Dave Kruger wrote: "I think the thrust of Craig's elocutions is perhaps this: place your trust in folks with solid training in an area if you have none in that area; look askance at all others who are not credentialed or willing to submit their data and analysis to scientific scrutiny. Here is a comparison: Few of us would attempt brain surgery on someone else without training; none of us would dial up "brain surgery" on the internet and use the information in the first 10 sites Google brings up to pop a skull and dig right in. Yet, many of us are content to cherry pick facts and analyses off a Google search to fit a point of view we like or embrace in a huge, difficult arena such as climate change. That is seriously wrong. In fact, it is probably a form of neurotic behavior. We do not need that kind of "debate" on a serious issue like global warming." Our brains are very selective, and we often get out of a text what we want, not what it really says. Many years ago Gislaved, a tiny town in southern Sweden, needed a lot of labor for its big and successful tire plant (later bought, and closed down, by Continental). As there were no Swedes available, people from Yugoslavia got imported, so pretty soon they consisted of a huge slice of the working part of the population. Pretty soon tensions developed, not least by the fact that there were now a lot of young men without girl friends, so there was competition, and friction. And soon word by mouth told the original inhabitants that not only took these fiends their girls, they lived on welfare, were in short scum of the earth. In reality, things were the other way round, the Yugoslavs were very diligent, saved and took better care of themselves than the Gislavedians (if there is such a word). So the authorities put in adverts in the local paper telling the population the truth, thinking it would defuse the tension. Unusually, they did follow it up by interviewing a number of people, about what they thought about the information campaign, and if their views had been changed. None had, as both sides view had been reinforced: Those who hated Yugoslavs said that they had seen the adverts about the Yugoslavs and welfare, thus they hadn't really read what the adverts were about, or skipped the parts that didn't fit their views. Those who were liked the new style in town, with its slightly changed social life, with new restaurants, et cetera. Those that had been influenced a little were those without any view on the matter. So while information, which a teacher can supply in loads, it isn't at all sure that it is worth the effort, as a child is already selective in what he/she takes in. A really clever demagogue can succeed in turning almost anyones head, and all teachers we remember were real characters, often a bit odd, in one way or other, but natural demagogues. My dad was one of those popular teachers that inspired lots, so when he died, the big church, was crammed by hundreds of ex-students (and their spouses), some of them having become world authorities in subjects close to my dad's, which was mycology. How he managed to I will never know, but he did. They flew in from all over the world, cried and were very sad. We, his wife, and us children, were not, as we at last had been rid of the demented bastard, but that's another story! Tord PS Back to paddling ... -- Be Yourself _at_ mail.com! Choose From 200+ Email Addresses Get a Free Account at www.mail.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Tord... now *that* is what I call an interesting story. Thanks. Craig Jungers Moses Lake, WA On Thu, Jan 1, 2009 at 3:21 AM, Tord S. Eriksson <tord_at_mindless.com> wrote: > > They flew in from all over the world, cried and > were very sad. We, his wife, and us children, were > not, as we at last had been rid of the demented > bastard, but that's another story! *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
My Dad got vascular dementia, at an age of 65 (probably began much earlier), and got worse and worse till he eventually died in hospital, age 70. My mom was severely mistreated by my dad, and the authorities didn't do nothing, till he two days in a row arrived at the hospital comatose, due to a few mini-strokes. That they sent him back the first day is beyond my comprehension, but then he was back, 12 hours later the cogs of the civilized society we live in started to grind, if slowly. Then the authorities help mum a lot, taking care of dad in day-time, if not nights, helping her cleaning the house, et cetera. Eventually he got worse, and was packed into a home, something he didn't mind at all! But he ended up in a fight at the home, so was sent to hospital for medication adjustment, and pretty soon died of pneumonia there, like most demented do, when they forget how to eat! The hospital tried to save him, but he refused medication, or drip (he just pulled them out), so slowly but surely he dried to death! Sic Transit Gloria, indeed! Tord PS We, the wife and I, had a quiet New Year's Eve, after some needed shopping. Around midnight it was like a major battle outside! Rockets everywhere, and a lot of flares! No sign of economic problems there - but it passed fairly quickly, around 1am all was dead quiet (which was unusual)! We ate well, drank some, argued about 'The Kindly Ones', by Jonathan Littell, and watched 'Flushed Away' from DVD. It looked much better on the Playstation 3 (this years present to ourselves), than on the dedicated computer, that only handles cable TV and film (PS3 has probably a much better processor, than our Linux tower, i guess). ----- Original Message ----- From: "Carey Parks" To: "Tord S. Eriksson" Subject: RE: [Paddlewise] RE; Winter in a time of Climate Change Date: Thu, 1 Jan 2009 11:32:59 -0500 "The stove is HOT, don't touch it!" "Really?" "Yes, really!!! Don't touch it." ssssttt. "OW! Waahhhhhh!!! I burned my fingers. Fix it!" Some (many? most?) people have to experience things to believe them. Sometimes this isn't so helpful. Well written Tord. I enjoyed that. Happy New Year all, or whatever you celebrate about now. I'm going to go sit in the new SOF greenland kayak and see if I can figure out how to get out should I blow my roll, then go paddle some fiberglass in the mangroves. (snip) ************************************************** Addendum: Mangroves, alligators, sand flies and mosquitoes, eh?! One never knows ... -- Be Yourself _at_ mail.com! Choose From 200+ Email Addresses Get a Free Account at www.mail.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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