I think it’s easy to loose grasp of just how large the trading of data and communications online really is today. Like it or not, the Social is here, and the video above does a pretty snazzy job of visually depicting the Internet as we know it today. Via Mashable.
Archive for the 'economy' Category
http://www.vimeo.com/9641036
Crux of the argument is a stance on our education systems that has been attracting a great deal of attention as of late. He argues that we are being educated to become good workers, rather than creative thinkers. Whereas this isn’t groundbreaking (rather Pink Floydian) it’s great to see this being accepted by the mainstream in today’s age of globalization. After all, one way to differentiate is to supplant the West as thought leaders, instead of witnessing it’s erosion. Don’t get me started on failures to protect domestic IP…..Via GOOD.
I love the stance Barry takes: Economic affluence and increased effectiveness of marketing over the past few decades has resulted in the proliferation of choice for almost every good and service today. Branding, umbrella organizations and conglomerates taking advantage of supply chain efficiencies due to component and ingredient overlaps have resulted in Brand proliferation. So, what does that boil down to? Something I thought that only my wife and I felt: Too much choice overwhelms, and you can read about it in his book, Paradox of Choice.
Now we have ridiculous cereal aisles and a dizzying array of salad dressing selections. The net result of too much choice is higher expectations set across the board, which in turn leads to either Paralysis by Analysis or (arguably) Mild Depression due to increased opportunity cost. With so many choices to select from it’s possible that no matter what we choose it will seem as if we made a mistake due to the amount of other available options; even if those options were inferior. Guess what just made my 2010 reading list…..man do i hate the formatting of Ted videos, making them clumsy to embed.
Being the size of a small planet did not make the Death Star very agile now did it?
This combines my two favorite things: investigative journalism and information about the recent economic meltdown. This scary and yet informative book from New York Times writer Andrew Ross Sorkin should be on your ‘must read’ list. Highly recommend it if you want any perspective on today’s recent events.
Master Shake. 
Drunk on Inflation.
Rolling with Lincoln.
These & much more ‘Moneygami’ can be found via Funfever.
Whether it’s multi-national companies or countries spreading influence this is the way of the world as I see it on this pessimistic Tuesday. Funny stuff via MarriedToTheSea.
In need of some desktop background images or looking to create a Green-themed collage anytime soon? You may have found your one stop resource to do so here. Although I must admit I have seen images reflecting the mass amounts of cell phones that are recycled and their environmental impact it’s nice to see that someone has consolidated these images and others similar in theme onto one site.
It’s a saddening collection of images to say the least and will definitely make you pause unless you are indeed soulless when it comes to the net effects of our collective rampant consumerism and acquisition-driven nature. For example, I don’t think I am the only one guilty of sending some monitors to the curb even though they worked fine but were A) too damn heavy to move to my next apartment, or B) replacement flatscreens were just too cheap to pass up. Is this the first time I have been faced with guilt in doing so? No, but now I can see that I am far from the only person who shares this affliction.
There are cases where there is little we can do to prevent these types of scenarios due to, among other things modern Urban Planning. Having a car not only gives off Carbon Dioxide and used Motor Oil, but one does run through tires on a regular basis. Sure, I am not always worn down to the inner tube because I don’t have a deathwish but it’s not uncommon for tires to have a bit more ‘life’ on them then we are led to believe. This results in images similar to the one above, evoking inevitable Wall-E references.
The most interesting images in my opinion are, by far, the abandoned structures across the world that lay in disrepair and ruin due to poor construction, low commercial/residential demand, or overall lack of planning. These are a global issue considering they can be found scattered across Asia, Russia, and of course the United States as well. Warning: This site could easily occupy your entire afternoon and leave you in need of libation. Check out the full post here. Via Mark Ecko’s blog.