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Real tiny hobbits

This is just way cool. A species of little humans, that are recent enought to a part of the legends of the area. Published in Nature, so you know it is important.

It sounds too incredible to be true, but this is not a hoax. A species of tiny human has been discovered, which lived on the remote Indonesian island of Flores just 18,000 years ago.

Researchers have so far unearthed remains from eight individuals who were just one metre tall, with grapefruit-sized skulls. These astonishing little people, nicknamed 'hobbits', made tools, hunted tiny elephants and lived at the same time as modern humans who were colonizing the area.

Check out the free special section on the Nature website.

The Economist is Endorsing Kerry?

Dan Gillmor says the rumor mill has it that The Economist is endorsing John Kerry. They endorsed W in the previous election.

They seem very unenthused by either candidate, judging by their recent special election section. They were a bit of a tease by not endorsing either candidate.

Dan says their endorsement may not sway many voters, but it certainly *should*.

UPDATE: Indeed they *did* endorse Kerry.

This year's battle has been between two deeply flawed men: George Bush, who has been a radical, transforming president but who has never seemed truly up to the job, let alone his own ambitions for it; and John Kerry, who often seems to have made up his mind conclusively about something only once, and that was 30 years ago. But on November 2nd, Americans must make their choice, as must The Economist. It is far from an easy call, especially against the backdrop of a turbulent, dangerous world. But, on balance, our instinct is towards change rather than continuity: Mr Kerry, not Mr Bush.

Congrats to Carnegie Mellon

Congratulations to Finn Kydland, for winning the Nobel Prize in Economics, jointly with Edward Precott. He a professor at my alma matter, Carnegie Mellon. It is always a nice change when the University of Chicago doesn't win the Nobel.