Africa Demands Climate Change Reparations...

I wrote a small summary on this subject earlier today,, but for whatever reason this particular topic hit me a little harder than news usually does, and I thought I'd go off a bit.

So, basically, Africa is moving to demand several billion dollars in climate change reparations for the damage caused by wealthier countries. Assuming, of course, that it is true that climate change is created through anthropogenic means (and I do believe that it is), there is certainly a level of rationality to the request. Africa is one of the lowest emitters of CO2 in the world, and stands to be among the areas of the world who suffer the most from the effects of climate change. It makes sense that those who caused the problem should be responsible for fixing it.

But at the same time, I can't help but think that global warming isn't really the issue here- Africa just wants more money. Once again, wholly rational, but the world is in a lot of turmoil at the moment, and I don't think that paying reparations before the damage even begins is going to help anyone- that money can be better pledged to help find solutions to minimize the damage to Africa and other countries and people, rather than fund a series of highly corrupt governments. Reparations should benefit the people that are affected by the issue, not just help out some politicians, and that it really the crux of the issue here. I don't know, perhaps I'm just being excessively negative again, but it seems to me that the request is rather thinly-veiled, although the other portion of the demands- a 40% decrease in emissions by 2012- sounds much more rational and fair, though it is the half that will never happen rather than simply being extraordinarily unlikely.

The World's Lamest Mutant Superpower™

I probably should've posted something on this earlier in the week if I was really going to, but seeing as I have the time now I might as well give it a whirl.

Good news for all the insomniacs out there- it may simply be a sign that you are, in at least one regard, more evolved than the average person. Recent studies suggest that the ability to be completely functional after less than eight to eight and one half hours of sleep may actually be a genetic mutation. The recent study, conducted by the University of San Francisco, found that a mother and daughter were capable of going to sleep at 11, and waking up refreshed at 5 the next morning without the aid of caffeine or alarm clocks. Other short sleepers typically required both. Both the Mother and Daughter had mutations of the DEC2 gene, which evidently affects circadian rhythm.

I'm so reliant on caffeine at this point that I couldn't really tell you whether or not I actually apply to this, but it certainly is interesting- after all, it provides a distinct societal advantage, allowing the affected to hold extra work or relaxation time, to study additionally or even do chores at a more leisurely pace. It would be interesting to see if evolution will begin to adapt to societal aspects rather than those specifically held within nature, although I daresay that I won't be alive long enough to ever truly find out.

A few updates and links

Just a couple minor comments here, mostly, once more, shameless self promotion hoping for some SEO hits.

I've posted a couple articles at random brokering freelance sites in the last couple days just to take a look at the process and see if it is at all, in fact, something that can generate me a passable amount of passive income.

You can read my review of Asano Inio's masterpiece Solanin here, a further discussion of cultural imperialism in Japan here, and a rather extensive article on magical realism in Japan here. Another, briefer history of Japanese magical realism can be found here.

I hope any readers who stumble across this will enjoy them.