The China Diversion
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Politics
So the President is off to China talking about democracy. Is the purpose of all this democracy talk to shame the Chinese into seeing things our way? Or, is it just playing to the President's ever dwindling supporters at home? The Chinese will not take the bait on the Taiwan democracy, nor will they take any of the demands on currency or trade.
At home the Vice President has been left to lead the attack on all who don't buy the party line. Things aren't going well so what does he expect applause? Remember he is the one who told us "we have turned the corner" in Iraq. Are we supposed to accept his view of turning the corner, or Congressman Murtha's view of a corner turn? Its time to let freedom ring at home.
Time for a Test
Saturday, August 27, 2005
Politics
With hurricane Katrina bearing down on New Orleans, perhaps as a category 5 huricane, it is time for us to take have the President take a little test. As a President who tells us all that he is the best qualified to protect this country. Let's see how Mr Bush does over the next few days.
The test is in 5 parts. Please grade the President on his performance and the performance of his administration in each of the areas.
- Leadership - includes the ability to project an empathetic response to the situation. Instilling confidence that everything possible is being done to mitigate the situation. Cutting red tape to get the appropriate response in action.
- Vision - Natural disasters can have a greater impact than any terrorist attack. Where does such events fit within the scope of Homeland Security. Have we devoted sufficient resources to protect our citizenry from undue impact.
- Planning - anticipating the impact of a disaster. Do we have the necessary resources in place to respond rapidly and effectively. How will unanticipated issues be accommodated.
- Execution - Who is in-charge and what will they do. How long will it take to move resources into place. Will the appropriate human and relief supplies reach New Orleans and other impacted areas in a timely fashion. Will every agency involved have a clear understanding of their role and what they are expected to deliver.
- Responsibility - Will the President stand up and take responsibility if thing do not go as planned. Will credit be shared with others if things go well. Will fingers be pointed, thus diverting gaze from the points above.
Seats Shouldn't Need Instructions
Friday, April 8, 2005
Personal
Flying back from Prague after a wonder visit with our son Ryan, we found ourselves in recently upgraded high tech seats. At each seat was an instruction manual with all of the magical operations the seat could perform. My first thought was to simply futz with the settings to find a comfortable position and sit back and enjoy the movie.
Quickly I encountered my first problem, the movie simply could not hold its picture. The vertical hold was shot. Mentioning this to the flight attendant, she indicated she would reboot my system. It seems I was on one of Lufthansa's newest wifi enabled aircraft. Shortly after the reboot she returned to check on my movie. The reboot had done nothing to resolve the problem. So much for that improvement. Since I was on vacation, I didn't even have my PowerBook for alternate entertainment.
Back to the seat issue. If I was going to be flying for 10 hours finding a comfortable position was imperative. I continued to fiddle with the adjustments. No such luck. I guess it was time to read the manual. I spent the next few minutes carefully reading and trying to refine my position. Even with a manual, and all the wonderful features, the upshot was it was impossible to find the sweetspot I was seeking.
I fired up the iPod grumbling that seats should not need instructions.
An Ironic End to IBM's PC Business
Wednesday, December 8, 2004
Technology
Many years ago I was tangentially involved in a join venture project to sell and service personal commuters in the Chinese mainland. Much of the project was scraped. The reason, the sale of computers with Intel 286 processors to China was restricted.
I guess yesterday's announcement of the sale of IBM personal computer division to China's largest computer maker, Lenovo, closes the book on the era of technology restrictions in the PC arena.
A Day for Decisions and Hope
Tuesday, November 2, 2004
Politics
It was Abraham Lincoln who sagely repurposed a biblical statement "a house divided cannot stand" at a bitter crossing point for the American democracy. Nearly 150 years later we have another great divide, it is our time of reckoning. Like the proverbial great divide to be crossed by explorers and settlers, there is no doubt we are a divided nation, and no doubt that we must confront the challenges ahead. In our time, we have no Lincoln to lead. It is certain that in his time Lincoln was seen by a large portion of the republic as a divider not a healer. In history's light we see quite the opposite.
Today, through our votes, we express our hopes and fears. Each of us who can and do vote must choose. Some say this is the dirtiest of campaigns. History proves them wrong. Our country is filled with bitter and divisive campaigns. True, this campaign has been light on substance and long on attacks. But in the end we must choose. Perhaps we can take solace in the fact that we will have a large turnout of voters. The more people who express their hopes, the more hope we might have for no candidate claiming a mandate. The agenda of the American people must encompass a bigger vision, not one of slogans, sound bites and exclusion.
In the end we must hope we select leaders who understand a house divided must be rebuilt.
Brief Tinderbox Weekend Reflections
Sunday, October 24, 2004
Technology
Earlier this month, I attended Tinderbox Weekend in San Francisco. My goal in attending this workshop was simple, increase my comfort and use of Tinderbox. Wow, did I get my money's worth.
For those not familiar with the niche product, Tinderbox doesn't quite fit into any particular category. My first impressions of Tinderbox was that it was an outliner that could do other things link idea mapping. I knew it could be used as a blogging tool, this blog is a Tinderbox document. As I explored further, I also realized that it is a great tool to organize my brain — bits and pieces of information, files and ideas. I even wrote a book in Tinderbox.
For me the problem must have been one of confidence. There were always doubts that I just wasn't getting it. Tinderbox Weekend took care of this major impediment. The key to unlocking Tinderbox was abandoning the concept that there is a single way to do things in Tinderbox.
During the two-day event, participants, most of whom shared my thoughts that there is something special here, I just don't know what it is, found out that there are always many ways to do the same thing. For example, I started with Tinderbox's outline view. I learned from < a href="http://www.doug-miller.net/blog/index.html" target=_blank>Doug Miller, a great Tinderbox resouce, that he is primarily a map view person. He displayed what he described as a map of his brain that was truly amazing. Ideas were organized, categorized and linked. My outline brain would not never have conceived of starting with a virtual clean sheet of paper.
By the end of the weekend, I gained several things. First, I was much further along in my understanding of Tinderbox, some even regarded me as an "expert." Second, I connected with a number of outstanding Tinderbox resources, Doug Miller, Bill Humphries, Mark Bernstein Tinderbox's creator and others. Finally, I was able to finally see why, rather than how, I might want to consider Tinderbox my tool of choice for thinking, creating and organizing.
I hardily recommend future Tinderbox Weekends to all Tinderbox users, novice and expert alike.
Freedom and Liberty in Iraq?
Sunday, October 24, 2004
Politics
NPR's Anne Garrels, one of the more insightful journalists covering Iraq, has just returned to Iraq after about a two month rotation out of the country. Her audio impressions of the country differ remarkably from the freedom and liberty is changing Iraq for the better mantra repeatedly uttered the President.
Intelligence Czar or Intelligent Czar: You make the call
Saturday, October 23, 2004
Politics
The debate in congress on the intelligence czar is increasingly ironic. The 911 Commission recommended such a position to strengthen our intelligence gathering and analysis to better protect the country. Congress and the administration continue to wrestle with this recommendation, but thus far, have not finalized any legislation. I have not yet come to the conclusion as to the merits of this recommendation. As is the case with most big schemes I can see pluses and minus to the concept.
I think there is an alternative that is not being discussed. I think we need an Intelligent Czar heading the Office of Common Sense. I come to this conclusion from repeatedly observed and reported cases where my first though is "what were they thinking?"
Do you really think we have improved our security when we painstakenly search the older lady with the walker in the airport security line? Does it make sense to apportion homeland security funds equally to high risk targets and states with virtually no risks? How about having months of backlogs of documents to translate while we boot out translators under Don't Ask, Don't Tell? Maybe we should continue to award no bid contractor to a handful of defense conglomerates who are free to spend your money with impunity. I am sure you could think of a lot more examples you have heard or seen.
So under my proposal we need to immediately create a gigantic government bureaucracy that will look over the shoulder of all the other government agencies to assure that common sense prevails. NOT! What we really need is for everyone, to constantly ask the bottomline question: does this make sense?
Perpetuating Lies: validating untrue sound bites
Sunday, October 10, 2004
Politics
As my daughter began her fellowship in Sacramento, her first contact with a constitutional officer was a spontaneous, revealing moment filled with helpful advice, support and a powerful closing admonition. "Remember," she was told, "all politicians lie."
At face value this is not shocking, disappointing for true believers maybe, but not shocking. What this statement triggered was ironically not the need to redouble efforts to critically think about all political statements, but rather the role of the media in perpetuating the lies.
The press from time-to-time points out the misstatements and lies of the candidates. Most often this "analysis" is buried deep in the paper or late in an extended newscast. Never do we see or hear this analysis up front. What we get are the sound bites perpetuating the lies.
Throughout this campaign when I hear an hourly news cast or read the front page headlines, I am astounded that the sound bite featuring misstates the facts, distorts reality or outright lies. More often than not, this is part of an attack on the opposing candidate. The selection and featuring of a misleading sound bite acts as a validation of the statement. Surely, many people think, if its on the news it must be true.
The journalists and broadcasters may think they have done their duty in their analysis pieces, but for me, they have failed to do their job by featuring the lies.
It ain't broke, why break it?
Sunday, August 22, 2004
Personal
Unlike many Americans, I have health care. When I retired from the California State University a major, but easy, decision in the retirement was to retire within the window when I would retain my health care for life.
My HMO plan, Blue Shield of California, is one of only a few choices available in my area. I am happy with my health plan because I am happy with my doctor who I have been with for close to twenty-five years.
Things changed recently, however, when CALPERS, the state retirement system, decided that the Sutter Medical system was charging too much for its services. The basis for this decision is perhaps debatable, but the decision was recently affirmed.
When the decision was first announced, I approached my doctor to discuss my options. His answer, there are no options. This is the only group in the area. He would gladly add another group to keep the 300 patients in his practice impacted by this decision, but for him, there were no other options available.
CALPERS and Blue Shield sent letters updating us on the situation. Clearly explaining their side of the issue, but hardly helpful to me was the good news, from their perspective, that I don't have to lose my doctor; I could change to their wonderful PPO. If I didn't want to stay with my doctor, I could change to Kaiser, or I could find a doctor with another medical group. To me this was not a good starting position. This breaks an essential link to a doctor I know and trust.
There are problems with these options. First, for me Kaiser is not an option. Though I have friends who are doctors at Kaiser, my indirect experience with Kaiser is too dominated by critical issues surrounding care and navigating the bureaucracy. The PPO option has the same monthly costs with much higher co-pay and lower lifetime limits. Finding another doctor is the last best choice of three lousy choices.
Back to my doctor who has been led to believe that something is being worked out. Not the case I explain based upon the communications I received. Even if something could be worked out before the changes go into effect in January, my open enrollment period is starting in September. If I can't find a good choice, it is unclear on my health insurance during the next year.
We call Blue Shield, the people who have established a special group to help us out. The first call does not go well. "Who are the doctors in our area we can choose," we ask. "Its all available on line," we are told. I go online while on the phone, and the website fails when trying to select doctors. I explain this to the "helpful representative" (hr) on the phone. "Let me look it up for you," hr comments. Hum, there are no doctors on the website. HR looks in her internal database. "I see a number of doctors," she proclaims. "Great, could you fax them to me?" I request. "Sure, you'll get them today," hr, giving great service comments.
During the same conversation, we learn that Blue Shield is working to create a replacement group and my doctor has chosen not to participate. I comment that it is not my understanding, but that I would check.
Two days later, no fax, no information on the website and getting closer to the open enrollment period. Things still look broken.
I call back to Blue Shield. "Helpful representative two" (hr2) tells me it was faxed. After explaining I did not receive it, I request another copy. She indicates it will be faxed and mailed. Belts and suspenders are a good solution to this kind of problem.
A few days later a mailing arrives and the next day a fax. Wow, lots of choices…until I notice my doctor is on the list. My wife points out the small type on a page before indicating that the following doctors are not eligible. Why list them if I can't use them?
Another call to Blue Shield to "helpful representative three" (hr3). No, your doctor is not a choice. There are 12 doctors who are. This is getting dicey, more than 2500 patients are impacted by this change in the area, and 12 doctors cannot reasonably absorb this number. Fax me a list. "Sorry," hr3 explains, "this part of the system doesn't allow me to fax, why don't I give you a name or two." If I am going to be making a decision as important as a doctor, I want all my choices, not just two randomly chosen. I take down this list by hand.
I ask about the group hr1 cited. HR3 searches and after an extended time returns with instructions for my doctor to call the Providers Line, part of the organization not available to patients.
I call my doctor, have they heard of the new group, no. Have they been contacted by Blue Shield or CALPERS on this issue, not in any substantive way. They start to tell me just hold on; we hear that this whole situation will all blow over. I explain that the decision is now final. Could they please call the Blue Shield Provider line with their secret decoder ring firmly on their finger? They promise to do so.
The doctor's office calls back. They called and were told there is nothing resembling the group I described. I again ask whether they have heard any discussion of this within the medical community. No, nothing at all. The tell me that I seem to know more than anyone. I tell them I will call back to Blue Shield on my side of the firewall.
In my next call to Blue Shield "helpful representative four" (hr4) doesn't know what new group I am talking about. There is nothing in her database. She dutifully tells me about available groups on the other side of the county. When I comment on needing a group in my area, she informs me there isn't any. I press for more information. She responds that she grew up here. Hold on hr4 proclaims, and I am now subjected to the incessant recording of how helpful Blue Shield is. She returns with two names for the doctor to call. "If they can't help them, they will get them to someone who can," hr4 explains as we end the conversation.
Back on the phone to the doctor, I feel closer to a potential solution. I give the names and phone numbers. Real people I explain. They promise to call.
Five minutes later they call back. Person number one doesn't exist and person number two works in the PPO claims department.
My health care is slipping away. I call back and get hr5 who I immediately rebuff as I ask for a supervisor. "What's this regarding," hr5 asks she gets my testy summary and another demand for a supervisor. On hold I again am subjected to the garbage messages. Hold on as she is transferring me. Woops, voice mail. Another hold and message, that person, a lead representative, also went to voice mail. Do I want to leave a message? I request the supervisor, not the lead representative. I am transferred but instead of voice mail I am talking to the supervisor. I explain the situation. She responds that this sounds bad but while she can't help me, she will walk my situation over to a special problems resolution group. "You will hear from them within 30 minutes," she promises.
Right. Okay at this point my routine interactions have completely failed. My persistent queries have not produced an apparent solution. My doctor, through his channels, knows far less than I. The window is nearly closed.
Amazingly, I receive the promised call within 30 minutes. I calmly (right) explain the situation. The special representative (s), tells me she will help break through this log jam. She will check and call me back shortly.
S calls back as promised. There is an option, and she will directly call the doctors office to get things started. As she will be out the next day, she will call Friday morning with an update. S calls as promised and leaves a message with the status and the fact that I will get more information by 4:00 pm. S calls at 3:50 pm. The doctor’s office has been contacted, materials have been Fedexed, and things finally appear to be coming together.
Later that day, new form mail arrives from Blue Shield with information to help me understand my options for the upcoming open enrollment period. Blue Shield again informs me of the fact that my doctor is no longer approved and cites my apparently limited options. I can choose another doctor (no list provided) or, if I don't choose a doctor they will choose one for me. The same "helpful" information most people impacted by this decision are receiving.
Only now, I have a secret decoder ring, and I know that what is broken for most, might, just might, be fixed for those who have the will to resist.
Chess in the Median
Wednesday, August 11, 2004
Politics
When I was younger I was a chess champion in my junior high school, then I gave up the game because other things became more important. Why is this important? In this case, only because it is a metaphor for the 2004 presidential campaign.
I am no fan of the ever extending campaign process in the United States. When I was younger, There were the primaries, hotly contested until it seemed there was a winner, then a break, the conventions which sometimes undid the primaries, a longer break and then the an eight week sprint to the election.
Now we have a concentrated set of primaries, a longer break, the conventions pre-ordained, and an even longer sprint to the election.
How does chess figure into the equation? From the outside an unskilled observer doesn't see a most of the strategy of a high level chess match. Underneath, however, the participants, and the knowledgeable observers, are seeing far into the future of the match. In the chess match and the political campaign, so much focus is on the outside what is happening now. The moves are basic, the stump speeches are repetitive simplified messages. Quite honestly, I get bored hearing the same simple messages repeated with little or no depth or variation— terror, terror, terror, hero, hero, hero. Move the pawn one row at a time— boring, boring, boring.
Underneath, however, the strategy is unfolding many moves ahead. If a strategic message/policy can be crafted for this group or that group, we can swing voters our way. How can we simplify the message, simplify the message, simplify the message? The art and the science of the campaign are unfolding.
Unfortunately, to the electorate, watching this campaign is like watching a chess match held in the median of the freeway. The match may be complex and played with sophistication. However, the numbing traffic speeding by on both sides distracts from the reality of the match. We don't see what is really going on. The analysis focuses on the basics. We do not see the difficulty of balancing positions, one against another. What we see and hear is the stump speech, the rapid response to the news of the day or the attacks and counter attacks of the campaign. We do not see the beauty of the match; it is all a blur. What we think of as the match is the distraction of the freeway.
By the time the election is won, we would have been bombarded with more basics that are humanly possible to tolerated. We will be numbed to death with messages, speeches and ads. These dumbed down messages that speak not to the complexity of being president of the United States, but rather simple messages and themes that don't help us really understand how our next president will be able to look ahead, unravel complex conflicting challenges and rally the nation to focus on the issues of greater good.
There is a reason truly great chess matches are pressure-packed, endurance draining events played largely in silence. It is difficult to think strategically dozens of moves ahead. To see the match unfold before it is played, and then to respond to the twists and turns presented by your opponent.
I wish our campaigns were more like a high-level chess match than the repetition of the cars moving in opposite directions on the freeway. I want to focus on the thinking, the fully developed ideas, not the basic moves, the repetitive drone of the message, the message, the message.
Alert: What we can learn from the dogs
Sunday, August 1, 2004
Politics
Today I've been reading about an impending alert coming from Homeland Security. To me, it seems that we are going about this all wrong.
During World War II, the Allies broke the German High Command and Japanese secret codes. The fact that these codes were broken was among the most protected of all state secrets. Having your enemy know you are listening into your communications is one thing, letting them know you understand is very different indeed.
So where does that lead us? We listen into a massive amount of communication traffic every day.We spin it through our computer systems, and hopefully connect the dots to what our enemies are planning. So far so good. Then we put out an announcement that we are about to be attacked with some broad statement about targets.
The threat level is changed to another color; state and local resources are mobilized across the country. The citizenry begins to notice police and national guard around major landmarks but, mostly, nothing happens. Despite imploring everyone to be on the lookout, we have succeeded in making everything look normal. We even urge the citizenry to go about their normal business.
A few things come to mind from our current course of action. First, why are we telling the bad guys what we know? If we are being truthful with our warning statements, then we are helping the bad guys by cautioning them to be more careful or clever with their coded messages. Perhaps we are even suggesting a target shift.
If we are trying to fake them out by putting out false public alerts then we are misleading the public. That might be okay, but we always seem to be asking people to be extra alert. This feels kind of like the school kids who are always tapping someone on the opposite shoulder and then laughing when the person turns to find nothing there.
Even those extra alert citizens looking under rocks for the enemy are now looking in all the wrong places. Besides, as we said, do you or your friends step up your vigilance every time an alert is announced? I surely don't know of anyone.
Then there is the issue of nationwide alerts. The alert is issued, and state and local officials swing into action from Podunk to New York, from Backwater Springs to San Francisco. Is our threat analysis so gross that we can't narrow down the threat and hence the related costs?
One of the big complaints about the current approach to homeland security is that most of the costs are borne by states and local governments. In these times, neither seems flush with the financial resources to provide extra security without impacting other local services. The apportioning of federal funds seems to view all areas as being equals. Nice to know they read the Declaration of Independence. However, here, equal should be applied to real threat possibilities not all locales across the country.
So we now reach a third point, and an opportunity for improving our response. It's time to go back to school and learn a little from the social scientists. Remember Pavlov and his dogs? You probably do, but you might not remember one of the conclusions. Random reinforcement is more effective than constant reinforcement. Going back to school days, the threat of a "pop-quiz" did more to keep students up-to-date on their schoolwork than simply announcing the test dates in advance. In the latter case, you could blow off your studying and cram for a test. In the former case, you never knew when the quiz was coming, and so you tried to keep up with the work so as not to get caught.
Our current threat situation matches the school situation quite well. We don't know when there might be an attack, so we should continue to prepare — read pop-quiz. The other choice is to respond to an attack, hardly what we want to do.
However, this statement is at least one layer too shallow. What we should be doing is conducting selective, random increases in security to targeted locations. Some of these security escalations should be directed at protecting "real" targets, others at targets that are worthy of protection but perhaps not at risk. The advantage of this approach is that we confuse our enemies. Our enemies response might be, gee, they are protecting the statue in central Podunk, our messages have not been compromised. Oops, the Backwater Springs water system is under around the clock security. They have uncovered our plans, we better shift to another target.
Randomly changing our security targets requires fewer resources. It also gives us laboratories to develop our techniques for providing security. Secondly, this approach better hides what we know and what we don't know. Finally, if we do protect the right target, we potentially force a change in plans, and what we do know is these attacks are planning intensive.
—
Update: The new alert is selective but it cites the target and our intelligence. No real lesson learned quite yet. I hate to say it again, the world is not black and white. We need an approach that can discern the differences in shades of grey. Remember, "they" are hiding in the shadows.
One Year On
Thursday, July 1, 2004
Personal
A quick update on the last year since I haven't been posting much personal stuff to the blog. Today I celebrate my first year in retirement. The year itself has been more interesting than I might have imagined. Early on, I was very busy with a long term consulting project that suddenly came to a halt due to an external event directed at the contracting company. We mutually agreed to terminate our arrangement though in hind site there was no need to take such an action.
Shortly thereafter, I began work on a significant website redesign project which continues to this day. The transformation is significant, and the results are gratifying. Still more to do, but we are over the hump.
Late in the year I became co-editor of eLearning Dialogue, and online newsletter published by Syllabus Magazine. Really co-editor is not technically correct, but along with Steve Acker of Ohio State University we are responsible for the primary content, editor technically belongs to permanent Syllabus staff.
Next on the plate is a book chapter with a colleague from MIT, Phil Long. Don't know if it is appropriate to cite the book title yet, but our work is nearly done.
Two final activities focus on mentoring relationships. I continue to counsel high school students about the college admission process. Very gratifying and rewarding. Finally at the end of June I spent the week as a business advisor for Youth Business week. This involved working with 8 high school students in an immersive, simulation filled week-long long program. I think the student really gained a great insight into the world of business. It was really great to be along for the ride and to see their growth.
Add in a few additional consulting project not cited above, and time to goof off a bit, and you can see how quickly a year can pass.
One Way Vision
Tuesday, June 15, 2004
Politics
It was Richard Nixon who campaigned his way to the presidency with a "secret plan to end the war." It took more than a few years for the secret plan to work its way out. Along the way it certainly wasn't clear that any plan was being followed. Oh well, it's just past history.
The Bush/Cheney administration has taken the concept of secrecy to a new level over the last four years. Take for example the administration's Energy Task Force, conceived in secrecy and dedicated to the proposition that if you aren't a member of the club, you don't have anything to say anyway. Sounds pretty secret to me. Then there is the link, most notably espoused by Mr. Cheney, Al-Qaeda, 9/11 and Iraq. When the 911 Commission reported a failure to uncover such a link, Mr. Cheney continued to espouse the link. The 9/11 Commission implored the administration to provide evidence, but none was provided. It was easier for Mr. Cheney to assert the link without evidence. I guess its just a secret we cannot be trusted with. Add the failure to uncover weapons of mass destruction, and a host of unclear objectives in the prosecution of the war, we as a citizenry are not to be trusted with anything more than the "fog of secrecy."
Since we are not privy to looking from the outside in, how about from the inside out. A recent Salon article citied a Wall Street Journal report on Haliburton's contracts with Iraq. Remember Mr. Cheney denied any contact with Iraq during his tenure as CEO of Haliburton. Furthermore he decries the pre-war contacts of others with this axis of evil, yet his company had significant contracts with Saddam's Iraq. Seems to me that this is hiding behind the mirror so to speak. Recent Pentagon emails also infer a strong link to Mr. Cheney's office in the awarding on non-bid contracts to Haliburton as well.
It seems that attacking others for their ignorance of the facts, however hidden they might be, is mightier than self-reflection in the light of revealed documented information. One way vision is the next step in the ever advancing world of secrecy.
Living in the Bush
Wednesday, March 17, 2004
Politics
It’s different living in the bush. Your territory is unbounded. In every direction it is your world; there is no other world but yours. In this bush world, the chief is the supreme ruler. His rule is law, his perceptions are your perceptions; he shares his world with you through his generosity. It is good living in the bush.
The chief is not alone in ruling this bush world. He is guided by the medicine man, a person so powerful that his word cannot be doubted. The medicine man interprets the bush world in strange and mysterious ways. Only he can see with so much vision, and only he can interpret the mysteries of the bush. The medicine man rarely speaks to the people for only the chief can fully understand the medicine man. When the medicine man does speak to the people, his messages leave them quaking in awe of his vision and power.
The rules in this bush world are simple, black and white. The chief pronounces these rules as they come down from the God in heaven. God speaks to the chief and the medicine man. Sometimes the chief understands. Other times, he looks to the medicine man to interpret the message. The people do not make the rules in this bush world for they lack the insight to understand the law of the bush. Some in the tribe try to hear God though the chief tells them that he and the medicine man are the only tribal members with a clear channel to God. However, some of the tribe listens for God in their own way. Other tribal members only listen to their hearts.
All is good in the bush or so it seems. If you follow the rules there are no problems. However, there are problems—problems that the chief or even the medicine man do not see. The people are starting to see that the rules of the leaders are not working. They do not make sense unless you are a chief, medicine man or true believer. Some people are troubled; they do not see the world as it has been declared. They are seeing white, grey or even colors where the leaders are seeing black. Their world is not as it once seemed. These people, fear for themselves and their tribe. The sense that they are not alone in the bush. They have seen the signs, but they have been told that the chief has spoken; the medicine man has spoken. They are afraid.
It’s difficult living in the bush. Sometimes it doesn't make sense. How do you survive living in this world?
I can see somewhat clearly now…
Thursday, September 4, 2003
Personal
A visit to the doctor produced some good news. I am now seeing well enough to resume driving and normal day-to-day activities. This is a welcome relief from being chauffeured around, taking it easy, and limiting my reading and general use of even my good eye.
Today, for the first time in two weeks, the patch is off, and the vision while not up to past standards, nonetheless, is adequate for looking around, driving and such. The doctor is pleased with the progress, and hopefully using the eye will lead to slow, but steady improvement.
Next Thursday I return for another follow-up visit. If things continue to progress as they have, my vision will not be any impairment to normal activities. For now, besides driving, I can read, work more extensively and generally resume more normal activities.
A break from the news on my eye
Tuesday, September 2, 2003
Personal
Despite my medical condition, today I testified via video conference in a patent trail. My testimony is straight forward in that it describes an online application system for college admission that pre-dates the patent filing of a company.
What I described was fully operational in 1996 and the patent filing was in 1997. I am not a party to this suit, but it is clear to me that many of the features were implemented earlier than the claimed innovations.
Eye'm Not Sure
Monday, August 18, 2003
Personal
Last December I started seeing floaters in-front of my eyes. This was the second time this had happened. The last time my doctor chalked it up to a form of migraine headache without the usually associated pain. This time, however, the floaters simply did not go away.
A call to the doctor produced an appointment with the opthemologist, who after a quick check of my eye informed me to quickly drive to the Retinal surgeon making sure I avoided any potholes on the way!
The short version of this part of the episode was that I had a rare disease for someone my age called Coat's Disease and I immediately had laser surgery to fix the problem.
Nearly eight months had passed and all checkups had been clean since that day in December when in three and a half hours I had gone from initial diagnosis to laser surgery.
Today, however, the diagnosis was not good. The prior repair is leaking and this ultimately may impact my vision via a detached retina. I am tying up a few urgent matters before calling the doctor back to finalize our strategy moving forward.
Keeping my fingers crossed.
Groking Tinderbox
Friday, August 8, 2003
Technology
I've been using Tinderbox to write this weblog for a while. At the same time I tried using Tinderbox for some of my other brainstorming and project management activities.
Up to now, however, I wasn't really using it. Maybe it was because I was busy, or lazy, or because Tinderbox has so many hidden features, and I didn't take the time to really learn it. Anyway, the release of Tinderbox 2 was a great excuse to start afresh. All I can say is WOW.
I started with a old/new approach to my paper filing system based on the nMemodex system developed by Robert Gordon years ago. In a nutshell, I picked up a random piece of paper in my mess and titled it, added attributes for Source and Topic and added an automatically generated sequence Identifier. Adding a quick summary ends the first part of the process.
Documents are then simply filed in Identifier order in a series of folders. The beauty of this is I don't need to think about where to file a document e.g. Topic A or Topic B. Rather I simply note both topics in the attribute.
Need to find a document, Tinderbox's search finds nearly everything with a few key strokes. Creating a few agents organizes information in more traditional file folder form. When a topic becomes significant enough to move from a virtual folder to a physical folder, it only takes a few moments to pull things together. Since every document has an Identifier in the order received, the order within the folder is easily established.
With this project behind me, I returned to some of my earlier Tinderbox files, brainstorms and a project or two. In no time I jumped the curve to tapping the power of Tinderbox and now, it is always running along with a few key documents.
Retired
Monday, June 30, 2003
Personal
Today is my last day as a California State University employee. The budget situation in California brings to an end over thirty-five years of CSU employement. I can't really complain too much. After leaving Sonoma State University in 1998, I continued on the payroll working on two important projects, the IMS Global Learning Consortium and CaliforniaColleges.edu. Both of these activities were rewarding and a much need change of pace from my work as Associate Vice President for Enrollment Services.
To all my friends still trying to survive the budget mess, good luck and keep in touch.
Sorry but ...
Monday, June 16, 2003
Politics
When I started this weblog, I really thought I would be focusing on the world of technology. Much of my background is in this area, and certainly I spend much of my day in this arena.
The problem is that I am equally confronted by the Bush administration and the incredible distortions of logical thinking it produces. Today I read that President Bush is attacking "revisionist historians" for their interpretations of the history of the Iraqi war. If you read my piece, Governing from 30,000 Feet, you already know I find the logic underlying this administration suspect. When I see Bush continue to assert the Saddam Hussein as a direct threat to the United States, I wonder how many more distortions we can be fed before we have enough.
One need only review history with a capital H. It was the United States and many of the key figures in this administration who supported Saddam in the 80's. It is the father of this president who called off the first war without resolution, and more importantly structured a half-assed end of that war. Saddam is a truly evil person, one of many in the world. We did not need to fabricate a series of assertions to prove this point. I am tired of being fed the warped constructs of this administration. If I question them, I am unpatriotic, and incapable of understanding the threat to the United States. When members of this administration are caught in fabrications or unjustified policies, the last thing on their mind is an apology.
In the end, I am capable of understanding potential threats especially if I am not subjected to extensive government sanctioned misinformation. More importantly, I have little confidence that Bush and company are suited to the task looking out for my best interests because they have become a threat unto themselves.
Carefully look at the assertions from Washington. They are worthy of your careful attention, analysis and skepticism.
Jobs After College
Saturday, June 7, 2003
Politics
Yesterday my son and I were driving to my nephew's graduation. As it happens, the traffic was heavy and the drive took about two hours. During the drive, we listened to two features on the job market for college graduates.
Now I have been acutely aware of this situation since my daughter graduated from college in May. We have been seen the numerous articles, political cartoons and commentaries on the topic since about March. No matter what measurement we use, the fact remains that the job market stinks. A Business School Dean on the News Hour last night asked the newly minted business graduates and MBA student to rate the job market from Yippee to Groan. Nothing but a large groan was the response.
Similarly, on Marketplace the message was clear — this is an economy with no jobs for the graduating class of 2003, in fact no new jobs period. I asked my daughter how many of her close college friends have a job lined up. Less than 10% of a sample of about 50 students.
Given the cost of higher education, six months from now, when the loan repayment begins for so many students, it is going to be a scary situation. Getting a minimum wage job after college is not going to pay the bills.
On the home front, we are fortunate. My daughter has a job, a good one in her field of study. She even had prospects for one or two other jobs. Her competition for her new job included about 500+ applicants. Hopefully, this job will carry her forward to graduate school and more jobs in the future. For now, however, we are thankful every day for our daughter being the exception to a very bleak rule.
Governing from 30,000 feet
Saturday, June 7, 2003
Politics
As George Bush left the middle east peace summit, Air Force One was routed over Baghdad for a presidential viewing. It struck me that this is the way the Bush administration approaches governing, from 30,000 feet, where only the larger objects are seen, and the details fade into the landscape. It is not easy from this height to see the unintended consequences, the missed targets, the situation on the ground that must be contended with on the basis of reality rather than as a idealized expectation.
If you look at the policies of this administration, and the approaches that are taken, broad brush strokes are the rule. Issues are black and white. If you don't like the intelligence, then shift the analysis to people who believe as you do.
Take some time to think about what is happening to you personally. To paraphrase a famous political ad, ironically from the Reagan campaign, are you better off now than you were x years ago. You fill in the x. You have tax cuts, but what about your household situation. Better or worse. Are you happy with your health insurance plan, if you have one, or is it not quite as good as it was a few years ago.
Living in California, I am enduring and personally touched by the state's budget crisis. Any way you look at it, 35 billion dollars is a lot of money to bridge to balance the budget of the fifth or sixth largest economy in the world. Will it take a meltdown of this size to be seen from 30,000 feet to awaken the American public to the fact that they are not being served. In the case of California, I doubt it since California did not vote the right way in the last election. Maybe there is another large object down there that will melt down as a warning that all is not right on the ground.
We are being bombarded from the height-distored view of an administration out of touch with the real issues necessary to promote a safe, secure and prosperous America. It is time for more of us to question rather than accept the view from above.
March Madness
Monday, March 31, 2003
Politics
Its March Madness time! Here is our Scouting Report for the tournament.
Players: are capable and well trained. Clearly they have the most talent in the tournament.
Coaches: are experienced and knowledgeable. They have developed a sound strategy for the contest.
Admininistration: meddlesome, aloof and stubborn. They impose their view of the contest on the players and coach even during the event.
Boosters: tunnel vision, dogmatic and insistent that their view is the only possible view. These rabid boosters are truly scary.
Fans: chant the slogans provided by the boosters. Find it difficult to consider that all is not right in the contest.
Venue: a hostile arena full of twists and turns. If the contest turns ugly, it could be difficult to get the ball up court. It may be that the post game action will be the most challenging since we will be following the distorted perception of the administration and boosters.
Final Thoughts: The scouting reports for this contest don't really make much sense. The opponent, while evil, doesn't appear to be the tournament threat portrayed by the administration or boosters. Why are we considering this hanger-on opponent to be anything more than a marginal annoyance?
Conditional RSS Descriptions
Wednesday, October 30, 2002
Technology
Thanks to Mark at Eastgate, I now can add 25 word desciptions to my RSS file. The next challenge is to see if descriptions can be conditional. If I manually enter a description, then I want to use that, if not, the first 25 words of the posting will be used. It works!
Evolving the site
Tuesday, October 29, 2002
Technology
I am trying to make the Tinderbox site generate descriptions for the RSS feed. So far I am not getting the results I expect.
The Towel on Tinderbox
Monday, October 28, 2002
Technology
This is the start of my Tinderbox weblog. I am experimenting with this aspect of a very intriguing program. While I am using Tinderbox primarily for information architecture and website development, I can see all sorts of possibilities.