BBC
The center-right party of France is campaigning by giving out free condoms with the party logo. I'd love to see the fallout of a party in the US trying to do this.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Germans Going Extinct
BBC
German birth rates continue to decline despite already being the lowest in the world. Statisticians also found an increase in the mortality rate thanks to the aging population. If the decline in population continues at this rate, Germany will be devoid of people by 2076.
German birth rates continue to decline despite already being the lowest in the world. Statisticians also found an increase in the mortality rate thanks to the aging population. If the decline in population continues at this rate, Germany will be devoid of people by 2076.
Saturday, August 05, 2006
Friday, July 28, 2006
Eugenics Is Still Kicking
Project Prevention
Having covered a lot of Swedish History, the topic of sterilization came up often, as it was a side affect of Swedish modernization that continued until the 1970's. Of course, I recently read about some Native American women in the US being sterilized in the 1970's, so Sweden wasn't alone.
Eugenics wasn't about just eliminating certain races, but reducing the number of unfavorable elements within society. Sweden justified this by having "voluntary" sterilization, although in practice this wasn't completely true.
In anycase, this site is about encouraging sterilization of drug addicts (specifically crack). Much like it was in Sweden, these efforts target women. Now, this of course isn't a government agency, so the sterilizations are completely voluntary. However, there is another fun twist, they pay these people to be sterilized. Nothing like giving drug addicts cash. The first 100 "clients" of this year received $500! I have no idea how much crack that would buy, probably a lot. They even set goals, they want to put 2006 drug addicts on long-term or permanent birth control by the end of this year. There's something a bit unsettling about that.
Having covered a lot of Swedish History, the topic of sterilization came up often, as it was a side affect of Swedish modernization that continued until the 1970's. Of course, I recently read about some Native American women in the US being sterilized in the 1970's, so Sweden wasn't alone.
Eugenics wasn't about just eliminating certain races, but reducing the number of unfavorable elements within society. Sweden justified this by having "voluntary" sterilization, although in practice this wasn't completely true.
In anycase, this site is about encouraging sterilization of drug addicts (specifically crack). Much like it was in Sweden, these efforts target women. Now, this of course isn't a government agency, so the sterilizations are completely voluntary. However, there is another fun twist, they pay these people to be sterilized. Nothing like giving drug addicts cash. The first 100 "clients" of this year received $500! I have no idea how much crack that would buy, probably a lot. They even set goals, they want to put 2006 drug addicts on long-term or permanent birth control by the end of this year. There's something a bit unsettling about that.
Thursday, July 27, 2006
A 21st Century Betamax vs. VHS
BBC
Toshiba and Sony recently released two rival DVD formats, HD DVD and Blu-Ray respectively. Given that both formats require different players, but still offer basically the same content, it is difficult seeing them co-existing very long, much like in the case of Betamax and VHS.
There is a bit of an irony to the article as it's about making sure that Toshiba and Sony don't take part in monopolistic practices, when failure to license out Betamax technology was one of the factors in the technology's downfall. I doubt this is a mistake that Sony (creator of Betamax) wants to repeat. So I think the European Commission can relax, as I doubt either company will act monopolistically, and if one of them does, their technology won't be around much longer anyway.
Toshiba and Sony recently released two rival DVD formats, HD DVD and Blu-Ray respectively. Given that both formats require different players, but still offer basically the same content, it is difficult seeing them co-existing very long, much like in the case of Betamax and VHS.
There is a bit of an irony to the article as it's about making sure that Toshiba and Sony don't take part in monopolistic practices, when failure to license out Betamax technology was one of the factors in the technology's downfall. I doubt this is a mistake that Sony (creator of Betamax) wants to repeat. So I think the European Commission can relax, as I doubt either company will act monopolistically, and if one of them does, their technology won't be around much longer anyway.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Good News from Vanuatu
BBC
Some group has made a Happy Planet Index that ranks Vanuatu as the happiest nation. I'm a bit skeptical of their method of making the index, but nice to see Vanuatu ranked so highly.
BBC
Slovenia will become the first new EU member state to join the Euro on January 1, 2007. Despite their desperate attempts, Estonia will not be able to join for another year.
Some group has made a Happy Planet Index that ranks Vanuatu as the happiest nation. I'm a bit skeptical of their method of making the index, but nice to see Vanuatu ranked so highly.
BBC
Slovenia will become the first new EU member state to join the Euro on January 1, 2007. Despite their desperate attempts, Estonia will not be able to join for another year.
Monday, July 03, 2006
Dunedin?
Dunedin...
My friend Kate is doing a semester in New Zealand. Apparently it's cold there, being winter in the southern hemisphere and all.
My friend Kate is doing a semester in New Zealand. Apparently it's cold there, being winter in the southern hemisphere and all.
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