Seen from various panes

Time for another round-up; this time it's news. What do make-up, guinea pigs, historical figures, and modern social advertising have in common? Not a thing. But here they are anyway.

1) Revlon's ancestral origins revealed?
Archaeologists are at it again, or still, tirelessly trying to decipher history from trash. Though there aren't any brand-names attached, it seems from the evidence that

humans 164,000 years ago put on primitive makeup

In-context definition of "primitive"?

[Researchers]

found 57 pieces of ground-up rock that would have been reddish- or pinkish-brown. That would be used for self-decoration and sending social signals to other people, much the way makeup is used now

Not so sure how "primitive" that is, me with the natural kohl and similar products, but okay. (Want to be the study author and contributors are all men? )


2) Forgotten Flu Fact Found

There's recent news in the medical community: proof that flu really does spread more efficiently in winter. (I just love it when the eggheads prove things your grandmother already knew. ) It took this long in part because none of the common modern lab animals much contract the flu. But some bored researcher turned up a report from the aftermath of the 1918 epidemic and read that the guinea pigs Army doctors had been using then were susceptible. Some modern somebody placed an order for many, many guinea pigs--and now, thanks to our furry friends, we have actual verified numbers about the relationships between temperature, humidity, and airborne flu transmission rates.


3) Crippen hanged on false evidence, say scientists.

So, okay, history's not my usual beat, but it was an oddly sexy case. If you like your sexuality on the dark side of dark. Now, they say the body wasn't Mrs. Crippen's after all! Man, next you're going to tell me Lizzie Borden didn't go to town with an ax!

Oh, wait...

4) You could go deaf if you keep doing that! Do you care?

The FDA's requiring a new warning on Viagra and its ilk: risk of sudden hearing loss. Of course, Viagra already had a similar warning (though it wasn't legally required), and it hasn't hurt sales any!

5) Whoa, there, little dogie!

"Little pinkie" slows down Aussie drivers

Nothing to say about this; it amused me, that's all.


6) Love that pearly glow!

I started with make-up's history, so let's end with the future of cosmetics. Or one possible future, anyway: custom-grown diatoms.



peace and x-rated joy,

pxj