10. februar 2003

I want to ride my bicycle, i want to ride my bike... "Women who cycle regularly appear to be at reduced risk of developing breast cancer, research has found.  Just three hours of moderately intensive cycling a week is linked to a 34% reduction in risk, they found." (BBC News) So what is special about cycling, that doesn't apply to other forms of exercise? Or is it a methodological flaw in the study? 11:31:07 PM    comment []

Natural disaster "More than 1,000 gallons of tequila spilled into the sewer system in Kentucky after a worker tried to unload it from a truck." (Ananova) 7:07:33 PM    comment []

Plan? We don't have no friggin' plan! The press is full of stories about an alleged French-German alternative plan for Iraq, consisting of massively bolstering the inspections teams and giving them a UN armed escort, making it a virtual UN occupation of Iraq. Russia has apparently been voicing its support. The US is not amused. Colin Powell has told that the plan is a "diversion, not a solution" Rumsfeld is furious he spent hours talking to leading German and French officials without hearing a word about this alleged plan. The rub? Both the French and Germans deny there exists such a plan. 5:21:30 PM    comment []

Three weeks! Starting to become only mildly aggressive and homicidal now. Not bad! 4:00:55 PM    comment []

Now that should cover all bases "In Nov 2002 our online survey collected views on the benefits of skepticism. Responses from both non-believers and non-believers are compiled in one document." (from Skeptic home page right now, links to this article) 2:43:16 PM    comment []

Hoaxbuster James Randi's Encyclopedia of Claims, Frauds and Hoaxes of the Occult and Supernatural is online, a work in progress that will be expanded continuously with more information and illustrations. This one is definately worth an entry in your favourites/bookmarks. 1:29:16 PM    comment []

Iran going nuclear "Iran has its own deposits of uranium and has begun extraction to produce nuclear fuel, President Mohammad Khatami has announced. ... In a separate announcement on Sunday, Iranian Defence Minister Ali Shamkhani said that Iran had, for the first time, developed the capacity for producing composite solid fuels for its missiles." (BBC) There is every reason to be concerned that Iran is going nuclear, even when it is for civilian purposes, and even if they allow IAEA to inspect the facilities. First, it is simply not credible that Iran, with its vast oil and gas reserves, has any legitimate reason to set aside enormous resources for a nuclear programme to produce power. Iran obviously wants to take steps to obtain nuclear weapons. Second, the inspection regime gives security only while it lasts. When Iran's reactors go operative, Iran will be able to build infrastructure elsewhere for enrichening weapons grade fission material. It will only take a relatively brief interruption in inspections (or, even, fooling the system), and material can be transferred from civilian to miliatary use. No doubt, Iran hopes that once they have nuclear facilities operative, they will find an opportunity later to produce weapons. 3:59:44 AM    comment []

Too many boob jobs Plastic surgeons in Brazil are running out of silicone (not 'silicon' as many news sources claim!), as demand for boob and butt implants are soaring ahead of the carnival. The suppliers are unable to keep up with the increasing demand. 12:01:15 AM    comment []

© Copyright 2003 Jan Haugland. Last update: 01.03.2003; 00:14:45.