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Crossing the Line: What Constitutes Torture?

By Guest PostApril 16, 2011Generalbush administration’s, interrogation techniques, loewenstein, psychological science, psychologically untenable, rarified situation, room-temperature water, torture, waterboarding

Torture. The United Nations defines it as the “infliction of severe physical or mental pain or suffering.” But how severe is severe? That judgment determines whether or not the law classifies an interrogation practice as torture.

Now, a study published in an upcoming issue of Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, condemns this method of classification as essentially flawed. The reason: The people estimating the severity of pain aren’t experiencing that pain—so they underestimate it.

As a result, many acts of torture are not classified—or prohibited—as torture, say authors, Loran F. Nordgren of Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, Mary-Hunter Morris of Harvard Law School, and George Loewenstein of Carnegie Mellon University. (more…)

Got Up On The Wrong Side of the Bed? Your Work Will Show It

By Guest PostApril 13, 2011Generalemployee moods, good mood, insurance company, nancy rothbard, positive customers, steffanie wilk, telephone customer service representatives, workday

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A new study of telephone customer service representatives shows just how important it is for employees to start the workday in a good mood.

Researchers found that employees’ moods when they clocked in tended to affect how they felt the rest of the day. Early mood was linked to their perceptions of customers and to how they reacted to customers’ moods. (more…)

Tsunami Waves Crash Into Japan’s North-east After Powerful Quake

By PravdaMarch 11, 2011Environment, Generalcoastal parts, earthquake, epicenter, friday, fukushima prefecture, highways, iwate prefecture, Japan, magnitude of the earthquake, mariana islands, miyagi, north east, onahama city, plumes of smoke, quake, richter scale, tokyo, tsunami warning, tsunami wave

The government of Japan has provided a report about the damage caused by a strong earthquake which rocked the north-east of the country on Friday, March 11. The Associated Press reports with reference to Japanese television that the tsunami wave, triggered by the quake, caused significant destruction in the northern part of the country.

The magnitude of the earthquake, which took place in Japan on Friday, was measured 8.8 on Richter scale. Quakes still continue in the capital, Tokyo. The epicenter of the quake was located 382 kilometers to the north-east off Tokyo, at the depth of 10 kilometers. (more…)

U.S. Remains the Largest Cocaine Market in the World

By PravdaMarch 6, 20111 commentCulture, GeneralEurope, heroin, largest market for cocaine, legalisation of marijuana, lisa karpova, marijuana, methamphetamine, mexican traffickers, overuse of drugs, united states

The United States remains the world’s largest market for cocaine, with 4.8 million users, although its importance has been reduced in recent years, according to the INCB (International Board for Narcotics Control).

“In 2009, 4.8 million people consumed some form of cocaine in the U.S., compared with 5.3 million in 2008,” the INCB said in its report in 2010. With this number of consumers, the U.S. represents 41% of the international drug market, ahead of Europe, with 29%, according to the board, stating that “Although the market for cocaine has been reduced in North America, it continues to grow in Europe.” (more…)

Orangutans and Gorillas

By PravdaFebruary 17, 2011Generaladult apes, gorillas, monkey house, moscow zoo, natural laws, orangutans

Three babies have been born in the monkey house of the Moscow Zoo during the recent six months. The births took place in the families of orangutans and gorillas. While young males and females are growing, adult apes continue to follow natural laws. *Source: Pravda

Woman Chases Tiger Attacking Her Husband Away With Wooden Ladle

By PravdaFebruary 14, 2011Culture, Generalgerik belum forest reserve, han besau, kg sungai tiang, kuala lumpur, lacerations, malaysian tiger, malaysian woman, orang asli, spoon, squirrels, tambun gediu, tiger attack, wooden ladle

A Malaysian woman has rescued her husband from tiger attack by hitting the animal on its head with a wooden ladle and chasing it away.

Tambun Gediu, 60, from an Orang Asli settlement, was hunting for squirrels near his village in the Gerik Belum Forest Reserve on Saturday when the 90kg tiger pounced on him. (more…)

Stroke Takes ‘Enormous Toll’ on Hollywood Stars

By Guest PostFebruary 11, 2011General, Healthcardiovascular disease, elizabeth taylor, fatal strokes, grace Kelly, hannah smith, heart attack, high blood pressure, hollywood actors, hollywood stars, kirk douglas, los angeles, mary pickford, oscar nominees, rana fiaz, researchers, richard burton, stroke, united states

A study by researchers at the UCLA Stroke Center found that stroke and cardiovascular disease have exacted an enormous toll on Hollywood stars.

The findings were presented at the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s International Stroke Conference (ISC) in Los Angeles on Feb. 10.

“Since this is the first time the ISC is being held in Los Angeles, we thought it was an appropriate occasion to investigate the frequency and impact of stroke among leading Hollywood actors,” said Hannah Smith, a staff research associate at the UCLA Stroke Center. “By documenting the toll that stroke and myocardial infarction have exacted on stars like Kirk Douglas and Grace Kelly, we hope to illustrate the damage that cardiovascular disease can cause.” (more…)

Shark Attacks Increase Worldwide; Florida Continues Four-year Decline

By Guest PostFebruary 7, 2011Environment, Generalapex predators, australia, beach, economic downturn, egypt, fishing lines, florida, george burgess, hawaii, ichthyologist, native floridians, red sea, shark attacks, South Africa, tourists, united states, unusual shark incident, Vietnam, water temperatures, worldwide

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The number of reported shark attacks last year increased worldwide but declined in Florida, according to the University of Florida’s International Shark Attack File annual report released today.

Ichthyologist George Burgess, director of the file housed at the Florida Museum of Natural History on the UF campus, said Florida typically has the highest number of attacks worldwide, but 2010 marked the state’s fourth straight year of decline. Florida led the U.S. with 13 reported attacks, but the total was significantly lower than the yearly average of 23 over the past decade. (more…)

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