Developing new disciplines to deal with modern ways

By JoeAm Our way of living is very different than the way people lived just 20 years ago. Regular contributor Edgar Lores recently provided a nice snapshot of what is going on: Increasing complexity. E.g. not only computers but also newfangled gadgets and ideas. The speed of change. E.g. Moore’s Law. The increased dimensions of … Continue reading

Bank stability in the Philippines

By JoeAm I was surprised at the shock wave that rolled through banking and economic news reports on the announced bankruptcy of Hanjin Heavy Industries and Construction Philippines. Hanjin is a Korean shipbuilding company that operates in the Subic shipyard. The bankruptcy left Philippine banks holding the bag for a reported $412 million in loans, and … Continue reading

A certain lack of character in the Philippine legislature

By JoeAm I started thinking about how to characterize a legislature that would have 9 year-old children taken from their parents and placed in confinement with other so-called “kids in disregard for the law” until they are as old as 25, and then expect them to emerge into the greater world as constructive members of … Continue reading

On the matter of criminal responsibility for 9 year old kids

By JoeAm House Speaker Arroyo and Senate President Sotto evidently intend to sponsor legislation to allow children as young as 9 years of age to be criminally responsible in the Philippines. The current age for criminal responsibility is 15 years of age. What are we to think of this? The arguments for it are those … Continue reading

Editorial rules for participating in discussions at The Society of Honor

By JoeAm We have observed a worldwide deterioration in the quality of information and debate as fake news, lies, manipulations, fallacious argument, trolling, and ignorance have been injected into information streams. Going along with that is a general dumbing down of people’s intellectual capacities, shoddy journalistic practices (biased, shallow, and sensationalized reporting), and a shortening … Continue reading