Tesla-powered rock band

Click on this link to view a video about a band that uses huge tesla coils to spark its performances.

3 books chart the rise of "state capitalism" over democracy

Click on this link to read a Washington Post review (5-30-10) of 3 books that, in different ways, describe how the triumphant free market globalization of a couple of decades ago has given way to autocratic forms of "state capitalism" (think China, Singapore).  And no one seems to mind.  Here's an excerpt from the review that comments on John Kampfner's book, Freedom for Sale:

"To John Kampfner, the differences between the two economic approaches hardly seem the point anymore. Both systems are dedicated to creating wealth -- and over the past 20 years have done so with remarkable success. The result, Kampfner writes in "Freedom for Sale," is a "narrowing of the gap between democracies and autocracies." What has emerged, he contends, is populations dedicated to amassing wealth and material comforts, even at the expense of their individual liberties. In Kampfner's telling, consumers now pursue the same goals no matter whether they live under authoritarian regimes in Singapore, China, Russia or the United Arab Emirates, or in democratic societies of the United States, United Kingdom or Italy. In all cases, he argues, these consumer societies have produced docile, disengaged citizens who have formed a pact with their governments: The people will overlook an infringement of liberties so long as they are permitted the freedom to pursue a lifestyle of designer clothes, sports cars and holiday travel. The loss of liberties is obvious in the authoritarian countries. But Kampfner, the former editor of the New Statesman, also identifies subtle encroachments in Britain, for example, where authorities spy on citizens using a fifth of the world's closed-circuit television cameras, and in Italy, where Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has systematically eroded the independence of the Parliament, media and courts, and in the United States, where the war on terror brought covert surveillance of citizens, expanded the government's powers of detention of noncitizens and gave the Treasury increased power to investigate bank dealings."

Are electronic devices on planes dangerous? Ask the flight attendants using them!

Click on this link to read a Washington Post story about a Southwest Airlines passenger who spotted a flight attendant texting while passengers were forbidden from using electronic devices.  The article explores the much-debated question of whether such devices present any real dangers and describes how the prohibition is causing increasing friction with passengers.  Do you believe the prohibition is unreasonable?

Nurse online encourages suicides

Click on this link to read a Sarasota Herald-Tribune story about a nurse who gave out medical advice online about how to commit suicide.  While this would seem to be a blatant violation of the Hippocratic Oath to "do no harm," some would argue that such information could be beneficial to those suffering from terminal illnesses.  Do you believe the nurse's actions were dangerous?  Illegal?  Unethical?  Or not so?

Cellphones used more but not for talking

Click on this link to read a Sarasota Herald-Tribune story about how use of cellphones for purposes other than conversations has, for the first time, exceeded voice calls.  The article offers some interesting observations about what this says about the change in lifestyles and schedules.