Comments on: Maybe it’s just a bad dream? http://www.techiteasy.org/2009/11/25/maybe-its-just-a-bad-dream/ A Technology and Business Weblog provided to You by a Global Group of Friends. Wed, 29 Dec 2010 19:44:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Vincent van Wylick http://www.techiteasy.org/2009/11/25/maybe-its-just-a-bad-dream/#comment-5210 Vincent van Wylick Thu, 26 Nov 2009 09:59:41 +0000 http://www.techiteasy.org/?p=2413#comment-5210 This is even a better quote from Seaworld.org: There are three main kinds of penguin calls. • The contact call assists in recognition of colony members. The contact call of emperor and king penguins can be heard one kilometer (0.6 mi.) away. • The display call is the most complex of all the calls and is used between partners in a colony. The call must convey information on territorial, sexual, and individual recognition. • The threat call is the simplest and is used to defend a territory and warn other colony members of predators. This is even a better quote from Seaworld.org:

There are three main kinds of penguin calls.
• The contact call assists in recognition of colony members. The contact call of emperor and king penguins can be heard one kilometer (0.6 mi.) away.
• The display call is the most complex of all the calls and is used between partners in a colony. The call must convey information on territorial, sexual, and individual recognition.
• The threat call is the simplest and is used to defend a territory and warn other colony members of predators.

]]> By: Vincent van Wylick http://www.techiteasy.org/2009/11/25/maybe-its-just-a-bad-dream/#comment-5209 Vincent van Wylick Thu, 26 Nov 2009 09:54:57 +0000 http://www.techiteasy.org/?p=2413#comment-5209 I love this part from Ars Technica: "The document trove makes it clear that scientists communicate on three levels: in common and emotional terminology during personal conversation, which gets translated to detached and technical terms when writing papers, which (ideally) is phrased in cautious language and analogy when presented to the public. The hackers have basically short-circuited that process, and given the public a window into the messy world of day-to-day scientific communications. " It's kind of like they're talking about the exciting world of penguin mating habits: "Penguin calls (vocalizations) are individually identifiable, allowing mates to recognize each other and also their chick. This is important because members of a large colony of penguins are nearly indistinguishable by sight." (actual quote from Seaworld) I think Ars Technica is over-analysing this and the basic fact is that these types of communications should've never happened via email. I don't communicate my idiotic assumptions via mail (at least I try not to), instead saving that for an unrecorded conversation. This is a big blunder, even if it was attained illegally. As for the rest, I hope this won't disrupt the very-very-very slow wheel of eco-reform that has already been set in motion. My idealistic self says it hasn't, because economic, commercial, and political interests have already aligned behind the idea that we need to and CAN save our planet. My cynical self says that people still vote for politicians and if the people don't believe in it any such idea will fail. It still comes down to anyone working for an organisation of such status has the highest responsibility to keep the arguments scientific and accountable. With privacy being a non-issue these days, we should perhaps all be prepared to get hacked eventually and have our words come out into the open. I love this part from Ars Technica: "The document trove makes it clear that scientists communicate on three levels: in common and emotional terminology during personal conversation, which gets translated to detached and technical terms when writing papers, which (ideally) is phrased in cautious language and analogy when presented to the public. The hackers have basically short-circuited that process, and given the public a window into the messy world of day-to-day scientific communications. "

It's kind of like they're talking about the exciting world of penguin mating habits: "Penguin calls (vocalizations) are individually identifiable, allowing mates to recognize each other and also their chick. This is important because members of a large colony of penguins are nearly indistinguishable by sight." (actual quote from Seaworld)

I think Ars Technica is over-analysing this and the basic fact is that these types of communications should've never happened via email. I don't communicate my idiotic assumptions via mail (at least I try not to), instead saving that for an unrecorded conversation. This is a big blunder, even if it was attained illegally.

As for the rest, I hope this won't disrupt the very-very-very slow wheel of eco-reform that has already been set in motion. My idealistic self says it hasn't, because economic, commercial, and political interests have already aligned behind the idea that we need to and CAN save our planet. My cynical self says that people still vote for politicians and if the people don't believe in it any such idea will fail.

It still comes down to anyone working for an organisation of such status has the highest responsibility to keep the arguments scientific and accountable. With privacy being a non-issue these days, we should perhaps all be prepared to get hacked eventually and have our words come out into the open.

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