It's Emma and me tonight. Daddy is in Utah working. So supper is simple. So simple in fact I can give you the recipe here before we talk. Cooked penne pasta (about a pound) tossed with 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes, 1 bunch sauted spinach and 1 cup sliced mushrooms (saute each for about 2 minutes in 1/2 tablespoon olive oil), 2 tablespoons fresh chopped basil and salt and pepper to taste. You can adjust amounts per your liking. We serve with salad. Voila.
First lets talk some science... A wrote a couple years ago about how grandmothers help their grandchildren survive and thrive and this is an evolutionary reason for grandmothers :).
Well, Inkling has an interesting post with more about the evolutionary significance behind grandparents (and menopause!?). She suggests that because grandparents are now older today (seems the older they get the less effect they have :() and further away you'd think their affect on the well-being of their grandchildren would be reduced. She suggests that might not be the case, apparently grandparents help a lot with education, housing etc... with money. They've replaced the "basket of veggies" with "checks." So, thanks Mom for the checks :D
The Examining Room has an interesting article about what to bring put in your 'emergency kit' based on what the settlers of Jamestown needed 400 years ago (May 18th). Interesting. I've got some of those things in our kit. (it's not science as much as history, but kinda)...
Speaking of scienceblogs (that last link was from a scienceblog network), Cognitive Daily has an interesting test to play around with: Can you keep track of 2, 3 or 4 roaming balls in a field of many? How good is your brain? :)
Some news on the genetics front. Researchers reported today a genetic variation found mainly in Europeans that coorelates strongly with heart disease. Have one copy and you chances of heart disease rise 15%, have two copies of the variation and it rises 60%. 20% of those of European descent have two copies. There might be a test someday for the variation. IF you have it it could help you decide lifestyle choices (or not). Interesting thing about the variation is that it's not in a gene as far as the researchers can tell, it's in a location on the chromosome that has no genes (just "junk dna".. which is a misnomer). Funny thing about the article, it's titled "Common Gene Raises Heart Risk." Oops, should have read "Common Variation." Oh well.
hmm, not science... but...
A judge is suing a immigrant couple who own a dry cleaners for losing his pants. For 65 MILLION dollars. Seems they lost his pants, he threatened to sue. They found them but he says they weren't his. They offered him 3,000 and then 4,600 and then 12,000 in settlement. He refused and is now suing for 65 million dollars. What. a. Jerk. A mom-and-pop operation loses his pants and he sues for 65 million dollars and now these small business people have to defend themselves... and legal fees. And this man is a judge. There has to be more to the story. But for 65 million I can't imagine what that'd be... he left his jewels in the pocket?
Good news on the LGBT rights front!!!
Oregon has just passed a Domestic Partnership law that gives all the state rights of marriage, joining Vermont (Civil Union), Connecticut (CU), California (DP), New Hampshire (CU), New Jersey (CU) and Massachusetts (Marriage) in offering the rights a state can offer.
Colorado just passed an anti-discrimination law that includes LGBT individuals.
It does feel like the pendulum is swinging back doesn't it?
Eat healthy!
