Blindness causes structural brain changes, implying brain can re-organize itself to adapt (via www.sciencedaily.com)
The headline in the Boston Globe on September 20, 2009 was catchy: “Billions of dollars and a Nobel Prize later, it looks like ‘microlending’ doesn’t actually do much to fight poverty.” The article referred to the findings of two recent impact evaluations in microfinance in India and the Philippines conducted by researchers at MIT and Yale, respectively. The studies, which were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of microfinance interventions, found “weak and in some cases nonexistent effects” of microfinance on profits, expenditures and well-being. Privately and publicly, donors, MFIs and practitioners are expressing concern about the impact of these studies on the future of microfinance. Are they right to be worried?
Art and brain: insights from neuropsychology, biology and evolution :: Journal of Anatomy →
The evolution of human artistic creativity :: Journal of Anatomy →
Indonesia: The home of “Green Islam” Can Quranic teaching save the planet? Many in the world’s most-populous Muslim nation think so. (GlobalPost)
A new study has found that anti-foreigner sentiments are widespread in the EU, although it appears in various forms from country to country. The best way to get rid of it? Friendship, researchers say. (via Anti-immigrant views widespread in Europe | Europe | Deutsche Welle | 14.11.2009)
New programme teaches Turkish imams to lead prayer in German - The Local
William Forsythe, Alva Noe on Consciousness - Backstage at LIVE from the NYPL with The Daily Beast (via NewYorkPublicLibrary)
These conventions are intended to be both human- and machine-readable, and our goal here is to: 1. identify conventions in the wild, as users or applications begin to apply it 2. document the semantics of the microsyntax we find or that community members propose, and 3. work toward consensus when alternative and incompatible conventions have been introduced or proposed.
Step-by-step explained
I love infographs especially when it’s a visual approach to the complex world of politics and ideologies:
A concept-map exploring the Left vs Right political spectrum. A collaboration between David McCandless and information artist Stefanie Posavec,
Click on the photo for a closer, detailed view! (via Boing Boing)
