27.1.08
What I Learned about People Today...
"The Democrats don't have a single white male running for president, I have to vote Republican." - A Good (Educated) Friend of Mine
There are plenty intelligent folk in this world that are simply racist. That pains me. It shows me exactly where we are limited in this world. I shows that I am a human being and I am flawed, and I will always be ignorant and irreverent of my flaws, so much to the point, that I will celebrate my ideas associated with said faults.
I am going to vote for Barack Obama I think. It seems the most intelligent choice given my options. It even seems to be an intelligent choice with all options I could conceive. Mr. Obama feels like a strong, morally bound man. Someone with inner integrity independent of anyone he knows and anyone who needs and wants something of him. Of course, it is his job to sell me that picture of himself and he might be successful, but I feel it about him.
Hillary Clinton has one thing going against her, Hillary feels like the rest of the Senate to me - slimy. I can't put my finger on it, I just don't trust it. And those feelings have proven me well over and over. Too smooth, too polished, too accepting of the status quo. Mr. McCain...Thank you for serving. Thank you for giving to our country. We love you. We appreciate you. But you have been in it too long, you are one of 'them' and I don't trust you. Neither you Mitt...especially you Mitt. Giuliani, you and Huckabee remind me of Bush, folksy cowboys with Charisma and Charm with no substance.
Speak strong Mr. Obama. Believe.
There are plenty intelligent folk in this world that are simply racist. That pains me. It shows me exactly where we are limited in this world. I shows that I am a human being and I am flawed, and I will always be ignorant and irreverent of my flaws, so much to the point, that I will celebrate my ideas associated with said faults.
I am going to vote for Barack Obama I think. It seems the most intelligent choice given my options. It even seems to be an intelligent choice with all options I could conceive. Mr. Obama feels like a strong, morally bound man. Someone with inner integrity independent of anyone he knows and anyone who needs and wants something of him. Of course, it is his job to sell me that picture of himself and he might be successful, but I feel it about him.
Hillary Clinton has one thing going against her, Hillary feels like the rest of the Senate to me - slimy. I can't put my finger on it, I just don't trust it. And those feelings have proven me well over and over. Too smooth, too polished, too accepting of the status quo. Mr. McCain...Thank you for serving. Thank you for giving to our country. We love you. We appreciate you. But you have been in it too long, you are one of 'them' and I don't trust you. Neither you Mitt...especially you Mitt. Giuliani, you and Huckabee remind me of Bush, folksy cowboys with Charisma and Charm with no substance.
Speak strong Mr. Obama. Believe.
Labels: acusticthoughts, election, president
23.1.08
The Economics of Now
I read an article recently, it was titled, "Why the debt crisis is now the greatest threat to the American Republic."
There was one particularly sobering paragraph...it finished with this:
"The historian Thomas E. Woods, Jr., observes that, during the 1950s and 1960s, between one-third and two-thirds of all American research talent was siphoned off into the military sector. It is, of course, impossible to know what innovations never appeared as a result of this diversion of resources and brainpower into the service of the military, but it was during the 1960s that we first began to notice Japan was outpacing us in the design and quality of a range of consumer goods, including household electronics and automobiles."
This is an interesting paragraph...and one VERY large rebuttal is that there are quite a few things that have come from that un economically thought out spending that went on and is going on.
But is must be understood that we have sold off the long term in exchange for military might. Our education and infrastructure has crumbled.
Our lack of focus is causing the world significant harm.
There was one particularly sobering paragraph...it finished with this:
"The historian Thomas E. Woods, Jr., observes that, during the 1950s and 1960s, between one-third and two-thirds of all American research talent was siphoned off into the military sector. It is, of course, impossible to know what innovations never appeared as a result of this diversion of resources and brainpower into the service of the military, but it was during the 1960s that we first began to notice Japan was outpacing us in the design and quality of a range of consumer goods, including household electronics and automobiles."
This is an interesting paragraph...and one VERY large rebuttal is that there are quite a few things that have come from that un economically thought out spending that went on and is going on.
But is must be understood that we have sold off the long term in exchange for military might. Our education and infrastructure has crumbled.
Our lack of focus is causing the world significant harm.
Labels: acusticthoughts, economics, military
20.1.08
OLPC and Kiva - Small business technology revolution at the bulging end of the long tail
Kiva.org allows me to lend to small businesses throughout the world. The One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) program has created the ultra-efficient and clean computer for children around the world. Why not combine these program allowing private persons the ability the give loans for purpose of buying laptops? Edit the default install to be tailored for small business all using open source FREE software. Maybe even build potential evolutionary/revolution producing software and allow the fundamental programming languages and abilities spread around the world like math does today. I guess that last point is already being done via the OLPC program, but this would be a business related development (evolutionary) versus the kids learning with their minds in this world. Good lord. Revolution. The business program could be made to drop the price on the laptops going to the kids via a direct tax (gotta make sure the kids benefit to win this battle) and by increasing the demand leading to all those economies of scales equations.
Well...that's all folk.
Well...that's all folk.
Labels: acusticthoughts, kiva, muse, olpc
7.12.07
Competency & Our United States
I used to think of our current Presidency as Machiavellian, with good long term intentions, but a lack of tact by choice. I was naive. I used to believe that they had a clear, direct, well thought out plan that was kinda evil, but might benefit the world. I was simple. I used to think they could cover themselves. They were wrong.
Now perhaps they will still do something significant. Perhaps they will still make something happen. Iraq, at significant cost, will repair itself. Democracy will root itself. The people are paying with their blood right now. They will ingrain it into themselves. Maybe bull headed constitution is all that can fix the situtation. I hope, for the whole planets sake. Maybe this regime will pull a magic trick out of their hat. Maybe Iran is ready to open its doors to the US in exchange for knowledge from the rest of the world (see China). Maybe the US is ready to suddenly reestablish open communications with Iran. Maybe we have been in Cuba for the last five years negotiating an end to our embargo. There are a lot of possibilities in the world.
I used to trust in their competancy. Now I believe I was fooled.
Now perhaps they will still do something significant. Perhaps they will still make something happen. Iraq, at significant cost, will repair itself. Democracy will root itself. The people are paying with their blood right now. They will ingrain it into themselves. Maybe bull headed constitution is all that can fix the situtation. I hope, for the whole planets sake. Maybe this regime will pull a magic trick out of their hat. Maybe Iran is ready to open its doors to the US in exchange for knowledge from the rest of the world (see China). Maybe the US is ready to suddenly reestablish open communications with Iran. Maybe we have been in Cuba for the last five years negotiating an end to our embargo. There are a lot of possibilities in the world.
I used to trust in their competancy. Now I believe I was fooled.
Labels: acusticthoughts, politics
4.12.07
Go Facebook!
I like what Facebook is doing (my muse). I have a profile. I like what Google is doing (eternal musings...). I have about 20 tools that I use. I don't mind the data they collect. In fact, I want them to collect it. I want them to analyze it. I want them to know. Who cares about what I buy and what I think about a record or a pair of shoes or whatever stupid pointless consumer item?
Why should I fear knowledge?
I understand the concept of privacy. I understand that one of the standards of negotiations and the ability to win the battle of any situation rests upon the knowledge that is and isn't known. And that if I have given absolute knowledge of me to them then I have started a foot backwards. But what if I disagree with that feudalistic economic system behind that mentality?
What if I am a Capitalist? (and don't be confused by the mixed economic system of the Earth's countries with true Capitalism)
What if I believe that absolutely all knowledge should be disseminated to all. What if I want the record companies and car companies and porn sites to know EXACTLY what I would be interested in buying so that they wouldn't WASTE their resources on me if I wasn't interested? What if ESPN & Google knew 100% of what not to show me? That would be nice. It would seem to make sense that this would benefit me on multiple levels a. lower prices b. better more informative marketing c. better usage of my resources - fewer wasted ad viewings & smarter purchases...
and on some greater level, I can see overall benefit for the whole planet in terms of intelligence as a creature in an of itself with this level of knowledge of ourselves. I picture the Gaia coming to life soon in the information circling us. The first Artificial Intelligence will come from an unsuspecting God who will put together the logic that will learn to live within that knowledge...but thats another story...
Of course Google would never be perfect and there would be that savant programmer who will learn to code just enough randomness into the product placements algorithm that random who the hell knows what will still show up and market me and do well enough to make that person rich, but at least there will be some logic to me and all of the goo surrounding me. It is still just ME who makes the decision. I am accountable for me. I want to be...
This argument of privacy I think, on a fundamental level, is dying away. The only limitations to knowledge distribution should be the speed of light. Some physicists has probably proven that already. If we believe in efficiency and we believe in acting in OUR long term best interests then we believe in letting go of the facts because all of that information bubbling together is so much more valuable.
Imagine there being that giant beast swimming within our giant vat of data. Imagine all of that information saved and not wasted. All of the facts pulled together. All of the ideas pulled together. The scientists discovering things in India and South Africa and Brazil and Mexico and France and Dubai and Siberia all speaking instantly. The people on the streets testing the products communicating back to the labs immediately. From a physical good and service standpoint needs should be no longer need to be communicated.
Kinda scary. I don't trust anyone. I trust my actions though. I trust my motives. And I know we aren't there. And I know the complications of such concepts go far beyond the expressions in this this post. But I do believe that the future hold us moving from the entropy of the universe ever closer to order on a massive scale.
Why should I fear knowledge?
I understand the concept of privacy. I understand that one of the standards of negotiations and the ability to win the battle of any situation rests upon the knowledge that is and isn't known. And that if I have given absolute knowledge of me to them then I have started a foot backwards. But what if I disagree with that feudalistic economic system behind that mentality?
What if I am a Capitalist? (and don't be confused by the mixed economic system of the Earth's countries with true Capitalism)
What if I believe that absolutely all knowledge should be disseminated to all. What if I want the record companies and car companies and porn sites to know EXACTLY what I would be interested in buying so that they wouldn't WASTE their resources on me if I wasn't interested? What if ESPN & Google knew 100% of what not to show me? That would be nice. It would seem to make sense that this would benefit me on multiple levels a. lower prices b. better more informative marketing c. better usage of my resources - fewer wasted ad viewings & smarter purchases...
and on some greater level, I can see overall benefit for the whole planet in terms of intelligence as a creature in an of itself with this level of knowledge of ourselves. I picture the Gaia coming to life soon in the information circling us. The first Artificial Intelligence will come from an unsuspecting God who will put together the logic that will learn to live within that knowledge...but thats another story...
Of course Google would never be perfect and there would be that savant programmer who will learn to code just enough randomness into the product placements algorithm that random who the hell knows what will still show up and market me and do well enough to make that person rich, but at least there will be some logic to me and all of the goo surrounding me. It is still just ME who makes the decision. I am accountable for me. I want to be...
This argument of privacy I think, on a fundamental level, is dying away. The only limitations to knowledge distribution should be the speed of light. Some physicists has probably proven that already. If we believe in efficiency and we believe in acting in OUR long term best interests then we believe in letting go of the facts because all of that information bubbling together is so much more valuable.
Imagine there being that giant beast swimming within our giant vat of data. Imagine all of that information saved and not wasted. All of the facts pulled together. All of the ideas pulled together. The scientists discovering things in India and South Africa and Brazil and Mexico and France and Dubai and Siberia all speaking instantly. The people on the streets testing the products communicating back to the labs immediately. From a physical good and service standpoint needs should be no longer need to be communicated.
Kinda scary. I don't trust anyone. I trust my actions though. I trust my motives. And I know we aren't there. And I know the complications of such concepts go far beyond the expressions in this this post. But I do believe that the future hold us moving from the entropy of the universe ever closer to order on a massive scale.
Labels: acusticthoughts, knowledge, privacy
27.11.07
Long Term
This is not Philanthropic. The good folks over at ArsTechnica have this funny idea that these actions by Google represent altruism and goodness. This represents the most blessed of self interest actions on a corporate level that I have seen in a long time. (and by the way, I just finished investing my Scottrade account all in Google for all disclosure purposes).
Google's greatest cost in the near future will be energy (if it isn't already). It probably pays more for human activity than anything else. As the datacenter rises in importance and computing needs multiply the cost of energy will matter more and more. Already Google chose one of their recent datacenters locations because of its location relative a river and cheap hydroelectric electricity.
Google owns the working lives of 10,000 smart people. Probably 6,000 PhDs. Thats a lot of intelligence. This company they are supporting and funding, I am sure they have ownership in on some level. The patents developed and product sold will pay credence to the Google model. This intelligence being shown will I've and ethic and all those other things which have allowed Google to attract the quality people they have.
As the expertise continues to diversify the spinoffs will make bckets of innovation. Ideas will feed upon themselves. I expect mountains to be created, moved and then recycled.
Keep moving.
Google's greatest cost in the near future will be energy (if it isn't already). It probably pays more for human activity than anything else. As the datacenter rises in importance and computing needs multiply the cost of energy will matter more and more. Already Google chose one of their recent datacenters locations because of its location relative a river and cheap hydroelectric electricity.
Google owns the working lives of 10,000 smart people. Probably 6,000 PhDs. Thats a lot of intelligence. This company they are supporting and funding, I am sure they have ownership in on some level. The patents developed and product sold will pay credence to the Google model. This intelligence being shown will I've and ethic and all those other things which have allowed Google to attract the quality people they have.
As the expertise continues to diversify the spinoffs will make bckets of innovation. Ideas will feed upon themselves. I expect mountains to be created, moved and then recycled.
Keep moving.
Labels: acusticthoughts, google, innovation, solar power
21.10.07
Double Standards
Do we support Israel because they help the balance of power in the Mideast? Similar to how we supported Iraq versus Iran, or Afghanistan versus the Soviet Union or how China helps out North Korea or Russia helps Iran or Venezuela helps Cuba? Each of these groups are looking to tie up the resources and focus of their global competitors via the creation of a greater number of enemies for their enemy...nothing surprising here I guess. The whole world is playing each other off of each other.
I see the double standard as Israel and a small portion of its Ultra-Orthodox population is sexist in the same way the south of the United States is racist or the same way the Taliban was oppressive. The world is a complicated beast that is tied up within itself. There are levels of complication inside of the levels of complication.
Hrmm...hypocrites. We are that sometimes. But is this pragmatism a needed evil in the world? Is pragmatism the excused used by those without the inner strength to stick with their morals? I find myself in spots where my logic and emotion and principle are at odds with what will get the short term job done and it pushes hard on me to decide whether I should make the powers that be happy in the short term or whether I should eschew their smiles in exchange for what I truly believe in. Gotta push. Gotta try.
I see the double standard as Israel and a small portion of its Ultra-Orthodox population is sexist in the same way the south of the United States is racist or the same way the Taliban was oppressive. The world is a complicated beast that is tied up within itself. There are levels of complication inside of the levels of complication.
Hrmm...hypocrites. We are that sometimes. But is this pragmatism a needed evil in the world? Is pragmatism the excused used by those without the inner strength to stick with their morals? I find myself in spots where my logic and emotion and principle are at odds with what will get the short term job done and it pushes hard on me to decide whether I should make the powers that be happy in the short term or whether I should eschew their smiles in exchange for what I truly believe in. Gotta push. Gotta try.
Labels: accountability, acusticthoughts
25.9.07
I feel as if we are missing it...
It's a large boat to catch, this world is. Hard to miss it in some ways.
Homo Sapien Sapien - The Genetic Being that we are. Our skin. Our eyes, hands and feet. The meat of what we are.
Human Being - This mind we have. Phenomena that we are. We have the ability to question, conceive, abstractly construct worlds in our mind. "I doubt, therefore I am" - Descartes.
We speak of our social contract. The one in which we must sacrifice for society in order to have personal long term gain and all that jazz. There is a second, more important one. It is more a moral contract. It is a very cloudy concept of definition at the best because of the charged nature of the word.
We have a responsibility for something grander. We should recognize somewhere deep down inside of us that to move from Homo Sapien Sapien to being Human Beings we have an emotional and societal leap to make. We have to allow the individual to move beyond the animalistic struggle for existence. We have to allow the society behind that individual to move beyond the simple search for "money" and grasp the concept of wealth. We have to grasp change and its constant nature; the only true constant in the universe.
We gotta work. We have to struggle. We have to ignore the fear. And we have to change.
Homo Sapien Sapien - The Genetic Being that we are. Our skin. Our eyes, hands and feet. The meat of what we are.
Human Being - This mind we have. Phenomena that we are. We have the ability to question, conceive, abstractly construct worlds in our mind. "I doubt, therefore I am" - Descartes.
We speak of our social contract. The one in which we must sacrifice for society in order to have personal long term gain and all that jazz. There is a second, more important one. It is more a moral contract. It is a very cloudy concept of definition at the best because of the charged nature of the word.
We have a responsibility for something grander. We should recognize somewhere deep down inside of us that to move from Homo Sapien Sapien to being Human Beings we have an emotional and societal leap to make. We have to allow the individual to move beyond the animalistic struggle for existence. We have to allow the society behind that individual to move beyond the simple search for "money" and grasp the concept of wealth. We have to grasp change and its constant nature; the only true constant in the universe.
We gotta work. We have to struggle. We have to ignore the fear. And we have to change.
Labels: acusticthoughts, change
23.9.07
Why doesn't ever really talk loudly about this?
http://finance.yahoo.com/currency/convert?from=USD&to=CNY&amt=1&t=5y
2.9.07
John Weaver has invited you to join Kiva.org!
Hello!
This is an official invite created and written by me (John Weaver) for Kiva.org. The purpose of this email is to solicit a registration. Nothing else other than some of your attention. If you decide to continue on and give loans, then wonderful. If you only talk to your friends about it, then even better.
Kiva.org is an online tool to distribute money to individuals across the world in the form of microloans (see Wikipedia.com for microloan definition). I am quite involved in my mind. It means something for us long term.
One idea I am stewing that I would like to bring to Kiva is an open market location in Lake Worth, Florida. There is a large migrant population. It could create local owners and workers. It would create a more local, residential atmosphere. The area has a lot of underperforming businesses. One friend of mine is looking to build Kiva with a group of Native Americans in New Mexico. Another friend of mine tells me about the work one of his professors is doing with a migrant population just north of myself in Jupiter, Florida.
Kiva.org Register first...think a little...and then react appropriately. It is the way to live the life you have.
Goodnight
John F. Weaver
--------------------
John Weaver has invited you to join Kiva.org!
If you'd like to join kiva click the link below
http://www.kiva.org/app.php?page=register&_isc=67e7fe7e-ab08-102a-a049-78a9e789fa48
