Monthly Archives: May 2009

Stretching the Conventional Wisdom

I was invited to join a panel on Jumpstarting the Green Economy hosted by the Sustainable Business Incubator at Fairleigh Dickenson University on May 21, 2009.  Copies of the conference presentations are available from the organizers for about $50. Copies of my presentation in audio and powerpoint format are available for $15, including shipping and taxes. Call or E-Mail me here or at Furman Consulting Group.

It boils down to this: Wind, Solar, Geothermal, other sustainable energy and Negawatts vs. Coal, Oil, and Nuclear; to Sustainable Business or Bernie Madoff and the Mafia. Continue reading →

There’s Something About Mary – And Keynes

 

There's Something About Mary

Back in 1931, John Maynard Keynes wrote:

“Assuming no important wars, and no important increase in population, the economic problem may be solved, or at least within sight of a solution, within a hundred years. This means that the economic problem is not – if we look into the future – the permanent problem of the human race.”  – John Maynard Keynes,  “Economic possibilities for our grand-children.’ In Essays in Persuasion, 1931.

Keynes wrote that wealth would grow because of compounded interest, and we would live off of the interest. This would fuel technical inventions and dramatically increase the standard of living for a stable, peace-loving world. He thought boredom would become the permanent problem of the human race.

We would become a world populated by dilettantes flitting from party to party; a world of people like Prince Charles and Paris Hilton, although most, presumably, would not be famous and very few could become king. While some would work a few hours per week, most would have a life of leisure. People would live like the physician played by Cameron Diaz in the 1998 film “There’s Something About Mary.” They would work more on “lifestyle” issues like their golf swing than their profession.

Four factors, Keynes wrote, would effect this transition:

  1. Power to control population,
  2. Determination to avoid wars and civil dissentions,
  3. Entrust to science that which is the domain of science,
  4. Compound interest.

Continue reading →

Open Fire Academy

In another example of the power of Open Source information, we recommend the Open Fire Academy.

Open Fire Academy is a nonprofit, collaborative resource for emergency services organizations and centers of learning. The key element of a community is that it evolves and expands based on its members commitment. Looking beyond simply building a web-based learning tool, we are creating a central point for sharing ideas, training resources, and research information by breaking down the barriers that hinder communication. As such, we are following the philosophy of Open Source Development by making the content of this community “free and open” to those who wish to utilize it and are open to sharing their own findings and information. The site itself is created and the content is generated by the staff, instructors, students, and committed members of the community.

Open Fire Academy. More to come.

The Evolving Newsroom

The Evolving Newsroom is a site run by Julie Starr, a journalist with outstanding credentials to observe what’s happening to the news business and information flows:: From TEN’s “About” page:

…. she’s been a reporter, sub-editor, page layout sub, chief sub-editor, radio presenter, workflow specialist, change agent and editorial manager.

She was part of the team who designed and launched the Daily Telegraph’s integrated web-and-print newsroom in the UK, having a particular focus on future workflows.

Now back in New Zealand after 10 years overseas, Julie is Editor-in-Residence at Wintec’s School of Media Arts in Hamilton, does some journalism teaching and presentations on changes affecting news companies, and takes on project work.

She has a strong interest in designing newsroom workflows, news delivery and increasingly in using social networks and web applications to gather and distribute news.

Julie has no idea what the news business will look like in 10 years but she’s enjoying the ride in the meantime.

Every post at The Evolving Newsroom seems to be concise, nuanced and timely.

Assuming that one thinks that news and information flows – we do – are essential issues that define us as communities – and affect politics, policy and outcomes.

The Evolving Newsroom. Via one of Ms. Starr’s other projects, an excellent  primer/help site on the use of TiddlyWiki software.

Testing: GetTeamTasks

Current software  testing: GetTeamTasks, “a simple extensible task management tool” developed by  Phil Hawksworth, based on the TiddlyWiki platform (application?) and further developed by Hawksworth’s former colleagues at Osmosoft.

GetTeamTasks screenshot - via GetTeamTasks.com

GetTeamTasks screenshot – via GetTeamTasks.com

Within minutes, it was up and running – easy to set up. Not sure for our purposes– uses for community-based groups with multi-segment tasks, alternate plans for different combinations on the risk matrix  (power outage during heat wave requires different planning and response than power outage during the winter). But it’s designed for sharing without a constant connection – like Sahana – snd it has promise for our purposes.

There’s no question, though – that in some other contexts – wedding planning, collaborative grant writing, political and fund-raising campaigns. My guess is less so for film production or construction – but perhaps the new work Mr. Hawksworth has in mind for GetTeamTasks will provide functionality which stretches that way.

TiddlyWiki, the basis for GetTeamTasks, has a number of other impressive mods – we’ll certainly be testing the others which, like GetTeamTasks, are to some extent worked around the GTD (Getting Things Done) approach. Phil Hawksworth:

If this one isn’t quite your cup of tea, perhaps consider trying the simple and elegant GTDTiddlyWiki, the ‘kinkless’ approach at d cubed, or the more powerful MonkeyGTD.

We learned about all of this from the ever-useful Lifehacker.

Swine Flu forces city officials to close 5 more schools in Queens

From the NY Daily News:

From Erin Einhorn and Meredith Kolodner Swine Flu forces city officials to close 5 more schools in Queens :

Five more schools inside three buildings in Queens will be closed Monday after dozens more students came down with flu symptoms, officials said Sunday.

The closures by the city’s Department of Health bring the total number of schools currently shuttered because of swine flu to 11, meaning thousands of kids will miss class this week.

None of the newly announced schools have confirmed cases of the illness, but enough students were feeling sick that officials thought closures were necessary to halt the spread.

In other words, this isn’t over yet.

Mindgrowth: biofeedback devices for pain management and other uses

Mindgrowth, a U.S.-Canadian company – distributes biofeedback equipment  – with MindGrowth's GSR deviceand without tracking software – used for, among other things, pain management/reduction, treating PTSD, panic disorders, and other uses.The GSR2 (pictured below) is designed and manufactured in North America by Thought Technology, the largest manufacturer of biofeedback products in the world. There are more than 550,000 of the GSR2 in use worldwide, including the United States Veterans’ Administration medical system.

Biofeedback is no longer “experimental” – there’s no question that it works, not only for medical uses, but also in enhancing athletic performance and cognitive function. It has a substantial drawback in the context of the United States health system: once purchased, and used/learned, some people have lasting effects and never touch the equipment again – others need to return to the biofeedback equipment to “relearn” the original “lesson.” To keep this example simple – think of someone trying to unlearn a fear response to a particular stimulus – loud noises, for example.

Continue reading →

Craig Fugate Confirmed as Head of FEMA

We like Craig Fugate as head of FEMA, and was confirmed by the Senate late today after Senator Vitter (R, LA) released his hold. Choice to Head FEMA is Confirmed

(Associated Press via NY Times).

We believe that Mr. Fugate is responsible for the best definition of a “disaster” – an emergency is a bad situation in which responders outnumber sufferers; in a disaster – the responders are outnumber by those in need. In my dealings with him – mostly by email, he’s been friendly, well-informed and unpretentious. He’s got a tough job – let’s hope the Administration lets him do it. Via Disaster Accountability

See also Fugate’s personal Blog, DisastersRUS

WNYC – The Leonard Lopate Show: Off Label Uses

Leonard Lopate interviews

Keri Powell, a lawyer for the environmental group Earthjustice, who filed a suit requiring manufacturers to come clean on what’s in their products. We’ll also speak with industrial hygienist Monona Rossol from Arts Crafts and Theater Safety on why there’s been such resistance to comply – and what it means for our health.

Listen to the interview or follow the links to Powell’s and Rossol’s organizations for information on household chemical toxicity. I was struck to learn that formaldehyde is a byproduct of citrus oil – which, based on no evidence at all, I’d assumed was okay.

via Wikimedia Commonsvia WNYC – The Leonard Lopate Show: Off Label Uses May 11, 2009. Another reason we support WNYC; it’s hard to imagine a commercial radio station even raising the subject.

via Wikimedia Commons

FirstWater Systems: Solar Pumps, Filtration and water storage systems

First Water Systems – based in Marietta, Georgia – makes AC/Solar systems for pumping, water purification and re-use. Some are designed for fixed installation, others for mobile use by disaster responders. The FW-300-M, which can easily be carried in a pickup truck or trailer, is solar-powered, and can process 5 gallon per minute – 300 gallons per hour. Assuming only 8 hours of daylight – 2,400 gallons. It’s safe to assume one gallon per person per day will be adequate – so even only powered in daylight, this unit can purify water for over 2,000 people. The smaller, more portable FW-60-M(S) produces 1 gallon per minute and has been specifically designed for first responders. (We caution that it should also be assumed that the water to be purified has already been pumped level to the purifier).

First Water Systems Outpost 4 This would also, of course, require about 100 55 gallon barrels and sufficient personnel and equipment (e.g. handtrucks) to transport the purified water. So planning around using this system will require a bit of planning and expense in addition to acquisition of the unit. This is just one of a number of units in First Water Systems’ product line; we hope to have more information about this unit – including cost – and other units – in the near future.