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An American Furry in Germany

"Come on you cheeky vixen, get in the wheelbarrow."

Salvar Fawkes

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April 2nd, 2008

Don't forget to be afraid...

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I just registered online with the US Department of State. That way, if anything happens, they're know where to find me. Also if there's something new and potentially dangerous going on in Germany, they'll let me know about it. For instance, when I completed the form, a notice came up under the category "Germany", about potential anti-globalization protests at some conference in June. That might be useful information. Then right after that, I got this, under the category "World". Just a reminder, I guess, to anyone thinking about leaving our fair country--it's a dangerous world out there. Don't forget to be afraid.


Public Announcement 04/10/2007

Worldwide Caution

April 10, 2007

This Public Announcement updates information on the continuing threat of terrorist actions and violence against Americans and interests overseas.  This supersedes the Worldwide Caution dated October 11, 2006 and expires on October 9, 2007.  

The Department of State remains concerned about the continued threat of terrorist attacks, demonstrations and other violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests overseas.  Current information suggests that al-Qaida and affiliated organizations continue to plan terrorist attacks against U.S. interests in multiple regions, including Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.  These attacks may employ a wide variety of tactics to include assassinations, kidnappings, hijackings and bombings. 

Ongoing events in Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle East have resulted in demonstrations and associated violence in several countries.  Americans are reminded that demonstrations and rioting can occur with little or no warning. 

In August 2006, British authorities arrested a significant number of extremists engaged in a plot to destroy multiple passenger aircraft flying from the United Kingdom to the United States.  The September 2006 attack on the U.S. Embassy in Syria and the March 2006 bombing near the U.S. Consulate in Karachi, Pakistan illustrate the continuing desire of extremists to strike American targets. 

Extremists may elect to use conventional or non-conventional weapons, and target both official and private interests.  The bomb attacks targeting buses carrying foreign workers in March 2007 and December 2006 in Algeria, a series of bombings in Thailand in May and September 2006 that targeted commercial and tourist destinations in the far south, and the bombings in the the Egyptian resort town of Dahab in April 2006 all illustrate how terrorists exploit vulnerabilities associated with soft targets.  Additional examples of such targets include high-profile sporting events, residential areas, business offices, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, schools, public areas and locales where Americans gather in large numbers, including during holidays.  Financial or economic targets of value may also be considered as possible venues; the vehicle-based suicide attack on an oil facility near Mukalla and Marib in Yemen in September 2006 and the failed attack on the Abqaiq oil processing facility in Saudi Arabia in late February 2006 are such examples.    

In the wake of the August 2006 plot against aircraft in London, numerous terrorist attacks on trains in India in 2006, the July 2005 London Underground bombings, and the March 2004 train attacks in Madrid, Americans are reminded of the potential for terrorists to attack public transportation systems.  In addition, extremists may also select aviation and maritime services as possible targets. 
 
U.S. citizens are strongly encouraged to maintain a high level of vigilance, be aware of local events, and take the appropriate steps to bolster their personal security.  For additional information, please refer to ¿A Safe Trip Abroad¿ found at http://travel.state.gov.

U.S. Government facilities worldwide remain at a heightened state of alert.  These facilities may temporarily close or periodically suspend public services to assess their security posture.  In those instances, U.S. embassies and consulates will make every effort to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens.  Americans abroad are urged to monitor the local news and maintain contact with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

As the Department continues to develop information on any potential security threats to U.S. citizens overseas, it shares credible threat information through its Consular Information Program documents, available on the Internet at http://travel.state.gov. In addition to information on the Internet, travelers may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. or outside the U.S. and Canada on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444

November 8th, 2007

How to bend people to your will

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Let me tell you about some interesting research I just found. It's not very new, I don't think, and I'm pretty sure I've heard it before, but it's compiled here in a way that made me think.

I'm taking a class on "Organizational Behavior". Despite what the title sounds like, the course is actually about behavior in organizations--mostly corporations. I didn't know that going into the class, and so far it's been more aggravating than educational, but it's still the best option to fulfill that particular major requirement. But anyway, occasionally I run across something that catches my interest. This week's chapter was about persuasion, and the supplementary reading listed the six basic principles of persuasion:
  • Reciprocation: If you give someone something, even if it's something they don't want, they'll be more likely to give you something in return (even though they're not consciously aware of the "trade off").
  • Consistency: If you get someone to say they'll do something, even if they don't mean it, they'll be more likely to do it.
  • Social Validation: If other people are doing it, they'll be more likely to do it too.
  • Liking: If you compliment someone, even if you both know it's insincere, they'll still like you better.
  • Scarcity: If they believe a product or information to be scarce, it will be more valuable to them.
The most compelling aspect of these concepts is that they've so well-supported in research--they show consistent, very large effects. They touch on the basic reasons I'm interested in psychology--being able to predict and even influence people, even if they're aware they're being influenced. Which... admittedly sounds more evil than I thought at first.
But the reason I bring it up now is because of something else I read in that chapter. These motivations are all deeply human, as a result of our developing as a social species. But across culture boundaries, these six motivations have different weights. I've heard people talk about culture differences, but they never do a great job of explaining them to my satisfaction. I've never gotten much of a chance to travel, so I can't speak from experience... but I have a feeling that these trends, being so rooted in basic human behavior, might be the clue to the differing "feel" of different cultures.
In the United States, we apparently put a lot of weight to reciprocity. "What has this person done for me?" we think. In China, social validation is key--it's all about loyalty and status. In Spain, it's all about liking--friendship and close relationships are their main motivators. All of these make sense to me, from what I know. In Germany, they're more motivated by consistency... regulations, and such. Does that ring true? It might be, but I'm not sure. I guess I'll find out soon enough.

Fascinating, ne c'est pas?

November 2nd, 2007

Kinda warms your heart, don't it?

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$11 million is a lot of money. A "Don't mess with Texas Maryland" kind of amount. Now, if only we still had debtor's prisons...

But seriously, after you're done giggling with joy (and if you're not giggling with joy in the first place, a visit to www.godhatesfags.com might let you know why I am), it kind of makes you think. We do still have freedom of speech in America, and it is kind of meant for everyone. So... is this a bad verdict? Are we submitting to our baser instincts, and simply allowing our ideals to fall by the wayside because this is so offensive to what we happen to believe?
I'm going to say no. Keep in mind, everything I say here might just be justification for it after I've already made up my mind... but I'm doing my best to be objective here. The right to freedom of speech, in case you don't know, includes actions as well--so-called "symbolic speech". Which is perfectly all right; we wouldn't want to censor banners or newsprint simply because they're not conveying information through air vibrations. Taking that as an example, then, it's clear that even in the name of freedom, you can't allow every action. So it's only natural that you can't allow every type of speech. Slander, for example--which is to say, speech intended to cause harm. It's clear that despite their beliefs, the Westboro Baptist Church is not trying to simply spread them. That, I have to say, is my biggest complaint with them--they're not doing any good, even from their viewpoint. Assuming as they do that God hates... everyone... what good does it do to let people know, without even trying to help, or educate them? What they are trying to do, for reasons that escape me, is injure people. And that should not be protected.

So where do we go from here? If they can't pay it... will that stop them? I don't know how bankruptcy works, but hopefully it'll strip them of traveling money, at least.
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