Feathers.
No, I'm not going to do that. You see...
that's what I'd do if I were the kind of girl that you think I am.
Doctor Who: The End of Time preview @ BBC Children In Need 2009
Depression as deadly as smoking, study finds (Science Daily)
A study by researchers at the University of Bergen, Norway, and the Institute of Psychiatry (IoP) at King’s College London has found that depression is as much of a risk factor for mortality as smoking.
Utilising a unique link between a survey of over 60,000 people and a comprehensive mortality database, the researchers found that over the four years following the survey, the mortality risk was increased to a similar extent in people who were depressed as in people who were smokers.
Dr Robert Stewart, who led the research team at the IoP, explains the possible reasons that may underlie these surprising findings: ‘Unlike smoking, we don’t know how causal the association with depression is but it does suggest that more attention should be paid to this link because the association persisted after adjusting for many other factors.’
The study also shows that patients with depression face an overall increased risk of mortality, while a combination of depression and anxiety in patients lowers mortality compared with depression alone. Dr Stewart explains: ‘One of the main messages from this research is that ‘a little anxiety may be good for you’.
I cannot imagine how it could be more the epitome of everything British: Doctor Who, booze, football, “Keep calm and carry on”. (Ok, they could be drinking beer. And eating fish and chips at 5pm.)
(via thetardis) (via foreverkatie)
Computational Complexity: Citing Papers
A student asked me which version of a research paper to cite, a journal (the last reviewed version) or a conference (the first reviewed version) of a paper. I generally cite papers in this precedence list.
- The fully refereed journal version, even if it is “to appear”.
- The reviewed, though not usually refereed, conference proceedings version, again even if it is “to appear”.
- On an electronic archive, like arXiv or ECCC.
- As a departmental technical report.
- On a generic web page, like a personal page.
- As a “Manuscript”, if I have seen the paper but it’s not publicly available.
- As “Personal Communication” if the paper doesn’t exist.
Wrestler Mick Foley to Protect 10-Year-Old Gay Rights Activist - Towleroad
Jon Stewart is in it too.
Tiny Fey at Ad Council dinner, with Sarah Palin in attendance. (via New York Times) (via soupsoup)
Tina Fey EPIC WIN
(via emmanuelnegro)
Computational Complexity: A Prayer Book for the Internet Generation
One can easily see the Internet’s influence. Each prayer gets the equivalent of a web page (or maybe a blog post). Lists on sides are like hyperlinks to other prayers. At the bottom are Twitter-length commentaries on the prayer.
I expect this will be the last paper prayer book in the Reform movement. In the future we’ll all download the prayers on our e-readers or smart phones with links to the next and other relevant prayers, all preset by the rabbis for that day’s service.

