MIND CONTROL...for kids!

http://www.usatoday.com/life/lifestyle/2009-01-06-force-trainer-toy_N.htm
So, it seems toy companies are starting to make games that you play with your mind.... It sounds like harmless fun right now, and I'm sure it is as the technology is still primitive. But what could this mean for the world of communication? How long is it until we can just send a message to our friends with our new mindPhones or iThinks or whatever they will be calling it. Come on, they are already directing this technology towards children. Though I do think this kind of technological development is amazing, and I totally want to send random thoughts to my friends with my mind, it does worry me a little bit of the potential for chaos. When we're starting to control things with our thoughts, what will the limitations be? This is just speculation for now, but if history has told us anything it's that we will always go the next step.

The Bible Code

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bible_code

Many today claim to have divine inspiration and the ability to predict the future. One such method of this is The Bible Code.

To interpret this so called code, the original Hebrew text of the Torah (the only books some consider to be given to man word for word) are arranged in a grid one character to a space. Then by the Equidistant Letter Sequence method (ELS) sequences of letters that are equidistantly space (clever name, right) are chosen and form a word.

I would like to go ahead and say that this "code," while interesting to think about, should have no impact on the lives of anyone. The statistical probabilities of finding meaningful word and phrases in a sea of random dribble is actually quite high in this instance, especially with all of the different starting points and different skip intervals.

Similar studies with the book Moby Dick have been shown to foretell the assassination of JFK. This code is simply a statistical byproduct which some are taking as prophecy. How do you feel about something so sacred as God's Word being use in such a manner? I see it as a fairly grotesque use of something so perfect in itself.

The True Power of Communication: Then and Now

As we are all aware of and have touched on briefly in class, there are countless historical examples of great orators rising rapidly through the ranks to become powerful (often tyrannical) leaders. One of the most relevent modern examples is the rise of Adolf Hitler to power during the German economic depression. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KgJQUXr2Ws shows Hitler's passionate appeal to the German youth. Although the subtitles are at times impossible to read, listen to Hitler's voice and observe his gait while he communicates.

Obviously, Hitler's approach in this speech contrasts sharply with conventional Western political oration. But just how great is the difference? Has modern society outgrown its weakness for the type of speech in which the orator speaks so emphatically that, by the end, he is drenched in sweat and out of breath? Could it be that such a delivery is now taboo due to the nature of the historical figures who have employed such tactics?

Deaf Nationalism

Few would disagree that language is key to nationalism.  As we have recently seen, some politicians have attempted to assure that only those who speak English can function in America. In Japan, you are considered Japanese if you can speak Japanese.  You can be from central Texas and still be considered Japanese if you speak their language.  However, the deaf community, without a doubt, takes the most pride in their language American Sign Language (or as I'll call it ASL).  This makes sense because their disability (although many deaf people would contest its not a disability) is directly related to a hinderance at being able to communicate verbally.  ASL is not like english even though almost all deaf americans write in english.  ASL sentence structure is in arranged differently, "the" is never used, and complete sentences are not expected.  Because they speak ASL they do not consider themselves part of the English speaking community.  They have their own schools that they willingly choose to go to.  They have their own fashion, trends, and slang.  Many find Cochlear Implants and hearing aids insulting and useless.  At Gallaudet University, students and faculty essentially rioted and shut down campus in protest of having a hearing president who wanted to extend Gallaudet's student body to those who did not come from ASL speaking homes.  They did not stop until she was ousted.  Because of their hinderance to communicate with the hearing, many hearing people considered the deaf mentally retarded which is of course incredibly offensive.  On top of that, the most famous deaf person is Helen Keller who is disrespected on a regular basis.  I think if I was deaf I'd be bitter too and may want to isolate myself with those who have the same struggles and language as me to avoid condescension.

Mumia Abu Jamal (real version)

To say the least, the case of Mumia Abu Jamal is controversial and emotionally charged.  He has been convicted of killing the Philadelphia Police Officer Daniel Faulkner and sentenced to death.  However, many of his supporters charge that he was framed and there is evidence to support to raise reasonable doubt.  While Jamal has always professed innocence, he does not appeal to evidence or an alibi.  Instead he releases political commentaries that are released by NPR that show a concern for society, morality, and justice.  Many people, including myself, have thought, “Its impossible for a man like this to be a murderer!”  Instead of directing his audience’s focus to his case he directs the audience to his intellect and moral ideas so that when someone hears that he has been convicted of murder they are astounded and doubt the legitimacy of his conviction.  The use of audio is a wise decision.  His has long dreadlocks and an ugly beard and he is African American, which still persist as a bias in our judicial system.  If one were to see a picture of him http://troopsoutnow.org/mumia03.jpg first most would say yes this man could be a murderer.  However, if one were to listen to his political commentaries first http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUalYTU9EWE most would think he is a wise (even if he is politically alienating), concerned man.  By presenting himself in this way, he communicates a persona that powerfully communicates innocence so he never has to directly defend himself.

A Tradition of Useless Debate

For decades, now, our presidential candidates have gotten on the stage with each other and dodged question after question by mocking the other guy's hair.  What's the point?  Why should we care?  Shouldn't there be more incentive than chaple credit and bad pizza to watch what should be a deciding factor in who our nation's next leader will be?

My point is this: our debates need to change.  I believe they should be strict in time, content, and topicality.  At the amount of money spent on a presidential election, I would like to think we deserve more than a poor attempt at stand up preformed by old men.

What are your ideas for reforming our political debates?  On a larger scale, what about our elections and the methods of communication within them?

Miss Teen South Carolina

So for those of you who haven't seen this video, you should definitely watch it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj3iNxZ8Dww

Here we have an instance that demonstrates a tragic, yet humorous, failure to communicate. It is vitally important to be clear logical when communicating in any way, be it through a speech, an email, a text message, or even just a conversation. The process of translating thoughts into words and then having them translated back into a thought by another person whose brain, in essence, speaks its own language, is highly prone to errors.
Sometimes these errors do not produce a problem in comprehension, US Americans for example. Other times though, the meaning is completely obscured in the word vomit that ensues (I believe that our education like such as South Africa and, uh, the Iraq everywhere like, such as and...). This error can be compounded by the fact that the speaker may or may not have a clear enough idea of his thought to translate it into appropriate words. They may know just enough to be dangerous... Which I feel is probably the case with this post. It really is just an excuse to watch that video for class. :D