Links, articles, and the like

[moominmuppet]

This is amazing:

The Antikythera mechanism has been discovered to be a mechanical computer of an accuracy thought impossible in 80 BC, when the ship that carried it sunk. Such sophisticated technology was not thought to be developed by humanity for another 1,000 years. Its wheels and gears create a portable orrery of the sky that predicted star

Comments

[zarhooie]

Some people don't need rewards to do the right thing.

[moominmuppet]

That is true. However, businesses aren't people (in fact, if they're publicly owned they're basically required to put profitability first), and I don't think it's unreasonable to be aware that very frequently, PR and branding are major factors in decisions like this. If you want your products to be purchased by a certain demographic, it's in your interest to reflect their values. This may be natural, in that the owner or board's values may actually match those of their patrons, or it may be entirely artificial. I don't think keeping that in mind is an excess of cynicism, given the nature of business in this country (it may clarify things to explain that I have a general distaste for capitalism, and the "profit is the ultimate good" approach to production, and think that it's very difficult to be successful in a capitalist framework without being realistic about factors of PR and marketing)

[calebbullen]

can we tag and tattoo everyone then by religion? I think that could be fun. Especially if they mixed up the symbols. tattoo pink triangles on all the christians, black fists on all the jews, yellow stars of david on all the muslims, red crescents on all the atheists, then use the other lucky charms for the rest of the religions.

I can't see why anyone would be upset about that. And then if they are and wouldn't like to be branded as such themselves, mayhap it would remind them why it's not a good idea for anyone else either.

[firinel]

Especially if they mixed up the symbols. tattoo pink triangles on all the christians

*coughs* there are gay Christians.

[calebbullen]

And there are militant black jews, so what?

[firinel]

Perhaps I misunderstood your point. I'd thought your point was that things would be mixed up, ie: particular symbols with things which do not go with the people they're representing. I spoke for gay Christians because I felt a personal right to be able to, where as I am not, nor know, any militant black Jewish people, so don't.

[moominmuppet]

Thanks; I've commented to her. Unfortunately, I'll be out of town that weekend -- good to know it's happening, though.