Waikiki

Menemme Havaijille pakoon Seattlen tukahduttavaa kuumuutta. Huomenna olemme taalla uimassa ja ottamassa aurinkoa!
Kerron matkasta myohemmin lisaa. Palaamme seuraavalla viikolla.

Helteen kourissa

Koko viikonloppu sujui kovan helteen kourissa. Varjossa ainakin 35 astetta celsiusta. Meilla ei ole ilmastointia kuin tyopaikalla, silla Seattlessa ei useinkaan ole nain kuumaa. On siis ollut tuskastuttavaa, eika ole oikein saanut mitaan tehtya. Alan ymmartaa siestan hyodyllisyytta ja etelan ihmisten rauhallisempaa elamanrytmia.

Ylla oleva kuva on itaisesta Washingtonista.

Helleaalto

Seattleen on tullut helleaalto. Viikonlopuksi on luvassa 35 asteen lampoa ja auringonpaistetta. Koko Yhdysvallat on ollut valtavan kuumuuden kourissa viimeisen viikon. Seattle oli ainoa alue, jossa oli siedettavat lampotilat - ei enaa. Onneksi taalla ei ole kuitenkaan sita ahdistavaa kosteutta, joka riepottelee ita-rannikkoa ja etelaa aina kesaisin.

Vanhuus ei tule yksin

Tuore tutkimus osoittaa, etta jos pidamme itseamme "vanhoina", muistimme heikkenee selvasti. "Vahuudenhoperyys" on paljolti psykologista: jos meilta odotetaan huonomuistisuutta niin teemme tyota kaskettya. Jos taas odotukset ovat korkeat, "vanhukset" suoriutuvat aivan yhta hyvin muistikokeista kuin parikymppiset!


Think you're old? It may show in memory test

By Benedict Carey The New York Times
Published: July 19, 2006

Resigning yourself to old age may produce the very mental lapses that most people fear will strike them in their golden years.

In a paper appearing in the current issue of the journal Social Cognition, psychologists report that men and women in late middle age underperformed on a standard memory test when told they were part of a study including people over age 70.

Inclusion with an older group - an indirect reminder of the link between age and memory slippage - was enough to affect their scores, especially for those who were most concerned about getting older, the authors concluded.

Researchers refer to this self-undermining as a stereotype effect, and they have documented it in many groups. In studies, women perform less well on math exams after reading that men tend to perform better on them. Similarly, white men perform less well when they are told that they are competing in math against Asian students.

People over 65 also slump on memory tests when they are reminded of the link between age and mental decline. The study, financed by the National Institute on Aging, is the first to show the effect so clearly in a borderline group, experts say - middle age is certainly not young, but it is well short of "senior."

"This study is a very nice extension of previous work into this in-between age group," said Becca Levy, an associate professor of epidemiology and psychology at the Yale University School of Public Health. The findings, she added, "show how negative images of aging on TV, in other media and in jokes reinforce negative stereotypes that can affect performance even before" people reach retirement age.

Laurie O'Brien of Tulane University in New Orleans and Mary Lee Hummert of the University of Kansas in Lawrence recruited 85 men and women from age 48 to 62 and split them into three groups. The researchers told one group that they would be testing their memory against others ages 70 and over, and informed another group that they would be competing against people in their 20s. The third group, who took the tests without being told of any competition, acted as a control.

All the participants took a standard word-recall exam, in which they studied a list of 30 words for two minutes and then wrote down as many as they could remember. Surprisingly, those who believed they were competing against younger adults did fine, remembering an average of more than 14 words - the same score as the control group. They showed none of the anxiety that other studies have found in people competing against others who, according to stereotype, are more capable.

But the participants who believed that they were being tested against much older people faltered, remembering just over 12 words, a significant difference from the controls. Being included with an "older group" by itself was apparently enough to provoke an unconscious acceptance of the stereotype that advancing age must sap memory - and the test scores to reflect it.

Poor performance on the test was especially evident in men and women who, on psychological tests, betrayed concerns about old age, even if they were in their late 40s or early 50s, the authors reported.

"The implication is that some of the things we say about ourselves in conversation - joking about 'senior moments' is a perfect example - these kinds of comments may in fact undermine our own memory at the time we're saying them," Hummert said. "And the fear is that it has a cumulative effect, that it becomes a negative feedback cycle."

Helsinki

The New York Times kirjoitti todella ylistavan artikkelin kesaisesta Helsingista. Siella on kaikki tyylikasta ja modernia ja ihmiset kauniita.

Tuli koti-ikava.

Lue koko artikkeli linkista:

http://travel2.nytimes.com/2006/07/16/travel/16helsinki.html
pagewanted=1&ei=5088&en=e1e3b8fb95d17833&ex=
1310702400&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

The Decider

Libanon

Jo ahdistaa uusi sodankaynti Lahi-Idassa. Etelainen Libanon on pommien armoilla ja Hizbollahin pommit putovat Haifaan asti. Eivatko nuo Abrahamin pojat opi koskaan olemaan ihmisiksi? Toisaalla eraat tahot hykertelevat tyytyvaisyytta, silla ehka talla kertaa "lopun ajat" ovat kasilla... Miksi kaikella taytyy olla niin suuri merkitys? Eiko jokapaivainen aherrus voisi joskus olla "vain" jokapaivaista aherrusta? Onko Jumalan kasi todella kaikessa mukana?

Takapihalla

Agentti haastaa

Entinen CIA agentti Valerie Plame on haastanut varapresidentti Dick Cheneyn, presidentin neuvonantajan Karl Roven ja Cheneyn entisen avustajan Lewis Libbyn oikeuteen maineensa pilaamisesta ja salaisen identiteetin ilmiantamisesta.

Oikeuden pyorat pyorivat Amerikassa mahdottoman hitaasti - mutta ne pyorivat kuitenkin. Siita on jo kolme vuotta, kun Valerie Plamen nimi annettiin ilmi, jotta hanen miehensa Joseph Wilson saataisiin mustamaalattua, silla han kritisoi Bushin Irakin sotaa avoimesti ja voimakkaasti. Kukaan ei silloin tunnustanut ilmiantaneensa Plamea; Bush jopa lupasi erottaa heti sen henkilon joka oli vuotanut tiedon julki. Han on tietenkin syonyt sanansa, silla ilmiantajat ovat olleet juuri Dick Cheney, Karl Rove ja Lewis Libby. Valtion vakoojan ilmianto on Yhdysvalloissa rikos.

Saas nahda...

Pink Princess

"Pink Princess, a 1-year-old toy poodle, enjoys a walk around Oakland with owner Unique Hildreth. Hildreth, who says she has worn pink everyday for the past five years, dyes the poodle about once a month to maintain her pinkness." (AP Photo/Noah Berger) (July 12, 2006)

Vaaleanpunainen puudeli. Omistaja sanoo pukeutuneensa vaaleanpunaiseen joka paiva viimeiset viisi vuotta - miksei siis myos koira? Suorastaan uskonnollista paneutumista - huh!

Little Humans

Nuppu tekee tuttavuutta

Pikku Nuppu kiipeaa mielellaan tyton olkapaalle ja piiloutuu hiuksiin. Papukaija on rohkea ja sosiaalinen, ja haluaa olla mukana kaikessa. Koira on ollut vahan huolestunut, kun ei ole saanut yhta paljon huomiota viime paivina.

Tragedia joella

Nelja sisarusta ja heidan lisakseen viides nuorukainen St. Louisista hukkuivat vilvoitellessaan jalkojaan joen rannalla. Lapset olivat 10, 13, 14, 16 ja 17-vuotiaita - eivat siis mitaan naperoita - mutta yksikaan heista ei osannut uida.

Nuoret olivat seurakunnan jarjestamalla retkella joen rannalla olevassa puistossa. Vesi oli matalaa ja virtasi hiljaisesti puiston kohdalla. Vaaraa ei ollut nakyvissa. Nuoret ottivat kengat pois jalasta ja astuivat vilpoiseen veteen. Pian yksi nuorista kahlasi vahan syvemmalle ja liukastui veden pohjassa oleviin liejuisiin kiviin. Hanen kaatuessaan veteen yksi toisensa jalkeen sisarukset tulivat apuun yrittaen vetaa toisensa kuiville, mutta jokainen liukastui ja vajosi pinnan alle. Vesi kuljetti nuoret keskelle jokea ja vaarallisesti virtaavaa syvantoa.

Kun poliisi ja ja palokunta saapuivat paikalle, ranta oli niin sekasortoinen, etta kukaan ei tuntunut tietavat kuinka moni oli kadoksissa ja keita olisi pitanyt yrittaa pelastaa.

Lasten aiti sanoi lastensa menneen "Herran huomaan".
Hanella on viela nelja lasta elossa...

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003118873_drown11.html

New Family Member

Hello!

My name is Nuppu. I am a Pacific Parrotlet - a small South American Parrot - I love my human/dog/gerbil/crayfish family! I am only seven weeks old but I already know a lot of things. I can live up to twenty years and I can learn to talk like people, and do funny tricks - I love being silly.

Snellmanin viisautta

"Yksilon tiedot ovat taysin tyhjan paalla eivatka ansaitse tietamisen tai sivistyksen nimea, jos ne eivat ole itsenaisesti hankittua, ajateltua ja yksilolliseksi kokonaisuudeksi muokattua tietoa.

Aivan samoin ei myoskaan kokonaisen valtakunnan sivistys saa olla pelkkaa jaljittelya, ulkomaista lainaa, vaan silla taytyy olla kansallishenkeen perustuva omintakeinen muoto. On totta, etta kaikkein sivistynein kansakunta on se, joka on kaikkein eniten omaksunut yleisinhimillista sivistysta. Mutta talla sivistyksella ei ole mitaan annettua, muuttumatonta muotoa, vaan se on itsessaan elavaa ja liikkuvaa, se saa jokaisena aikana uuden muodon. Tama kehitys tapahtuu juuri sivistyksen siirtyessa kansakunnalta toiselle.

Sivistys, joka ei ole kansallista, ei siten voi olla todellista yleisinhimillista sivistysta. Se on silloin vain ulkoista tottumusta, jota voi verrata apinan tai koiran kouluttamiseen. Kansakunta ei voi kiinnostua sellaisesta sivistyksesta, se ei ole itsenaista eika silla ole voimaa kehittya. ja kansan, joka ei milloinkaan saavuta muunlaista sivistysta, on itse rappeuduttava ja havittava kansakuntana."

J. V. Snellman Suomen Kuvalehden mukaan [SK 14, 2006]

Luin juttua Snellmanista, ja mieleeni tuli tilanne Irakissa: voiko Irak demokratisoitua jos opit tuodaan ulkoapain, toisenlaisesta kulttuurista ja pyssynpiipun turvin? Vai onko Irakin miehitys ja "demokratisoiminen" vain koirankoulutusta?

Uskon, etta demokratia on kuin sivistys josta Snellman puhuu - sen on tultava sisaltapain ja oltava omintakeista, omaan kulttuuriin sitoutuvaa ja sopivaa. Ja kansakunnan on sita itse haluttava ja vaadittava; silloin kansa on siihen valmis.

Maailman huolet

Maailma ei pysy aloillaan; kun George leikkii sotaa yhdessa paikassa, muualla maailmassa velloo levottomuuden aallokko. Kansainvalinen diplomatia on monimutkaista ja vaatii jatkuvaa hienosaatoa, karsivallista neuvottelutaitoa ja kompromissien tekoa. Yhdysvaltain presidentin luonteeseen eivat kuulu tallaiset ominaisuudet: han on Texasista, jossa ammutaan ensin ja kysytaan sitten.

Muutaman vuoden maailmamme kestaa moista holtittomuutta, mutta nyt on aika maksaa laulujen lunnaat. Pohjois-Korea kay kuumana ja nayttaa muille keskisormea, Afganistan on joutumassa uudelleen kaaoksen valtaan, Somaliassa kuohuu, Iran uhmaa kansainvalista yhteisoa ja Irak ei ota oppiakseen demokratian alkeita. Venajakin nayttaa putovan demokratian karryilta...

Yhdysvallat on maailman ainoa supervalta, ja siksi sen on oltava aktiivisesti edistamassa rauhaa ympari maailman. Mutta ei nyrkilla tai risulla, vaan samettivasaralla ja porkkanalla. Silla mita isot edella sita pienet perassa.

Bush on opettanut, etta on parasta hankkia ydinaseita suojautuakseen amerikkalaisten hyokkaykselta. Tallaisen johtopaatoksen voisi vetaa Irakin, Iranin ja Pohjois-Korean kohdalla...



Analysis Bush confronts a world of troubles
By Michael Abramowitz and Robin WrightThe Washington Post

WASHINGTON — From deteriorating security in Afghanistan and Somalia to mayhem in the Middle East, confrontation with Iran and eroding relations with Russia, the White House suddenly sees crisis in every direction.

North Korea's long-range missile test Wednesday, although unsuccessful, was another reminder of the bleak foreign-policy landscape that faces President Bush even outside of Iraq. Few foreign-policy experts foresee the reclusive Stalinist state giving up the nuclear weapons it appears to have acquired, making it another in a long list of world problems that threatens to cloud the closing years of the Bush administration, according to foreign-policy experts in both parties.

"I am hard-pressed to think of any other moment in modern times where there have been so many challenges facing this country simultaneously," said Richard Haass, a former senior Bush administration official who heads the Council on Foreign Relations. "The danger is that Mr. Bush will hand over a White House to a successor [who] will face a far messier world, with far fewer resources left to cope with it."

White House officials reject such pessimism, and Wednesday leading figures in both parties saw some diplomatic opportunity for the United States in the missile failure. But the launches of it and six other shorter-range missiles underscored how the administration has lost the initiative it had after the Iraq invasion, leaving at risk the central Bush aspiration of democracy-building around the world.

The launches also showed how the huge commitment of resources and time on Iraq — and the falloff in international support for the United States — has limited the administration's flexibility in handling new world crises.
"This is a distracted government that has to take care of too many things at the same time and has been consumed by the war on Iraq," said Moises Namm, editor of Foreign Policy magazine.

National-security adviser Stephen Hadley said Wednesday such criticism is misplaced, adding that victory in Iraq is crucial to success in fighting terrorists and in creating a new democracy that could serve as a beacon to other Middle Eastern countries.
Hadley agreed there are "a lot of issues in motion right now" on the international front. "In some sense, it was destined to be, because we have a president that wants to take on the big issues and see if he could solve them on his watch."

Even in the context of a post-Sept. 11 world, the array of tough, seemingly intractable foreign problems is spreading.
Renewed violence has expanded to major cities throughout Afghanistan, as Afghan rebels adopt tactics of Iraqi insurgents and as President Hamid Karzai's popularity has plummeted.
Iran is balking at demands to come clean or compromise on its nuclear program, despite new U.S. and European incentives. Palestinians launched longer-range missiles into Israel, while Israel has authorized its army to invade part of northern Gaza.

Oil prices rise
Meanwhile, an Islamist militia in Somalia seized control of the capital, Mogadishu. Mexico's future is uncertain after a close and disputed presidential election. And Wednesday, the price of light crude hit a new high of $75.19 a barrel.

Concern about such developments is cutting across the normal fault lines in U.S. politics, with critiques being expressed by conservative realists such as Haass and liberal internationalists such as former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.
Albright said Wednesday that the United States faces the "perfect storm" in foreign policy. "The U.S. is not as unilateral as it is uni-dimensional," she said. "We have not been paying attention to a lot of these issues. ... Afghanistan is out of control because not enough attention was paid to it."

Even neoconservative hawks who have been generally supportive of the administration on Iraq and other issues said they are worried about the direction of U.S. foreign policy and hope for a muscular response from the Bush administration toward the latest North Korean actions.

"North Korea is firing missiles. Iran is going nuclear. Somalia is controlled by radical Islamists. Iraq isn't getting better, and Afghanistan is getting worse," said William Kristol, editor of the Weekly Standard and a leading conservative commentator. "I give the president a lot of credit for hanging tough on Iraq. But I am worried that it has made [the White House] too passive in confronting the other threats."

Working with allies
Senior administration officials said the United States is in a much stronger diplomatic position than it has been in the past in dealing with adversaries such as North Korea and Iran. On both fronts, the administration has engaged in much more aggressive multilateral diplomacy than it did in Bush's first term, and that effort could bear fruit, they said.

Hadley predicted the results of aggressive diplomacy would be seen in the next few days with a strong condemnation of North Korea at the United Nations.
"We saw this coming. We worked the diplomacy," he said. "North Korea went ahead, and in so doing didn't defy [only] us but defied the entire international community."

Some outside experts agreed Wednesday's seven missile launches could help the administration make the case to China to work harder to rein in North Korea.
"This has to have gotten China's attention," said Rep. Jane Harman of California, the senior Democrat on the House intelligence committee. "What some may see as a series of setbacks, I see as a series of opportunities," she said.

Democrats and Republicans insisted the United States can deal with multiple crises, but some questioned how effectively.
"Every situation makes it more difficult to deal with another," said Zbigniew Brzezinski, national-security adviser in the Carter administration.
"It's like a juggler. You have to keep all the balls going. Any one of them that is out of trajectory threatens all the others."

Copyright © 2006 The Seattle Times Company

Telttaretki

Olimme taman jarven rannalla telttailemassa Vancouverin saarella Brittilaisessa Kolumbiassa. Ilmat olivat upeat: aurinkoista ja lamminta eika hyttysiakaan ollut kuin nimeksi. Kummasti unohtuu kaikki huolet ja maailman murheet kun paivat ovat taynna kokkaamista, tiskaamista, riippukeinussa makaamista ja rannalla loikomista.