Friday links

1/ How do the unemployed spend their time?

“roughly 30% to 40% of time not spent working is put towards increased “home” production, 30% of time is allocated to increased sleep time and increased television watching, while other leisure activities make up a further 20% of the foregone market work hours.”

2/ One in three Tanzanian girls sexually abused before the age of 18.

“The survey also found that of those who had sex before they turned 18, 29.1% of females and 17.5% of males reported that their first encounter was unwilling.”

3/ One of major positive points of the World Bank is that it admits failure

“World Bank has a 70% failure rate with ICT4D (information and communication technology for development) projects to increase universal access.”

4/ How women suffer from benevolent sexism

“What could be wrong with a gentleman opening a door for a lady? According to some social psychologists, such acts endorse gender stereotypes: the idea that women are weak and need help; that men are powerful patriarchs. Now a study has looked at how women are perceived when they accept or reject an act of so-called "benevolent sexism" and it finds that they're caught in a double-bind. Women who accept help from a man are seen as warmer, but less competent. Women who reject help are seen as more competent, but cold.”

5/ Sewage still plagues the Hudson River.

6/ Do we need placebos?

“Peggy Willocks, a 44 year old teacher, took part in a trial of the surgery in 2000. She says it helped stave off the symptoms for years, but the development of Spheramine was axed in 2008 after a controlled trial found it didn't work any better than a placebo. The placebo was "sham surgery" i.e. putting the patient through a full surgical procedure, and making holes in their skull, but without doing anything to their brain.”

7/ Letters between Emma and Charles Darwin.

“A fascinating missive written to Charles Darwin in 1839 by his wife, Emma, shortly after the inception of his theory of evolution, in which she openly worries about his dwindling faith and, midway through the letter, asks him not to be blinded to the possibilities of things "which if true are likely to be above our comprehension" whilst consumed by his scientific pursuits. Darwin's reaction is illustrated by his incredibly touching note at the foot of the letter, added some months later. Note: Apparently Emma 'affectionately' referred to Charles as her 'Nigger' on more than one occasion.”

8/ In defence of lying.

9/ The annihilation of civilizations.

10/ Vader versus the Catholic Church

11/ The cool, calm discussion of how to go about genocide