("Arrested Development") says he wishes he hadn't gone back to his high school and offered encouragement. Entertainment, he says, "can make a lot of people very, very unhappy."

Dogs In Disarray

Update - SciAm has more on this topic: The Origin of Dogs

New genetic research indicates dogs may not have originated from the domestication of wolves in east Asia as originally believed. Now a massive worldwide collection of DNA from dogs is underway in order to better understand where dogs were first tamed.

See NYT: Research Undermines Dog Domestication Theory

Fastest Animal On Land

At anything more than a short sprint the fastest animal is not a cheetah, not a horse; but dogs.

See PsychToday: Could dogs be the fastest land animals in the world?

Too Strange To Make Up

President Bush really did see the Iraq War as a mission from his God. Yikes.

See SecularHumanism: A French Revelation, or The Burning Bush

Chirac recounts that the American leader appealed to their “common faith” (Christianity) and told him: “Gog and Magog are at work in the Middle East…. The biblical prophecies are being fulfilled…. This confrontation is willed by God, who wants to use this conflict to erase his people’s enemies before a New Age begins.”

This bizarre episode occurred while the White House was assembling its “coalition of the willing” to unleash the Iraq invasion. Chirac says he was boggled by Bush’s call and “wondered how someone could be so superficial and fanatical in their beliefs.”

Maybe more of Bush's religious fanaticism will be revealed in Cheney's upcoming memoir?

Perhaps The Bumper Stickers Are Right?

My dog might really be smarter that your honor roll student.

See PhysOrg: Renowned canine researcher puts dogs' intelligence on par with two-year-old human

When Vintage Is Better

Seems the older kitchen items are better than their new counterparts. I reach for a wood spoon when stirring, a Mason jar for storing, and a cast iron skillet for most cooking.

Based on this article at Slate, older stoves are better too (specifically Wedgewood): This Old Stove

Hybrid Hype

The big hype right now is that the Chevy Volt will get 230 mpg in the city!

Wrong.

As calculated at Environmental Economics, the Volt gets 230 mpg if traveling only 51.11 miles, 50 mpg after that.

See: 230 mpg?

And as reported at Edmunds.com: EPA Says It Can't Confirm GM's 230-MPG Fuel Economy Claim for Chevy Volt

For comparison, the new $27k Ford Focus hybrid and the $24k TDI Jetta Sportwagen both get around 42 mpg combined.

Furthermore, Popular Mechanics just tested a BMW diesel against a hybrid Lexus and found the overall mpg differed by 1 mpg; but the diesel was a lot more fun to drive.

See: 2010 Lexus HS250 Hybrid vs. 2010 BMW 335 Diesel 390-Mile Fuel Economy Comparison Test Drive

Trees Are For People

Most people I talk to who are in their 30's are in love with the idea of having a treehouse to retreat to - seems like most of my friends daydream about just such a sanctuary.

Keep working friends and perhaps you can afford one of these treehouses that are designed and built for full-time living.

See FC: Architecture Firm Specializes in Bespoke Treehouses

Official site: Amazon Treehouses

Rather build your own treehouse? Check out the Northwest Treehouse School in Fall City, Washington.

Mexico's Largest Oil Field Declining Twice As Fast As Expected

Via Bloomberg: Mexico Oil Production to Fall 4.9%, Drop Through 2012

Output is slumping as Cantarell, the company’s largest field, falls at a rate twice as fast as forecast. Last year production slumped at the fastest rate since 1942.

Consumer Reports Hearts Ford

Specifically, the Ford Fusion hybrid. And with good reason - a car that can reach 47 mph under electric power alone is a good thing. But why can't we get a hybrid Ford Fusion estate (station wagon)? (I know, it would compete with all of Ford's "crossovers")

But it'd be a handsome car - not unlike the UK's Mondeo Estate.


See: Test complete: 2010 Ford Fusion

Coffee Generalizations: Arabica Taste Better; Robusta Has More Caffeine

See TheAtlantic: Arabica vs. Robusta: No Contest

Christopher Columbus Knew Exactly What He Was Doing

As I discovered when I read Stephen J Gould's 'Dinosaur In A Haystack'. Everyone knew the Earth was round and that there was a continent to the west. Now there is some more supporting evidence.

See Reuters: Vinland Map of America no forgery, expert says

How Godzilla Movies Begin

Via Wired: Scientists Drill a Mile Into Active Deep Sea Fault Zone