Podcast #218 - September 23rd, 2009

Interview with Michael Vassar
News Items: Raptor Rex, Bill Maher Antiscience, Panama Monster
Science or Fiction
Who's That Noisy

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Raptorex http://news.uchicago.edu/news.php?asset_id=1710
Bill Maher Antiscience http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2009/09/is_bill_maher_really_that_ignorant_part_2.php
Panama Monster http://skepchick.org/blog/2009/09/the-panama-monster-is-not-a-monster/

Interview with Michael Vassar President, Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence http://www.acceleratingfuture.com/people/Michael-Vassar/ Singularity Summit http://www.singularitysummit.com/

Item # 1 Fiction A new study finds that use of texting, or so-called chat-speak, is significantly correlated with poorer spelling ability in students. Don't forget to check the box to tell us which one was the Fiction. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090922095814.htm
Item # 2 Science New research finds that mortality rates increase by 6% in UK hospitals in the first week of August – when new doctors begin training. http://www.sciencecentric.com/news/article.php?q=09092317-new-research-shows-small-increase-hospital-mortality-rates-the-first-week-august
Item # 3 Science A meta-analysis finds that community smoking bans decrease heart attack admissions by 36% at three years. http://www.escardio.org/about/press/press-releases/pr-09/Pages/ESC-statement-smoking-bans.aspx

Whos That Noisy Answer to last week: translation of brain wave activity into sound

Quote of the Week 'Yo Oprah, I'm really happy for you, and I'm gonna let you finish, but Jenny McCarthy is one of the biggest idiots of all time.' - Kanye West (a parody of the MTV Music Awards)

The Rogues' Gallery