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Parasite Correlated With World Cup Success

Posted by kdawson on from the yeah-yeah-not-causation dept.

mahiskali writes "A parasite commonly found in cats, Toxoplasma gondii, has an unnerving relation to World Cup victories by country. (This parasite was discussed here twice in 2006.) Toxo can be found in almost every type of mammal, from rats to humans. The overall goal of the parasite is to end up in a feline stomach, which is the only place it can reproduce. In other mammals, humans for example, the parasite heads for the brain. It is estimated that nearly 1/3 of the human population has a latent Toxo infection, with individual countries having infection rates varying from 6% (Korea) to 92% (Ghana). Countries with greater incidence of this parasitic infection in their populations tend to win more World Cups than those without. The article, written by a Stanford University neuroscientist, goes on to try out various rationales for such a correlation, ranging from increased testosterone to increased dissent of authority — all symptoms of a Toxo infection. Now we just need to find a parasite that causes an inability to referee properly, and we'll have this whole World Cup business all sorted out."

73 of 366 comments (clear)

  1. Good News is... by ChrisK87 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Fortunately here in the States we don't have to worry about such dangerous things as world cup victories.

    1. Re:Good News is... by Wyatt+Earp · · Score: 2, Informative

      Nor does the bulk of Asia.

      It's not really a World Cup, it's a European-South American Cup with a couple countries from other continents invited.

      The US is top tier in FIFA rankings compared to China, India, Russia, the Islamic World. I'm also amused that they put Israel in with UEFA and not in AFC because the Islamic nations won't play them. Put Israel in AFC and if they won't play then they forfeit.

    2. Re:Good News is... by socz · · Score: 4, Funny

      It's not really a World Cup, it's a European-South American Cup with a couple countries from other continents invited.

      Now THAT makes sense! That's why we have the world series of baseball with only 2 countries playing!

      --
      My abilities are only limited by my imagination
    3. Re:Good News is... by Wyatt+Earp · · Score: 2, Insightful

      If anything the UEFA cup should be called the World Cup because players from all over the world are in the European Leagues.

      I know they call it the World Series because the best players in the world come to the MLB and all that, it's a dumb name for a series.

      How many countries have a serious interest in Baseball? US, Canada, Mexico, Cuba, Haiti, Dominican Republic, RoK and Japan, that's pretty much it.

      The MLB series should be called the Commissioner's Series.

    4. Re:Good News is... by DragonWriter · · Score: 5, Informative

      Except the point is that the much-ballyhooed-by-TEH-WORLD(tm) "World Cup" is just as inaccurate as the evil, evil, evil, rude, evil, evil, backwards, evil, not-at-all-like-Europe, evil, evil, hated, evil, evil, GAAAARGH WHY DO THEY NOT JUST DIE LIKE I HATE THEM TO, evil, evil, and just not nice United States's "World Series" (which is from the evil United States, meaning it is evil).

      Except that its not.

      The FIFA World Cup process includes teams from pretty much the whole world (there are few nations that don't aren't FIFA members, but not many.) Sure, most teams don't last past the
      the qualifiers, but that doesn't mean they aren't part of the process.

      OTOH, the MLB "World" Series, even including the MLB regular season as a "qualifying" process, includes teams from two countries.

      So, no, the two aren't even approximately equal.

    5. Re:Good News is... by DragonWriter · · Score: 4, Informative

      The US is top tier in FIFA rankings compared to China, India, Russia, the Islamic World.

      Russia (#11) is ranked higher than the US (#14)

      "the Islamic World" doesn't have a team, but one predominantly-Islamic country (Egypt) is ranked above the US (Egypt; #12).

      OF course, FIFA rankings and FIFA World Cup qualifications aren't all that tightly linked; many of the countries (including Asian countries) that qualify for the WC do so over higher-ranked countries (North Korea, ranked #105, being a prime example this year.)

    6. Re:Good News is... by Wyatt+Earp · · Score: 2, Interesting

      But the process is very heavily weighted for European countries.

      All of Asia - four slots representing 3.88 billion people.

      Africa - six slots (including 1 for the host)representing 1 billion people

      Central and North America, Caribbean - 3 slots for .528 billion people

      South America - 5 slots for .385 billion people

      Europe - 13 slots for .731 billion people.

      And one slot up for grabs between Asia and Oceania.

      Asia should have 7 slots, Europe, 8, South America 4, Africa, 7, North/Central America 4 with the last spot interchangeable with South America like how Oceania and Asia's is now and Oceania 1. Thats 31 plus 1 for the host country.

    7. Re:Good News is... by unix1 · · Score: 5, Informative

      It's not really a World Cup, it's a European-South American Cup with a couple countries from other continents invited.

      "Invited?" Every World Cup tournament is preceded by World Cup qualifying matches in which every country meeting FIFA criteria (which is pretty much every country) participates. That's why it's called the World Cup.

    8. Re:Good News is... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      Almost %50 of the population... Therefore most of the world does play football, even though you are wrong with your claim. Football has a massive following in China, being one of the most popular sports, in India only being ranked second to cricket (which is kind of a given). In the US it is the most popular recreational sport for both male & female competitors.

      Your claims fall flat on their face when tested to any degree.

      The World Cup is an international event, and starts again pretty much as soon as the cup is won. Just because you only follow the World Cup when your team is in the group stages doesn't mean it isn't going on for 4 years.

      You need to check your facts before you make huge claims on slashdot, if not, we will.

    9. Re:Good News is... by iserlohn · · Score: 2, Informative

      I don't know which world you're in but football is big in China and less so but catching on in India (behind Cricket of course). There really is just no comparison with the MLB.

      --
      :. Ultimate Control Dedicated/VM Servers
    10. Re:Good News is... by Geoffrey.landis · · Score: 4, Funny

      ...That's why we have the world series of baseball with only 2 countries playing!

      You know, I've always been surprised by how often a woman from Earth wins the Miss Universe contest. You think it's rigged?

      --
      http://www.geoffreylandis.com
    11. Re:Good News is... by moranar · · Score: 5, Insightful

      ... And you'd be skewing the results another way. Part of the thing is watching good teams play. When thinking about an exciting world cup match, "North Korea vs Uzbekistan" does not come to mind. Good teams mostly come from Europe, or South America. Granted, the level of play in the last few world cups has been really shoddy, but still, using the 'let's assign slots using only population metrics' is completely absurd.

      --
      "I think it would be a good idea!"
      Gandhi, about Internet Security
    12. Re:Good News is... by corbettw · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I thought the divisions were based on nations, not populations. Or are you suggesting China should get three teams?

      --
      God invented whiskey so the Irish would not rule the world.
    13. Re:Good News is... by fractoid · · Score: 4, Interesting
      Seriously, though, I researched toxoplasmosis a while ago (new kitten plus pregnant wife equals a million people saying OMG KEEP BABBY AWAY FROM KITTAH) and it's a very interesting disease.
      From wikipedia:

      The study suggests that male carriers have shorter attention spans, a greater likelihood of breaking rules and taking risks, and are more independent, anti-social, suspicious, jealous and morose. It also suggests that these men are deemed less attractive to women. Women carriers are suggested to be more outgoing, friendly, more promiscuous, and are considered more attractive to men compared with non-infected controls. The results are shown to be true when tested on mice, though it is still inconclusive. A few scientists have suggested that, if these effects are genuine, prevalence of toxoplasmosis could be a major determinant of cultural differences.

      It makes men more macho (the study does lose major credibility, though, by suggesting that risk-taking rule-breaking antisocial men are LESS attractive to women... what planet are they from?) and it makes women friendlier and sexier. Where's the bad?

      --
      Rampant carbon sequestration destroyed the Dinosaurs' tropical paradise. I'm here to help repair the damage.
    14. Re:Good News is... by zill · · Score: 5, Informative

      Football is the #1 sport in China and FIFA is the most watched sports event in China.

    15. Re:Good News is... by BluBrick · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Still less boring than baseball.

      Cricket. Now that's a dull sport! In the words of Robin Williams, "It's like baseball on Mandrax." At least baseball doesn't go for FIVE WHOLE DAYS with no result.

      --
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      The doctor said I'm not supposed to get Slashdot in it!
    16. Re:Good News is... by Capsaicin · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Not saying we need to get into a pissing match or anything, but I think it's always best to take "World" or "Universe" or whatever with more than a grain of salt whenever it's used.

      FIFA has more national members than the UN. More than 200 teams from all around the world competed for this years world cup. Apart from the Olympics, it is difficult to imagine any sporting event more appropriately tagged as "World" than this. There is certainly no single sport which attracts anywhere near the level of support football does, even if you count out the dark areas of Earth (USA/Can, India/Pakistan, Australia/NZ).

      Why do you hate reality?

      --
      Better to be despised for too anxious apprehensions, than ruined by too confident a security. --Edmund Burke
    17. Re:Good News is... by uvajed_ekil · · Score: 4, Insightful

      "It's not really a World Cup, it's a European-South American Cup with a couple countries from other continents invited."

      What makes you say that? Because the bulk of the entries come from Europe and South America? Or because that is where the winners come from, because they play the best football? The World Cup is open to all nations who ware willing to play by FIFA rules, meaning FIFA rules of the game and no (major) political interference with the tournament. In fact, I think FIFA would love it if more Asian countries put forth serious entries and improved their level of play. The increasingly strong representation of Africa in recent years has been welcomed by all, and fans around the world enjoyed seeing Ghana defeat the USA and battle Uruguay to a shoot-out, in a game they should have won. That is not to mention that both Japan and South Korea advanced past group play, Australia missed only missed out on goal differential, New Zealand were not beaten, and two CONCACAF representatives, USA and Mexico (not Honduras), faired okay.

      It is a World Cup, and open to all countries with a team good enough to earn a spot by winning some qualifying matches and showing a dedication to and respect for the beautiful game. Bangladesh or Cambodia should not be handed a ticket to Brazil in 2014 just so Asia will have more teams, they have to earn it by competing and succeeding. More competitive play could garner more regional teams in the final tournament. Until then, sorry.

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    18. Re:Good News is... by Literaryhero · · Score: 2, Insightful

      This could be balanced if we did one of two things: Treat the European Union as 1 slot the same way we treat the American Union as 1 slot. -or- 25 slots for the EU states and 50 slots for the US states.

      Except for the fact that the 'American Union' is actually one country, and the European Union is not. Should we start splitting up the EU member nations by state/province too? Or perhaps you just made this comment because the US is a large nation. Hey, even though Canada doesn't qualify, we need to split them up, too. Russia, too big, let's start treating them as separate smaller states. China and India too. Hey, this is fun!

    19. Re:Good News is... by Literaryhero · · Score: 3, Informative

      Actually the original name was "The World" Series which was the name of the newspaper that sponsored it. It's similar to how NASCAR had the Winston Cup and the Busch Cup. The difference is that NASCAR renamed their trophies when the sponsor changed, whereas "The World" Series never got changed..... and now if causes confusion because few remember that it was named after a paper.

      Except for the fact that you completely made that up.

      Here is a brief excerpt from the Wikipedia article: The series were promoted and referred to as the "The Championship of the United States", "World's Championship Series", or "World's Series" for short.

    20. Re:Good News is... by Brad1138 · · Score: 4, Funny

      Every World Cup tournament is preceded by World Cup qualifying matches in which every country meeting FIFA criteria (which is pretty much every country) participates. That's why it's called the World Cup.

      You obviously know to much about soccer to be American.

      --
      If you could reason with religious people, there would be no religious people
    21. Re:Good News is... by M.+Baranczak · · Score: 4, Funny

      Antarctica got robbed!

    22. Re:Good News is... by ppanon · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Heh. The rules of curling are actually pretty simple. It's mostly like bocce/petanque on ice, with bigger rocks that nobody in their right mind tries to throw. The strategies and techniques for curling however, are more complex.

      --
      Laissez lire, et laissez danser; ces deux amusements ne feront jamais de mal au monde. - Voltaire
    23. Re:Good News is... by lordholm · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Outside of the EU they do not longer think of the individual states that much. The problem is that Europeans, in general, fail to see their importance in the world as _Europeans_.

      Now, I wouldn't mind seeing a European team, but practicalities prevent this from happening except for maybe some exhibition game. Some states are so devolved that they field several teams, like for instance the UK (which most people outside of UK think as one country, but is actually 4 countries under one flag), where each of 4 countries in the UK have their own team.

      --
      "Civis Europaeus sum!"
    24. Re:Good News is... by Bert64 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Turkey are also an islamic nation, and their national team tends to be quite good... They made it to the last 4 in 2002 for instance.

      Because of the way qualifying is done in regional groups, you usually get some low ranking teams qualifying... If qualifying was entirely based on ability you'd typically only see european and south american teams at the finals.

      North Korea did surprisingly well, they held their own against Brazil who have traditionally been one of if not the best team.. People were amazed when it got to half time and it was still 0:0, and even more amazed when north korea actually scored in the second half. Sure they lost, but this was a team ranked 105 (and weren't they ranked lower at the time?) playing against the team ranked 1. North Korea were also the first asian team to reach the quarter finals in 1966, it took until 2002 for another asian team to better their record.

      --
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    25. Re:Good News is... by WaroDaBeast · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Is Great Britain a country?

      --
      "The body may heal, but the mind is not always so resilient." -- Deus Ex: Human Revolution
    26. Re:Good News is... by zombie_monkey · · Score: 2, Informative

      That's if you go by population. If your aim is to include the best 32 teams in the world, you would have much _more_ teams for Europe. The way it is right now is a compromise between team strength and population.

    27. Re:Good News is... by SharpFang · · Score: 2, Funny

      Oh, why would you think any part of the universe other than this unfashionable backwater planet has such an impractical invention as "a woman"?

      --
      45 5F E1 04 22 CA 29 C4 93 3F 95 05 2B 79 2A B2
    28. Re:Good News is... by zombie_monkey · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Indeed, that's why the European Cup, in which 16 teams qualify for the finals, is regarded as a stronger tournament than the World Cup.

    29. Re:Good News is... by deains · · Score: 2, Informative

      Is Great Britain a country?

      England, Scotland, Wales and N. Ireland are countries. The United Kingdom is a sovereign state. Great Britain is an island, which the UK claims as territory.

    30. Re:Good News is... by Hodr · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Since you mentioned checking facts, I think you should double check yours.

      Aparently, Soccor/Football doesn't even make the top 10 "recreational sports" in the U.S., and if you mean competative amateur sports, then Bowling is #1 and Soccer / Football still does not make the top five.

      My Source (where is yours?): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sports_in_the_United_States#Most_Popular_Sports_in_the_United_States

  2. K-dawg, here is a feature for you! by masterwit · · Score: 4, Informative

    Mr. KDawson,

    To correctly link to a text only version, use the MySlate feature found here, select your story, press view story, and link the new link. That way thousands of users will not have to press "cancel print".

    thanks,

    -Everyone

    Link without the print:

    http://www.slate.com/Apps/MySlate/action/read.aspx?action=read&ids=2259350&sortmethod=false

    --
    We should start a new Slashdot and return control to the geeks. It actually wouldn't be that hard to get some users to
    1. Re:K-dawg, here is a feature for you! by drewhk · · Score: 2, Funny

      We need a "+1 Mean" moderation option.

    2. Re:K-dawg, here is a feature for you! by Nethead · · Score: 5, Funny

      Damn you Dawson!

      I had the 48" pen plotter selected as my default printer.

      I'll be sending you a wall poster of the article with my bill.

      --
      -- I have a private email server in my basement.
    3. Re:K-dawg, here is a feature for you! by blair1q · · Score: 4, Funny

      I had the 3D printer set up to make a solid gold PS3 controller. Now I have a solid gold Slate article. Oh yes, the bill will be forthcoming.

    4. Re:K-dawg, here is a feature for you! by Nethead · · Score: 2, Funny

      Even more improbable but funnier.

      Let me see if I can top it.

      Damn you to hell Dawson!

      I was about to download the CAD files to our production robots and clicked on your link.

      Please accept the delivery of your 10,000 Ford Slate "automobiles". Please see the finance manager to arrange payment.

      --
      -- I have a private email server in my basement.
    5. Re:K-dawg, here is a feature for you! by imakemusic · · Score: 4, Funny

      I am a neuroscientist working on a direct connection from internet to brain. I am now slate.com as are 300 of my test subjects. We will report future articles directly to Slashdot with the power of our minds. You may pay via direct debit or with any major credit card.

      --
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  3. Correlation is not causation by hkz · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Sorry for shooting for the obvious, but the old trope about correlation and causation seems exactly in order here.

    1. Re:Correlation is not causation by CharlyFoxtrot · · Score: 3, Informative

      Not to mention they're very nonchalant about a parasite that is extremely harmful to pregnant women and their unborn child. It's not exactly harmless in other adults either; a girl I know was seriously sick from some weeks after contracting toxoplasmosis and said she felt weakened for months afterward. Last thing we need is idiots going around licking cats to improve their football (that's right America football not soccer) skils.

      --
      If all else fails, immortality can always be assured by spectacular error.
    2. Re:Correlation is not causation by phantomfive · · Score: 3, Insightful
      It's more than that, the article is an effective demonstration of how you can prove anything with statistics, and if you want to make sure you are right, you have to make sure the statistics actually establish the case.

      For this story we can look at it another way, and see that toxoplasmosis mortality shows the final four in this year's world cup should be Brazil, USA, Mexico and South Africa. Obviously that didn't happen, so this story is wrong.

      Obviously my evidence there is weak too, but it shows you can prove anything if you look at it correctly. In the case of this story, he cherry picked statistics that supported his thesis (which is also what I did). Of course the author knows this, and pointed out some contradicting data himself:

      The relationship is neither linear nor foolproof. Italy managed to win the World Cup in 2006, despite its relatively average infection rate of 33 percent. Certain African countries plagued with public health problems have astronomical Toxo rates. Yet the heavily infected players of Ghana, Gabon (71 percent), and the Ivory Coast (60 percent) have not yet managed to win a single cup. On the other end, England (6 percent), the U.S. (12 percent), and Japan (6 percent) are pretty OK at soccer yet have some of the lowest rates in the world.

      Basically it is a case of someone noticing an interesting coincidence and wanting to point it out to everyone, but it seems there's about as much evidence for it as there is for an octopus choosing world cup winners.

      Bottom line: if you want to know for sure, you have to make sure the statistics are sound.

      --
      Qxe4
    3. Re:Correlation is not causation by hkz · · Score: 3, Funny

      Holland has an infection rate of "eventually 80%" (source: http://www.nvkc.nl/tijdschrift/content/1999/nr%201/p65/1999-1-p65.pdf ), which does eerily correlate with our soon-to-be world cup win. (Disclaimer: there are orange crowds singing outside after "our" win to Uruguay, and to Germany I would like to say, "Schade Deutschland, alles ist vorbei!" ;-)

    4. Re:Correlation is not causation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Explain extremely low p-values in randomized clinical trials then. :)

      All type-1 error by your theory, right?

    5. Re:Correlation is not causation by Monkeedude1212 · · Score: 2, Funny

      "Schade Deutschland, alles ist vorbei!"

      Jeez man, do you kiss your mother with that mouth?

    6. Re:Correlation is not causation by Surt · · Score: 2, Funny

      Yeah ... this kind of 'shorten your shotgun barrel til you hit something' research bugs me.

      This is so easily tested, too. Pick a loser country with a relatively small population, and start infecting their water supplies with toxo. Watch them start to win year after year. Case proved.

      --
      "Who is the Journal of Quantum Physics going to believe?" --Stephen Hawking
    7. Re:Correlation is not causation by phantomfive · · Score: 2

      He's just saying, as I said above, "here's this interesting correlation, and here's a possible causal mechanism."

      And this disagrees with what I said, how? Either you need to improve your reading comprehension, or I need to improve my writing.

      --
      Qxe4
    8. Re:Correlation is not causation by John+Hasler · · Score: 3, Informative

      > ...that's right America football not soccer...

      Association football. Wouldn't want to confuse it with rugby football or gridiron football...

      --
      Warning: this article may contain humor, sarcasm, parody, and perhaps even irony. Read at your own risk.
    9. Re:Correlation is not causation by Cimexus · · Score: 2, Informative

      Indeed. The problem with a word like 'football' is how generic it is. It's not just North America that doesn't call association football, 'football'. It ain't usually called football in Australia or New Zealand either. Or Canada. Or South Africa (ironically enough).

      From Wikipedia (From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_(word)):

      "Soccer has been the prevailing term for association football in the U.S., Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, where other codes of football are dominant."

      So yeah, afraid to say it but, among countries whose main language is English, that leaves only the UK where football generally means association football.

      But it's a stupid thing to get worked up about considering that it's normally obvious from context what game is being talked about. I mean, in news articles about/match commentary for a World Cup match here in Australia, they'll often still call it football, because it's bleeding obvious what game is being talked about. But if you just said 'football' to someone in the street they'd usually assume you were talking about either rugby (northern/eastern Australian states) or AFK (southern/western Australian states).

    10. Re:Correlation is not causation by kasimbaba · · Score: 3, Insightful

      The thing is, in American football (and rugby), the ball is mainly held by the hands rather than kicked. So why do these people insist on calling the game 'football'?

    11. Re:Correlation is not causation by alantus · · Score: 2, Insightful

      that's right America football not soccer

      Only the United States of America calls football "soccer". Every other country in America calls it football.

    12. Re:Correlation is not causation by iNaya · · Score: 2, Funny

      And if you insist on using American English on all occasions, try entering a British bar and telling the girl next to you that you like her pants.

      --
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    13. Re:Correlation is not causation by nedlohs · · Score: 2, Informative

      Because "football" has nothing to do with the ball mainly being kicked. Not by the modern meanings and not by the original usage of the word.

      So those people insist on using the word correctly, so I guess the real question is why do you want it to mean something entirely new?

    14. Re:Correlation is not causation by instagib · · Score: 2, Insightful

      In fact, the general consensus is that the correct word would be 'handegg'.

    15. Re:Correlation is not causation by ejecta · · Score: 2, Informative

      Because handball is already a defined sport and "football" is a ball game with major plays involving the kicking foot, so foot+ball = football.

      --
      Two Parts Swash, One Part Buckle
  4. Brain parasite... by nebaz · · Score: 4, Funny

    Do any of these parasites modify your voice timbre and give you glowing eyes and create in you a desire to build healing sarcophagi?

    --
    Rhymes that keep their secrets will unfold behind the clouds.There upon the rainbow is the answer to a neverending story
    1. Re:Brain parasite... by nalidog · · Score: 5, Funny

      No, but they can make you play the holophonor like a pro.

    2. Re:Brain parasite... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

      No, but I have given pleasure to the world because I have such a beautiful ass.

  5. Poor Tommy... by mark72005 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    We've just come back from Tommy's funeral and you are talking about a skag deal?

    1. Re:Poor Tommy... by je+ne+sais+quoi · · Score: 5, Informative

      Just pointing out, this comment is not actually off topic, it's a reference to Trainspotting. In the film one of the characters dies of Toxoplasmosis complicated by AIDS. The guy was also a huge soccer fan.

      --
      Gentlemen! You can't fight in here, this is the war room!
    2. Re:Poor Tommy... by guyminuslife · · Score: 2, Funny

      Nice reference. I haven't felt that good since Archie Gemmel scored against Holland in 1978.

      --
      I don't believe in time. It's a grand conspiracy designed to sell watches.
  6. Interesting fact by Itninja · · Score: 5, Interesting

    A bit OT, but I thought it was a fact worth mentioning:

    The most common carrier of Toxoplasma gondii are cats. When a cat with Toxo injures a rat (but does not kill it) it usually passes the infection to the rat. The effect of the parasite on rats makes them slower and far easier for predators (like cats) to catch/kill them. Which, in turn, passes the parasite on to the cat. The cat then takes a swipe at a rat...and so on ad infinitum.

    The parasite uses the natural predator/prey relationship to keep itself alive.

    --
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    1. Re:Interesting fact by nweaver · · Score: 4, Informative

      Actually, its more subtle, it removes the FEAR of cats, and in fact makes male rats horney around the scent of cat urine!

      --
      Test your net with Netalyzr
    2. Re:Interesting fact by Antony+T+Curtis · · Score: 4, Interesting

      The Toxo infection in rats not only makes the rats reaction time slower: It has been documented in detail that it also appears to modify the behaviour of the infected rats.

      Infected rats are likely to be "suicidal" insofar as putting themselves in the path of cats, hanging out near to where they smell feline urination and/or feces.

      It is in the interest of the parasite to make the rats exceedingly easy to find/kill so that they may complete their life cycle.

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    3. Re:Interesting fact by je+ne+sais+quoi · · Score: 5, Informative

      More than that, the parasite doesn't just slow the rats, it actually modifies their behavior, sometimes making them attracted to cats and cat urine. It does do some strange things in humans too, e.g. it is possibly correlated to schizophrenia. I personally have always wondered if Toxoplasmosis is what causes people to keep dozens of cats in a confined space like an apartment. Having been in places like that, I can't think of a logical reason why one would otherwise want so many cats around.

      --
      Gentlemen! You can't fight in here, this is the war room!
  7. Re:cough by MobileTatsu-NJG · · Score: 3, Funny

    This meme isn't fashionable anymore. You were supposed to post an XKCD comic instead.

    --

    "I like to lick butts!" by MobileTatsu-NJG (#32700246) (Score:5, Informative)

  8. Wouldn't almost any parasite show this correlation by kindbud · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Lots of diseases and parasites that flourish in the less-developed countries have been wiped out (or nearly so) in more-developed countries. There are more less-developed countries in FIFA than there are developed countries. So the correlation should probably hold true for malaria and other parasites, as well as for things like education and poverty.

    --
    Edith Keeler Must Die
  9. Re:Wouldn't almost any parasite show this correlat by h4rr4r · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The Netherlands is less developed? Germany is less developed?

    Tale a look at the Semis group, Germany, Spain, Netherlands, Uruguay.

    This parasite is quite abundant in the more developed nations.

  10. midichlorians? by The+Grim+Reefer2 · · Score: 2

    So Lucas didn't even come up with the force on his own, just a silly name for the soccer parasite. ;-)

  11. Turkey by Weezul · · Score: 2, Informative

    I don't buy the article's conclusions. Ghana has cats? fine. Turkey has mucho cats everywhere! A cat might even shit on your head while you eat in a fancy restaurant in Taksim. All middle eastern countries have oodles of cats, afaik. Yet they suck ass at soccer?

    Germany is a dog country, very few cats here. Brazil doesn't have street cats like Turkey either. etc.

    --
    The Christian religion has been and still is the principal enemy of moral progress in the world. -- Bertrand Russell
    1. Re:Turkey by sznupi · · Score: 2, Informative

      Germany is a dog country, very few cats here. Brazil doesn't have street cats like Turkey either. etc.

      That is usually a misconception BTW. From a quick search, Germany appears to have almost two times more domestic cats then dogs. Just domestic. When it comes to "stray"/half-wild/etc. animals cats also typically dominate, they are more suited to such life (and people are more likely to leave them alone)

      Cats simply aren't so visible.

      --
      One that hath name thou can not otter
    2. Re:Turkey by zill · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Toxoplasmosis is more often transmitted through raw meat than with cats, contrary to popular belief.

    3. Re:Turkey by Killjoy_NL · · Score: 2, Funny

      How about raw cats?

      --
      This is the sig that says NI (again)
  12. Just a... excuse by imerso · · Score: 2, Funny

    Oh, I see now... some of you needed to find an excuse for not... winning the World Cup. Riiiight...

  13. Re:Besides, statistics are wrong by XSpud · · Score: 3, Funny

    Chances of infection via cats are really minuscule; we do big deal of it because when it happens at the wrong time to a wrong person (pregnant woman; think of the children!) the results catch attention.

    Overall, cats most likely should be thanked by great contribution to our civilization - for a few thousand years they guard our supplies.

    BTW, up to a certain point (not exceeding certain period of smoking / quiting quickly enough - basically mid-20's) the rates of illnesses associated with smoking are practically identical for non)never)-smokers and (ex)smokers.

    This isn't clear to me - are you saying we should, or shouldn't be worried about sharing a joint with a cat?