Thursday Things: Dogs and Temples Edition
14 March 2024. Vol 6 No 11. By Dan McGirt. #240
Welcome to Thursday Things! This week we pet a dog and bungle trivia night.
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Please check your GPS before posting. Photo by James Wheeler on Unsplash
Pay attention in geography
People displaying their ignorance or saying stupid things on the Internet has been around as long as the Internet itself. In the age of smartphones and social media, the opportunities to demonstrate to the world that you have no idea what you’re talking about are endless. I should know!
But in some countries, apparently, blunders of basic geography come at a price:
And that price is $300.
Vietnam fines TikTokker US$300 for video suggesting Cambodia’s Angkor Wat is in Thailand
Vietnamese authorities fined a man US$300 after he posted a TikTok suggesting that Angkor Wat, an ancient temple complex in Cambodia, was located in Thailand, the state-owned media outlet Lao Dong reported in Vietnamese.
Hua Quoc Anh, a Vietnamese make-up artist and content creator, posted a TikTok of his photo shoot at Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, the second-largest city in Cambodia.
The video, with overlaid images of the Thai flag and royalty, was posted on November 4, per Lao Dong. The phrase “Hello, Thailand” could also be heard in the video, per the report.
Definitely the wrong answer to the question “In what country is Angkor Wat located?” In most cases this would net a red mark on your geography exam or your team might lost a point in Wednesday night trivia.
In Vietnam, you get summoned to the government’s Department of Information and Communication and have to pay a fine.
Why does Vietnam even care about this? How is this laughable error something that calls for official intervention?
Either the Vietnamese government has a lot of time on their hands or they are very sensitive about their citizens looking dumb online.
Apparently Quoc Anh was charged with “providing “false information” and “insulting the reputation of agencies and organisations, honour and dignity of individuals”. Which seems harsh.
Others agree:
Phil Robertson, the deputy Asia director for Human Rights Watch, told the Japanese newspaper Nikkei that the incident was “ridiculous”.
“No one really believes that Siem Reap belongs to Thailand,” Robertson said. “So the appropriate step would have been to laugh at this social influencer’s ignorance rather than resort to criminal penalties,” he added.
I’m glad to live in a country where I can say dumb things — and even get my facts wrong from time to time — without the government monitoring everything I say online and penalizing me for bogus infractions like “providing false information”. Thank goodness!
That said, it is important for travelers to remember that when you’re in another country, you’re subject to their laws, which may or may not resemble those you have back home. Be aware and take care!
Also, it helps to know which country you’re actually in.
Nice doggie!
As noted before, I am more of a cat person1 but I also love dogs. And now scientists have discovered more evidence that dogs are truly man’s best friend.2
Playing With Dogs Yields Powerful Burst Of Brain Activity Linked To Better Mood, Mental Sharpness
A groundbreaking new study from researchers in South Korea provides compelling evidence that different types of activities with dogs – from playing and walking to giving them massages – can significantly impact key indicators of relaxation, attention, and positive mood in the human brain.
Doggie!
The research team, led by Dr. Sin-Ae Park of Konkuk University in Seoul, used high-tech wireless EEG devices to monitor the brain activity of 30 healthy adults as they spent time with a lovable 4-year-old Standard Poodle trained for animal-assisted activities. What they discovered was eye-opening.
It even works with poodles!
Playing with and walking the dog resulted in significantly higher “alpha” brainwave activity in regions like the frontal lobes, which are involved in functions like attention, problem-solving and emotional regulation. The study, published in PLOS One, found this increased alpha power indeed gave participants greater relaxation, emotional stability, and “significantly lower stress.”
But wait! There’s more!
Massaging and grooming the dog boosted “beta” brainwaves across multiple brain areas. Beta waves indicate an alert, focused state of mind. Researchers report that this increase in beta power suggests that participants’ were more attentive and had enhanced concentration during the testing.
So what does it all mean, beyond dogs are our friends?
Perhaps most intriguing was that playing with the dog increased both alpha and beta together in the prefrontal cortex, the brain’s control center for complex cognitive behaviors, personality, and decision-making. This suggests that playful interaction with dogs could promote a calm yet attentive mental state especially conducive to learning, creativity and emotional balance.
Dogs make us smarter and happier. That’s all they want! That and a treat. And for you to throw the ball.
Treat, please! Photo by Kania Colby on Unsplash
Thank you for reading!
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Because cats are highly evolved killing machines that purr. And who — fortunately for us — are willing to keep rodents in check in return for suitable tribute.
As opposed to cats, our furry overlords.