Developments

What got slashdotted recently?
“Dell Finally Goes for AMD…” While “Remarked Celerons Sold As P4s…”

Macworld reports that iPod is competing with Barbie’s for the top 10 girls toys..

What is going on in the world?! I am never usually ‘against’ the advance in technology, in fact I am not against it but I am slightly weary that things generated by the advance in technology such as computers, multimedia, TV and electronic entertainment are possibly taking too much of a role in peoples lives. I know that many children (and adults) spend a lot more time watching TV, playing computer games etc then maybe they do developing their social, intellectual and other skills that are necessary in later life. That may just be speculation, but it’s certainly something to think about. I wonder if any of those development studies have any explanations contrary or in agreement to this?

In the political news of the USA; ICH as usual has got a good video from Democracy Now.

Colin Powell’s Former Chief of Staff Col. Wilkerson on Prewar Intel, Murder and Torture: How a White House “Cabal” Hijacked U.S. Foreign Policy
ICH

I’m not going to say much about that, you can judge for yourself. One thing I often notice is how often the politicians use their armed forces to their advantage. For example Vice President Dick Cheney states:

American soldiers and marines serving in Iraq go out every day into some of the most dangerous and unpredictable conditions. Meanwhile, back in the United States, a few politicians are suggesting these brave Americans were sent into battle for a deliberate falsehood.

I don’t have an issue with people supporting their countries troops - but it is plain obvious how the politicians are simply using it as a way of saying we are right and you are wrong. I don’t really speak against those who are on the side of which I think is more correct then the other - but even the person speaking about the issues that the US is currently causing uses the exact same terminology!
“…hurt our credibility and made the job of our brave men and women in the field even more difficult.”

My thoughts of the day.
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Dispatches today: Kidnap and Torture American Style
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“Read between the lines…”
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“If you don’t stand up for something, you’ll fall for anything.” Malcolm X
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1. Larry Page Says:
   November 24th, 2005 at 8:50 pm

   I wonder if any of those development studies have any explanations contrary or in agreement to this?

   I don’t know about studies, I do know that I prefer writing e-mails to tech support or friends rather than calling them. So you might say some of the social contact is drifting away…

2. Usayd Says:
   November 25th, 2005 at 2:26 pm

   Yeah I think that ‘Social behavior’ in general is changing as the computing age advances. I would say that writing an email to tech support is an advantage over the uneccesary use of a telephone, but emailing friends rather then calling them is again something I find rather interesting. I know that I use VoIP to contact my friends as well as email, but there is still that element missing when you contact people via different methods. People have said the same thing since the telephone became of large scale use - social behavior is certainly changing.