Had the opportunity to read the paper today in relative peace... and quite enjoyed it. My commentary on a few selected highlights follows, with links to the relevant articles:
Some People are Good, and That’s a Surprise!
http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1008304--porter-who-are-you-kind-stranger
I was delighted to read of the gentleman who could have stolen money, an iPad and various other personal effects from the purse left by a tired woman on the TTC the other day, but who elected instead to return it. I did reflect, though, that such decent behaviour is considered "news". Seriously? People can actually live with themselves if they take advantage of some poor soul who--after working all day--out of sheer exhaustion, leaves her bag on the bus? Terrible, terrible people! I suppose there is some merit in the fact that he sought out her address and returned it, rather than simply handing it over to the TTC driver to put in lost and found... on the other hand, shouldn't we (wouldn't we) all do such a thing? Sure, it's an inconvenience if I have to go out of my way to return something, but on the other hand, what about "do unto others..."?
University of Alberta Dean Plagiarises Speech
This I thought was kind of interesting… http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/1007465--university-dean-apologizes-for-poaching-parts-of-convocation-speech The Dean apparently gave a commencement speech which had been almost verbatim copied from another speech, and published in the New Yorker! It’s unclear wether the copying was the issue, or the doing so without providing proper acknowledgement. The whole incident also begs the question: Is copying like this a “bad” thing, ie. plagiarism, or a “good” thing, ie. flattery?
Fishing is Good, but Not for Sharks
Apparently it’s okay to stock a local swimming pool with poor, helpless fish and let people catch, kill and eat them, but it’s not okay to serve shark-fin soup. Huh? (Maybe shark are more worthy than trout, to live. Wondering where, say, octopus or small children fit into the continuum….)
Let’s all Live Together in Harmony on the Water
http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/1006776--innovator-patri-friedman-will-speak-of-his-concept-of-floating-colonies-on-the-ocean-at-ideacity-in-toronto
LOVING this idea of intentional communities… as Patri Friedman notes, “You have to try these things on a small scale because large systems inherently have inertia and are set in their ways.” (Is that why it takes so long for good ideas to be implemented so that children in classrooms can benefit?! Ahhhh…. I finally get it. It’s not the bad guys’ fault at the top, it’s just that darned, inert “system”, hehe.)
Some People are Good, and That’s a Surprise!
http://www.thestar.com/news/article/1008304--porter-who-are-you-kind-stranger
I was delighted to read of the gentleman who could have stolen money, an iPad and various other personal effects from the purse left by a tired woman on the TTC the other day, but who elected instead to return it. I did reflect, though, that such decent behaviour is considered "news". Seriously? People can actually live with themselves if they take advantage of some poor soul who--after working all day--out of sheer exhaustion, leaves her bag on the bus? Terrible, terrible people! I suppose there is some merit in the fact that he sought out her address and returned it, rather than simply handing it over to the TTC driver to put in lost and found... on the other hand, shouldn't we (wouldn't we) all do such a thing? Sure, it's an inconvenience if I have to go out of my way to return something, but on the other hand, what about "do unto others..."?
University of Alberta Dean Plagiarises Speech
This I thought was kind of interesting… http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/1007465--university-dean-apologizes-for-poaching-parts-of-convocation-speech The Dean apparently gave a commencement speech which had been almost verbatim copied from another speech, and published in the New Yorker! It’s unclear wether the copying was the issue, or the doing so without providing proper acknowledgement. The whole incident also begs the question: Is copying like this a “bad” thing, ie. plagiarism, or a “good” thing, ie. flattery?
Fishing is Good, but Not for Sharks
Apparently it’s okay to stock a local swimming pool with poor, helpless fish and let people catch, kill and eat them, but it’s not okay to serve shark-fin soup. Huh? (Maybe shark are more worthy than trout, to live. Wondering where, say, octopus or small children fit into the continuum….)
Let’s all Live Together in Harmony on the Water
http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/1006776--innovator-patri-friedman-will-speak-of-his-concept-of-floating-colonies-on-the-ocean-at-ideacity-in-toronto
LOVING this idea of intentional communities… as Patri Friedman notes, “You have to try these things on a small scale because large systems inherently have inertia and are set in their ways.” (Is that why it takes so long for good ideas to be implemented so that children in classrooms can benefit?! Ahhhh…. I finally get it. It’s not the bad guys’ fault at the top, it’s just that darned, inert “system”, hehe.)
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