Minwoo’s Right Brain Archive

Whence the Beef? - The gruesome trip from pasture to platter (and how to ensure that it’s not so bad). By Laurie Snyder [from Slate]

You may become a vegetarian after you read this. @@
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Try this fun Film Quiz [Excel]

Don’t forget “the” infront of some film titles.

(thanks Lorraine! :)
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I remember listening Nathaniel Kahn’s interview on FreshAir.. the movie didn’t sound striking then, but it’s getting some rave reviews.
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Scientific American: Why do people snore?

“… relaxation of the upper airway muscles during sleep may decrease the size of the airway space and cause airflow limitation and turbulence. It is the combination of turbulent airflow through the hypotonic airway structures that results in the harsh vibratory noise known as snoring. …

Snoring remedies run the gamut from simple, noninvasive devices that open the nasal passages to more invasive surgical procedures. An external nasal dilator, the Breathe RightR brand nasal strip, enhances nasal breathing by attaching to the outside of the nose like a bandage, and gently lifting and opening the nasal passages. A common observation suggests that snoring improves if the person sleeps on his side or in a semi-upright position rather than on his back. To encourage this position, many snorers have tried solutions ranging from sewing a tennis ball to the back of pajamas to propping up on wedge-shaped pillows. Other noninvasive ways to reduce snoring include losing weight, avoiding alcohol and sedatives, and managing any allergic symptoms. Smoking may lead to airway inflammation and swelling that can further narrow the upper airway, thus smoking cessation may improve snoring. Oral appliances and nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) devices are mechanical apparatuses that act to prevent the tongue and soft palate from collapsing back into the upper airway. Finally, surgery–previously performed with a scalpel and now with a laser–removes some of the vibratory tissues from the back of the airway. Success rates for this procedure are reported to range from 50 percent to 100 percent, although it is described as quite painful. “
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A new version of the BEST Internet browser is out.. used to be called Phoenix, then Firebird… now FIREFOX
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NYTimes has a review (free reg. req.) of Out of Gas by David Goodstein, a book that predicts impending world-wide oil crisis, which according to Goodstein, is about to occur in about 100 years. The future is pretty bleak y’all…

Read on for full text of the review…
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