Interesting Links for 10-2-2011

[andrewducker]

• One of the reasons why kids from poorer areas don't get into Oxford/Cambridge
  (tags: education academia class society uk)
• Extra testosterone reduces your empathy
  (tags: testosterone empathy psychology)
• What makes fructose fattening? Some answers found in the brain
  (tags: fructose diet health brains mri)
• Iron-deficiency is not something you get just for being a lady. 86% of women with anemia have undiagnosed gastrointestinal bleeding...
  (tags: gender health women biology)
• Saudi Arabia's oil reserves may be overstated by up to 40%
  (tags: oil wikileaks energy economics world saudiarabia)
• Spotify Is The Second Largest Source Of Revenue In Europe For Labels.
  (tags: music spotify europe)
• Aggression (bullying) increases as kids gain status.
  (tags: aggression bullying children relationships)
• the vicious middle - on status and bullying.
  (tags: status bullying children homophobia lgbt sexism)
• Russia Abolishes Winter Time. Will be on permanent Daylight Saving's Time as of March 27th
  (tags: time russia)

Comments

[innerbrat]

I tend to thnk of Winter time as 'real' time and Daylight Savings as 'Pretend' time in a way that said "well, if you want everything to happen an hour earlier, adjust the time at which you do things.

I'm probably being ridiculously simplistic with this point of view - are people more attached to the clock than the sun these days?

[andrewducker]

Most people have to be. They have to be in work at a set time. Their children need to be in school for a set time. Shops open and close at set times. Even if their work has flexibility, chances are that their partner's doesn't, or their friends don't.

[innerbrat]

School and public sector hours come from the same source as deciding not to have winter time anymore.

I'm acctually less hung up on it than I used to be, but Summer Time always felt artificial.

[andrewducker]

Oh, it feels artificial to me too.

I'd be happy to either have it, or not have it. But the idea that most companies are going to allow more flexibility feels more like a pipe-dream than anything that's likely to happen soon (and it's not just public sector stuff, only one private-sector job I've had has had flexitime, and private schools are similarly regimented).

[innerbrat]

I've been spoiled by flexitime and public sector jobs. It's a habit I'm going to have to break to be a good teacher.

[andrewducker]

Yeah, the fact that I can wander in at 10am is a complete boon for me. It's a perk I'll not be giving up lightly.

I think it's also good for the company too. And I wish more companies would take it on. But I'm not holding my breath.