The article starts with the point it is trying to make and then it delves into specifics of the incident. It lays out the defense's position and why the accident happened. Then it gives the result of the trial.
I think this is a good way to write this type of article. There's a hook to get the reader interested. Then it starts to fill in the details to make the reader understand. That is a good way to write an article. So many articles of this sort just lay out facts and give expert quotes and don't give out any of the author's opinions or analysis.
The biography of the author describes him as having his main interests in film and music. His past articles for The Guardian all seem to be in these fields. He seems to have a pattern of doing a more thorough analysis of his subjects.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Premiere Club For Women
It chooses examples of women who have actually lead political parties and then came to power in the provinces only. It seems to have forgotten Kim Campbell who became prime minister after Mulroney left. Then it laments the fact that not enough women are at that level in politics.
The author is a mom and he's quoting female political leaders. I don't understand to what end he's doing all of this for. I got to the end of the article and was left with an empty feeling and looking for more. Where was the point?
I was wrong, though, it mentions Kim Campbell briefly on the second page briefly as yet another example of a woman political leader who didn't get elected to leadership, just falls into it and then gets creamed at the first election. Catherine Callbeck of PEI is the exception.
It does a good job of selecting examples for the story. I'm not sure whether the author supports women in politics or not. He chooses his examples from the past twenty years from all over the country. I'm not sure about his sources again.
The author is a mom and he's quoting female political leaders. I don't understand to what end he's doing all of this for. I got to the end of the article and was left with an empty feeling and looking for more. Where was the point?
I was wrong, though, it mentions Kim Campbell briefly on the second page briefly as yet another example of a woman political leader who didn't get elected to leadership, just falls into it and then gets creamed at the first election. Catherine Callbeck of PEI is the exception.
It does a good job of selecting examples for the story. I'm not sure whether the author supports women in politics or not. He chooses his examples from the past twenty years from all over the country. I'm not sure about his sources again.
Time For A New Political Party. The Only Thing That Can Pull Federal Politics From Its Death Spiral Is A New Option -- A Coalition Of The Serious.
The article goes by a cause-and-effect flow of logic. It describes some disenchantment with political situations and the result is to create new parties to deal with it. Because the one or two standard parties don't seem to have the will to deal with them. The first page of the article gives examples of this situation going on in multiple provinces and then asks why that isn't happening federally.
The thesis is that when the established parties aren't responding to your needs the solution is to start new ones. He gives examples in other provinces and asks why it's absent on the federal scale. He tries to answer that question by talking about problems of distance, regional and cultural divides.
No sources are mentioned, but he's reasoning from the provincial level up to the federal level. He dismisses the alternative view of reforming the current political parties when he says that once a pattern of behaviour is started and you move down that track then it's hard to push off it onto another one.
The argument is convincing. He's consistent with his point. It offers a contribution to the field and gets one thinking about a course of action to move forward on.
The thesis is that when the established parties aren't responding to your needs the solution is to start new ones. He gives examples in other provinces and asks why it's absent on the federal scale. He tries to answer that question by talking about problems of distance, regional and cultural divides.
No sources are mentioned, but he's reasoning from the provincial level up to the federal level. He dismisses the alternative view of reforming the current political parties when he says that once a pattern of behaviour is started and you move down that track then it's hard to push off it onto another one.
The argument is convincing. He's consistent with his point. It offers a contribution to the field and gets one thinking about a course of action to move forward on.
Lottery Winners Don't Want Winnings To Change Them
There is a structure to this article. It discusses how people who get a big, sudden influx of money don't rush out on a spending spree and blow it all. They maintain their ethics of work and spending and saving. The examples are averages among groups of winners, some who spend wisely, others who don't.
The reasoning is clearly on a psychological basis, it's trying to summarize all of their findings and understand what the winners are thinking about. That being, preserving their winnings and savings.
The points seem to be argued convincingly. At least, I bought it. However, it refers to the authors and who they work fr but it doesn't refer to the article itself or where it was published. That's unfortunate because one can't go and trace it down.
Overall, i think the article was effective. It put its thesis forward well. I think it needs to make better references and make solid its sources.
The reasoning is clearly on a psychological basis, it's trying to summarize all of their findings and understand what the winners are thinking about. That being, preserving their winnings and savings.
The points seem to be argued convincingly. At least, I bought it. However, it refers to the authors and who they work fr but it doesn't refer to the article itself or where it was published. That's unfortunate because one can't go and trace it down.
Overall, i think the article was effective. It put its thesis forward well. I think it needs to make better references and make solid its sources.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Coca-Cola Secret Recipe Revealed! It's The Real Thing Says Radio Host
The author is the New York correspondent for The Guardian newspaper in the UK. it was written in Feb/11. The intent of the article is to give one a background into how a major urban secret was revealed. It makes reference to the websites of the sources.
The guy who claims he made the find is a famous radio talk show announcer. So it's his status, really, which gives the story some weight. The process is outlined chronologically describing how he found it but with flashbacks to when the recipe was written and then hidden. It's then followed by denials from the company.
The assumption in the article is that, because the investigator is famous he must be correct. That he tracked down the true recipe. This is the flaw in the article. On the plus side, though, they outline how the recipe has changed over 130 years.
The argument is not very strong. They haven't positively identified what they found as the recipe for Coke. The sources aren't very reliable. It's a radio host and a bunch of websites. Also, some people who knew some Coke insiders who are dead, now.
They might proceed by identifying who owned the document and how they came into possession of it. Can they actually make Coke from it?
The guy who claims he made the find is a famous radio talk show announcer. So it's his status, really, which gives the story some weight. The process is outlined chronologically describing how he found it but with flashbacks to when the recipe was written and then hidden. It's then followed by denials from the company.
The assumption in the article is that, because the investigator is famous he must be correct. That he tracked down the true recipe. This is the flaw in the article. On the plus side, though, they outline how the recipe has changed over 130 years.
The argument is not very strong. They haven't positively identified what they found as the recipe for Coke. The sources aren't very reliable. It's a radio host and a bunch of websites. Also, some people who knew some Coke insiders who are dead, now.
They might proceed by identifying who owned the document and how they came into possession of it. Can they actually make Coke from it?
In Future Surveillance States, Will Honeybees Narc On Pot Growers?
So the author seems to write often about the social impacts of technology among human and animal worlds. The article is a review of an art exhibition, a piece of sci-fi about bees that help police solve crimes. The article is arranged from a description of the sci-fi story and then expands out to an examination of how police are studying the pollen on the honeybees to gather evidence. The examples used are quotes given by the artist to a blogger.
there's no analysis, it's just a summary of statements made in the article and closing with a view of people convicted strictly on bee-provided evidence. I think a better approach would be on how reliable such evidence could be, how it could be obtained, etc. maybe a description of potential problems that could arise in obtaining evidence this way. Of course, my reading is biased by my own scientific background. However, I think that my view has a wide appeal.
I don't think the text does its study very well. The story is based on a work of fiction and backed up by a blogger's article responding to the story. It throws in examples of other animals collecting evidence like sniffing out bombs.
there's no analysis, it's just a summary of statements made in the article and closing with a view of people convicted strictly on bee-provided evidence. I think a better approach would be on how reliable such evidence could be, how it could be obtained, etc. maybe a description of potential problems that could arise in obtaining evidence this way. Of course, my reading is biased by my own scientific background. However, I think that my view has a wide appeal.
I don't think the text does its study very well. The story is based on a work of fiction and backed up by a blogger's article responding to the story. It throws in examples of other animals collecting evidence like sniffing out bombs.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Bad Meteorology
The article intends to debunk the myths about the rotation of water seen in household sinks. It's laid out as the responses to a series of questions as in a FAQ. It comes down hard on the claims made by people whom we supposedly trust such as people in the media and textbook authors and TV producers. It comes down really hard on teachers who teach bad science.
The article is about bad science presented as fact and it does a good job in debunking the myths he's chosen.
I think this article is needed by the world. There is a lot of bad science being presented as true facts. The idea that the rotation of the earth controls the direction of water falling down a drain, the hoax of the moon landing, etc.
The article is about bad science presented as fact and it does a good job in debunking the myths he's chosen.
I think this article is needed by the world. There is a lot of bad science being presented as true facts. The idea that the rotation of the earth controls the direction of water falling down a drain, the hoax of the moon landing, etc.
World Wide Web @ 20
The article starts by setting the scene, what was going on back in 1990. Then it introduces Sir Tim Berners-Lee and discusses his motivtion for inventing the World-Wide Web. That being as a tool for he and other physicists to communicate information and data around the world. He then went and invented a browser and came up with the name along with his collaborator Robert Cailliam. Most people didn't have the ultra-advanced NeXt computers that he did so he had to simplify his creation to be used by everyone. It took about 3 years until everyone in the world was using it.
The article takes a chronological approach to the laying out the development of the web. I suppose that's the clearest way to outline this. If it took another approach then I'd be wondering about timelines and such. I was more interested in finding out about setbacks to the development of the web. The article completely missed that aspect. According to the article, it was just one positive step after another.
But I did learn something about the invention of the web. That being that the development happened rather quickly. That at some point, they put out there, command line interfaces to the web. When technology advanced among the common people they added mouse and graphics inputs.
The article takes a chronological approach to the laying out the development of the web. I suppose that's the clearest way to outline this. If it took another approach then I'd be wondering about timelines and such. I was more interested in finding out about setbacks to the development of the web. The article completely missed that aspect. According to the article, it was just one positive step after another.
But I did learn something about the invention of the web. That being that the development happened rather quickly. That at some point, they put out there, command line interfaces to the web. When technology advanced among the common people they added mouse and graphics inputs.
Study: Humans Could Outrun Neanderthals
The article talks about how the researchers evaluated the efficiency of a runner. They measured the length of the tendon from a point on the heel to just below the ankle with an MRI. The shorter the distance, the more energy stored in the tendon and so the greater the force required to stretch it. So people with shorter tendons use less energy to run for longer and so are more efficient at running. They took the remains of Neanderthals and compared them to remains of Homo Sapiens and did their measurements. The conclusion was that sapiens were better runners.
The article does a good job of outlining what was done and how they made their comparisons and measurements. I'm not quite sure that their idea that tendon length was the best factor involved in running efficiency. I'm sure diet and behaviour play a part in it. The article mentioned that part in one sentence and didn't pursue it any further.
The article does a good job of outlining what was done and how they made their comparisons and measurements. I'm not quite sure that their idea that tendon length was the best factor involved in running efficiency. I'm sure diet and behaviour play a part in it. The article mentioned that part in one sentence and didn't pursue it any further.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Vikings' Crystal Clear Method of Navigation
The vikings navigated by using sundials calibrated to show the direction of the north pole. How did they navigate on cloudy days? In references, there is mention of "sunstones" which are translucent pieces of calcite mined in Scandinavia and Iceland. The sky and the crystals polarize light. The sky polarizes it in concentric rings around the sun. The crystal polarizes in one direction. If held up to the sky and turned, the sky would get darker in one direction and brighter in the other. If two readings are taken at different points in the sky then the position of the sun may be made. Then a torch is held at the sun's position above the sundial and then their measurements are made.
The article is a good one. It makes a description of what is supposed to happen and how it can be accomplished. It's understandable and correct. It also points out objections. That being that the sky is only polarized in some directions and if it's not polarized enough then the technique won't work. It also outlines what the researchers plan to do in the future, acquire some crystals and start using them. Oh, I forgot to mention that it describes how they tested the idea with a polarimeter, already.
The article is a good one. It makes a description of what is supposed to happen and how it can be accomplished. It's understandable and correct. It also points out objections. That being that the sky is only polarized in some directions and if it's not polarized enough then the technique won't work. It also outlines what the researchers plan to do in the future, acquire some crystals and start using them. Oh, I forgot to mention that it describes how they tested the idea with a polarimeter, already.
Shifting Patterns in Canadian Elections: Ontario's Refendum
The author is a lot sloppier with this article than with the previous one. It's just spelling and factual mistakes. She tries to make an explanation of the current "First-Past-the-Post" system of Canadian politics.
She's a bit weak on explaining what the need for a new system might be. She's more enlightened about the drawbacks of the new system, though, almost as though she's arguing against it. I'm not convinced by her connections from one point to the next. For example, by saying that casting a vote for a candidate as well as a party better represents voters' opinions resulting in a stronger government doesn't quite convince me. I think it more likely that, once elected, the government will be disconnected with the voters.
She says it will be better able to follow through with its promises, have a stronger majority which is better for the province. I don't see that. I still see the resulting government having a disconnected attitude from its voters. It will see the election as a mandate to do whatever it feels like for 4-5 years.
She's a bit weak on explaining what the need for a new system might be. She's more enlightened about the drawbacks of the new system, though, almost as though she's arguing against it. I'm not convinced by her connections from one point to the next. For example, by saying that casting a vote for a candidate as well as a party better represents voters' opinions resulting in a stronger government doesn't quite convince me. I think it more likely that, once elected, the government will be disconnected with the voters.
She says it will be better able to follow through with its promises, have a stronger majority which is better for the province. I don't see that. I still see the resulting government having a disconnected attitude from its voters. It will see the election as a mandate to do whatever it feels like for 4-5 years.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Henry Kissinger's Diplomacy
The article is a book review. And comparisons are made with another book that also follows a historical viewpoint. The author takes the point of view of a political science student and history buff in analysing the article. The author has made some analysis of the original book and made recommendations upon it. I'm not sure about the organization, it's not chronological. I wonder if it's progressing through the chapters of the book? She mentions that the author provided a background to set the book into context for the reader because there was so much detail to cover.
I think the thesis is strong. The author understands the original book and is using her background as a political science graduate to provide interpretation of the source. As such, it's hard for the non-ps graduate to understand the terminology and expressions she uses. The argument, that the book is a good one, comes through.
I think the thesis is strong. The author understands the original book and is using her background as a political science graduate to provide interpretation of the source. As such, it's hard for the non-ps graduate to understand the terminology and expressions she uses. The argument, that the book is a good one, comes through.
Second G20 Case Reopened By SIU
The text works by presenting two or three points and then quoting someone on the issue to illustrate one of the points. It seems content to just present a few arguments and not give any analysis or opinions, which is typical of a newspaper article. So, it's just a presentation of facts without any analysis.
The idea is that there is an attempt to track down the police thugs who caused a riot at the summit. At first, the available evidence is inconclusive but then new evidence is presented.
The reasoning is political. My bias is against the police involved. I feel that the specific cops involved were the villains.
It's hard to determine how reliable the source are. The points have no references and there's no real background given to the quotes.
The idea is that there is an attempt to track down the police thugs who caused a riot at the summit. At first, the available evidence is inconclusive but then new evidence is presented.
The reasoning is political. My bias is against the police involved. I feel that the specific cops involved were the villains.
It's hard to determine how reliable the source are. The points have no references and there's no real background given to the quotes.
Loonie Takes Aim At $1.02
I was following the course of the US$, Aus$ and Can$ for the past couple of weeks. They were all about the same value, within a couple of pennies of each other. Then the Aus$ dropped a lot. Well, then I heard about the floods in Australia. I realized that everything in the world composes a closed system and a change in the fortunes of one thing generates waves in everything else which changes their fortunes.
This article was good at describing a bunch of different effects going on in the world; the takeover of a mining company, increasing oil prices and Australian floods and mentioning that they all influenced the rise in Can$. It doesn't make any connections between the three incidents and I'd be interested if it did try to make some links. At first sight, they do seem to be unlinked.
It also says nothing about what a higher loonie means to people and groups within Canada and out. I'm sure people visiting Canada and those exporting products out of Canada would be hurt. On the other hand, people leaving and those who are importing would be happy with a higher dollar. There was no mention of that in the article.
This article was good at describing a bunch of different effects going on in the world; the takeover of a mining company, increasing oil prices and Australian floods and mentioning that they all influenced the rise in Can$. It doesn't make any connections between the three incidents and I'd be interested if it did try to make some links. At first sight, they do seem to be unlinked.
It also says nothing about what a higher loonie means to people and groups within Canada and out. I'm sure people visiting Canada and those exporting products out of Canada would be hurt. On the other hand, people leaving and those who are importing would be happy with a higher dollar. There was no mention of that in the article.
Thunderstorms Shoot Beams of Antimatter Into Space
This article was better than the last one. It went a little deeper with some background. It described the method used to do the investigation and explained what was seen. It presented new information as a quote from someone but did not identify the speaker. I don't understand what that means, if they won't identify their source then how reliable is the information?
I thought the thesis of this article was that thunderstorms produce antimatter but later it suggests that the big deal was the amount of antimatter because it's already known that storms produce it.
I don't think the article was well-thought out. They were just trying to encapsulate all the information into brief paragraphs. I really don't see any development to the article as it's basically just a list of facts.
I thought the thesis of this article was that thunderstorms produce antimatter but later it suggests that the big deal was the amount of antimatter because it's already known that storms produce it.
I don't think the article was well-thought out. They were just trying to encapsulate all the information into brief paragraphs. I really don't see any development to the article as it's basically just a list of facts.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Disney Encourages Sales Of Digital Movies
It starts by describing Disney's plan to bridge the company's mainstream consumers from the physical world to the digital world. They did so without any fanfare, it's written on the sleeve inside their DVD's. WalMart is offering a free digital download of Toy Story 3 with every purchase of the disc.
This seems to be the way video viewing will ultimately go, with the ability to download a file and view it across your TV, computer or mobile. The fact that they're not advertising it the world, yet, suggests that they don't have it perfected. What limitations might they have? Storage, the ability to play on multiple platforms.
The article does a good job of bringing up the technological problems that Disney might face in accomplishing this. It doesn't describe how it might fix those problems or even mention, specifically, what those problems might be.
This seems to be the way video viewing will ultimately go, with the ability to download a file and view it across your TV, computer or mobile. The fact that they're not advertising it the world, yet, suggests that they don't have it perfected. What limitations might they have? Storage, the ability to play on multiple platforms.
The article does a good job of bringing up the technological problems that Disney might face in accomplishing this. It doesn't describe how it might fix those problems or even mention, specifically, what those problems might be.
Too Asian?
White students seem to be focussing on the social aspects of university life while asian students are focussing on the academics. The result is that some schools are being seen as being too hard to get into and they have too-high standards to keep up with.
The phrase "Too Asian" in relation to finding a school, rather than being racist, is about finding a balance between academics and a social life. They claim that they have the data to support that asian students work harder. The problem is that the students are segregating themselves along racial lines.
This article goes on for three pages. It gives its thesis and just keeps giving examples and re-states its thesis.
The phrase "Too Asian" in relation to finding a school, rather than being racist, is about finding a balance between academics and a social life. They claim that they have the data to support that asian students work harder. The problem is that the students are segregating themselves along racial lines.
This article goes on for three pages. It gives its thesis and just keeps giving examples and re-states its thesis.
Canada Has Never Offered A "Mosaic"
German Chancellor Angela Merkel uttered a poor choice of words. It was misconstrued and that re-ignited some old feelings about immigration in the west. She was speaking about high unemployment rates, poor education and increasing religiosity among Germany's Turkish community. She said that "multikulti" had "utterly failed" and she suggested that immigrants should learn to speak German. She was talking about Germany's version of multiculturalism but conservatives around the world took the statement against the whole pro-immigration stance. It then brings up the point that America is a "melting pot" and Canada is a "mosaic" and describes how it is a myth. Canadian immigration policy is aimed more at integration of newcomers. They give examples of the Sikh mountie who wanted to wear his turban on duty and of allowing kirpans in schools.
The only real menace with respect to multiculturalism in Canada are the conservatives who continue to fight the battles that are long past. That's the conclusion of the article. It's the correct conclusion I think. The population has gotten past all the issues that were raised and has moved on.
The only real menace with respect to multiculturalism in Canada are the conservatives who continue to fight the battles that are long past. That's the conclusion of the article. It's the correct conclusion I think. The population has gotten past all the issues that were raised and has moved on.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Gordon Campbell Says He Stepped Down For the Good of BC
The premiere of BC has decided to step down as party leader when his party has chosen someone to replace him. He says that his decision was based on the fact that despite making several accomplishments for BC, people there seem to be more focussed on him, instead. He listed his accomplishments as being tax cuts, early childhood development. All discussions in the province were about him. His resignation was about getting the focus back on the province and his party. There was absolutely no pressure to quit. Despite his personal popularity dropping into the single-digit regime over the HST issue. About which, he claims he did a very poor job of selling it to the public but that there was absolutely no attempt to pull one over. He will stay on to ease the transition to a new leader.
This is man who despite all good intentions and an effort to do good, was met with adversity. He was looking for a way to get out of a bad situation. His solution was to dump all of his problems off onto someone else.
This is man who despite all good intentions and an effort to do good, was met with adversity. He was looking for a way to get out of a bad situation. His solution was to dump all of his problems off onto someone else.
Facebook Study Finds Race Trumped by Ethnic, Social, Geographic Origins in Forging Friendships
This story was very long but I felt it didn't need to be. I got uninterested in it pretty quickly into it.
To make it better, they could have made it shorter by getting to the point more quickly.
They made some assumptions that I thought needed to be justified a bit better. For example, saying that tagged photos were a better indicator of people who've spent time together in real-life social settings.
The premise is that race is not the predominant factor in deciding who pairs with whom. They found other factors that they say are more important but they don't give the process by which they came to their conclusions from their data.
To make it better, they could have made it shorter by getting to the point more quickly.
They made some assumptions that I thought needed to be justified a bit better. For example, saying that tagged photos were a better indicator of people who've spent time together in real-life social settings.
The premise is that race is not the predominant factor in deciding who pairs with whom. They found other factors that they say are more important but they don't give the process by which they came to their conclusions from their data.
Vincent Laforest -- Something Very Interesting Is Coming -- Both To This Blog And To Our Industry
The purpose of this article is to sell Canon 5dii's. He says that when the pre-production models came in he had to sign non-disclosure agreements just to see them. They wouldn't allow him to use it, though. He had to beg with a pitch to let him take it away. No budget, video and stills may be used.
This is a classic trick, get someone interested by telling him he can't have it and then he wants it more. And produces amazing results with it with his own money.
This is a classic trick, get someone interested by telling him he can't have it and then he wants it more. And produces amazing results with it with his own money.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Whale sharks Displaced By Oil Spill?
The gulf oil spill was in a region which is prime feeding grounds for the giant whale shark. The author mentions that the toxic components of the oil, and the dispersants used to clean it up, both contain toxins which potentially could compromise the endocrine and immune systems of the animals. A description of how the animal feeds is provided and that the toxins in the water might be caught in their gills. It provides a lot of quotes from researchers about their concerns for how the spill is affecting their health. These concerns are posed in question form, though. It seems as though the author is saying that the researchers just don't have those answers yet and that they need to do some work to figure that out. No indication of how they plan to do that.
The researchers also wish to determine how the whale sharks' behaviour is being affected by the spill. Here, the article tells us more about how the researchers are investigating this behaviour. It mentions that they are tagging them to follow their migration through the gulf. Visual observations have the sharks, which are usually deep water animals, are being found closer inland. So clearly, the author has described more in-depth, the researchers method of answering their questions.
The researchers also wish to determine how the whale sharks' behaviour is being affected by the spill. Here, the article tells us more about how the researchers are investigating this behaviour. It mentions that they are tagging them to follow their migration through the gulf. Visual observations have the sharks, which are usually deep water animals, are being found closer inland. So clearly, the author has described more in-depth, the researchers method of answering their questions.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Google Street View's Privacy Blunder Just Keeps Getting Worse
People and companies claim that their systems are safe. Systems being their networks where they pass information along. The problem seems to be with networks that aren't protected. People who are careless and use such networks leave themselves open to others. In this article, it's claimed that an engineer made a mistake which was over-looked by Google and slipped through into the Streetview cars.
It's an example of how one should be over-vigilant in keeping in mind what networks one's using, where one leaves one's private information and who might have access to it.
It's an example of how one should be over-vigilant in keeping in mind what networks one's using, where one leaves one's private information and who might have access to it.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Canadian Scientists Fight Back Against Censorship
This is an article about the conservative government's attempts to order scientists, under the employ of the federal government, to get get permission to discuss their findings with the press. It's really about those scientists staring up their own website to communicate their findings. This is one of the shortcomings of this article, I had to figure out that it was referring to government employed scientists by reading a linked article at PublicScience.ca .
There are then quotes by some of the members about how they enjoy envisioning government officials going apoplectic at the news. This is a good thought for me. I used to have disputes with my father. Although I used to be embarrassed by the entire incidents, I quite enjoyed seeing go apoplectic when I took a position or took an action that there was absolutely nothing he could do about.
The article closes by encouraging the authors neighbors (sic) to the north to follow those links. this is another shortcoming of the article. If they were truly behind us they would have spelled that as neighbours.
One of the reader comments states that the Canadian Minister of Science and Technology is a chiropractor who is a global warming denier and evolution denier while the head of the US Department of Energy is Nobel Prize-winning physician who co-heads the science advisory panel.
There are then quotes by some of the members about how they enjoy envisioning government officials going apoplectic at the news. This is a good thought for me. I used to have disputes with my father. Although I used to be embarrassed by the entire incidents, I quite enjoyed seeing go apoplectic when I took a position or took an action that there was absolutely nothing he could do about.
The article closes by encouraging the authors neighbors (sic) to the north to follow those links. this is another shortcoming of the article. If they were truly behind us they would have spelled that as neighbours.
One of the reader comments states that the Canadian Minister of Science and Technology is a chiropractor who is a global warming denier and evolution denier while the head of the US Department of Energy is Nobel Prize-winning physician who co-heads the science advisory panel.
The Places In The Brain Where Space Lives
The first paragraph is describing how every experience we have is dependent on our sense of space. Evey thought we have is dependent on assigning a location to it. This is a statement about the way our brains work. I've seen that in my math classes where every abstract concept is seen as a change in position of a set of points in space.
It then goes on to describe how an injury to the brain can damage one's sense of position. The example they give is of someone with a brain injury who suddenly loses all his sense of the left-side. It's interesting how studies of a damaged sense can be used to examine how such a sense can be built in the first place.
There are also several kinds of spatial neglect. Egocentric neglect is unaware of space on one side of the body, allocentric neglect is unaware of space on one side of an object. Ok, so one's concept of space is a complicated operation. It can be damaged but the kind of spatial neglect caused from damage which itself depends on location within the brain.
It then goes on to describe how an injury to the brain can damage one's sense of position. The example they give is of someone with a brain injury who suddenly loses all his sense of the left-side. It's interesting how studies of a damaged sense can be used to examine how such a sense can be built in the first place.
There are also several kinds of spatial neglect. Egocentric neglect is unaware of space on one side of the body, allocentric neglect is unaware of space on one side of an object. Ok, so one's concept of space is a complicated operation. It can be damaged but the kind of spatial neglect caused from damage which itself depends on location within the brain.
Tests of Hawking Radiation In The Lab
A bit of background about Hawking radiation and a quote from a researcher start off the article. They describe the experiment and claim that they created an artificial event horizon to conduct the experiment with.
Not everyone is convinced by the claims who think that the only real event horizons come from an actual black hole.
The article mentions that if they actually created an event horizon then the physics that belongs with black holes might actually be more widespread.
These are statements that you often hear in popular articles on science concepts. They're just trying to draw in the "average" but interested reader.
They dip into a bit of modern physics for the masses. A discussion of the experiment follows with a list of the researchers who were involved.
Some quotes from scientists with dissenting opinions who think that a black hole has special problems that can't be replicated in the lab. They give a quote from a guy who thinks they should try testing for other properties of Hawking radiation like entanglement.
They explain other experiments where their imitation of Hawking radiation is popping up like in water waves.
My view is that an experiment is just a simplification, anyway and this is just a first start.
Not everyone is convinced by the claims who think that the only real event horizons come from an actual black hole.
The article mentions that if they actually created an event horizon then the physics that belongs with black holes might actually be more widespread.
These are statements that you often hear in popular articles on science concepts. They're just trying to draw in the "average" but interested reader.
They dip into a bit of modern physics for the masses. A discussion of the experiment follows with a list of the researchers who were involved.
Some quotes from scientists with dissenting opinions who think that a black hole has special problems that can't be replicated in the lab. They give a quote from a guy who thinks they should try testing for other properties of Hawking radiation like entanglement.
They explain other experiments where their imitation of Hawking radiation is popping up like in water waves.
My view is that an experiment is just a simplification, anyway and this is just a first start.
Friday, May 6, 2011
"Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior," Fuels Parenting Contoversy
This was an article in the Toronto Star. I'm disappointed by it. It opens up so many points but then doesn't pursue them and just leaves me hanging there waiting for more.
It discusses one parent's view that the strict upbringing is the way to bring up kids. The article takes views of people responding positively or negatively to the original author.
What I would like to see is more research into the merits of a strict upbringing over a less strict one. A discussion of the advantages to the child would be good.
I don't think the text was very effective. It only wrote about the responses of different people to what the author wrote. It didn't try to give any background on the respondents, for one. It certainly showed their pinions but didn't put any context of the opinions within their backgrounds: were they born in China and moved to Canada; were they born in Canada? What are the results to the kids of the strict upbringing? Are they better able to face the world later in life? Is a strict upbringing harmful? These are all questions I wish the article had delved into but missed.
It discusses one parent's view that the strict upbringing is the way to bring up kids. The article takes views of people responding positively or negatively to the original author.
What I would like to see is more research into the merits of a strict upbringing over a less strict one. A discussion of the advantages to the child would be good.
I don't think the text was very effective. It only wrote about the responses of different people to what the author wrote. It didn't try to give any background on the respondents, for one. It certainly showed their pinions but didn't put any context of the opinions within their backgrounds: were they born in China and moved to Canada; were they born in Canada? What are the results to the kids of the strict upbringing? Are they better able to face the world later in life? Is a strict upbringing harmful? These are all questions I wish the article had delved into but missed.
No Proof WikiLeaks Breaking Law, Inquiry Finds
The author is Raphael G Satter who seems to be a freelance writer who only publishes a half a dozen articles a year. It was published by the Associated Press in London in Jan. It's a newspaper article, so it is supposed to be concise, lacking in detail and supportive of the publishers' biases. The structure is to present facts and to back them up with quotes from people "on the inside."
Visa has a bone to pick with the WikiLeaks, so they hired another company to investigate for possible illegal activities. The investigations company found nothing wrong in WikiLeaks. Visa takes the opinion that they'll just have to keep digging on their own until they find something. In the meantime, they deny payments to be made to WikiLeaks.
The article is successful in conveying the thought that Visa is being vindictive of WikiLeaks, even if that is conveyed "between the lines."
I think the article should go deeper into describing how the investigation was conducted and the process by which the conclusion was drawn. It should also go deeper in to Visa's objections into doing business with WikiLeaks.
Visa has a bone to pick with the WikiLeaks, so they hired another company to investigate for possible illegal activities. The investigations company found nothing wrong in WikiLeaks. Visa takes the opinion that they'll just have to keep digging on their own until they find something. In the meantime, they deny payments to be made to WikiLeaks.
The article is successful in conveying the thought that Visa is being vindictive of WikiLeaks, even if that is conveyed "between the lines."
I think the article should go deeper into describing how the investigation was conducted and the process by which the conclusion was drawn. It should also go deeper in to Visa's objections into doing business with WikiLeaks.
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