"I love that you've brought this to attention. An extensive database of uncommon but resistant and hardy plants/foods could be developed and organized by climate. Ease of growth and processing should also be taken in to account. I will try to…"
A crash course in changing the world.
Michael Simon's Blog (20)
The Future of the Evoke Network
For the next Evoke, I feel like intolerance needs to be addressed. It is the root of many of the problems we spent time studying this go-around. Racial, cultural, and religious intolerance weren't spoken of, though they should have been.
One way of broadening the spectrum for Evoke is by bringing it to schools. High school students could learn valuable lessons through these projects so preparing an outline for teachers to parallel the program would be incredible.
A tool I wish I had… Continue
One way of broadening the spectrum for Evoke is by bringing it to schools. High school students could learn valuable lessons through these projects so preparing an outline for teachers to parallel the program would be incredible.
A tool I wish I had… Continue
Added by Michael Simon on May 12, 2010 at 1:18am — No Comments
The Evoke Manifesto
- Evoke is a drive to become active, educated, and socially aware.
- The network is an outlet for anyone to learn by doing and to spread knowledge for the sake of others.
- A member is anyone willing to contribute with work and they join when they feel like they can help others while learning from new experiences.
- The agent ethics are respect and and keeping an open mind.
- The mission is to help using by what… Continue
- The network is an outlet for anyone to learn by doing and to spread knowledge for the sake of others.
- A member is anyone willing to contribute with work and they join when they feel like they can help others while learning from new experiences.
- The agent ethics are respect and and keeping an open mind.
- The mission is to help using by what… Continue
Added by Michael Simon on May 12, 2010 at 12:58am — No Comments
Secrets of Crisis Communication
I don't often give credit to journalists for all the hard work they put into the synthesis of many viewpoints, facts, opinions, and sources. But this publication made me sympathize.
Our infrastructure isn't set up for disasters - they can't be expected - but when one hits, we are always ungrateful to the media. I'm a culprit, too. I often curse at the news, asking for it to be more scientific, but this cannot be the case always. Journalists are just that: agents of communication. They… Continue
Our infrastructure isn't set up for disasters - they can't be expected - but when one hits, we are always ungrateful to the media. I'm a culprit, too. I often curse at the news, asking for it to be more scientific, but this cannot be the case always. Journalists are just that: agents of communication. They… Continue
Added by Michael Simon on May 11, 2010 at 9:39pm — No Comments
Indigenous Plant Knowledge Sought out in Kenya
In the case study entitled LOCALLY AVAILABLE
INDIGENOUS EDIBLE SPECIES OF PLANTS ENHANCE COMMUNITY HEALTH, PROVIDE
INCOME, AND CONSERVE BIODIVERSITY IN KENYA (link below) on the KIVU, I felt a strong anti-consumerist message connected to an uplifting story. In some cases, I am weary over anti-consumerism lessons as they are often bitter and irresponsible, but in this case I fundamentally agree with… Continue
INDIGENOUS EDIBLE SPECIES OF PLANTS ENHANCE COMMUNITY HEALTH, PROVIDE
INCOME, AND CONSERVE BIODIVERSITY IN KENYA (link below) on the KIVU, I felt a strong anti-consumerist message connected to an uplifting story. In some cases, I am weary over anti-consumerism lessons as they are often bitter and irresponsible, but in this case I fundamentally agree with… Continue
Added by Michael Simon on May 11, 2010 at 12:30am — No Comments
Allentown's Hidden Resilience Plan
Many people in Allentown and its surrounding area miss out on the sound infrastructure that has been built here over many years. Since the city is relatively peaceful, I focused my attention on our procedure for emergency situations.
Before going to our community websites, I was disappointed. No one seemed to have any information about the plan. They didn't even realize one existed. But as soon as I logged on, my opinion of the effort we've put into our community drastically changed.… Continue
Before going to our community websites, I was disappointed. No one seemed to have any information about the plan. They didn't even realize one existed. But as soon as I logged on, my opinion of the effort we've put into our community drastically changed.… Continue
Added by Michael Simon on May 10, 2010 at 10:26pm — No Comments
Using Ushahihi for Flooding in a Valley
In a relatively peaceful inland valley, emergencies like flash flooding can be especially tolling. Dispersing information has to be quick, accurate, and effective or lives may be in danger from a preventable accident. Our local news stations cover very large, multi-city areas and cannot specify when floods happen in certain intersections or trees block individual streets. This is why the Ushahini network would be so helpful in these situations. It empowers to individual and gives all the… Continue
Added by Michael Simon on May 10, 2010 at 6:32am — No Comments
Women of Kosovo Empowered through an Education
The women of the now-independently-governed country of Kosovo have to thank the philanthropists of 2010 for all of their donations to the cause of women empowerment through education. Only knowing that their money would go to educating women about business, religion, and racial tolerance, these angels humbly gave their savings to a worthy cause. The implications of these investments towards the betterment of women are obvious now.
Since the voice of women had been stifled for hundreds of… Continue
Since the voice of women had been stifled for hundreds of… Continue
Added by Michael Simon on May 10, 2010 at 5:23am — No Comments
The Bigger Story in the 50th Anniversary of the Pill
In the past 50 years since oral contraceptive pills were approved in the US, the benefits have been mounting and the impact only growing. The article at the UNFPA goes far to prove that http://www.unfpa.org/public/cache/offonce/news/pid/5552;jsessionid=A0E818FFD7D166D41C1208D639BD1D38. But then why is contraceptive morality an ever debated topic? The answer is obvious and daunting:… Continue
Added by Michael Simon on May 10, 2010 at 4:41am — No Comments
Making a Moneyless Design Contract
Right after reading this challenge, I received a request from a musician buddy's record label to design a new ep album cover. When complete, the album would be given away for free in downloadable form on a major music blog, giving me major exposure. The catch was that since it isn't being sold, the label could not finance the cover expense. It would have to be done for "free". I shook on the deal.
In two non-monetary ways, I would be paid enough. First of all, the marketing exposure of… Continue
In two non-monetary ways, I would be paid enough. First of all, the marketing exposure of… Continue
Added by Michael Simon on May 10, 2010 at 4:03am — No Comments
Smartcards Are the Future of Money
Right now, the major downfall of modern money is the fact that anyone can have it and that they spend it when they don't have it. When cash falls on the floor and is found, is lent, gets stolen, or is transferred in any way, nothing changes changes at face value. All bills look the same. There is no ID attached. When somebody wants something large and doesn't have the finances for it, they get it - no questions asked. The easiness to live beyond ones means in this system brings down wh***… Continue
Added by Michael Simon on May 10, 2010 at 3:43am — No Comments
Get Ready for World Water Day 2020
This years World Water Day will be on March, 24. Make sure you're ready for the activities!
To remind the world of the need for clean water, environmentalists from all over the world will say no to tap and bottled water. They will collect the water from their community through the month of March up until WWD and then everyone will use the it to meet their needs for the rest of the month. 7 days of cooking, bathing, washing, and drinking rain or river water brings everyone closer to… Continue
To remind the world of the need for clean water, environmentalists from all over the world will say no to tap and bottled water. They will collect the water from their community through the month of March up until WWD and then everyone will use the it to meet their needs for the rest of the month. 7 days of cooking, bathing, washing, and drinking rain or river water brings everyone closer to… Continue
Added by Michael Simon on May 8, 2010 at 7:47pm — No Comments
Michael Pritchard's water filter
As a water treatment expert, Michael Pritchard was very critical of the televised aid for the victims of the Asian tsunami and Katrina. He saw an unquestioned water treatment system push people aside for days on end. With these helpless victims in mind, Michael decided to investigate the struggle of everyone that has no access to healthy drinking water and come up with a 21st century aid method.
His thinking is based on these three principles:
- Shipping water to disaster areas is… Continue
His thinking is based on these three principles:
- Shipping water to disaster areas is… Continue
Added by Michael Simon on May 8, 2010 at 4:38am — 1 Comment
Earth Day, 2020
The Earth Day celebration in 2020 will be fun, thoughtful, and completely off the grid. Thousands of environmentalists will be invited to spend their most conscious day in a park, planting trees and enjoying their planet with an outdoor music festival where they dance to a lineup of the newest, hottest musicians.
The sun will beat down on the park the festival is held in. The solar-fabric tents they party under will generate a small part of the electricity for the festivities. But the… Continue
The sun will beat down on the park the festival is held in. The solar-fabric tents they party under will generate a small part of the electricity for the festivities. But the… Continue
Added by Michael Simon on May 7, 2010 at 8:35pm — No Comments
New power for a cellphone
Every time I plug my cell phone charger into the wall, I think that there has to be a better way. In my state, the electricity that we receive is partly coal-based and mostly non-renewable. To curb the use of fossil fuels, electricity generation is up to us.
Wind power from the air passing a moving car is a possible solution. On any drive, whether it be to a local movie theater or a bordering state to visit family, I bring my cell phone. With the small adjustment of adding a mini-fan-sized… Continue
Wind power from the air passing a moving car is a possible solution. On any drive, whether it be to a local movie theater or a bordering state to visit family, I bring my cell phone. With the small adjustment of adding a mini-fan-sized… Continue
Added by Michael Simon on May 7, 2010 at 8:17pm — No Comments
Dr. David Carroll Fnds Power in Berries
With his team at the Wake Forest University's Center for Nanotech and Molecular Materials, David Carrol, Ph. D. has made a breakthrough that will change the face of solar power forever. The researches took the red dye from the high-tolerance weed, the pokeberry, and spread it over a fiber-based photosynthetic cell. Their hypothesis was correct and absorption improved. The scale of this discovery can only be grasped if you understand the nature of the berry.
The pokeberry is a…
ContinueAdded by Michael Simon on May 7, 2010 at 7:59pm — No Comments
Dinner in 2020
For 15 minutes I went back and forth in my head - I could ride through the insta-food line and ingest a condensed salad or walk to the corner diner for a balanced meal. The choice was easy. I wasn't in the mood for internal sterilization and preservatives.
"Milk, orange juice, or water?", my waitress asks.
"OJ please, and some coffe if you have organic"
"Fair trade, organic, and tastey"
"To start out, can I have a pea soup?", I order. The waitress…
ContinueAdded by Michael Simon on May 7, 2010 at 2:43pm — No Comments
Pennsylvania's Food (In)Security
Along with 185 other ambitious countries at the World Food Summit of 1996, the US pledged to reduce its food insecurity to 6%. Plain and simple, this is their target.
Slightly less than the country's average percentage of households that face the risk of hunger (11.1%), Pennsylvania has 10% of the population in food insecurity as of 2007. This is far from the 1996 WFS goal. Of PA's 10%, 39% were children. This statistic is despicable. The recent rise in hunger has led to much speculation… Continue
Slightly less than the country's average percentage of households that face the risk of hunger (11.1%), Pennsylvania has 10% of the population in food insecurity as of 2007. This is far from the 1996 WFS goal. Of PA's 10%, 39% were children. This statistic is despicable. The recent rise in hunger has led to much speculation… Continue
Added by Michael Simon on May 7, 2010 at 4:45am — No Comments
Myself in 2020
In the year 2020, I will be presenting my ideas to the world through my breadth of insight in film, environmental science, and psychology. These are my passions and the goals is to use these to their greatest advantage: to get my voice heard. Socially informed films will be under my name by the year 2020. I will write, produce, travel, doc**ent, analyze, design, plan, and present. The ideas that I form into artistic creations will be available for all to see.
Added by Michael Simon on May 7, 2010 at 4:12am — No Comments
Professor Anil Gupta
For my innovator shadowing, I chose to follow the Indian professor Anil Gupta.Through his work with the National Innovation Foundation and his own organization, the Honey Bee Network, he scouts for and compiles innovations and proposals of people from rural parts of India.
After years or arduous doc**entation of the brilliant yet poor slum-dwellers, none had reached any extent in the marketing of their ideas. Knowing this was a broken system, the NIF created a value chain to surround the… Continue
After years or arduous doc**entation of the brilliant yet poor slum-dwellers, none had reached any extent in the marketing of their ideas. Knowing this was a broken system, the NIF created a value chain to surround the… Continue
Added by Michael Simon on May 7, 2010 at 4:05am — No Comments
Hear to Listen
Talk to the people who have the problem – and LISTEN to what they have to say. Listening is important. When people ask for a design element or a new factor, hearing them is not enough. Try implementing the ideas of others. You can only fix a problem if you understand the mindset of the people it involves. Social innovation involves people and if they're unwilling to accept the changes, they aren't to blame. Listen to them and they might give you the knowledge to set a framework - one that would… Continue
Added by Michael Simon on March 18, 2010 at 4:47am — No Comments
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Fourth of July on the Lake
This past weekend was the annual celebration at the lake house in Connecticut. It is amazing that the lake is still so clear and beautiful after all these years. The watershed association has done a wonderful job protecting these waters from the damaging effects of development.The wood grill was finally ready to cook on, so we didn't miss the propane tank fueled grill anymore. The food actually tasted fresher than in the past and was easy to keep fueled.Dad was very proud of the solar hybrid…See More
Stinging Nettle
In this blog post I will focus on a plant that is abundant in our nature, and which is immensely nutritious. It's of course the Stinging Nettle. Let's start with the chemical constituents of this plant:37 % Non-Nitrogen-Extracts19 - 29 % Ash9 - 21 % Fiber4 % Fat22 % ProteinOnce the leaves are drid, their protein content can reach an astounding 40 %, which is much higher than beef, which even under the best of circ**stances can never exceed 31 % protein. In addition the Stinging Nettle consists…See More
The meal
It is 7'oclock, I was late home from work due to an assignment that i wanted to get ahead on. By the time I get home I am feeling extremley tired and I cannot be bothered to make a proper meal. I walk to the fridge and open it to see what there is for me to eat. All of the out of date foodstuffs have been automaticaly thrown away by the fridge, they will be recycled tomorrow as animal feed or something. I see i have organic local eggs and some local cheese. Foods are vacc** sealded for easy…See More
Future
FutureToday is 2020/1/1. It is just like yesterday. The war is still continuing. It has started since 2010. In 2010, that year was a horrible year. Almost every energy ran out. Every country’s governments were crushed down at the same time. There were riots everywhere. All of the big company’s bosses were killed xdeadx in the riots. Troops fought each other everywhere. Food was bought up xawayx at once. There were no more food supplies in any shops. The economy was all crushed down. All the…See More
public servants
The exchange works directly for state and public workers and servants. It gives them credit in exchange for the amount of public work they contribute to the community. The more constructive they are based off a base rate the more credit they recieve.
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