Nice article.
The ink one didn't catch my eye (because I'm not the one who pays for the ink).
For the solar bit, I have studied a bit into the topic, and I personally believe that we still need massive amounts of R&D into it. Sure clean nuclear fusion is a great goal, and eventual clean matter/antimatter (and hopefully something better eventually), but solar power mades a great step infront. It is also a great way to invest into nano technology. I'm going to stop now... so.. much... to....say...
The violence discussion is the one tht really lured me.
The biggest issues I find is:
a) How impressionable is the child? This is likely thebiggest point. If you tell your kid to kill someone, does he?
b) The addiction of some video games.
I personally a) doesn't affect me (black baby killing games? bring it on... but make it zombie baby's so I don't get sued... oh wait, scratch that apparantly). I'm a non-violent person. If I was raised the classic Christain way my mother tried, I certainly would have. Video games actually saved me from that (or so I believe).
However b) is a major topic with me. Like any substance, some people can control it, and some can't. I can't. I had a brother doing heroin, cocaine, and meth casually and easily got away from it, but any MMORPG is absolutely life draining for me. I always need my next fix. I try to play duller games just to avoid that.
One advantage to teaching kids violence however...
Teaching someone to stop being a wuss.
A non violent person is MUCH easier to take advantage of.
I've used violence before, but always with reason. It was that ~or~ be completely screwed. Don't have long enough to call the cops, and parents/teachers won't do anything? Take care of your own business any way you know how.
I certainly don't advocate violence at all, but sadly enough, sometimes IT IS the best immediate option.
E.g. Bullys. All I see is people saying "tell somebody" etc...
Guess what, that doesn't always work. Sometimes bullyingy can get horrid, such as my best friend being forced to call the cops and eventually getting a restraining order just so he could feel safe.
I had some bullying issues, and they could have escaladed that far, had I not finally told them off... with force.
Sorry for the rant. But I honestly believe violence does have its place even among modern society. Self preservation being key.