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Learning the Truth not Effective in Battling Rumors About NYC Mosque, Study Finds

By Guest PostOctober 28, 2010Culture, Politicsamericans, annenberg public policy center, arab, erik nisbet, factcheck, feisal abdul rauf, ground zero, imam, islamic cultural center, middle east, mosque, new york city, ohio state university, r kelly garrett, rumors, terrorism, united states

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Evidence is no match against the belief in false rumors concerning the proposed Islamic cultural center and mosque near Ground Zero in New York City, a new study finds.

Researchers at Ohio State University found that fewer than one-third of people who had previously heard and believed one of the many rumors about the proposed center changed their minds after reading overwhelming evidence rejecting the rumor.

The false rumor that researchers used in the study was that Feisal Abdul Rauf, the Imam backing the proposed Islamic cultural center and mosque, is a terrorist sympathizer who has refused to condemn Islamic attacks on civilians. (more…)

Investing in Kids’ Future Pays Off

By Guest PostOctober 27, 2010Culture, Generaland downpayment, business start ups, cda, child development accounts, entrepreneurship, feel, kids, long term savings accounts, mich, parent child interactions, parents, pontiac, saving for education, secure, seed, trina shanks, university of michigan

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — When parents set up long-term savings accounts for college, business start-ups or home ownership, kids feel more financially and emotionally secure, new research shows.

The studies show the importance of families using child development accounts (CDA) as one measure to shift from an overreliance on credit and create a foundation for asset building. In other words, this program encourages households to maintain less debt and more savings. (more…)

Urban Psychology: Is Your City Led by Heart or Head?

By Guest PostOctober 26, 2010Culture, GeneralBarack Obama, character, christopher peterson, cities, economic and political consequences, el paso, head strong cities, heart cities, John McCain, nansook park, psychology, university of michigan, urban psychology, us cities

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Is your character shaped by where you live—or vice versa?

University of Michigan psychology researchers found that some cities lead with their heart—emotional and interpersonal strengths—while others lead with their head—intellectual and self-oriented strengths.

They also found such distinctions are also related to economic and political consequences. (more…)

Study Shows Black Youth are Politically Involved, Critical of Rap Music and Skeptical of a Post–Racial Society

By Guest PostOctober 24, 2010Culture, Politics21st century, american politics, Barack Obama, black youth, black youth project, cathy cohen, ford foundation, knowledge networks, latinos, mary winton, politically involved, post racial era, rap music, robert wood johnson foundation, same-sex marriage, stereotypes, videos

Image credit: University of Chicago

Many of the assumptions people have about black youth — that they are politically detached and negatively influenced by rap music and videos—are false stereotypes, according to a new University of Chicago study by

Prof. Cathy Cohen, based on surveys and conversations with the youth themselves.

Black youth say they are politically involved, critical of many messages in rap and skeptical of the idea that the country has entered a post–racial era. They also are socially conservative on political issues such same–sex marriage, said Cohen, the David and Mary Winton Green Professor of Political Science and lead researcher of the study. (more…)

Scary Chupacabras Monster is as Much Victim as Villain

By Guest PostOctober 22, 2010Culture, Sciencebarry oconnor, blood, chupacabras, chupacabras syndrome, coyotes, creepy crawlies, dogs, evil looking animals, evolutionary history, foxes, goatsucker, halloween, hans klompen, itchy rash, legendary beast, livestock, mange, monsters, puerto rico, sarcoptes scabiei, scabies, tales, wolves

ANN ARBOR, Mich.— As Halloween approaches, tales of monsters and creepy crawlies abound. Among the most fearsome is the legendary beast known as the chupacabras.

But the real fiend is not the hairless, fanged animal purported to attack and drink the blood of livestock; it’s a tiny, eight-legged creature that turns a healthy, wild animal into a chupacabras, says University of Michigan biologist Barry OConnor. (more…)

Up in Smoke: Quebec Prison Partial Smoking Ban is not Successful

By Guest PostOctober 9, 2010Culture, Generalbordeaux, canada, cigarette-based economy, maison tanguay, prison, quebec, quebec detention center, serge brochu, smoking ban, université de montréal

The partial smoking ban in Quebec prisons is leading to a slew of new problems according to an investigative study involving the Université de Montréal. Their findings, part of a report conducted by the Institut National de Santé Publique, show that the courtyard-only policy for smoking has not led to quitting but rather to tension in the prison and cigarette-based economy. (more…)

Great Halloween Safety Tips

By Guest PostOctober 5, 2010Cultureadult, children, flame retardant, flashlight, halloween, reflective markings, safety tips

For Trick or Treaters

Carry a flashlight.
Stay on sidewalks.
Obey traffic signals. (more…)

Former Spy Anna Chapman Starts Brilliant Career in Fashion and Showbiz

By PravdaOctober 1, 2010Culture, Politicsalex chapman, alexander potapov, anna chapman, anna kushchenko, ilya bezugly, magazine, maxim, moscow, netjets europe, pro-kremlin, russia, russian secret services, sexy spy, soho rooms club, spy, spy scandal, state duma, united states, volgograd

Anna Chapman, who was deported from the United States to Russia several months ago as a result of the spy scandal between the two countries, has started a brilliant career in the world of fashion and show business. The sexually appealing woman, who proved to be not a very good spy in one of the most humiliating operations for Russian secret services, has found a gap which she could fill perfectly. In her new activities, Russia’s probably most popular redhead is now known as “agent 90-60-90,” Italy’s La Repubblica wrote. (more…)

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