Pickens on energy independence

The Speculist embeds this video outlining T. Boone Pickens plan for US energy independence.  I'm not so sure independance is the key factor, but developing multiple scalable alternatives to oil and other caron-based energy sources is nothing but a good idea.

elite performance

 This post  (How the best of the best get better and better) from Eric Musselman's Basketball Notebook points to a HBR article about elite performance psychology.   Good food for thought and possible self-improvement.
snip:

1.  Learn to love the pressure.   "Top sports performers don’t allow themselves to be distracted by the victories or failures of others. They concentrate on what they can control and forget the rest."

2.  Set long-term goals, then outline short-term objectives and action steps.   "Much of star athletes’ ability to rebound from defeat comes from an intense focus on long-term goals and aspirations. At the same time, both sports stars and their coaches are keenly aware that the road to long-term success is paved with small achievements.  The trick here is to meticulously plan short-term goals so that performance will peak at major, rather than minor, events."

3.  Compete against the best in order to improve.  "If you hope to make it to the very top...make sure you train with the people who will push you the hardest."

4.  Seek constructive criticism, feedback, and advice.  "How do you motivate yourself to embark on another cycle of building the mental and physical endurance required to win the next time, especially now that you have become the benchmark? [Elite performers have] an insatiable appetite for feedback.  They have a particularly strong need for instant, in the moment feedback."

5.  Work hard; play hard.  "Elite performers...put almost as much effort into their celebrations as they do into their accomplishments.  Celebration is more than an emotional release. Done effectively, it involves a deep level of analysis and enhanced awareness. The very best performers do not move on before they have scrutinized and understood thoroughly the factors underpinning their success.  Dwelling on success for too long is a distraction and, worse, leads to complacency. Celebrate—but push on."

6.  An intense desire to compete.  "What drives all elite performers is a fierce desire to compete—and win. That’s what truly separates elite performers from ordinary high achievers. It takes supreme, almost unimaginable grit and courage to get back into the ring and fight to the bitter end."

 

end-snip

Here is the original Harvard Business Review article.

The 21st century is a lot of fun...

A mars sunset.

Disruptive Civil Technologies

From National Intelligence Council (NIC) this report details six technologies

"with the potential to causes a noticeable-even if temporary- degradation or enhancement in one of the elements of US national power (geopolitical, military, economic, or social cohesion)."

The time frame is bounded by 2025, and the six technology areas include:

1. Biogerontechnology
2. Energy Storage Materials
3. Biofuels and Bio-Based Chemicals
4. Clean Coal Technologies
5. Service Robotics
6. The Internet of Things.

Several of these are particularly interesting, including the clumsily-named Biogerontechnology - I prefer to think of it as biotech and related technologies contributing to healthy life extension. Wired this week reports on The Fight to End Aging Gains Legitimacy, Funding if you're interested in another viewpoint.

Detailed reports in PDF format are available within the report.

"Report Says Severe Weather to Increase as Earth Warms"

from the Washington Post, Report Says Severe Weather to Increase as Earth Warms

impact snippet:

"This report addresses one of the most frequently asked questions about global warming: What will happen to weather and climate extremes?" said one of the report's two co-chairs, Thomas R. Karl, who directs of NOAA's National Climate Data Center in Asheville, N.C.. He added that the report, which synthesizes the findings of more than 100 academic papers, "concludes that we are now witnessing and will increasingly experience more extreme weather and climate events."

So, no surprise here I guess. Seems to me the 20th century was filled with chaos of our own making that we had the capacity to deal with. The 21st century may be filled with chaos of differing types that may be beyond our ability to deal with - with unfortunate consequences. But, I'm an optimist, relentlessly, so I assume even if some mayhem ensues, we'll come out the other side. (or maybe we're laying the groundwork for local implementation of The Great Filter.)

Here is a link to the actual report: Final Report, Synthesis and Assessment Product 3.3

another William Gibson interview

this time on IO9 (thanks IO9)

As usual, from my perspective, Gibson always provides interesting tidbits to think about. In this interview he doesn't disappoint.

Bar Harbor / Acadia

We stayed a few days in Bar Harbor and enjoyed Acadia. Hiking, Bike Riding and generally a good time. If you're looking for a restaurant in Bar Harbor, we recommend Guinness & Porcelli's Italian Cuisine. If its not the best restaurant in Bar Harbor I'd be surprised!

Here are a few nature snaps:

Singularity going mainstream?

You know discussion about the singularity is starting to approach the mainstream when, first, IEEE Spectrum has a special report devoted to serious discussion about the concept.

And, second, Ray Kurzweil appears on CNN interviewed by Glenn Beck. Here is the transcript.

Freeman Dyson on The Question of Global Warming

Freeman Dyson discusses the subject of global warming as covered in two books in this review in The New York Review of Books.

Freeman Dyson is scary smart, clear thinking, and expresses himself logically. I find it useful to pay attention to him because he provides insight lacking in conventional opinion. I recommend reading the article.

Updates: On the political scene:

Global warming bill faces stiff GOP opposition
and,
NASA watchdog says press office distorted climate studies

On this last point - seems to me you can do the science and then have a healthy political and/or policy debate regarding what to do about the scientific results. If the scientific results are in error or have bias, other scientists will delight in exposing the problem. Something about scientific method and inquiry and all that. If you allow politicians to determine scientific results; well, then you have Lysenkoism.

"Civilization's last chance"

From Bill McKibben in the LA Times: Civilization's last chance

Here is the money snippet:

There's a number -- a new number -- that makes this point most powerfully. It may now be the most important number on Earth: 350. As in parts per million of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

A few weeks ago, NASA's chief climatologist, James Hansen, submitted a paper to Science magazine with several coauthors. The abstract attached to it argued -- and I have never read stronger language in a scientific paper -- that "if humanity wishes to preserve a planet similar to that on which civilization developed and to which life on Earth is adapted, paleoclimate evidence and ongoing climate change suggest that CO2 will need to be reduced from its current 385 ppm to at most 350 ppm."

Also, here is McKibben's 350.org