PBS Eons examines 'What Was Greenland Like When it Was Green'

I promised "an evergreen educational post" today, so I'm sharing PBS Eons examining What Was Greenland Like When it Was Green.

It made the front page of the New York Times. Ancient DNA over 2 million years old, retrieved from the frozen dirt of Greenland. It reached back further in time than many scientists used to think was even theoretically possible. And it contained the genetic ghost of an /entire ecosystem/ – one that has no counterpart in today’s world and one that we had /no idea/ even existed. It told of a time when Greenland was green…and how we might borrow genes from that ancient past to help us adapt to the future.

This story should look familiar to my readers. It's the one told in "Hunt for the Oldest DNA," the NOVA episode that won Outstanding Science and Technology Documentary at the News & Doc Emmy Awards.

I was glad to be wrong about "Hunt for the Oldest DNA" episode of NOVA, the winner.

This is the only episode of NOVA nominated and I agree it's probably the best one of 2024. It's also the nominee with the most important science. That written, it's not likely to win the most votes, since most of the electorate will judge the nominees for their cinematic and journalistic merit, not their scientific value. As I reiterate nearly every time I write about awards shows, electorates matter.

The News & Doc Emmy voters pleasantly surprised me by voting for the nominee with the most important science. Congratulations to them and NOVA!

The Earth 2.4 million years ago, during the earliest Pleistocene, wasn't as warm as it was 3.6 million years ago, the last time carbon dioxide levels were as high as today, but it's a good analog just the same. If that's the future we're heading towards, then it might be a good idea to borrow the adaptations those organisms had to prepare today's organisms for the warmer world that's coming. That's a Crazy Eddie concept, but I'm enough of a Crazy Eddie to approve of it.

That's a wrap for today. Stay tuned for another evergreen educational entry tomorrow.

Randy Rainbow sings 'RFK!'

I told my readers to "Stay tuned for comedy" today and do I have comedy for them! Randy Rainbow uploaded RFK! A Randy Rainbow Song Parody yesterday, so sing along with Randy!

Parody of “Cabaret” (Music by John Kander, Lyrics by Fred Ebb)

It was about time Randy Rainbow did a parodies of "Cabaret" and RFK Jr. The Marsh Family beat Randy by months!

That's a wrap for today. Since this blog passed its December page view goal yesterday, stay tuned for an evergreen educational post tomorrow.

Giving Tuesday in Michigan 2025

Happy Giving Tuesday! Like last year, I'm concentrating on Michigan, beginning with WDIV/Click on Detroit/Local 4 explaining How to ensure donations go to the right place on Giving Tuesday.

Ahead of Giving Tuesday, Nakia Mills from the Better Business Bureau advises donors to verify charities before donating to ensure their money is used as intended. The BBB recommends checking the accreditation and financial practices of charities on their website as a precautionary measure.

Good advice, the kind I would given about security if I had celebrated Cyber Monday yesterday instead of World AIDS Day.

WDIV suggested a charitible cause in Donate to THAW this Giving Tuesday to support Michigan families with utility bills.

On Giving Tuesday, donations will be collected for THAW, the Heat and Warmth Fund, to assist people in crisis with utility bills during winter. THAW offers more than just bill assistance, including energy-efficient home improvements as experienced by beneficiary Byron Spivey. Serving families with children, seniors, and veterans, THAW helped 11,000 homes with $10 million last year, with over 80% of donations going directly to services. The organization aims to enhance the long-term health and financial security of Michigan neighborhoods with additional support like home assessments and appliances.

Not only does THAW pay people's utility bills, it pays for energy conservation upgrades. I approve.

Moving to the other side of the state, WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids described The mental health benefits of giving.

Learn more about the mental health benefits of giving ahead of Giving Tuesday. (Dec. 1, 2025)

I used to be a director of a nonprofit. I can tell you that a physical quarter in a Salvation Army kettle will probably be a net benefit, but any online donation less than a dollar will likely cost the charity money in processing fees.

That's a wrap for today. Stay tuned for comedy tomorrow.

For World AIDS Day, KPIX explains 'How HIV Research Helped Pave Way To Fight COVID-19 Pandemic'

After two years of examining the AIDS pandemic through biographies of more or less famous people infected with HIV, it's time to return to the science and serious purpose of World AIDS Day. I begin with KPIX/CBS News Bay Area from 2021 observing World AIDS Day: How HIV Research Helped Pave Way To Fight COVID-19 Pandemic.

As the world marks World AIDS Day, researchers note the four decades battling the disease have proven crucial in battling the COVID-19 pandemic. Kiet Do reports. (12/1/21)

I was expecting another take on CNBC explains how HIV research led to COVID-19 vaccines for World AIDS Day, a double pandemic update. Instead, I found out how experts applied public health lessons learned from the AIDS pandemic to COVID-19. That made the video worth watching. As a bonus, I probably have only one degree of separation from Dr. Sarah Ruddman and Dr. Marty Fenstersheib because the ex-girlfriend I most often mention here was working for the Santa Clara County Health Department last I checked, which was before the COVID-19 pandemic. They almost certainly know her and she would certainly know who they are. By the way, Dr. Fenstersheib's predictions about the disease persisting and people needing a booster shot for COVID-19 every year have proven to be true. We should listen to him.

CBS New York interviewed someone else worth listening to in World AIDS Day and the meaning behind the global movement.

Jennifer Lotito, President and Chief Operating Officer, (RED) joins CBS New York to discuss World AIDS Day, which is on December 1.

Lotito offered both facts and action, even if that action was shopping. People will be shopping today anyway, so they might as well do it for a good cause.

I close with NBC4 Columbus reporting Shades of Red event to be held on World AIDS Day.

Monday will mark the 37th World AIDS Day, which was started in 1988 by the World Health Organization to raise awareness and understanding of the global AIDS pandemic.

I relate to Lynn Kid. She said that it's important that she not allow a disease control her and that she's way more than HIV. I feel the same about diabetes. It may "be a central organizing fact of my life," but it's not everything about me.

That's a wrap for today's holiday. Stay tuned for Giving Tuesday.