Author: Josh Witten

http://www.thefinchandpea.com

Going with Your Gut

The bacteria in your gut (known as the microbiota) are the new cool. And, by cool, I mean the bogeyman for everything that is wrong with you. That is not to say they aren’t very, very important; but the science exploring the role of the complex colonies of microbes residing inside your gut[1] and comprising ten times as many cells as in your actual body[2] is still developing and enormously complex.

According to a new study by Heijtz et al. in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the gut microbiota also affects neural development in mice[3]. Continue reading “Going with Your Gut”

The Theatre and The Tube

Pet Peeve: Faux-superiority from publicly announcing that you do not do something that most other people do. In my circles, this usually involves not watching television, following sports, or consuming alcohol.

For example:

I do not[1] watch television. I do not even own a television.

Bully for you. Apparently, you are better than I. I watch television. I follow sports. And, I consume alcohol. Continue reading “The Theatre and The Tube”

Chwarae Teg neu Budr

The big controversy from the weekend, amongst rugbyphiles[1], was about Jonathan Davies (center for Wales) tripping Chris Ashton (wing for England) in their recent Six Nations[2] match. Tripping is illegal in Rugby (but not in Glastonbury[3]) and considered quite dangerous, leading fans to wonder/worry whether Davies would be disciplined for the incident[4], seen here:

Continue reading “Chwarae Teg neu Budr”

Temple of Doom

On the Center for Inquiry‘s podcast, Point of Inquiry, Dr. Robert Price interviewed a Satanic priest, Don Webb of the Temple of Set. Turns out that Satanism is not about evil, placating the evil overlord, orgies, or even eating babies. Instead, it appears to be about dominated by humanities PhDs messing around with Jungian archetypes, self-help “magic”, and Platonism. Interesting stuff that I did not know, but it seemed a bit intellectually intense and boring.

On a personal note, I’ve decided to switch over to worshiping Chaos itself in the form of the primordial chaos dragon, Leviathan. And, we know chaos exists. Suck it, atheists.

Cinde-really? Part the Second

The Frogger loves Disney‘s Cinderella, mainly because she thinks Cinderella’s ball gown in pretty, likes dancing, and loves all the cute animals[1,2]. As a result, I have had many opportunities over the past few months to observe this film in great detail, repeatedly. These posts resulted from subjecting the normally active mind, thirsting for stimulation, to triplicate viewings whilst traversing the wintry wastelands of the Midwest, with the second of two presented here, wherein I shall examine why the Cinderella story, rather than being uplifting, depresses me. Continue reading “Cinde-really? Part the Second”