The internet is changing what it means to be a citizen in the world today. We are seeing indeed, a world becoming a "global village". We observe democratic uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt. We see private persons standing up to the Pentagon, and revealing it's secrets.
Now another new thing. The Satellite Sentinel Project. Again citizens are using real time satellite imagery to watch the world's hot spots and make the doings public. The armies of the world can no longer hide.
"We can't allow another deadly war, and we surely cannot stand by in the face of a genocide threat. We were late to Rwanda. We were late to the Congo. We were late to Darfur. ... [ we propose to ] systematically monitor potential hot spots and threats to human security, in near real-time, with the aim of heading off humanitarian disaster and war crimes before they occur."
Friday, January 28, 2011
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Big Think
Big Think is one of the new media. Experimental. Different mix. No earlier models. Micro Talks. No props - person talking on white background - nonmoving close camera. Short - only 3 or 4 minutes. Riveting. Stopper ideas. Thinkers. Curiousers. Active about 2 years. Fairly large archive now.
Here is a celebration of the 10 most popular videos on their site last year. This is definitely not youtube.
"This years top videos included a rant about the distractions that are limiting workplace productivity, an evolutionary biologist's take on the problems inherent in modern dating, and a suggestion by Stephen Hawking that we must abandon the planet."
And here's another tidbit spotted on BigThink, Karen Armstrong "How to Die Well".
Here is a celebration of the 10 most popular videos on their site last year. This is definitely not youtube.
"This years top videos included a rant about the distractions that are limiting workplace productivity, an evolutionary biologist's take on the problems inherent in modern dating, and a suggestion by Stephen Hawking that we must abandon the planet."
And here's another tidbit spotted on BigThink, Karen Armstrong "How to Die Well".
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Welcome to Av8n.com
This is mostly about aviation. But it is also about the new kind of citizenship promoted on the internet of folks who just share understandings.
John S Denker has written a most thorough manual of flight instruction "See How It Flies". In this he has broken with many long standing traditions and instructional paradigms. Many of the best traditions and paradigms continue in his scheme. He is no anarchist. But he gathers into a new mix, the physics of flight, current accident rates and causes, and a most practical common sense. He is as concerned to communicate how to stay alive as to how to fly the plane. See also his lecture "CFI Seminar - Takeoff, Landing and Maneuvering".
And he makes his book of instruction (and more) freely available! John has a double life as a PhD in Physics and as Aviation Enthusiast. Bio.
John S Denker has written a most thorough manual of flight instruction "See How It Flies". In this he has broken with many long standing traditions and instructional paradigms. Many of the best traditions and paradigms continue in his scheme. He is no anarchist. But he gathers into a new mix, the physics of flight, current accident rates and causes, and a most practical common sense. He is as concerned to communicate how to stay alive as to how to fly the plane. See also his lecture "CFI Seminar - Takeoff, Landing and Maneuvering".
And he makes his book of instruction (and more) freely available! John has a double life as a PhD in Physics and as Aviation Enthusiast. Bio.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Snake Oil? The scientific evidence for health supplements
This interactive balloon chart took David McCandless a month to do. He collated the entire medline database to grade "evidence" and did keyword search at google to measure the public interest in any supplement. Spend some time with it. Interesting. And if you'd like check out his TED talk, The Beauty of Data Visualization on this and other aspects of his present interest in putting modern, often incomprehensible data into understandable context.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
The Videos of RSA Animate
About a dozen interesting 11 minute lectures by current leading minds, are offered by RSA Animate, a new project of a very old London group. They are illustrated during the talk in a most unique way by. Well worth the listening. Their models of community and the change upon us, are most intriguing.
"For over 250 years, the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) has been a cradle of enlightenment thinking and a force for social progress. Our approach is multi-disciplinary, politically independent and combines cutting edge research and policy development with practical action."
The videos are also collected on youtube
"For over 250 years, the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) has been a cradle of enlightenment thinking and a force for social progress. Our approach is multi-disciplinary, politically independent and combines cutting edge research and policy development with practical action."
The videos are also collected on youtube
Thursday, August 19, 2010
HTwins.net - The Scale of the Universe
the size of things outside our normal lives is hard to comprehend.
things get incredibly bigger and also smaller than we can really fathom.
this site starts of with a few things a centimeter or so in size.
familiar things. manageable.
then you move a slider for bigger or smaller. and each pops up or down a factor of ten.
familiar things. still manageable.
suddenly you are seeing how small viruses are and how large planets are.
less familiar things. still manageable.
then there you are
so small "it makes no sense to be smaller" - strings and quantum foam
so huge "we can't see any further" - the very edge of creation
completely unfamiliar, yet still manageable.
well done.
things get incredibly bigger and also smaller than we can really fathom.
this site starts of with a few things a centimeter or so in size.
familiar things. manageable.
then you move a slider for bigger or smaller. and each pops up or down a factor of ten.
familiar things. still manageable.
suddenly you are seeing how small viruses are and how large planets are.
less familiar things. still manageable.
then there you are
so small "it makes no sense to be smaller" - strings and quantum foam
so huge "we can't see any further" - the very edge of creation
completely unfamiliar, yet still manageable.
well done.
Space.com : The Black Hole That Made You Possible
here's an excellent series of 4 short 5 min videos on space.com on black holes. they are rather well hidden on their site and don't show up on searchs for black hole info though lots and lots of data does.
"the black hole that made you possible" is a series of 4 episodes. here is the link to the first episode. the others are presented on the same page.
the lectures have wonderful animations and space telescope shots, and are very up-to-date in terms of changing, quick moving dance between theory and observation on this subject.
"the black hole that made you possible" is a series of 4 episodes. here is the link to the first episode. the others are presented on the same page.
the lectures have wonderful animations and space telescope shots, and are very up-to-date in terms of changing, quick moving dance between theory and observation on this subject.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
YOUNG GALLERY
View a spectacular sample of the work of Nick Brandt. Black and White photography of Africa. And should you choose to purchase, only a few thousand euro!
13 things that don't make sense
A head scratching list of 13 things in New Scientist. Each little summary opens to a larger backgrounding article if one of the themes catches your fancy.
Welcome to The Responsibility Project by Liberty Mutual
An insurance company is sponsoring a novel idea - exploring responsibility in our everyday lives. Here is a growing collection very worth sharing. The front page film about a family talking about phone texting and driving is good. Also check out the 3 dozen or so short films intended to spark conversations on moral themes under "Film & Video". The one called "Lawyers" and also it's consequent comments, is particularly illustrative of the site's perspective.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
/home
Here is a lovely presentation of an amateur astronomer in Austria, Johannes Schedler. He is most gifted. There is art in his compositions and high science in his descriptions. Enjoy.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Bolivia Rising
BOLIVIA: Peoples Conference model of inclusion offers only path forward on climate change
we are called to justice.
but sometimes justice is too hard, too large, too out of our league to consider. here is a story about how ordinary people can respond to such calls. the forwarded post below announces and links to a summary report of the recent climate conference held in cochabamba to save mother earth (pachamama), attended by 35,000 people. these people were not the officials that seem unable to cope with climate change, but ordinary folks who cared enough to cousel together on what needs to be done and what might compose an alternative frame to the failure of kyoto and copenhagen.
http://boliviarising.blogspot.com is an excellent window into the gentle revolution happening in south america. it is english, not spanish, and that makes it efficient also. it invites independent news folks to post articles and so is input from many perspectives. i highly recommend the feedblitz subscription of this blog.
one of the characteristics of this new "bolivarian revolution" that has been gathering momentum in south american this last decade is it's desire to find a new inclusivity. a blend of capitalism and socialism. partners not masters with the elites and the north. with a voice and justice for the poor and aboriginal. to work on a new kind of society with fair rules. new constitutions with rights to water, education and health. sustainable goals.
many are unaware of this. it finds no mention whatsover in the mainstream media, though it may well be the most respectful and successful social experiment on the planet.
http://democracynow.org is an independent english source that attends these developments.
we are called to justice.
but sometimes justice is too hard, too large, too out of our league to consider. here is a story about how ordinary people can respond to such calls. the forwarded post below announces and links to a summary report of the recent climate conference held in cochabamba to save mother earth (pachamama), attended by 35,000 people. these people were not the officials that seem unable to cope with climate change, but ordinary folks who cared enough to cousel together on what needs to be done and what might compose an alternative frame to the failure of kyoto and copenhagen.
http://boliviarising.blogspot.com is an excellent window into the gentle revolution happening in south america. it is english, not spanish, and that makes it efficient also. it invites independent news folks to post articles and so is input from many perspectives. i highly recommend the feedblitz subscription of this blog.
one of the characteristics of this new "bolivarian revolution" that has been gathering momentum in south american this last decade is it's desire to find a new inclusivity. a blend of capitalism and socialism. partners not masters with the elites and the north. with a voice and justice for the poor and aboriginal. to work on a new kind of society with fair rules. new constitutions with rights to water, education and health. sustainable goals.
many are unaware of this. it finds no mention whatsover in the mainstream media, though it may well be the most respectful and successful social experiment on the planet.
http://democracynow.org is an independent english source that attends these developments.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Oneness: The Big Picture | Link TV
Global Spirit is a series hosted on Link TV. Here is a sample: an excellent discussion between Deepak Chopra and Riane Eisler, and host Phil Cousineau centered upon a 2005 movie "One". This movie documentary asked 20 questions of a range of persons, exploring the meaning of oneness. It is a string of pearls sort of film with little pearls of wisdom from voices like Father Keating, Thich Nhat Hahn, and many interesting citizens. Its High Def Streaming for 75 minutes. Very worth while. No commercials.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Mark O'Connor and Ruby Jane - Fiddle Melancholia
This sweet little fiddle duet (at PopTech) is the best example I've ever heard to illustrate the sound of "just intonation".
With "just intonation", every note relates to every other note in an exact ratio: 1:2, 2:3. 4:5, etc. The brain does the math and identifies such notes as "musical". Fretless stringed instruments and wind instruments necessarily play "just" music. So also the untrained human voice (a child's nursery song). It is a characteristic of traditional music.
Modern (last few centuries) music has invented fretted instruments and keyboard instruments with "tempered intonation". The advantages are: one can play in any key without retuning the instrument, and more easily play with other instruments. The disadvantage is that any given note may be up to 3% variant from it's proper frequency in a given key. Since tempered instruments have an even difference of the 12th root of 2 between the 12 note intervals of an octave.
We've got used to this modern convenience, and seldom notice the slight dissonance between "just" and "tempered" instruments. But in such a case as this lovely bit of Americana, we are reminded how much such pure traditional music can move the heart.
With "just intonation", every note relates to every other note in an exact ratio: 1:2, 2:3. 4:5, etc. The brain does the math and identifies such notes as "musical". Fretless stringed instruments and wind instruments necessarily play "just" music. So also the untrained human voice (a child's nursery song). It is a characteristic of traditional music.
Modern (last few centuries) music has invented fretted instruments and keyboard instruments with "tempered intonation". The advantages are: one can play in any key without retuning the instrument, and more easily play with other instruments. The disadvantage is that any given note may be up to 3% variant from it's proper frequency in a given key. Since tempered instruments have an even difference of the 12th root of 2 between the 12 note intervals of an octave.
We've got used to this modern convenience, and seldom notice the slight dissonance between "just" and "tempered" instruments. But in such a case as this lovely bit of Americana, we are reminded how much such pure traditional music can move the heart.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
old poems to new life - TED
This beautiful half hour concert at a recent TED conference will settle your spirit and please you muchly. Natalie Merchant put 6 years into searching out lovely old poems for children and presenting them in plainsong.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
CBC - Being_Erica
CBC have just put pretty much all their TV online - and in HD. Here's a way to catch the best at a time of your convenience.
Being Erica. This show is surprising. It's a strange mixture of time-travelling sci-fi and the issues of Generation X. But the appeal is it's deep spirituality. The key idea of the series is to ask "what would it be like if you could return to the scene of your regrets in life?"
If like me, you missed it, I encourage you to take it in now that it's online. This links to the first episode of the TV series on CBC this last 2 years.
Being Erica. This show is surprising. It's a strange mixture of time-travelling sci-fi and the issues of Generation X. But the appeal is it's deep spirituality. The key idea of the series is to ask "what would it be like if you could return to the scene of your regrets in life?"
If like me, you missed it, I encourage you to take it in now that it's online. This links to the first episode of the TV series on CBC this last 2 years.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Video | Economist Conferences
The Economist sponsored a "Media Convergence Forum" in New York in October 2009, and here put online, 21 videos from that conference. The first one, "Future of Media" is a top notch panel discussion on changes and possibilities on topics of Music, News, Cable, Web and Citizenship. Other panels are about kids, social media, privacy, and marketing. A lot of demo videos also.
Monday, April 5, 2010
Bolivia Rising: Communitarian Socialism in Bolivia
Bolivia Rising is an excellent source of news on the encouraging democratic political reformation of Latin America. Various independent voices are here published in English. This essay is a good example - a summary of the present position, some few details on what peaceful revolution looks like ... what justice looks like! Roger Burbach is director of the Center for the Study of the Americas (CENSA)
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Ambassador Eikenberry's Cables on U.S. Strategy in Afghanistan#p=1
These leaked secret documents from the US Afghan Ambassador reveal the folly of 8 years and the complete lack of civilian program to create stability. Click here for the back story.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Journeyman Pictures : Documentary Distributor, Documentaries on Demand, DVD, Educational, Footage : Journeyman Pictures
Independent Excellent Short Documentaries "Journeyman Pictures is like a video encyclopedia of the world with over 5,000 films." The films offer snippets but one must purchase streaming time $6/day or $200/year.
But there are a small selection of them on YouTube. Sample: a beautiful and moving 12 minute film is Banking on Change - India "J.S Parthibhan is a bank manager with a difference: he's interested in people, not numbers. Through micro loans, he helps villagers in rural areas develop a sense of entrepreneurship."
But there are a small selection of them on YouTube. Sample: a beautiful and moving 12 minute film is Banking on Change - India "J.S Parthibhan is a bank manager with a difference: he's interested in people, not numbers. Through micro loans, he helps villagers in rural areas develop a sense of entrepreneurship."
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Tim Berners-Lee: The year open data went worldwide | Video on TED.com
Open Data Here in 5 minutes is how the internet is changing the way the world works. How single human beings scattered the world over are hearing and helping each other.
Tim Berners-Lee is the chap who invented HTML - the code that transformed the internet from text to it's modern multimedia format. A year ago he called for an open sharing of data. Here is his report of what has happened. The process he describes happening in mapping in Haiti right now is simply stunning.
Tim Berners-Lee is the chap who invented HTML - the code that transformed the internet from text to it's modern multimedia format. A year ago he called for an open sharing of data. Here is his report of what has happened. The process he describes happening in mapping in Haiti right now is simply stunning.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
John Battelle's Searchblog
The Database of Intentions Here's a worthy essay. An explanation in human terms of the technical structures changing everything.
"The Database of Intentions is simply this: The aggregate results of every search ever entered, every result list ever tendered, and every path taken as a result. This information represents, in aggregate form, a place holder for the intentions of humankind - a massive database of desires, needs, wants, and likes that can be discovered, supoenaed, archived, tracked, and exploited to all sorts of ends. Such a beast has never before existed in the history of culture, but is almost guaranteed to grow exponentially from this day forward. This artifact can tell us extraordinary things about who we are and what we want as a culture. And it has the potential to be abused in equally extraordinary fashion.
"The Database of Intentions is simply this: The aggregate results of every search ever entered, every result list ever tendered, and every path taken as a result. This information represents, in aggregate form, a place holder for the intentions of humankind - a massive database of desires, needs, wants, and likes that can be discovered, supoenaed, archived, tracked, and exploited to all sorts of ends. Such a beast has never before existed in the history of culture, but is almost guaranteed to grow exponentially from this day forward. This artifact can tell us extraordinary things about who we are and what we want as a culture. And it has the potential to be abused in equally extraordinary fashion.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Haiti: A Creditor, Not a Debtor | Naomi Klein
Haiti Naomi and partner Avi continue to bring forward issues of justice - a much needed service when main media serves only the masters of our economy. In this essay Naomi challenges the notion that Haiti is and ever will be in our debt. She also makes reference to Avi's piece (youtube/aljezeerah) Faultlines - the politics of rebuilding. His micro documentary will certainly inform you of Haitian hope against the probable outcome of a huge expansion of $3/day sweatshops.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Haiti - the politics of rice
In a two part 22 minute documentary video from Youtube/Al Jezeerah, Avi Lewis examines the reasons for Haiti's poverty and what the present crisis might bring. There continues to be two forces in contest in Haiti - on the one side justice and hope that the Haitian people might be returned their opportunities, and on the other that the globalized version of economic impoverishment will be re-asserted.
Two pieces of good news. IMF has under pressure changed their immediate offer of a $100,000,000 loan with the continued minimum wage stricture to a grant. Venezuala has forgiven a $380,000,000 debt for past oil and is shipping more across the Dominican Republic border.
Two pieces of good news. IMF has under pressure changed their immediate offer of a $100,000,000 loan with the continued minimum wage stricture to a grant. Venezuala has forgiven a $380,000,000 debt for past oil and is shipping more across the Dominican Republic border.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
X PRIZE Foundation
X PRIZE Foundation Peter Diamandis' vision has attracted many of the "movers and shakers" of our time. The X-prize endeavor is a nurturing of the seeds of the future. Explore this site and discover the many new x-prize areas. But first listen to his talk on TV Ontario in their Big Ideas series. LINK (Please be patient - this link loads before playing). The talk was delivered at the Perimeter Institute in Waterloo in Oct 2008. Peter describes how this all came to be and introduces us to their current projects, not the least of which is Singularity University.
View Past Public Lectures - Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics
Public Lectures Here is a wonderful collection of physics lectures. Another indication of the web sharing that so rapidly is extending the university to the people.
Here's their self description: "Perimeter Institute is a major centre for theoretical physics research, attracting a diverse community of resident and visiting scientists from around the world. They cluster in Waterloo, Ontario, to forge new, mind-bending ideas about the ultimate nature of our universe, from space and time to matter and forces. Driven by curiosity, their mission is to unlock nature’s most profound secrets hidden deep inside the atom and far across the universe."
Here's their self description: "Perimeter Institute is a major centre for theoretical physics research, attracting a diverse community of resident and visiting scientists from around the world. They cluster in Waterloo, Ontario, to forge new, mind-bending ideas about the ultimate nature of our universe, from space and time to matter and forces. Driven by curiosity, their mission is to unlock nature’s most profound secrets hidden deep inside the atom and far across the universe."
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Videos - Gapminder.org
Videos - Gapminder.org i thought i'd check up on hans rosling. well worth the visit. he's got 3 dozen video shorts now illustrating his incredible gapminder presentation system of statistical data. subjects include cancer and hiv rates, millenium development goals, co2 emissions, world health and income.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
explore | Middle East
Jenin Freedom Theatre This is an extraordinary glimpse of living in a Palestinian camp. Totally unexpected. Check out the rest of these documentaries on explore.org as well. "Charlie" Annenberg Weingarten is the host and has the duty of awarding grants from his family's Annenberg Foundation. He searches the world for worthy recipients. He searches the world to find those with stories of compassion and understanding. Unique. He takes along a film crew, and voila a new genre of doucmentary! An odd combination of humility and self-obsession. Charlie is the star of his own films. Yet he he finds open hearts around the planet. Some are small - only a few minutes. Some are full length. Vodcast is available on itunes.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Bolivia Rising
Bolivia Rising
Most interesting bit of history here. Bolivia Rising continues to be a most interesting window on Latin America.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Welcome to Peace One Day: Peace One Day – 21 September 2009
Peace One Day Here's a beautiful story of how a single person can make a difference. Jeremy Gilley of the UK got worried about peace. There had never been a day in the history of the world that war was not active somewhere. He had the idea to have a cease-fire day. But Jeremy actually got the UN to make one - every September 21 - and it was a unanimous vote! But then nobody paid it any attention and so he continued to work at it. Amazing persistance and with a little help from his friends. And a few days ago in Afghanistan, on September 21 there was a cease fire day. And the Taliban leader sent out a letter to the whole country to not fight, and further to not interfere with UNESCO. For UNESCO had been unable to innoculate the kids of Afghanistan for polio for 30 years of war. And they innoculated a million and a half kids! And there was such a day a year ago as well. Shame on the media for not reporting this wonderful news.
Jeremy is a young filmmaker so he made a documentary about it. Got his ponytail cut off. Borrowed a suit and a tie and went off to see Kofi Annan. His website has 10 minute trailer. And the hour long documentary is available here on Youtube. One Day After Peace Inspiring. 81 minutes.
Jeremy is a young filmmaker so he made a documentary about it. Got his ponytail cut off. Borrowed a suit and a tie and went off to see Kofi Annan. His website has 10 minute trailer. And the hour long documentary is available here on Youtube. One Day After Peace Inspiring. 81 minutes.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
TED: Ideas worth spreading
TED: Technology, Education, Design Again I find myself appreciating the TED talks as the single best internet source of science information. If you have little time, this site will give you the most in the least. They simply make free to the public, the videos of their many conferences. Their genius is they require their speakers to condense their presentations from the usual hour to 18 minutes. Over the near decade of their existence their excellence in topic and presenter has attracted more excellence - both in the conferences and in their sponsorship.
An even better way to enjoy TED than an on-line visit(above link), is to subscribe. MIRO - 5000 Free Web Video Magazines. Select those sources of interest to you - very well presented and easy. Then they simply come into your computer to be looked at when you have time. In addition they are usually High Definition. And unlike the on-line presentation, you can pick your way through it quickly like paging through a magazine to the parts of interest.
An even better way to enjoy TED than an on-line visit(above link), is to subscribe. MIRO - 5000 Free Web Video Magazines. Select those sources of interest to you - very well presented and easy. Then they simply come into your computer to be looked at when you have time. In addition they are usually High Definition. And unlike the on-line presentation, you can pick your way through it quickly like paging through a magazine to the parts of interest.
Ask Nature - the Biomimicry Design Portal
innovation inspired by nature Animals, plants, and microbes are the consummate engineers. They have found what works, what is appropriate, and most importantly, what lasts here on Earth.
This website gathers and shares that innovation in the hope of sparking more efficient engineering.
It was introduced by Janine Benyus in her TED talk "Biomimicry in Action". The talk illustrates the principle excellently, with dozens of examples like nanotechnology, power and structure.
In the 1930's Buckminster Fuller credited his innovative engineering and architechture from adapting nature's design. Benyus and colleagues are carrying Fuller's torch.
This website gathers and shares that innovation in the hope of sparking more efficient engineering.
It was introduced by Janine Benyus in her TED talk "Biomimicry in Action". The talk illustrates the principle excellently, with dozens of examples like nanotechnology, power and structure.
In the 1930's Buckminster Fuller credited his innovative engineering and architechture from adapting nature's design. Benyus and colleagues are carrying Fuller's torch.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Big Ideas Video
Big Ideas Video - TVOntario A wonderful Canadian resource to discover. Here is a 6 min video that backgrounds TVOntario (TVO). They have many podcasts - video and audio. Take "Big Ideas" - here are 80 talks from interesting Canadians, including a super talk from Gwynne Dyer. Gwynne Dyer has focused his career on military matters and deserves respect for his broad and informed view. His present book and subject is "Climate Wars", outlining the impact that climate change is likely to have on international relations. Dyer focuses particularly on the military conflicts that he sees resulting from global warming. A shocking perspective in his usual direct no-compromise manner. Link to his talk - 71 minutes. Big Ideas is not yet available on iTunes Podcasts except as audio only. But on the TVO site, their is a clicker to activate your iTunes to Video subscription to Big Ideas. HERE
Gwynne expands his ideas in a series of 3 talks on CBC - Ideas. CBC Link to talks.
Gwynne expands his ideas in a series of 3 talks on CBC - Ideas. CBC Link to talks.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Shawna Pandya (shawnapandya) on Twitter
Shawna Pandya Think Twitter is a flood of triviality only? Think again. Here's a wonderful illustration of the connectedness of the next generation.
The usual serindipidous links.
Just listened to a TED lecture by Ray Kurzweil giving his usual the Singularity is coming lecture. He announced the foundation of Singularity University, with Diamondis (of X-prize fame). Checked it out. The first class is underway with 36 young people. Picked a random bio - Shawna Pandya. Currently a med student in Edmonton. Earlier degrees in Neuroscience and in Space. Just joined Twitter this month. Check out her chatter. This girl's play is another person's work! Or her summer project - "Summer vacation'09: aiming to positively impact 1 billion people in 10yrs with 40 people from 14 countries in 9wks. No pressure or anything.". Or visit another of her network places Linked In to see how a CV is done nowadays.
With Ray's new endeavor, the arrival of the Singularity in 2045 won't be such a surprise. Interesting also that Google conditioned their support to this endeavor by requiring that the new university focus not merely on high tech (as is Ray's passion), but on "humanities grand challenges". With people like Shawna they're off to a good start.
The usual serindipidous links.
Just listened to a TED lecture by Ray Kurzweil giving his usual the Singularity is coming lecture. He announced the foundation of Singularity University, with Diamondis (of X-prize fame). Checked it out. The first class is underway with 36 young people. Picked a random bio - Shawna Pandya. Currently a med student in Edmonton. Earlier degrees in Neuroscience and in Space. Just joined Twitter this month. Check out her chatter. This girl's play is another person's work! Or her summer project - "Summer vacation'09: aiming to positively impact 1 billion people in 10yrs with 40 people from 14 countries in 9wks. No pressure or anything.". Or visit another of her network places Linked In to see how a CV is done nowadays.
With Ray's new endeavor, the arrival of the Singularity in 2045 won't be such a surprise. Interesting also that Google conditioned their support to this endeavor by requiring that the new university focus not merely on high tech (as is Ray's passion), but on "humanities grand challenges". With people like Shawna they're off to a good start.
YouTube - Energy From Thorium: A Nuclear Waste Burning Liquid Salt Thorium Reactor
Kirk Sorensen's Tech Talk, delivered at Google on July 20, 2009. Nuclear has got a very bad rep. It partly deserves it. Present "peaceful use" depends upon "war material". Sorensen presents historical data to convincingly demonstrate the nearly full development of a safer nuclear power method that cannot be used for war and most of the development work is done. From the 50's and 60's.
Trust Google to sponsor the disclosure. Sad no one knows or cares about the Canadian reactor technology based on non-processed uranium. Maybe Google will discover the Candu also.
Trust Google to sponsor the disclosure. Sad no one knows or cares about the Canadian reactor technology based on non-processed uranium. Maybe Google will discover the Candu also.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Noam Chomsky on “Crisis and Hope: Theirs and Ours”
Noam Chomsky the MIT professor, author and dissident intellectual, just turned eighty years old this past December. He has written over 100 books, but despite being called “the most important intellectual alive” by the New York Times, he is rarely heard in the corporate media. More than 2,000 people packed into Riverside Church in Harlem to hear his address. In his talk, Chomsky discussed the global economic crisis, the environment, wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan, resistance to American empire and much more.
This may be one of the most informative messages from "the last dissident", who says "humanity may now be entering its endgame".
This may be one of the most informative messages from "the last dissident", who says "humanity may now be entering its endgame".
Stephen Hawking: "Humans Have Entered a New Stage of Evolution"
When Stephen Hawking "speaks" the world listens. He points out the new directions of our development are now in our control. No longer reacting to environment on Darwinian terms?
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Etsy :: Your place to buy and sell all things handmade
Etsy Here's a brand new idea. an on-line store just for amateur handicraft folks. A way to sell, and also a way for folks without handicraft skills to ask for bids on projects from the artists. sort of a handicraft ebay.
Robert Fisk: Battle for the Islamic Republic - Robert Fisk, Commentators - The Independent
Robert Fisk: Battle for the Islamic Republic - The Independent Robert Fisk is a rare thing nowadays - an in-the-thick of it honest reporter. A Brit who has specialized in the Middle East who won't be interviewed by CNN because of their "distorted" reporting. He has been in Iran since the contentious election. His daily articles are a sensitive notation of history rolling along. He samples the people's hope, naivite and courage. He measures the choices the big players now have. Check them out.
"What we are now seeing is a regime which is far more worried than the Supreme Leader suggested when he threatened the opposition so baldly on Friday. Having refused any serious political dialogue with Mousavi and his opposition comrades – a few district recounts will produce no real change in the result – the Iranian regime, led by a Supreme Leader who is frightened and a president who speaks like a child, is now involved in the battle for control of the streets of Iran. It is a conflict which will need the kind of miracle in which Khamenei and Ahmadinejad both believe to avoid violence." ... from Sunday 21 June.
"What we are now seeing is a regime which is far more worried than the Supreme Leader suggested when he threatened the opposition so baldly on Friday. Having refused any serious political dialogue with Mousavi and his opposition comrades – a few district recounts will produce no real change in the result – the Iranian regime, led by a Supreme Leader who is frightened and a president who speaks like a child, is now involved in the battle for control of the streets of Iran. It is a conflict which will need the kind of miracle in which Khamenei and Ahmadinejad both believe to avoid violence." ... from Sunday 21 June.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Yann Arthus-Bertrand captures fragile Earth in wide-angle | Video on TED.com
Yann Arthus-Bertrand captures fragile Earth in wide-angle | Video on TED.com
a very special event happens tomorrow. a french photographer yann arthus-bertrand has made a film called "home" about the earth. it is being released in a couple of hours at midnight 5 june. it promises to be a significant contribution in the communication of urgency to redirect society's efforts towards a sustainable future.
this ted talk introduces that, but is primarily about hishere's his photo collection "the earth from above". some very nice aerial shots.
here's the new website for the film.
http://www.home-2009.com
here's the youtube link for the project and movie.
http://www.youtube.com/homeproject
a very special event happens tomorrow. a french photographer yann arthus-bertrand has made a film called "home" about the earth. it is being released in a couple of hours at midnight 5 june. it promises to be a significant contribution in the communication of urgency to redirect society's efforts towards a sustainable future.
this ted talk introduces that, but is primarily about hishere's his photo collection "the earth from above". some very nice aerial shots.
here's the new website for the film.
http://www.home-2009.com
here's the youtube link for the project and movie.
http://www.youtube.com/homeproject
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Bolivia Rising: Document of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Peoples of Our Americas (ALBA) countries for the 5th Summit of the Americas
Something good. Something very positive is happening in the south. Here is a list of good ideas. Here is a patient truth telling. Here is a call to account. When the world is in severe troubles of ecology and finance and cultural conflict, here is a positive voice. As an antidote to this sensibility this piece was at the top of the google search for "Summit of the Americas". Wall Street Journal OpEd piece Americas Summit - Missed Opportunity. But I'm happy that google has no editor - whatever the people are reading is shared on search - and so we are able to see both sides of any coin. Incidentally, Bolivia Rising collects a broad spectrum of independent correspondents and translates them to English.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Playing for Change
Changing the World through Music Here's a happy project. Amateur and street musicians around the world choreographed into a song sung around the world. Just lovely. This is their website, and the navigation is a bit difficult, but worth it because of the story and background of each work and the project. So just to give you the spirit of it, here is Don't Worry as posted to youtube. At youtube you'll see other playing for change pieces, but be sure to go the the main site to see and read about the larger picture.
Don't Worry
Don't Worry
Friday, March 27, 2009
Opinion | New "hard choices" rhetoric leads to same old budget earmarks | Seattle Times Newspaper
Earmarks One of McCain's longstanding campaigns has been to eliminate the practice of earmarks and he is one of only 13 congressmen and senators that do not practice earmarking. It is the principle reason he was known as a "maverick". This article rather ironically shows how annoyed he is that the practice continues under the new administration of "change".
Earmarking is an American method of quick payments outside of normal budget processes for unexpected and worthy local needs. But it has become a principle expression of political corruption. The people and firms that get the money do not submit to competitive bid or even surveillance. Worse it was discovered by the Seattle Times that following the earmark awards, the receivers serious political contributions to the very politicians that gave them the money - an astonishing 55.000 coorelations!
This came particularly into view a year or so ago when a reporter at the Seattle Times first found these corrupt links. His editor gave him help and set him up to do a complete research. This work was compiled into a database "The Favour Factory" that can be queried in any was for any congressman, or senator or particular earmark details. Check it out.
Earmarking is an American method of quick payments outside of normal budget processes for unexpected and worthy local needs. But it has become a principle expression of political corruption. The people and firms that get the money do not submit to competitive bid or even surveillance. Worse it was discovered by the Seattle Times that following the earmark awards, the receivers serious political contributions to the very politicians that gave them the money - an astonishing 55.000 coorelations!
This came particularly into view a year or so ago when a reporter at the Seattle Times first found these corrupt links. His editor gave him help and set him up to do a complete research. This work was compiled into a database "The Favour Factory" that can be queried in any was for any congressman, or senator or particular earmark details. Check it out.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
BBC NEWS | UK | Magazine | What do you get if you divide science by God?
BBC A prize-winning quantum physicist says a spiritual reality is veiled from us, and science offers a glimpse behind that veil. So how do scientists investigating the fundamental nature of the universe assess any role of God, asks Mark Vernon.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Writing in Faith
Writing in Faith i just love the serendipity of the net. but this is a bit like campbell's bliss following!
i started wanting to search for more current videos of marcus borg - hopefully some lectures. spent a half day sunday routing through the oysters of google search to find the 3 new pearls of living the questions. so i think, let's ask google to recommend a better search engine. i know, rather a paradox. but i did. i asked for video search engines and google obligingly did so - a long list. first was blinkx.com
put in marcus borg. wow. 41 hits. and they line right up and start playing in little screens. started plowing through. have the first 20, but then i see "to be" a videopoem by sandy carlson, inspired by borg "...and a bit of love". lovely.
so i chase down her site that leads here to her blog. what a busy lady. do check out her poetry. and her other endeavors are worthy as well.
i started wanting to search for more current videos of marcus borg - hopefully some lectures. spent a half day sunday routing through the oysters of google search to find the 3 new pearls of living the questions. so i think, let's ask google to recommend a better search engine. i know, rather a paradox. but i did. i asked for video search engines and google obligingly did so - a long list. first was blinkx.com
put in marcus borg. wow. 41 hits. and they line right up and start playing in little screens. started plowing through. have the first 20, but then i see "to be" a videopoem by sandy carlson, inspired by borg "...and a bit of love". lovely.
so i chase down her site that leads here to her blog. what a busy lady. do check out her poetry. and her other endeavors are worthy as well.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Truthdig - Arts and Culture - Chalmers Johnson on the Myth of Free Trade
Bad Samaritans Another Truthdig piece. Ha-Joon Chang is a Korean economist at Cambridge (UK) that raises a critical voice against the economic principles presently running the world. This piece is a marvellously deep and educational (and long) piece in the form of a review of Chang's new book.
I found this piece searching the book title after listening to a 20 minute interview today (wed mar 11)with Chang and wanting to learn more about him. Democracy Now with Amy Goodman. You might want to check that out. Amy does a daily one hour news broadcast in the tradition of Bill Moyer. It is a rare bit of good journalism on news simply not covered in the mainstream.
I found this piece searching the book title after listening to a 20 minute interview today (wed mar 11)with Chang and wanting to learn more about him. Democracy Now with Amy Goodman. You might want to check that out. Amy does a daily one hour news broadcast in the tradition of Bill Moyer. It is a rare bit of good journalism on news simply not covered in the mainstream.
Truthdig - Ear to the Ground - Saudi Woman, 75, Faces Lashing for Letting In Delivery Men
A special piece of wahabi horror. There is much fear of the fundamentalist fervour. It's hard to imagine a worse example of human behaviour than a legalism that would lash an old lady for letting the bread delivery guys into her home because they were not her relatives. Let's hope the international outcry halts this travesty.
Monday, March 2, 2009
eBooks@Adelaide: Free Web Books, Online
eBooks@Adelaide: Free Web Books, Online Australian law puts books into the public domain whose authors died in 1956. This makes available a considerable number of books that are not available in the US. A good new resource. From Tactitus to Orwell.
Stephen Lewis
Stephen Lewis Lewis addressing the Chautauqua Symposium in his usual enthusiastic way. He may well be the most emotive speaker alive today, and the cause he espouses the most needful of it.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Introduction to the Cosmic Microwave Background
In a series of easy tutorials, Wayne Hu tells the story of the CMB. Rather well done. He shows how we are bathed in primoridial light, briefs us on the strange geometry of time and distance in cosmology and shows why we need to know this stuff.
Monday, February 2, 2009
London from above, at night - The Big Picture - Boston.com
London from above, at night - The Big Picture - Boston.com Jason Hawkes shares 10 brilliant photographs of London, taken from a helicopter at night with a gyro-stabilized camera.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
roger hollander
roger hollander Here's a news and opinion blog of the highest quality. Roger's a socialist from Toronto with an interest, and some high level of expertise on the new South American politics. A quality place of "news and opinion" worth checking from time to time.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
UCTV--University of California Television
Dead Sea Scrolls - A Review wow! here is a spell binding 85 minute presentation by professor lawrence schiffman. slides of everything. background info. intrigue. controversy. history illuminated. and perhaps the essenes were dissadent saducees?
here is a treasure from the 1800 videos recently gifted by the university of california.
here is a treasure from the 1800 videos recently gifted by the university of california.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
WHO | Commission on Social Determinants of Health - Final Report
WHO | Commission on Social Determinants of Health - Final Report Here is an important report from the World Health Organization proposing we get on with closing the health gap in the world.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Friday, August 22, 2008
Peking Olympialaiset 2008 - Urheilukuvaajan päiväkirjasta
Peking Olympialaiset 2008 - Urheilukuvaajan päiväkirjasta This is the olympic blog of Finnish sports photographer Kari Kuuckka. His work is terrific. The blog is written in Finnish but can be translated to poor english. Google Translation of this page. A few of his shots are 360 degree panoramas. Check this out Photographers just before Men's 100 Meter If you hit the F11 key you'll get full screen. If you click drag from any spot, the picture will scroll in that direction and accelerate. Try up and down also - it's a half sphere.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
China's All-Seeing Eye : Rolling Stone
Naomi Kline this amazing article by naomi kline in rolling stone is the story of her visit to china and the meaning of "security" in this place in this time. how very orwellian. it would be just slightly alarming to hear what she describes on the usual grounds of privacy and surveillance and police use of high technology. but as she describes how the notion the world had that the chinese were villains suppressing the tibetans, and so somewhat chastized before the olympics, we are amazed to here quite the opposite is the case in china. read how she shows chinese use of hi tech is used quite skillfully for suppression. part of the story is how american technology helped out. here's a link to the software that she points out helps the chinese surveillance. http://www.l1id.com/pages/71-facial-screening
Monday, July 7, 2008
Turtle Box Stories
Turtle Box Stories this is a lovely little space where some quakers are sharing personal stories of holy encounter. the theme is of turtles, where turtles represent the ancient archetype of bridge between heaven and earth.
Friday, July 4, 2008
FORA.tv - Niall Ferguson & Peter Schwartz on Human Progress
Human Progress Here is a most worthy and rather long 1hr41min debate. Distributed on fora.tv this talk from the Long Now Foundation.
If you can only see a key bit jump to time 1:29 for a lovely Q&A summary of history and violence.
It is a debate that ranges over history in consideration of the history of violence. It is respectful and entertaining debate between the perspectives history:future and pessimism:optimism. Peter Schwartz, an engineer futurist, and Niall Ferguson, an historian. Ferguson's makes much reference to his current book The War of the World - 20th Century Conflict and the Descent of the West.
If you can only see a key bit jump to time 1:29 for a lovely Q&A summary of history and violence.
It is a debate that ranges over history in consideration of the history of violence. It is respectful and entertaining debate between the perspectives history:future and pessimism:optimism. Peter Schwartz, an engineer futurist, and Niall Ferguson, an historian. Ferguson's makes much reference to his current book The War of the World - 20th Century Conflict and the Descent of the West.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Wordle - Beautiful Word Clouds
Wordle A lovely little amusement. Johnathan Feinberg has put up a website to make "word clouds". Just paste in some words you like and they are randomly and artistically made into a picture.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Oaxaca in revolt again: the Zócalo reoccupied, motorway tollbooths "liberated", roads blockaded | libcom.org
Oaxaca as an example of new media
Many of us question the utility and truth of the new over the old media. Here is an interesting sequence that demonstrates the strength of the new media over the old.
I had received a video documentary "Uprising in Oaxaca" from a subscription to Adelante! - a Latin American documentary feed from MIRO. It was about a suppressed teacher's rebellion in Mexico. To learn more of this interesting story, a Google search led to articles and blogs on the Oaxacan teachers revolt. It became quickly apparent that the events of the documentary in 2006 were a special event in a 30 year annual teachers strike, and that just a few weeks ago, it had resurfaced.
This internet "newspaper" follows the story with blog-like immediacy of qualified voices in dialogue rather than long-after-the-fact editor moderated letters. How informative that citizens and visitors in Oaxaca inform our view here.
The site is not quite any of but a little of each of news site, blog, history site around the themes of solidarity and public protest and shows how ordinary folks are participating in this new worldwide information culture.
"The libcom group is a small collective of libertarian communists based in and around London ... Our name, libcom, is an abbreviation of "libertarian communism" - and its goals of liberty and community - the political current we identify with. However our primary focus is always on how best to act in the here and now to better our circumstances and protect the planet."
Many of us question the utility and truth of the new over the old media. Here is an interesting sequence that demonstrates the strength of the new media over the old.
I had received a video documentary "Uprising in Oaxaca" from a subscription to Adelante! - a Latin American documentary feed from MIRO. It was about a suppressed teacher's rebellion in Mexico. To learn more of this interesting story, a Google search led to articles and blogs on the Oaxacan teachers revolt. It became quickly apparent that the events of the documentary in 2006 were a special event in a 30 year annual teachers strike, and that just a few weeks ago, it had resurfaced.
This internet "newspaper" follows the story with blog-like immediacy of qualified voices in dialogue rather than long-after-the-fact editor moderated letters. How informative that citizens and visitors in Oaxaca inform our view here.
The site is not quite any of but a little of each of news site, blog, history site around the themes of solidarity and public protest and shows how ordinary folks are participating in this new worldwide information culture.
"The libcom group is a small collective of libertarian communists based in and around London ... Our name, libcom, is an abbreviation of "libertarian communism" - and its goals of liberty and community - the political current we identify with. However our primary focus is always on how best to act in the here and now to better our circumstances and protect the planet."
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Dawg's Blawg: Harper's apology to Canada's aboriginal peoples
Dawg's Blawg Here's an acerbic critic worth checking into. He puts caution to Harper's excellent apology by pointing out some of the blatant hurtful present policies.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
last lecture - Google Video
Randy Pausch Came across this guy last night. He's dying of pancreatic cancer and only has a few months left, but boy is he upbeat! Very inspirational. Put a video for his kids (just babies now) for when they grow up, and as a "Last Lecture" at Carnegie Mellon where he's a computer prof. Worth listening too. Then looked up his website and found a real treasure. Turns out what he wanted to be remembered for is his Time Management lecture, so I tracked that down. Very excellent. It's 86 minutes. Here's the link:
Time Management Two very good lectures.
Time Management Two very good lectures.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Poverty Facts and Stats - Global Issues
Poverty Facts and Stats - Global Issues On this private blog of Anup Shah are presented some of the most impressive and organized statistics on the causes of poverty in the world I have seen. He has gathered from left, right and centre; from near and far; and across the centuries. It is balanced. It is efficient. It is moving.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Translated version of http://www.psy.ritsumei.ac.jp/~akitaoka/
The Vision of the Complex
Akiyoshi Kitaoka is a professor in perceptual psychology at Ritsumeikan University, Japan, who shares the graphics illusions of motion, by himself and also his students. His site is in Japanese so I've posted the Google translation link. If that fails his url is www.psy.ritsumei.ac.jp/~akitaoka
Akiyoshi Kitaoka is a professor in perceptual psychology at Ritsumeikan University, Japan, who shares the graphics illusions of motion, by himself and also his students. His site is in Japanese so I've posted the Google translation link. If that fails his url is www.psy.ritsumei.ac.jp/~akitaoka
Saturday, April 19, 2008
The Bureau of Communication - Fill-in-the-blank Correspondence
On-line FORMs for all occasions. Here's a well done piece of fun. So far they've got: Declaration of Romantic Intent, Unsolicited Feedback, Observance of Holiday, Airing of Grievance, Formal Apology, Statement of Gratitude, Official Invitation, Acknowledgement of Occasion.
Press Releases 2008
14 April 2008 Here is a disconcerting report from the UK. The Soil Association documents here at length, over time and around the world, the failure of GM crops to increase food yields as Monsanto claims.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Joining 3.5 Billion Years of Microbial Invention | J. Craig Venter - FORA.tv
J. Craig Venter
Biologist, author and businessman Craig Venter discusses his work mapping and synthesizing genomes. Venter recalls his work mapping the human genome and expands on his current work.
The projects and equipment he describes are fantastic. He says it is not a matter of "creating life", but of engineering it. He is close to "booting up" a synthetic bacteria. He is intently aware of bio-ethics but listen close, he is no alarmist, and is working very hard to accomplish new things. Few are listening.
Most exciting is his plan to adapt a microbe he found on his world spanning ocean voyage on his boat. The microbe created methane with CO2 input and hydrogen for energy. He wants to make it create octane fuel directly from sequestered CO2 using sunlight for energy, and simply obsolete the need for global oil. He thinks it won't take very long either.
Biologist, author and businessman Craig Venter discusses his work mapping and synthesizing genomes. Venter recalls his work mapping the human genome and expands on his current work.
The projects and equipment he describes are fantastic. He says it is not a matter of "creating life", but of engineering it. He is close to "booting up" a synthetic bacteria. He is intently aware of bio-ethics but listen close, he is no alarmist, and is working very hard to accomplish new things. Few are listening.
Most exciting is his plan to adapt a microbe he found on his world spanning ocean voyage on his boat. The microbe created methane with CO2 input and hydrogen for energy. He wants to make it create octane fuel directly from sequestered CO2 using sunlight for energy, and simply obsolete the need for global oil. He thinks it won't take very long either.
TED | TED Prize | Karen Armstrong | Wish: the Charter for Compassion
Charter for Compassion Karen Armstrong makes a wish to the TED conference. "I wish that you would help with the creation, launch and propagation of a Charter for Compassion, crafted by a group of leading inspirational thinkers from the three Abrahamic traditions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam and based on the fundamental principles of universal justice and respect." Here is the link to her talk. Compassion
Armstrong is the scholar that has brought to the public awareness, the work of Martin Marty at Chicago on fundamentalism, showing us that it is entirely a reaction to modern inequalities, injustice and social change.
"I say that religion isn't about believing things. It's ethical alchemy. It's about behaving in a way that changes you, that gives you intimations of holiness and sacredness."
Armstrong is the scholar that has brought to the public awareness, the work of Martin Marty at Chicago on fundamentalism, showing us that it is entirely a reaction to modern inequalities, injustice and social change.
"I say that religion isn't about believing things. It's ethical alchemy. It's about behaving in a way that changes you, that gives you intimations of holiness and sacredness."
3arabawy
3arabawy Amy Goodman on Democracy Now was interviewing this chap about matters Egyptian while he was visiting the US. Hossam el-Hamalawy is a left-wing Cairo journalist. This is his blog and it seems rather representative of the new lines of communication that are threading the world today. Though his focus is the Egyptian conditions of oppression under Mubarak, his communication is to the world, and in this case in English. As for a long time, the problems in Egypt are still about cotton and bread and the politics that serve the rich. Review his blog a bit and be better informed.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Classic ScobleShow » Blog Archive » Advanced Photographic Research at Stanford with Prof. Marc Levoy
Classic ScobleShow Robert Scoble is perhaps the most prolific of the Silicon Valley podcasters. He interviews the inventors, the movers and the shakers of this very creative corner of the world. This is the archive of his work. I find him one of the most efficient ways of keeping in touch with the changes and inventions that matter, and subscribe to his feed on Miro. (getmiro.com now has nearly 4000 video feeds and is the modern equivalent of journal/magazine subscription.)
This episode is Scoble at his informal, brusque best. Marc Levoy shows where "graphics" is going in some most remarkable and useful ways. (and there isn't a single mention of the game industry) The most incredible reveal is a camera where the focus of a photograph after it has been taken can be changed. The demos are just incredible.
This is university at its best, where the mutual exchange of ideas is highly synergistic, and Levoy conveys his joy of research and teaching at Stanford.
This episode is Scoble at his informal, brusque best. Marc Levoy shows where "graphics" is going in some most remarkable and useful ways. (and there isn't a single mention of the game industry) The most incredible reveal is a camera where the focus of a photograph after it has been taken can be changed. The demos are just incredible.
This is university at its best, where the mutual exchange of ideas is highly synergistic, and Levoy conveys his joy of research and teaching at Stanford.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Due Up
Due Up Here is the blog of a lucky fellow who shares his carefree travels in his piper cub. The photos he takes are not only of spectacular places, but he is an artist with the camera. Add to that his sense of adventure and you get pictures of landing on Alaska glaciers and the top of mountains. Enjoy
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Paul Saffo: The Secret to Effective Forecasting - FORA.tv
Paul Saffo: The Secret to Effective Forecasting - FORA.tvJan 11th, 2008. As part of The Long Now Foundation's Seminars About Long-term Thinking, technology forecaster and strategist Paul Saffo presents Embracing Uncertainty: The Secret to Effective Forecasting.
Found this delightful lecture because it contains the notion of "common sense". Here's a forecaster that actually explains his craft with examples that help. He wants us all to become our own forecasters and use more common sense. His ideas are both sensible and intriguing - like the increasing power of city states.
Found this delightful lecture because it contains the notion of "common sense". Here's a forecaster that actually explains his craft with examples that help. He wants us all to become our own forecasters and use more common sense. His ideas are both sensible and intriguing - like the increasing power of city states.
Hegemony of Common Sense:Interview Of Dean Manders
Hegemony of Common Sense:Interview Of Dean Manders This excellent interview of the professor/author gives great insight to "common sense" in the context of citizenship.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Accuracy&Aesthetics » Spiral Model
Spiral Model An interesting tapestry of interwoven threads of ideas and images. As you regard any theme, related ones show. I was searching images of spirals and then found many extravagant and inspiring images, including this one
Rapidly Changing vs Fixed where a teacher and artist examines the perennial tension between student and teacher.
Rapidly Changing vs Fixed where a teacher and artist examines the perennial tension between student and teacher.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Joost - What's Joost?
Internet TV for Free Here is another source of the new internet tv. Full Screen size. Not by subscription as MIRO, but by browsing their content menus. They are just passing out of their experimental phase, and being new, their presentation is rather friendly and their downloadable interface is easier than most. They offer a mix of the small independent video blogger, and the professional videographers. These include entertainment and documentary sources. And some actual archived tv shows. Check it out. An example. A 25 minute film from Amnesty International Ten Videos That Will Change Your Mind About Human Rights.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Big Think - We Are What You Think
New Video AggregatorThese folks want to participate in the new internet with it's sharing of serious comment. The idea here is to gather conversations around ideas. They divide the categories into physical and meta-physical. Experts interact with netizens. The formats of participation are unique. It's only a few days old but they are starting with 3877 ideas. Check it out.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Pop!Casts
Chris Anderson. What happens when material things become free? Long Tail author and Wired magazine editor Chris Anderson examines new models of wealth distribution and claims we’re moving from economies of scarcity to an age of abundance. A Pop!Tech lecture informing us how Media and Internet are shifting places and individuals not corporations have influence.
Friday, December 28, 2007
My Favorite Free Software | philipmorgan.net
Philip Morgan This chap is a photographer in this new tech age, and very much a participator and a sharing fellow. His photographs of the Lone Fir Graveyard are just excellent. That's all I was doing, was tracking down the source of a neat photograph. It led to this, his eclectic blog. This post is a listing of some of the most useful opensource or free software of the sort that facilitates the operation of computers for personal use. These are all intermediate or higher programs, but he's found some new ones well worth sharing. I took a few hours to plow through the list and downloaded a half dozen.
Monday, December 3, 2007
The West Banksy | Arts | Guardian Unlimited
Guerilla Graffiti on the Wall British "guerilla graffiti artist" Banksy's work is showing up on the infamous wall dividing Israel from Palestine. Here is a photo essay by the Guardian with links to background.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Jimmy Wales on Wikipedia - FORA.tv
Jimmy Wales Jimmy is the founder and chief behind wikipedia. He describes "behind the scenes". but also explains how wikipedia is not a technical but a social phenomena. These are new and radical ideas very well expressed.
By the bye, fora.tv is another aspect of this new social side of internet. Do examine the wealth of their video talks.
By the bye, fora.tv is another aspect of this new social side of internet. Do examine the wealth of their video talks.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
SOLIDARITY, SUSTAINABILITY, AND NON-VIOLENCE ~ V3 N12 DECEMBER 2007
Newsletter This newsletter is an exceptional work and this issue one of the best. It is an exhaustive review of the UN 2007 State of the Future Report with its 15 summary concerns. Further, Gutierrez integrates this report with the progress towards the 2015 Millenium Development Goals. It rather efficiently presents summarys and links to as much more information as you have time to read. An excellent view of the present and future state of the world - of where we are winning and where losing.
Monday, November 19, 2007
redhat.com | One Laptop Per Child
redhat.com | One Laptop Per Child
This imaginative project is now delivering. It has transformed from a charitable idea of helping the poor where the technology proposed was minimal. Now the technology is at the leading edge. How remarkable that the children will get the best, and not hand-me-downs! Do check in with the project and see how it will change the world for the better. It is as they say, an educational, not merely a technical project.
This imaginative project is now delivering. It has transformed from a charitable idea of helping the poor where the technology proposed was minimal. Now the technology is at the leading edge. How remarkable that the children will get the best, and not hand-me-downs! Do check in with the project and see how it will change the world for the better. It is as they say, an educational, not merely a technical project.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Pop!Casts
Martin Marty
Pop!Tech presents some marvellous talks from a wide variety of disciplines. This first link is Martin Marty, the well respected theologian who led the famous in-depth study on fundamentalism in the world religions some years back. Here he speaks on the need for more creative connections between technology and religion since neither is going away.
Among their many presentations at popcasts, here is one that will astound you.
Eloma Simpson Barnes
With a voice that could move a mountain, orator Eloma Simpson Barnes practically channels Martin Luther King, Jr., as she performs one of his speeches. She emulates King’s cadence, intonation and enunciation in this inspirational reminder to stand up for what you believe in.
Pop!Tech presents some marvellous talks from a wide variety of disciplines. This first link is Martin Marty, the well respected theologian who led the famous in-depth study on fundamentalism in the world religions some years back. Here he speaks on the need for more creative connections between technology and religion since neither is going away.
Among their many presentations at popcasts, here is one that will astound you.
Eloma Simpson Barnes
With a voice that could move a mountain, orator Eloma Simpson Barnes practically channels Martin Luther King, Jr., as she performs one of his speeches. She emulates King’s cadence, intonation and enunciation in this inspirational reminder to stand up for what you believe in.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
It Can Happen Here, Too
Thou shall not plaigerize. This is absolutely and convolutedly delightful. It is an example of "mishrah" - a most ancient rabbinic argument as presented in a modern Jewish college. The consideration is deception and it starts with Abraham and ends up in a New York college. There isn't the tiniest aspect unconsidered. It's meaningful for the people in this place. And it's a fun look into this most particular form of reasoning.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Zamzar - Free online file conversion
Zamzar Here is a somewhat awkward service to really really help out occasionally. When your programs don't open up other peoples files, here's a solution. Visit zamar, browse to the file, choose the format you want, they email you a link, you download the converted file, and voila you can see the video, read the document or whatever. It's free. An amazing number of conversions are available.
TWikis & Electric Sheep
Now here's a strange one. We find computer game coding morphing into virtual worlds and these becoming significant social networks - then these virtual worlds being sized up by educators as a high viability learning environment and needing a means of evaluation and participation - and these choosing a novel and new forum in a new experimental collaboration system called "TWiki" based on the wikipedia model where anyone can speak, publish and share - and this hosted by one of the oldest, largest and most sophisticated peace information networks formed in 1946 from the nuclear scientists that invented the atomic bomb. And the project's startup white paper, they cite "electric sheep" as an element in this complicated dance - and electric sheep turn out to be a means of developing highly complex graphical elements for this virtuality - and this is done by joining up thousands of private computers around the world to do the humungous calculations required for this when they are not otherwise busy. By golly I expected "quantum entanglement" to turn up there somewhere. And what I was looking for was Iranian nuclear reports! But all this strange stuff is the future rapidly coming to us. So if education and training are your interest, check this stuff out.
Here's the links:
Federation of American Scientists - the best source for military stats. The FAS Virtual Worlds Project. The whitepaper "Building virtual worlds for education and training". The electric sheep tour.
Here's the links:
Federation of American Scientists - the best source for military stats. The FAS Virtual Worlds Project. The whitepaper "Building virtual worlds for education and training". The electric sheep tour.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Google Tech Talk - Dr. Christopher Helland, Dalhousie
Turning Cyberspace into Sacred Space Helland's excellent 54 min lecture reviews the ways the religious traditions around the world used at the beginning and are using the internet now to communicate and share their story. From cameras in Hindu temples to neo-pagan rituals, he informs us of a not-so-visible community.
BIBBY'S BLOG
Dr. Reginald Bibby Bibby is a sociologist teaching at the University of Lethbridge. His blog is an interesting place of "research, reflections and rants", and quite lively. Here is a lighter side of the scholar than his excellent books on Canadian demographics. Restless Gods - Restless ChurchesNotes Notes on two recent books on the Canadian church statistics.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Alan Watts - Work as Play
Work as Play Google video has a nice bunch of the old zen lectures of Alan Watts. Enjoy.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Town of Cochrane Mural Mosaic
WOW This community project is a beautiful mixing of large and small. Artists were given tiles to paint, each a part of the larger theme.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
A New Marriage of Brain and Computer
Quantum Consciousness 59 min. Google Tech Talks September, 21 2007.
This lecture is deep water indeed. The model is put forward from evidence that human consciousness is a quantum phenomena. Stuart Hameroff has spent the last 20 years studying consciousness from the perspective of his field of anesthesiology. The talk becomes a history of the research both of computer and brain, from early simple models to the present. He challenges Kurzweil's idea that singularity will bring machine awareness (12 orders of magnitude worth says he). It ends discussing alzheimers and consciousness in general. His website is http://quantumconsciousness.org/
This lecture is deep water indeed. The model is put forward from evidence that human consciousness is a quantum phenomena. Stuart Hameroff has spent the last 20 years studying consciousness from the perspective of his field of anesthesiology. The talk becomes a history of the research both of computer and brain, from early simple models to the present. He challenges Kurzweil's idea that singularity will bring machine awareness (12 orders of magnitude worth says he). It ends discussing alzheimers and consciousness in general. His website is http://quantumconsciousness.org/
Everything is Miscellaneous
David Weinberger 57 min video from Google Tech Talks May 10, 2007
If ever there was a review of the explosion of information in our world that helped us understand it, it is this lecture from David Weinberger. He reviews the organization of information from Aristotle and Dewey to Google and Technorati. He explains why it is better not to organize any longer, but rather just tag. Weinberger's blog of course is http://www.everythingismiscellaneous.com/
And here's a podcast from Wired of Weinberger and Jimmy Wales (Widipedia guru) discussing these themes.
If ever there was a review of the explosion of information in our world that helped us understand it, it is this lecture from David Weinberger. He reviews the organization of information from Aristotle and Dewey to Google and Technorati. He explains why it is better not to organize any longer, but rather just tag. Weinberger's blog of course is http://www.everythingismiscellaneous.com/
And here's a podcast from Wired of Weinberger and Jimmy Wales (Widipedia guru) discussing these themes.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Blogger Play
Our Family this is about the best "fish bowl" the internet has so far created. the google/blogger folks stream a picture every 2 seconds that is being posted to their blog space. it is a photo album of the human family.
Sunday, September 9, 2007
FORA.tv - The World Is Thinking
FORA.tv was an early entry to internet tv, but it was scheduled streaming, still requiring watching at the appointed time. Now however they have a storehouse of video on demand together with excellent indexing and an on-site flash player. Their slogan is "The world is thinking", and it is indicative of their offerings.
Richard Dawkins From their "ThinkTank" section, here for example is a nearly 2 hour summary and Q&A by Richard Dawkins on his book "The God Delusion" at Randolph-Macon Woman's College. It is well worth the watching.
Marcus Borg and Houston Smith And just to balance things out, also on the fora.tv site, from what's wrong with ancient religion, here's a reasonable view with what's right with modern religion. Internationally known biblical and Jesus scholar, professor and author Marcus Borg joins Huston Smith, one of the world's leading scholars of comparative religions, for a special Friday evening lecture at The First Congressional Church of Berkeley.
Richard Dawkins From their "ThinkTank" section, here for example is a nearly 2 hour summary and Q&A by Richard Dawkins on his book "The God Delusion" at Randolph-Macon Woman's College. It is well worth the watching.
Marcus Borg and Houston Smith And just to balance things out, also on the fora.tv site, from what's wrong with ancient religion, here's a reasonable view with what's right with modern religion. Internationally known biblical and Jesus scholar, professor and author Marcus Borg joins Huston Smith, one of the world's leading scholars of comparative religions, for a special Friday evening lecture at The First Congressional Church of Berkeley.
YouTube - Pavarotti sings "Nessun Dorma" from Turandot
Nessun Dorma - Pavarotti With the passing of Pavarotti last week, his signature piece "Nessun Dorma" has been remembered and relistened by the world again. It continues to stay our hearts a while. But here also is a "Nessun Dorma" to stay the heart. And it is a fairy tale story indeed. Cell phone saleman Paul Potts of Wales just won the Britain's Got Talent contest. Here is his rebirth into the world.
Nessun Dorma - Paul Potts
Nessun Dorma - Paul Potts
Education | Essential Guide Visionaries | BBC World Service
BBC
has a new series called "Visionaries" where it looks at innovation in the past and towards the future. This page is a lovely find - 5 international voices on themes of education. Audio feed and transcripts. A door into the other themes of the new series. How lovely that the internet facilittes such insights reaching us all.
has a new series called "Visionaries" where it looks at innovation in the past and towards the future. This page is a lovely find - 5 international voices on themes of education. Audio feed and transcripts. A door into the other themes of the new series. How lovely that the internet facilittes such insights reaching us all.
Friday, August 17, 2007
Foxit Software
Foxit Software
These folks have developed pdf readers and editors in competition to Adobe. Like Adobe they offer a free reader and sell the more complex features. But what is particularly good is that their reader is efficient. It presents pdf documents almost instantaneously, and does not advertise itself constantly. Very very nice. Highly recommended.
These folks have developed pdf readers and editors in competition to Adobe. Like Adobe they offer a free reader and sell the more complex features. But what is particularly good is that their reader is efficient. It presents pdf documents almost instantaneously, and does not advertise itself constantly. Very very nice. Highly recommended.
Saturday, August 4, 2007
Twitter / OceanDoctor
Twitter / OceanDoctor
dr. david e guggenheim is oceandoctor. and boy is he plugged into web 2.0. this interesting fellow isn't content with reporting every few days. here is is on twitter, reporting every hour or so. in fact he's a particularly good example of what twitter is all about. check it out.
regular reports and photos from the exploration ship esperanza and its two mini subs. check out his blog http://oceandoctor.vox.com/
also check out david troy's http://twittervision.com/ - david takes the latest twitter post every 10 seconds and points on google world where it is. it's a fascinating glimpse of the world of ordinary folks.
dr. david e guggenheim is oceandoctor. and boy is he plugged into web 2.0. this interesting fellow isn't content with reporting every few days. here is is on twitter, reporting every hour or so. in fact he's a particularly good example of what twitter is all about. check it out.
regular reports and photos from the exploration ship esperanza and its two mini subs. check out his blog http://oceandoctor.vox.com/
also check out david troy's http://twittervision.com/ - david takes the latest twitter post every 10 seconds and points on google world where it is. it's a fascinating glimpse of the world of ordinary folks.
Ustream.tv -
Ustream.tv
the web is getting more and more immediate with the latest technology is being made freely available to people and then becoming the new trend. now it is video feeds. ustream.tv presents feeds from private individuals with a computer and a webcam. some folks get rather organized, some not. the american presidential race has started and this is part of it.
the web is getting more and more immediate with the latest technology is being made freely available to people and then becoming the new trend. now it is video feeds. ustream.tv presents feeds from private individuals with a computer and a webcam. some folks get rather organized, some not. the american presidential race has started and this is part of it.
Miro - free, open source internet tv and video player
Miro - free, open source internet tv and video player
this is the new "web2 tv" you may have heard about. but "tv" is a misleading sort of name. it's more like a magazine. an efficient way to keep in touch with an area, a discipline, a voice that you respect. and like a magazine it just comes to your house and you pick it up at your convenience. and like a magazine, you get only the best words and pictures.
miro is an open source all format media player. but what makes the difference is that they have an index with about 1500 video feeds. all free. just subscribe and they show up in your computer to view at your convenience. many are hidef. very easy. much better than surfing to the source websites.
check out "national geographic" "democracy now" "ted talks"
this is the new "web2 tv" you may have heard about. but "tv" is a misleading sort of name. it's more like a magazine. an efficient way to keep in touch with an area, a discipline, a voice that you respect. and like a magazine it just comes to your house and you pick it up at your convenience. and like a magazine, you get only the best words and pictures.
miro is an open source all format media player. but what makes the difference is that they have an index with about 1500 video feeds. all free. just subscribe and they show up in your computer to view at your convenience. many are hidef. very easy. much better than surfing to the source websites.
check out "national geographic" "democracy now" "ted talks"
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Jaman - Home
Jaman provides access to the world's films that though important and often award winning are not readily available through movie houses, TV or video rental. They offer HD TV in 1 Gbyte per hour files. You can buy them for $5 or rent them for a week for $2. Some are free. There is social networking on site, so you can see and participate in ranking these films. A top notch example of the new internet tv phenomena and of the democratization taking place across the internet.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
united church of christ videos
the united church of christ is an american equivalent of the united church of canada, being a mainline denomination with progressive perspectives. this youtube group list is a place they are inviting their general membership to contribute videos expressing this alternative and optimistic view of what the church should be in society. no preaching salvation here, and a lot of social gospel.
they've got about 50 videos so far. check out "little light shine" and "money money money".
they've got about 50 videos so far. check out "little light shine" and "money money money".
Monday, June 25, 2007
RedemptionNow
these poems are the remarkable vision of meghan utnage . a rare voice with spiritual curiousity and insight.
Friday, June 1, 2007
Friday, May 18, 2007
Democracy Now
Democracy Now is "alternative" news at its best. The net and other new technology make it possible for small groups to effectively balance the voices of mainstream media. This is an excellent example. In addition you can listen at your convenience to their streams. They are unabashedly "liberal" if that is still an operative adjective. Check it out.
Friday, February 23, 2007
Pandora - a story of misfortune and hope.
The gods presented Pandora with a box into which each had put something harmful, and forbade her ever to open it. Pandora was possessed of a lively curiosity. she had to know what was in the box. One day she lifted the lid - and out flew plagues innumerable, sorrow and mischief for mankind. In terror Pandora clapped the lid down, but too late. One good thing, however, was there - Hope. It was the only good thing the casket held among the many evils, and it remains to this day mankinds sole comfort in misfortune.
Each day one sees hope and other good things. We need to notice more. We need to share the good things we encounter.
Each day one sees hope and other good things. We need to notice more. We need to share the good things we encounter.
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