Thursday, June 5, 2008

Keynote anticipation After hearing a great keynote by Alvin Toffler, looks as if I'll have the opportunity to hear another in August at NI Week. Andrew Hargadon, the director of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Energy Efficiency at the University of California, Davis, will deliver the closing keynote on August 7 in Austin. He's the author of "How Breakthroughs Happen: The Surprising Truth About How Companies Innovate." I heard him on a podcast a few weeks ago and put his books on my reading list. Looking forward to it. 11:36:14 AM    comment []

Catching up on news What sort of leadership would be so power hungry yet suspicious that it would deny crucial aid to its citizens? Can anyone figure out the military junta in Myanmar? Clinton concedes, so it's Obama v McClain. It'll be an interesting race, but I'm not sure that either gets technology or manufacturing. I've heard some women complain that Clinton was treated unfairly, but they've offered no specifics and I'm at a loss to figure out how and where. She was the establishment candidate and the electorate seems to be saying its had enough of the establishment--of both parties. My biggest shock? For eight years every Midwestern white male I talked with (except when I looked in a mirror) hated Hillary. So where was her big support in this primary season? Midwestern white males. (I'd hate to suggest that race played a part, but one wonders.) Good story in The New York Times (you have to register to see it) about the revival of a paper mill in upstate New York. Goes to show that when passion, leadership and vision converge good things can happen. A couple of workers decided that they'd keep the plant clean and ready to go while they searched for new owners. When I checked in at the Courtyard last night, they wanted company name. "Automation World," I replied. "That's what's caused all our problems," commented a man behind the counter. Ouch. Yes, automation replaces people, but it also creates better jobs. And by increasing productivity, it helps the overall economy. Speaking of productivity, this article in The New York Times says that it grew by 2.6%, more than expected. Good. I haven't quoted The New York Times for months, but here's the trifecta--this article says that red wine slows aging. New there was a reason I liked it. Time to have dinner and split another bottle, Dave! Cheers. 10:22:44 AM    comment []