Clashing Values in the Age of Mass Media

In the NYTimes, an interesting article about how the digital age is bringing differences in cultural values to light: American/European values on the rights to privacy versus free speech.

Good Times haven't killed you, yet

The New York Times reports Gallup's findings on the bleak "Percent 'Good Time'" trend, over the past few years, charting its alarmingly decreased presence in this era:



Also by age (with twentysomethings keeping many of the good times to themselves):


It's good that someone is campaigning for awareness about this issue. (before this heads toward Depression...) I've been feeling so isolated in my sense of lack of good times.

Full Article

(or maybe, in retrospect, it's the percent of when it's a "good time;" showing that inversely, there are a lot of "not now, I have a headache" times.)

:(

Hang in there.

Global Issue, Human Scale

In light of the upcoming gathering on climate change in Copenhagen, The New York Times featured a series of essays this weekend reflecting upon the human experience of the environment changing in the lifetime of a few writers around the world.

Good stuff, though of course sadly poignant. RIP, little Brazilian penguins.

Globespotters

I LOVE THIS BLOG from the New York Times. A little solace for those of us not able to do quite as much pleasure-travel right now. (whimper whimper)

hallelujah- ode to a new era

a poignant opinion blog, And the Pursuit of Happiness- an artist/designer's reflection on the inaguration.

As someone who along with many other Americans, teared up during the inauguration (yes, I am known by many to tear up and get sentimental easily, but hey, this was an appropriate occasion)- out of the recognition of the historic nature of the occasion and also the excitement for what the future might bring for America and its identity- this is an incredible time to be an American. An interesting time to be in the Northeast as well. I'm excited to go to DC! Downtrodden, laid-off, uncertain America, this is still our time. And a good time.

desire and to be desired

What Do Women Want? In the NYT magazine- a few pages dedicated to the beginning of findings in on how desire manifests itself in ladies. Some interesting new research in a previously nearly uncharted territory....

s.o.s. from the zinc bar

The French institution of the café is in distress, reports the New York Times from Paris. The economic crunch and Anglo-/Americanization of the French lifestyle is eating away at this historical cornerstone of culture. It's an interesting/alarming cue into the changing identity of people and culture today. A clue that "globalization," or whatever you're going to call it, is affecting some of our most sacred and long-standing cultural and social institutions.

God, no! Give me a job, Paris, and I will come over there and try to help make things right on account of the Anglos with dining and alcoholic merriment. I may not bring back the chain-smoking, but it's a start.

heavier things

another reason why war is not okay:

War Torn: New York Times' video on the disturbing effects of war on soldiers back at home.

and a NYT photographer's moving account from his years covering the war.