Early human-neanderthal ancestor remains identified

This is an incredible story. Scientists have identified a 30,000-40,000 year old hominid ancestor whose DNA indicates that it is part Human, part Neanderthal.

If further analysis proves the theory correct, the remains belonged to the first known such hybrid, providing direct evidence that humans and Neanderthals interbred. Prior genetic research determined the DNA of people with European and Asian ancestry is 1 to 4 percent Neanderthal.
Those were amazing times in Europe, where humans and Neanderthals co-existed. One wonders whether this co-existence was at all peaceful. Regardless, apparently I (along with many people of European and Asian ancestry) carry some Neanderthal genetic coding. When I am asked about my "race," I have sometimes (when I would not receive any sort of benefit or privilege for doing so) indicate "African." I've previously argued that we'd all be better off declaring that we are African, because the categories or "race" are as scientifically deficient as they are culturally divisive. But now, thanks to this new finding, I have the option of indicating that my "race" is Part-human, part Neanderthal, out of Africa via Europe, currently living in the U.S. Or something like that.

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The extent to which elements of Islamaphobia reside in new atheism

To what extent do elements of Islamaphobia reside in new atheism? Fascinating and intense exchange between Glenn Greenwald and Sam Harris. I'm tempted to sum it up, but I'll hold off, given that these two highly articulate writers have expressed themselves with precision. Here's the Al Jazeera article that ignited this debate.

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Masking peak oil

Why is it that fossil fuel industries are getting such massive subsidies? The IMF wants to know too:

Developing and industrialized countries should rein in energy subsidies that totaled $1.9 trillion in 2011 to ease budgetary pressures and free resources for public spending in areas like education and health care, International Monetary Fund economists said in a research paper published Wednesday. In the paper, “Energy Subsidy Reform — Lessons and Implications,” the economists reviewed a database of 176 countries and analyzed ways to change energy subsidies by examining case studies of 22 countries. In 2011, energy subsidies intended to contain energy prices for consumers accounted for 2.5 percent of global gross domestic product, or 8 percent of all government revenue, the fund said.
It occurs to me that without these subsidies, energy prices would be shooting upwards due to peak oil, possibly causing a nationwide panic. Then maybe the federal government would have a very difficult time justifying these subsidies, which would panic the 1% who control the fossil fuel industries.

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The five most corrupt industries

Noah Bonn has written a succinct summary of the five "most corrupt" industries: Banking, Energy, Agriculture/Biotech, Media and Healthcare. Fair enough. These are five deserving nominations. Rather than focus on his nominations, though, I focused on Bonn's "solutions." Though they aren't complete solutions, they are mostly good ideas: Credit unions, renewable energy, local food, independent media, and "naturopaths and homeopaths." What? I've written before on the huge problems with homeopaths. But that still leaves a vaccuum. What is the solution to our out of control health care system? I'd look long and hard at the solutions proposed by the recent Time article titled "Bitter Pill." I agree with many of Bonn's proposals, but I do think that the problem with this slippage into homeopathy is typical with many proposed "solutions" that fall short: they are caused by the lack of even-handed skepticism. America is a huge collection of overlapping tribes, and we need to put the magnifying glass onto those people we want to like as well as those we've written off. In fact, I believe this need for equal opportunity skepticism, is America's biggest need. In short, many of our problems arise from the confirmation bias.

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