The US Electoral College exists because of slavery

At least according to Akhil Reed Amar in The Troubling Reason the Electoral College Exists.

Why Wisconsin turned red

In Trump's Victory and the Politics of Resentment Claudia Wallis interviews political scientist Katherine J. Cramer for the reason Wisconsin voted for Trump.

The working class

In 5 key things people don't get about the American working class Joan C. Williams pretty much describes the Australian working class too.

Vegatable noodle stir-fry

The Cook's Grocer has a Vegie noodle stir-fry recipe with crispy fried egg.

Lift weights to become smarter

In Weightlifting your way to a bigger brain Sarah Berry writes that recent studies have suggested that resistance based exercise may be good for the brain.

Lift weights to make your muscles and your brain stronger. This is true to the extent that even those with mild cognitive impairment experience improved brain function when they weightlift, according to a new study by the University of Sydney.

Healthy muscles are key to strength, weight control, and a defence against type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and osteoarthritis, but, until now, the link to brain function was not causal.

...

Resistance training is something most of us can do more of. One study from earlier this year found that nine out of 10 Australians do not meet the guidelines of twice weekly strength training. Strength training can include lifting weights (barbells, dumbbells or kettlebells), using resistance bands or body weight (push-ups, sit-ups, squats).

Spinach gnocchi recipe

Neil Perry's Spinach gnocchi recipe with peas, zucchini, goat's curd and tarragon recipe.

Muffin recipes

Goodfood has a collection of sweet muffin recipes.

Trump's campaign tactics and Russian propaganda

In Donald Trump campaign's 'firehose of falsehoods' has parallels with Russian propaganda Chris Zappone highlights how the rapid fire false claims and pronouncements by the Trump campaign are very similar to the propaganda coming out from Russia. In both cases they seek to overwhelm traditional media and fact checking, using social media to amplify their lies and falsehoods.

In other words, simply adhering to and amplifying the truth – as was the counter-strategy during the Cold War – is no longer enough.

This point will be no surprise to people working in online media – where the advent of social media has made it much easier for incorrect reporting to take on a life of its own.

One of the reasons is that the volume and pace of information in this propaganda method helps trick the minds of the audience into accepting incorrect facts.

This happens because questionable sources are forgotten even as the information is "remembered as true", the RAND report states.

The world's first political-consulting firm

Jill Lepore in The Lie Factory documents the rise of Campaigns, Inc - the world's first political-consulting firm. She also documents the firms efforts in blocking single payer health care in America.

Healthy fast pizza

Professor Clare Collins' healthy pizza.

Improving two minute noodles

Julie Meek show how to improve two minute noodles in Turning unhealthy two-minute noodles into a wholesome omelette.

NIST's new draft password rules

Chester Wisniewski at Sophos discusses NIST's new draft policy in NIST’s new password rules – what you need to know.

Jim Fenton, a security researcher, has a slide show discussing the changes in Toward Better Password Requirements.

Casarecce pasta with asparagus, chilli, pancetta and garlic

Neil Perry's Casarecce pasta recipe with asparagus, chilli, pancetta and garlic.

Running amok and spree killing

In Running Amok: A Modern Perspective on a Culture-Bound Syndrome Manuel L. Saint Martin explains why mengamok is the equivalent to today's spree killings, and not a cultural syndrome. Instead both are rooted in mental illness or mood or personality disorders.

Running amok is considered a rare culture-bound syndrome by current psychiatric classification systems, but there is evidence that it occurs frequently in modern industrialized societies. The historical origins of running amok as a psychiatric condition are reviewed in this article, and its relevance to modern day episodes of violent behavior is discussed. Psychotic illnesses, personality disorders, and mood disorders are all possible causes of amok, and the identification and treatment of patients who are at risk for manifesting violent behavior are discussed.

Inequality and health - Dr Norman Swan interviews Sir Michael Marmot

In this video Dr Norman Swan interviews Sir Michael Marmot about the impact of inequality on health outcomes.

Dr Karl Kruszelnicki and Professor Clare Collins on Triple J

On the Third of March, 2016, Dr Karl Kruszelnicki and Professor Clare Collins were on Triple J to answer people's calls on diet and nutrition. The audio is available at http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/science/podcast/scienceontriplej/scienceontriplej20160303.mp3.

On the Seventh of July, 2016, Dr Karl Kruszelnicki and Professor Clare Collins were back on Triple J to answer people's calls on diet and nutrition. The audio is available at http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/science/podcast/scienceontriplej/scienceontriplej20160728.mp3.

Healthy raw lemon and coconut slice

Julie Meek's raw lemon and coconut slice.

Choice's guide to storing fruit and vegetables

In Keeping your fruit and veggies fresh in the fridge Matthew Steen lists which fruit and vegetables should be stored together, which apart, which in the fridge and which out.

Plant protein healthier than meat protein

Sarah Berry reports that Plant protein is better for you than meat protein, new study finds.

Broccoli Salad Recipe

Melissa Clark's Broccoli Salad With Garlic and Sesame.