Ed Dowding

Contentious post about tuition fees

Are people being denied loans to pay for tuition feed? Is it actually IMPOSSIBLE for people to go to university, or just expensive for them to? When I went to university I found many people who didn’t really want to be there, gained little from the experience, were only really doing it because it was ...

'Global Warming' may still be a problem

“I was a bit surprised by our findings, because I, along with the rest of my colleagues, thought that the process of fixing climate change ended soon after [2007 rock concert] Live Earth,” CGD assistant director George Oliver told reporters. “But it turns out that the things needed to stop it, like substantive energy legislation, ...

Wealth creators, or concentrations of power?

A few highlights from an article about reclaiming the commons: In practice it is impossible for the modern state to maintain an independent control over the decisions of big business. When the state extends its control over big business, big business moves in to control the state. It is vital here to distinguish between capitalist ...

Facebook relationship data

Neat graph. Facebook shows why you might get dumped before Xmas | Technically Incorrect – CNET News.

YouTube – RSA Animate – Drive: The surprising truth about what motivates us

It’s just occurred to me that people may not have seen this. Remedy that right now, please. RSA Animate – Drive: The surprising truth about what motivates us.

Transparent, conductive, energy-generating plastic film

UPTON, NY — Scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory have fabricated transparent thin films capable of absorbing light and generating electric charge over a relatively large area. The material, described in the journal Chemistry of Materials, could be used to develop transparent solar panels or ...

How do we get the right answer?

Are there any models of deliberative democracy which mandate required goals? Eg “Here are some scientific parameters we need to operate in. Coming up with a solution which puts us outside these parameters at any time in the future is an unacceptable answer.” Is there a model which supports this ‘undemocratic’ democacy?

8 rules or managing the commons

Clearly defined boundaries (effective exclusion of external unentitled parties); Rules regarding the appropriation and provision of common resources are adapted to local conditions; Collective-choice arrangements allow most resource appropriators to participate in the decision-making process; Effective monitoring by monitors who are part of or accountable to the appropriators; There is a scale of graduated sanctions ...

One final paragraph of advice.

One final paragraph of advice: do not burn yourselves out. Be as I am — a reluctant enthusiast… a part-time crusader, a half-hearted fanatic. Save the other half of yourselves and your lives for pleasure and adventure. It is not enough to fight for the land; it is even more important to enjoy it. While ...

What’s Mine is Yours – Collaborative consumption

Collaborative Consumption describes the rapid explosion in traditional sharing, bartering, lending, trading, renting, gifting, and swapping redefined through technology and peer communities. What’s Mine Is Yours: The Rise of Collaborative Consumption by Rachel Botsman and Roo Rogers charts this movement. WHAT’S MINE IS YOURS

Nature's gift: How much is the ecosystem worth?

A great series of articles from the BBC. 1. The full impact of the degradation of the natural world on the global economy – both on business and consumers. 2. The direct costs to businesses, both large and small. 3. The economic benefits of preserving the natural world.

The Future of Money

Key quote? Allow different types of money to compete in the same way that markets compete, to open up new ways of doing business. The Future of Money on Vimeo

What is ZCB30?

3 minute spelt bread

Finite and Infinite Games

Life is an infinite game. We should stop playing it like a finite one. The rules of the finite game may not change; the rules of an infinite game must change. Finite players play within boundaries; infinite players play with boundaries. Finite players are serious; infinite games are playful. A finite player plays to be ...

Is there a word for things which are brilliant exemplars of themselves?

Whatever it is, I’ll bet it will start with id__

How to make a fast buck in the green economy

If you’re involved in one of the below, you’re going to make money in the next 20 years. Anyone care to go on an INSULATE BRITAIN! road trip around the UK? Renewable energy (solar, wind, geothermal, marine including wave, biogas, and fuel cell) Green buildings (green retrofits for energy and water efficiency, residential and commercial ...

Top Ten Constituents of New Commons Economy

I’ve just come across a fantastic list at the Steady State Revolution blog. I’ve reproduced it in its entirety here since I know lots of people get this feed in RSS readers and email and don’t click links, and because it’s useful for my reference. This would break most copyright laws, were it not very ...

vlogbrothers

It seems I’m rather late to finding this channel, which I’m really enjoying. I like the format. It’s simple, effective, and makes me want a brother. A geek brother. I also like the idea of a catchy song to disseminate an idea… *mulls* [UPDATE: The player below doesn’t work for some reason so try http://www.youtube.com/user/vlogbrothers#p/u/1/U0kXkWXSXRA] ...

Turn over a New Leaf