Friday, September 10, 2004
Don't let them get under your skin!
One of the more insidious developments of the technological age is the Radio Frequency Identification Tag (RFID). You'll be hearing a lot about this one. Basically, it's a tiny chip that can be attached to a product on the supermarket shelf - or under your skin - allowing sensors to track every movement. (Shades of 666!)
But when it comes to radio frequency identification tags for humans, the people have spoken. They hate it.
Advocates say the tags could help paramedics deliver medical help to people in the field, reduce prison violence or give police a way to track victims of kidnapping, a major problem in Latin America.
Nearly every reader who wrote News.com about the story expressed outrage and disdain.
"I couldn't help but notice that one of the most effective uses for the RFID tags on humans was in a prison setting--which is exactly what society in general would become, if this particular technology were mandated somehow," Harold Davis of Syracuse, N.Y., wrote. More at CNET News.
One of the more insidious developments of the technological age is the Radio Frequency Identification Tag (RFID). You'll be hearing a lot about this one. Basically, it's a tiny chip that can be attached to a product on the supermarket shelf - or under your skin - allowing sensors to track every movement. (Shades of 666!)
But when it comes to radio frequency identification tags for humans, the people have spoken. They hate it.
Advocates say the tags could help paramedics deliver medical help to people in the field, reduce prison violence or give police a way to track victims of kidnapping, a major problem in Latin America.
Nearly every reader who wrote News.com about the story expressed outrage and disdain.
"I couldn't help but notice that one of the most effective uses for the RFID tags on humans was in a prison setting--which is exactly what society in general would become, if this particular technology were mandated somehow," Harold Davis of Syracuse, N.Y., wrote. More at CNET News.
Thursday, September 09, 2004
Akiane's art online
Some week's ago I reported on Akiane Kramarik, a child prodigy who is astounding the art world with her paintings and poetry. A new web site showcasing this amazing girl and her work is now up and running. It is stunning - a must visit.
Some week's ago I reported on Akiane Kramarik, a child prodigy who is astounding the art world with her paintings and poetry. A new web site showcasing this amazing girl and her work is now up and running. It is stunning - a must visit.
101 things to do in 1001 days
A growing craze which captures my fancy is to compile a list of 101 things to do in 1001 days. There's even a Webring which links web sites that document the wonderful idiosyncracies of their authors.
Here's a fairly typical list.
I was personally inspired by Kiwi Michael Green's list. So I'm compiling my own. Only about a quarter of the way there so far, but provisional items include walking the length of Colombo Street in a gorilla suit, learning some Chinese, and flying solo in a hang-glider. Perhaps I'll start a blog, too, to document progress.
A growing craze which captures my fancy is to compile a list of 101 things to do in 1001 days. There's even a Webring which links web sites that document the wonderful idiosyncracies of their authors.
Here's a fairly typical list.
I was personally inspired by Kiwi Michael Green's list. So I'm compiling my own. Only about a quarter of the way there so far, but provisional items include walking the length of Colombo Street in a gorilla suit, learning some Chinese, and flying solo in a hang-glider. Perhaps I'll start a blog, too, to document progress.
Note to self - find some good news
When I look back over the past couple of weeks' entries, it's a bit of a dismal parade. My resolution for today is to try and find some positive news that elevates the spirit and demonstrates the human character hasn't completely vanished down the gurgler. Watch this space!
When I look back over the past couple of weeks' entries, it's a bit of a dismal parade. My resolution for today is to try and find some positive news that elevates the spirit and demonstrates the human character hasn't completely vanished down the gurgler. Watch this space!
Belgium takes step towards euthanasia for children
Belgian lawmakers belonging to Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt's ruling Flemish Liberal party have introduced a bill seeking to expand the country's controversial euthanasia legislation to include minors.
Senators Jeannine Leduc and Paul Wille said that terminally ill children and teenagers had as much right to choose when they wanted to die as anyone else.
Belgian lawmakers belonging to Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt's ruling Flemish Liberal party have introduced a bill seeking to expand the country's controversial euthanasia legislation to include minors.
Senators Jeannine Leduc and Paul Wille said that terminally ill children and teenagers had as much right to choose when they wanted to die as anyone else.
Wednesday, September 08, 2004
How the normal became deviant
If you wonder how come it is very difficult these days to say what "normal" is, and how come society standards are in a shambles, I offer the insights of Charles Krauthammer. In a classic essay written in 2000 (but which I have only just discovered), Krauthammer says we are being subjected to a vast social project of moral leveling, in which the deviant is being normalized, and the normal is being redefined as deviant.
"While for the criminals and the crazies deviancy has been defined down (the bar defining normality has been lowered), for the ordinary bourgeois deviancy has been defined up (the bar defining normality has been raised). Large areas of ordinary behavior hitherto considered benign have had their threshold radically redefined up, so that once innocent behavior now stands condemned as deviant. Normal middle class life then stands exposed as the true home of violence, abuse, misogyny, a whole of catalog deviant acting and thinking.
"As part of this project of moral leveling, whole new areas of deviancy--such as date rape and politically incorrect speech--have been discovered. And old areas--such as child abuse--have been amplified by endless reiteration in the public presses and validated by learned reports of their astonishing frequency. The net effect is to show that deviancy is not the province of criminals and crazies but thrives in the heart of the great middle class. The real deviants of society stand unmasked. Who are they? Not Bonnie and Clyde but Ozzie and Harriet.
"The moral deconstruction of middle class normality is a vast project. Fortunately, it has thousands of volunteers working on the case. By defining deviancy up they have scored some notable successes. Three, in particular. And in precisely the same three areas Moynihan identified: family life, crime, and mental illness."
The full article can be read here.
If you wonder how come it is very difficult these days to say what "normal" is, and how come society standards are in a shambles, I offer the insights of Charles Krauthammer. In a classic essay written in 2000 (but which I have only just discovered), Krauthammer says we are being subjected to a vast social project of moral leveling, in which the deviant is being normalized, and the normal is being redefined as deviant.
"While for the criminals and the crazies deviancy has been defined down (the bar defining normality has been lowered), for the ordinary bourgeois deviancy has been defined up (the bar defining normality has been raised). Large areas of ordinary behavior hitherto considered benign have had their threshold radically redefined up, so that once innocent behavior now stands condemned as deviant. Normal middle class life then stands exposed as the true home of violence, abuse, misogyny, a whole of catalog deviant acting and thinking.
"As part of this project of moral leveling, whole new areas of deviancy--such as date rape and politically incorrect speech--have been discovered. And old areas--such as child abuse--have been amplified by endless reiteration in the public presses and validated by learned reports of their astonishing frequency. The net effect is to show that deviancy is not the province of criminals and crazies but thrives in the heart of the great middle class. The real deviants of society stand unmasked. Who are they? Not Bonnie and Clyde but Ozzie and Harriet.
"The moral deconstruction of middle class normality is a vast project. Fortunately, it has thousands of volunteers working on the case. By defining deviancy up they have scored some notable successes. Three, in particular. And in precisely the same three areas Moynihan identified: family life, crime, and mental illness."
The full article can be read here.
Tuesday, September 07, 2004
Take sex differences seriously, says professor
Differences between men and women are natural and not socially constructed, says an American academic, contradicting one of the most powerful ideas shaping contemporary society. Steven E Rhoads, a professor of public policy at the University of Virginia for more than 30 years, draws on an abundance of social science data and biological research which he presents in a new book, Taking Sex Difference Seriously.
For example, he said in a recent lecture, the amount of testosterone babies are exposed to in the womb influences levels of aggression, and one study shows male infants are already more aggressive than females at the age of 16 months. Denial of this basic difference has produced policy like Title IX, a federal law requiring women to be equally represented in college sports. Because women's interest in playing sports is not as high as men's, many schools have had to scale back men's programmes. Men denied organised sport as an "outlet for their aggression" will turn to less appropriate outlets, suggested Rhoads.
He said a wealth of research indicates that women are better nurturers than men, and that for the most part women prefer being with their children to pursuing a professional career. Even when mothers are fulfilled in their career there is evidence that the children suffer. One study showed that the more mothers loved their job the less mentally healthy their teenage daughters were. But mental health for teen girls improved as their father's job satisfaction increased.
Rhoads also dealt with the issue of whether "women have to work". He said a single wage earner today, on average, makes 30 percent more in inflation-adjusted dollars than was the case in the 1950s when many mums stayed at home. What has changed, however, is consumption - more cars, bigger homes and so on. Couples who opt to live more simply can still live on a single income, he suggested.
Research showed the drive for more day care was mistaken, he said. "Two career families who put children in subsidised day care apparently produce a near tripling of the odds that these children will be disobedient and aggressive …" It would be better if the government offered tax benefits to couples where one parent stayed home.
Differences between men and women are natural and not socially constructed, says an American academic, contradicting one of the most powerful ideas shaping contemporary society. Steven E Rhoads, a professor of public policy at the University of Virginia for more than 30 years, draws on an abundance of social science data and biological research which he presents in a new book, Taking Sex Difference Seriously.
For example, he said in a recent lecture, the amount of testosterone babies are exposed to in the womb influences levels of aggression, and one study shows male infants are already more aggressive than females at the age of 16 months. Denial of this basic difference has produced policy like Title IX, a federal law requiring women to be equally represented in college sports. Because women's interest in playing sports is not as high as men's, many schools have had to scale back men's programmes. Men denied organised sport as an "outlet for their aggression" will turn to less appropriate outlets, suggested Rhoads.
He said a wealth of research indicates that women are better nurturers than men, and that for the most part women prefer being with their children to pursuing a professional career. Even when mothers are fulfilled in their career there is evidence that the children suffer. One study showed that the more mothers loved their job the less mentally healthy their teenage daughters were. But mental health for teen girls improved as their father's job satisfaction increased.
Rhoads also dealt with the issue of whether "women have to work". He said a single wage earner today, on average, makes 30 percent more in inflation-adjusted dollars than was the case in the 1950s when many mums stayed at home. What has changed, however, is consumption - more cars, bigger homes and so on. Couples who opt to live more simply can still live on a single income, he suggested.
Research showed the drive for more day care was mistaken, he said. "Two career families who put children in subsidised day care apparently produce a near tripling of the odds that these children will be disobedient and aggressive …" It would be better if the government offered tax benefits to couples where one parent stayed home.
Much of modern TV is damaging, says broadcaster
Much of modern television is not only bad but socially corrosive, coarsening and brutalising viewers through its obsessions with sex, aggression and voyeurism, according to British broadcaster and Mastermind host John Humphreys. Speaking at the Edinburgh Television Festival he said broadcasters should abide by the first principle of the Hippocratic oath - first do no harm.
"It's not a bad principle for broadcasters. The good television of today is better than the best television of the old days. The bad television is worse. It is not only bad, it is damaging. Meretricious. Seedy. Cynical. Good television does not balance the bad. Not if it coarsens and brutalises and turns us into voyeurs. The good cannot pay the dues of the bad when the bad is indefensible. And some of our worst television is indefensible. It does harm," Humphreys said.
Much of modern television is not only bad but socially corrosive, coarsening and brutalising viewers through its obsessions with sex, aggression and voyeurism, according to British broadcaster and Mastermind host John Humphreys. Speaking at the Edinburgh Television Festival he said broadcasters should abide by the first principle of the Hippocratic oath - first do no harm.
"It's not a bad principle for broadcasters. The good television of today is better than the best television of the old days. The bad television is worse. It is not only bad, it is damaging. Meretricious. Seedy. Cynical. Good television does not balance the bad. Not if it coarsens and brutalises and turns us into voyeurs. The good cannot pay the dues of the bad when the bad is indefensible. And some of our worst television is indefensible. It does harm," Humphreys said.
