Monday, December 31, 2007

Shift Happens, the text

Here is the text from "Shift Happens", video from Karl Fisch and Scott McLeod. Important thought- and conversation-provoking commentary about trends that are coming at us, and fast!


SHIFT HAPPENS


Did you know . . .

Sometimes size does matter.

If you’re one in a million in China . . .

There are 1,300 people just like you.

In India, there are 1,100 people just like you.

The 25% of the population in China with the highest IQ’s . . .

Is greater than the total population of North America.

In India, it’s the top 28%.

Translation for teachers:

They have more honors kids than we have kids.

Did you know . . .

China will soon become the number one English speaking country in the world.

If you took every single job in the U.S. today and shipped it to China . . .

China would still have a labor surplus.

During the course of this 8 minute presentation . . .

60 babies will be born in the U.S.

244 babies will be born in China.

351 babies will be born in India.

The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that today’s learner will have 10-14 jobs . . .

By the age of 38.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor . . .

1 out of 4 workers today is working for a company they have been employed by for less than

one year.

More than 1 out of 2 are working for a company they have worked for for less than five years.

According to former Secretary of Education Richard Riley . . .

The top 10 in-demand jobs in 2010 didn’t exist in 2004.

We are currently preparing students for jobs that don’t yet exist . . .

Using technologies that haven’t been invented . . .

In order to solve problems we don’t even know are problems yet.

Name this country . . .

Richest in the World

Largest Military

Center of world business and finance

Strongest education system

World center of innovation and invention

Currency the world standard of value

Highest standard of living

England.

In 1900.

Did you know . . .

The U.S. is 20th in the world in broadband Internet penetration.

(Luxembourg just passed us.)

In 2002 alone Nintendo invested more than $140 million in research and development.

The U.S. Federal Government spent less than half as much on Research and Innovation in Education.

1 out of every 8 couples married in the U.S. last year met online.

There are over 100 million registered users of MySpace. (August 2006)

If MySpace were a country, it would be the 11th-largest in the world (between Japan and Mexico).

*The average MySpace page is visited 30 times a day.

Did you know . . .

We are living in exponential times.

There are over 2.7 billion searches performed on Google each month.

To whom were these questions addressed B.G.?

(Before Google)

The number of text messages sent and received every day exceeds the population of the planet.

There are about 540,000 words in the English language . . .

About 5 times as many as during Shakespeare’s time.

More than 3,000 new books are published . . .

Daily.

It’s estimated that a week’s worth of New York Times . . .

Contains more information than a person was likely to come across in a lifetime in the 18th century.

It’s estimated that 40 exabytes (that’s 4.0 x 1019) of unique new information will be generated worldwide this year.

That’s estimated to be more than in the previous 5,000 years.

The amount of new technical information is doubling every 2 years.

It’s predicted to double every 72 hours by 2010.

Third generation fiber optics has recently been separately tested by NEC and Alcatel . . .

That pushes 10 trillion bits per second down one strand of fiber.

That’s 1,900 CDs or 150 million simultaneous phone calls every second.

It’s currently tripling about every 6 months and is expected to do so for at least the next 20 years.

The fiber is already there, they’re just improving the switches on the ends.

Which means the marginal cost of these improvements is effectively...

$0.

Predictions are that e-paper will be cheaper than real paper.

47 million laptops were shipped worldwide last year.

The $100 laptop project is expecting to ship between 50 and 100 million laptops a year to children in underdeveloped countries.

Predictions are that by 2013 a supercomputer will be built that exceeds the computation capability of the Human Brain . . .

By 2023, a $1,000 computer will exceed the computation capability of the Human Brain . . .

First grader Abby (the author's daughter) will be just 23 years old and beginning her (first) career . . .

And while technical predictions further out than about 15 years are hard to do . . .

Predictions are that by 2049 a $1,000 computer will exceed the computational capabilities of the human race.

What does it all mean?

Shift Happens.

Now you know . . .


For more information, or to join the conversation, please visit:


Sunday, December 30, 2007

Are you a sensory junkie or a nervous wreck?


How do you respond to bright lights, soft clothes, loud music and spicy food?

This is an interesting article exploring the how and why of our senses, explaining in part how we react to the world around us, including our compatibility (or the lack thereof) with others.

What’s your sensory type?

SEEKERS enjoy going to firework displays; make noises such as humming and whistling; order or cook spicy food; tend to touch people when talking to them; walk around barefoot; change daily routines to keep them interesting .

BYSTANDERS are easy-going and not easily ruffled; have to be called several times to get their attention; miss signposts; may leave dirt on their face or hands; find scratches or bruises and don’t know how they got them; don’t notice clutter until someone points it out.

AVOIDERS leave the room when a crowd starts to gather; like their surroundings clean and tidy; keep curtains or blinds drawn or partially drawn; make narrow food choices; don’t like getting their hands mucky; select solitary leisure activities.

SENSORS are distracted by sounds; startle easily; are bothered by fast-changing images on TV; have precise ideas about clothing textures; repeatedly pick the same food in restaurants; prefer clean design in the home; select only a few chosen rides at amusement parks.

I find this fascinating; I'll have to read the book. I think I'm a typical SEEKER with a few shades of SENSOR thrown in for good measure.

Read the full article in The Times UK

Friday, December 28, 2007

Holidaze revisited, including a Soulja Video

Soulja Kids Remix



Click either pic below for more pictures of our Christmas visit to NY. This is Bert with his brother Doug's son, Parker, who pauses/poses whenever he sees a camera (i.e "ham"):


Click below for spooky Halloween kid pics:

Thursday, December 27, 2007

Cities, businesses team up to boost defense industry



Local military and homeland security contractors plan to join with city economic development officials regionwide in an effort to nurture the area's defense industry.

The aim is to position Hampton Roads as "Pentagon South".

Officials said the new group is an outgrowth of a defense industry consortium formed by Virginia Beach three years ago as part of an economic development initiative.

The Beach recruited Chesapeake last year, and industry and government officials in those two cities have now concluded that it makes sense to broaden the effort. Some of the defense companies, for instance, have offices in multiple cities.

With defense spending accounting for roughly one-third of the economy in Hampton Roads, several cities consider such businesses a target market for job creation.

"We always talk about coming together as a region, so this is something else we're trying to do," said Scott Howell, senior business development manager for Chesapeake's Department of Economic Development. "It only makes sense given how much our local economy relies on the defense industry."

One city can't promote itself as "Pentagon South," said Cynthia Spanoulis, strategy and performance coordinator for the Beach's Department of Economic Development.

"We've got to be bigger to call ourselves that," she said. "Everything's regional."

The new group will be known as the Hampton Roads Defense and Homeland Security Consortium. It will operate under the umbrella of the Hampton Roads Technology Council, which counts a variety of defense contractors as members and now works with local economic development agencies.

Rick Lally, chairman of the technology council, said he hopes the regional group will explore such things as mentorship programs, a defense business incubator, and other ways to strengthen the presence of small, innovative companies.

Lally's Oceana Sensor Technologies Inc., which works with the Navy, was among around two dozen companies in the Virginia Beach consortium.

"The benefits of having these businesses here and their impact on the community is a regional thing - that's what it boils down to," Lally said.

The group's first meeting - representatives from any local defense or homeland security business can attend - is a Monday (October 15, 2007) lunch at the Residence Inn at Greenbrier in Chesapeake, starting at 11:30 a.m. Chesapeake's Department of Economic Development is covering the meals and the $150 room-rental fee, Howell said.

So far, economic development officials in Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Hampton and Newport News have expressed interest in joining the Beach and Chesapeake in the effort.



By JON W. GLASS, The Virginian-Pilot © October 13, 2007
(757) 446-2318, jon.glass@pilotonline.com

Friday, December 21, 2007

More HAPPY HOLIDAZE

funny pictures
can you find the cat in the Christmas tree? more funny pictures


ok, I'm outta here 'til after Christmas. Have a Happy!

Mercury Retrograde

What?

My 1-yr old computer developed a "cold" which caused some clunky operating, and I had to clean my registry. Our home wireless network acted up, and I had to reconfigure it. And, a few other just plain weird communication-oriented things happened this week.

Mercury Retrograde explained So, I was having lunch with a friend, and she suggested that perhaps it was Mercury's fault.

When Mercury is in retrograde, the speed of the planet slows down considerably. Communications, paperwork, electronics, and traffic can become very mixed-up or delayed during this time. It is surmised that this gives rise to personal misunderstandings; flawed, disrupted, or delayed communications, negotiations and trade; glitches and breakdowns with phones, computers, cars, buses, and trains.

While I'm not a big believer of astrology, there just may be something to this. For instance, the moon affects so much on planet Earth, the tides, the wind. What if the Moon didn't exist?

So much to contemplate.

Monday, December 17, 2007

Shift Happens, Did You Know?

"Shift Happens", the original and 2.0 versions of the video from Karl Fisch and Scott McLeod, very compelling ... and worrisome. First, the original:





And, now, an official update to the original "Shift Happens" video from Karl Fisch and Scott McLeod. This June 2007 update includes new and updated statistics, thought-provoking questions and a fresh design. For more information, or to join the conversation, please visit http://shifthappens.wikispaces.com/





-- Content by Karl Fisch and Scott McLeod, design and development by XPLANE.

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Happy Holidaze from Bert and Missy


Bert and Missy (and Jillian and Bertel, too) wish you a very happy holiday season. Our annual holiday end-of-year greeting comes to you this year via pictures and video. Enjoy!


Jillian teaching Dad the viola


Drink Mountain Dew
Enjoy the kids tribute to their Dad's favorite drink!
Click picture above for the video.
(Obviously, they'd been drinking some Dew.)


'Jillian


Bertel, the soccer star


Celebrating Bert's birthday


Bert is new WHRO CEO
Click on Bert's picture above to read all about it!

... so we said good-bye to Harrisonburg VA, WVPT-Public TV and Friendship Industries and off we go to Norfolk Virginia/Hampton Roads ...

Moved to Norfolk VA with Bert's new job


Bert with WHRO Board Chair and PBS President

Watch Bert's videos about WHRO-Public Broadcasting HERE on WHRO's website


Neighbor: Naticus Museum and USS Wisconsin


We lucked into a great condo in downtown Norfolk;
what a wonderful neighborhood!
City life, super neighbors, no yard care and walking distance to everything!


Neighbor: Pagoda Tea House


... Bertel and Jillian visited with us in July; we hit DC first, then on to Norfolk ...


Bertel and Jillian enjoy 1st Solo Plane Ride



Bertel and Jillian enjoy 1st Cab Ride



Visiting the White House



Bertel and Jillian enjoy 1st Metro Ride



Touring DC's historic Mall



Exploring space in the Smithsonsian museum



Enjoying Hampton Roads, Childrens Museum



Bert and Missy in NYC

Click on the picture below to see our video of the explosion that occurred while on our way to the hotel ... and the aftermath!

NYC during Steam Pipe Explosion

... we all traveled to Atlanta GA in August ...


Bertel and Jillian enjoy Atlanta Aquarium



Bertel and Jillian enjoy Atlanta Aquarium

... the entire Schmidt clan got together in Atlanta GA to celebrate Doug's (Bert's youngest brother) and Dawn's vows renewal and birth of baby Parker ...

Schmidt Clan in Atlanta, visiting Doug, Dawn and baby Parker



Stone Mountain GA

... also traveled to 1000 Islands, NY to celebrate Bertel's birthday in August ...


Bertel meets Hot Dog



Bert and Bertel enjoying 1000 Islands, NY


Check out Bertel and Jillian as they join the Syracuse Children's Circus!
CLICK HERE for the video



Jillian in school play



Jillian and horses
You can even watch a video of her talents (click on her picture above)


Missy and Bert at WHRO-Hampton Roads Public Broadcasting

... we had a blast in 2008, traveling quite a bit this year, to Vegas, Minneapolis MN, Palm Desert CA, NYC ...


Trip to Minneapolis MN



Trip to Palm Desert CA

... and we're honored to have such a warm welcome to Hampton Roads from WHRO staff, friends and more; we've made friends with some of the best people one could ever hope to meet or know!

Elmo even visited us this year ...


Bert and staff at WHRO

... and while Bert worked side by side with his amazing staff...


Bert works the phones at WHRO

... Missy is still looking for just the right "next position" along her career path ...


Missy in job search mode

... we're blessed to be living in such a vibrant area; Hampton Roads is fantastic and full of history, arts and culture ...


Enjoying Hampton Roads arts, meeting great people

... and we've taken time to enjoy a good party now and then, too ...


WHRO Holiday Party



Happy Holidays!

... hic-cup ...

not sure how to top 2007, but we know 2008 will be even better!

Truth in Advertising, always be truthful

Some light-hearted fun for the holidaze:

Funny Pictures
moar funny pictures

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

CANZ I BE LOLCAT 2?

funny pictures
moar funny pictures

HAPPEE HOLIDAZE

I couldn't resist sharing some silliness today. Ever heard of LOLCats, the feline-nomenon of the world wide web? Check out http://icanhascheezburger.com/. There's even a site devoted to LOLDogs now: http://ihasahotdog.com/.


Here are some of my faves, and, yes, they are my creations, too, except for the last one. (Ok, you caught me; I have another guilty pleasure!)



I IZ LAZEE (my kindergarten-teacher sister's cat "walks" in a baby stroller; this is her cat, "Bert". Her cat, "Ernie" is hiding under the car somewhere.)


funny pictures
moar funny pictures




funny pictures
moar funny pictures




funny pictures
moar funny pictures




funny pictures
moar funny pictures


Later....