Biggest News story of 21st Century

When the twin towers of the World Trade Center fell in 2001, I couldn't imagine any plausible news story that could have had more news coverage around the world. Perhaps my view was a bit USA-centric, for surely there were corners of the globe dealing with more important matters carrying more consequential local impact.

Then, in 2019, along came the Corona virus. There was no geographical escape from this news story; it was all Covid-19, all day long, for months on end, as the world grappled with a complex debate about how big a threat was actually at hand.

In comparison to today, those were cute little news stories. Today we know what serious, comprehensive coverage looks like. For a story to simultaneously command all channels of media and dominate all water-cooler dialogue, it must have important consequences that resonate throughout all societies. You know, something like this:

Kind of shocking to me how much play this story has gotten. I don't know about you all, but I am not taking my mistress to any Cold Play concerts...
 

Moving Walkways

 

 

One of mankind’s great innovations for accelerating the movement of pedestrian masses across long spaces is the moving walkway. They are strategically located in airports and other large buildings where people need to walk long distances under time pressure.

 

These magical belts move slowly enough to allow travelers to step safely on and off, but quickly enough to get you to gate C36 before your flight leaves for Cleveland. Moving walkways are great. I love moving walkways.

 

Of course, somewhere along mankind’s slow descent into a sloth-like existence, a false notion about moving walkways has taken hold. That false notion is that the purpose of a moving walkway is to replace walking. Somehow, a portion of the public has come to perceive them as moving “ride-ways”, with no walking involved.

 

Hey, no big deal. If you prefer to stand still, then stand still. Be my guest. Just don’t do it on the walkway where you impede the progress of grumpy old men trying to make a connection.

Privacy Shmivacy...

Privacy is great if you want it, but can be pretty inconvenient when you don't. Seems like we should be able to "opt out" of privacy at our own discretion.

For example, if you fill out a detailed medical history listing every condition in your family, from maternal and fraternal grandparents on down, including every allergy, surgery, and medication you've ever had, then you have compiled a very important and useful compendium of information that could help all of your doctors deliver optimal care. But if privacy policies dictate that the only person who can see your information is the one who requested it, then you may have just wasted a lot of time. Especially if you completed the exercise for an ophthalmologist during a routine exam. 

From a technology standpoint, such information is very sharable in electronic form. However, from a legal standpoint, healthcare institutions are required to "protect their patients' information" in accordance with state and federal regulations. The state regulations in California are extreme, by the way. 

Seems a little odd to me that individuals have no say in whether or not they want privacy. It has become a mandate, at all times, at the highest levels, even when it is neither important nor convenient to maintain.