What I've been reading: 2008-05-29

• Oral is Normal (William Saletan - Slate Magazine)
  The normalization of oral sex.
• All on the mind (The Economist)
  Prepare for drugs that will improve memory, concentration and learning.
• Monkeys Control a Mechanical Arm With Their Thoughts (NYT)
  Two monkeys with tiny sensors in their brains have learned to control a prosthetic arm with only their thoughts, using it to reach for and grab food and even to adjust for the size and stickiness of morsels when necessary.
• Seeking answers to asteroid deflection (Science Blog)
  An Asteroid Deflection Research Center (ADRC) has been established on the Iowa State campus to bring researchers from around the world to develop asteroid deflection technologies.
• Should the Government Make Us Happy? (Miller-McCune)
  In Europe and elsewhere, governments are using ideas from the new science of well-being to try to make citizens more content. Will America follow their lead?
• Lotus Therapy (NYT)
  Mindfulness Meditation, Based on Buddha's Teachings, Gains Ground With Therapists.
• Mashed Frontier Airline safety rules (Boing Boing)
  Funny -- you'll want to see this.
• Commercial DNA Testing Has Pitfalls (NYT)
  The deciphering of the human genome has prompted a number of entrepreneurs to cash in on people's genetic concerns.