11/08/2004

This is from the "Troubleshooting" chapter of the user's guide for my laptop:
If problem-solving is taking a long time, take a break. If you have been fighting to solve a problem for a long time, you are probably frustrated by now. Stand up and take a deep breath. Often, you can find a new solution to a problem just by stepping away from it for a few moments.

Imagine...I found that piece of precient advise in a badly formatted, ill-conceived, poorly written computer manual. The best things in life are free.

11/03/2004

What Would You Do? A friend of mine studying medical ethics at McGill sent me this ethical puzzle to solve. She said that there is no right or wrong answer, so think about it, answer honestly, and then post your response.

You're in Florida... in Miami, to be exact. There is great chaos going on around you, caused by a hurricane and severe floods. You are a news photographer and you are in the middle of this great disaster. The situation is nearly hopeless. You're trying to shoot very impressive photos. There are houses and people floating around you, disappearing into the water. Nature is showing all its destructive power.

Suddenly you see a man in the water, fighting for his life, trying not to be taken away by the water and mud. You move closer. Somehow the man looks familiar. Suddenly you know who it is -- it's George W. Bush! At the same time you notice that the raging waters are about to take him away, forever. You have two options. You can save him or you can take the best photo of your life. So you can save the life of George W. Bush, or you can shoot a Pulitzer prize winning photo: a unique photo displaying the death of one of the world's most powerful men. So here's the question (please give an honest answer): Would you select color film, or go with the simplicity of classic black and white?