(no subject)

[conuly]

Artificial Photosynthesis: Saving Solar Energy for a Rainy Day

http://bit.ly/19uj55n

What Does it Mean that Most Children's Books Are Still About White Boys?

http://huff.to/1dp9UCs

The belief we’re better than the average person holds true even for convicts.

I just wish they'd asked the obvious follow-up question, "if you're so much better than average in most respects, and no less law-abiding than anybody else, why are you in particular in prison?"

http://bit.ly/1iPxTP5

The North Dakota town that thwarted a neo-Nazi takeover

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-25646954

World Bank: Global economy at turning point

Haven't we heard that before?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25741060

NSA could 'spy on offline computers', says latest leak

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-25743074

No African-Americans, Hispanics or Girls Took the AP Computer Science Exam in Some States

http://fus.in/1aortBI

Melting glaciers in northern Italy reveal corpses of WW1 soldiers

http://bit.ly/1ceQZpx

I Spent Two Hours Talking With the NSA’s Bigwigs. Here’s What Has Them Mad

http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2014/01/nsa-surveillance/

‘Rough it on the Titanic II!’ New cruise ship will recreate conditions endured by early 20th century immigrants

Tacky, tacky as hell. I just hope they ditch authenticity enough to get a full complement of lifeboats.

http://nydn.us/1eSwtOB

Vision, sound don't sync for some kids with autism, study suggests

(The correct response for this is to ask if anybody has considered the implications for autistic adults. Seriously, that's just about *always* the correct response when reading a newspaper article about "children with autism".)

http://cnn.it/19uie4z

Casting Call: Hollywood Needs More Women

http://n.pr/1dvzc3z

Comments

[siderea]

I just wish they'd asked the obvious follow-up question, "if you're so much better than average in most respects, and no less law-abiding than anybody else, why are you in particular in prison?"

I know the answers to that. "Bad luck!" is the biggy. Some will reply "Sold out" (betrayed by confederates), some will cite injustice in the system, and a few are there voluntarily, doing someone else's time for them.

Now, you and the article are assuming that the criminals who feel thus are wrong. But see recent discussion in my journal about arrests. We judge ourselves against people we know. If you're in jail because you wouldn't compromise ethical principles espoused by your community, e.g. don't rat, take the rap for loved ones, don't let others disrespect your family, and if you are aware of a large amount of criminal enterprise going on around you, then... maybe you are a particularly upstanding person, by the terms of your culture.

[conuly]

Good point.