Links for 8/20-8/27: Cross-posted from Facebook

via NPR

Isn't this common knowledge already? Study after study has said exactly the same thing.

Report: Vaccines Not Linked To Autism

www.npr.org

Autism isn't linked to childhood vaccines, according to a new review from the Institute of Medicine, but vaccines aren't free of risks. The committee found that most serious health problems were linked to two live vaccines, the ones for measles-mumps-rubella and chickenpox.

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Texas Legislators and Christian Groups Fight to Insert God Into Vets' Funerals -- Against Families'.

www.alternet.org

Christian military groups are suing the VA to force families to include prayer during the burial services of veterans.

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• ...Huh. It would seem that Eclipse Phase may have been right about this.

  
  

  First link between climate patterns and civil conflict - environment - 24 August 2011 - New Scientis

  www.newscientist.com
  

  The first study to link global climate patterns to the onset of civil wars places El Niño on a par with factors like poverty and social exclusion

  Thursday at 4:26pm · · · Share
• To all those who think Hollywood is full of post-racial, enlightened, latte-sipping PC types: can you name the last movie you saw with a character who broke stereotype? (For that matter, try the last movie you saw that passed Bechdel.)
  

  Step into my film school! The importance of casting in breaking open movie stereotypes. — Feministe

  www.feministe.us
  

  Did any of you catch Matt Zoller Seitz’s pieces on underrated actors and actresses? Given that the purpose of “top ten” lists is to make people argue about who should really be on the list and obviously there are great people not on the list who are underrated, I’m going to say that any list that m...

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• Warnings: Salty language, discussion of sex. Do not listen to the video at work.
  

  
  

  Jamie Kilstein on Gay Marriage - Skepchick

  skepchick.org
  

  Rebecca Watson · Religion & Spirituality · 1 Comment · August 23rd, 2011

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• Oei. When are people going to figure out that Islam itself isn't a problem, just the radical/reactionary exponents you get in any sufficiently large group of people?

  
  

  With CIA help, NYPD moves covertly in Muslim areas - The Denver Post

  www.denverpost.com
  

  Since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the NYPD has become one of the country

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  The future is going to be so cool.

  
  

  Scientists to engineer a human with bulletproof skin

  www.mnn.com
  

  By mixing the genomes of spiders and humans, researchers say they can create genetically altered human skin that could withstand a bullet fired from a .22-caliber long rifle.

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