Comments for Ben Popper - Culture + Technology

Comment on Engineering Terrorism by Bab engineer

Bab engineer — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 12:58:22 +0000

It is indeed a good article but I would draw different concluisions ! Either those engineer are not bright or are so stupid that one ought to wonder how they get that title.
Indeed, a proper engineer would actualy look at the aim/target/goal and try to provide the easiest path of success. So far all of these guys have failed (thank god for that !)
For instance, there are many targets that one living in a cave in afghanistan could not even think off, an engineer western educated would be aware of these and could easily find out how to hit those. (power line with a chain saw)
In a way I am thankful that these engineer/terrorists are not so bright/ so low in the chain of command that they can’t influence anything. A moron handling a cutter or an engineer the result is the same a wasted asset.

Last that document that you are reffering to already exist, it is called the order of the engineer. It includes usually a solemn oath to bring no harm, food , and a ring all for $15 !

Comment on Engineering Terrorism by observerms

observerms — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 07:03:33 +0000

Simplicity of weapons can be used successfully against naive, do-gooders (Americans)
This has been proved many times.

In other parts of the world, flying TV cameras, satellites, electronic detectors, listening devices, armed, secret patrols , the ability to understand the enemy’s language, his social behavior are all used BEFORE , B-E-F-O-R-E the enemy acts.

Know the enemy… Anticipate the enemy…Kill the brains…the enemy’s planners…never , NEVER reveal your operations. CIA, DEA, and the other 13 organizations take notice ! movies

Comment on Engineering Terrorism by Bob A

Bob A — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:16:51 +0000

Ben,

You almost have hit the nail on the head but it is a glancing blow.
You mention that the devises used by the terrorists are rudimentry, this is the correct procedure ,or design method, that is used by any engineer. Engineers live by KISS, Keeping It Simple Stupid. If box cutters and flight school can demolish buildings why would you engineer anything more sophisticated.

The one area the researchers in your article did not address and this is where they missed the mark, was the morals and ethics of engineering. In the US of A, most if not all engineering students will sign the following:

To give the utmost of performance;
To participate in none but honest enterprise;
To live and work according to the laws of man and the highest standards of professional conduct;
To place service before profit, the honor and standing of the profession before personal advantage, and the public welfare above all other considerations.
In humility and with need for Divine Guidance, I make this pledge.

It would have done justice to the Engineering Profession to have brought up the point that the terroist had ignored the morals and ethics of the profession and thier religon.
thanks for a good article

Comment on Social Suicide by Marissa Beck

Marissa Beck — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:15:18 +0000

Ben – great article. I agree that social networking has carved a new space for genuine relationships, and even those that appear to save people’s lives. How cool is that. I guess we have to remind ourselves of the days when snail mail was the method of reaching out, let alone twitter/etc.

On another note, good seeing you at our alumni function last night! All the best to you – looks like you’re doing quite well

Comment on Competitive Cartography by backtomarx

backtomarx — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:16:15 +0000

Haha, the effects of capitalist competition. But at least some people got work, and others got rich. All that counts!

Comment on Grim Reaping by jerry claiborne

jerry claiborne — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:19:38 +0000

I agree Ben, but let’s not throw out the baby with the bath water.

Regards,

Jerry Claiborne

Comment on Grim Reaping by bpopper

bpopper — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:55:28 +0000

Hey Jerry – I don’t think everyone in the life settlement industry is dirty and like I said in my article, the business can offer real value to seniors. I am also of the opinion, however, after having talked with industry experts, professionals and regulators, that the business could use better oversight. I think this would benefit the reputation of the business and allow investors and policy holders to make better, more informed decisions about life settlements.

Thanks for your comment.

Cheers, Ben

Comment on Grim Reaping by jerry claiborne

jerry claiborne — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:38:56 +0000

The article you wrote was pretty good, but the life seetlement business is not all about fraud. I have been in the life settlement business for going on 8 years and I have to say for the most part the business is pretty clean, but if you listen to the news reports every deal has the client getting screwed. The insurance carriers paint the business in this manner because they want the policies to lapse. Most of the seniors get 2-5 times the cash value they would have gotten from their insurance carrier. The question always remains what is fair, as agents and brokers have sometimes taken big time compensation for the sale of the policies. I think the public would be shocked at how much money is made by companies such as Walmart on everyday items. I think it is unfair to tell anyone how much money they should make and that includes the life settlement industry! Again, the question remains what is fair and new laws will keep the financial rapist in line and hopefully removed from a business that has helped many seniors live a better quality of life.

90% of life polices never give a death benefit to the client, so all that money is going to the insurance carriers profits. Billions of dollars in profits and the life settlement business is a growing threat to this profitability. Insurance companies will do anything to keep these polices from being sold and it is now taking in many cases months to get the required information from these companies. When I first started in the business it took 3 months to complete a transaction, now most are over 5 months.

Sorry I wrote so much, but many people just don’t see that a good settlement is a great option for the senior. In today’s world everyone should be aware of the pitfalls of any deal, but life settlements are not the worse thing in the world I can assure you of that.

Regards,

Jerry Claiborne