Comments for Small World Group http://www.smallworldgroup.com Technology and Innovation on a Global Scale. Wed, 01 Sep 2010 03:51:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on One Universe by Murli http://www.smallworldgroup.com/?p=533&cpage=1#comment-4435 Murli Wed, 01 Sep 2010 03:51:03 +0000 http://www.smallworldgroup.com/?p=533#comment-4435 Yep and I hazard a guess that it's been a universal value since before religions even existed, ie it's a purely biological phenomenon. All animals are social to one degree or another and need each other to some extent whether within the same species or across species. That's practically the definition of the word "ecosystem"! Yep and I hazard a guess that it’s been a universal value since before religions even existed, ie it’s a purely biological phenomenon. All animals are social to one degree or another and need each other to some extent whether within the same species or across species. That’s practically the definition of the word “ecosystem”!

]]> Comment on One Universe by Frank http://www.smallworldgroup.com/?p=533&cpage=1#comment-4434 Frank Tue, 31 Aug 2010 07:14:54 +0000 http://www.smallworldgroup.com/?p=533#comment-4434 Murli and Uwe - I own a tee shirt that has the "golden rule" variations from Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and several other religious traditions. Caring for others at the level we care for ourselves is clearly a universally agreed upon virture. So the "devil is clearly in the implementation details. Oui? Murli and Uwe –

I own a tee shirt that has the “golden rule” variations from Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and several other religious traditions. Caring for others at the level we care for ourselves is clearly a universally agreed upon virture. So the “devil is clearly in the implementation details. Oui?

]]> Comment on One Universe by Murli http://www.smallworldgroup.com/?p=533&cpage=1#comment-4433 Murli Tue, 31 Aug 2010 06:43:59 +0000 http://www.smallworldgroup.com/?p=533#comment-4433 Uwe, without meaning to wade into a whole debate on religion, I'll say that empathising with one's neighbours ("love" takes it too far, IMHO) is one of many common-sense approaches that both you and Frank suggest. That Christians claim this as a virtue for themselves doesn't make this an exclusively Christian value. Frank, interesting thoughts. I've been thinking about this myself recently and I can't say I disagree with Uwe and other cynics about Earth possibly ridding itself of us. Which reminds me of a hilarious piece I once saw by George Carlin. Something to the effect of, "Save the planet? The planet is fine! It's been through billions of years of volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, comet crashes... It's the people that are f***ed!" More seriously, I think it's time to get the policymakers, scientists, engineers, businesspeople and media out of the room, and make way for the game theorists. For all of the problems you've highlighted here. That's the only class of people that has experience working with this kind of problem. Nash Equilibria and suchlike. Implementing the game theorists' possible solutions? Ah, that's another story. Uwe, without meaning to wade into a whole debate on religion, I’ll say that empathising with one’s neighbours (“love” takes it too far, IMHO) is one of many common-sense approaches that both you and Frank suggest. That Christians claim this as a virtue for themselves doesn’t make this an exclusively Christian value.

Frank, interesting thoughts. I’ve been thinking about this myself recently and I can’t say I disagree with Uwe and other cynics about Earth possibly ridding itself of us. Which reminds me of a hilarious piece I once saw by George Carlin. Something to the effect of, “Save the planet? The planet is fine! It’s been through billions of years of volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, comet crashes… It’s the people that are f***ed!”

More seriously, I think it’s time to get the policymakers, scientists, engineers, businesspeople and media out of the room, and make way for the game theorists. For all of the problems you’ve highlighted here. That’s the only class of people that has experience working with this kind of problem. Nash Equilibria and suchlike. Implementing the game theorists’ possible solutions? Ah, that’s another story.

]]> Comment on One Universe by Uwe http://www.smallworldgroup.com/?p=533&cpage=1#comment-4432 Uwe Tue, 24 Aug 2010 09:14:39 +0000 http://www.smallworldgroup.com/?p=533#comment-4432 Frank, reading the examples from your thread I tend to unite with the pessimists saying "mankind is a skin disease of planet earth and sooner or later earth will get rid of it". But to your concrete question how to make the world a better place, I must confess that I no longer believe that any "system" or "structure" will offer a solution. The only hope is that more and more people will recognise that egoism is bad, even for themselves, in the long run. We all can influence the flow of time and evolution by our everyday decisions and if we try to be a little more aware of the consequences of our deeds and try to love our neighbours a little bit more (which is a Christian value, but I feel that other religions could accept it as well), that will change the world in the long run. If we don't drive gas guzzlers, eat less meat, pay voluntarily more for renewable energy, don't buy products made in the 3rd world with child labour etc. this will hopefully lead to a new system which will be more human and will preserve the environment. Maybe that's all just stating the obvious, but I don't believe any longer that politicians or industry leaders, even if they try hard, can change much because the world economic system is self sustaining and driven only by: profit. Well, and if not, we will see what remedy planet earth will have to cure itself ... Cheers, Uwe Frank,
reading the examples from your thread I tend to unite with the pessimists saying “mankind is a skin disease of planet earth and sooner or later earth will get rid of it”.
But to your concrete question how to make the world a better place, I must confess that I no longer believe that any “system” or “structure” will offer a solution. The only hope is that more and more people will recognise that egoism is bad, even for themselves, in the long run. We all can influence the flow of time and evolution by our everyday decisions and if we try to be a little more aware of the consequences of our deeds and try to love our neighbours a little bit more (which is a Christian value, but I feel that other religions could accept it as well), that will change the world in the long run.
If we don’t drive gas guzzlers, eat less meat, pay voluntarily more for renewable energy, don’t buy products made in the 3rd world with child labour etc. this will hopefully lead to a new system which will be more human and will preserve the environment.
Maybe that’s all just stating the obvious, but I don’t believe any longer that politicians or industry leaders, even if they try hard, can change much because the world economic system is self sustaining and driven only by: profit.
Well, and if not, we will see what remedy planet earth will have to cure itself …
Cheers, Uwe

]]> Comment on Singapore Updates by Zakaria http://www.smallworldgroup.com/?p=475&cpage=1#comment-4420 Zakaria Sun, 06 Jun 2010 09:08:38 +0000 http://www.smallworldgroup.com/?p=475#comment-4420 A lot learned from the interview . Nice to know , you were also involved in Finisar . A lot learned from the interview .

Nice to know , you were also involved in Finisar .

]]> Comment on Singapore Updates by RC http://www.smallworldgroup.com/?p=475&cpage=1#comment-4386 RC Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:28:05 +0000 http://www.smallworldgroup.com/?p=475#comment-4386 Wonderful interview frank. I hope all is well with you. Wonderful interview frank. I hope all is well with you.

]]> Comment on iPad and its future by Matt Rhodes http://www.smallworldgroup.com/?p=435&cpage=1#comment-4382 Matt Rhodes Sat, 06 Mar 2010 00:00:10 +0000 http://www.smallworldgroup.com/?p=435#comment-4382 In my opinion, you're evaluating the iPad as a productivity tool and through that lens, I agree, it's underwhelming. I see iPad, however, as a entertainment device, i.e. iPod touch on steroids, and in that light I find it very interesting. I believe it will be used as a portable entertainment center; music, video, books, etc. For better or worse, it will be a successful product in those applications and certainly an "ebook killer". And, by the way, it will do OK for Web, News and e-mail and therefore be a decent business travel "companion". Result: Killer product for Apple. In my opinion, you’re evaluating the iPad as a productivity tool and through that lens, I agree, it’s underwhelming. I see iPad, however, as a entertainment device, i.e. iPod touch on steroids, and in that light I find it very interesting. I believe it will be used as a portable entertainment center; music, video, books, etc. For better or worse, it will be a successful product in those applications and certainly an “ebook killer”. And, by the way, it will do OK for Web, News and e-mail and therefore be a decent business travel “companion”. Result: Killer product for Apple.

]]> Comment on Frank’s Calendar by New Beginning | Small World Group http://www.smallworldgroup.com/?page_id=455&cpage=1#comment-4379 New Beginning | Small World Group Mon, 22 Feb 2010 02:53:36 +0000 http://www.smallworldgroup.com/?page_id=455#comment-4379 [...] Frank’s Calendar [...] [...] Frank’s Calendar [...]

]]> Comment on Green Home Video by Frank http://www.smallworldgroup.com/?p=405&cpage=1#comment-4374 Frank Wed, 17 Feb 2010 07:19:24 +0000 http://www.smallworldgroup.com/?p=405#comment-4374 Still working on the right configuration for the solar heat for the pool. Right now it works for about 7 months of the year. But I believe with some changes this can be increased to more like 9 months per year. When I am done, I will share the design with you. Still working on the right configuration for the solar heat for the pool. Right now it works for about 7 months of the year. But I believe with some changes this can be increased to more like 9 months per year. When I am done, I will share the design with you.

]]> Comment on Green Home Video by Endless Pools http://www.smallworldgroup.com/?p=405&cpage=1#comment-4366 Endless Pools Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:09:55 +0000 http://www.smallworldgroup.com/?p=405#comment-4366 Frank, a beautiful installation... We posted your video on our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/EndlessPools Thanks for sharing. Frank, a beautiful installation… We posted your video on our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/EndlessPools Thanks for sharing.

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