Wasserperson's Blog – March 2010 Archive (11)

At the moment, based on the community so far, I trust the network.

Evoke consists of an ever growing number of dedicated, passionate, well informed and well connected individuals who are demonstrating high motivation to work together and solve global and local problems in every direction.



At the moment, based on the story so far, I don't trust Alchemy.

I'm suspicious of the difference in tactics between… Continue

The old crypto-anarchist's maxim floated into my thoughts as I pondered Alchemy's request.



"Someone's playing us against ourselves, and we need to know who."



Continue

Breaking news today about the new social network from one of Facebook's founders:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jose-antonio-vargas/jumo-chris-hughes-faceboo_b_503720.html



It's not open yet, but Chris Hughes has apparently designed his new venture, www.jumo.com , as a way to use the best practices of social networking to connect people for civic… Continue

We're moving very fast, and either I've lost the plot, or it's left me behind...



Why were we in Rio in the first place?

Edit: Six months of power failures, riots over oil in the favelas; thanks Cian!



I grant you, it's a great laboratory for some of our more innovative solutions.

Is that what Evoke is about? Finding… Continue

My broad theory at the moment:

Citizen X is us, whenever we act as information repeaters instead of as responders.



The Evoke network is about using information and connections to organize intelligent, effective responses to crises.



Citizen X is about exploiting access to information for (anonymous) glory.



From this week's episode, it appears that:

1. The Citizen X community is interested in any information that others might value--celebrity gossip, credit card… Continue

1. Typos scattered around, including in the text of the second quest:

Who or what you really care about? Try to analyze your “big day” for at least three things it reveals about

what really motivates you. (The word DO is missing...)



2. Blocky interface--important indicators like your inbox, your pointscore, new posts, and new comments, are all scattered around in different spots, and all quite small compared… Continue

I've created a facebook group to facilitate playing the game...

What would you like to see it used for?

-Finding friends
-Collecting information
-Commenting on challenges
-?

I was surprised there wasn't one already... I haven't done much with facebook groups before, so I welcome all suggestions.

How will you use facebook to learn how to save the world?

Our network has some structural problems. Information is too scattered and fragmented. I'd almost suspect it of being intentionally alienating, if I didn't have so much faith in the architects. This is a quick note, not a complete list...



1. We can't find contacts easily





2. We can't make… Continue

An actual, plugged-into-the-wall, mono-functional, analog-only telephone. A rotary, telephone, in fact, an archaic bakelite rotary monstrosity, squatting on the kitchen counter between the bacon-grease-splattered panini grill and the stainless steel industrial strength vegetable blender, under the window looking out onto the garden, where the boys are pulling weeds and hucking dirtclods at each… Continue

I'm following Robin Beck, Organizing Director for Change.org, because:



1. I like his politics and his praxis.

2. I've shared dinners and a visit to a hot spring with him.

3. I've been meaning to learn more from him.

4. His new job involves posting to facebook.

5. His old job involved planning crimes.

6. He is involved with online outreach to communities that… Continue

Of the 33 secrets, #2 (The first #2) stood out as best and most true for me:



Don’t fight culture (If people cook by stirring their stews, they’re not going to use a solar oven, no matter what you do to market it. Make

them a better stove instead.) --Ethan… Continue