I'm going to be taking this summer off from Web 2.0 stuff, including this blog.
I've come to the point were my interest in Web 2.0 technologies is becoming detrimental to other aspects of my life, particularly that part about finishing my degree. Therefore, I'm going to take the summer off to focus on making the most of my indoor time and maximize my outdoor time.
Have a wonderful summer. I'll see you again some time in late August or early September.
Dan
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Monday, May 26, 2008
In Korea, a Boot Camp Cure for Web Obsession - New York Times
In Korea, a Boot Camp Cure for Web Obsession - New York Times
This is awesome, but I think that it would be great for all kids. Get out and do fun activities. This isn't treatment, it's camp!
Now, I don't want to be too glib about this. I agree that it's a serious issues and the participants here are extreme cases that need extreme interventions. This might be a good way to break them down and build them up, but it's not going to help them to live is a society of computers, where every basic task they have to complete is mediated by a computer (and likely the Internet).
From the picture here, it's pretty obvious that this is not in Seoul. I'd love to see grass in Seoul :) That's the biggest problem with this approach. When they go back to the city, what should they do?
These kids (at least those in K-12) have to time to go hiking, though the mountains surround Seoul. They are scheduled to within an inch of their lives. The "Internet" here mostly refers to games that they play after those scheduled times (mostly at night) and usually take away from their sleep time. There's no time to do anything that is more than a short distance from home.
I suggest a program that gives them alternatives that can be done given those boundaries (because those boundaries aren't going to be taken down any time soon). Both outdoor and indoor activities, both group and individual activities. If this can be done, it's more likely to last.
This program is just another hagwon (private institute program) that promises cures and provides only temporary relief of symptoms. When they get back to their real lives, they'll head straight to their computers to post their pictures, update their mini-homepys (Cyworld home page), and let their friend know exactly what they've been up to in hours of chat conversations.
This is awesome, but I think that it would be great for all kids. Get out and do fun activities. This isn't treatment, it's camp!
Now, I don't want to be too glib about this. I agree that it's a serious issues and the participants here are extreme cases that need extreme interventions. This might be a good way to break them down and build them up, but it's not going to help them to live is a society of computers, where every basic task they have to complete is mediated by a computer (and likely the Internet).
From the picture here, it's pretty obvious that this is not in Seoul. I'd love to see grass in Seoul :) That's the biggest problem with this approach. When they go back to the city, what should they do?
These kids (at least those in K-12) have to time to go hiking, though the mountains surround Seoul. They are scheduled to within an inch of their lives. The "Internet" here mostly refers to games that they play after those scheduled times (mostly at night) and usually take away from their sleep time. There's no time to do anything that is more than a short distance from home.
I suggest a program that gives them alternatives that can be done given those boundaries (because those boundaries aren't going to be taken down any time soon). Both outdoor and indoor activities, both group and individual activities. If this can be done, it's more likely to last.
This program is just another hagwon (private institute program) that promises cures and provides only temporary relief of symptoms. When they get back to their real lives, they'll head straight to their computers to post their pictures, update their mini-homepys (Cyworld home page), and let their friend know exactly what they've been up to in hours of chat conversations.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Fear, secrecy kept 1950 Korea mass killings hidden - washingtonpost.com
Fear, secrecy kept 1950 Korea mass killings hidden - washingtonpost.com
This is one of those things that seems so obvious, but I have never heard it mentioned in my time in Korea (though there seems to be a considerable amount a work being done my the Truth and Reconciliation Committee). Regardless of where the war is, people are killed, both civilian and military. War movies are made on the callous actions of a few (or a even a policy) in laying judgment on their captives.
I really do hope that Korea acknowledges this and works to give a voice to the victims and their families. As is too often the case, people not directly affected just want the nastiness to go away and not interfere with their righteous few of their history and brethren. I hope this is one of those times where this urge is overcome.
This is one of those things that seems so obvious, but I have never heard it mentioned in my time in Korea (though there seems to be a considerable amount a work being done my the Truth and Reconciliation Committee). Regardless of where the war is, people are killed, both civilian and military. War movies are made on the callous actions of a few (or a even a policy) in laying judgment on their captives.
I really do hope that Korea acknowledges this and works to give a voice to the victims and their families. As is too often the case, people not directly affected just want the nastiness to go away and not interfere with their righteous few of their history and brethren. I hope this is one of those times where this urge is overcome.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Change of Title/Scope
Hi folks,
For anyone who still follows this nearly dead blog I wanted to leave a note on the changes that I'm going to make. I started this blog years ago as a place to discuss language learning and technology. This role has shifted to my IUCALL blog (which will soon change names as well) leaving this blog as a general repository for miscellaneous stuff.
It's time to just redo this site and use it for the kind of miscellaneous postings that I didn't have a place for previously. I'm going use this as more of a personal site to document the junk in my life that few people will be interested in: restaurants, days out with the family, and so forth. Since I happen to live in Seoul, you might be interested in that part of it. So, soon to come. More pictures, videos, and write-ups of my daily life in Seoul.
Dan
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