Friday, September 12, 2008 Could smoking trees balance the budget? POST A COMMENT 'News today of the U.S. accusing the Venezuelan government of aiding drug traffickers -- ('giving Colombian gang-leaders guns & helping move the drugs)... 'kinda points to the pink-elephant in the room -- 'might be time to legalize some drugs? -- Wouldn't that disarm the criminal traffickers lock on such dirty-biznesses? 'Not sure if a blanket legalization of all street drugs is the answer -- ('but really now, isn't Weed a harmless herb??)... 'and there's no denying that our war-on-illegal-drugs is full of corrupt-sloppy-politically motivated agendas... 'from the futile efforts by the Drug Enforcement Agency, 'locking up stupid people for their victimless crimes...to reinforcing the gangs and mafia outfits that live-and-die off of street drugs; 'I'd much prefer a government gang running shit, over the violent gangs populating our streets. All while the real white collar criminals, those legal-drug companies, swim in billions off of medicating us with another useless pill we really don't need. I'm generalizing here, and over simplifying the answers, I know. There's no denying the fact that legalizing some street drugs would give the U.S. a $50 billion boost to the economy; 'not to mention relaxing the burden on our maxed-out-prison-system since -- 'about 2 million people in the U.S. are arrested for drug offenses each year...' Popular Science points out how folks -- 'have long appreciated smoking trees for its seemingly magical effects on mind and body. The fact that it is illegal (at least in the United States), has never stopped people from partaking in a little herbal refreshment.' Experts agree -- 'marijuana alleviates the pain of those afflicted with glaucoma...'But even since the 1950s, scientists have recognized, and pushed for, the antibacterial properties of Cannabis sativa.' 'A team of scientists...tested the five most common cannabinoids and found each one to be effective against several common multiresistant bacterial strains....the team also suggested that cannabinoids may be even more useful in fighting off bacterial diseases.' I'm no economic expert, but doesn't it does sounds like a win win for a slumping economy to tax defenseless crimes -- (the very same way we tax cigarettes and alcohol). I'm here to say: smoke 'em if you got 'em... Via MSN Labels: An Inconvenient Truth, brain-power, Business-101, drug bust, drugs, economy, medicated nation posted by Henry Cruz at 1:34 PM Sunday, August 31, 2008 Double-tasking helps boost memory! POST A COMMENT I'm big on single-tasking -- (which is the opposite of multi-tasking). 'Just harder to really excel at something if you're constantly switching up or being distracted by other things. I'm also big on 'Learning-by-doing: which gives me a chance to reflect on similar past experiences, while creating a new hands-on experience to maximize understanding and get better...'sounds right? 'Turns out, if ya want to boost your memory capacity -- I'm half right. Welcome Double-tasking: whereby memorizing (or associating) two things -- will boost memory, suggests a new study. So simplifying things to just two things (and bringing them together) helps in that brain plasticity -- (known as the ability of the brain to strengthen memory attention among other things). There's an 'area of the brain called the perirhinal cortex that also contributes to forming simple memories, says Science Daily -- (it was previously thought that only the area called the hippo campus was in charge of actually storing all memories). In layman's term, if you can connect and remember two easy parts, this will boosts your brains ability to better remember similar (and more complex) things. 'Speaking of plasticity here's a great video on Brain Aerobics: Source: Science Daily Labels: Brain Aerobics, brain-power, memory, plasticity, science 101, Tips posted by Henry Cruz at 4:27 PM Tuesday, August 19, 2008 Should we Shame-out-the-Garbage? POST A COMMENT 'Some guilt is good for you. Like the Ten Commandments, engraved on stone tablets, passed along to Moses to offer to his flock of 'guilt-filled-hearts... 'reminding them each day of the divine law, and their 'sustainable-eco-duties: (1)'Thou shalt not waste, when you should recycle (2)'Thou shalt not use Styrofoam, because it'll never disintegrate... (3) 'Thou shalt be mindful about your daily impact on the environment. (4) 'Thou shalt religiously separate your cans, bottles and newspapers in those blue recycling bins 'So these will be the commandments of the green crusaders -- (a kick ass costume is optional -- because after all, being green should still be fun). If the Batman taught us anything with his fancy moves; 'Fear is a strong motivator. It's even spilling into the workforce, also looking for more of that street cred in environmental responsibility, adapting -- "Less packaging. More beautiful" -- green mantra... Not only makes for smart $$ business, it's yet another way to outdo the competition by saying you're much more green and ethical to our planet. 'Showing up other companies, by showing your company's blood runs extra green. One quick fix, suggested in Business Week, that'll give your workplace an instant membership in that in "go green" crowd: Throw down tiny wastebaskets for non recyclable trash; making workers empty them into a central dumpster...'makes them think twice before tossing out trash. "At California’s Sonoma State University, recycling rose by 55%...'as people put cans and bottles in their proper place instead of in newly installed five-inch-tall bins." How 'bout adding a special sign: 'Would Jesus Christ Refuse To Recycle? - 'I smell an Ad Campaign (that could replace those I honk for Jesus bumper stickers). Check out this video showing that shame strategy at work (in a green hotel): Source: Business Week Labels: An Inconvenient Truth, brain-power, Business-101, economy, Energy-101, environment, Go-green, green living, mudprint.com, Trash, Trends posted by Henry Cruz at 1:15 PM Friday, August 01, 2008 Go-Green: Smelling Cash in Trash! POST A COMMENT Talking 'waste management might get that stereotype-image of a Tony Sopranos-mob-type -- (wink, wink) -- offering some under the table payoffs. 'But, high finance is now holding its nose to smell-up investing opportunities in taking-on-the-trash. Today's smart economy and job growth go hand-in-hand with promoting smarter environmental sustainability...So, welcome-in the saying, “One man's trash is another man's treasure” -- and welcome-in the trash boom: "recyclers can make vast profits from combing through ordinary rubbish, processing it, and then reselling it to other companies. And that leads to another, bigger thought: Trash is no longer just an environmental liability. It is becoming a financial asset," says Business Week. Landfills are no longer just a landfill...It’s a source of renewable energy: Trash creates bacteria when decomposing. A 50 percent methane/50 percent carbon dioxide mixture is naturally emitted. Pipes can collect and deliver the gas to a central processing location...ultimately, working like a boiler does, replacing natural gas and providing energy... Big-dollar $$ signs: "waste and recycling...drew a record $622 million of investment in 2007, compared with $245 million a year earlier and just $20 million in 2001, according to Cleantech Group..." More and more builders of mainstream developments are also embracing green neighborhoods - (Some communities even offer carbon offset fees to make it pocket friendlier to Go-Green)...and you can't get any more eco-friendly than flipping waste back into something useful. Source: Business Week Labels: brain-power, Business-101, economy, emissions, environment, Go-green, green living, recycling, science 101, smaller carbon footprint, Trash, Waste management posted by Henry Cruz at 12:22 PM Sunday, July 20, 2008 Will Outsourcing become the bogeyman? POST A COMMENT As we see more small businesses shift toward Globalization -- (thanks to the Internet) -- those smaller Mom-and-Pop Multinationals gotta deal with that sticky question of outsourcing work to stay afloat - (meaning sending jobs outside the US)... 'especially true online, with a need to stay competitive and resulting in a better bottom line with "savings for customers and any shareholders." As reported in Business Week recently: Lower wages are not the only motivating factor..."the performance of the provider on quality...is much higher than here in the US." Small businesses -- "from car dealers to advertising agencies are finding it easier to farm out software development, accounting, support services, and design work to distant lands...Sites such as Guru.com, Brickwork India, DoMyStuff.com, and RentACoder also report fast growth." Hmmm, sounds like the world will live as one after all. Source: Business Week Labels: brain-power, Business-101, capitalism, co-create, Outsourcing, rich and poor divide, web trends, Wiki-way posted by Henry Cruz at 4:04 PM Tuesday, June 10, 2008 Its the brain-power, stupid! POST A COMMENT Talking 'bout the Future of the web yesterday, question came up: Q: 'Aside from this talk of "online video convergence" -- (and business musings -- on trends like co-creating) -- "can you name the next-big-thing online?" Me: "C'mon, don't be a dummy, one word: Brain-power - 'sorta like that movie 'Field of Dreams' ...'think-it' and they will come." -- to me it sounds like a way-too-obvious-concept...'til, I get hit with the follow-up: Q: "Brain-Power? - What does that really mean?" - Think Social Networking sites: And take it a step further and you get the inevitable future of the web. It's not going to be that much different from engaging the people you meet, or the business principle of a peer "master mind" group. Like one big board meeting of the minds. - Think open source alliances: And you'll see why Web 2.0 future methodologies lies more in "collaboration" and "sharing of ideas," -- exchanging opinions and experiences between peers, all across business, and certainly between business and the consumer. -- 'Kinda like a-big-orgy of like minded folks, 'cept sex is usually not an option. - Think music "Mash-Up" - or better -- (if you're a geek), think the Borg cube on Star Trek -- and how we'll all be assimilated into one big collective online. Going with the Borg collective visual - take a few clicks over to the Wiki-World, (that site Wikipedia.com is all about integrating brain knowledge)...except it's not shaped like a cube. Going with a Smashing-Up concept - take two popular songs from different artists -- to make a new single...mixing the two sounds. Whatever, the visual, the results are the same: one-big super powered "collective" brain - that utilizes the brainpower of others on that idea to make it better. The web will become one big voluntary -- or viral Mish-Mash -- that will end up looking like one big information dump -- (sniff at your own risk). 'Not sure the "Wiki-way" has already been influencing how we will do things -- and going to be doing things in the future -- check how we got our latest presidential nomination and get back to me. 'course -- as seen in this video clip -- there are down sides to having "too many cooks" in any kitchen...but, nobody said the future was perfect: Source: NY Times Labels: brain-power, Media Trends, web 2.0, web trends, Wiki-way posted by Henry Cruz at 6:58 AM     ARCHIVES October 2005 . November 2005 . December 2005 . August 2007 . September 2007 . October 2007 . November 2007 . December 2007 . March 2008 . April 2008 . May 2008 . June 2008 . July 2008 . August 2008 . September 2008 .