Big Mac Cat

"Go on. Take me out to Big Maccers."
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Weird Findings About IVF Babies

There has been a weird finding in research done on IVF children - they are taller than average. Work done in New Zealand has found that by six years of age children conceived by IVF are taller. This occurred when fresh embryos were used, but not with frozen embryos. The higher quality of fresh embryos was the apparent reason for this.

No benefits nor disadvantages were seen in children born using frozen embryos than children conceived normally. The real issue is - Are fresh embryos really of higher quality? Donors giving frozen embryos are just as selective.

About one in thirty children are now conceived with IVF. It is girls who are notably taller. Another "weird" outcome is that mainly boys will be conceived if the embryos are left out in a dish for five days before implantation into the uterus.
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Gossip Dog

"Then I said, 'You do what you like luv.'"
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Danger From HIgh Salt Intake Is Overstated

Salt will kill you. That it is the idea we are all expected to accept, but there is no real proof that this is the case. No research has indicated that a high salt diet increases blood pressure. Indeed, a century ago Africans would travel a thousand miles to get it. Salt is essential for life.

Consumption 50 percent higher than the recommended level is nothing to worry about, considering it is only a "guesstimate" anyway. High blood pressure has increased in the community despite salt intake remaining about the same per person for 40 years.

Like a tax on fast food will not stop people from buying take away, so campaigns to reduce salt intake will not make people consume less. If manufacturers of processed food take salt out of their products consumers will not buy their products. Salt definitely improves flavor.
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Wolf - Bear Cuddle

"This is ridiculous. Where's the meat bozo?"
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Memorization Is Still Useful at University

It has been said that memorizing answers is not good preparation for university. This is based on the premise that much tertiary work is research and evaluation. But what about exams? Semester examinations can contribute from 10 to 50 per cent of a subject, depending on who creates the "set up" of a course.

Lecturers set exams based upon their own knowledge. They can't help themselves. It is like an artist who paints a crowd. On close perusal of the picture you can see many instances of little artists everywhere. In other words painters tend to create images of themselves. University lecturers test students on their own knowledge - they have their own pet areas.

Students can benefit from this. They can take a recording device into lectures. Indeed, many institutions record lectures for students who miss them for unforeseen reasons. It is possible to buy devices that play back speech very fast. They have a tone control to normalize the pitch. Students can play lectures over and over again at their leisure to memorize lecturers' favorite areas of knowledge. You can virtually guarantee this will be tested for in exams.

Just about every subject has a political dimension - economics, political science, sociology, anthropology and historiography. Determine where on the political spectrum a lecturer is positioned. Write assignments that support their view. Then you will get good marks.
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"I guess I can squeeze you in at my place."
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Extinct Animals Are Still With Us

Animals are going extinct, though some are still turning up. This is true. In the past 100 years many species have been declared extinct. Oddly, a third of these have been found still living. Many have not been seen for a very long time. This is the reason for them still being around.

The okapi a zebra-like animal was recently re-found in the Congo. In Cuba the solenodon "rat" was seen jumping around. Another find was the Indonesian Talaud Flying Fox. In Australia the rock rat was identified. And the Christmas Island shrew came to light.

This is embarrassing for the conservationists about to meet in Japan at the United Nations Summit on Biodiversity. It appears that emotion has won out over rationality. It is too easy to make predictions about what will happen in the future. With climate change, little real knowledge is available to researchers. Perhaps now more cautious steps will be taken.
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