Tuesday, July 29, 2008

The conception




This is actually in no way affiliated with the company that does this. I just borrowed the image because it was the most pertinent with what I was looking for. But I would like to give credit where it is due and add a link to their site: http://www.e3resources.org/Detail.aspx?id=7 although I myself am in no way affiliated with any sort of religion like that. But when you see where I'm about to go with this perhaps it could be thought of as a fortuitous sign.



What's this about?

Somebody asked me recently what kind of activism do I do. Well mostly its been social justice kind of stuff, but I suppose I could just call it Black Lib and community development (BLCD) stuff outside of the RC group [I just like the terminology as a stamp for what I do because it is such an accurate depiction]. But the thought occurred to me that perhaps I could try to pioneer a E^3 movement that focuses upon the Environmental, Economic and Equitable Sustainability of not just my people, but of concerned liberation activists within the American or online community. Mostly it's a better way for me to tie in my work with some of the other things that I advocate for and be able to participate in and still be able to do my clean tech work. Sort of an umbrella advocacy group for those who want to manage their time a little better.



It occurred to me that the best way to manage something like what I'm envisioning here is to make E^3 and umbrella group for some of the other support and advocacy groups that I want to be a part of [ie women's lib, LBGTQ alliance, child advocacy, POC and so on and so forth]. I could organize it online and let people arrange their own cafe style meetups and then try to come with some sort of primary group that serves as an assembly of potential group leaders who I would encourage to do RC fundamentals in order to hold a seat upon the "executive council" [just so that agendas and committees can be organized and represented. We could set up a message board with various topics conerning the sustainability representation and integration of these groups in order to give people the opportunity to contribute their ideas and get a sense of where their heads are at.



The assembly itself would follow a lax parli-pro format w a designated time to allow for community input, be it with questions, comments, notifications and or grievances. Perhaps we could encourage minis before, during and after for like two minutes in the actual groups that meet just to give people an opportunity to ingest and vent some of the hard hitting material we'd be focusing upon. Then the other advocacy groups that I mentioned and whomever else cares to petition for a seat within the group could meet in committees which would be chartered and structured loosely to allow a more informal community involvement to work our some of these issues within these groups who can better understand what dynamics need to be worked out and we could even have a committee that serves as logistical support just to serve as strategists and mediators to help the groups develop definitive plans or movements to make those efforts become tangible actions and initiatives.





E-3: The three E's- [ Environmental, Economic, and Equitable Sustainability*
*(kind of like social justice to make sure that resources and access is allocated and redistributed more fairly or in a way that will allow many of the other groups to carry themselves and succeed.)

The primary agenda of the main assembly would be just to check in with reports of what's being done in these groups, what initiatives they'd like the group to support as a whole, [which we'd vote upon of course] and if the E^3 movement gains enough popularity and credibility, we could have conferences and workshops. What I'd really like to see is some of the advocacy groups to start and take a life of their own and establish their own networks of forums and support groups. Ideally a subgroup might even try to seceed and efforts will be made to mediate and reconcile with some of the more marginalized groups who will finally find their own voice. As quoted from the movie Pineapple Express (is that what it's called?... the one that uses MIA's Paperplanes in the trailer?)... "This could be the apex of the vortex of the future" or something like that. I was honestly half asleep when I heard that...

But seriously, that could be an awesome thing to start up. I think it would be neat to try and do a little bit of legwork on it from Berea in terms of coordinating agendas and whatnot. If there's any interest out there in E^3 sustainability it could be a pretty significant underground movement for any group that is interested in maintaining their own culture, heritage, or way of life. I just really wanted to put the post up now to get people thinking about it and start a little bit of an underground movement because I think that it is important to have someone who takes the time to consider these types of things, particularly as it relates to sustainability and social lib in this phase of our nation's development (or decline depending upon how you see the glass). If nothing else, I see it as a wonderful opportunity to step out upon the forefront while some of this obsolete bullsh*t falls away and other people are scrambling to reclaim the sh*t they were never meant to keep in the first place.

Hell if this gets organized right, people could potentially look to this group as a voice to deal with prospective issues that we can anticipate in the immediate future. The cool thing is that even if the organizers are few and far between, with the advent of social media, things could be easily worked out and developed in an online community format. It would be a wonderful dissertation into the birth of an organization and its sustainability, particularly with grassroots blitzes of social media and let's be real here... Branding... [I would love some help with that]. It would be cool to see how far and big this could get with minimal funding but if it comes down to it, maybe we can persuade some sponsors to fund a decent interactive website with E^3 message boards and something. We could totally set up the boards and topics kind of allocated by committee so that people could feel free to go from topic to topic without feeling as if they have to miss anything or have to choose between participating in different group discussions. Maybe there could be certain times when votes and what not are made, but that would cost money to get a chatroom up and going... hopefully funded by someone else, but there is plenty of potential for growth.

My primary recommendation is to let's first see who would be interested in being a part of something like this.... Those of you who know what sustainability is and what it entails I would like to really ask for your support. But this is particularly set up for anyone who is conscientious and wants to be involved enough to contribute their voice.

E^3 potential committees

Equitable Sustainability

  • Black Liberation and Community Development (BLCD)
  • Women's Lib
  • Men's Lib
  • People of Color United (POCU)
  • Child Advocacy
  • Elders
  • Developing Nations
  • LBGTQ
  • Young Adults
  • Mental Health Survivors
  • Vegetarian/ Dietary Awareness Lib
  • Accessibility
  • Oppression Theory
  • RC Fundamentals
  • Leadership
  • Burden of Intelligence
  • Educational Oppression

Economic Sustainability

  • Working Class Lib
  • Middle Class Lib/ Community Development
  • Owning Class Lib/ Community Development
  • Money Management
  • Representation of Low/No Income

Environmental Sustainability


  • Territory and Boundaries
  • Natural Sustainability
  • Urban Sustainability
  • Impact and Accountability
  • Getting Green from Going Green

Executive Committee

  • Logistics (internal [records, agendas, policy] organization)
  • Activism (Liberation and Community Development)
  • Issues (representation, initiatives )
  • Strategy (organizational support, representation)
  • Mapping Progress
  • Management (time, leadership, balance)

Special Interests

  • Art
  • Science
  • Technology
  • Education
  • Media

And so on...

This is completely flexible to add and delete groups as are needed. I just wanted to put the ideas out there for potential topics of interest to consider. I just wanted to add this group because they have some of the coolest images in artificial intelligence around right now: google image search them if you don't believe me. I liked some of their stuff better than neo surrealism.
http://www.dailygalaxy.com/

Sustainable development
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"Sustainable development is a pattern of resource use that aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but in the indefinite future. The term was used by the Brundtland Commission which coined what has become the most often-quoted definition of sustainable development as development that "meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."[1]
The field of sustainable development can be conceptually broken into three constituent parts: environmental sustainability, economic sustainability and sociopolitical sustainability..."

For more info check out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_development


Also check out one of my new favorite local artists Will Verdeja:

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=46631099

Friday, July 25, 2008

The Dawn of Man...

Right along with free will, simulacrum is one of the greatest gifts ever to be bestowed upon mankind. It is what gives us the mechanism to manifest the things to which we aspire, and gives us the enormous shoes which we feel compelled to fill.

I was looking at the clouds this morning and they were pure magic as if they were the fleck marks of some brilliant impressionists' painting. I remember Jewel or somebody alluding that God must be a painter or something to account for so much beauty in the world.

As I peered upward at the irradescent ripples forming an illuminated canopy under the sun, the thought occurred to me: "How remarkable that man was able to emulate such a beautiful representation out of something as beautiful and natural as this with only with a few dyed hues and brush strokes of paint. The real deal actually took a lot more to formulate and goes through a much more complex process than that.
The fact that something can be simulated out of two different materials (and really 3 if you can account for the picture that is formulated within the mind's eye) even if it isn't precise in it's exactitude... that alone speaks to the creative capacity of man. And that is what got me thinking about Baudrillard's Simulation and Simulacra.

A representation of a representation of something. Yet we purists often find ourselves looking down upon acts of imitation rather than celebrating the adaptation and ever evolving spirit of mind. Why shouldn't a person be able to feel one's way out until they gain the experience and inspiration to branch out on their own? It's a perfectly natural response when you're out there alone and grasping at straws to want to emulate or adapt the traits of something that appears to be working better with what is given than we are. And people are so hard on today's youth for doing what any inquisitive, inexperienced human being would do, for lack of better role models to identify with.

If anything, it should remind all of us to be much more mindful of the influences we put out there because we never know who is looking to us for inspiration. Per "Plato's allegory" someone who looks like an idiot to those more seasoned can appear as a "shining beacon" to someone who doesn't have a better understanding of the dynamics of what the person they choose to emulate struggles with. This doesn't mean that we should inhibit our ability to make mistakes and be human. It just means that when we learn and exhibit the choices we've made, or failed to make, (like correcting some of those errors) we get to be different kinds of humans -hopefully more evolved and responsible ones. There's a lot to be said for being conscientious from time to time, even if we tend to label it neurotic...

Monday, July 21, 2008

Why Cleantech?





When people ask me what I'm going to be going to school for and I tell them "Clean Tech Engineering" a lot of people often give me really dumbfounded looks and ask me what it is. I actually discovered the field by accident, in a moment of grace and serendipity, I happened to stumble upon the greatest and most significant discovery of my whole entire life. I had been on the MAPP assessment and taken numerous aptitude [both iq and career] tests and I couldn't quite find a field that I was interested in that appealed to both my inquisitve nature, my need to do something of conscientious relevance and desire to make enough money to be financially secure. I had developed quite an aversion toward going into a field that dealt with a lot of math, because I didn't really learn the fundamentals of it like I should have in school [thank you state of Georgia, ranked 49th in the nation]. But I knew that if I could work out the kinks in my miseducated development that I would do alright, so I decided to at least consider some of the more mechanical fields, because I love all things scientific and most things technological... I don't know, I supposed its just how my mind works, but with that quantum spark of creativity that takes hold of an idea or a burning question and mulls it over and can reconceptualize it in my mind in order to make sense of it. It just gets to me. The emergence of the Wachowski Brothers didn't help, as I stumbled down the rabbit hole of schizophrenic quantum mysticism. The experience was so profound and surreal it actually kind of freaked me out to the point where I wouldn't even read any science or philosophy books for a while, but now that I have been able to detach from it and find the practical applications and how they can become integrated into my pseudo-holistic lifestyle, it just feels like the perfect place for me to be in, and I am thrilled to be making that kind of investment in and with my life.




I'm surprised that clean tech is still thought of as an emerging field. True it hasn't really been indoctrinated into the mainstream, but it's getting there. I would have thought that more people would have been informed about it by now. I certainly would have liked to believe that there would have been more interest before now into the development of resources and technology that serves to the greatest benefit within our lives and the environments of other people. But oh well... More advantage for me I suppose...





So, Why did I choose clean tech? Well for one thing, I'm sick of worrying about money. Besides, what better opportunity is there for an enterprising socio-eco activist when the world is in such a state of turmoil right now. Freakin America is finally getting slapped in the face with it's first "real world" experience now as they are finding out that there are consequences that occur when you let idiots make your decisions for you. The sad thing is that most Americans still just don't have a clue and it could be years after democratic capitalism has declined before they ever get one. They've become so desensitized to mass media and political manipulation that they couldn't recognize a "dupe" if it punched them in the freaking gut. That is until that metaphorical center becomes their wallets. And then they still don't get it but like a prodigal teenager they run around looking for scapegoats to point the finger at, to blame most of the time in the name of some ideology or miseducated perception of something that they don't even have a concept of. It just makes me wonder, when are Americans going to grow up?





Then you have those who are forced to face the grueling realities at the expense of everyone else who are either too burdened by the shackles of humiliating oppression that they can't get out of the rut because they're too busy just trying to make sense of things, or you have those who have realized their capacity to see things for what the really are who either turn a blind eye because they don't want to accept the burden or they do and somehow doubt their ability to actually take the risk to stand up for themselves.






Take it from a bleeding heart liberal who has never owned a tv [although I have watched plenty of other people's] until you learn to think for yourselves your going to constantly play into the oppressive patterns and diminishing behaviors that inhibit your ability to think and grow in the manner that will enable you to make any sort of significant progression in this world. But, then again, most people are content toward working to maintain the status quo of a system designed for obsoletion from the get go. Democracy isn't what it was back in the late 1700s because it includes so many other kinds of people. One would think that Americans would be using a time such as this to redefine and reclaim their voices and make some decisions about how this country should be run and what our expectations are to help it be able to evolve with the changing needs of our time. Instead they'd prefer to slave away filling the lining of some privileged guys' pockets and compete among each other to strip away the dignity and respect that those of us who work for a living readily deserve (but aren't getting).





But people would rather sit with their thumb up their ass rather than step up and do anything. And they'd rather keep their heads in the sands than do the painful work that is necessary of acknowleging that there is a problem and doing the grueling work of learning how to conscientiously correct it. Unfortunately without the proper support and guidance, this awakening can at times appear to be frighteneing because it is so unfamiliar with what we are used to that many often shun the path that will lead to their own growth and development. Rather take the enlightened road, they instead demonize the very attributes that it takes to get there. Those who are Disciplined become labeled as militant, and those who relish independence are perceived as dangerous, evil and corrupt. Sadly most of the time, these allegations are usually thrown out by some of some of the biggest civil liberties abusers in existence who are notorious for oppressing others with their ideologies and their propoganda. The problem intensifies when we buy into that crap and we internalize it and inflict that same bs upon each other.




Suddenly skeptics are labeled as atheists, or Godless heathens rather than courageous individuals who dared to logically think for themselves and question ideologies that are inconsistent or ideas that do not make sense. Feminists became labled as harlots, or spinsters and become the subject of paranoia and ridicule. The working woman blamed for destroying the American role rather than her subjugation explored through many of the double standards and miseducation about the significance and capacity of her ability to fill the roles that are important to her. Those who defy the oppression of heterosexism and dare to get authentically and genuinely close and develop sincere and significant bonds with other men and women are treated with indignity and targeted by homophobia or marginalized into believing that their need to be accepted and loved aren't natural or that they are weak for exploring other avenues and relationships outside of the institution of marriage. Environmentalists and vegetarians labled as flighty tree huggers as opposed to individuals who experience true reverence and joy in their life for other people and other things. It appears to be that way, that is until the blood oil turned our corn into just another form of currency and the starving nations gave out their strength for want of consideration, approval and sustenance.




Why wouldn't I choose clean tech? For me it is just another path along the path of the proven, of the necessary and of hope. It is a chance for me to let my ideas come to life, and to build opportunities that tower above the lessons learned and the bridges burned...




Plus I like building and running my own sh*t. It brings me fulfillment and when I know that I am constructing things that are improving any aspect of another person's world, I get true joy out of that...






I do it out of REVERENCE and JOY... and can honestly say that I wouldn't want to do anything else with my life.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

DNA ART

So they have this company out that does artwork based upon your dna, fingerprint and lip portraits. http://www.dna11.com/ I played around with the image generator and came up with that print, but I think they were saying it was just a demo. If they were't so ridiculously expensive I'd have one made into a tee shirt or something. The art work is exquisite, at least I think the DNA ones are. But who knows if its even an accurate representation of what our code even looks like. You have to give them credit thought. It's an ingenious way to make money.

They have some other stuff out there if you google dna art. I just was a fan in particular of this one.

Best TV Prank Ever!!!


The Office - The Office - Fax to the Future
http://www.spike.com/video/office-office-fax-to/2785798

I have been looking for this code all morning. I have to say that Dwight Schrute has to be one of the funniest tv personalities of all time. Granted I wouldn't want to be this guy, Rainn Wilson does a fantastic job with this character in reflecting the nuances and idiosyncracies of the Uber geek wicked awesome Dwight Schrute. I like him more than Kramer [pre-racist remarks] so that's saying a lot. Look, even his wiki profile is hilarious: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwight_Schrute . The comedic stylings and interactions between he, "Jim Halper" and "Michael Scott" are the perfect recipe for good clean fun. Here is his link to his nbc blog: http://blog.nbc.com/DwightsBlog/ and for the new webisodes airing starting tomorrow http://www.nbc.com/The_Office/video/#mea=270169 . I don't know how much I'll get to watch once school starts, but in the meantime this ought to get me through.

Go Schrute!!!

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Found: Acceptable Theory of Source of Ecoli/ Salmonella Fruit Contamination



So this may be a no brainer, but it's fruit fly season again, every food service proprietor's worst nightmare.




























With the increasing number of baffling outbreaks of e coli and salmonella, I thought I'd offer a pretty plausible theory that researchers have seemed to overlook. I've summed it up in this equation here:





tomatoes + x = SALMONELLA




X = FRUIT FLIES, DUH!!!
Is that clear enough for ya?
Why hasn't anybody looked into that?!!!
I mean the cheeky little SOBs are everywhere. DON'T LET THE NAME "FRUIT FLY" FOOL YA!!!
THESE THINGS GET INTO THE MEAT CASES AND ARE IN YOUR COCKTAIL LEMONS. THEY GET INTO THE BREAD CASES AND BASICALLY ANYTHING THAT HAS ANY EXPOSURE TO THE AIR. WHO WAS THAT GUY THAT DID THE EXPERIMENT THAT PROVED THAT MAGGOTS DIDN'T COME FROM MEAT? I DOUBT THIS DISCOVERY IS AS SIGNIFICANT, BUT THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THE GIST OF IT. BY THE WAY HIS NAME WAS Francesco Redi


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