The Internet Thinks We Are Stupid...and Illiterate

And it is really starting to p*ss me off!

Have you noticed the increasing ratio of news stories that seem to come in "video only" form? 

First of all...this is offensive as h*ll to me.  It seems the publishers of said news items don't think I am capable of reading it on my own (I have a beyond-college vocabulary and comprehension, so I don't need some almost-literate bimbo to read it to me....at least not for another thirty years or so I hope!).

Add to that the fact that said video is always 1) preceded by some brain dead advertising aimed at the sixth graders in the audience; and that 2) the "reader" when they finally get around to it either misses or just ignores some very salient facts; 3) or adds a lot of fluff to the story that has no value at all. 

It has gotten to the point where if I click on what appears to be a news link and it pops up a video...I just kill it immediately.   I hope we are not becoming such a stupid nation of "feed me your version of the news" that this becomes a normal delivery mechanism. 

Vacation Time

I am leaving on a week's vacation tomorrow so won't be posting for awhile.  It is the annual week where I joyously 'unplug' for the most part from the wired world and just enjoy the sun, a particular lake, my family, and a stack of good books.  (Yes, Goodreads you may be getting some reviews from me in a couple of weeks!). 

Once I come back, one of my fall projects is going to be combing through the posts on this blog (which have added up) and deleting some of them.  I want to keep the blog somewhat fresh and lively, and those posts that are tied to a particular place and time whose relevance has passed will probably go.

Accidents of Birth

I could not help but reflect yet again on how your place of birth can make such a difference in your life...or in this case specifically your gender and your place of birth:



My daughter started driver's ed training this week - appreciate where you were born sweetheart and the rights it gives you...there are a lot of women in the world who would love to have the same opportunity. 

(Oh, and please don't hit anything just yet!!)

TED

I just realized that I quoted a TED video in the last post, and I have not really properly introduced TED here to the thinkers that I hope will read this blog. 

TED is one of my favorite spots on the web, full of the world's best thinkers and displaying a remarkable diversity of viewpoints.  You can read more about TED on the site, but it is one of my refuges when I want to stimulate my brain...or just to restore my faith that there are people out there thinking and doing great work, despite what the 'traditional' news sources are reporting.  

If you have never been there - here is a sample.  This is one of my favorite talks that I have listened to and watched multiple times.   The talk (from 2006) by Sir Ken Robinson is full of humor and wry observations, but also has some very pithy and pointed comments about how our modern public school system attempts to 'educate out' the very creativitiy and individualism we so desperately need to be cultivating.  Its only about 20 minutes long, but well worth watching - I know his two most recent books are on my "to-read" list.

On the state of Science in the US

On the way back from the coast, we stopped at OMSI (the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry), and while it was somewhat enjoyable, I couldn't help but have the same reaction as the last time I visited the Seattle Science Center.  These places tend to be stuck in presenting elementary school level 1980's "bubbles and cool lights" science. 

I realize times are tight, but I wonder how much of this is reflected in the generally dismal science knowledge of US citizens?  If people think that a high-school chemistry class and a bi-annual trip to the local "science center" means that they should be "Science-savvy", I have bad news.  I saw nothing at OMSI (or Seattle Science Center last time I was there) that mentioned any of the exciting recent developments in quantum or particle physics, or even what these sciences are, let alone the more traditional sciences.  There was a slight nod to very basic mathematics, but the 'astronomy' consisted of a planetarium giving a few overpriced and superfluous gee-whiz shows that are long on special effects but woefully short on science.

The latter brings to mind another gripe I have -- for the sub-par science offered, the prices are exorbitant.  Twelve dollars apiece for anyone over 13 to see the main exhibits (about a quarter of which are broken or hopelessly infantile) and an additional $3.00  to park in the museum lot.  Add to that $6-$7 each for IMAX movies, planetarium presentations, etc. and you are talking significant dollars for not much educational value.

How about some educational opportunities for adults with more than a cable TV education about science?  I would love to hear a college-level lecture on the latest developments in any of the physics or chemistry branches.   Maybe the general public wouldn't be so quick to swallow the endless Internet tripe about black holes being spontaneously created by the super-collider or climate change not 'being real' if they knew how science actually works  and were not dependent upon some idiot Senator from Oklahoma waving around a list of TV weather personalities as dissenting 'experts'??