Losing an Excuse, a Stigma, and a Condescending Insult

First off, is there anything better than the phrase, "basket of goddamn sunshine"? Love it. Just love it.

"A growing number of experts are arguing that—as far as mental health is concerned—pre-menstrual syndrome is a culture-bound syndrome, meaning that it's diagnosis is based on societal expectations of how women should behave and feel, instead of biological reasoning."

Sources: Jezebel and The Guardian

Doesn't it just make you feel all warm and fuzzy that stupid cultural expectations, rather than actual science, are being used to marginalize perfectly healthy people? Sometimes I just want to kick people in the teeth 'cuz, well... 'cuz they're stupid. And the rush to declare normal behavior to be a mental disorder of some sort is just ridiculous.

Underwater Sculptures

I love this! I now have a burning need to go back to Cancun to see concrete sculptures underwater.

Source: http://www.underwatersculpture.com/pages/gallery/evolucion-silenciosa.html

Euphoric, Crabby, and Lacking in Ethics... All at the Same Time

This is not good news for a sleep-deprived populace. It's well known that sleeplessness makes humans crabby, but it also leads to short-term euphoria and risky behavior with questionable ethics. So, your sleep-deprived friend really does need you to drag them back to reality, but expect to get snapped at while you do it.

Sources:
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/220044.php
http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2011/03/does-lack-of-sleep-make-us-unethical/

A Horse With No Hay

This is a wonderful intro to a life-sized horse puppet.

Source: http://www.ted.com/talks/handpring_puppet_co_the_genius_puppetry_behind_war_horse.html

Some Scientists Try REALLY Hard to Prove Their Own BS World Views

This is a nice deconstruction of Simon Baron-Cohen trying desperately to make the evidence fit his preconceived notions, even to the extent of some seriously convoluted logic unworthy of a scientist. Sigh.

Source: http://scottsworlds.blogspot.com.au/2012/11/eating-disorders-and-not-so-female-brain.html

Women Can't Multitask Either

Pretty much nobody can. So get your eyes back on the road, and PUT THE PHONE DOWN! ...ahem...

This is a wonderful infographic on the effects of "multitasking." (Did you see the quotes? Yeah. That's 'cuz it's a myth.)

"Focusing on more than one thing decreases your productivity by 40% and lowers your IQ by 10 points"

Link: http://mashable.com/2012/08/13/multitasking-infographic/

We need not fear wanting

This really resonates with me. I know so many people who are determined to stuff down or push away any and all desires in the name of being spiritual. Seems to me that wanting is part of being human, and any spirituality worth its salt would have room for humanity to be...well, human.

"if we push away desire, we disconnect from our tenderness and we harden against life. We become like a “rock in winter.” When we reject desire, we reject the very source of our love and aliveness."

link: http://www.wildmind.org/blogs/on-practice/the-suffering-of-rejecting-desire