Over the past two years, so-called wireless "smart meters" to measure electricity have been installed in millions of Northern California homes by PG&E, our utility company. The company claims … [Read more...]
Social Issues and Debatable Topics
Gulf Oil Spill and Gaia Mother Earth: Time to End the Blame
As we watch the huge slick from the Gulf oil spill spread across the ocean, I’m reminded of the Greek mythological Mother Earth goddess Gaia, made popular in the late 1970′s and, later, in the 1990′s by James Lovelock who wrote the book “Gaia: A New Look at Life on Earth.” Lovelock suggested that we [...]
Health Care Benefits for Congress?
To the Congress of the United States regarding your health care benefits: Over the weekend with the Senate’s narrow but passing vote to “debate” health care legislation, it’s become crystal clear that some members of Congress don’t care about the health care crisis. With a few exceptions, the Republican leadership is unwilling to debate the [...]
How We Spend Our Time as Unemployment Rises
Once again, the researchers are at work with their computer models and statistical flukes. In this case, the Labor Department recently released its 2009 American Time Use Survey telling us how people spend their time. According to the experts, here’s how we’re using our time in hours and minutes (2009/2007): Sleeping (8:40/8:34) Watching TV (2:49/2:37) [...]
Passionate People Colliding with Passionate People
It’s very energizing to meet people who share similar interests. It’s like an auto collision without the damage. For me, this week has been a series of “people collisions” as I’ve met mobile professionals in San Francisco at the annual Smaato advertising events. Wednesday night, I was part of a roundtable discussion with app developers, [...]
Fort Hood Reminds Us of Veterans and the Ultimate Sacrifice
And we still remember Ford Hood a year later. The incident reminds us of veterans and the ultimate sacrifice. Written and performed by Jeanie JaeCie Cunningham. 1. How can we look in your eyes, and not feel the pain of empty broken hearts… Aching with hope for another day, for one more hour. In matter [...]
South Dakota Public Radio Memories on the Fourth of July
On the fourth of July, 1976–200 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence–I stood in a corn field on a farm near Brookings, South Dakota. I had just arrived to become Program Coordinator of KESD-FM, an NPR station located on the campus of South Dakota State University. Little did I know that someday [...]