Java

: what is a "RequestMappingHandlerAdapter"?
: this is what's wrong with modern OOP
: nigh unreadable, despite the letters expended vainly in the effort
: might as well call it LeftBallCheesecakeWizard

Multiculturalism != segregation

This article covers the major differences between multiculturalism as it's practised in Canada versus elsewhere; specifically Europe.

The Commuter

We will absolutely need a car for life in California, as much as I would love to avoid the expense, hassle, and environmental knock-ons. We looked at prices on both sides of the border, and while it was a little more expensive to buy in Canada due to taxes, the added convenience of having a ride from day-one was worth it.

General Government

"Canada's Parliament is more dysfunctional than any of the other Westminster parliaments. No prime minister in any Commonwealth country with a governor general, until Harper, has ever sought prorogation to avoid a vote of confidence. Only in Canada has a government secured the prorogation of Parliament to save itself from political defeat and only in Canada has the governor general been party to it."

Inhuman Alien

This is what drives me the most nuts about Japan's attitude towards foreigners: if this had happened to a Japanese person there would be an international firestorm.

In fact it happened to another African in the UK and there is already a proper investigation there. Japan is so disappointing on a human level sometimes.

Eurabia

The myth of "Eurabia".

Unhappiness

Unhappiness in general is an evolved mechanism to tell us when a change is necessary. For more primitive societies this meant getting up and moving on from where you are, and expanding somewhere new. This is probably how humans were able to conquer the globe so completely in such a remarkably short period of time.

For modern humans, we cannot just pick up and make changes arbitrarily. There is no more space left, and social obligations keep us tied down. We can simulate some of this by changing jobs, getting more exercise, getting a divorce, etc.; but fundamentally yes unhappiness is a modern disease -- one there is no obvious cure for.

Word

Rationalizing; not Rational

It used to be a giant mystery how many people could be just so completely wrong without ever realizing it. Surely a fact is a fact, and when confronted with contradictory information, a rational person must necessarily change their opinion.

Sadly, it seems that such confrontation appears to only further polarize their opposition. We are not in fact a rational people at all. It also mean that arguing with anyone who holds an opinion, especially when it's not face-to-face where we might hesitate from becoming overly aggressive, is a hopeless waste of time and in fact damaging to your original objective.

So where does that leave us as an "intelligent" race? Are we doomed to forever peer at ourselves from across a chasm of disjoint reality?

Perspective