adelHBN's comments

adelHBN | 4 years ago | on: Like the U.S., Canada has been removing statues of its founders

Should we gauge our actions and the actions of our leaders in the context of history? In the context of the times they were in?

Although I am a liberal, sometimes I fear that we are applying today's standards to yesterday's ethics and morals, which were admittedly flawed. I am not advocating that we forget and forgive the wrongs of the past - heck no! All I wonder is whether there is a better of way of teaching about our past than toppling statues and removing passages from our history. How about adding a conspicuous plaque that provides more information about a statue, a relic or an insignia?

adelHBN | 4 years ago | on: Canada weather: Heatwave hits record 46.6C as US north-west also frazzles

In our podcast, we had professor of climate law (he is JD/PhD) talk to us about climate change. One of the irrefutable signs of climate change is that our weather is getting hotter... more record-setting years than the past. Yet, this alarming evidence doesn't concern most conservatives, who simply refuse to accept the science. Aren't they afraid of what's going to happen to us humans?

adelHBN | 5 years ago | on: Microsoft Employees Call on CEO to Cancel Police Contracts

I hope this doesn't happen. We've had police forces since ancient Chinese and Persian empires. They are like organized religion and the educational system. Yes, lots of corrupt elements... but distancing from police or defund it is not the answer. Adding resources and reforming them is the answer. And no, by resources I don't mean more guns... more educations, more checks and balances... that's what we do with bad teachers and priests.

adelHBN | 5 years ago | on: Why filming police violence has done nothing to stop it, so far

Part of it may be our grudging acceptance of bad apples in the police system, like bad apples in organized religion and education. And unfortunately, police brutality has been around for millennia. Our modern police system has been modeled after London's 1829 police force, which they called the Peelers, Because they were organized by Sir Robert Peel. He was so concerned with introducing armed forces into the city and the backlash it may incite that he (1) disarmed the police, and (2) outfitted them in "blue" neutral colors, to make sure it looks nothing like the British red coats.

adelHBN | 5 years ago | on: Pharaoh Ramesses VI Tomb

This was the coolest thing I've ever seen. I shared it with my Egyptian relatives, and they loved it. Thank you so much for posting this.

adelHBN | 5 years ago | on: Forced social isolation causes neural craving similar to hunger

According to a May 25, 2020, WSJ article (https://www.wsj.com/articles/together-review-all-the-lonely-... of Americans felt lonely during the Covid-19 crisis. While this percentage is higher than normal, the issue is not new. 2-3 years ago President Trump brought on a "loneliness" advisor (not for himself, for Americans), and since at least 2018 the UK has a Minister of Loneliness. This is becoming a global issue, including in China, where children are not spending time with their elderly parents the way their previous generations did.

adelHBN | 5 years ago | on: Ennui: How to Overcome Chronic Boredom

"Someone who is friendless, childless, powerless, weak, and ugly will simply not be able to find many opportunities for virtuous activity over a long period of time, ..."

This is B.S. I don't believe in categorical statements like this. Life is not a constant. A person may be friendless, powerless, weak and even childless for two decades. But all of that can suddenly change. As for ugly, I've seen the ugliest people marry the most beautiful people. And some of these ugly people were total shy, introverts.

So if you are ugly like me, and if you're down in your life like I've been at times when my startup failed, be patient and continue on with life. It will get better. And for love of all that is holy, stay away from these sorts of nonsense absolutisms.

adelHBN | 5 years ago | on: Ennui: How to Overcome Chronic Boredom

No, I believe vain, insecure people post lots of photos of themselves online. Many of them compensate for their ugliness by clothes, background and makeup. Most beautiful people that are busily secure in their lives don't have the time to post 10 times a day!!!!

adelHBN | 5 years ago | on: Lyft lays off 17% of workforce, furloughs hundreds more

Ok, I seriously don't get this. How is the stock market doing so well? This article about Lyft is just but one glimpse of what's happening to the economy. And it ain't going to get better any time soon. I've been waiting to invest in the stock market, but am totally whiplashed by the rise of stock market. It's completely disconnected from the real economy.

adelHBN | 5 years ago | on: Some school districts plan to end the year early, call remote learning too tough

---"Using the "best" teachers from the school district to provide lectures for every student taking that course"

While theoretically this sounds good, it doesn't work in practice. Kids, espcially young ones (I have a 2nd grader), need that personal interaction with their teacher. Schools are already overwhelmed with the teacher to student ratio. Imporsonalizing this interaction will only worsen an already bad situation.

adelHBN | 5 years ago | on: British Museum makes 1.9M images available for free

This article is misleading in one important aspect - the license for the use of the collection of British Museum in commercial settings.

The article states that the collection of the British Museum can be downloaded for free under the Creative Commons license CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). This international license permits the use of the subject licensed materials for commercial purposes. But a deeper look into the British Museum license proves that CC BY 4.0 is not applicable here. The Museum defines its license in specific terms (https://www.britishmuseum.org/terms-use/copyright-and-permis...): the Museum's license specifically excludes commercial use in its license and even gives examples of sites and blogs that promote services, etc. So watch out! Don't rely on the Creative Commons license in this case. If you have a blog and you use one of their photos you may get in trouble. Go into the Museum's site and specifically read their license terms.

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