Amazing Solar Technology

I've always believed that technology would be the key to averting global disaster related to climate change. Finally, we're really starting to see green technology take off. While the 90's will be remember for the Internet boom, the next 10 years will be remember as the green boom. Both will be equally important in similar ways, such as leading to unprecedented economic growth, as well a empowering individuals in new ways.

Here's an example of a technology that, if what they say is true, could effectively remove the need for polluting power plants forever. It sounds like hype, but watch the video, do the research and decide for yourself.

Free Knowledge

I often brag that I received a better education at McGill University than many of my high school friends who went to top universities in the US, and at a fraction of the price. (With the US dollar on par with the Canadian, it is only slightly less attractive).

But now, thanks to iTunes and independent university initiatives, everyone can have access to the world's most brilliant scientists, professors, and lecturers. And you can pick your curriculum from multiple courses at multiple university. And it's totally free.

One article discussing this phenomenon is from the New York Times, which discusses Walter H. G. Lewin, a physics professor. A really good read which reminds me of my Physics 101 professor, Bob Moore, which I once commented "splits the atom, like, daily." Although I certainly struggled through the assignments and remembering the equations, I definitely learned to appreciate physics by watching a crazy person ride a unicycle on a lecture stage or calling Americans "barbarians" because we (they) use inches and not centimetres.

Anyways, if the thought of free lectures interests you, why not check out some of the great content available on iTunes, or MIT's Open Courseware? If you're looking some interesting business-related content, check out Melbourne Business School's Leadercasts which my team here at MBS worked on.

In the (Jewish) Holiday Spirit

Enjoy.

Another Clever Person

I'm loving this whole World Wide Internets thing, as there is no shortage of smart people who are writing things that I can read any time I like. Apparently, blogging is really hip with the kids these days, just like the MTV and the YouTube.

My mom suggested a couple of years ago to read The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century by Thomas Friedman which was a good call. I've since lent this book to a number of my friends.

Today I read his really satirical account of America as seen through and Iranian intelligence estimate. Simply brilliant. Here's an excerpt:

Our fears that the U.S. was engaged in a covert “Manhattan Project” to achieve energy independence have been “assuaged.” America’s Manhattan Project turns out to be largely confined to the production of corn ethanol in Iowa, which, our analysts have confirmed from cellphone intercepts between lobbyists and Congressmen, is nothing more than a multibillion-dollar payoff to big Iowa farmers and agro-businesses.

This is exactly what we need. Just like we "needed" the atomic bomb and we "needed" to land on the moon. Except this time it's not just the free world at stake; it's the whole world. At least Australia, my adopted country, has started to take this issue seriously lately.

If You Only Read One Blog...

He's quite mainstream these days, but every new post just reaffirms that Joel Spolsky is one of the smarted guys out there. His recent Yale talk posts are particularly good, but also among my favourite are:

• Introduction to Best Software Writing
• Fire And Motion
• The Guerrilla Guide to Interviewing (version 3.0)

I don't have an wish link widget yet, but if I did you'd find his three books on there as well.

Highest Level of Giving Made Easy

Maimonides, one of the most important Jewish scholars, wrote of eight levels of charity. The highest is

...endowing him with a gift or loan, or entering into a partnership with him, or finding employment for him, in order to strengthen his hand until he need no longer be dependent upon others...

Thanks to the Internet, this way of giving is actually the easiest to accomplish thanks to the phenomenon of microloans: small loans (less than $200) made to individuals to help fund a business venture. Web sites such as Kiva make this extremely easy. Simply pick the individual you want to sponsor, choose a loan amount, and use Paypal to complete the transaction. The whole process took me less than 5 minutes.

Interested? Check out a worthy cause below and get involved!