Brad & Phil’s Information R/evolution 25 November, 2007
Posted by paralleldivergence in Brad & Phil, education, film review, Half-Life 2, Humor, ICT in Education, Internet, Life, My Thoughts, technology, Web 2.0.10 comments
In early 2007, I discovered an amazingly-constructed video on YouTube by Dr Michael Wesch, an Assistant Professor of Cultural Anthropology at Kansas State University. The title of his video is “The Machine is Us/ing Us” and in under 5 minutes he managed to grab my attention like nothing else in recent times. If you’ve never seen this video, you really must- but you also must concentrate on it for full effect.
How “Spirit” Killed God… 16 September, 2007
Posted by paralleldivergence in astronomy, creationism, Earth, God, heaven, Life, My Thoughts, Religion.20 comments
MARCH 2004: On the 63rd Martian Day of its tour of duty, the Mars Rover “Spirit” raises its “eye” skyward and captures a series of mosaics of the horizon just one hour before sunrise to produce another symbolic nail in the coffin of God. Those images combined to form the first image ever taken of Earth from the surface of a planet beyond the Moon.
The Best Fool is an April Fool! 28 March, 2007
Posted by paralleldivergence in April Fools, Brad & Phil, jokes, Life, My Thoughts, pranks.17 comments
I was looking at a calendar the other day and realised April 1st is coming up again. I’m not usually the kind that plays pranks on others, but it reminded me of one day many years ago when I did exactly that on my family. Don’t worry, it’s nothing as lame (athough effective) as wrapping every item of a workmate’s office space with tinfoil as shown beautifully in this image, my prank took preparation and cunning. If you’d like to know more, read on…
Swing with Me… Please? 23 March, 2007
Posted by paralleldivergence in Brad & Phil, debnam, elections, iemma, Life, My Thoughts, NSW, Politics, voting.7 comments
Most democratic nations hold open elections regularly – usually every three or four years. Most democratic nations also only have two major parties vying to form government. As democratic nations mature, the two major parties tend to move from a traditional left-wing/right-wing battle to an almost converged state where on many platforms there is little to distinguish the parties.
OLPC: The Revolution Begins? 17 February, 2007
Posted by paralleldivergence in Brad & Phil, children, education, ICT in Education, Internet, Life, My Thoughts, OLPC, Politics.23 comments
In February 2007, the first of almost 2,500 “$150 Laptops” will be rolled out to school children in the poorest areas of Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Nigeria, Libya, Rwanda and Cambodia. The ambitious “One Laptop Per Child” (OLPC) project was first devised in January 2005 with the concept of producing an affordable laptop computer specifically for the poorest and most-remote children in the world. Just two years and several prototypes later, the impressive lime-green and white “Children’s Machine” dubbed the XO is almost ready for mass-production.
Where is Humanity for A Girl Like Me? 27 January, 2007
Posted by paralleldivergence in children, education, Life, My Thoughts, Politics, racism.13 comments
When people run a project, an essential part of the success of that project is ongoing review. What did we do right? What did we do wrong? What could we have done better? Those evaluations and recommendations then must be applied to future projects to ensure progress. Why as a society would we not apply that same concept to our children? While it is our job to teach children, we must also listen to them and learn from them.
Forget your Day-Job. Become a Psychic! 18 January, 2007
Posted by paralleldivergence in education, Life, My Thoughts, psychics.53 comments
There seems to be an overwhelming number of “gifted” individuals on this planet. Just look at the classifieds in the newspaper or the advertising section in the back of virtually any women’s magazine. And for anywhere between $3 and $6 a minute, you can gain telephone access to them or their “team”.
A Tribute to the Internet’s Funny Photos 9 January, 2007
Posted by paralleldivergence in funny photos, Humor, Internet, Life, Music, My Thoughts, Weird Al.5 comments
I’ve spent way too long at goofingoff.com – I have to finish that report I’m supposed to be doing. Let’s see. The eleven major Ad Valorem rates reduced to Central Excise of 16%, Merit Rate of 8% and Demerit Rate of 24%. [You have new mail]. What? I don’t have time for this! It’s from Jerry. [Subject: You gotta see this!]. I don’t have time now Jerry! My God! How many times has this been forwarded before it got to me? Bwahaha! That’s so cool! I have to forward this to the rest of the accounts team!
How Saddam Killed the Death Penalty… 5 January, 2007
Posted by paralleldivergence in Brad & Phil, Death penalty, education, Life, My Thoughts, Political Correctness, Politics, Saddam.19 comments
As Saddam was hanged and his images were flashed around the globe, the reverberations of opposition to the Death Penalty quickly followed. It is so ironic that it has taken the death of such a murderous tyrant to raise the howls of complaint over capital punishment. These were not protests to save Saddam. These were protests to make sure Saddam was the last “legal execution” carried out by modern Man.
[click map to enlarge] (more…)
7 New Year’s Resolutions for your Brain 29 December, 2006
Posted by paralleldivergence in 2008 resolutions, Brad & Phil, education, My Thoughts, Resolutions.10 comments
Tired of the repetitive, pointless, run-of-the-mill New Year’s Resolutions like quitting smoking, losing weight and getting fit? These are the most resolved and least achieved resolutions, made in the heat of New Year celebrations. Achieving anything requires you to put your mind to the task – but what if your mind’s simply not up to it? What if your brain has been subjected to years of abuse ? Parental influence. Bandwagon-hopping. Too much FOX News. It’s time to think for yourself.
How Google Earth Killed Santa… 22 December, 2006
Posted by paralleldivergence in Brad & Phil, children, Christmas, Google Earth, Humor, ICT in Education, My Thoughts, Political Correctness, Santa.126 comments
December 12, 2006: GOOGLE releases an add-on to Google Earth in an attempt to reverse the damage it has done to millions of children around the world. But instead of reigniting children’s belief in Santa, it has effectively provided a fatal blow that will resonate in the ears and minds of our now scarred youth.
Sympathy is what we need, my friends… 16 December, 2006
Posted by paralleldivergence in Music, My Thoughts, Political Correctness.16 comments
We all live in our little boxes, struggling with our own little problems. Our experience of the world is based on what we see on TV or what we read on the Internet. The media tells us what they want us to hear – a politician made an embarrassing mistake, a celebrity was seen out with another celebrity last night and the amazing pet dog found its way home after being missing for two months. But is this really what’s important in our world?
The Hajj is Peaceful, but is Islam? 9 December, 2006
Posted by paralleldivergence in Brad & Phil, education, God, Islam, My Thoughts, Political Correctness.119 comments
The largest pilgrimage in the world happens every year during the days of Hajj. From almost every country on Earth, about two and a half million Muslims, many of whom can barely afford to pay for the trip, will make what is one of their “duties” in life – a pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. With the Islamic calendar based around lunar months, the period of Hajj occurs at different times of the year relative to the more common twelve-month calendar, and coincidentally, this year it is just after Christmas.
iPods Reinforce the Throwaway Society 28 November, 2006
Posted by paralleldivergence in apple, Brad & Phil, education, iPod, Music, My Thoughts.28 comments
I sometimes feel sorry for the youth of today. While their world is one full of information, communication, interaction and technology, they are missing out on so much that we had just one generation ago. Although the 70’s and 80’s were only twenty or so years ago, the differences in society are staggering. The biggest change I have noticed is time. Now there is no time for anything. E-mail, voice-mail, cell phones, longer working hours and multi-skilling are the order of the day. The end of the working day and home time have become blurred. Back then, there was plenty of time – to think, to breathe, to listen to and appreciate music – to enjoy life.
Why are we Dumbing-down our Future? 18 November, 2006
Posted by paralleldivergence in Brad & Phil, children, education, My Thoughts, Political Correctness.22 comments
None of us will live forever. The record advancements of the 20th Century were made on the back of strong education systems aimed directly at providing our children with the analytical and problem-solving skills that each generation needed to continue the progress that humanity was demanding. But now it appears that mankind has well and truly peaked and downhill is the only way to head.
Parallel Divergence 