A new study examined the genetics of over 400 purebred dogs. These DNA studies uncovered surprising connections between breeds, identified which are more closely related to ancient dogs, and which were of recent vintage. [The research found an] unexpected and geographically diverse cluster of breeds—including the Siberian husky, the Afghan hound, Africa's basenji, China's chow chow, Japan's akita, and Egypt's saluki—are most closely related to dog's ancient wolflike ancestors. Also, the origins of the oldest breeds tantalizingly hint at early human migration patterns.
A challenging vocabulary test cited by Ad Rem. I'm off to try it.
Rats. Only 5, really 4 since dehors is taken directly from French, and I I can't count that. But I'm ready for the next game of syzygy.
Confessing wrongdoing is but the first step, followed by some, usually public act of contrition. It is in this doing of this act, often one requiring some self-abasement, even if just ritually, that the debt for the wrong is paid. In its many different forms, this formula is the one that attempts to address human failures, permit satisfaction to the wronged party, and avoid the descent into feuds.
Until we meaningfully pay that debt for our what our prisons in Iraq have yielded, the wrong remains, and will fester. We cannot undo what has been done, some will never accept any act on our part, but act we must and believably and with a seriousness the matter requires. No expiation, no peace. In plain English, some folks had best tender resignations either voluntarily or, if necessary, by request. (See George Will's eloquent column on this subject. ) Without a seriousness of purpose, our talk, our apologies will carry the meaning of a crackhead's promise: well-intentioned perhaps, but utterly worthless.
Two investigative reports:
The International Red Cross report on Iraqi prison conditions.
General Taguba's report
Finally got around to adding some blacklisting software. The comments were disabled mostly thanks to reckless banning of IP quartets—I was irritated at the bloody spam and didn't have time to resolve this seriously. But now, things should be much better indeed.
The beginning of a whole summer's offering of wretched movies. Today we saw Van Helsing, a vampire-Frankenstein-werewolf movie, so marvelously bad a friend wishes to own it. Some signs of a superior bad movie:
In any case, on to Troy.
Correction: Janni didn't find the quiz; she wrote it!
I considered writing some note about how gas is not horribly expensive by historical standards or by the bite it takes out of one's wallet, but so many have already done the math to prove the point.
Instead I took one of those delightfully silly quizzes, How Old is Your Inner Child, that Janni finds. Mine is a six-year-old who prefers ice cream for dinner. Breakfast is a perfectly acceptable alternative. Hmm. Better go check that larder.
Based on security and reliability problems in the March primaries California's secretary of state has decertified 14,000 Diebold touchscreen voting machines, and asked the state's attorney general to investigate Diebold on fraud allegations. Other electronic voting machines, including those made by Diebold, may be used in upcoming elections if they satisfy conditions put forth (PDF) by the secretary. These include federal and state certification, printouts of ballots, offering voters the option to use paper ballots only, making complete hardware and software documentation available to state officials, training poll workers and providing a security plan.
The specific decertification (PDF) states that Diebold's AccuVote-TSx hardware and firmware failed to receive federal qualification and disenfranchised voters in California's March presidential primary and Diebold did not meet conditions set forth in its preliminary certification last November. It is effective immediately.