State Street Posts on WordPress

State Street Posts Another bon mot from John Robb

Blogtw4 — Sun, 31 May 2009 09:43:11 +0000

[http://globalguerrillas.typepad.com/globalguerrillas/]
From Global Guerrillas (basically this is a riff on Pentagon media strategy, which our intrepid author suggests is a large load of BS):

Nearly the entire world’s population of 6.7 billion is now mediated in some form — via phone to radio to TV to Internet — and a majority have been mediated by two-way technologies. For example, over 60% of these people or 4 billion now have wireless phones up from 15% in 2002, and another billion will have them in a year). It’s extremely hard now to find a sizable population from the Niger Delta to the Swat Valley in Pakistan to the favellas of Sao Paulo that haven’t been fundamentally changed through connection to the global media sphere that:

Shapes their perceptions

Drives organizational design and interpersonal contact

Reorganizes their view of the world

There’s no reason to think it will stop here. Each iteration of connection is deployed faster than the previous and the value of being connected to the network (not only through Metcalfe’s law but through radical improvements in the quality of the connection) is growing exponentially. This likely means that every significant social movement, conflict, innovation, etc. will start/erupt in some corner of this media sphere and virally propagate within it.

So, in short, if you want to accomplish anything in the future, you must be deeply connected to this media sphere, accomplished in its use, and immersed in its flows.

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Posted By Tom Wright/blogtw4 to State Street Posts at 5/31/2009 04:43:00 AM

State Street Posts Seriously, solar?

Blogtw4 — Sun, 31 May 2009 09:39:24 +0000

[http://globalguerrillas.typepad.com/globalguerrillas/]
Global Guerrillas: “One of the long term trends that now seems inexorable is that fossil fuels (stored solar) will be expensive from here on out (see my earlier attempt at this topic with ‘Crossing the Energy Chasm’). Demand will continuously outstrip our increasingly depleted and difficult to obtain sources of supply. Prices will rise when demand increases, and when prices rise too much, demand will be destroyed (with demand destruction starting first at the low end, as we saw with sub-prime borrowers in the US). In other words, every time we attempt to grow economically within the current model, we will bump into energy that is too expensive to support that growth.

However, there is some light at the end of the tunnel. Since we live in an adaptive system (much less adaptive than it could be due to deep structural and conceptual problems) alternatives will be found. The common assumption is that these alternatives will be in the form of direct substitutes, or new forms of inexpensive energy (presumably, fossil alternatives or solar power) that can power the existing model of the global economy. That’s likely a false assumption.”

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Posted By Tom Wright/blogtw4 to State Street Posts at 5/31/2009 04:39:00 AM

State Street Posts Arnold’s blub just got a bit brighter

Blogtw4 — Sun, 31 May 2009 08:57:57 +0000

[http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090530/ts_alt_afp/usitresearchmilitarylaser;_ylt=AgeT.w.Z7zUugxrJN_gfIs0DW7oF]
From US lab debuts super laser – Yahoo! News:

A US weapons lab on Friday pulled back the curtain on a super laser with the power to burn as hot as a star.

The National Ignition Facility’s main purpose is to serve as a tool for gauging the reliability and safety of the US nuclear weapons arsenal but scientists say it could deliver breakthroughs in safe fusion power.

‘We have invented the world’s largest laser system,’ actor-turned-governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said during a dedication ceremony attended by thousands including state and national officials.

“We can create the stars right here on earth. And I can see already my friends in Hollywood being very upset that their stuff that they show on the big screen is obsolete. We have the real stuff right here.”

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Posted By Tom Wright/blogtw4 to State Street Posts at 5/31/2009 03:57:00 AM

State Street Posts Francis held for MHP death

Blogtw4 — Sun, 31 May 2009 01:36:27 +0000

[http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20090530/NEWS/90529034/Arrest+made+in+Mississippi+state+trooper+s+death]
Arrest made in Mississippi state trooper’s death | clarionledger.com | The Clarion-Ledger: “A 25-year-old man from Baldwyn was charged today in a Friday night chase that ended in the death of a veteran state trooper.

Will Francis is charged with felony fleeing and manslaughter pending his arraignment Tuesday, the highway patrol’s Troop F in New Albany said in a news release around 7 p.m.”

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Posted By Tom Wright/blogtw4 to State Street Posts at 5/30/2009 08:36:00 PM

(SSP) Who doesn’t love solar?

Blogtw4 — Sat, 30 May 2009 21:04:48 +0000

[http://www.rankinledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090530/NEWS/905300305/1001]
rankinledger.com: Serving Rankin County, Mississippi: “Energy generated by wind turbines or the sun’s rays seems a bit too futuristic for Mississippi.

But it’s not as distant as one would think, especially in Rankin County.

Northwest Rankin Middle School has set up a solar panel on the roof of one of its classrooms, and three teachers from the Rankin County School District are planning a trip to Colorado where they will learn about renewable energy resources.”

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Posted By Tom Wright/blogtw4 to State Street Posts at 5/30/2009 04:04:00 PM

(SSP) Road construction fun

Blogtw4 — Sat, 30 May 2009 21:03:23 +0000

[http://www.wapt.com/news/19592465/detail.html]
Old Fannin Road Widening Project Kicks Off This Summer – Jackson News Story – WAPT Jackson: “Some Old Fannin Road residents said that they’re concerned about their safety when traveling on the two-lane road and want to know when Rankin County officials are going to do something about it.

Old Fannin Road connects Spillway Road and Lakeland Drive. There are 11 subdivisions and several businesses off of the two-lane road.”

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Posted By Tom Wright/blogtw4 to State Street Posts at 5/30/2009 04:03:00 PM

(SSP) Unacceptable, says Gates

Blogtw4 — Sat, 30 May 2009 21:00:32 +0000

[http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/31/world/asia/31military.html?_r=1&src=twt&twt=nytimes]
Gates Issues Warning to North Korea – NYTimes.com: “Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates warned North Korea on Saturday that the United States would not accept it as a nuclear weapons state, as Asian security officials struggled to find a new way to deal with the isolated Communist nation.

“We will not stand idly by as North Korea builds the capability to wreak destruction on any target in Asia — or on us,” Mr. Gates told a major defense conference here that has been dominated by North Korea’s test this week of a nuclear device and the firing of at least six short-range missiles, all in defiance of international sanctions.”

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Posted By Tom Wright/blogtw4 to State Street Posts at 5/30/2009 04:00:00 PM

(SSP) Top city was Tulsa; think about it

Blogtw4 — Sat, 30 May 2009 20:41:08 +0000

[http://www.clarionledger.com/article/200905240100/NEWS/905240344]
Web site recognizes Clinton as Top 100 city | clarionledger.com | The Clarion-Ledger: “Clinton has a new feather in its livability cap.

Already recognized as a Main Street and certified- retirement community, the Web site RelocateAmerica. com has named the Hinds County city one of its annual America’s Top 100 Places to Live.”

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Posted By Tom Wright/blogtw4 to State Street Posts at 5/30/2009 03:41:00 PM

(SSP) Rumble in Rankin!

Blogtw4 — Sat, 30 May 2009 20:34:15 +0000

[http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20090530/NEWS04/905300344/1001/NEWS]
Rankin mayoral posts at stake | clarionledger.com | The Clarion-Ledger: “Former Richland Mayor Shirley Hall is challenging current Mayor Mark Scarborough, who ousted her by about 80 votes four years ago.

The battle is one of four mayoral races that will be decided Tuesday by Rankin voters. Six municipalities also will have aldermen elections.”

Bunny has decided that western Rankin County is due some massive local news coverage.

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Posted By Tom Wright/blogtw4 to State Street Posts at 5/30/2009 03:34:00 PM

(SSP) Pakistan says Mingora regained

Blogtw4 — Sat, 30 May 2009 10:46:03 +0000

[http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hkiMxbHNH0BqgpWA2ZG6VD6wVTmAD98GGEEG1]
The Associated Press: Pakistan military retakes town in Swat Valley: “The Pakistan military says it has regained control of the largest town in the Swat Valley from the Taliban.

Google Map

Army spokesman Maj. Gen. Athar Abbas told The Associated Press on Saturday that all of Mingora was now under military control, though troops were meeting small pockets of resistance on the town’s outskirts.”

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Posted By Tom Wright/blogtw4 to State Street Posts at 5/30/2009 05:46:00 AM