Interesting Links for 24-08-2012

[andrewducker]

• Britain deserves an affordable railway
  (tags: UK trains libdem )
• Sheriff orders mental assessment on naked rambler
  (tags: nudity law scotland mental_health )
• TV viewers are less concerned by sex and violence. 76% of adults get their news from TV - only 7% via the internet
  (tags: uk tv media )
• Some people apparently think that book burning

Comments

[supergee]

The Prince Harry thing reminds me of Robert Anton Wilson on how God and His priests have to have willies.

[strawberryfrog]

Interesting corollary to the rice story:
The discovery of the PSTOL1 gene means that rice breeders will be able to breed new rice varieties faster and more easily, and with 100% certainty their new rice will have the gene.

Dr. Joko Prasetiyono, of the Institute for Agricultural Biotechnology and Genetic Resources Research and Development in Indonesia, is breeding rice plants with the PSTOL1 gene. The plants are not genetically modified just bred using smart modern breeding techniques.

In other words, a cheaper alternative to actual genetic engineering is making lots of crossbreeds + checking their DNA.

[gonzo21]

I did wonder if there has to be something more to the naked rambler story for him to have spent so many years in prison. If it's over concerns at him walking near children play areas... one would think there are many places he could ramble in the country that weren't near children play areas.

[channelpenguin]

I think it's that the the man does not wear clothes at all ever. Not that I think that's any sort of problem myself, but others do.

[gonzo21]

I have a far greater problem with how much taxpayers money has been spent keeping him in jail for the best part of 6 years. Which is why I think there must be more to the story than we know, that there is evidence that he's a threat to others or something.

[brixtonbrood]

He seems to have been fine for ages going up and down the UK until the law officers of Perth decided that this was Not On.