Weird Neonatal Science

RealClearScience links to an article about an alternate theory of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome or SIDS. Its essential element is that the infant may dream of the prior experience in the womb, when breathing does not occur, and thus in REM sleep mode, simply revert and stop breathing. 

There is, the article claims, no practical way to test this hypothesis. However, recommendations to put infants on their backs, and not keep them too warm should help as this is likely to avoid sleep conditions that are womb-reminiscent: super warm and fetal positioned.

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I wonder if SIDS occurs in cultures that swaddle infants on a papoose or cradle board? These neonates tend to be kept warm, but upright and not fetal-positioned. It would be a good cross-disciplinary study between pediatrics and anthropology.

'Tis True

Joel Kotkin surveys our situation and concludes with a quote, the authorship of which he doesn't claim. I like it a lot, here it is.

If you’re free to complain about fascism, you don’t live in a fascist country.

Remember it when some wild-eyed 'democratic socialist' claims we are threatened by MAGA fascism. 

CA Primary Today

It is a spring Tuesday in an even-numbered year, so there are primary elections happening. Those in CA seem to be attracting the most attention today, because they are stranger than usual.

The race for mayor in Los Angeles features two Democrats of varying degrees of leftism and having varying degrees of baggage, and former reality show star Spencer Pratt. You’d expect a run-off between the Democrats in strongly Democrat LA. 

However Pratt has been focusing on the uglies festering in the City of Angels: homeless violent drug zombies pooping everywhere and a fire department that lets whole neighborhoods burn down. Oddly, LA voters seem to be paying attention and Pratt has benefitted from very clever ads.

The governor race features several uninspiring Democrats with flaws and two interesting but similarly uninspiring Republicans in a so-called “jungle primary.” Believe it or not five candidates are polling in double digits and a couple more are hanging in with single digits. 

This time tomorrow we may know more, depending on how screwed up the CA vote counting process proves to be. As a CA ‘expat’ I retain an interest in what, in times past, was our most blessed state. 

Common Sense

A study done in Sweden found 1% of the population committed 63% of violent crimes. Understanding this, President Bukele of El Salvador built large prisons and imprisoned the violent thugs. 

El Salvador's violent crime rate dropped from very high to very low. Bukele became a model to follow.

This isn't rocket science, it is common sense. It is how you have a safe, livable country. 

Ice Cold Snark

Image courtesy of today's Lucianne.com.

(Democrats claiming US honored war dead were mere pawns)