There is something about growing old that is changing me. It forces me to confront things I never thought I should. An issue that I once considered a great strength turns out to be covering, overcompensating for a grand fear.
I so loved my wandering spirit. It took me everywhere I wanted to go with no limitations. I could brave the barriers that froze most others and come out the other side wiser, stronger, happier.
Until I met Amy. A woman I love and want to be with all he time. A best friend and lover. A confidante and adviser. But most of all someone I want to spend everyday with.
A grand thought that quickly led me to follow on musings. Like providing for her and the kids I think I want to raise. These thoughts bring to the forefront the grand challenge of my father and all fathers around the world.
It represents an end of the wild independent and reckless youth. The beginning of the mid life. A time when one should have learned enough to do more than survive. To keep my own head above water as well as a few others.
To many these thoughts and words signal the charge to run. Get as far away from responsibility as possible. To others it represents an acceptable casualty of raising a family. The only way there is to do it.
A crossroads for me you could say. Do I run? Stay and become sterile?
What destiny lies before me.
My most reliable answer has always been to go for neither. To strive for everything I want and sacrifice nothing. In this case I guess that means establishing a semblance of reckless wandering while providing the means to support 3.14 lives (the avg family size).
A side note to say that following the normal path means easy answers and predictable situatuions. Shooting for something wholly new, a life unexcused, means setting the bar and going about jumping over it.
First jump: money. This seems to be the plague that infests all happy marriages, families, and sex lives. A quite tractable problem that I have deigned to master.
It’s pretty simple actually; own property. After all, the adage that property creates wealth still holds true. No matter how many derivative equations or mutual funds can be created, wealth holds forth to old bonds.
In a years time I should have one property amassing wealth and maybe even income for me. In the midst of that year I feel like time is moving through dried concrete. Meaning not at all. Yet it is moving and in scope a year is no time at all. Many of the best success stories I read talk about 5-7 years being the standard time to hit.
The second problem I face is patience: a virtue of mine when it comes to people but a blasted enemy when it comes to action. My lack of patience for one year to accomplish my first piece of property is evidence. After all I know deep in my heart that wealth begets wealth and soon (5-7 yrs) I will have many and a steady income to support my slice of the pi (3.14 people).
Yet it kills me I want a new project. I want a new property. I want life to move at my place. A feeling that no rationalization seems to placate. In other words, the grand challenge of my 30s.
Shall I conquer wealth and patience, will it take the whole decade, should I hope to achieve both by age 35-37 (I am 30 now), how will I ever survive the 5 years, or should I say that patience requires me not to put a time constraint on these issues…
Alas, one more point of discussion revolves around the “semblance of reckless wandering”. To me, a far simpler issue. What I call the vagaries of spending money. To have regular income itself is a blessing. To spend it wisely only means certain planning and limited restraint. Still I feel I should address the issue.
Establish first a monthly budget, free of debt, full of life’s allowances. An obscene challenge for most but something I find no
trouble with. Second, find a way to earn that needed monthly income without working. Property serves this purpose for me and in that abyss of time, one year, I shall have achieved my first.
Third, and final, incorporate plans into the income scheming that support the wandering soul. Namely invest in property that I can rent for income but also live their when I wander into town. Create this in a few cities and I shall have a permanent ability to recklessly wander, like the aristocrats of yonder.
A quick cheat to add in a fourth issue. Learn about money, laws, and taxes surrounding wealth and property. They are numerous and litigous but absolutely necessary. Luckily something I enjoy studying.
Which leaves me sitting here (I am typing this on my phone on marble stairs in a shaded courtyard of the EPA headquarters) pondering why I hate this process so much. I seem to have it all figured out. Problems one and three are known quantities that only require execution (which I am very fond of doing).
It’s that damn number two, my mortal enemy patience of action. Do you know how long 5-7 years seems to me?
Whe I first set about this path I expected three years to be my limit, my upper boundary at which I can permit myself to wait for. Now, I am faced with a reality of 5-7.
Oh god, the more I say it the more it haunts me. Trust me on this when ur only thirty years old, 5 years is 1/6 of all the heartbeats you have felt.
To overcome I am developing all sorts of coping mechanisms. Reading, travelling as allowed, moping sadness, hobbies, volunteering, obsessing!
Will I learn this lesson?
Should I learn this lesson?
It all started with this tweet:
Worst part of getting dumped is knowing that you will remember everything while trying to move on – 12:15am, April 7
I was a bit inebriated and soon descended into tearing paper hearts off the wall (from valentines day). Five days would pass and I’m still a wreck. The break-up hurts but something else is bugging me. I’m crying in bathrooms, taking showers to cry, not eating..
At a friends barbeque I’m cornered into a bet: a silence retreat for three days.
No talking/twitter/phone calls/texting.
Only communication needed to get through my day (which includes talking at work).
I was slightly interested in doing this but would have rather dealt with the ‘crying’ thing.
It was a tough time with Bear but it was something more. My parents had also come into town. That wasn’t it either. Something was definitely off.
It took all three days of silence for the puzzle to be solved. The end of which saw the Bear and I coming back together more intimate than before, and me beginning to heal some deep childhood issues. I feel taller and stronger now which is amazing.
Now, to the details of how it all happened:
Thoughts after day one
(the following is a diary entry written during the silence retreat and unedited, except for grammar)
1. I dont think before I speak. I like doing that too. I think it stems from when i was 4 or 5 and had a stutter. One day I was suddenly cured and went from years of held back speech to sudden freedom. I could talk all i want. You can say the next few decades were an onslaught of talking on all those around me. Now I see the value in not talking. Problem is I am stuck in a habit of word vomit (and I like it). Plenty of folks have complained about this over the years. I guess now may be the time to solve this issue. It will be a challenge for me since this is not just a habit but a hobby (i love talking). Hopefully, I will find some way to love not talking!
2. Communication is warm. Right now I feel very isolated. I am all around people but I can’t talk to them. If i were talking to them I wouldn’t notice the lack of warmth. Its just always there for most of us. I definitely feel it now and its like a cold shoulder. Even more, I am next to amy and I cant talk to her. It feels like a huge divide. I really like hearing about her day, her latest thoughts, and discussing the random topics that pop into our brains. I feel isolated, cold, and I miss the bear.
3. Deep eyes. Since i’m not talking I don’t really want to look at someone’s mouth or lips. I feel myself drawn to the eyes. I want to see what they say. I feel like through the eyes I can feel thoughts and emotions. It feels like richer insight into the person than conversing can give. I must try this when I am talking again. Watch the eyes for depth and listen the mouth for content.
Day two
(the following is a diary entry written during the silence retreat and unedited, except for grammar)
The silence is killing me. I spent the whole day tired and emotional. Amy kept asking me about my past and my emotions. Revealing some of my deepest insecurities. Things i had tried for years to run from, hide from, and pretend never existed. Work goes by in a flash. The right side of my brain takes over. I plan and execute. The silence disrupts my respite. Talking has always been my escape, now without out i feel helpless. Emotional.
I meet up with Bill a new friend. Friends. I don’t really have any. I mean I have people who like hanging out with me and me them. People who know about me and my life. Shared experiences. But, not friends. After my emotional morning and emails to Amy sunlight has peeked through the pain. I am scared to let people in. Haunted by the memories of abusive relationships, loss of innocence, and pain.
The sunlight is the moment I share with Bill. Instead of talking at him, I listen. Instead of having to say everything I engage in a conversation. Bill seems to enjoy it, me too, but the little voice inside of me was shouting, itching, screaming to say more/more/more.
Confused, scared, and learning. That’s where I am now. The emotions are close to overtaking me. I really just want to sleep get past the tiredness. But i know i need to let out the pain. It wants to come out and see the sunshine. In the light i may just grow. Today I make the commitment to listen.
Day 3
I never make it to the end of day three, right as time is about to expire I shout: “I’m breaking all the rules, Bear is beautiful, and I want to lose the bet” – “why” – “Because I want to take you on a hot air balloon” (my part of the bet).
I felt like a new man ready to listen and make friends. The very first thing to do was think about other people. Try to be genuine in the giving and do something for them. Bear had always wanted to go on a hot air balloon ride and I would rather lose the bet to do something for her.
Two days later we take our long planned trip to Miami. The trip was once a point of contention, we broke up but should we still go. Instead we are sitting at the terminal together. Happy. A couple.
Well, that resolves the break-up problem. We are back together.
I’m not even sure we split up. We did have a huge fight. I was not happy, she was not happy, and something needed to change. The rest of the details don’t add much to this narrative but the outcome of this all does.
First, I’m staying in DC for a while. Maybe another dreaded winter. Maybe forever. I don’t know.
I miss California and need it to be a bigger part of my life. This summer I will head home for a few weeks or month. Probably do the same in December.
I’m not sure if this will quench my desire to be ‘home’ but its a start. I mean who can complain about spending a month surfing on the beach.
The second outcome is my personal growth. I learned how important friends are and more importantly why I was keeping myself isolated. It will take some time but I think I can solve this.
Third, twitter is losing its appeal. Very slowly it is fading into a mass communication device devoid of real people and feelings. Too many share links and interesting whatnots and leave real life out of it.
When I shared my break-up and a feeling that my life was falling apart I received support and love from close friends/family. Yet those same people say I “cried wolf” or “share too much”. A strange position for me. I share and get amazing support but am told that I shouldn’t have done so.
The twitter culture (or our culture) is establishing a Victorian etiquette that covers what is appropriate and inappropriate, and I don’t like it.
I want to share more and use social networks to strengthen relationships. Instead I feel them becoming shallow vague representations of our lives.
It’s a shame to let the twitter stream go to waste. So when looking for ways to recap my experience delivering a talk on Zero Waste at SXSW, the twittstream seemed like the perfect way to tell the story.
It all starts with my last two tweets before getting started:
robotchampion Prepped and ready for 1230 #zerowaste talk, props, surprise guests, and even activism!
robotchampion Talk is just moments away, use the #zerowaste hashtag
As we get started eight folks chime in with GoWalla and Foursquare check-ins and general announcements about it beginning:
steveblackmon #zerowaste — at Zero Waste: The Future of Green http://gowal.la/s/4rK2
JessiO At the #zerowaste session in 8A. (@ Austin Convention Center w/ @ramon_deleon @benedictwong @leahjones) http://4sq.com/8RQqOx
YannR next #zerowaste … the future of green @ sxsw
sustaining Settling in at the #zerowaste session; looks like a diverse crowd and a lot of Austinites!
Then, I launch into my intro attempting to explain #zerowaste, but here is what they crowd hears/tweets:
GREENITED On average Americans create 6 pounds of trash per day per person. #zerowaste #sxsw
createthegood At #zerowaste, @robotchampion is talking about companies like @WholeFoods that are reducing the amt of trash they send to landfill. Saves $.
accooper1 Change the size of the compost (largest) recycle & landfill (smallest) bins to help change behavior #zerowaste #sxsw
createthegood #zerowaste is diverting from landfills… composting, recycling… – @robotchampion #SXSW
Ok, so either I was extremely captivating and no one cared to tweet, or I talked way too fast and folks only had time to tweet major snippets?
createthegood Next speaker is Beth Ferguson from Austin… Her design thesis was on solar charging stations for electric vehicles & bikes. #zerowaste
agreenerlifeorg At the #zerowaste panel being impressed with people’s ingenuity.
Blocks8 Look for the solar recharge stations that look like 1950’s gas pumps around Austin #sxsw #zerowaste
createthegood One audience member said they saw it last night and there was a line. People are digging it. #zerowaste // Now I wanna go snap a pic!
LisaRedShoesPR did not know about the retro-fitted 50s style gas pumps as solar charging stations for bikes, laptops around… #sxsw #zerowaste
sustaining Beth Ferguson’s design for a solar electric charging station incorporates 1950s gas pumps to make energy consumption visible. #zerowaste
craftyb RT @createthegood: Henry Ford’s wife drove the first electric vehicle. #zerowaste #whoknew
I chime in with an important fact that a few tweet about:
changeorder The greatest new energy source is energy reduction. #zerowaste #sxsw
Then our next speaker, Jason Aramburu, starts off with a zinger:
brianfit Clean coal? Oxymoron! #zerowaste
brookebf Rechar doing project in Houston ship channel w waste wood fr hurricane ike gen pwr & fertilizer reduce landfill #zerowaste #sxswi #housxsw
After Jason’s talk I go off on compost, which seemed to set off a flurry of tweets:
createthegood A lot of people in the room raise their hand saying they compost. Me, I’m learning. #zerowaste #SXSW
ericavandenberg “Farmers call compost black gold” #zerowaste #sxswi
KuraFire Compost is the new black gold. #zerowaste
Amy begins her part:
createthegood Next up, @sengseng (aka “Steve’s woman”) She’s talking about the girlfriend’s perspective living with someone who lives #zerowaste lifestyle
kirbstr #zerowaste victim or guinea pig 
createthegood . @sengseng’s first reaction was that #zerowaste is impossible in today’s society #SXSW
accooper1 Waste is just a bad habit not a lifestyle #zerowaste #sxsw
createthegood Even just bringing a water bottle or your own cup helps reduce the paper generated. – @sengseng #zerowaste #SXSW
createthegood Changing food habits was one of the biggest challenges. @robotchampion & @sengseng shop at farmers markets mainly #zerowaste #SXSW
LisaRedShoesPR Re-think what constitutes a meal … #sxsw #zerowaste eat things from farmer’s markets.
Amy hits the tweet bingo with the most folks re-tweeting her lines/quoting her. Then a questioneer brings up the crucial question with perfect timing and saving me from the awkward transition to it. What are the online resources for zero waste, food, etc.?
LisaRedShoesPR take note of the #slowfood movement. #sxsw #zerowaste
createthegood To find your local farmers markets or locally sourced food, one resource is http://www.localharvest.org/ #zerowaste #SXSW
LisaRedShoesPR check out eatwellguide.org for farmer’s guide market #sxsw #zerowaste
Finally, the session winds down with announcements and lots of folks with new ideas:
kirbstr #zerowaste comment on the waste of the swag bags, but they are a revenue source for smaller biz but #sxsw is cutting down on paper wastes
MelissaSavcic Great talk about #zerowaste at #sxsw There needs to be more ‘green’ lifestyle conferences!
KuraFire IFixit.com is aiming to be a Wikipedia for fixing your own hardware (like broken iPhone screens). #zerowaste
KuraFire “Reduce first, Reuse second, Recycle third. Now a fourth one: Rethink.” #Zerowaste
floridagirlindc My fave from #zerowaste panel at #SXSW: @sengseng’s “Look at the faces of people in supermakret vs people at farmers market. Who’s happier?”
the007way #zerowaste www.soldesignlab.com Been considering an elec scooter but I have nowhere to charge it at present. Just got rid of car.
The Stats
- 6 rave reviews and 2 critiques (here, here, I followed up personally with each critique)
- During the 60 minute session:
- – there were 51 ReTweets
- – 204 Tweets using the hashtag #zerowaste
- – which is 3.4 tweets/minute or about a tweet every 18 seconds
- 1 Live Streamer
- 3 Live Note Takers (by YannR, cwcinc, and benrigby)
The Ending, My Favorite Tweet
AeroSuch Lots of sandals & composters at #Zerowaste. Great insights into solar recharge, bio charcoal, and savingmoney/calories/trash #habits #sxsw
Wow!
What an exciting day in energy. Today Bloom Energy changed the game with their Bloom Server, here is why.
We all know the story that the vast majority of our energy comes from old (and dirty) power plants that use coal and nuclear energy sources. Well the hidden truth behind these “energy sources” is that all they do is heat water to create steam and move turbines. They make steam!
How ridiculous is that. We can send a robot to Mars but to power my iPhone I need some boiling water?
This ridiculous market paradigm is what Bloom hopes to exploit (and make billions in the process). They ignore the source argument over replacing coal and nuclear with wind, solar, or heat. Instead focusing on the energy process itself and applying advanced technology to wring some efficiency out of it.
K.R. Sridhar, CEO of Bloom, PhD, and former Director of Space Technologies at UofA, did just that. He found that a combination of fuel cells and natural gas can get 2x as much power as the steam process can (using same inputs). In his own words, they did it through old fashioned innovation:
“I call it R&D on steroids,” K.R. Sridhar said at the start-up’s offices. “We created an R&D platform where you continuously improve, validate and test. Learn why it broke and move on.”
That RD process has turned out one of the most promising energy technologies to date (imagine needing half as much coal). A fuel cell made out of sand and coated in a cheap metal “oxide” (they are keeping the recipe a secret). Each cell is super thin and just a few inches wide/long and capable of turning natural gas into electricity.
That is the fuel cell side to all this, although it doesn’t sound at all like traditional fuel cells.
The kicker is that this is not future technology. These fuel cells are already in place at many large business sites. Google is reported to be the first to have installed one while eBay, who hosted the press event, said to have five Bloom Servers providing %15 of their energy. A server is about 4,000 cells jammed into a black box that looks like an IT server.
That is just the beginning. This technology is so promising that everybody is joining the party. The press event was attended by Arnold Schwarzenegger, Colin Powell, Dianne Feinstein, and Michael Bloomberg (“make no mistake, when we look at Bloom, we are looking at the future of business, economy, and America”).
Finally, the VP and CEO’s of FedEx, Walmart, Staples, Google, Coca Cola, Bank of America, Cox, and eBay were on hand to explain why they love Bloom.
A star studded public relations event or the future of energy technology?
—-
The Department of Energy (DOE/FEMP) is holding a monthly online seminar focusing on sustainability. The sessions provide support for legions of federal workers that are leading the nation into our new green economy.
The first session (of six) focuses on Executive Order 13514, commonly called the sustainable order. The following training sessions are as follows:
- Mar 4 – Energy 101
- Apr 1 – Water Efficiency Planning and Implementation
- May 6 – Federal Greenhouse Gas Accounting and Reporting
- Jun 3 – Advanced Metering Requirements and Best Practices
- Jul 1 – Operations, Maintenance, and Commissioning
Each session is available for free through online video streaming.
I attended the first one (virtually) and here are my notes. Also, I am keeping out the presenters emails but if you have questions and would like their contacts, please let me know.
—-
“As the largest consumer of energy in the US economy the Federal government can and should lead by example when it comes to creating innovative ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase energy efficiency, conserve water, reduce waste, and use environmentally-responsible products and technologies.”
The thinking behind the Order is to:
- have the federal government “lead by example”
- “take pride in agency accomplishments” (highlight work already being done)
- encourage agencies to think “integrated planning”
- push/pull/force agencies to reach across “stovepipes”
The Federal Government:
- Occupies nearly 500,000 buildings
- Operates more than 500,000 vehicles
- Employs more than 1.8 million civilians
- Purchases more than $500 billion per year in goods and services
Benefits to the Nation:
- Energy savings – Avoided Costs – Jobs – Innovations – Improvements to Local Infrastructure
Policy:
- Establish an integrated agency strategy for sustainability, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions within the federal government in order to lead by example and achieve a clean energy economy.
- “really talking about practical application”
- “requires strategic perspective bringing together the right components”
- “planning is crucial”
Goals:
- GHG reduction targets, energy efficiency, water use efficiency and mgmt, pollution prevention, waste elimination
- Regional and local integrated planning
- High performance sustainable Federal buildings
- Sustainable acquisition
- Electronics stewardship
- Environmental mgmt systems
Scopes in Greenhouse Gasses, asking for an absolute percentage reduction target for FY 2020, relative to FY 2008. Due:
- Scope 1-2 – jan 4, 2010
- Scope 3 – jun 2, 2010
By FY 2015 achieve a %50 or higher solid waste diversion and construction/demolition diversion
This represents “nothing less than a transformational shift in how federal governments operate”
Additional Work
- DOE to develop greenhouse gas accounting and reporting recommendations by April/Oct
- DOT to site sustainable locations for federal facilities
- GSA to develop local transportation logistics
- DOE to write federal fleet mgmt guidance
- GSA to pass along vendor and contractor emissions guidnace
- EPA to write stormwater guidance for federal facilities
Full copy of the briefing: Executive Order 13514 Training
I recently attended a fascinating seminar on emerging technology in energy. Here are some of my notes and thoughts on the next generation of energy:
Energy Harvesting
My favorite new term. It refers to using existing energy sources (solar, wind, geothermal, thermo) and turning them into electricity to feed the grid. Pretty much covers all the new energy sources. Excludes coal, nuclear, etc.
Smart Grid
Apparently, its just a dream.
Obama is pushing it and so is Energy Secretary, Steven Chu. All reasonable folk expect this is to be the foundation of our energy future. Without a modern grid we have no hope of utilizing the latest innovations. It would be like giving jet fuel to a horse drawn carriage.
Future, hah!, says the wizened gentleman behind me. He begins to explain his reaction after telling me he left the business and is only attending this seminar for nostalgia purposes. Suspect. He relates that the grid is already smart on a macro level. Utilities know how to share power, monitor, and get it to needed locations. What we are talking about is the micro level and involves pushing that technology to every city, home, and building. An expensive feat that will probably never result from government or utility spending.
More to be explained on that in following section.
What is a big deal then? Energy storage on the grid. If we are over-producing solar power in hot deserts and wind power at night, where will at all go. Our current infrastructure does not have an ability to use/transport/store this energy supply. If we can figure out a way to get the energy to high population areas then our grid will be smart.
Smart Metering
This is where the real change is happening. Power outlets with remote controls. Home appliances with timers. Motion sensors. Sleep modes for computers.
All of these involve the new energy monitoring lifestyle. They give us an opportunity to take control of our energy use. A lot of us want more and this where smart metering comes into play. Hook up all those devices to a software package and you get data heaven. Charts, graphs, recommendations. This seems to be where the juice is (pardon the pun).
Google is offering a software package, called Power Meter, and partnering with Energy, Inc. Their product, the TED5000, has been flying off the shelves for over a year now. It appears that this version of the smart grid, one that is decentralized and at the individual level will be driving the market for years to come.
PV – Photo Voltaic
The process of converting solar energy into electricity. We all know about this and see it on many roofs. For many years the market has been stuck growing at a snails pace. New investments were needed to make this energy type economical. Now we are starting to see that and many seem to be surprised that the former ceiling of 20% (solar energy to electrical energy conversion) is being broken. Wikipedia tells us (with sourcing) that:
Photovoltaic production has been doubling every 2 years, increasing by an average of 48 percent each year since 2002, making it the world’s fastest-growing energy technology. At the end of 2008, the cumulative global PV installations reached 15,200 megawatts.
Second Generation PV
As the investments ramp up the technological innovation is booming. Folks with pent up projects are finally getting dollars (or more likely Yuan) to operationalize their theories. A big group of these innovations are centered around ultra-thin, low cost solar arrays. Instead of the bulky flat panels we will get complex micro solar panels with interesting features like: solar tracking (panels follow the sun), economies of scale (driving down cost), and mirrors (increasing efficiency through reflecting). Our presenter mentioned that these second generation panels have the capability to drive down costs to match that of nuclear and coal power.
Third Generation PV
This one feels more like a laboratory study than a real consumer product. Still their are companies releasing this on the market and our presenter even said that it is in calculators now. This grouping of PV focuses on the materials used to create solar panels. Searching for organic, nano, and molecular replacements for the raw materials (silicon, cadmium, lithium) that we use now. Definitely a major need since many of the raw materials used for solar panels are rare and sometimes for rogue states.
20% Problem
Touched on this a bit before. It boils down to a maximum reached by first generation solar panels. For many years their maximum solar to electrical conversion was 20%, with 80% lost/wasted. In comparison to coal and nuclear, which are 60-70%, this makes solar 3x as expensive and require 3x as many panels/turbines/etc.
The 2/3rd generation technologies mentioned above easily breach the 20% ceiling. One already at 35% through stacking panels, utilizing off band (UV) rays, and mirrors. I expect it wont be long until that number is doubled.
NIMBY
Not in my backyard. This is representing a real problem. In the coming years we will ‘plant’ thousands of solar panels and wind turbines. Few are happy to have them muddy up their roof or beautiful view.
Even worse this backlash is fostering more support for nuclear power plants. They don’t have to go in your backyard!
I just wish somebody would think long term on this. Nuclear Waste. Nuclear Countries. Nuclear Weapon. Not sure we need more nuclear in our lives, especially if the alternative is just a solar panel.
ARPA-E
Maybe you have heard of DARPA, an uber-advanced military research group that created the internet, builds robots, and many other amazing innovations. the Department of Energy has created ARPA-E which stands for Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy. A place to conceptualize and test the advanced energy projects of the future.
Wireless Sensors
Wireless sensors presents a massive new industry of tiny sensors that require little energy. They serve a simple function which is to turn on, send data, and shut down. They only turn on when activated and gather a specific amount of data to transmit. After transmission they shut back down.
This allows them to be placed nearly anywhere and even form a mesh network. Activate one sensor that passes data and/or activation signal to the next one. In a few minutes you can have data from thousands of sensors. My brother wrote a dissertation on this using planes as an example. Place a sensor on all critical plane equipment. When the plane lands activate the sensors and get a status report on the plane.
Wireless Electricity
Wireless charging is coming. At the recent CES it was the rage. Consumer products are on the market. An MIT startup, Witricity, has several patents and deals with government, industry, and consumables. Hooray for the day when we are free from our cable jungles.
Graphene
A new material created in the lab with amazingly sophisticated microscopes that can be manipulated into a ridiculous array of uses. The presenter showed it as rope, tires, and even circuits. He passed around prints, stickers, rope, and cardboard made out of graphene. It appears to be the next gore-tex, or material than can be turned into anything. Cheap and moldable. It will be fun to see how this material is used.
Oddly enough I did it. I found a way that Green IT relates to Gov 2.0.
The bond too seems pretty strong on both sides. Almost as if one would be inherently weaker without the other. Read on…
—-
My proposal to speak at Gov 2.0 Expo in May:
5-minute rapid fire presentation
Title:
Green IT for Gov 2.0
Description (400 chars):
Green IT is building momentum as our new Executive Order 13514 from President Obama calls for increased sustainability at every Federal Agency. This presentation provides an overview of the impact of this sustainability initiative, how it supports and builds upon Gov 2.0, and the best practices being employed in the government and commercial sectors.
Abstract:
On October 5, 2009 President Obama signed into action a broad forward leaning Executive Order focused on the environment, energy, and economic performance. The driving force behind this is not only climate change but a need to lower costs.
Strangely, this push is leading us directly into the cloud and on virtualized machines. These changes represent the latest in industry standards and extremely cost effective options for Federal agencies. Add in that it meets the requirements of the Executive Order and protects the environment, and it may just be an unstoppable force.
Parallel to these efforts, the Gov 2.0 movement is gaining momentum and is a surprising ally. The drive towards citizen engagement, transparency, and web applications rely deeply on this technology. It also presents a unique sandwich for success with IT driving the push towards cost savings and users/public clamoring for more openness.
Join me as I briefly touch on the major topics of this intersection of two fields presenting a broad overview, touchpoints between the two, and best practices to keep us going forward.
**If requested, I can pull together a panel discussion with relevant members of the commercial and federal sectors.
Many of you know that I am now deeply involved in Federal Green IT. Add that in with my personal nonprofit work on Food/Obesity/Recycling and I’m all ears for video conferencing.
Which is why I’m a bit wry in these thoughts scrambled on sheets during my first VTC:
Sitting in two separate rooms. Two different groups. A Turing test – feeding voice info through the mic to the other group. Like Turing would think, if the message is delivered and a smart reply ensues, we have an intelligent VTC.
The atmoshpherics of the VTC are such that any delay in transmission can fail the whole operation. The faces on the screen are cold, flat, and the size of a penny on a screen far away on the wall. Wait! There is a third interloper, a single person, in a dark room. Is that big brother? Did he see me writing these notes and now going to take me to secret prison number 72?
Papers are everywhere. We have video screens of each other and a million printouts. Separate notes being taken on each. Lots of writing. Redundant. Scattered. Back to their individual desk and then…lost.
Why not a single note taker – entering notes digitally – on the scene = available instantly back at my desk for free!
Is the whole point of a video conference saving time and money, with lowered stress? Appears to work but still seem so awkward. How to improve? Does the new meeting format ask corporate servants to learn new meeting skills – like muting the box, waiting for the delay to pass, squinting at the screen to see their faces?
Maybe its just me and Im now old. Used to my physical “warm” meetings…or maybe im not using the top of the line technology…what is that like?
Can I just sit at my desk and play/enter Second Life and sit at virtual desk?
**this is cross-posted from the Navstar blog, announcing my new position**
It’s the beginning of my new life at Navstar and I am asked, “What do you hope to do?”
A simple question but it completely floors me. I’m so used to the opposite and its stifling restrictions and requirements. I just can’t fathom the answer.
Then day two rolls around and I’m still floored. I decide to ask our VP, Corinne Combeau, what do you think? She proceeds to paint a beautiful picture for me. Complete with flowing creativity, ambitious goals, and even a prop. A sheet of paper that she turns into a metaphor with one side representing the Navstar way with a sky is the limit, blank slate approach and the other side representing ‘others’ with a job description that forces you into a box.
Again, I’m floored.
I keep thinking to myself…is this what it mean to be working for a top 25 technology company in DC (pdf)?
——–
This all means that I am officially an employee of Navstar. They have offered me an incredible opportunity to join their team where I will be helping their Green IT and Enterprise 2.0 programs.
Our broad vision for Green IT is to help turn our Federal government in a mean green machine. Transform it one of the most sustainable and efficient operations in the world. Over the coming weeks we will be putting out more details of our program and services. The main focus of which will be providing sound solutions to federal agencies that reflect the modern environmental movement, where going green means cost savings, increased capabilities, improved efficiency, and much more.
In Enterprise 2.0, Navstar is already a leader in the space having caught the wave very early. Now, over 4 years later, the program is a defined leader in the space thanks to the work of Andrea Baker, the Director of Enterprise 2.0 for Navstar. I am excited to join her team and help grow the program (and this blog!). More details on my involvement to come.
This is an exciting time for me since I have a deep passion in both areas. In the field of green I am a passionate change advocate for food and waste. I created the non-profit, A Clean Life, to allow for greater impact and change. I spend my days and weeks helping DC turn into a zero waste city and its citizens discover the joys and health benefits of real food.
In the online world I am non-stop. Since my earliest days I have developed an alter-ego, starting as a Senior Game Master at Blizzard. In that role I learned the new language of the nets as our success on World of Warcraft went through the roof, defining a whole new genre in gaming (massive multiplayer). With that new language I quickly progressed to teaching others about it in the Intelligence Community, helping scores of Intelligence Officers understand what a wiki is and soon blogs, tags, and more. After that I joined the World Intelligence Review helping spearhead their Agile Product Development and Project Management programs, watching as it became the most successful online enterprise in Intelligence.
Now, I am poised for success again as I join forces with Navstar to grow their Green IT program and contribute mightily to their Enterprise 2.0 work.
Still…I am left pondering the question…”what do you hope to do?”
I want to do it all
Meme – An idea or pattern of thought that “replicates” like a virus by being passed along from one thinker to another
As an idea or pattern of thought government 2.0 (gov 2.0) is still being defined and debated. To some it is merely an extension of Web 2.0, to others it is the serious work of transparency and greater citizen involvement through open data.
Let’s dig into this meme…
Gov 2.0 Summit and Expo
Wow, what an event this was. Tim O’Reilly and his leadership team put on quite a show. I was in attendance on a press badge and was fortunate enough to view the events in the crowd and on the inside.
The event signaled a shock to the Washington DC government crowd. For a long time these beltway folks had been toiling away under the radar before an unsupportive administration. Now, they are in position to make some major moves in the federal sphere.
On the same level of shock, Silicon Valley and the O’Reilly team faced some hard facts about the beltway. Their can-do attitude and forceful energy stepped on one too many toes. And, I think it safe to say turned many off because of the government inefficiencies and roadblocks in the way of innovation and reform.
I saw a little east coast, west coast rivalry pop-up. Fortunately, the show went on and many from around the country attended the event, had a blast, and completely missed out on the kerfuffles.
For an interesting review on the event check out Amy Senger’s ‘The Gov 2.0 Showdown‘
Celebrity Status
Gov 2.0 has yet to make it big. A google news search shows that only 222 articles mention the term. Few large media outlets are talking about the movement. It has yet to penetrate the consciousness of the average person and more importantly the middle manager.
A google blog search reveals over 40,000 hits. Apparently there is some viral conversations taking place with many thinkers opining on the topic.
The Definition
Is it about personal brands, twitter, and facebook. Or, as Tim O’Reilly says its about government as a platform. Maybe, its about Enterprise 2.0 as Professor Andy McAfee and Andrea Baker have been talking about.
We have yet to come to a solid agreement about the definition. In fact, much of the discussion revolves around each blogger stating their own definition or throwing stones at another’s.
It does appear that gov 2.0 is infiltrating every level of government. With each office incorporating social media, cloud computing, and open API’s into their job buckets. Which leaves some remaining tough questions about openness, transparency, and the role of government in all of this.
Leadership
In an age of personal brands it appears that everyone is a leader in the space of government 2.0. Everyone has done everything and is an expert in all. Just a few years of experience and a blog post published on a prominent website, make you a star.
Sarcasm aside government 2.0 is hard work. It takes community building, relationships, coding, networking, promotion, and more. The most striking leaders in this space are those performing nearly all of those roles. Which means they are often hidden from popular view but deeply influential in their spheres of work.
This hidden work combined with the lack of celebrity status has left a clear opening for profiteers. Many are hoping to be the first to break the story and claim success. A challenge to ethical underpinnings of this new community.
Community
In my opinion the single largest effect of Tim O’Reilly’s move into the gov 2.0 world is to bring all of this hard work to a broader audience. Personally, I feel like I am now connected to every state government, city government, regional federal office, all in addition to the existing Washington DC offices, which are legion.
Beyond that are hundreds of NGO’s on both sides of the aisle and in the middle are pushing agendas, uncovering scandals, and playing with data.
The community encompasses so many folks that it is going to be tough to wrangle all of them together.
The Future
Is very bright. We appear to have at least three more years of enlightened tech policy coming out of the white house. Which filters down to every level of public and private work. Big contracts and big corporations are starting to take notice and follow the money.
The recession too is providing an opportunity for gov 2.0. The realization of improved efficiency and cost savings are helping to overcome transient cultural barriers. I’ve even seen stimulus dollars used for gov 2.0 work (blackberries for Baltimore PD).
Behind the scenes the back channels and ego battles are just as interesting. Players are being challenged, camps are forming, and feelings are being hurt. The traditional way of doing business is being challenged with women asserting their rights in tech. Average folks who normally have no voice are able to trumpet their issues across new communication mediums to make their voice heard and responded too.
I look forward to more rapid growth, another gov 2.0 event, and ever more kerfuffles. I hope the progress and reform continues. I hope the west coast can help break the stranglehold the major defense companies have on government work. I hope that our community overcomes its own ego and looks to the common good.
This piece comes as a follow on to Andrew McAfee’s, Enterprise 2.0: The State of the Meme, written over 3 years ago in June 2006