A recent study described in the article "Music Linked to Marijuana Use" illustrates just how badly science can run off the tracks.

One of the more telling aspects of the study indicated that the surveyed students heard about 40 marijuana references in music per day.  However, instead of concluding that marijuana may be a persistent social phenomenon with a relatively high degree of acceptance, the researchers concluded that it was the music that was the causal factor.

Kim Peek, the inspiration for Dustin Hoffman's character in "Rain man" died Saturday, Dec 19th 2009 at age 58, after suffering a major heart attack.

A truly fascinating individual, Kim was classified as a "mega-savant" who was a strange juxtaposition of disability and genius.  While some may dispute the use of such terms, there is little doubt that Kim possessed some of the most unusual and remarkable abilities ever witnessed.

He will be missed and I would extend my sympathies to his father and caregiver;  Fran Peek.

http://www.wisconsinmedicalsociety.org/savant_syndrome/savant_profiles/kim_peek

A recent LiveScience article "Americans Believe in God, Astrology, and Ghosts" indicates that the beliefs people hold may actually be contradictory and a mix of a variety of themes.

This tends to confirm the view that people will believe almost anything regardless of whether it is consistent with what they profess.  After all how does one reconcile the fact that 22% of those identifying themselves as Christians also believe in reincarnation?  Nearly one in five has had an encounter with a ghost, while 25% believe in astrology.

Propaganda is normally associated with governments that are attempting to persuade or influence people for a particular political objective.  More formally it is defined as "the deliberate, systematic attempt to shape perceptions, manipulate cognitions, and direct behavior to achieve a response that furthers the desired intent of the propagandist"¹.

While there are certainly similarities with many forms of persuasive communication, propaganda by itself doesn't necessarily denote a positive or negative activity.  Such a jugement is always made from the perspective of the viewer.

An article entitled "Children unaffected by smoking ban consequences" points to a new study indicating that children's exposure to second hand smoke is unaffected by the smoking ban in Wales.

We found that the smoke-free legislation in Wales did not increase second-hand smoke exposure in homes of children aged 10-11.  Nevertheless, the home did remain the main source of children's exposure.

So one of the most telling aspects of the study is what it didn't mention.