ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny

A few days ago in the raw aftermath of the latest mass-shooting, I recalled seeing a fleeting headline that one ought not be so quick to turn to the seemingly lone and mutually exclusive alternative explanation for such tragedies—aside from the matter of stricter gun control: mental health, assuming that imbalances and deviation from the norm risks further alienation by being a second to terrorism.
I didn’t know how to feel about something that at least initially struck me as backdoor apologies and perhaps cryptic political-correctness, and this essay by Steven Asma, for Æon magazine, that identifies the thread of toxic masculinity (the weaponized loser) I can’t say settles the matter but does add another dimension to ruminate over. Failure to domesticate and thus manage inchoate male aggression and drive is a failure to socialise an individual as a member of broader society, and a theme repeated again and again sometimes manifesting itself in awful ways. The scenario of the disassociated savage plays out equally badly in whatever context—be it the Cosplay Caliphate and cadet groups or a jilted young man raised in a civilised framework, just add ammunition to the equation. As much as civilisation seeks to domesticate these instincts, there are also coping mechanisms just as deeply ingrained and arguably all the trappings of society were engineered to curb, redirect or harness this drive. What do you think?

invisible touch

After somewhat of a hiatus, I learned recently that the dangerously fascinating National Public Radio series Invisibilia is back on the air with a new season and more intriguing stories about the invisible forces (and those who hold truck in them) that rule our lives and mold our perceptions.
I did enjoy reading the shows transcripts from time to time, but besotted as I am with my fine constellation of BBC Radio 4 podcasts (just listening to my stories), it did not occur to me that NPR might be served up in the same format. Be sure to check it out and ponder some intriguing and provocative profiles that very nicely compliments their cousins across the Drink. Closing every episode with a dance-party is all the more reason to tune in: she’s got something you just can’t trust, and it’s something mysterious and now it seems I’m falling for her, falling for her…

fingerhut

Given that more and more applications and gate-keepers are relying on biometric markers over passwords for authentication and the quite justified fear that such irreplaceable and fixed latch-keys are in the wilds already to be exploited, a clever design student has created prosthetic thimbles (Fingerhüte), which are fleshy, randomised and durable enough to be recognised by the bouncers that are to protect our privacy and integrity. Such sophisticated but simple accessories perhaps would not be as prone to dusting and lifting as our forensic evidence that is not so simply retooled through lock-smithy or the trust of said institutions. While much of the world traffics in skeuomorphs for many things, the designer’s native China has done away with lock and key for residences as well and this was the impetus to deliver the alternative of rubber finger-tips.

royal prerogative or we are not amused

It’s been speculated for some time that the media mogul become presidential contender—and perhaps the next US president, might be a sort of Manchurian Candidate installed under the auspices of a once and future syndicate, engineering to propel the opposition into power. Though this conspiracy seems quite far-fetched, maybe it’s not beyond the realm of political possibilities, a parallel scenario, judging by recent events, seems almost assuredly more likely in its absurdity.
I think the Queen may use this opportunity to seize back the powers eroded of the monarchy and run her majesty’s own government for the time being rather than letting the presumptives and heirs-apparent take office. Perhaps (and I’d venture for a lot of the voters who voted leave, respect for the royal family is also a shared demographic and would submit to rule by some unelected German and some unemployed Greek on public-assistance) it would be a dereliction of her duty to faithfully defend the kingdom not to. What do you think? I recall how a few years ago Belgium was suffering a constitutional-crisis for failure to cement a coalition government and elevate a prime minister—for a period surpassing war-torn Iraq going without a formal leader, and me wondering why the Belgians were so concerned, with already having a king and being the seat of the EU parliament.  Winkie-winkie.

secession sessions

Though, as has been proposed for California, Texas can choose to break itself up into five smaller states—for better regional governance, but cannot—peacefully at least—secede from the rest of the US. The UK’s voicing its intent to divest itself of European Union membership has resulted, however, in encouraging secessionist groups the world around—even before the the buyers’ bregret might sink in, including a very vocal camp deep in the heart of Texas.
While Texit may seem a little too obvious and perhaps movements will rally around hashtags instead of the other way around, apparently fully one quarter of the American population would not be opposed to their state of residence going it alone, although most of this silent minority is admittedly not actively pursuing the matter. What do you think? Do you support your friendly neighbourhood partitioners? Maybe Britain’s lesson will caution us to be carefully what we wish for and maybe love our umbrella institutions enough to make them reform, lest we not only be let go but rather expelled with prejudice.

ghostwriter, ghostrider

Though not quite a Gobot, this innovative roadster called the Blackbird, having recently won several accolades from international film juries, is a camera carriage whose frame can be adjusted so after some computer-aided rendering, can morph, getting the dimensions exactly right, into any make and model of automobile that one wishes to portray. Not only is it a good understudy for commercials, shooting several different cars at the same time in rugged, dramatic landscapes where their actual drivers will probably never venture without the expense of dispatching a fleet of vehicles (the cars having actually never ventured there either, I suppose), but is also good for filming convincing chase scenes without collateral damage.