Internet

August 12, 2003

Update on Dieter's Computer Addict Camp Raluca kindly emailed me with a link to the computer addict camp that I mentioned yesterday. She located the site at http://www.wichernhaus.m-vp.de/ (which features a terrifying children's drawing which reminded me of Struwwelpeter, the deeply disturbing children's classic that features, among other things, thumb-removal as a cure for thumb-sucking) and has this to say about it: Unfortunately, they don't have an English site. Looking at it, though, one gets the impression that these kids are indeed rather sick, although the physical/psychological symptoms are so general as to be just about anything.  The correlation factor between TV/computer ab/use and sickness is rather weak, but the description sounds properly alarming. Now to the concept behind this little enterprise:  The idea of "Kur" ("treatment"/"cure" but also something like "being at a spa", or, as here, "being at a camp") is a cherished German idea, still supported by the public and private health care system.  It's hard to imagine this from our vantage point, but there used to be a time when members of the better classes in North America were sent to the sea "on cure" (or to Europe for that matter) just as well as their European counterparts.  I am myself rather fond of this institution and still hope, the gods be willing, that one day I may get to benefit by it.  But it does spawn some strange ideas.  For, even granting that the depiction of the children is accurate and they are not just ordinary, run-of-the-mill or even brilliant little geeks and TV producers in spe, one must surely wonder if four weeks of "Kur" is the answer to what ails them.  But it sure is easy to ship the children off to cure-camp and feel like one has done one's duty by them, isn't it?  The state sure agrees. 5:56:17 PM      Trackback []    Internet Technology

Comments Have Gone Kerplooie I don't know why at the moment, but my comments have gone away. It may be related to this whole BlasterWorm nightmare that is afflicting everybody and their dog. More on that later. UPDATE: I'm sure you're all very worried, but my comments service, Haloscan, reports that they've moved to a new server. Apparently my comments will be up and running soon. 4:00:51 PM      Trackback []    Internet

Cutest URL of the Week: Chanthew.com Chanelle and Matthew are friends of my sisters (and, by extension, me) who live in Calgary. They've got a pretty nifty Web site (in part because Chanelle worked for Gossamer Threads), so I'm giving it a plug. There's even a forum where lots of their friends and family chat about stuff. Which is cool. I think there are millions of small, local 'networks' like this on the Internet. They're useful to a few dozen people, and that's all they need to be. 12:20:02 PM      Trackback []    Internet

Googlism Googlism has been around for a while, but Bree recently reminded me of it. I couldn't resist (edited for brevity and humour): darren is great on the fridge darren is the pimp darren is such a big boy darren is an accomplished trombonist and pianist darren is a beautiful purebred darren is recording solo now darren is also against the transportation of nuclear material darren is interested in all aspects of maritime law darren is not strong darren is becoming increasingly drunk darren is wearing the same thing that he wore in the international "truly madly deeply" video darren is currently working on broadway darren is the man that makes it all happen darren is fab darren is the senior editor of the annotated bibliography of bone/tooth disease and injuries darren is off the market darren is not feeling well darren is also a yoga enthusiast and has a soft spot for starbucks darren is so cool darren is a wonderful young man darren is checking into a suite overlooking the pool darren is no stranger to politics darren is a licensed cosmetologist darren is currently working as a criminal investigator for six flags amusement park in largo maryland darren is the hero and he is a very realistically portrayed person It reads like a list of alternative lives. Sadly, none of them are actually about me. 12:15:58 PM      Trackback []    Internet