Telepresence vs The Apocalypse

Six ways the Internet will save civilisation (Wired UK):

"... the ability to work telepresently can inhibit microbial transmission by reducing human-to-human contact. In the face of an otherwise devastating epidemic, businesses can keep supply chains running with the maximum number of employees working from home."

This interesting and short article from the UK edition of Wired Magazine details how various Internet applications will serve to keep us from falling into chaos experienced by every other advanced civilisation in history.

Click the link under the graphic.

Climbing a Transmission Tower

Ever wondered how they change the light bulbs on those super high transmission towers that dot the land? You'll be surprised!

Hold on to your breaky!.....

Click this link for a short video: Tower Climb

For The Person Who Has Everything?

What say you're out in the woods, hundreds of kilometres from anywhere, and you decide you must build an atomic clock right now? Well, here's the Swiss Army Knife for you!!

Click here for more info

Merry Christmas to all!!

May you have a happy and productive New Year!

Xris

25 Internet Security Tips

"The internet is full of thieves and vagabonds united by one common goal – to separate you from your hard-earned cash. Here's our guide to staying one step ahead of the bad guys."

A well thought-out, easy to implement list of tips you should consider:

25 internet security tips | News | TechRadar UK:

Connect the dots: Bring broadband to all Canadians - The Globe and Mail

Connect the dots: Bring broadband to all Canadians - The Globe and Mail: "Setting a goal of broadband for everyone is in our national interest, just as the railway, the post office, the RCMP and the Trans-Canada highway were in years past."

Not yet a mainstream social issue, I know. It should be. Click the link below to read this short yet informative Globe & Mail comment piece by Robert McLeman. You may be surprised just how important an issue this is.

LINK: Connect The Dots

Robert McLeman, an associate geographer at the University of Ottawa, is completing a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council-funded report on rural connectivity as part of national consultations on Canada’s digital economy.

Broadband Is Essential Service - Where's Canada?

The September 2010 issue of ITU's Statshot newsletter also reports that, "At least thirty countries have now included broadband as part of their universal access/service definition – meaning they consider broadband as a public service to which every citizen should have access." Canada is noticeably absent from the list:

Countries include: Albania, Andorra, Brazil, China, Dominican Republic, Finland, Ghana, Grenada, Guinea, India, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, Spain, Sudan, Suriname, Switzerland, Trinidad & Tobago, Uganda, United States.

900 Million Mobile Broadband Subscriptions!

The September 2010 issue of ITU's Statshot newsletter reports that mobile broadband subscriptions will exceed 900 million globally by the end of 2010 -- up from 667 million at the beginning of the year and only 67 million four years earlier. Note that mobile connections now greatly outnumber wired connections worldwide.

(ITU: International Telecommunications Union)

Ann Reynolds: It's Getting Hot in Here

Thoughts on that mental treadmill and how to get off. (Click Below)

Ann Reynolds: It's Getting Hot in Here: "Lately, we've been uneasy. Amygdalas are confused and our temperature is on the rise. 'Will I eat or be eaten' has escalated to 'will I blow, or be blown up?'"

Thanks to the Huffington Post

Keep the Spies From Our Computers

You've likely heard much lately regarding offshore governments wanting access to Blackberry subscribers' messages.

This Financial Times column brings more depth to the discussion, identifies several of the more general issues surrounding on-line privacy, and provides insights regarding 'Big Brother' in general.

Be sure to read the comments following the column for more insight.
(Click the orange link below the picture)

FT.com / Columnists / John Gapper - Keep the spies from our computers
By John Gapper

Personal Details Exposed Via Biggest U.S. Websites - WSJ.com

The Scoop On Web Privacy. YOU WILL BE AMAZED!
Up-to-date info. on just how invasive the Web can be.

Personal Details Exposed Via Biggest U.S. Websites - WSJ.com:

"The largest U.S. websites are installing new and intrusive consumer-tracking technologies on the computers of people visiting their sites—in some cases, more than 100 tracking tools at a time—a Wall Street Journal investigation has found.

The tracking files represent the leading edge of a lightly regulated, emerging industry of data-gatherers who are in effect establishing a new business model for the Internet: one based on intensive surveillance of people to sell data about, and predictions of, their interests and activities, in real time.

The Journal's study shows the extent to which Web users are in effect exchanging personal data for the broad access to information and services that is a defining feature of the Internet."...

Click Here to Read The Entire Article. NOTE: There are several more similar articles available on the WSJ site.

What's more...

...Here's a Cool Video:
"How Advertisers Use Internet Cookies to Track You"

Wireless TV?

"Soon, I predict, we'll begin seeing new 'wireless TV' offerings, as sharp marketers repackage OTA into smartly-dressed, easy-to-use, packages"

Wireless TV? What a concept!

Of course the 'wirelessness' of TV is not anything new. For the first several decades of television it was, by definition, 'wireless'. The infamous, now rusty and beaten, TV antennas of yesteryear attest to that.

Then, starting in the mid 1960's, 'cable' TV took over. Even 1980s satellite TV didn't really develop mind-share as a 'wireless' technology: It was just another way of getting 'cable.'

At the same time, traditional 'wireless' TV, while even today still easily available in most large cities and providing top-of-the-line HD reception -- has remained pretty-much unknown, partly due to its highly unfriendly new name, 'OTA' -- short for "over-the-air."

Go figure.

Co-incidentally, the term 'wireless' is now virtually owned by today's ever-developing personal telecommunications marketplace, where cellphone and 'wireless' Internet: access services are, arguably, the place to be.

This has made the term 'wireless' hot property to sharp marketers.

Soon, I predict, we'll begin seeing new 'wireless TV' offerings, as these folks repackage OTA into smartly-dressed, easy-to-use, packages. Not the oft-touted playthings of the early Internet years, but a simple solution that actually works -- using existing, inexpensive and well-proven technologies and marketing channels.

The money will be made not by charging monthly (and often highly-questionable) service charges, but through the consumer electronics marketplace -- not unlike satellite radio. (Though, ones hopes, with a lot more success.)

After all, mounting a small, nice-looking, sealed, smart antenna is very-much like mounting a satellite dish. And set-top boxes are already the standard.

Some would-be players will obviously attempt to charge subscription fees for some sort of value-add -- a fancy set-top box promising some sort of magical must-have, or a link to a proprietary Web service or sports network perhaps -- but it's far from necessary.

What's more, OTA picture quality is already superior to digital cable because there's no need for video compression. Hi-Fi, multi-channel, sound is already there too.

One would think the broadcasters would like the idea of having a viable alternative to today's cable/satellite distributors too. (Not to mention an unmediated back-channel from viewers. But that's a secret!)  After all, there's nothing new, nothing to add. They need only promote the idea to bring viewers back to OTA.

What's really new is that the traditional down-side of not having OTA access to the cable world's speciality channels is today increasingly being offset with a simple home Internet interface -- either via a spiffy, new, service-specific, set-top box, or through one of the many existing alternative devices such as Apple TV, Internet-enabled Blu-ray players, PVRs, etc.

And check out the just-announced Google TV. It melds TV listings with Internet search, while serving AV streams from the Internet to, ostensibly, your television: Sort of a super-duper uTube, but on your TV along with the TV channels we're all used too. Use your TV to search for and view content from any source -- in super HD. For Free!

But a move back to OTA could also make for some very interesting times in TV-land, not only as it calls into question the future of the existing, 'second party' TV distribution networks (cable, satellite, etc.), but also the very existence of 'television network' programming, as the marriage with the Internet moves the programming itself out to the viewer.

Keep in mind though, these changes will not happen overnight. Though I'm betting we'll start seeing hot new 'wireless TV' offerings this Christmas.

And a two-piece system (set-top box and antenna) should cost less than $200.00!!

Xris

The wisdom of herds: How social mood moves the world.

Another good article on group-think. Helps one understand some of the craziness in the world.

"No collective human activities or actions, such as globalisation or, for that matter, trends in popular culture such as fashions in films, books or haute couture, can be understood without recognising that it is how a group or population sees the future that shapes events. Feelings, not rational calculations, are what matter. To see what our world might be like tomorrow, next year or next decade, we need to spend time and money investigating "social mood"


(Click on the orange title below)

The wisdom of herds: How social mood moves the world - opinion - 24 May 2010 - New Scientist

Living in denial: Why sensible people reject the truth

A very enlightening article to anyone wanting a better understanding of one driving aspect of group thought. Part of an entire New Scientist Magazine feature section about denial and modern culture.

"This depressing tale is the latest incarnation of denialism, the systematic rejection of a body of science in favour of make-believe. There's a lot of it about, attacking evolution, global warming, tobacco research, HIV, vaccines - and now, it seems, flu. But why does it happen? What motivates people to retreat from the real world into denial?"

(Click the grey title below)

Living in denial: Why sensible people reject the truth - opinion - 19 May 2010 - New Scientist

Evolution and Creativity: Why Humans Triumphed - WSJ.com

"Trade is to culture as sex is to biology. Exchange makes cultural change collective and cumulative. It becomes possible to draw upon inventions made throughout society, not just in your neighborhood."

Evolution and Creativity: Why Humans Triumphed - WSJ.com:



A fascinating article from the Wall Street Journal. The first really plausible explanation I've yet seen explaining the burst of change in mankind starting roughly 50,000 years ago.


Thanks to Douglas Reid of Queens University, Kingston Ontario for recommending it.

Wash Your Hands, Cleanse Your Brain

Some very interesting new findings regarding the human brain:

Wash Your Hands, Cleanse Your Brain:

"The core idea of the social brain hypothesis is that humans, like apes, need to attend to social relations to keep their group functioning smoothly,"

Facebook founder called trusting users dumb f*cks • The Register

For those unrelenting FaceBook addicts out there...

Click here: Facebook founder called trusting users dumb f*cks • The Register

Don't get me wrong: I'm not against social connectivity. It's the total blind faith I question.

The Internet privacy issue seems complex. It's not. You wouldn't usually throw certified copies of your personal information around town, would you? Why do so world-wide? And why include personal information about your friends, family and business contacts?

This issue IS far more serious than most folks choose to believe.

Shoppers Who Can’t Have Secrets!

A very interesting New York Times article that touched upon how others use on-line information about you...

Slipstream - Consumer Tracking Outstrips Protections - NYTimes.com

An eye-opener for some. Credible confirmation for others.

Black Swan Theory

"Taleb's Ten Principles for a Black Swan Robust World"

Insights from Nassim Nicholas Taleb

(Thank you to Douglas Reid of Queens University School of Business for the lead.)

1/ What is fragile should break early while it is still small. Nothing should ever become too big to fail.

2/ No socialisation of losses and privatisation of gains.

3/ People who were driving a school bus blindfolded (and crashed it) should never be given a new bus.

4/ Do not let someone making an 'incentive' bonus manage a nuclear plant – or your financial risks.

5/ Counter-balance complexity with simplicity.

6/ Do not give children sticks of dynamite, even if they come with a warning.

7/ Only Ponzi schemes should depend on confidence. Governments should never need to 'restore confidence'.

8/ Do not give an addict more drugs if he has withdrawal pains.

9/ Citizens should not depend on financial assets or fallible 'expert' advice for their retirement.

0/ Make an omelette with the broken eggs."

Black swan theory - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

"There's an Answer To That"

Click image to enlarge 

Green Sex?

Okay. Here's one for the record books! Getting your's without killing the planet?

The Toronto Star's incorrigible Vinay Menon tells it like it is... Becoming an Ecosexual????

Menon: Did the Earth Hour move for you? - thestar.com:

"But in advance of Earth Hour this weekend, you and your partner need to consider the possibility that your lovemaking is destroying the planet."

Now THAT"S being connected!!

Let's Connect to Hybrid Nuclear/Fusion

It's worth the read!

Countries the world over are poised to spend trillions of dollars on what is arguably the dirtiest form of power generation known to man -- Nuclear Fission.

This short and informative article from New Scientist magazine provides an easy understanding of the various methods, compares fission and fusion, and briefs the reader on a promising new technology called Hybrid Nuclear Fusion.

Hybrid fusion: the third nuclear option - opinion 
04 March 2010 - New Scientist:

"Hybrid nuclear fusion combines the two forms of nuclear power, fission and fusion, in a single reactor. This has several advantages over fission alone: it minimises the environmental impact, reduces risks, enlarges reserves of nuclear fuel and is more flexible to operate."

Connecting to the Environment

James Lovelock, warms to eco-sceptics | Charles Clover - Times Online: "

“I think you have to accept that the sceptics have kept us sane — some of them, anyway,” he said. “They have been a breath of fresh air. They have kept us from regarding the science of climate change as a religion. It had gone too far that way. There is a role for sceptics in science. They shouldn’t be brushed aside. It is clear that the angel side wasn’t without sin.”"

A somewhat wordy, but well-rounded and current view of the global warming debacle.

Healthy Eating Without Hassle

Highly Recommended
Food Rules an Eater's Manual, by Michael Pollan

Connecting diet and health in a quick and easy read.

I've been studying nutrition since my 1970's hippy days and this one book distils much of what I've learned into a few simple-to-follow, common sense, guidelines. A great bathroom read! Fits in a pocket of briefcase.

Simple, concise, rules to nutritional health. No hoopla. No expensive diet supplements. No fancy diets.

Let's Consider Foreign Ownership in Telecom

Ottawa to rewrite telecom rules - The Globe and Mail:
"The announcement marks a significant milestone in the Harper government's effort to loosen ownership restrictions, which are groaning under the crush of new technologies and consumer dissatisfaction with limited competition.

It is also likely to spark discussions about the numerous opportunities for mergers across the profitable telecom landscape – at companies both within and outside Canada."

Industry Minister Tony Clement speaks to reports in Ottawa on Wednesday after the Throne Speech.
(Globe & Mail - No Photo Credit Provided.)


Then, several days later, all appears to change:
The reality of Ottawa's foreign ownership changes - The Globe and Mail

The Very Early Urge To Short Message?

Cave symbols hint at 30,000-year-old origins of written communication - The Globe and Mail: "A graphic code uncovered by researchers at the University of Victoria suggests that written communication may have started 30,000 years ago."

Biphasic Sleep and Intelligence Connected

Having memory problems. Trouble concentrating?

Midday nap markedly boosts the brain's learning capacity:

ScienceDaily (Feb. 22, 2010) — If you see a student dozing in the library or a co-worker catching 40 winks in her cubicle, don't roll your eyes. New research from the University of California, Berkeley, shows that an hour's nap can dramatically boost and restore your brain power. Indeed, the findings suggest that a biphasic sleep schedule not only refreshes the mind, but can make you smarter.

Click here for complete article.

Thoughts On Peak Oil

"Why Peak Oil Is The Only Thing That Can Stop The Chinese Export Deluge"

This is a thoughtful and detailed article that adds some perspective to thoughts of a world with less oil.

(Morningstar Inc. is a leading provider of independent investment research in North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia.)

Global Connectivity

Newsroom • ITU StatShot

Some very fresh and interesting numbers from the International Telecommunications Union (ITU)

Note: CIS stands for 'Commonwealth of Independent States' and refers to Russia and her former dependent states. Note also that many countries have more than 100 percent mobile penetration: more than one number per person. (Estonia has reportedly recently broken 200 percent.)

Pavlov 2010

Brain scans track hoop fans' happy memories: "brain researchers at Duke have found that fans remember the good things their team did much better than the bad."

Go Google!

Google Ultrafast Broadband May Shake Up Fiber Market - PCWorld: "Google Wednesday announced on its blog that (it) is constructing an experimental fiber network that the company says will 'deliver Internet speeds more than 100 times faster than what most Americans have access to today with 1 gigabit per second, fiber-to-the-home connections.'"

Group Think!

"Can you persuade someone to like a product by telling them that it’s popular? Do teenagers like Taylor Swift because she’s good or because everyone else they know likes her..."

This short Wired Magazine article provides some insight into recent Group Think research. What makes certain things 'popular'?

Clive Thompson on How Group Think Rules What We Like

You won't find consciousness in the brain.

"Many features of ordinary consciousness also resist neurological explanation."

It's been a bumper day for good reads!! While the last post links to a video essay concerning our exterior world, this short print essay brings the cold light of day to the interior world.

Consciousness in the brain

"We cannot therefore conclude that when we see what seem to be neural correlates of consciousness that we are seeing consciousness itself."

We're All One

A very thoughtful and interesting 10 min HD video offering a First Nations view of 'Connectedness'.

Well written and somehow poetic. Dry to some. Thankfully and thoroughly lacking over-sensationalized spin, to others. Many of the points are unsupported, but the general tambra is hard to argue: "All Is One."

Give it a minute and you may be surprised...

As always... Comments Please.

Accelerated Evolution

Sorry for the long break in posts. Been fighter cancer. More on that later, maybe.

In the meantime, here's a short little must-read:

Accelerated Evolution