Technology-Help or Hinderance?

1st interview, my grandmother


What was the most sophisticated piece of technology in your house when you were young?
Probably the wireless radio, the AWA.
What do you thinkof the internet in general?
Its a pretty good thing I guess, theres a bit of a bad side of it though. All these chat rooms where creeps try to talk up kids and all that, it can be pretty dangerous. It gets used for the wrong reasons sometimes.
What do you think of social networking?
Same sorta thing I guess. It can be good for talking to friends and keeping up with them but it also gets abused.
Do you think it would have some kind of impact on kids' social skills?
Yeah, I'd say so. Its no good talking to people like that, you should talk to people in real life, not over the internet.
What did you think the first time you saw a computer?
I thought it was amazing! I thought it was incredible that something like that could be made. I never thought I'd live to see it.
Did you think the same of mobile phones?
Yeah, never thought I'd ever see one.
Considering the age we live in, do you think that all young people should know a fair bit about computers?
Yeah, they should. You're growing up with them and all that and they're used a lot too.
Do you think that technology is a help or a hinderance?
Both I'd say. It depends on what technology you're talking about and how its being used.

2nd interview, my friend Patrick.

What do you think is the most sophisticated piece of technology in your house?
Dunno, probably the computer or the TV. Yeah, I'd go with the computer, thats probably about as technology gets in the average household.
What do you think of the internet in general?
Its kinda weird that something like that even exists when you think about it. But it is pretty cool, it can be pretty dodgy sometimes too though.
What do you think of social networking?
Its pretty awesome, you can't spend too much time on it though. You've gotta spend some time in the real world.
Do you think it impacts kids' social skills?
Yeah definitely. You have to talk to people face-to-face.
When did you get your first computer? In the house I mean.
Probably when I was about 8 or 9.
When did you get your first mobile phone?
When I was 13, it was pretty awesome.
Considering the age we live in, do you think all young people should know a fair amount about computers?
Yeah I'd say so. They're a pretty big part of life nowadays.
Do you think technology is a help or a hinderance?
A bit of both, depends on what technology and how its being applied and where and why. If its going to lose people their jobs its definitely a hinderance.

NATO Urges US to Make Progress Faster

After nine years and a decline in public support, US military commanders are under mounting political pressure to show that progress is being made in Afghanistan.

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has said that it takes time and that these things can't be rushed and that after the fall of the Taliban in 2001, the war in Afghanistan had been neglected. He claimed that "this endeavour began in full, and reasonably resourced only a few months ago."

General Stanley McChrystal in particular has been under pressure. He has stated that certain "projects" in Afghanistan such as Kandahar will move at a slower pace than initially planned.

NATO has stated that after nine years, better "results" should be evident.

The Art of Pick Up Lines

Most do not know this, but creating the perfect seductive prowess is a freakin' art. It is a far greater challenge than learning the ways of the Samauri.

There are many types (I like to think of them as species) of pick-up lines, there are cheesey ones, stupid ones, gay ones, nerdy ones, the list goes on. There are also pick-up lines that can be attributed to movies or TV shows, Star Wars lines, Harry Potter lines, Lord of the Rings lines, pick-up lines are bigger than us.

The realm of pick-up lines evolves, they adapt to suit their environment. They are almost one entity, a living, breathing entity aware of whats happening and capable of surviving anything, kinda like cockroaches.

But in the end all that matters is whether or not they work. This is high-science. In order to become the ultimate lady-picker-uperer you must first possess a certain predisposition, a kind of sixth sense, a heightened awareness of all that occurs.

There is no such thing as a pick-up line that always works, they simply do not exist. Much like Santa or a neo-Nazi who is also a nice person. What determines the affect of a pick-up line is as follows; the place, the time, the lighting, the general atmosphere, the relationship you have with the pick-upee, the events leading up to this moment, music, whether or not you or the other person is currently in a relationship and the nature of that relationship.

Some of the worst pick-up lines in the world (Do you believe in love at first sight, or should I walk past again? Great legs, what time do they open?) can from time to time have a positive affect. The legs one however should only be used in jest and if the victim of this horrible line will also think it funny.

The best pick-up lines can also have the reversed affect of what is intended. There are no pick-up lines that are generally agreed to be "good" per se', it all depends on the context, thats what this science is really all about. Context.