The serial killer has a death grip on the American imagination, way out of proportion to reality, according to Pennsylvania State University criminologist Philip Jenkins, author of Using Murder: The Social Construction of Serial Homicide. 'The phenomenon of serial murder can be found throughout history and around the world, the most famous case being Jack the Ripper in England of the 1800s. But the 1980s brought a new and intensified spotlight on serial murder, inspired by the media, popular culture, and the political agenda of law enforcement agencies and certain advocate groups.' White it has been claimed that serial murder accounts for more than 4,000 victims a year, the figure actually is much smaller, probably closer to 300 or 400. 'Many factual assertions commonly made about the serial murder problem are incorrect or misleading,' Jenkins notes.
'During the early 1980s, legitimate concerns over crime were meshed with separate issues of missing and exploited children, organized pedophilia, and ill-defined concerns about the prevalence of homosexuality to create an aura of moral panic.' 'In addition, a serial murder story fulfilled the criteria for a great news story--fear, outrage, innocence, violence--and was attractive to all media.
This was a sign in Starbucks in Gaithersburg, MD that got my attention. It was different--it wasn't advertising for a local garage sale, real estate, a tutor, or cleaning service. Instead, it asks people to 'write an anonymous letter to a survivor of abuse, violence, rape, trauma, or bullying.'
When I got home, I looked at their website,. I saw some of the letters that had been written on the home page as well as an with monthly letters going back to March 2013. It was inspiring that people write and submit these letters of empathy, love, caring, and unity. And that someone would advertise for these, collect and post them for abuse victims to find some solace in. While of course, we gain strength through belief in G-d and a higher purpose in life, perhaps the real message of this letter writing project is that one major way for people to heal from the hurt caused by mean, misguided, or evil individuals is through the love and caring of good people. While the hurt and abuse of the past can never be undone, the charity and giving of the here and now can provide hope for a better tomorrow.;-) (Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal). Limited strike, limited benefits--With all the media and lack of secrecy on this operation, the Syrians have had the notice and time to vacate suspected target attack sites and move critical equipment out.
Also, we have already ruled out attacking the chemical weapons themselves due to fear of collateral damage. Plus, we have already said that we are not going to try and unseat Assad or end the fighting. So will hitting some empty buildings in a civil war that has already been going for more than 2 years have anything but symbolic impact?
Headwind SMS Communicator. A nice utility to send and receive SMS on PC through a GSM device. Automatic connection at startup, group SMS sending, user-friendly welcome screen.Missing.
Why do people laugh and feel pleasure at other people's pain and misfortune? The (20 August 2013) reviews the book, The Joy of Pain, on this topic.
Schadenfreude is the German word for feeling pleasure at the calamity of others. And we see people laugh, point, and otherwise gloat when others are hurting physically, emotionally, financially, and so on. When they fail and you succeed, you feel strong, powerful, self-confidant, and that you were right--and they were wrong!
Feelings of pleasure at other people's pain is partially evolutionary--survival of the fittest. It is also a function of our personal greed and competitiveness--where we measure ourselves not by how well we are doing, but rather relative to how others around us are faring. So for example, we may be rich and have everything we need, but if someone else has even a little more than us, we still are left feeling lacking inside. Thus, we envy others' good fortune and take pleasure in their misfortune. In a sense, our success is only complete when we feel that we have surpassed everyone else, like in a sport competition--there is only one ultimate winner and world champion. So when we see the competition stumble, falter, and go down, our hands go up with the stroke of the win!
Anyway, we deserve to win and they deserve to lose--so justice is served and that makes us feel just dandy. How about a different way--w e work together to expand the living standard for all, and we feel genuinely glad for others' success and real empathy for their pain, and they too for us --and we go beyond our pure humanity to something more angelic.;-) (Source Photo: with attribution for Lukas Vermeer). Injustice, Injustice does Montana Judge Todd Baugh pursue. G-d, hope you are listening.
Reported about this bogus Judge Baugh who called a 14-year old girl that was raped by her 49-year old teacher, 'as much in control of the situation' as the man who assaulted her. The poor girl later committed suicide, which her mother probably rightfully attributed to the distress from the rape and aftermath. And what does the judge do to mete out justice?
He sentences the rapist to 15-years in prison AND suspends the sentence for all but 31 days with 1 day time already served. The victim was raped and is dead and the rapist gets not 30-years, but 30 days! While the judge who is under pressure to resign has all of a sudden expressed his deep remorse, it is almost unbelievable that this is someone charged with seeing that justice is served. Shock, disbelief, outrage.what can you say about such a justice. While there is certainly a time and place for empathy, compassion, and mercy--would anyone in their right mind, see this as one of those cases? For all who believe that this world is not the end, but just the journey, I'd venture to guess that the 14-year old girl is not done either with her rapist or the judge who mocked her suffering and death.
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal). So my approach to enterprise architecture, product design, and customer service, as many of you know, is plan and simple, User-centric!
Innovating, building things, servicing customers, and communicating needs to be done in a way that is useful and usable--not overly complex and ridiculous. The other day, I saw a good example of a product that was not very user-centric. It was a type of wheelchair, pictured here in blue. And as you can see it is taking 2 men and a lady quite a bit of effort to manipulate this chair. This little girl standing off to the side is sort of watching amusingly and in amazement.
What is ironic is that the wheelchair is supposed to be made for helping disabled people. Yet, here the wheelchair can't even be simply opened/closed without a handful of healthy people pulling and pushing on the various bars, levers, and other pieces. If only Apple could build a wheelchair--it would be simple and intuitive and only take one finger to do everything, including play iTunes in the background.;-) (Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal).
My dad told me this joke over the weekend. It's about the Rabbi who asked the little boy in school. 'WHERE do you find G-d?' Raising his voice again. 'Where do you find G-D?' Stretching out his arms to the heavens.
'Where do YOU find G-d?' The boy rushes outside, nearly in tears, and finds his little brother and says: 'The Rabbi thinks we stole G-d.' I'm not sure if the joke itself is really funny or just the way my dad tells it. But I can almost see that child panicking and thinking he was being accused of something terrible. Anyway, as we all know G-d is everywhere and most importantly inside all of us. That's the spark that burns--our soul from above.
(Source Photo: adapted from with attribution to Kigaliwire). I first saw an advertisement for this music group near George Washington University. I was taken by their name: PLS DNT STP (i.e. Please Don't Stop).
Pretty smart! I checked out one of their music videos online and asked my wife to listen as well. As it started, she goes, this is the type of thing that can give people with epilepsy a seizure.
Yes, she was joking, I think. But then she said she liked it and to post it to her Facebook, which I dutifully did. The music is a little young, but even we can appreciate the high energy and cool factor. I wrote on my wife's Facebook wall, 'You're Bad!' Soon we will end the weekend and move into the next workweek.
As a kid, I remember people calling it 'Blue Monday'--presumably because of the feelings people had going back to work. I know some people that don't even like to go out on Sunday evening at all, because of the anxiety they feel about the upcoming week. But I thought this was a great photo that my daughter took to express the weekend joy and good feelings and the importance of carrying these forward throughout the whole week. Someone actually drew this smiley face on the side of the building! When my other daughter, Minna, asked my mom in the nursing home today for some words of wisdom, she reminded us all that 'the years go by all too quickly!' In her words, I understood that the main thing is to find meaning and purpose, give more than you take, and remember to count your blessings every day.;-) (Source Photo: Rebecca Blumenthal).
I learned a lot about Drone Warfare reading and thinking about 'The Killing Machines' in by David Bowden. The benefits of drones for military use are numerous: - Stealth: Drones can be relatively small (some are now even the size of bugs) and they can survey from vehicles that are aerial, terrestrial, underwater, or I would imagine, even subterranean. In a sense, even a spy satellite is a type of drone, isn't it? - Persistent: They can hover unmanned over enemy territory for not only hours, but also days at a time, and switching in replacement drones can create a virtually continuous stream of surveillance for months or years, depending on the need. - Powerful: The sensors on a drone can include high-definition cameras, eavesdropping devices, radar, infrared, 'and a pixel array so dense, that the device can zoom in clearly on objects only inches wide from well over 15,000 feet above.'
Further, with features like Gorgon Stare, multiple cameras linked together can view entire cities in one feel swoop. - Long-range: Drones can function doing reconnaissance or surveillance far away and deep into enemy territory. With drones, no one is too distant or remote as to be untouchable. - Lethality: Drones can carry missiles such as The Hellfire, a '100-pound antitank missile' and other weapons that can act expediently on information without the need to call in additional support. - Precise: Drones can hit targets with amazing precision--'It targets indiscriminate killers with exquisite discrimination.' - Safety: Drones carry out their work unmanned with (or without) controllers stationed at safe distances away--sometimes thousands of miles back at the homeland. - Expendable: Drones themselves are throwaway.
As with a bee, a drone is more or less useless when disconnected from the hive. Similarly, a military 'drone is useless as an eyeball disconnected from the brain,' since drones function only as an extension of back-end satellite links, data processors, intelligence analysts, and its controller.' Overall, the great value of drones is their integration of technologies: vehicles, global telecommunications, optics, sensors, supercomputers, weapon systems, and more. To me, between the questions of fairness, legality, and privacy--drones are being given a bum rap.
- Fairness: Just because one side has a technology that the other doesn't, should not mean it's wrong to use it. This is what competition and evolution is all about. I remember learning in school, when children would complain to the teacher that something was unfair, and the teacher would reply, 'life is unfair!'
This doesn't mean we should use a shotgun approach, but rather use what we got, appropriately. - Legality: Is it legal to kill targets rather than apprehending them, trying them, and otherwise punishing them? This is where sincere deliberations come in on whether someone is a 'lawful target' (e.g. Enemy combatant), 'imminent threat' (e.g. Self-defense), whether other alternatives are viable (e.g. Collateral damage assessments), and will killing them do more hard than good to foreign relations, influence, and even possibly breeding new hate and terror, rather than quelling it. - Privacy: The issue of privacy comes less into play with military matters and more with respect to domestic use for law enforcement and other civilian uses (from agriculture to urban planning).
The key is protect citizens from being unduly monitored, tracked, and scrutinized--where freedom itself is under big-brother attack and we all become mere drones ourselves in a national hive of complacency and brainless obedience. Rather than scaling back drones use, I liked Mary Ellen O'Connell vision of new drones 'capable of delivering a warning--'Come out with your hands up!' And then landing to make an arrest using handcuffs.' This is the promise of technology to learn from mistakes of the past and always bring possibilities of making things better in the future.;-) (Source Photo: with attribution to Don McCullough). Steve Ballmer, one of the forefathers of Microsoft (with a career spanning 3 decades there) and its CEO since 2000, is finally retiring.
Well what can we say except, Thank G-d! The reports how the markets cheered yesterday with Microsoft stock rising 7% at his exit and that's with no successor identified. In other words, better nobody, than Steve Ballmer somebody! Ballmer managed to take the genius of Gates and a company stock valuation of $603 billion in 2000 and turn it into less than half--$290 billion--by the time he announced he was going. Not bad destroying over $313 billion of value in a little more than a decade. Gates was the visionary--the inventor (with the help of Apple) of Windows and Microsoft Office.
He was brilliant and he left us with products that still today dominate desktop computing, which was predominantly what existed up until he handed the reins to Ballmer. But since 2000--we have smartphones and tablets--bringing Microsofts's share of market to just 15% today.
Ballmer was an operations guy (not what you need in a fast-changing technology market), while Gates was a innovator (who could spearhead the change itself). Ballmer was the wrong man for the right job. A technology guru could've taken the lofty perch Microsoft sat on in 2000 and used it as a springboard to the technology stars and beyond, but an operations nerd could only run it into the ground. Craig Tablet Drivers. Yes, Microsoft is still highly profitable at almost $22 billion last year on sales of $78 billion--nothing to sneeze at--but the problem is they are fighting last decades technology war.
That's why Apple, Google, and Amazon eclipse Microsoft in prestige and excitement, if not all by market share (yet). In almost 14 years, Ballmer couldn't manage one major fully new product innovation--except Xbox in 2001 (let's cough that one up to Gates), Bing in 2009 (a Google look-alike), and Kinect in 2010 (Ok, maybe one cool thing). Ballmer couldn't even put in a place a viable succession plan and is leaving the company in a chaotic leadership void for the top spot.
Gates was smart to sell the vast majority of his stake in Microsoft--not because they are not a great company with lots of talented people, but because without a true leader at the helm, they are lost in the vast technology sea of change without direction or innovation of their own. Ballmer, it was 14 years too long, maybe now there is still hope for Microsoft to rise and be great again.;-) (Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal). So the military got it right when they teach their cadets to stand tall 'at attention.'
'Chin up, chest out, shoulders back, stomach in.' The (21 August 2013) says that 'posture can determine who's a hero, [and] who's a wimp.' Research has shown that striking a power pose raises testosterone levels that is associated with feelings of, (and even aggression at elevated levels) and lowers cortisol levels and stress. Power poses or even just practicing these have been linked with better performance, including interviewing and SAT scores. Body language or non-verbal communication such as standing erect, leaning forward, placing hands firmly on the table, can project power, presence, confidence, and calmness. It all ties together where saying the right thing is augmented and synergized by looking the right way, and doing the right thing.;-) (Source Photo: with attribution to Official U.S.
Navy Imagery). This is a photo I took in the Metro in Washington D.C. It is an advertisement for a cessation of hostilities in Syria where estimates are over 100,000 people killed in civil war, so far. Now in Egypt, you have about 1,000 killed in the overthrow of the Muslim Brotherhood and violence continues there as well. What is really confusing is that in both cases you have terrorists and extremists fighting more secular societies--yet, we do not unequivocally support the secularists in their battle again Jihadists. At the same time, we went to war for a decade in Iraq and Afghanistan to fight a 'war on terror' and to this day it continues with somewhat regular drone attacks.
While I understand that as a Democracy we need to support fair and free elections, does this mean we have to buttress up fundamentalists, extremists, and terrorists--just because they got voted in. Sometimes, people don't know or understand what they are voting for until its too late, which seems to be what happened in Egypt when the people elected the Muslim Brotherhood.
Similarly, the Nazi party in Germany in the 1930's won many seats in the Reichstag, and we know the ten of millions murdered and the destruction that this led to. Democracy, does not mean good always prevails, but when evil is rightfully elected what are we to do--simply support free elections or support good over evil? Perhaps, the notion of good and evil is a little simplistic (especially when neither side may be very good), but the idea is the same, are we fighting for free elections or the better candidate in terms of overall freedom, human rights, and world peace. Can we really afford to straddle the fence here?;-) (Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal). (17 August 2013) has some good advice for job seekers--show you mean business and here's how to do it: 1) Integrity--This is the #1 fundamental. If you are not trustworthy, reliable, honest.you are more trouble than you're worth.
Integrity underscores your character as a person and professional. If you cheat, lie, steal, and are self-serving, why would anyone want to associate with you, let alone have you work for them? 2) Adaptability--Change is constant and happening faster and faster. If you are status quo, 'old school', and can't innovate your way off a typewriter, how in G-d's name are you going to help a business grow and adapt to changing market conditions? Go-getters, trend-setters, and change-agents, desired and welcome. 3) Problem-solvers-Anyone can complain and see problems, but it takes special folks to solve those large and complex ones.
You need to be able to come up with a strategy, articulate it, and execute on it. If you see the bad in everything, but can't solve anything--you are part of the problem and not part of the solution. If you have technical skills and can apply them, you are valuable to the organization. 4) Self-Starters--No time to babysit snoozers, slackers, or the constantly tardy--organizations are looking for professionals.
You need to hit the ground running. If you don't know what to do, how to do it, or can't pick up on it pretty quickly, this is going to be a painful experience. Those with initiative, enthusiasm, team players, and hard workers make it relatively easy, 5) Loyalty--Backstabbers, users, and serial job-hoppers, you're wasting precious time. If you're loyal to the organization and leadership, you deserve the same in return. Your value increases as you learn the organization, mission, and people and can apply your unique training and experiences over time. The organization wants you to grow with them. You're a fork, a spoon, and a knife and you are just what the organization is looking for.;-) (Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal).
Good video from The Atlantic on automation and the concern about Robots taking our jobs. From the 1800's, when 'the Luddites,'--British textile workers--protested the loom to the 1900's where 40% of our nations job were farm workers and now it's just 2%.the question is where does automation stop? Very likely it doesn't (thanks to evolution)!
As robots can first mimic and then outdo their human developers and as artificial intelligence gets more intelligent, robots are moving from farm to factory to white collar jobs. Computers and robotics, once relegated to repetitive tasks like on the assembly line, are becoming good at winning and as a. The bar is being raised not just on technology, but on humans to retrain to ever more sophisticated thinking and communicating positions (from software developers and product designers to branding and communications specialists). People are constantly evolving to think and innovate better and are in turn building ever more capable technologies to replace more human jobs and leading once again to the need for even higher-level human performance. Progress--a never-ending cycle of outperforming ourselves. Where does it stop--the attainment of ever-higher levels of knowledge and productivity leading to heavenly bliss here on Earth or perhaps large elements of burnout, breakdown, and potentially self-destruction.
I often hear people recalling and reminiscing about earlier, simpler, and 'better times.' The (17 August 2013) just had such an editorial looking to bring back the tranquility and idleness of hot summer Augusts, instead now replaced by more work and school. At the same time, very few of us would really want to go back in time before all the technology-wunderkind that we have now and enjoy (many seem think more like you'll have to pry that iPhone from my cold, dead hands!). The challenge: Robots may be taking jobs, but we need to stay ahead and to master not only ever higher levels of human knowledge and skills, but also the good sense to reconcile with the technology blitz and be able to actually find the time and inner-peace to sit back and enjoy it all as well.;-).
Peggy Noonan hit it right on the head in today's. The fear of giving up privacy, she said, is of a 'massive surveillance state,' and this is not overblown. The crux of this concern is that if Government (or I would add hackers) can intrude on citizen's private communications and thoughts, then eventually people will self-censor. No privacy does mean government control.
As Noonan makes clear, violations of citizen privacy is not just a threat to the Fourth Amendment protecting against unreasonable search and seizure, but is a bona fide danger as well to the First Amendment guaranteeing free speech. People should not be afraid to think critically and creatively because of what the government may do to them (and their families) for disagreeing with fraud, waste, abuse, special interests, and stupidity. Rather, politicians should fear being criticized and not re-elected for violating the duty to rule justly and as true representatives of the people. However, when government and politicians can listen in, see, and know what the lawful opposition in thinking and doing, then they are given virtually absolute power. And absolute power does corrupt absolutely. We should not change our underlying values of freedom and become a nation of routine digital interrogation of everyday John Doe's. Terrorists, traitors, anarchists, and hostile nation states should be pursued and given no rest or privacy from our intelligence, law enforcement, and warfighters.
But well-meaning citizens should be free to think, feel, and say what they believe in the best interest of the country. Upright citizen's should never have to fear an unjust government, but rather corrupt politicians should be concerned about violating the fundamental rights of the people. At least two keys to good government are privacy and free speech.;-) (Source Photo: with attribution to Empirical Perception). Another candidate for picture of the week. This guy is wearing 'tape measure' suspenders. Oh, how fashionable!
While the true measure of a person is their good deeds and relationships (to man and G-d), perhaps the suspenders is a reminder that we should take the time to stop and measure ourselves both quantitatively and qualitatively in our lives. As we approach the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, a time of introspection and judgement, it is a good opportunity to take measure.
Performance management is not just for work--we can look at ourselves both personally and professionally and commit to do better. (Source Photo: Dannielle Blumenthal). My wife took this photo today at The Drupal for Government Conference at NIH. The man in the photo was not only participating in the conference, but also taking notes on his Apple Macbook Air. It is incredible how technology is helping us do our jobs and be ever more productive. This is the vision of technology taking us beyond the natural limits we all have and face. I remember a few years ago when I was in the hospital for something and feeling bad about myself, and my wife brought me a laptop and said 'Write!'
Install Lacie Shortcut Button Software Design. --it was liberating and I believe helped me heal and recuperate. I wonder if hospitals in the future will regularly provide computers and access to patients to not only keep them connected with their loved ones, but also let them have more options for entertainment, creativity, and even productivity, to the extent they can, while getting well.
Kudos to this gentleman--he is truly a role model and inspiration for us all. (Source Photo: Dannielle Blumenthal). Okay, it takes a big man to admit when he's wrong. Reference my blog ' dated August 10, 2013. After testing the Galaxy S4 for the last 5 days, I can honestly say, I was wrong! I hate the Galaxy device, and am returning it tonight!
Despite a dearth of recent innovation from Apple, their iPhone is SO MUCH better than the Galaxy. Do NOT listen to the stats comparing them! The battery on the Galaxy was horrendous, and after never running out of juice on the iPhone, I got a warning message yesterday on the Galaxy that the battery was almost dead after only 8+ hours of use! Also, syncing it up with my car system was clumsy and annoying compared to the iPhone which did it seamlessly everyday.
Even simply syncing up music, videos, and so on with iTunes required a 3rd party app to facilitate this. Checking email was a pain as there were separate icons for Gmail and then for all other email (yahoo etc.), so this very basic feature was not consolidated. The cheap material on the Galaxy, even with the nice case I got, made it feel like the crappy buttons would break anytime. But most important, the integration of the Apple iPhone ecosystem is so much tighter than on the Galaxy--whereas everything on the iPhone works the first time and every time, the Galaxy is an annoying hit or miss.
Everything on the Galaxy felt to me like more clicks, more annoying messages, less intuitive interface, and like I just wanted to toss it into the trash. When the lady said she completed my switchback over to the iPhone, I only had one thing to say--thank G-d! (Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal). It was unexpected that the day after I blogged about a number of change organizations attracting attention in our society, particularly from our young people, that I saw it for myself on the streets of Washington, D.C. Yet another change organization--different from the two that I wrote about yesterday--this one called ' with three national campaigns currently: - Service Nation--encourages a year of national service 'to tackle pressing social issues.' - Opportunity Nation--advocates for expanded economic mobility for all young people and to 'close the opportunity gap in America.' - Got Your 6--seeks to create opportunities for veterans.
Has 'change' just become cliche or are people genuinely looking for something that is missing in today's culture, values, and norms. These smiling people certainly seem to be excited about change. It just makes you wonder--what is it that people are desperately missing in their lives and want en masse to change? How do we help people find that missing link and achieve real enthusiasm for what we are doing and where we are going? As leaders, it is our duty to understand and meet the genuine needs of the people.somehow doing this on the street corner by volunteers (as hardworking and noble as it is) seems to missing the larger point of government by the people for the people.
We need more politicians engaging and more people feeling they are being listened to.;-) (Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal). Two more articles, this time in Fast Company (Sept 2013) are pointing to the unhappiness of people and the desire to change things. The first ',' about, 'the world's petition platform' that now has 40 million users launching as many as 1,000 petitions a day.
Now the site is allowing organizations to respond to petitions publicly and also has a 'Decision Maker page,' which shows organizations all the petitions against them. Change.org focuses on 'personal issues with achievable solutions,' especially personal stories of injustice.
The site is about a carrot and stick approach. Organizations can choose to listen and respond positively to their constituents legitimate issues or 'there is a stick' if they don't engage with the hundreds of thousands and millions of petitioners. A second article, ',' about, which 'spearheads national campaigns' for young people interested in social change.
Their values are optimism for a sense of hope, rebellion meaning the rules are broken and needs to be rewritten, and empathy to feel others pain so we can change things for the better. There is a notion here that the youngsters 'have no faith that Washington politicians can solve this problem.'
These kids feel that 'the world is in the shitter' and they want to help create social change. It is interesting to me that despite our immense wealth and technological advances or maybe in some cases because of it--creating a materialistic, self-based society--that people are disillusioned and looking to restore meaning, purpose, and social justice. Things have got to mean more than just getting the latest gadget, blurbing about what you had for lunch on twitter, or accumulating material things (homes, cars, vacations, clothes, shoes, bags, and more). People can't live on materialism alone, but are seeking a deeper connection with G-d and the universe--to make peace with our creator and with each other and create a better world where we are elevated for helping others, rather than just taking for ourselves. (Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal). Some people are averse to change and to technology--and then there is Gary Sernovitz. This guy in the today boasts how he is one of the last 9% of American society that goes without a cell phone (let alone a smartphone).
At 40 and as a managing director of an investment firm, he says if he needs to make a call he uses one of the 30 working remaining payphones in Manhattan or borrows his wife or a strangers phone--so much for personal independence and self-sufficiency. Does this guy (and wife) live at home with his mommy too? He calls himself a 'technology holdout' and actually goes on to says that he is scared of getting a cell phone because he is afraid of losing himself. While admittedly, many people do go overboard with technology, social media, and gaming to the point of addiction, I am not sure that getting a cell phone is alone a major risk factor. Sernovtiz says he adheres to Henry David Thoreau's philosophy of simplicity--and that inventions 'are but improved means to an unimproved end.' Thoreau went to live in the woods to 'live deliberately' and focus on 'only the essential facts of life,' perhaps like many ascetics and spiritual guides before him have.
And as such, this is not a bad thing when done for the right reasons. But Sernovitz's one-sided message is a negative one, because technology as any tool is not bad in and of itself--it's how we exert control over the tool and ourselves, balancing productive use from misuse and abuse. If Sernovitz is so afraid of using technology, perhaps he should question himself as an investment manager and disavow use of money--which can be used for many evils from greed, hoarding, and selfishness to financing terrorism--and instead go back to bartering forest lumber and chicken eggs?
When I asked my 16-year old daughter what she thought of Sernovitz's article, she said he can't differentiate 'simpler from easier.' Don't mind me if I pass on this guy's book, 'The Contrarians.' ;-) (Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal).
Without a lift, Apple is already (and unfortunately) on the way down. Reports that the recent quarter global smartphone shipments show Android with an almost 80% market share compared to Apple's flimsy 13%. I've been a diehard Apple fan for years (and I still love them, but.) Years ago, I converted all my Windows computers and even my old Android phones. Apple was innovative, sleek, and intuitive to use. But since Steve Jobs passed, the company has lost its mojo.
Siri was a bust and what else have they done since. Google is leading the way with Glass for wearable technology.
Apple is disappointing its consumers, and their stock plummet from over $700 to the upper $300s (now in the mid $400's) shows investor sentiment. Out comes the Samsung Galaxy S4 and I am salivating--the differences from the iPhone 5 make them 'almost' not. Thought I'd wait for Chanukah, but the opportunity came early and so I am now a proud owner. A couple of days earlier, a young women on the Metro was using the Galaxy and I asked how she liked it--she said she loved it, mentioned the big screen and all the free apps, and then went on to say that her mom also just switched over from the iPhone and loves the Galaxy too.
What is it about the Galaxy? The larger 5' screen on the Galaxy versus 4'on the iPhone 5 is the first thing you notice--and yes, when it comes to doing email, reading news articles, or watching video, size does matter! Also, the Galaxy has Corning Gorilla glass and a higher 2.85 resolution and 35.28% higher pixel density--so it is strong and sharp and images really come out looking like a beautiful work of art. Also with air gesture, you can just wave your hand to navigate pages and not get fingerprints and smudges all over the screen. The camera is another huge difference: the Galaxy is 13 megapixels compared to only 8 for the iPhone and if you like taking photos that don't look like they came from a smartphone, this is a better way to do it. In terms of speed, the Galaxy again outperforms the iPhone, it has 2 gigabyte of RAM versus only 1 for the iPhone and its CPU is 2.46 as fast.
I was able to transfer my entire iTunes music library in just a couple of minutes. Finally, battery power is key and the Galaxy has 1.81x what the iPhone has--which basically makes it not necessary to get a heavy and costly Mophie external battery pack for it. While there are many features I like better on Galaxy s4, the one thing I'd recommend Samsung improve on is the body, which is a cheaper plastic compared to the iPhones aluminum, but once you have a solid case on it, it doesn't really matter for the end user experience. Overall, Galaxy has out-done the iPhone, and I think the venerable and cash rich Apple, without some major new technology leaps and advances in design is under very real threat.
(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal). I saw this bumper sticker on a pole in Washington, D.C. It says 'Puppet for President 2012' and I don't know whether this was referring to Democrats, Republicans, Independents, or whoever. But it did make a statement about the perceived ability of government to lead and perhaps that someone is 'pulling the strings.' Governance is the act of administering, managing and of course implies leadership and decision-making.
Yet what is driving the American people crazy is that our government seems for all intensive purposes broken, almost paralyzed. Current readings are of political stalemate, problems that are too big and complex and the compromises too painful after years of excess, where indecision reigns supreme, and with that the popularity of government is at all time lows-. Here's a basic example written about today in the Wall Street Journal: despite a drop in first class mail over the last decade (thanks to email and texting) from 100 billion to fewer than 70 billion pieces of first class mail and cumulative losses from 2006 to March 2013 of, we still can't decide whether to cut Saturday mail delivery that could save over $3 billion a year alone. Other examples of government indecision are almost too numerous to name: - Should we intervene in Syria's civil war that has taken more than 100,000 lives and displaced millions?
- When should we take action against Iranian nuclear facilities that violate nuclear non-proliferation and threaten world peace? - How should we handle militant Islamic and that don't seem to dissipate? - What do we do about the mounting federal deficit with a national debt approaching that is still rising about $2 billion a day! - With fiscal cliffs, debt ceiling, sequestrations, and cuts to the U.S. Credit rating, can we find our way forward? - What should we do to get people back to work with an employment level of, still around the lowest in the last 30 years? - How do we reign in entitlement spending that needy people depend on, but where of Americans households today receive transfer payments, and entitlement spending has risen to $2.3 trillion annually and now are of entire federal outlays.
- How do we improve morale of the U.S. Middle-class when only think their children will be better off than their parents? - What should we do about so many hanging issues out there--immigration reform, spiraling health care costs, improving our education system, balancing surveillance and privacy, and much more? However, the ultimate question really is whether no decision is better than a decision? With no decision, the problems continue to escalate until they sort of magically go away on their own (i.e. They are 'overcome by events') or more ominously, they reach epic crisis proportions.
With a decision to act, we may make good decisions that positively impact the situation or we may make bad decisions that have a negative impact, but even with a bad decision, we can monitor the effects and course-correct until we show true improvement. Decisions often mean winners and losers--and no one wants to lose anything--and there are lobbyists and special interest groups--and no one wants to be voted out of office.so what do we do? Oh no, I can't decide! The reality is that we will will have to make hard decisions or they will be made for us--we will either be the masters of our own fate of the slaves of our indecision. We can take back control and fix what is broken or wallow in despair and disrepair. We can act now or kick the can down the road and have much more painful decisions later. (Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal).
Some things I learned from breaking an ankle this week: 1) Beware of the Crazies: There are a lot of crazy people out there. This guy on the street in Washington, D.C. Was yelling and screaming and when I turned to see what all the commotion was about, my foot pivoted sideways off the pavement and crack! I was cussing under my breath at the nut on the street and the pain shooting out of my foot. Thank G-d for the parking meter, which I lunged toward and grabbed to keep myself vertical!
2) Be great: The lady in the hospital that did my cast was amazing. She was so nice to me and talented as a medical professional. She was able to take even a sort of routine task like making a cast (she probably does thousands of them) and do it with an artistic flair and near perfection--I'm telling you this lady was able to make great out of the mundane. All the time explaining to me what she was doing, asking me how it felt, and then helping me test it out. She was like an angel. 3) Easy is hard: The crutches are large and clumsy--they help to redistribute the weight off the foot, but they are uncomfortable to use and look ridiculous.
But getting around on crutches, I am realizing that all the things every day that I take for granted as easy are pretty hard with a broken bone. On the first day, I went courageously out to the Metro and was going to head down to work, but when it started raining I realized this was not going to work--how to you carry yourself on crutches and hold an umbrella at the same time and not get your cast wet and ruin it. The next day, I found myself hopping on and off the escalator trying to keep balanced, keep the weight off the foot, and grab the crutches along with me--this was almost comical. Then trying to stay on the crutches, while using the metro card to activate the turnstile, and go through this narrow passage quickly, I found myself wedged between the turnstile gates. Then the morning coffee was a no-no; how do you carry a coffee while navigating on crutches, which then left me with a caffeine withdrawal headache. I could go on, but you get the picture. Being sick and injured is lousy, but I appreciate my health anew.
And I thank G-d for teaching me some valuable lessons--many refreshers--and keeping me from an even worse outcome.;-) (Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal). Blumenthal has been honored with the Department of State's Meritorious Award, Department of Homeland Security's Excellence Award, CIO's Ones to Watch Award, and listed as one of the Top 25 Information Managers, Top 70 Federal Tech Pros, and Top 100 Social CIOs. Blumenthal is a recognized expert in organizational transformation who shares his best practices as an adjunct professor at Carnegie Mellon University, at his former column with Public CIO Magazine, and at his popular blog, The Total CIO.
Blumenthal is known for spearheading best practices including: Leadership with Heart, The CIO Support Services Framework, and User-centric Enterprise Architecture. Blumenthal holds an MBA in Organizational Behavior from Pace University and a BBA in Accounting, summa cum laude from Baruch College. He is also professionally certified as a Chief Information Officer (CIO), Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), Chief Information Security Manager (CISM), Enterprise Architect (EA), Project Management Professional (PMP), Federal Acquisition Certification-Program/Project Manager (FAC-P/PM) Level III Senior/Expert, and e-Government Leader (EGOV). Other credentials include IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) certification, & CompTIA's A+ in Hardware & Operating Systems (A+).