Don't miss this week's This American Life: When Patents Attack
Patent trolls, Intellectual Ventures, and the High Tech IP Protection Racket. Highly informative.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Monday, July 25, 2011
Make Way for the Radical Center
Apropos article in this week's NYTimes as we watch our 401K balances plummet as the Republicans deliver bought-and-paid-for promises to corporations and the ultra-rich at the expense of everyone else.
"DID I mention that I’ve signed a pledge — just like those Republican congressmen who have signed written promises to different political enforcers not to raise taxes or permit same-sex marriage? My pledge is to never vote for anyone stupid enough to sign a pledge — thereby abdicating their governing responsibilities in a period of incredibly rapid change and financial stress. Sorry, I’ve signed it. Nothing more I can do."
Apropos article in this week's NYTimes as we watch our 401K balances plummet as the Republicans deliver bought-and-paid-for promises to corporations and the ultra-rich at the expense of everyone else.
"DID I mention that I’ve signed a pledge — just like those Republican congressmen who have signed written promises to different political enforcers not to raise taxes or permit same-sex marriage? My pledge is to never vote for anyone stupid enough to sign a pledge — thereby abdicating their governing responsibilities in a period of incredibly rapid change and financial stress. Sorry, I’ve signed it. Nothing more I can do."
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Wednesday, July 06, 2011
Designobserver Essay: How to Make Systems Thinking Sexy
The world needs a new kind of design based on an ethical framework in which life is the ultimate source of value.
The world needs a new kind of design based on an ethical framework in which life is the ultimate source of value.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Friday, June 17, 2011
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Confessions of a Nuclear Power Safety Expert
Nuclear engineer Cesare Silvi studied unlikely outside threats to nuclear plants in Italy, which soured him on the energy source and caused him to go solar.
Nuclear engineer Cesare Silvi studied unlikely outside threats to nuclear plants in Italy, which soured him on the energy source and caused him to go solar.
Thursday, June 09, 2011
Wednesday, June 08, 2011
Thursday, June 02, 2011
Madison Avenue declares American 'Mass Affluence Over
The top 10 percent of American households, the trade journal adds, now account for nearly half of all consumer spending, and a disproportionate share of that spending comes from the top 10’s upper reaches.
“Simply put,” sums up Ad Age’s David Hirschman, “a small plutocracy of wealthy elites drives a larger and larger share of total consumer spending and has outsize purchasing influence — particularly in categories such as technology, financial services, travel, automotive, apparel, and personal care.”
The top 10 percent of American households, the trade journal adds, now account for nearly half of all consumer spending, and a disproportionate share of that spending comes from the top 10’s upper reaches.
“Simply put,” sums up Ad Age’s David Hirschman, “a small plutocracy of wealthy elites drives a larger and larger share of total consumer spending and has outsize purchasing influence — particularly in categories such as technology, financial services, travel, automotive, apparel, and personal care.”