On the Fourth of July, America celebrates Independence Day. In 1776, when we first declared it, the news took over a month to reach Britain. The news traveled much slower back then, and I doubt there was a hashtag. Today, everything is breaking news. Even things that aren't break news are breaking news. We're so addicted to the flow of information that we tweet about it before we've consumed it, and that includes pictures of our food.
As always, happy Wednesday and happy reading.
This Day in History
1776 - The news reaches London that the American colonies have declared their independence. I can only imagine King George spat his tea when he heard the news. Silly colonists, trying something new and radical. Now it seems we are desensitized to even the worst and basest news. As a humanitarian crisis in Syria unfolds un social media and Donald Trump races himself to the lowest form of decorum, many people seem to be yawning.
A (Not So Brief) History of Privacy
For all the value we place on it today, privacy is a very new concept (from Medium). Historically speaking, it was only recently that families began having separate bedrooms. Private things were likely to be secretive, even taboo, if not also deeply personal.
But now, privacy is sacrosanct. Individuals and private companies resist government attempts to access personal hardware and software, claiming an invasion of privacy. To what extent is this new protection of personal information a good thing, and what negative side effects are there for a society with such a focus on looking inward?
The Government...or the Guy Next Door?
In the past few years there have been a number of high profile instances of government - foreign and domestic - engagin in digial theft or collection of private information. We have every reason to question the government's need for and collection of our data, but we have just as much of a reason to be skeptical of the person down the street or across the park (from Bloomberg).
Technology is so pervasive, that it is possible to be simultaneously more clandestine and easier to be caught doing things illicitly than ever before.
Your Food, Your Fuel
The United States is a wealthy but wasteful society. It is imperative that we, literally, clean up our act. An article from Katrina, in New York, shows that fortunately, some communities are coming up with innovative solutions (from US BioPower).
It's like communal composting on a macro-level. It's not a bad idea, and whether it works or not, these are the types of innovative solutions that will help us solve problems.
I Spy Something Earth-like
The year America declared our independence it took the news over a month to cross the Atlantic. Less than 200 years later a man walked on the moon, and it took him three days to get there. About 500 years ago, Columbus sailed in search of India and found a world unknown to white men, and now we can look into the sky and find a multitude of worlds like ours (from the Guardian). Technology threatens to kill us, but also offers to save us. How will we continue to shape its development, and where will that lead us?
Dolly Pawton
It's impossible not to be happy and silly when your name is Dolly Pawton! Hailing from Nashville where she lives with her human Marnie, Dolly enjoys leisurely walks, cuddles sessions, and giving hugs to strangers. The name fits the personality! Big thanks to Marnie for sharing Dolly Pawton with us!
Will's Weekly Trivia
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IF you choose to answer the question, respond to staton.will@gmail.com with your answer. Please note that by competing you are giving me permission to publish your first name in the trivia leader board each week.
Last Week:
1. What was the name of the first dog in space? HINT: She was Russian ONE POINT
2. What is the name of the Royal Family of Saudi Arabia (ex: House of Windsor)? ONE POINT
3. Which two South American countries are members of OPEC? ONE POINT APIECE
Answer:
1. The first dog in space was a German Shepherd named Laika
2. Many people informed me that I had previously asked this question. Our editors will be more diligent in the future, and the ruling family of Saudi Arabia is the House of Saud.
3. Venezuela and Ecuador are the two South American members of OPEC.
This Week:
1. After the terrorist attack in San Bernardino, CA, which major American company refused to unluck the attacker's phone for the the FBI? ONE POINT
2. Which country invented gunpowder? ONE POINT
3. Who was the first man in space? ONE POINT
