h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

It should also be noted that the experiment was carried out in America nearly a decade ago, a country with a quite unique history in race relations. Syed is taking those results and glibly transposing them onto a quite different socio-economic model.

Yes. And, as I said, it would be interesting to see the experiment repeated in other societies rather than assuming that everything is peachy.

A whole new thread required to discuss? I would be interested to see the view of others Both archaic and progressive

I hate to say "Told you so"
RIP Britannia RNC

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-14691948

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14697819

and all those like him. Have one on me for a job well done. RIP

The CV story (below) was interesting, but I'm not sure it can be inferred that employers were discriminating by skin colour, because they didn't see any skin; all they saw were names. Perhaps the employers simply found the names Brendan and Alison more familiar than Tyrone or Latoya. They should repeat the experiment with unfamiliar 'white' names like Alexei and Branislav, to see if there's a more general xenophobia at work.


"Consider an experiment by Marianne Bertrand and Sendhil Mullainathan, two American economists. They drafted 5,000 CVs and placed archetypal "black" names such as Tyrone or Latoya on half of them and "white" names such as Brendan or Alison on the other half. They then divided the white CVs into high and low quality and did the same with the black CVs.
A few weeks later the offers came rolling in from employers, and guess what? The "black" candidates were 50% less likely to be invited to interview. Employers were using skin colour as a marker for employment potential, despite the fact that the candidates' CVs were identical."

Was that experiment conducted in Georgia, Arkansas....et al ?
I shall consult with my American Korean G/F, from Santa Barbara, and ask if the Asian community has encountered any prejudice.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/athletics/14698558.stm

Usain Bolt disqualified after *one* false start.

Finally some evidentiary support for my life philosophy, always expect the worst and your only surprises will be pleasant ones:


http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=the-pitfalls-of-positive-thinking

“It’s positive thinking, plus instructions,” says lead author

So the report does still advocate positive thinking.

ow ow ow ow ow

http://news.sky.com/home/strange-news/article/16059182

Gardener's Eye Impaled By Pruning Shears

Have to salute those involved with CHIS. Not my , I prefer to be in control of my own risks. Though as the last paragraph affirms, who are we to judge
Comments, ideas, gratefully recieved via the dead letter drop, usual address

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-14714120

Half of Americans have a sugary drink daily:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/9824025

Travellers travelling again

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-14728042

I saw that one as well.

Merely caused me to think:

"Why don't the good Bishops and Vanessa Redgrave open up their palatial residence gardens to the travellers if they are so concerned.
Problem solved, travellers happy, local residents happy, council happy".

Post-It Wars in Paris!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/gallery/2011/aug/30/post-it-wars-pictures

Better pictures here:

http://tinyurl.com/3b53p8s

(link in foreignese, but don't mind the text)

Hehe. We've got a couple of those in our street here, too.