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City by Clifford Simak ( reviews here) tells an opposite tale. Here are the opening lines.

‘These are the stories that the Dogs tell when the fires burn high and the wind is from the north. Then each family circle gathers at the hearthstone and the pups sit silently and listen and when the story’s done they ask many questions:

“What is Man?” they’ll ask.

Or perhaps: “What is a city?”

Or: “What is a war?” ‘ (Page 1.)

The book was first published in 1952, and has won some awards. I read it as a kid, and still remember the impact it had on me.

From the IEEE spectrum's article Chernobyl's Stressful After-Effects

Perhaps most widespread are psychosomatic illnesses--even in not-too-contaminated areas, there has been a large upswing in stress-related physical ailments, notably stomach and autoimmune disorders. In fact, morbidity and mortality due to such disorders may well in the end exceed sicknesses and deaths caused by radiation.

Also see the book Toxic Turmoil (one review here)for more discussion of the role of stress in disasters.

We should note the Chernobyl's radiation release was an order of magnitude greater than Fukashima's .

Every time the homicide rate goes up or down, we all cast about for causes. The usual suspects, the economy, policing, and number of prisoners, do not work out. The changes are usually national, while policing and prison policies differ over the country. Crime rates were low in the Depression, are low now, in our deep recession and were high during the prosperous 80's.

The historian David Hackett Fischer, in his book "The Great Wave" (one review here ) using over 700 years of British records shows that the homicide rate and inflation are closely correlated. High inflation, high crime, low inflation low crime. It certainly holds for the examples above. Fisher himself concedes that correlation is not causation, but it rules out the usual explanations.

If a kid grows up with concerned active parents who spend signifcant time interacting with her, the screen time will probably not hurt too much. If TV and tech are used as a constant babysitter, then the kid will probably have stunted intellect and social skills.

Russel Bank's latest novel "Lost Memory of Skin" (11 reviews here) concerns a guy who grew up with no emotional support, fell in internet porn, and found himself in real trouble.

The Swiss have long protected all their military force in underground bunkers. This is one reason Hitler did not attack them. For details, see The Swiss Army by John McPhee.

When I lived there 25 years ago all houses and workplaces a nuclear bomb shelters.

There are many charities that lost much of all of their endowments. Some closed down. The people and causes that depended on them are innocent losers.

Bookwormhole.net -- over 12,000 published book reviews.

Let's also paint all the Grizzly bears white. That will address the problem of disappearing polar bears.

This will disturb the bears to the point that they become bipolar bears.

Bookwormhole.net -- over 11,000 published book reviews.

In 1994 I worked for a company setting up an ISP. We called in the phone company to order 50 lines. (Dial up was all there was then ). The company was not happy, especially that we were ordering business lines, with a low cost, 15 cents for each outgoing call but no cost for incoming calls .

As an ISP we only had incoming calls. They had no choice, since phone systems had to sell lines to anyone ( oh the joys of regulation! ). Had the phone version of net neutrality not been in place, the phone companies would have throttled or taken over the internet - and we would not have the open net we have now.

Bookwormhole.net -- over 11,000 published book reviews.

You never need to daydream now

With instant entertainment available through your iPhone, iPod or cell phone in your pocket.

I wonder what effect lack of daydreams have on kids growing up now?

Bookwormhole.net -- over 11,000 published book reviews.

When I started reading MAD in the 50's ( shows my age! ) its cool sardonic madcap view of the world was unique, and a breath of fresh air in the stultifying climate of the times.

Now its outlook is mainstream, on shows such as SNL, on Jon Stewart's arched eyebrows.

It is hard for MAD to stand out in this environment.

Bookwormhole.net -- over 7000 published book reviews.

I have a large bookshelf of IT tech books, mostly O'Reilly, but they are all gathering dust.

Whenever I need some technical information,I just google it, and it appears instantaneously. For items that are new to me I look for an online tutorial. Why ruffle through the contents and index of a book, often more than once, to find information.

I can't remember when I last bought a new tech book.

Bookwormhole.net -- over 7000 published book reviews.

The Goethermal Heat Pump Consortium is an industry group. Their site is full of information resources, blogs,and forums.

Bookwormhole.net -- over 7500 published book reviews.

I live in Washington DC. I am a rail fan, but when I go to New York, I take the $25 Chinatown bus rather than pay $100-$250 to take Amtrak. (Both fairs one way ).

The train is already more comfortable and faster, I cannot justify the extra dollars.

It will take some amazing increase in rail speed for me to even think of taking the train at these prices.

Bookwormhole.net over 6600 published book reviews

Every six months my pacemaker is checked. Part of the test is to speed and slow down the pacemaker and my heart for a short time.

It is a truly heartfelt experience.

Bookwormhole.net -- a site for book lovers.