People Like to View Warm Pictures

Yahoo Labs has spent a lot of time setting up filters for Instagram and Flickr. It found that filtered images are 21 per cent more likely to be viewed. Comments were given 45 percent more often as well. You are probably wondering what kind of filters were used.
Warm picture of a girl in autumn leaves.
Situational or emotional filters were not the target of research. Color was the main selection criterion. The ladies are right - pinks and reds grew the largest audience. All these warm tones were popular. This was followed by yellow which is an intermediate color. Yellow makes you happy you see.

Many people brighten up their pictures by increasing the depth of color. Apparently, this is a mistake because users take no notice. And don't bother with sepia toning either: this turns viewers off. Blue is a no, no, because it is interpreted as cold.

If you want to create art that is unappreciated as much of it is, just continue what you have been doing. If you want to provide pictures that will be viewed by many start churning out the warm, fluffy, happy snaps.
Technology by Ty Buchanan
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The Stress of Commuting

Yes we know! You are fed up with work and travelling to work. Just getting there and back is tedious and boring, let alone tiring. You can't wait to get home for that wholesome dinner and a chance to put your feet up.
Commuters on a bus to work
A study has begun to examine the stress of commuting at the Australian National University. Dr David Russel is leading the CommutingLIFE project. Commuters are being interviewed as well as politicians and policymakers.   Observation of those enduring the daily chore is also taking place.
Commuters in a car sharing a ride
Getting to work is particularly stressful. Public transport engenders distrust, fear and depression. Having to let others into our safety zone is very disturbing. Aggressive drivers put safe ones in a bad mood. Most of all, the loss of valuable time is heartfelt. Even staying at home and working on the Internet has its problems: ties with coworkers are weakened.

It seems those who talk about commuting are healthier, even if it is to complain about the ordeal. Listeners, however, do not fare that well. You don't want someone else's problems.  Passing your stress onto your spouse is not a wise thing to do.

There is a way out without bothering others. You can learn relaxation techniques and settle the harsh thoughts in your head, settling the body into a soothing state. That is if you believe in this silly obsessive compulsive behavior!





Sociology by Ty Buchanan
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Audition Dogs

Dogs audition for men in black movie film
"We have just auditioned for the Men In Black movie."
 
 ✴ Funny Animal Pictures by Ty Buchanan 
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Vasopressin Gene Makes Women Promiscuous

Do you think that extramarital relationships are morally wrong? Well, ninety one percent of people do. However, men are predisposed to wander due to their genes. A fifth of married men had on the side affairs over the last two decades. More than 10 per cent of women who are "programmed" to be loyal to one man also had liaisons.

The most common excuse given is that the marital relationship is not fulfilling. Of course, the proclaimed reason has little to do with the motivation. Other reasons put forward are moral flaws of one party, or this is the thing to do in today's society.

Throughout history men have been away from home sowing their wild oats to increase the number of offspring, while their partners remained tied to the kitchen to feed the couple's children.  There have always been women who have not followed this path who have lived a profligate existence.
A woman flirting extramarital behavior
A new slant on this is that some women have the vasopressin receptor gene which makes for promiscuity. In research on twins it was found that women who had extramarital relationships had one of five variants of the gene. Indeed, forty per cent of women who had promiscuous behavior had a gene variant. This is surprising as women are believed to be driven into relationships by emotions rather than high genetic sexual drive as in men.

The presence of the gene in men is difficult on measure due to the overriding mating drive, though many faithful men had a variant of the gene. It seems that the environment may have a role in the opportunities for men and women to stray, but genes are the main cause.
 Genetics by Ty Buchanan
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Beer Dog

Dog likes beer drinking alcohol
"I do like a beer."
 
 ✴ Funny Animal Pictures by Ty Buchanan 
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Lithium Batteries Banned by Airlines - Incendiaries

Soon you will not be able to take your mobile phone onto a plane let alone use it. Airlines are becoming paranoid after an investigation into a crashed flight in Dubai points to lithium batteries as a cause.
Mobile phones on aircraft planes lithium batteries
As lithium storage becomes thinner the propensity for explosion increases. After exploding a battery sprays flaming liquid in all directs. In many instances a fireball is created.  The item is really a mobile incendiary device.  Heat it up and ignition occurs,

It looks like all battery shipments will literally go by ship in future. Even Apple is getting worried about supplies as more airlines ban lithium batteries as cargo. Defibrillator batteries are already short in Australia and New Zealand.

Rogue airlines, however, are ignoring the trend and jumping onto high payments as businesses pay more to get batteries quickly. This may not last as international airline organizations examine the situation. Banning phones is one step closer as people carry spare lithium batteries in their pockets. Dropping a battery, as many people do, can put a dent in it. This raises the probability of explosion. Note, if a lithium battery explodes so do all the others in the vicinity.
Chemistry by Ty Buchanan
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Homely Dog

Dog house home chat talking gossip
"And I says, "This is my home!"
 
 ✴ Funny Animal Pictures by Ty Buchanan 
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Spiders Go Ballooning

Things have been falling from the sky for centuries. The usual things are frogs and fish. However, some odd things fell to earth in times past. A Roman era pillar was seen to settle gently on the ground. Unfortunately, this was not proven as fact. It could have happened, though.
Balloning spiders babies of larger species
Apparently, spiders covered farms in the Southern Tablelands. They have been appearing there for some time now. The occurrence has only just been announced. Threads from the webs is what people usually see, not so much the spiders themselves. You have to look closer to see the tiny spiders floating along with the webs.

This happens all over the world. We just don't notice the arachnids sticking up their rear ends, pumping out silk and floating off into the blue yonder. It has a name: ballooning.  Spiders do this as a group taking off from an isolated spot and landing in another. The weather has to be in a specific condition for this to take place.

Small spiders and babies of larger species partake in ballooning usually in autumn and spring in Australia. Some scientists say that it is possible for an involuntary exodus to another place to happen. The arachnids are so small a strong gust of winds could sweep them up.
Science by Ty Buchanan
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Cat Watches Dog

Cat looks at dog showing off, peers at gif
"What is that dog doing now?"
 
 ✴ Funny Animal Pictures by Ty Buchanan 
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Man Still Has a Hunter Gatherer Body

The big debate - has Man evolved to eat anything? Of course, eating everything is a huge claim. Human beings have only lived in large groups for 10,000 years. Is this time enough to evolve to eat processed foods? Personally, I would say no. Even scientists who claim this are misguided. They are believing their own propaganda.
Paleo diet of primitive man hunter gatherers
Evolutionary biologist Marlene Zuk says evolution over the last few thousand years has allowed us to digest milk. Don't be fooled by the expertise claimed by this scientist. It should be remembered that many people especially Asians still cannot consume milk without becoming sick. This evolutionary "benefit" is not yet complete. She also says that the hunter-gatherer diet is not known. This is wrong. A great deal is known about the diet of primitive Man. Study of isolated African tribes shows that women collected tubers and berries while men brought home meat every few days. This did not change for hundreds of thousands of years.

Until the last century most humans lived in sparsely populated regions. Was evolutionary "progress" sufficient to change the dietary capability of people in such a short time? Certainly not! Ms Zuk's claims are rubbish. It has been proved that autism is dietary in nature. Changing a diet improves the well being of a sufferer. Scientists still ignore this proven truth.

Processed food may keep you alive but it makes you suffer as well. High intake of sugar for the general population began in the United States in the early 20th century. The Americans were fatter than the British, for example, at that time due to the sugar. Only the wealthy could afford sugar in 19th century Victorian England.  Unfortunately, the Western diet has spread throughout the whole world. The problem with processed food is that vitamins, minerals, protein and particularly carbohydrates can be concentrated into a product, but toxic elements are concentrated as well. However, we do not know which elements are making us ill. Carbohydrate gives potent amounts of energy, but it also makes us fat if we don't use it.

Biology by Ty Buchanan
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Sausage Dog

dog waiting for sausages to cook
"Surely they are ready now!"
 
 ✴ Funny Animal Pictures by Ty Buchanan 
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Wild Glycine Crossed With Soybean

Selection of the most suitable plants has been going on for thousands of years, but it has never been so intensive as modern times. It is not so much farmers who do it today. Scientists are doing this as their main work.
Glycine crossed with soybean crop agriculture fertility hormone
Ram Singh a geneticist crossed a wild Australian plant with soybean to produce a super crop. Many soybean diseases have been stopped in their tracks. It wasn't easy though. Success came after years of research. The first attempt to "blend" wild Glycine attributes with soybean took place in 1983.

A new process which prevents hybrid seeds from becoming sterile was the key to creating the special soybean. Many back crosses with the parent plant were necessary. Ram Singh sent seeds to other scientists as he was working. Outside input from them was a great help.

Soybean is a very imported crop that feeds the world. Many products are derived from it. There is hope for the future as 26 wild species of Glycine exist. Most are disease resistant. The hormone anti-sterility treatment has opened-up the whole crop breeding field.
Genetics by Ty Buchanan
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Cat Stops Clock

Cat stops clock alarm hour
"I'll stop that chiming."
 
 ✴ Funny Animal Pictures by Ty Buchanan 
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DNA Readies You for the Winter

It is commonly believed that DNA does its job and is just "there", non-functioning. However, new research shows DNA to be pro-active. It reads our senses and reacts accordingly. DNA detects the seasons and changes ones' body chemistry accordingly.
DNA genes image img
As many as a fifth of all blood cells genes change with the season. Gene switches are turned on or off to achieve this. In winter immune responders are at a high level. The blood gets thinner in summer knowing that you will be more active. Body-building, fat-burning and water retention is the objective in hotter months.

It is possible that living in air conditioned buildings could leave you body at risk of disease because the preparatory changes are not complete. Even the length of day is now distorted by artificial light.  While having ant-inflammatory chemicals ready and operational in winter is rationally useful, inflammation in itself damages the body, particularly when there is no attack on the body.

It seems DNA knows what it is doing. This is not proven though. Body reactions have been developed by evolution. Remember, there have been dead ends where species have disappeared when the environment changed. Whether, white bread is safe to eat is still not known. Only 10,000 years of human consumption of this unnatural substance proves nothing.
Chemistry by Ty Buchanan
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