My wife and daughter are catholic. I am not. I am nothing — in a spiritual sense.

At lunch, my wife explained to me that my daughter is at the age of reason; the threshold where people are deemed to begin to be morally responsible.

It’s a fascinating concept. If true, my child is now accountable for her acts in some profound sense a younger child is not. She can be generous, indifferent, self-absorbed, cruel and kind. She is capable of guilt, courage and hope.

Second grade was hard enough.

Short link: http://jkat.me/fhHCPK

Tag(s): childhood, morality

Comments: 1

From the New York Times article, Vast Spy System Loots Computers in 103 Countries, by John Markoff

Intelligence analysts say many governments, including those of China, Russia and the United States, and other parties use sophisticated computer programs to covertly gather information.

The electronic spy game has had at least some real-world impact, they said. For example, they said, after an e-mail invitation was sent by the Dalai Lama’s office to a foreign diplomat, the Chinese government made a call to the diplomat discouraging a visit. And a woman working for a group making Internet contacts between Tibetan exiles and Chinese citizens was stopped by Chinese intelligence officers on her way back to Tibet, shown transcripts of her online conversations and warned to stop her political activities.

Short link: http://jkat.me/fNNPyQ

Tag(s): China, Chinese government, Chinese intelligence, diplomat, ethics, foreign diplomat, John Markoff, morality, New York Times, online conversations, Russia, spy, spying, technology, Tibet, United States, Vast Spy

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