{"id":13925,"date":"2014-10-18T00:08:10","date_gmt":"2014-10-18T07:08:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/?p=13925"},"modified":"2014-10-18T00:08:10","modified_gmt":"2014-10-18T07:08:10","slug":"open-thread10182014","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.politicsplus.org\/blog\/2014\/10\/18\/open-thread10182014\/","title":{"rendered":"Open Thread–10\/18\/2014"},"content":{"rendered":"

I\u2019m writing for tomorrow, day 180, and this is my only article.  Street noise last night was far worse than normal, as street sweepers took advantage of the rain and the neighborhood became an ambulance zone.  I finally slept for around four hours, cutting into my research and writing time, and I need to sleep more.<\/font><\/p>\n

Jig Zone Puzzle<\/strong>:<\/font><\/p>\n

Today\u2019s took me 3:06 (average 4:56).  To do it, click here<\/a>.  How did you do?<\/font><\/p>\n

Short Tales<\/strong>:<\/font><\/p>\n

From The New Yorker<\/a>: <\/font>There is a deep-seated fear among some Americans that an Ebola outbreak could make the country turn to science.<\/p>\n

In interviews conducted across the nation, leading anti-science activists expressed their concern that the American people, wracked with anxiety over the possible spread of the virus, might desperately look to science to save the day.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a very human reaction,\u201d said Harland Dorrinson, a prominent anti-science activist from Springfield, Missouri. \u201cIf you put them under enough stress, perfectly rational people will panic and start believing in science.\u201d<\/p>\n

Additionally, he worries about a \u201cslippery slope\u201d situation, \u201cin which a belief in science leads to a belief in math, which in turn fosters a dangerous dependence on facts.\u201d<\/p>\n

Andy has explained why Republicans want to substitute a travel ban dealing with the problem.<\/font><\/p>\n

From Daily Kos<\/a>: The Arkansas Supreme Court confirmed the decision of an appeals court Wednesday and <\/font>overturned<\/a> <\/font>the state’s strict voter ID law on a 7-0 vote. Since the grounds for reversal related solely to a violation of the Arkansas Constitution, chances are the decision will not be subject to review by the U.S. Supreme Court. <\/font><\/p>\n

That’s one more state that will be harder for Republicans to steal.<\/font><\/p>\n

From Upworthy<\/a>: \\<\/font>They Were Shooting A Beautiful Video From Space. Then They Sped It Up. Just WOW.<\/p>\n