27. september 2006

Negative media - now also in computer wargames In a GameSpot review of the PC real-time strategy game Joint Task Force, I notice that negative media coverage has found its way into a virtual reality. To be fair, Joint Task Force does try to introduce interesting concepts. For instance, the game tries to model today's media atmosphere by keeping score of collateral damage. The more civilians that are killed, the worse it is for you, because the ever-present media projects the casualties to the rest of the world. And, in a game where you've got to fight for cash to purchase reinforcements, bad PR can be a nightmare. However, as admirable an idea this is for a game, it doesn't quite come across that effectively, especially since we rarely had any issues with avoiding civilian casualties. Also, it's ironic that even if you avoid civilian casualties the media will still complain about your methods. That last part sounds very realistic to me. 9:18:20 PM    comment []  trackback []

NYC wants to ban trans fats Slippery slope arguments have something going for them: New York City considers banning trans fats. Three years after the city banned smoking in restaurants, health officials are talking about prohibiting something they say is almost as bad: artificial trans fatty acids. The city health department unveiled a proposal Tuesday that would bar cooks at any of the city's 24,600 food service establishments from using ingredients that contain the artery-clogging substance, commonly listed on food labels as partially hydrogenated oil. Once you give authorities an excuse to ban something, they will be expanding their turfs endlessly. It is not going to end with trans fats, that's for sure. 6:08:01 PM    comment []  trackback []

Study: Drinkers earn more money Finally some good news, and a good excuse, too: Numerous studies have shown moderate alcohol use can have important health benefits and now a new report finds drinking can help your wallet too. Drinkers earn 10 to 14 percent more money at their jobs than nondrinkers and men who drink socially, visiting a bar at least once a month, bring home an additional 7 percent in pay, according to a new Reason Foundation report by economists Bethany Peters, Ph.D., and Edward Stringham, Ph.D. "Social drinking builds social capital," said Stringham, an economics professor at San Jose State University. "Social drinkers are networking, building relationships, and adding contacts to their Blackberries that result in bigger paychecks." The study finds that men who drink earn 10 percent more than abstainers and women drinkers earn 14 percent more than nondrinkers. However, unlike men, who get an additional income boost from drinking in bars, women who frequent bars at least once per month do not show higher earnings than women who do not visit bars. What is there to say to this, except, cheers! 4:59:14 PM    comment []  trackback []

Karzai on terrorism threat You have to watch this video of the press conference in New York City with presidents George Bush and Hamid Karzai. Especially note the sheer incredulity of president Karzai at the implication that terrorism was caused by the Iraq war. From the transcript: KARZAI: Ma'am, before I go to the remarks by my brother, President Musharraf, terrorism was hurting us way before Iraq or September 11. The president mentioned some examples of it. These extremist forces were killing people in Afghanistan and around for years, closing schools, burning mosques, killing children, uprooting vineyards with vine trees, grapes hanging on them, forcing populations to poverty and misery. They came to America on September 11, but they were attacking you before September 11 in other parts of the world. KARZAI: We are a witness in Afghanistan as to what they are and how they can hurt. You are a witness in New York. Do you forget people jumping off the 80th floor or 70th floor when the planes hit them? Can you imagine what it will be for a man or a woman to jump off that high? Who did that? And where are they now? And how do we fight them, how do we get rid of them, other than going after them? Should we wait for them to come and kill us again? A good answer, and a question well worth thinking about, even in an election year. 10:35:04 AM    comment []  trackback []

© Copyright 2006 Jan Haugland. Last update: 01.10.2006; 03:12:11.