Ian Glidewell's Posts - Urgent Evoke2024-03-29T07:49:25ZIan Glidewellhttp://www.urgentevoke.com/profile/IanGlidewellhttp://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2209251585?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1http://www.urgentevoke.com/profiles/blog/feed?user=36qnvpiytjtgr&xn_auth=noLEARN2/ACT2- Empowering Youthtag:www.urgentevoke.com,2010-04-24:4871302:BlogPost:1033632010-04-24T20:52:20.000ZIan Glidewellhttp://www.urgentevoke.com/profile/IanGlidewell
I ran across something I wasn't aware of today. Something that is known as <a href="http://4-h.org/">4-H</a>. I had never heard of it in high school. If it existed where I attended school, it wasn't well communicated. Some kids and some partnering adults were standing in front of a market, selling various foodstuffs in order to raise money for their projects.<br></br><br></br>4-H educates children with a variety of extracurricular activities. This particular group was actually going to be working with…
I ran across something I wasn't aware of today. Something that is known as <a href="http://4-h.org/">4-H</a>. I had never heard of it in high school. If it existed where I attended school, it wasn't well communicated. Some kids and some partnering adults were standing in front of a market, selling various foodstuffs in order to raise money for their projects.<br/><br/>4-H educates children with a variety of extracurricular activities. This particular group was actually going to be working with farm animals(chickens and cows) as well as plant life. It reminded me of Evoke's second mission, and I wanted to see if there was anything I could do to help them along. The kids seemed eager to learn about their project, and were having fun acquiring the means to do so. I gave them 10 dollars and they gave me a grilled hot-dog and diet soda. It was more of a donation than an attempt to buy the food. <br/><br/>I wanted to do more, though. Money does help them get the education they're looking for, but there's should have been more I could do for them. I'm a proponent of the power of people and setting a good example for them by making one of them do it seemed like a good idea. <br/><br/>As I was leaving the market, they began to ask if I wanted to buy anything, only to realize I was there earlier and gave them the donation. The kids smiled, waved, and I stopped and told them something. "There's an older gentleman just up the road here, holding a sign. I didn't get a good look at the sign, but I know that standing on the corner of a street for a long time can certainly make someone very hungry and very thirsty." <br/><br/>I recognized the person on the corner as a man who had lost his job and his home. I'd had seen him before at least a week ago. He didn't ask for money. He asked for food or work. I told the kids. "Do you think you could take some food up to him? I'm sure he'd really appreciate it." Now, giving a fish to someone only feeds them for a day, but inspiring young people to do kind things for others might lead to something much more. <br/><br/><br/>IMAGINE3- Overwhelmed by the Choicetag:www.urgentevoke.com,2010-04-24:4871302:BlogPost:1033242010-04-24T19:30:00.000ZIan Glidewellhttp://www.urgentevoke.com/profile/IanGlidewell
It is December 31, 2020. New Year's Eve. I am in New York City. It is 11:00 PM, and I am being interviewed on the streets by a very excited reporter. I effortlessly answer the questions, making my family and friends proud of every syllable. I am being asked silly things, like my favorite brand of coffee. I am being asked serious things, like how we're handling a certain ongoing crisis.<br></br><br></br>Suddenly, I am met with an unforeseen challenge. Having seen so many bitter days turn into nothing…
It is December 31, 2020. New Year's Eve. I am in New York City. It is 11:00 PM, and I am being interviewed on the streets by a very excited reporter. I effortlessly answer the questions, making my family and friends proud of every syllable. I am being asked silly things, like my favorite brand of coffee. I am being asked serious things, like how we're handling a certain ongoing crisis.<br/><br/>Suddenly, I am met with an unforeseen challenge. Having seen so many bitter days turn into nothing short of man-made miracles, I choke on the question "What was the most special day of your year?" I struggle on the question. Each time I open my mouth to speak, I find myself hesitating. The insistent and cold reporter asks if I am all right.<br/><br/>I smile in defeat and admit to the nation. "I cannot say. Each day of our lives in special. It is full of opportunities unexplored. Problems unsolved. Questioned unanswered. We say that America is the land of opportunity, but the truth is that opportunity is everywhere. Every day of our lives, we take those opportunities and make advantage of them. Saving lives, improving the quality of life, bettering ourselves as a species."<br/><br/>The quirky reporter then asks. "Okay then. What was the worst day?"<br/><br/>I snap back. "This one. It's freezing out here." and then follow it with a mutter: "We really should do something about that Global Cooling problem."<br/><br/>After about 55 minutes, the ball lights up as the masses completely flooding the streets become restless. Some brilliant scientist found a way to capture energy from sound. That's right, the falling ball in New York City is powered by the power of cheer.<br/>Futility of Censorship: Information on the Internettag:www.urgentevoke.com,2010-04-24:4871302:BlogPost:1032082010-04-24T18:08:46.000ZIan Glidewellhttp://www.urgentevoke.com/profile/IanGlidewell
In simple words, censorship on the internet is futile. You cannot be a hero of the internet in the eyes of children by removing or destroying content. Period. <br></br><br></br>The internet is a font of which information flows without restraint. The only heroes of the internet are those who strive to maintain that status. To fight against it on the internet, in information's domain, is like trying to stop a flood with a bucket. Sure, you'll catch some water in the bucket. However, keep this in mind.…
In simple words, censorship on the internet is futile. You cannot be a hero of the internet in the eyes of children by removing or destroying content. Period. <br/><br/>The internet is a font of which information flows without restraint. The only heroes of the internet are those who strive to maintain that status. To fight against it on the internet, in information's domain, is like trying to stop a flood with a bucket. Sure, you'll catch some water in the bucket. However, keep this in mind. You. Will. Be. Swallowed. Whole. Where people cannot find information in one location, they will likely find it in at least a hundred others. If you're concerned about people being offended with what's on the internet, here's a tip: Keep them off of it.<br/><br/>Recently, Sarah O'Connor had some pictures removed and was banned from UEvoke. I do not disrespect whoever made the decision, or whatever reasons they may have had. This is their domain, and everything within it is under their control. They have the right to remove the information, just as a building's owner has the right to paint over graffiti on their walls. Some filtration is needed, but I do not agree with it. I do, however, realize that they control the information in this place, and in this place only.<br/><br/>I AM however, bothered by the hypocrisy. There is a call to arms for gamers to come together for common goals, and they are reprimanded for being who they are. You do not call an assembly of astrophysicists and expect them not to talk about the gravitational pull of Uranus. You do not call upon fire fighters and not expect them to talk about their hoses. If you want (internet) gamers, you will get gamers. If they cannot be accepted as who they are, then they will return to where they are accepted. <br/>ACT3- Impossible or a Matrix of Potentialtag:www.urgentevoke.com,2010-04-24:4871302:BlogPost:1029172010-04-24T13:52:12.000ZIan Glidewellhttp://www.urgentevoke.com/profile/IanGlidewell
I see the power in people. Not only do I mean that in the sense that people are capable of spectacular things, but also in a very literal sense. The human body is a marvelous machine, a construction of chemical and mechanical wonder that has been(and hopefully continue to be) in a long developmental process. <br></br><br></br>As much as I enjoy science fiction, I believe that humans should be more integrated with the technology we've developed. The world probably isn't yet ready for cyborgs, but…
I see the power in people. Not only do I mean that in the sense that people are capable of spectacular things, but also in a very literal sense. The human body is a marvelous machine, a construction of chemical and mechanical wonder that has been(and hopefully continue to be) in a long developmental process. <br/><br/>As much as I enjoy science fiction, I believe that humans should be more integrated with the technology we've developed. The world probably isn't yet ready for cyborgs, but they're ready to carry around things like iPods, cell phones, notebooks, and various other pieces of technology that enable them. But what if we could turn that around. Instead of humans being enabled by technology, allow the technology to be enabled by humans.<br/><br/>My proposition is this; 'Why not use people as power?' I don't mean by connecting them to some elaborate machine and jacking them into a virtual world(<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0133093/">Reference, if you don't get it</a>). I mean harvesting the vast amount of mechanical energy that our bodies exert naturally every day, by moving around, getting around and doing the things we do in our routine.<br/><br/>My idea is to harvest the energy exerted by our bodies as we move. It's obviously not optimal for each and every individual person, but there are very large numbers of very good candidates that gather en masse every year. Several times of year. <br/><br/>According to <a href="http://runinfinity.com/statistics/largest-marathons-in-usa">these people</a>, some of the largest marathons in 2009(in the US) were as powerful as 43,000 people, and they were just the people that finished! Now imagine a similar marathon, where 43,000 people were equipped with light-weight devices that generate power as they run. I'm working on making such a device based on the concept of magnetic induction that captures that motion.<br/><br/>I'm struggling a lot with it. I've mentioned(read: complained at myself) that I'm not very well educated. If you're reading this and have resources, or personally know something about harvesting mechanical energy on a small scale, let me know. Power production fascinates me, and I'd love an opportunity to talk to someone more learned regarding it.<br/><br/>Afterthought:<br/>One of the things I have used a lot are rechargeable batteries. My health is a personal concern of mine, so I started thinking of a way I could charge batteries and get more exercise at the same time. I did a little research and began working on a design for something like this, and then I thought big. Any thoughts on the idea would be hugely appreciated.<br/>LEARN3- And to the Ocean We Returntag:www.urgentevoke.com,2010-04-23:4871302:BlogPost:1017312010-04-23T14:00:00.000ZIan Glidewellhttp://www.urgentevoke.com/profile/IanGlidewell
Knowledge is power, but the only light bulb it can illuminate are of the metaphoric variety. Energy production is one of the largest examples of applied science, applied knowledge, and has rapidly become a concern for much of the world as we deplete our resources and endanger our environment. The struggle to secure our future in this aspect will only become a larger challenge as the technologically underdeveloped countries begin emerging in the developed world.<br></br><br></br>I was asking myself, 'If…
Knowledge is power, but the only light bulb it can illuminate are of the metaphoric variety. Energy production is one of the largest examples of applied science, applied knowledge, and has rapidly become a concern for much of the world as we deplete our resources and endanger our environment. The struggle to secure our future in this aspect will only become a larger challenge as the technologically underdeveloped countries begin emerging in the developed world.<br/><br/>I was asking myself, 'If I had to come up with a new way to produce energy, how would I do it?' The ocean holds many bounties of food, of exploration and historical
wonder. Why not energy as well? Apparently <a href="http://www.oceanpowertechnologies.com/index.htm">someone</a> beat me to the idea. The ocean grants an enormous amount of untapped mechanical energy, and the minds at Ocean Power Technologies(OPT) are taking advantage of that.<br/><br/><hr style="width: 100%; height: 2px;"/><table style="width: 700px; height: 346px;" border="0" cellspacing="0">
<tbody><tr><td valign="top" width="15"><font size="1"><br/></font></td>
<td style="font-style: italic;" valign="top" width="524"><font size="1">From the <a href="http://www.oceanpowertechnologies.com/tech.htm">Ocean Power Technologies</a> website</font><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="1">:<br/> <br/>
</font> <font size="1"><span class="text"><br/>
</span></font> <font size="2">OPT's PowerBuoy® wave generation system uses a "smart," ocean-going buoy to capture and convert wave energy into low-cost, clean electricity.</font><font size="2"><br/></font><p align="left"><font size="2"><span class="text"><br/></span></font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="2">The rising and falling of the waves off shore causes the buoy to move freely up and down. The resultant mechanical stroking is converted via a sophisticated power take-off to drive an electrical generator. The generated power is transmitted ashore via an underwater power cable.</font><font size="2"> <span class="text"><br/>
</span></font> <font size="2"><span class="text"><br/>
</span> A 10-Megawatt OPT power station would occupy only approximately 30 acres (0.125 square kilometers) of ocean space. <br/></font><font size="2"><span class="text">
<br/>
</span> Sensors on the PowerBuoy® continuously monitor the performance of the various subsystems and surrounding ocean environment.<br/>
Data is transmitted to shore in real time. In the event of very large oncoming waves, the system automatically locks-up and ceases power<br/>
production. When the wave heights return to normal, the system unlocks and recommences energy conversion and transmission of the electrical<br/>
power ashore.</font></p>
<p align="left"><font size="2"><br/></font></p>
<ul>
<li><font size="2">Buoys are spaced to maximize energy capture.</font></li>
<li><font size="2">Rugged, simple steel construction.</font></li>
<li><font size="2">Utilizes conventional mooring systems.</font></li>
<li><font size="2">Simple installation using existing marine vessels and infrastructure.</font></li>
<li><font size="2">Scalable to large power stations (100+ MW)</font> <br/>
<br/></li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br/><hr style="width: 100%; height: 2px;"/><br/>Our world is covered by an ocean that swallows roughly 71% of its surface, and a tremendous amount of our global population lives near(<a href="http://sedac.ciesin.columbia.edu/es/papers/Coastal_Zone_Pop_Method.pdf">within 100 kilometers</a>) a coast of some sort. While it may not be a global solution(there are many more people who do not have coastal access), it is a step in the right direction by being able to power some of the world's most populous cities(and nations!) with such a potent and currently largely untapped source of energy.<br/><br/>Alchemy- An Observationtag:www.urgentevoke.com,2010-04-23:4871302:BlogPost:1015302010-04-23T09:47:02.000ZIan Glidewellhttp://www.urgentevoke.com/profile/IanGlidewell
This is an interesting personality, playing the role of the enigmatic and elusive puppet master. <br></br><br></br>Alchemy is an interesting name for an individual in this position. Alchemy, once upon a time, was a set of spiritual beliefs combined with primitive chemistry that held several very outstanding goals. Of those goals was to develop what is called the panacea; an elixir of capable of ridding the imbiber of all diseases, and granting everlasting life.<br></br><br></br>This is not unlike the goals…
This is an interesting personality, playing the role of the enigmatic and elusive puppet master. <br/><br/>Alchemy is an interesting name for an individual in this position. Alchemy, once upon a time, was a set of spiritual beliefs combined with primitive chemistry that held several very outstanding goals. Of those goals was to develop what is called the panacea; an elixir of capable of ridding the imbiber of all diseases, and granting everlasting life.<br/><br/>This is not unlike the goals held by Evoke's Alchemy. He seeks to be the catalyst of a global panacea. A grand remedy to the troubles that plague our world. Enshrouded by a veil of mystery and a pair of really cool sun glasses, he guides his agents to their missions in confidence. But where does this confidence come from?<br/><br/>Another goal of the Alchemy of old was the transformation of various mundane metals into gold(or silver). This was fueled by greed, but there is a certain sense of selflessness to Evoke's Alchemy. Instead of metal, he works with mundane people, turning them into extraordinary innovators using the skills they already possess, and by partnering them with an entire network of other agents possessing a plethora of other abilities.<br/><br/>Alchemy, such a fitting name for an empower-er of people.<br/><br/><br/><br/>IMAGINE2- 2020? I'm planning for 2022.tag:www.urgentevoke.com,2010-04-23:4871302:BlogPost:1014442010-04-23T07:03:53.000ZIan Glidewellhttp://www.urgentevoke.com/profile/IanGlidewell
I'd be happy to not be eating people at that point, and probably campaigning against it. Bonus points if you can connect the title and that sentence into my reference, post a comment below if you do.<br></br><br></br>I'd be eating for a healthier America. In simple words: I am not healthy. I am overweight for my height, out of shape for my age, and probably on the verge of developing a chronic disease. This is not an easy question for me to answer, however hypothetical it may be. To answer the question…
I'd be happy to not be eating people at that point, and probably campaigning against it. Bonus points if you can connect the title and that sentence into my reference, post a comment below if you do.<br/><br/>I'd be eating for a healthier America. In simple words: I am not healthy. I am overweight for my height, out of shape for my age, and probably on the verge of developing a chronic disease. This is not an easy question for me to answer, however hypothetical it may be. To answer the question in a very non-specific way: Something healthier
than what I'm eating now. I do not know what I should eat.<br/><br/>I find myself a hypocrite. An entire ocean of information, I have not found(note 'have not found', not 'can not find') a minute's worth of information in regards to this. I believe that the internet is our access to all of the world's shared knowledge. Yet something that should be very important to me remains a gray subject.<br/><br/>Some of the <a href="http://apps.who.int/bmi/index.jsp">healthiest nations</a> have a very different diet than we do(Go Go Power of the Obvious!) Considering <a href="http://www.geohive.com/earth/population1.aspx">their size</a>, that is no small feat. Japan(Who we'll be helping out the same year as this meal) has a national diet composed mostly of <a href="http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/diets-of-world-japanese-diet">seafood, rice and vegetables</a>. While Japan obviously has exposure to the western diet, I wonder what it is that reinforces their citizens to maintain their own cuisine?<br/><br/>When I look for a meal, I look for the satisfaction it gives me to eat it. It varies on what I'm craving, but a satisfying meal, to me, is something that is filling and tastes good. I'm reasonably open to trying new things, but of the 33 rules/tips of being a social innovator, one of them(paraphrasing here) stated that you should not, or can not, force cultural change. While I am a believer that America is a great melting pot, I don't think 'changing to the Japanese diet' is a step in the right direction. Understanding how and why it and other works is.<br/><br/>On a related note, I heard about a book called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Food-Rules-Eaters-Michael-Pollan/dp/014311638X">Food
Rules</a> that sounded interesting. If you read it, comment below on your thoughts on it.<br/>ACT2- Necessity is A Mothertag:www.urgentevoke.com,2010-04-23:4871302:BlogPost:1013362010-04-23T04:17:56.000ZIan Glidewellhttp://www.urgentevoke.com/profile/IanGlidewell
When a challenge is presented to the masses, something stirs within us. Our long dormant survival instincts kick in, and suddenly the slothful find celerity, the causeless gain purpose, and the uninspired discover a foreign and peculiar muse. It rallies people together; forces people to replace boundaries with bonds, both social and intellectual, that might not have ever occurred otherwise. Our endeavors are the fire in which unity and wonders are forged.<br></br><br></br>There is irony in this.…
When a challenge is presented to the masses, something stirs within us. Our long dormant survival instincts kick in, and suddenly the slothful find celerity, the causeless gain purpose, and the uninspired discover a foreign and peculiar muse. It rallies people together; forces people to replace boundaries with bonds, both social and intellectual, that might not have ever occurred otherwise. Our endeavors are the fire in which unity and wonders are forged.<br/><br/>There is irony in this. Without these challenges, we would eventually lose sight of what we once were capable of. Connections and personal discoveries we make become brittle in a perfect world. Our survival instincts return to dormancy, and we eventually become complacent with our daily routine. We, in time, lose ourselves.<br/><br/>Thankfully, we don't live in a perfect world. As backwards as it might be to say, the problems of today are themselves solutions to others. Our world doesn't need to be perfect, but it needs to be better. Necessity is not only the mother of invention, she also bore children named union and revelation(personal and global; they're twins.)<br/><br/>As to the actual point of this mission, I'm supposed to be increasing someone's food security. I'm happy just to have thumbs, they're not green, but they work. They make turning doorknobs and spacing significantly easier. I used my thumbs along with the help of a few other digits and drew up a design sketch for something I call a Portable Agricultural Nursery(PAN, for short). <br/><br/>The purpose of this PAN is to grant mission groups(Educators mostly) an inexpensive and travel-friendly way to provide a basic, temporary source of agriculture. The primary idea behind it was to teach younger, under privileged audiences garden keeping, but it also would have practical application abroad, especially in situations where the land is particularly arid/flooded, or plant disease demands a quick agricultural isolation.<br/><br/><br/>LEARN2- Unexpectedtag:www.urgentevoke.com,2010-04-22:4871302:BlogPost:1003502010-04-22T12:42:01.000ZIan Glidewellhttp://www.urgentevoke.com/profile/IanGlidewell
I must admit, when I saw this mission, I was a little skeptical of my ability to find much in the way of hunger locally. Delaware is a fairly well off state, or at least I thought. Turns out I was wrong, although it's definitely no where near as severe as some countries in Africa. It almost seems petty to mention our issues in the face of such a larger problem elsewhere.<br></br><br></br>I actually found <a href="http://www.udel.edu/udaily/2010/apr/foodbank040710.html">this link</a> while investigating…
I must admit, when I saw this mission, I was a little skeptical of my ability to find much in the way of hunger locally. Delaware is a fairly well off state, or at least I thought. Turns out I was wrong, although it's definitely no where near as severe as some countries in Africa. It almost seems petty to mention our issues in the face of such a larger problem elsewhere.<br/><br/>I actually found <a href="http://www.udel.edu/udaily/2010/apr/foodbank040710.html">this link</a> while investigating local hunger issues.(Go go Google: Delaware State Hunger), and it's recent to boot. Apparently there was a fund and food drive hosted by CANR(College of Agriculture and Natural Resources) and the Delaware Food Bank. Apparently it was successful, and they're calling it a 'Mission Complete' of sorts, and following up later with a lecture on how to get fresh produce cheaper, May 10-11. <br/><br/>One of the bits of the article that actually struck me when I read it was this;<br/><br style="font-style: italic;"/><hr style="width: 100%; height: 2px; font-style: italic;"/><span style="font-style: italic;">"The four graduate students who worked on this project persevered despite numerous setbacks in obtaining usable data. Their reward is knowing
that their work will make a difference."</span><br/><div style="text-align: left;"><hr style="width: 100%; height: 2px;"/><br/>Four graduates helped push this through? Their research identified the needs based on geographical region in Delaware. From a World of Warcraft standpoint(Yes, that's my super secret origins. Don't tell anyone, okay?) that's not even a full group for a dungeon. I wonder what a guild's worth of people could do.<br/></div>IMAGINE1- Wait, We're Making It Pass 2012?tag:www.urgentevoke.com,2010-04-22:4871302:BlogPost:1003052010-04-22T11:30:00.000ZIan Glidewellhttp://www.urgentevoke.com/profile/IanGlidewell
As the quirky title might suggest, I'm not normally one who thinks too<br></br>
far into the future. 1-2 years is still a long time for me. Doesn't<br></br>
hurt to try, though. Here goes.<br></br>
<br></br>
In 2020, I see myself staring down at the world from my Intergalatic<br></br>
Space Extreme Explorer(We'll call it ISEE, and make jokes about getting them in convenience stores), being thanked via<br></br>
video satellite up-link by two potential American presidential elects for saving the Earth from an impending…
As the quirky title might suggest, I'm not normally one who thinks too<br/>
far into the future. 1-2 years is still a long time for me. Doesn't<br/>
hurt to try, though. Here goes.<br/>
<br/>
In 2020, I see myself staring down at the world from my Intergalatic<br/>
Space Extreme Explorer(We'll call it ISEE, and make jokes about getting them in convenience stores), being thanked via<br/>
video satellite up-link by two potential American presidential elects for saving the Earth from an impending comet collision and being asked for personal support of their party. Alchemy will call, I'll put them both on hold and answer with 'Word.' Incidentally, I'll be able to time travel in my space-car to a time where that greeting was actually in style.<br/><br/>Okay. Maybe that's a little too literal.<br/><br/>In 2020, space cars would be nice, but I think I'd be happy to to be in school. Yes, I've already graduated high school, but I'm passionate about things I don't understand now, and I hope that is one thing that won't change. Physics, chemistry, biology, sociology, engineering, astronomy . Even if I started this year, I think I'd be okay with expanding my knowledge in school for 10 years, although I severely doubt I will be for that entire duration.<br/><br/>I'd like to have published a book by then, and working on a second about one of the subjects I've studied, and its practical although misunderstood application in our world(probably chemistry). The first book would probably be a science fiction novel that will become eerily close to reality in 2120. I'll also be working on projects to globalize technologies we already take advantage of while preserving the wonder of the world our ancestors carved. <br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold;">No.</span> I'm not endorsing an encased escalator to the top of Mt. Everest; you want to see it yourself, go climb it. <br/><br/>When the Food Crisis hits Tokyo, I'll abstain from giant monster jokes and be the guy who identifies the root of the issue, although not necessarily the person who solves the problem. I'll probably be the person who genetically re-engineers the rice plants so that they produce different flavors and colors of rice. It won't widely be accepted until 2060, when a disease that causes color-blindness strikes Eastern Asia and the Western Americas.<br/><br/>I'll also hope to have a cool agent name by then. Any suggestions?<br/>ACT1- Can You Follow The Fallen?tag:www.urgentevoke.com,2010-04-22:4871302:BlogPost:1002622010-04-22T10:00:00.000ZIan Glidewellhttp://www.urgentevoke.com/profile/IanGlidewell
There's someone who inspires me, but I'm afraid he's no longer alive. He was a man that I would have sought out in person, would have asked to shake his hand and thank him for opening so many eyes to our world. He taught me and many others how obscure our world is, how insignificant our quarrels. How important our responsibility to be kind and help one another. He helped educate and inspire large communities, and was recognized for it.<br></br><br></br>One of the things I like about this individual is…
There's someone who inspires me, but I'm afraid he's no longer alive. He was a man that I would have sought out in person, would have asked to shake his hand and thank him for opening so many eyes to our world. He taught me and many others how obscure our world is, how insignificant our quarrels. How important our responsibility to be kind and help one another. He helped educate and inspire large communities, and was recognized for it.<br/><br/>One of the things I like about this individual is that he had a remarkable charisma. I feel that there are very few people who could blend science with poetry the way he could. This ability of his captivated millions and imparted humility, understanding, and a thirst for the unknown.<br/><br/>I cannot say that I don't admire others for their work. There is satisfaction to be found in hard labor, that work needs to be done, and the people that do it are nothing short of heroes. But the power to educate and inspire others ironically inspires me. I only wish I had something beyond my own creativity to give to others.<br/><br/><font style="font-style: italic;" size="1">Edit in:</font> I suppose I'll have to use my powers of creativity and innovation skills to come up with a way to shadow a dead man. For now, I'll settle on reading(the rest of) his books. There is nothing that says I cannot have more than one source of inspiration. I'll strive to be like him, but I'll keep my eyes open for another charismatic opener-of-eyes.<br/><br/>I might have to look for another source of inspiration for my mission. But for now, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pfwY2TNehw">Carl Sagan</a> is the man that inspires me.<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>Exceptional People are an Exceptional Resourcetag:www.urgentevoke.com,2010-04-22:4871302:BlogPost:1001842010-04-22T09:00:00.000ZIan Glidewellhttp://www.urgentevoke.com/profile/IanGlidewell
<span><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">I find this rule important and have deemed it my favorite among those in the first mission. People are always our most potent and flexible resource. Other resources, and frequently a lack of them, merely provide opportunity for people to become more than they are. Investing in the empowerment of people within the community causes ripples in their future. Ripples that turn into waves.<br></br><br></br>There's a saying that goes along with this, something…</span></strong></span>
<span><strong><span style="font-weight: normal;">I find this rule important and have deemed it my favorite among those in the first mission. People are always our most potent and flexible resource. Other resources, and frequently a lack of them, merely provide opportunity for people to become more than they are. Investing in the empowerment of people within the community causes ripples in their future. Ripples that turn into waves.<br/><br/>There's a saying that goes along with this, something to the tune of 'Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and feed him for life.' This saying goes far beyond feeding that man. That man in turn could pass his knowledge to his descendants, or perhaps builds upon what he already knows. Human beings have a knack for creating abstractions that change their world; A fishing pole turns into a fishing net. A fishing net turns into a fish market.<br/><br/>In the end, whether you're teaching the hungry to fish or teaching the fed to educate others, knowledge is infinitely renewable and people are an exceptional resource.<br/></span><br/><br/></strong></span><hr style="width: 100%; height: 2px;"/><span><strong><br/><span style="font-style: italic;">Provide skills, not just finished technologies.</span></strong><span style="font-style: italic;">The current revolution in design for developing countries is the notion of co-creation, of teaching the skills necessary to create the solution,</span><br style="font-style: italic;"/><span style="font-style: italic;">rather than simply providing the solution. By involving the community</span><br style="font-style: italic;"/><span style="font-style: italic;">throughout the design process, you can help equip people to innovate and</span><br style="font-style: italic;"/><span style="font-style: italic;">contribute to the evolution of the product. Furthermore, they acquire</span><br style="font-style: italic;"/><span style="font-style: italic;">the skills needed to create solutions to a much wider variety of</span><br style="font-style: italic;"/><span style="font-style: italic;">problems. They are empowered.</span><br style="font-style: italic;"/><br/></span><hr style="width: 100%; height: 2px;"/><span><br/></span>