Quickies
Quickies: The Latest on Anti-Vax Nonsense, (Possible) Ancient Microbial Life on Mars, and Alan Turing
- Anti-Vaxxers Are Idolizing the Amish, Inexplicably – “A viral pseudoscience article claims the Plain People never get sick because they don’t get vaccinated. Actually, members of the religious sect are prone to some terrible diseases.”
- This Curiosity Image Suggests Microbial Life Once Existed On Mars – “It may not look like much — just an old rock with dust on it. But after careful examination of this and other images taken of the Martian surface, a geobiologist is now claiming that these distinctive surface features could have only come from one source: microbes.” From CriticalDragon1177. (I gotta admit though, I was a little disappointed that NASA didn’t address Dracula’s Coffin on Mars! ;-)
- Fox News host: Requiring CEOs to disclose pay is like “trying to slut-shame companies” – “The hosts of “Outnumbered” mistake a proposed rule for publicly traded companies for policing women’s choices.” Ha! And they say conservatives aren’t funny. Seriously, is this performance art or what.
- The Legend of Countess Margaret, Who Birthed 365 Mouse-Sized Children – “Of course, it could also have just never happened. Margaret could have never had 365 cysts or children or even twins. Myths about haughty women mocking peasant women on their multiple births and being punished with multiples of their own abound in many cultures. The moral of these stories is clear: Your blessing is your curse.”
- The right’s 2015 abortion scheme: Force women to wait days to get care – “A growing number of states are considering extreme waiting periods to create obstacles to care.” By the way, if you’re looking to donate to a charity, support your local Abortion Fund!
- Setting The Record Straight For Alan Turing – “Imagine, for a moment, that Albert Einstein’s greatest contributions were kept secret at the highest levels of government. Imagine, for a moment, that while still relatively young, Einstein was prosecuted, shamed and driven to suicide for the inclinations of his affections. Imagine, for a moment, that in the wake of the secrecy, the shame and the suicide, you never knew Albert Einstein’s name. Seems crazy, doesn’t it? In many ways, however, that narrative is the story of Alan Turing. Thankfully, it’s a story that is finally getting aired in popular culture through the new film The Imitation Game.” I really want to see this movie, have any of you seen it yet?
BONUS: Serial’s Next Case–Five crimes the hit podcast should explore in a future season.
Mary,
Well, if they found Dracula’s Coffin on Mars, they might not have found life on another planet, but at least we’d know that other planets have the undead! Wa ha ha! >:)
Mary, the Bletchley Park podcast interviewed Benedict Cumberbatch and the director, prior to the release of this movie, it gives some interesting insights, like that they brought the entire cast to Bletchley, to get a feel for the history, and they did a small amount of filming at Bletchley. Benedict seemed very enthused about playing the role of Turing. They have amalgamated some of the characters for the purpose of brevity.
I am going to see this movie tomorrow (Friday night Australian time), and will post my opinion after I get home.
And now Fox News is appropriating feminist memes. Lovely.
I saw The Imitation Game… a while ago, before Christmas, I think.
It was good! Touching. I doubt its historical accuracy, but, to be fair, films are rarely historically accurate, even historical films. Definitely go see it if you have the opportunity.
Just got back from the flicks – Worth every cent, I loved it. Powerful acting and great characters. It gets the major technical points right without taking too many liberties. But where it shines is with the acting, and social message. Hard to talk about it with out spoilers, go see it you won’t be disappointed.