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 31 Jan 2002 @ 15:23, by ming. Environment, Ecology
A couple of scrawny bushes in Palm Springs, California, seem to be competing about being the world's oldest living thing. They have been carbon dated to be in the vicinity of 11,700 years old. More >
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30 Jan 2002 @ 21:15, by mmmark. Social System Design
This is not my creation, but I made one small edit to Andrea Kulbacki's observation:
Start with a cage containing five monkeys. Inside the cage, hang a banana on a string and place a set of stairs under it. Before long, a monkey will go to the stairs and start to climb towards the banana. As soon as he touches the stairs, spray all of the other monkeys with cold water. After a while, another monkey makes an attempt with the same result - all the other monkeys are sprayed with cold water. Pretty soon, when another monkey tries to climb the stairs, the other monkeys will try to prevent it.
Now, put away the cold water. Remove one monkey from the cage and replace it with a new one. The new monkey sees the banana and wants to climb the stairs. To his surprise and horror, all of the other monkeys attack him. After another attempt and attack, he knows that if he tries to climb the stairs, he will be assaulted.
Next, remove another of the original five monkeys and replace it with a new one. The newcomer goes to the stairs and is attacked. The previous newcomer takes part in the punishment with enthusiasm! Likewise, replace a third original monkey with a new one, then a fourth, then the fifth.
Every time the newest monkey takes to the stairs, he is attacked. Most of the monkeys that are beating him have no idea why they were not permitted to climb the stairs or why they are participating in the beating of the newest monkey.
After replacing all the original monkeys, none of the remaining monkeys have ever been sprayed with cold water. Nevertheless, no monkey ever again approaches the stairs to try for the banana.
Why not?
Because as far as they know that's the way it's always been done around here.
And that my friends, is how social consciousness HAS been formed en masse! More >
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30 Jan 2002 @ 17:18, by ming. Energy Sources
Reuters has a story about a free energy device. That in itself is unusual. It off course has to be qualified by the requisite set of "experts" who say that it of course is all impossible. I don't know if this one is real or a hoax, but I think it is better to keep a record of it. It is a apparently a dishwasher size device that can run indefinitely and power a small home. More >
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29 Jan 2002 @ 12:59, by finny. Politics
"George W. in the Garden of Gethsemane"
An Open Letter to George W. Bush from Michael Moore
Dear George,
When it's all over in a couple months, and you're packing up your pretzels and Spot and heading back to Texas, what will be your biggest regret? Not getting out more often and seeing the sights around Rock Creek Park? Never once visiting the newly-renovated IKEA in Woodbridge, Virginia? Or buying your way to the White House with money from a company that committed the biggest corporate swindle in American history? I got a feeling you didn't miss much by not spending an entire Saturday afternoon assembling a Swedish bookcase -- but you should have known that there was no way you would ever finish your term by hopping into bed with Kenneth Lay. More >
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29 Jan 2002 @ 12:52, by ming. Housing, Building, Architecture
Some people are working on translucent or transparent concrete. See story. It is not as crazy as it sounds. If it is glass or plastic being mixed, rather than stones and gravel, and if the cement holding it together is translucent too, then it can work. More >
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 29 Jan 2002 @ 03:22, by ming. Politics
This one is very funny. It is a State of the Union Address as George Bush ought to deliver it. It is not only humorous, it is pretty obviously the way it ought to be. It is from the Contract with the Planet site, started by Ben and Jerry's (ice cream) co-founder Ben Cohen. More >
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29 Jan 2002 @ 02:16, by finny. Activism
Well, in my opinion, whatever the issue, its about us getting active. That's a really simple statement. But primary thats all it takes. Thirty activists doing a good job will equate around 30,000 inactive people. A few years ago a handful of activists activated against Berger King concerning their use of Central American (Costa Rician) beef, that was been feed on ex-rainforest claimed grazing land. Embarassed and compelled by a 17% loss of income they stated they would only buy local beef! It doesn't take that much really! I would like to go on about what is achieable, but I know on this list I'm preaching to the converted! So that's it! More >
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 28 Jan 2002 @ 17:22, by ming. Alternative Money Systems
New Scientist has an article about how the players of the online game EverQuest have created a real economy, buying and selling virtual items for real dollars on eBay. And how playing that game puts you in a better economic spot than the everage citizen in many countries in the world. I know the phenomenon well, as my son does just that. It is a different online game, called Asheron's Call, but it is quite amazing what some of the virtual items go for on eBay. What is interesting is the implications for what en economy really is, and how any kind of activity can become economic activity, even if nothing is physically produced. More >
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 28 Jan 2002 @ 17:05, by ming. Business
Interesting article in L.A. Times about the culture of the Enron, the failed energy company. Many things that at first glance sound very positive. The culture invited and rewarded personal initiative, and the company supported its community generously, and promoted positive values of creativity and charity. But, looking a bit closer, what it really encouraged was that as long as you bring the company more money, you can break any rule that is in the way. An arrogant the-ends-justify-the-means kind of thing. Get there in any creative way you can think of, no matter who gets hurt along the way, and then make sure you look as good as possible. More >
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 28 Jan 2002 @ 16:33, by ming. Environment, Ecology
Some studies are now indicating that the ice sheet of western Antarctica is getting thicker, rather than thinner as previously assumed. See this article. There has been a lot of concern that this ice sheet is unstable, and that even small amounts of melting could have catastrophic consequences. More >
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