November 28, 2003
Foreign Accent Syndrome
For the linguists. From Science Blog:
A University of Central Florida speech expert has diagnosed an extremely rare disorder in a Sarasota woman that caused her to speak with a British accent after she suffered a stroke. The case of Foreign Accent Syndrome -- a disorder linked to stroke-related or other internal brain injuries that leaves affected people with a foreign-sounding accent -- is one of fewer than 20 reported worldwide since 1919, according to Jack Ryalls, professor of communicative disorders at UCF.
http://www.scienceblog.com/community/article-2068-thread-0-0.html
Mapping Linux to Beer
A short and silly article mapping various flavors of linux to beer. The stage is set by comparing Windows to it's obvious, popular, American beer counterpart.
November 24, 2003
Our Highwater Mark?
This article from Morgan Stanley reminded me of that scene In Fear and Loathing where H.Thompson is rambling about how San Francisco was so pivotal for a time and space. And how now (well, 1970's) we're left with memories and dashed hopes about what might have happened had the waters not rolled back. Albeit global trade is nothing to get teary eyed over, but it has had a huge and profound impact on our lives - the lives of Australians, the lives of Vietnamese, Chinese, French, South African, Norwegian etc. Losing it will effect us just as much. Trade liberalization has its dark side - but development can't exist without it. And that world seems much uglier from where I sit as the divergence between those that can and those that can't only continues to increase. Anyhow, just some thoughts thrown out there for the general non-discussion.
November 09, 2003
A nation apart
The Economist lets us know how divergent from Europe, the world and ourselves we are becoming.
