Originally from — and also see:
- A New Mindset, Not More Data — from Paul Simbeck -Hampson
On 03/10/2011,
in ethics, global / globalization, morals/values, relationships, sociology,
by Daniel Christian
On 03/09/2011,
in business, corporate / business world, dangers of the status quo, Daniel S. Christian, economics, faith, game-changing environment, global / globalization, ideas, political science, United States,
by Daniel Christian
From DSC:
On February 24th, I saw this piece at Forbes.com — > USA Inc.: Mary Meeker’s Deep Dive Into The Federal Budget
Excerpt:
“By the standards of any public corporation, USA Inc.’s financials are discouraging,” she writes in an introduction to the report. “True, USA Inc. has many fundamental strengths. On an operating basis (excluding Medicare and Medicaid spending and one-time charges, the federal government’s profit and loss statement is solid, with a 4% median net margin over the last 15 years. But cash flow is deep in the red (by almost $1.3 trillion last year, or ~$11,000 per household) and USA Inc.’s net worth is negative and deteriorating. That net worth figure includes the present value of unfunded entitlement liabilities but not hard-to-value assets such as natural resources, the power to tax or mint currency, or what Treasury calls ‘heritage’ or ’stewardship assets’ like National Parks. Nevertheless, the trends are clear, and critical warning signs are evident in nearly every data point we examine.
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She points out that Congressional Budget Office data suggests that by 2025 all of the government’s income will go to entitlement spending and interest payments, leaving nothing for any other expenditures.
From DSC:
The day before, I had seen a video mentioned on TV. From the mentioned URL, I checked the majority of it out. It made me ask, “Is this for real!!!???”
Most likely it is just a sales pitch. But the underlying concept of the growing national U.S. debt is not a joke — and, if not reversed, could have a serious affect on global economies.
As I don’t know, I’m seeking input/feedback from any and all economists out there! If what he is saying is even remotely true, the financial aftershocks will be felt throughout the world. Below are my reflections/questions on that potentially-very-important topic/perspective.
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I’m not sure what I think about a video that I ran across the other day. I’m referring to a video done by Porter Stansbury, founder of Stansberry & Associates Investment Research. I saw the URL posted on a cable TV station, referencing a URL/video at:
- EndOfAmerica2011.com
Note: This video is a long video, running 1:17:41; a transcript of the video is provided here.
While I’m not big on the latter part of the video/piece where he pitches some potential investing solutions and reports, (and, NOTE: I do not mean to endorse any strategy he may be talking about nor is this posting meant to get into investment strategies or advice!)
I studied Economics at Northwestern years ago and several things this gentleman says in this video seemed within reason/feasible. Also, I have heard a variety of economists (here in the United States) through the years voicing their concerns about the enormity of the growing level of federal debt and the amount of our debt being owned by other countries.
(As an aside, people don’t like to hear bad news and we don’t vote the rare politicians into office who actually stand up and tell us what we really need to do to fix whatever mess we were/are in. I’ve noticed that in the world of higher education, many don’t like to hear news of the disruptions already underway either.)
Spiritually speaking, America has pushed the LORD out of the public square for so long, that it wouldn’t surprise me at all to see our nation continue its steep and rapid decline. Throughout history, nations have come and gone…risen and fallen…why should we be any different? (Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD…Psalm 33:12 — and conversely…)
By way of a quick piece of research I did — this page on their website claims that the total outstanding debt of the U.S. Federal government is $14.131 trillion — which appears to be true:
Questions:
- Is this presentation for real? Are the facts and figures accurate?
- Could these things occur? Are there grounds to his assertions/predictions?
- Have these things happened to nations in the past? If so, under what conditions?
- Would some macroeconomics professor or an international business class review this video and get to the bottom of his arguments and assertions?!?
It’s very real world and students could work to try and pick apart the various arguments/assertions/implications mentioned therein. Prove if this is a scam or not.
Your thoughts on this anyone?
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Thanks!
Daniel
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On 03/01/2011,
in cloud-based computing / apps / other cloud-related, global / globalization, learning ecosystem, mobile learning, mobile technologies, platforms, social learning / networks,
by Daniel Christian
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What is Kuggaa?
Kuggaa is a global mobile ecosystem. Kuggaa’s revolutionary ‘cloud’ based service allows its subscribers the ability to socialize, share, sync, create, edit, play, and enjoy access to their favorite content across many different mobile ecosystems at anytime from anywhere.
What Problem does Kuggaa Solve?
Device eco systems do not interoperate with competing eco systems, depriving the user of a truly global computing experience across a wide range of devices. Eco systems today are defined as device and platform specific environments that cannot be shared with other competing mobile eco systems. Smartphone and tablet owners’ are beginning to demand new ‘experiences’ in eco system functionality. Mobile computing must enable cross eco system compatibility as users buy more competing mobile devices.
What is the Solution to the Problem?
Kuggaa creates cross device integrated ‘experiences’ for consumers in a new product category dubbed ‘Global Mobile eco system.’ Kuggaa defines a global mobile ecosystem as a platform that integrates into diverse mobile devices unique shared experiences, services, relevant content, user generated media, fun apps, as well as inclusion of legacy computing platforms like the at anytime from anywhere. Kuggaa users can share, create, watch, listen, and communicate on different Tablets, smart phones, internet TV’s, and PC’s without losing the current eco systems they have adopted on their captive mobile devices.
Company Information:
Kuggaa is an Nevada Company based in Las Vegas.
On 02/03/2011,
in change, disruption, global / globalization, IT in HE, technology (general), the downsides of how people use tech, trends,
by Daniel Christian
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Change is exponential…not linear.
On 01/29/2011,
in business side of he, changing business models, dangers of the status quo, disruption, education technology, emerging technologies, future of higher education, game-changing environment, global / globalization, higher education, new business models,
by Daniel Christian
Teetering between eras: higher education in a global, knowledge networked world — from emeraldinsight.com by Gail O. Mellow and Diana D. Woolis, (2010)
Findings – There are three fundamental and monumental changes that will profoundly alter the field of higher education in the next several decades: the globalization of higher education; the impact of technology on changing definitions of students, faculty and knowledge; and the impact of the marketplace on the basic “business model” of higher education. The paper describes how each of these three forces will reshape higher education, while identifying factors that may accelerate or inhibit the impact of these influences.
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Gail O. Mellow, Diana D. Woolis, (2010) “Teetering between eras: higher education in a global, knowledge networked world”, On the Horizon, Vol. 18 Iss: 4, pp.308 – 319
On 01/28/2011,
in global / globalization, internet, leadership, online learning, the downsides of how people use tech,
by Daniel Christian
Egyptians gathering for protests in Cairo, via @mccarthyryanj on Twitter
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From DSC:
As I was briefly reviewing the following links…
- Egypt Goes Dark, Cuts Off Internet And Mobile Networks — from Forbes.com by Parmy Olson
- Internet Rallies Behind Egypt In An Attempt To Restore Communication — from techland.com by Allie Townsend
- How Egypt Cut Off the Internet (and How a U.S. ‘Kill Switch’ Might Work) — from techland.com by Doug Aamoth
- What’s fueling Mideast protests? It’s more than Twitter — from wired.co.uk by David Kravets
…I began reflecting on the predicament that online-based learners would have if suddenly their government pulled the plug on the Net. As we become more connected, what are the costs/dangers of being disconnected? Of being connected? If there was some serious cyberwarfare going on, would a government be forced to pull the plug?
NOTE:
I don’t mean to make any judgments concerning these events — rather, I mean to ask the above questions from a teaching and learning standpoint only.
Addendum on 2/4/11:
- Could the U.S. shut down the internet? — from cnn.com
On 01/20/2011,
in 21st century, 24x7x365 access, 3D, A/V -- audio/visual, animation, blended learning, cloud-based computing / apps / other cloud-related, collaboration, convergence, corporate / business world, corporate universities / corporate training, cost of getting a degree, creativity, Daniel S. Christian, digital audio, digital learning, digital storytelling, digital textbooks, digital video, disruption, distance education, e-books, e-readers, education, education reform, education technology, educational games / serious games, elearning, emerging technologies, engagement / engaging students, flipping -- inverted learning, future, future of higher education, game-changing environment, global / globalization, higher education, homeschooling/homeschoolers, hybrid learning, immersion, informal learning, innovation, interactivity, internet, K-12 related, learning, learning agents, learning ecosystem, learning preferences, learning spaces, lifelong learning, love of learning, marketplaces, media/film, mobile learning, mobile technologies, multimedia, New "Amazon.com" of Higher Education, new business models, new media literacies, online learning, online media, online tutoring, play, podcasting, simulations, social learning / networks, social media, strategy, teaching & learning, technologies for your home, technology (general), telepresence, television, training / L&D, transmedia, trends, ubiquitous learning, user experience (UX), user interface design, vendors, videoconferencing, virtual field trips, virtual K-12 schools, vision/possibilities, visualizing information, web-based collaboration,
by Daniel Christian
From DSC:
The other day, I created/posted the top graphic below. Take the concepts below — hook them up to engines that use cloud-based learner profiles — and you have some serious potential for powerful, global, ubiquitous learning! A touch-sensitive panel might be interesting here as well.
Come to think of it, add social networking, videoconferencing, and web-based collaboration tools — the power to learn would be quite impressive. Multimedia to the nth degree.
Then add to that online marketplaces for teaching and learning — where you can be both a teacher and a learner at the same time — hmmm…
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From DSC:
Then today, I saw Cisco’s piece on their Videoscape product line! Check it out!
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On 01/19/2011,
in curriculum, digital learning, global / globalization, India, instructional design, online learning, online media, online tutoring, publishing, UK, United States,
by Daniel Christian
From DSC:
A global push continues to be evident in some of the things that Pearson has been up to in the last year:
- Pearson takes controlling stake in India’s TutorVista — from WSJ (1/11)
- Pearson acquires TutorVista: expands Pearson’s business in education in India and in global online tutoring — from Pearson (1/11)
- Pearson to offer degrees in the UK — from Pearson (12/2010)
- Pearson VUE opens Dubai office and appoints local Arabic-speaking team — from Pearson (11/2010)
- Pearson acquires The Administrative Assistants Ltd.; extends leadership in student information systems — from Pearson (11/2010)
- Pearson to open fifty new English language centres in China — from Pearson (11/2010)
- Pearson to acquire 75% stake in CTI Education Group, a leading higher education company in South Africa — from Pearson (11/2010)
- Pearson eCollege, National Academy Foundation partner to provide online teacher professional development — from Pearson (9/2010)
- Pearson to acquire America’s Choice: plans to extend reach of school improvement services — from Pearson (8/2010)
- Pearson to acquire Wall Street Institute: acquisition extends Pearson’s position as world leader in English language teaching — from Pearson (7/2010)
- Pearson raises earnings guidance — from Financial Times
- Pearson, the publishing group that owns Penguin books and the Financial Times, raised its full-year earnings forecasts for the third time in less than six months, thanks to strong growth in computer-based learning products and in the developing world.
On 01/15/2011,
in disruption, global / globalization, Google, languages and translation, tools,
by Daniel Christian
Realtime voice translation moves closer — from Education Stormfront blog
Excerpt:
There are some industries, such as education that have been shielded from globalization so far because of the language barrier. This is about to fall.
2 Corinthians 5:19-20 — from BibleGateway.com’s Verse of the Day
“that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them (emphasis DSC). And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”