A few years old now, but brilliantly hilarious:
http://www.theonion.com/articles/sumerians-look-on-in-confusion-as-god-creates-worl,2879/
In one of Christianity’s most momentous events, members of the earliest known civilization, the Sumerians, looked on in shock and confusion some 5,600 years ago as God created Heaven and Earth.
In http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/15/opinion/stop-coddling-the-super-rich.html, Warren Buffett writes:
[…] what I paid was only 17.4 percent of my taxable income — and that’s actually a lower percentage than was paid by any of the other 20 people in our office. Their tax burdens ranged from 33 percent to 41 percent and averaged 36 percent.
[…]
Since 1992, the I.R.S. has compiled data from the returns of the 400 Americans reporting the largest income. In 1992, the top 400 had aggregate taxable income of $16.9 billion and paid federal taxes of 29.2 percent on that sum. In 2008, the aggregate income of the highest 400 had soared to $90.9 billion — a staggering $227.4 million on average — but the rate paid had fallen to 21.5 percent.
From Air Swimmers:
Looks excellent – I’m just wondering “why remote control?” – they could be autonomous with a few sensors and a bit of Arduino.
http://www.care2.com/causes/do-your-kids-know-who-makes-their-disney-toys.html
A Chinese factory that makes Disney’s best-selling Cars toys, as well as toys for Walmart and Mattel, uses child labor and forces its workers to work three times the amount of overtime required by law.
I was just reading an article, where people were quoted saying
“Here in America, supposedly the most progressive thinking country in the world, […]”
This in the context of primary/secondary education, but I’ve seen it used in other discussions also. The rest of the sentence raised an issue of concern, but this common pre-able set the tone in an unhelpful way. While I’m all for a positive self-image, it can get in the way of accuracy and reality.
From my observations, the only people who actually believe the above are Americans themselves, and it’s seriously hindering improving and fixing things. After all, if you believe you’re the best, there’s little incentive to improve – instead you’ll just spend your time telling others how good you are and how to do things (better, your way). Sound familiar?
Phases of dealing with things:
I used to think that the US (as a whole) was still in the Denial phase, but on review and considering events over recent years, I reckon it’s more Anger & Depression. While those terms may appear worrying (as do the words and actions we see), it’s obviously a great step forward! I hope it keeps moving.