Aside from trauma, it seems to me that very few things are more effective at triggering denial than when our identity is threatened. American exceptionalism is an example. But rather than whine about the great social services and infrastructure some other countries have compared to the US as a way to break through, I’m going [...]
Archive for September, 2011
September 16, 2011
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Instanbaltimore
By asalvo1 in CultureLeaving my world behind allows me to experience other cultures, and also helps me see my own. I’m in Istanbul at the International Symposium of Electronic Art (ISEA) to find out what others are doing, see the Istanbul Biennale, and talk about prosocial media research. Istanbul is cool. Baltimoreans would love it, as does everyone [...]
September 9, 2011
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Malaise and Malaria
By asalvo1 in PeopleThe big hope for Westerners in the past few centuries was the idea that things would just keep getting better and better for us. Unfortunately, unless I’m missing something, that curve of well being has stopped bending and started sagging—badly.While a great mass of humanity has gotten out from under the thumbs of some kings, [...]
September 2, 2011
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Ambassador Cyclist Outlaws
By asalvo1 in PeopleInstead of freaking out, if we redirect our frustration over the actions of fellow human beings toward reflection and understanding, it may help us better empathize with people and not dismiss them as idiots or jerks. So, here’s me redirecting some frustration I have by writing a blog post instead of doing something I wouldn’t [...]