i202 Fall 2010 School of Information, UC Berkeley

 http://mapofmetal.com/

For the uninitiated, metal music seems to fall under these general descriptors: long hair, loud and aggressive vocals, fast guitar solos, and lyrics that are probably about killing people.

 In the November 29, 2010 edition of "The New Yorker," George Packer writes a review of George W. Bush's memoirs ("Decision Points"). According to Packer, the book goes beyond making a "contribution to the study of American history." Bush Jr. also wanted to "join the section of advice tips from successful executives." How would you shelve this memoir?

This blog entry is an example of cultural categorization systems and how embodied language and culture can cause conflicts.

My extended family owns rice noodle factories in San Francisco that serve many of the Asian restaurants.  For the past year they have been having to deal with a new law that has put their noodle factories in jeopardy.   The reasons for this conflict stem from cultural categorization issues. 

This essay from NYTimes.com poses an interesting question regarding how in the wake of Caster Semenya's gold medal victory at the world track and field chapionships, the International Assoc. of Athletics Federations is struggling to set clear rules for sex typing.

Proving identity in India can sometime result in frustrating experience. If you go to Bank for opening an account, they will ask for Permanent Account Number (PAN) card issued by finance ministry of India. If you hail from low income group and want to take advantage of subsidized food provided by the government then they will ask for ration card. If you want to exercise your right as a citizen of India during various elections then they will ask for voter ID card. Furthermore, all these proof documents are not linked with each other.

I was reading this article in The New Yorker about a book called "Eating animals" today and something came to my mind. Somehow categories define how we feel. I like eating "pork", but maybe I wouldn't like to eat "pig". We also do not want to have "cow sausages", let's better call them "beef sausages". Why don't we eat "dog" or "cat"? Well... because they are pets, aren't they?

Most of us have heard of service dogs — but what about service horses, chimpanzees, or parrots? Should they be treated the same way under the Americans with Disabilities Act that more "typical" or "expected" service animals are? Or should there be different categories within the designation of "service animal" to determine which companions are allowed in which public places? That's the subject of this December 31, 2008 New York Times Magazine story.