Grand Rounds 2.36 is extensively robust this week.  As always, go enjoy the best of the medical blogosphere.  This is good stuff.

Go take a look at Birds in the News 60 (v2n11).  You must expect by now that you’ll find some stunning photos along with plenty of avian news and science.

The 69th Edition of the Carnival of Education is up and running.

Circus of the Spineless – Edition #9 is a great place to learn about the latest in invertebrate research and news.

This is interesting…  It’s a pop music video.  There’s only one important piece of information to note: it’s from the Indian music scene.  You have to watch the whole thing to get the gist of what makes it feel like you’re watching the proverbial train wreck at reduced speed.  It’s oddly entertaining in ways I doubt were intentional.

Look!  It’s an evangelical Christian who understands the need to treat everyone with respect and dignity regardless of their religious beliefs.  The example he gives is perfect.

Remember when slimy French journalists claimed Lance Armstrong was doping?  I said back then such a proposition was near laughable and that the episode could likely be blamed on French jealousy: they can’t even win their own race anymore.  Well, now we know the truth.  The witch hunt was a farce and fabrication by French media as Armstrong has been cleared of all charges.  The report found major problems with the testing, the French newspaper that illegally reported what should have been confidential information, the French Ministry, the Tour de France officials, and pretty much every other French person who was somehow involved in the whole fiasco.  And what has their response been?  To try and discredit the report, to claim that this does not exonerate Armstrong, and to otherwise stomp their feet and wail like the spoiled children they are.  Those impudent French; what chutzpah.

Ooh, pretty…  I love photography blogs.

If you remember, South Dakota’s government banned abortion earlier this year.  Guess what?  South Dakota’s citizens didn’t like that idea and are intervening.  They’ve forced a repeal of the law onto November’s ballot.  Kudos to them for reigning in the idiots in office.

A new cave discovered in Israel appears to contain a wholly isolated prehistoric ecosystem.  Thus far, eight new species have been discovered, and they are all believed to be ancient (millions of years old).  More discoveries are expected as further exploration and study take place.  The cave is completely sealed off from the outside (including from water sources and nutrients that might seep in from above), and all of the species discovered thus far have no eyes.