NorthStarNerd.Org

Communal Reading of the News

In the world of smartphones and tablet computers, have we lost "communal news"? Like most of my readers, I love these devices which keep us connected to the world around us. However, in our connectivity are we losing some of our ability to connect with each other?

While riding BART this past week during a visit to Silicon Valley, time and again I noticed parents who were absorbed in their smartphones, while their young children sat next to them. The children were still actively exploring the environment around them with curious looks towards fellow passengers, and watching the passing views out the window. How long will this curiosity last? What message is being taught?

Here are two images which reinforce this view. The first photo is from a phenomenal blog named "The Passion of Former Days". The author's byline says it all: "Exploring old photographs and posters to connect with the people who lived, laughed, and loved in years gone by."

The second image is typical of what one would see anywhere in the world. Reading is still a communal exprience, but my how the experience has changed. We're together, but are we?

Click upon either image to view full sized. 

Then (original post: Reading the Papers)

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Now (original post: Facebook Before Tap Water)

Photograph taken by Kainaz Amaria of Bloomberg Communications

I'm as guilty as the next person. I own a Android smartphone, a Kindle Fire and an iPad (not to mention my laptop). Like you my reader, I need to disconnect and connect!

In closing, Anna Krentz's blog, The Passion of Former Days, is really worth a visit. I only discovered her work earlier this week, and it's already one of my favorite sites. Here is one final example from her blog illustrating my theme of the communal read, Something Just Broke (the assassination of President John F. Kennedy)

Are You a Harvard Hypocrite?

Understand that this post is being written by a Dartmouth man, but in truth this topic has little to do with either school. A better question would be, do you believe in open access to knowledge?

Some background: a few technical societies such as the IEEE and ASME control technical research publishing. Even if an engineer contributes a research article at no charge to one of these organizations (the norm), the publishers in turn charge a HUGE subscription cost for something they received for free.

Why Harvard? An article in Time Magazine notes that Harvard now spends $3.75 million per year on subscriptions to research journals. The Guardian explains: "Exasperated by rising subscription costs charged by academic publishers, Harvard University has encouraged its faculty members to make their research freely available through open access journals and to resign from publications that keep articles behind paywalls"

Why a Hypocrite? Ever wonder how much money Harvard yields from the Harvard Business Review? In the same news release about the cost of journals, Harvard did not offer lower prices for the Harvard Business Review.

Conclusion: I agree with Harvard and their faculty, but it would be nice if they followed their own advice! The concept of open access is not new, and many good sources exist to support this initiative including the Creative Commons, the Internet Archive, and the Directory of Open Access Journals.

Ultimately, we need institutions like Harvard to take the lead and "just say no" to publishers. It is reasonable to receive a fee for compiling research, but the cost has become to high. Quoting from Time and the Harvard memo: "some journals cost the school up to $40,000 every year, with the two top publishers increasing the price of content 145% over the last six years".

I actually have personal experience with this issue. About ten years ago I worked at turning my company's physical technical library into a resource which might be used globally via the web. The prices which the technical societies and services demanded were exhorbitant. In my case, I invited the vendors in one by one, and explained how we needed more reasonable pricing. In one instance I ended a business relationship with a quality vendor. One year later when they came back with a more realistic bid, we recontracted for the services. 

My work experience showed playing hardball was required. We all need to take the Harvard approach. I just wish Harvard would also lower their price for HBR and set a good example.

If you have research, please submit your work via open access. Thank you.

In closing a view of the Dartmouth Library ... better Green than Crimson!

Earth Hour 60+ Minute Bike Ride

It's neat when your professional and personal life collide in unexpected but fantastic ways. Today was one of those rare occasions when because of my work leading collaboration efforts for a major Fortune 100 company, I met Andy Ridley who is Executive Director of Earth Hour. Andy presented on how his global non-profit organization was using Yammer as a means of extending his team's reach to all it's thousands of volunteers across the world in support of saving our planet. Attending the meeting were other Yammer customer from around the world. 

If you've read my blog, you will know that I have a 500 mile bicycle ride planned for this August named the Trans-Superior Tour. The ride will focus on the beautiful and precious resource, Lake Superior. In today's Yammer meeting I made a challenge to the other executives present, and noted that a formal challenge in support of Earth Hour would soon be forthcoming. While my ideas are still percolating, not only will I challenge my co Yammer Customer Advisory Board members, but I will also challenge the many readers of this blog. During my nine day ride, I would like you in turn to take a 60 minute bike ride near where you live along the shores of a lake or river. I will work with Earth Hour to provide a forum where you may make your commitment, and also provide link(s) to information about your lake or river. Expect more soon! I'm not asking for money, but I am asking you to ride for fresh water.

For the moment, consider "liking" both this blog and Earth Hour's Facebook Page.

Trans-Superior Cycling Tour

Do you love Lake Superior? This inland sea is the largest lake in the world, and holds 10 percent of the earth's fresh water supply (Lake Superior facts). For this reason alone, the lake which the Ojibewe call Gichigami, and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow transposed to Gitche Gumee in his epic poem, Song of Hiawatha, should be on your list of favorites and deserves your support and protection. 

Thus, this Summer I will be thrilled to bike the Trans-Superior Tour with my wife Molly (her blog, SuperiorFootprints). Over the course of nine days we will bike 500 miles, and ride two ferries allowing us a one night stop over at Isle Royale National Park. Our journey is sponsored by the Lake Superior Binational Forum. This organization's charter is to restore and protect the Lake Superior Basin. While Molly and I are not seeking donations for our trip, we do ask you to follow our journey, both via our blogs, the Forum's web site and their Facebook page. We hope you will learn something about this great resource.

Our slogan for this ride, which is printed on our custom jerseys, is "500 miles of love"! Having both grown up in Duluth, and given that by this Summer we will have been married for 29 years, the tag line seemed perfect. We're in love with a Lake named Superior, and each other!

Here is our planned route, and a photo taken of us today down at Brighton Beach on the North Shore of Lake Superior at the end of a 35 mile ride! Our trip starts on Saturday, August 18th.

Click upon either image to view at full size.

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Here are a few links to other bike trips I've taken in the region:

• Summer 2010: BWCA Superior Tour - Full Trip | Echo Trail Ride
• Summer 2011: Gunflint Trail Tour

The Unofficial Encyclopedia of Dr. Seuss

• Take Mulberry Street to Sollaw Sollew,
• Meeting Turtles and Sneetches just to name a few.
• Eat Green Eggs and some Ham
• This ride is never about SPAM!
• For the Doctor is most wise,
• You will soon completely realize!

Back in 1960 when Green Eggs and Ham was first published, I was 4 years old. It was one of the first books I ever read to myself. Over the next half century I've been in love with a doctor named Seuss! It's with pleasure today I publish the free eBook, "The Unofficial Encyclopedia of Dr. Seuss".

The encyclopedia is a compilation of articles from Wikipedia in downloadable pdf format. You'll find information about many of your favorite books, but also a long article about Dr. Seuss himself. In total, the encyclopedia is 87 pages long, and has active links to other Wikipedia related content. Thus take a virtual ride from Sollaw Sollew to the Kingdom of Didd!

The technology involved in the creation of this book is the Wikipedia Book Creator which is documented in this prior post. You can even send my Encyclopedia Seuss to your Kindle! (learn how). If you prefer to read via an iPad, link to this post and scroll to the bottom to learn more about my favorite iPad pdf reader.