In 1994, The Bell Curve was a sensation. It invigorated many and enraged many more with claims that IQ is tied to race. Notably, blacks are dumber than whites are dumber than Asians.

Of course, it’s not true. It’s just hard to argue against something so absurd. Luckily, there have been recent studies with controls that point to why The Bell Curve posted the results it did.

Claude Steele found that he could create or eliminate a racial testing gap simply by convincing students that the test was (gap) or was not (no gap) a test of intelligence.

It is becoming increasingly obvious that these issues of intelligence and poverty are rooted in America’s broken educational system, and not in some fundamental discrepacy between the races. I am hopeful that in our time we will move away from such harmful prejudices and towards solutions that will break the cycles of destitution and self-loathing that have made the election of Barack Obama so unfortunately incredible.

Here’s a selection of videos to help you celebrate properly:

For those who have actually stayed up late enough to see the CBC shut down for the night:

A new proud to be Canadian song:

From before they got purchased by an American company:

Well, it’s one thing to be proud of:

“Yes we Can!” Canada had it first:

For those non-Canadians, here’s Canada explained:

Feel free to share anymore you may have in the comments.

Treason is specifically waging war against one’s own country or providing aid and comfort. While this person isn’t actively doing either, they (and their cohorts) should definitely be closely watched if they honestly believe the words they just said:

At :24 seconds into this video

Scheuer:     “The only chance we have as a country right now is for Osama bin Laden to deploy and detonate a major weapon in the United States. “

If someone believes that the only chance he has is for a major weapon to be detonated against his own country, then that would imply given the chance they would actively support such an endeavour. If they wouldn’t actively support such an endeavour, then they don’t actually believe that it is the “only chance.” In which case, they shouldn’t be saying such things on national television and encouraging those who would actively harm their own neighbours in order to “save their country.”

Technically this is not treason as he is not actively attacking his own country, this would be more closely labelled sedition. However, sedition laws have shown in the past to be horribly abused by those in power and thus do not exist in any real form in the US.

Regardless, to openly state that you hope for a major attack on your neighbours (which will kill them) in order to “save” your country because you disagree ideologically with the democratically elected leaders of your own country… Well… That’s just insane. To do so on a national television network and have the host not question the premise but instead dejectedly comment that it’s likely not to happen sadly… That’s just dangerous.

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h/t GOGB @ Dailykos.

Although many of us have chosen to be more environmentally proactive in our personal lives, when it comes to the office things may differ. As a person who is dedicated to the environment, does this impact the workplace you choose?

In today’s economy there’s not much of a choice when it comes to jobs so it’s hard to be picky. Instead, look around your office and see what changes can be made. Many offices are unintentionally wasteful and although many recycle, that’s not really enough.

But who spearheads the quest for a greener office. Is it you or someone else? Does it have to be the boss?

Don’t sit around and wait for someone else to take charge, try to brainstorm ideas to improve your workplace. However you may have to pass your ideas by a boss or two to get them implemented. And try to get a few colleagues on board with you. If you are just trying to get everyone to go green yourself, you might be fighting a losing battle. Having a committee of sorts will definitely encourage more people to go green!

A few ideas:

• Consider purchasing ‘green’ office supplies including those that have been recycled
• Take a look at the paper you use (and waste) and see if it can’t be trimmed down a bit
• Purchase fair trade, organic coffee for your break room
• Use energy efficient bulbs

These are just a few ways that you can make your workplace greener. Having a green office is good for everyone!

And check out Greening your Office for more tips!

President Obama talked in a recent speech about making cars more fuel efficient and more green. What’s in this plan? First up is tougher rules on greenhouse gas emissions. Auto makers have until 2016 and a national average for greenhouse gas emissions will be set.
But does this really help?

Actually it does. Pollution from cars kills 30,000 people a year in the U.S. As well, more than half of those living in the United States live in areas that fail to meet air standards at least several days of the year. But what about here in Canada? It’s not as bad as that, is it? Looking at stats from 2005 show that from 1995 to 2005 ground level ozone ( a key component in smog) grew 12%. And we know that number is rising.

So think about that the next time you are buying a car. Look at fuel efficiency and determine if your car is as green as you think it is. Check out carconsumption.com where you can enter the make, model and more of your American car and determine exactly how much fuel you are consuming.

Other tips to make your car greener include:

• Reduce your air conditioning
• Check your tire pressure regularly
• Get fuel injectors cleaned

Learn more about greening your ride at treehugger.

And happy driving!

An Aerogarden in action

I definitely do not have a green thumb. My plants die quickly (or sometimes painfully slowly) and there’s no instinct within me to cultivate them properly. However the idea of growing my own vegetables appealed to me. Last year, I had a tomato plant that I managed to wrangle a few tomatoes out of but now I wanted more.

For Christmas I received an Aerogarden and wow, what a great way to go organic and move your way to getting off the grid. If you don’t have cultivation skills then it doesn’t really matter. All you do is fill it with water and leave it. It grows on its own.

Of course, you can grow herbs and vegetables on your own, but this is a great jumping off point for people who are not sure if they can do it.

By why grow your own food?

Growing your own food is less expensive and reaps greater rewards. You get fresh food at your fingertips that tastes better and has no pesticides.

So what exactly is Hydroponics?

Simply put, it’s a manner of growing plants without the use of soil. It instead uses nutrients to maintain its growth.

What’s great about hydroponics (and not just the Aerogarden) is that it allows food to grow in places where there is no soil, such as balconies of apartments or city blocks. As we build more buildings and preserve less space for the growing of food, hydroponics will come in handy. Hydroponic farming also uses less water. And while plants are desperate for CO2, hydroponics can increase CO2 levels in their greenhouse to enrich growth.

Are Hydroponics the way of the future? In actual fact, it’s prominent right now. Eurofresh Farms in Arizona is the largest hydroponic farm. They sold 125 million pounds of tomatoes in 2005.

Hydroponics is definitely a method that everyone can get on board with. Has anyone had success with their own hydroponic growing? Share below in the comments!

To learn more, check out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroponics

This is a very cool way to get power from the sun. I think one day mirrors may be the most efficient means of collecting solar energy on a cheap and massive scale.

MADRID, April 27 (Reuters) – Spanish engineering company Abengoa has begun operating a 20 megawatt solar power plant that is the world’s biggest, using a tower to turn the sun’s rays into electricity and can supply 10,000 homes, it said on Monday. The PS20 plant in the southern province of Seville uses 1,255 mirrors to focus solar radiation at the top of a tower 165 metres high, in order to boil water to drive a turbine and generate electricity.

Of course, you can make your own solar heat collection unit at home to cook food, in a solar oven. The boiled water in a solar tower is just another way to use solar heating and generate electricity from the sun’s free and renewable energy. Photovoltaic cells (solar panels) are not required in this method.

–
Hat tip to TGB.

You have all helped out and BC-STV reached their fundraising goals. However, every donation still helps. BC-STV are doing one final push for funds, and I thought I’d forward the advertisement they want to get on the air with the funds raised.

You must admit, this is pretty exciting. STV has a real chance of passing in BC this time but only if they can raise enough funds to do that final push. You can help them get there.

So if you can donate, go and donate, and get this ad on the air in BC.

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This is from an old article from the Huffington Post, however, I think the ideas within it are noteworthy enough to be repeated. Barack Obama has wisely noted the need to fix America’s broken system of education. Forgotten by the wayside, however, is the dire situation facing many college and university graduates.

A post-secondary education in the States is exorbitantly expensive to begin with. A year at a “cheap” university (such as the State system in Arizona) will run you just over $5000, or roughly the same as a Canadian university. However, most publicly-funded universities cost something more like $18,000 a year, and a private institution will run you double that. Over four years, then, the average American student spends anywhere from $72,000 to $128,000 on their undergraduate education, and the vast majority require loans to do so.

Unsurprisingly, there have been calls recently for the forgiveness of outstanding student loan debt. Although I fear it will never happen, it’s a wonderful idea worth deep consideration.

Any given worker will do a better, more spirited job in a position they love. High morale amongst workers is good for productivity, and thus the economy. However, many graduates seek not the jobs they want, but any job that will pay a high salary in an effort to retire their debt as quickly as possible. In this economic climate, however, such an endeavour is an uphill battle. Not only are many of those jobs being lost and the competition growing steeper, it’s easy for the graduate to lose sight of why they got a college degree in the first place. To make matters worse, this drive is pushing people to act unethically in their jobs in order to squeeze some extra money out right at the formative part of their business career. This could be a source of a significant amount of the ethical issues which plague many job realms.

In order to stimulate our flailing economy, money must be used to support workers and their products. With the chain of outstanding student loans on their ankles, these graduates are not free to wield their economic power in such a fruitful way. The money instead disappears into the ether of the crumbling American financial system. Compared to the billions banks are requesting from the federal government, the loans – not to mention the interest payments – are drops in the bucket for the institution at large, yet devastating on the finances for the average American household.

If people finish their University or College training, why not give them some form of relief on their loans based. This will have the effect of not only encouraging people to finish their programs, but also not be as burdened with loan debt when they are done.

I think that would be something that would improve the lives of all Americans who are willing to work hard, and complete their educations.

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I was sent this video recently and I am not quite sure what to make of it. It sure looks suspicious. While, I openly admit that Iggy seemed to be actively sabotaging Dion’s leadership, I never saw anything like this. It’s definitely a very odd video.

I thought I’d share it with you and see what you think.

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