PW2 Web Blog

Thriv’Ability: Infinity Burial Project

Rick DeVan — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 00:00:35 +0000

Oh, my. I am laughing just enough to think she may be on to something.

Thriv’Ability: Be The Match – National Marrow Donor Program

Rick DeVan — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 00:00:30 +0000

Each year, 10,000 patients need a marrow transplant from an unrelated donor, but only half receive one.

Thriv’Ability: Data Eye in the Sky

Rick DeVan — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 00:00:28 +0000

Exciting and frightening. I wonder, though, that unlike natural phenomena, will predicting social instability influence it?

Thriv’Ability: Aakash Tablet

Rick DeVan — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 00:00:21 +0000

The Aakash tablet in India.

Thriv’Ability: Alpha Robot Dog Prototype

Rick DeVan — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 00:00:44 +0000

How about getting supplies to and rescuing trapped people? There are possibly many more peaceful applications for this prototype.

Media: Mexico’s Drug Cartels

Rick DeVan — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 00:00:41 +0000

I don't know what to do or where to go with this other than saying that I am at a loss. I have a semi-developed opinion, but my opinion is not important. Opinions don't reattach heads.

Thriv’Ability: Internet of Things (IoT)

Rick DeVan — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 00:00:37 +0000

I am all for cars, homes, and domesticated animals to be connected to the Internet. The dining room table, maybe not so much.

October is National Stop Bullying Month

Rick DeVan — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 00:00:28 +0000

Just one of many anti-bullying and anti-cyberbullying resources available online.

October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month

Rick DeVan — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 00:00:21 +0000

Take security seriously.

Thriv’Ability: Pass On Your Passwords When You Pass Away

Rick DeVan — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 00:00:15 +0000

Resource: PassMyWill.com. Will your passwords to your relatives if you pass away with PassMyWill.com A great idea! Resource via PassMyWill Sends Out Your Passwords After You Die at LifeHacker.com.

Thriv’Ability: Global Mood

Rick DeVan — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 00:00:06 +0000

It will be interesting to see not just daily but annual and longer patterns in global mood.

Thriv’Ability: The Genomic Revolution

Rick DeVan — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 19:21:36 +0000

The genomic revolution is happening. What better way to use our technology to get educated and join a debate that is about us, our times, and our future generations.

Life: Fraud

Rick DeVan — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 19:21:21 +0000

Most of us have fallen victim to a romantic lie or two in our lives.

Thriv’Ability: Dead Sea Scrolls Online

Rick DeVan — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 19:21:03 +0000

You gotta be impressed.

Thriv’Ability: Boeing 787 Dreamliner

Rick DeVan — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 19:20:37 +0000

Also, 20 percent fewer emissions than similarly sized airplanes and 60 miles, yes, 60 miles, of copper wiring eliminated in the design.

Thriv’Ability: Books Ngram Viewer

Rick DeVan — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 00:00:50 +0000

An interesting tool for academic research into word usage over time.

Thriv’Ability: Made In A Free World / Slavery Footprint

Rick DeVan — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 00:00:38 +0000

You will be disturbed at how many slaves or forced laborers may be working for you simply by the fact you are reading this. Now you have the power to do something about it.

Thriv’Ability: A Liter of Light

Rick DeVan — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 00:00:21 +0000

This is a start. Hopefully, electricity, running water, those sorts of things, are next.

Media: The Diaspora* Difference

Rick DeVan — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 00:00:21 +0000

Go Diaspora* team!

Thriv’Ability: New Polymer Jelly Batteries

Rick DeVan — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 00:00:09 +0000

The new batteries prevent "thermal runaway", that is, they don't get hotter than Texas and catch fire. Less risk of fires is a good thing.

Thriv’Ability: Human Antenna

Rick DeVan — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 00:00:07 +0000

Wouldn't it be fun to play your house?

Thriv’Ability: Child Mortality Progress

Rick DeVan — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 00:00:03 +0000

The world is not changing overnight, but it is changing.

Thriv’Ability: Castle in the Ozarks

Rick DeVan — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 00:00:43 +0000

The castle is being built using only Medieval tools and techniques. Medieval as in 700 years ago. How cool is that?

Environment: La Nina

Rick DeVan — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 00:00:35 +0000

Prepare to use our technology to alleviate the continuing and future problems.

Life: Patriot Day 2011

Rick DeVan — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 00:00:09 +0000

Remember, of course. Also, remember to live.

Environment: Greenwashing

Rick DeVan — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 00:00:09 +0000

Some good information and infographics to help you learn about what can and cannot be claimed as "green".

Environment: NTT America Green Data Centers

Rick DeVan — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 00:00:07 +0000

This website and blog are hosted on Verio servers, an NTT Communications Company. I have always been happy with NTT's "greenness" in the U.S. and worldwide.

Environment: Apple’s Supply Chain Pollution

Rick DeVan — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 00:00:56 +0000

As distant as China seems, it is part of our backyard now.

Media: Conspiracy Theories

Rick DeVan — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 00:00:54 +0000

Conspiracy theories never go away, even in the digital age (or because of it). Although it may be easier to spread conspiracy theories through technology, the flipside is that it is also easier to debunk them.

Media: Twitter Emergency Boredom

Rick DeVan — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 00:00:48 +0000

There's one, or one million, in every crowd.

Media: Eye Camera

Rick DeVan — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 00:00:23 +0000

I suppose I should warn you that some may think this is "icky". I am as squeamish as they come and I think it's cool, so I won't bother warning you. I don’t think I would want it on around-the-clock, though.

Thriv’Ability: Basic Instincts

Rick DeVan — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 00:00:21 +0000

On different levels and different scales this may apply to many of us. Don't forget how to live and work. It’s basic and, therefore, easy to overlook.

Marketing: Qantas

Rick DeVan — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 00:00:16 +0000

You know the drill: "Think before you tweet."

Thriv’Ability: It Gets Better Project

Rick DeVan — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 00:00:11 +0000

A great use of our technology. The world succeeds when we all succeed.

Thriv’Ability: junaio 3.0 Augmented Reality Browser

Rick DeVan — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 00:00:11 +0000

As I am writing this while, as I put it, "at coffee", I can see at a least a dozen items this could be used for, from where the coffee comes from to finding out the price of gas at the station across the street.

Thriv’Ability: Apps for Disaster Aid

Rick DeVan — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 00:00:10 +0000

A short list of smartphone apps for disaster information. Worth a download.

Media: Almanacs

Rick DeVan — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 00:00:09 +0000

Resource: Old Farmer’s Almanac, published since 1792. Resource: Farmers’ Almanac, published since 1818. It should not come as a surprise that the Old Farmer’s Almanac and Farmers’ Almanac are using social media. Farmers are not necessarily as quaint and old fashioned as many urbanites tend to think. Growing up in my house, it was always [...]

Media: Joey Barton

Rick DeVan — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 00:00:01 +0000

I started following UK footballer Joey Barton on Twitter this week. I don't know how long it will last but my cynical guard is down for the time being. In using (social) media for (social) (change) improvement, every voice is important.

Media: Mapping the Crisis in the Horn of Africa

Rick DeVan — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 00:00:49 +0000

If you have any knowledge of the Horn of Africa here is an opportunity to help alleviate the crisis.

Thriv’Ability: Hirbawi Textiles for Palestinian Kufiya

Rick DeVan — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 00:00:40 +0000

The re-success of a local, niche, family-business in the Palestinian Territories.

Thriv’Ability: E-Stewards.org

Rick DeVan — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 00:00:33 +0000

Look for a recycling company near you.

Thriv’Ability: Affordable Sanitation

Rick DeVan — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 00:00:50 +0000

Combine the new toilets with ideas such as Thriv'Ability: DontFlush.Me and we are on to something.

Thriv’Ability: American Dreams

Rick DeVan — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 00:00:20 +0000

Sometimes, our dreams as a society are what holds us together.

Media: State-Approved Web Gambling

Rick DeVan — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 00:00:02 +0000

There must be a better way.

Technology: Flexible Phones

Rick DeVan — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 00:00:58 +0000

When I watch this I keep thinking of those pocket protectors everyone used to love to hate and apparently, some still do.

Terrorism: Anonymous Operation Facebook, Nov. 5, 2011

Rick DeVan — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 00:00:21 +0000

FYI

Thriv’Ability: Peace One Day

Rick DeVan — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 00:00:06 +0000

One day of peace is better than all days of no peace. It has the backing of the United Nations, too. So, there.

Media: Listen

Rick DeVan — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 00:00:01 +0000

As I am writing this I am hearing the Doppler sounds of my next door neighbor’s lawnmower on a reasonably warm morning. Rain clouds are welcomely threatening. Of course, the scent of fresh mowed grass is coming indoors on the breeze. You know the scene. Listen. I am not sure it can be learned, [...]

News: Weekend Blog

Rick DeVan — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 04:00:47 +0000

The PW2 Web Blog will begin being updated on the weekends at 00:00 UTC on Saturdays (8:00 p.m. Friday Daylight Savings Time on the U.S. East Coast) starting August 13, or August 12, depending.

Words: Stars and Heroes

Rick DeVan — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 11:00:18 +0000

In my RSS feeds recently I received a 12-step program that promised to guide me out of the doldrums of my work-a-day life and make me a star. You have seen them. Write an award-winning e-book (or ebook, I can never keep up on the current grammar). Create an award-winning blog. Accept an award-winning award. Sure, all of us want to be a star, but not all of us want to be that star. They don’t seem to make guides for those of us who want to be stars in our own families, on our own streets, in our own little niches. In short, the ones who want to do the best we can with what we have.

Health: DVT in Gamers

Rick DeVan — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 11:03:11 +0000

How about the game makers including automatic cut-offs after a certain period of time?

Media: Catching Killers Before They Act

Rick DeVan — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 11:02:35 +0000

Lots of room for debate and lots of room for knee-jerk reactions on this one, but this is a question we need to ask.

Thriv’Ability(?): Hybrids On Parade

Rick DeVan — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 11:01:35 +0000

Ummm?

Media: Bobby Kirk

Rick DeVan — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 11:00:48 +0000

And, yes, even here on the North Coast, it is too hot to fish.

Thriv’Ability: Spatial Humanities

Rick DeVan — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 11:01:11 +0000

Maybe, the more we know about history the more likely we will be able to understand it and ourselves.

Thriv’Ability: Visualizing World Traffic

Rick DeVan — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 11:00:52 +0000

This should prove useful for urbanites everywhere and help cut down on waste of at least two important resources: time and gas.

Media: Podcasting Not Dead

Rick DeVan — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 11:00:58 +0000

Podcasting is still alive and thriving, although the media does not talk about it much anymore.

Media: Google Search By Image

Rick DeVan — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 11:01:03 +0000

Search by image with Google. And… to placate the inner geek in you, here is how it works.

Thriv’Ability: Live Traffic Info (Europe)

Rick DeVan — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 11:00:10 +0000

Yeah, Israel is not in Europe, so you gotta wonder about the accuracy. It is a start, though.

Media: Proust – A Place for Family Memories

Rick DeVan — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 12:47:57 +0000

Interesting new website/app/service to help you preserve your family memories.

Thriv’Ability: Robots

Rick DeVan — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 20:57:58 +0000

Robot Brett will be great in military and hospital settings, and for people who are not able to do the laundry. There is something missing, though, if you want to use it just to eliminate tediousness. It is that "thing" that makes Thanksgiving dinner at Grandma's better than dinner at any fine restaurant.

Thriv’Ability: Home Robots

Rick DeVan — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 22:59:50 +0000

I am all for robots to aid us around the house, especially the disabled. I draw the line, though, at a robot dog.

Thriv’Ability: Therapy Online

Rick DeVan — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 12:44:25 +0000

FYI

Marketing: Entenmann’s

Rick DeVan — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 21:11:51 +0000

I have waited a couple of days to post and comment on this story. You may have heard of it already, at least in passing.

Diversion: iPad Typing Record

Rick DeVan — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 14:20:51 +0000

Sasha and Malia, you are our only hope to put the U.S. on top. We cannot let this record stand.

Technology, Thriv’Ability: Augmented Reality (AR) Part II

Rick DeVan — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 14:26:16 +0000

Resource: Augmented Reality: The past, present and future via The Next Web. The next five years should see some significant advances in AR technology, and you can expect to see it become far more integrated in our everyday lives. And that’s the real challenge — seamlessly merging the digital and physical worlds. Only then will we [...]

Media: Google+

Rick DeVan — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 23:05:58 +0000

Resource: Introducing the Google+ project: Real-life sharing, rethought for the web via Google Blog. Today, the connections between people increasingly happen online. Yet the subtlety and substance of real-world interactions are lost in the rigidness of our online tools. In this basic, human way, online sharing is awkward. Even broken. And we aim to fix it. We’d like [...]

Terrorism: Anonymous / AntiSec

Rick DeVan — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 22:53:20 +0000

FYI

Art, Health: Jordan Wayne Long

Rick DeVan — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 23:47:15 +0000

If you have gotten this far in the reading of this post you have, hopefully, stopped rolling your eyes. Jordan Wayne Long's work concerns trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and ways people can deal with it. Understanding and healing PTSD is important.

Media: Olympic Athletes on Twitter

Rick DeVan — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 23:16:34 +0000

This should be fun!

Technology, Thriv’Ability: Augmented Reality (AR)

Rick DeVan — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 14:52:22 +0000

The Admiral Nelson reference in this story started me thinking (I know, dangerous). I sometimes attend U.S. Civil War re-enactments and usually run into Abraham Lincoln, who knows a lot about the U.S. Civil War. I always call him Mr. President and treat him with as much respect as I would any President. It is a version of augmented reality. Wouldn't it be interesting to combine a real person with AR?

Thriv’Ability: Your TV Cable Box

Rick DeVan — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 14:06:30 +0000

Change this.

Thriv’Ability: Hybrid Popemobile

Rick DeVan — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 21:19:17 +0000

It's a start and a good example to his followers.

Thriv’Ability: Tracking Bats and Other Wildlife

Rick DeVan — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 21:05:51 +0000

Great use of technology!

Thriv’Ability: GINGER.io App Monitors Health

Rick DeVan — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 20:36:03 +0000

Resource: GINGER.io. We are dedicated to helping you manage your health and the health of your loved ones. We believe mobile devices can and will have a significant positive impact on our wellness. We believe quality data has been a missing ingredient. Wonderful! Sometimes we simply do not realize we are getting sick. This could [...]

New Domain Name Suffixes

Rick DeVan — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 18:59:17 +0000

Don't get too excited about having your own personal domain name suffix such as “.rick”. They will cost $185,000 each.

Advice: Protect Yourself Online

Rick DeVan — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 15:10:41 +0000

We do not have to live in fear.

Words: On Information

Rick DeVan — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 22:13:51 +0000

1946? Yikes! Maybe we did not invent information overload after all. We just perfected it.

IMF Cyber Attack

Rick DeVan — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 11:31:38 +0000

Another major attack.

Readings: Shadow Internet for International Dissidents (NYTimes.com)

Rick DeVan — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 11:11:52 +0000

Similar concept to Voice of America and Radio Marti except allowing information come out of a country.

Thriv’Ability: 2D Glasses

Rick DeVan — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 13:45:58 +0000

How cool is this?

Statistics: Sex, Lies and Cybercrime Surveys

Rick DeVan — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 14:35:11 +0000

An interesting take on the extent of and loss due to cyber crime.

Thriv’Ability: Google Ideas – Think/Do-Tank to End Conflict and Wars

Rick DeVan — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 11:00:21 +0000

Hooray! It is a step in the right direction.

Thriv’Ability: Public Transit Live Updates

Rick DeVan — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 04:33:36 +0000

No one enjoys waiting for a bus. Missing the bus is even worse. This may help ease the stress.

Thriv’Ability (?): Mood Ears

Rick DeVan — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 21:38:53 +0000

Oh, my.

Media: New E-Readers Introduced

Rick DeVan — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 21:21:06 +0000

Sure, your grandchildren will snicker, but what kind of child doesn’t laugh at the humble old ways. Just remind them that we were the ones who walked across the Plains, so to speak, so they wouldn't have to.

Technology: Apple iCloud

Rick DeVan — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 22:25:12 +0000

Resource: Apple iCloud. Direct link to the Apple iCloud page.

Thriv’Ability: Google’s Hamina (Finland) Data Center

Rick DeVan — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 19:50:05 +0000

I doubt if many of us ever think about the data centers needed to keep our Internet services going. Here is a look inside the cooling system of one of Google's currently under construction.

Thriv’Ability: DontFlush.Me

Rick DeVan — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 19:35:17 +0000

Wonderful idea!

Technology: DUMBO Goes Wireless

Rick DeVan — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 20:12:23 +0000

Hooray! Free public WiFi is getting closer to all of us.

Technology: Internet Traffic Forecast to Quadruple By 2015

Rick DeVan — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 20:03:43 +0000

Exciting and frightening at the same time.

Words: Conversation Wisdom from Yogi Berra

Rick DeVan — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 12:43:27 +0000

This quote sums up a lot of our life and times.

Google Safety Tips Video

Rick DeVan — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 12:35:36 +0000

Yeah, we all know this, but it doesn't hurt to be reminded every once in awhile.

Media: Twitter Search Upgraded

Rick DeVan — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 12:27:52 +0000

Let’s just say Twitter search should now give you more relevant results.

Media: Google Correlate

Rick DeVan — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 13:46:51 +0000

An interesting tool for researchers.

Thriv’Ability: The Martin Jetpack

Rick DeVan — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 13:12:12 +0000

Beyond amazing and could be very useful in search-and-rescue.

Thriv’Ability: QR Codes for Cemeteries

Rick DeVan — Tue, 31 May 2011 22:33:51 +0000

I don't think I need to quote this story to give you an idea on what it is about. The title says it all.

Thriv’Ability: Blind Driver Challenge

Rick DeVan — Tue, 31 May 2011 22:15:49 +0000

Fascinating. I wonder, though, if the concept of independence via automobile will be out-dated by the time this can be implemented. Gas prices, peak oil, more people living in urban areas with public transportation, those sorts of things. I don't know the answer, just wondering out loud.

e-G8 Follow-up

Rick DeVan — Sun, 29 May 2011 14:35:01 +0000

Interesting piece on the e-G8.

Thriv’Ability: GiveBackMail.com

Rick DeVan — Sun, 29 May 2011 14:18:52 +0000

Here is a new take on giving to charities while spending nothing out-of-pocket. Will it work? Time will tell.