Linking Miscellany

A number of interesting links that I've been accumulating over the past week:

• [Funny, Productivity] Apparently thinking burns calories (NYT). Unfortunately it's not quite enough to really matter: "the difference might amount to only about 10 calories a day."
  
  
• [Productivity] Bad news for me: "Loss of sleep, even for a few short hours during the night, can prompt one’s immune system to turn against healthy tissue and organs." (Sciencedaily)
  
  
• [Funny, Productivity] Fantastic USB flash drive (OhGizmo). Though I suspect it wouldn't be quite as appropriate to bring to client meetings.
  
  
• [Economics] Apparently some people believe that"heterosexism" is "a negative byproduct of 'capitalism, white supremacy, patriarchy and male-dominated privilege.'" (Volokh) I tend to agree with Glenn Reynolds' observation that "most tolerant societies are capitalist" for the simple reason that markets reward merit.
  
  
• [Commodities, Technology] MIT scientists have figured a way to emulate photosynthesis (MIT News via my Sister)
  
  
• [Technology] A pretty cool site for tracking storms (Stormpulse)
  
  
• [Economics] Obviously it doesn't take much but surprise, surprise, workers in Eastern Europe work longer hours and take less vacation. (Outside the Beltway)
  
  
• [Technology] Will the wonders of Google never cease? Google world is being used to track how cows graze and apparently they graze longitudinally (in a north-south direction), (Freakonomics). Google Earth is also being credited in helping win a gold medal at the Olympics. (TechCrunch)
  
  
• [Politics] For all the intolerance that evangelical Christians get blamed for, it turns out we aren't so intolerant after all (well at least not anti-semitic), (Volokh via Instapundit)
  
  
• [Technology, Funny] New site lets you air your dirty laundry in public to resolve domestic and other disputes with "hilarious" results. (TechCrunch)