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CAT | Rants and Raves
28
End of the Industrial Age, Beginning of the Information Age
0 Comments | Posted by Chris in IT in General, Rants and Raves, technology
This past week, I was in the Bay Area on Business. Watching the local news, within the same broadcast, they were talking about Virgin Megastores closing in San Francisco, as well as the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper struggling to stay alive. I couldn’t help but think about these are signs of not only a recession, but the final death throes of the old media.
We have reached the end of the Industrial Era and are well into the Information Era. In the Industrial Era, information didn’t happen in real time. In fact, it didn’t need to. There were no computers, email, Twitter, or Youtube. People hand prepared documents, mailed them, spent time reading the newspaper, and did things that were generally done over the period of hours, days, and weeks. Things were much slower then, but the culture did not demand the urgency of information that it does today.
Today, we get our news online, as we want, when we want it. We no longer prepare documents, we send PDFs via email. We instant message our peers for information who happen to be on the other side of the nation or even the world.
I always drive home the point that in Enterprise Software, it is an imperative that you must drive data to the source. In other words, you must put the origination of data right at the source. In a business sense, this means that you must put the key strokes or data collection right at the point in the process where the entry originates, such as at a quality check point on the shop floor, or with the employee for HR information.
In the bigger world, this is already happening with the coined term of “On-Demand”. Virgin is suffering due to iTunes. The consumers are directly sourcing the media. If you look at CNN’s iReport, you will see that news events are being reported by those closest to the news; usually people directly involved. People are Twittering about the airline crash that they are actually in! Talk about driving data to the source! And all of this information is being consumed by people who have a direct interest from anywhere in the world in real-time.
On the newscast, there was a pundit speaking about the death of the newspapers and how this is going to put traditional investigative reporters out of work. This is probably true, but many of these reporters are turning to new media reporting. I’m not in the journalistic world, but I would imagine that blogging, and independent reporting is becoming more the standard.
I work from home and “telecommute” (although this is a inaccurate word). I work with clients directly all over the world via web conferences, setting up systems and training them how to use these new tools. I imagine that the traditional workforce is slowly moving away from a centralized office and instead to independent teams of people who work independently from wherever they happen to be. No longer are we bound to the concepts of an Industrial model, rather we are free to explore our independent contributions to our “companies”, “teams” or other organizational system. We are moving to a world where the data is at the source.
I welcome your comments on this.
I go to Japan frequently (at least once a year which I suppose if frequently by American standards.) 
One thing I truly enjoy is the food there. Both in Tokyo and in the countryside. Yes of course the Sushi is great, so is the tempura. The Kobe beef cannot be touched. But did you know that Japan has some of the best chefs in Italian and French cooking? If you watch the Iron Chef, you might be aware of this, but I have to say that I marvel at how exquisite the simplest spaghetti is. Even the ones in a package. Pick any Spaghetti place in Tokyo and you will have a wonderful pasta meal that is both a work of art, and tasty. Yes, will pay a minimum of $30USD for a bowl of noodles, but it is the passion and the art of the spaghetti.
Here is an article from Japundit that describes the level of passion the Japanese have for food:
191 Stars
I always try to explain to people that Tokyo is a world class city and that if one is a foodie, it’s a must as a destination. Yes, I know that the language barrier is daunting. But all the essential signs are bilingual–I sometimes think that people are just wimps about being someplace “different.â€
If you love food, you won’t find any people anywhere on the planet who are as enthusiastic about eating as the Japanese, and as devoted to ingredients and to food as a fully sensory experience. Frankly, I don’t think you’ll find people any more enthusiastic than the Japanese when they get enthusiastic about something. But where to go? Where to eat? How to eat? If you don’t speak the language, how do you get started and find something outside of the shelter of your Shinjuku hotel?
Read the entire 191 Stars Article here…
Okay, it has been too long. I have recently updated the http://www.chrisshaul.com site with a new theme and have cleaned it up somewhat. Please let me know what you think!
I haven’t blogged since I got back from Asia. I have been quite busy.
To catch up and start again, I want to point out a PBS show that I saw today. It was called “Sugiwara: A conspiracy of kindness”. It was a moving story of a Japanese diplomat in WWII who issued “illegal” visas to hundreds of Jews in Lithuania, before the Nazi’s invaded. He was able to arrange for their migration to Japan and thus helped them avoid the concentration camps. He went against the Japanese government and ended up paying for it after the war, by losing his position and working menial jobs back in Japan.
When asked why he did it, he replied because it was right. If you can watch it on PBS, I recommend it. The story about him is here:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/sugihara/
It shows what a good human can do, even despite insurmountable obstacles.
I ran across this article on the web. Fit my mood today perfectly. How much have you found in life both the struggles and the happinesses? Today I felt energized and one thing brought me down. Now I am struggling to feel in control once again. Post your comments below and let me know what you think too! – Chris
In My Life I have savored the sweetness of Victory.
In My Life I have been Vanquished and know too well the bitter taste of Defeat.
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In My Life I have been so overwhelmed with Joy that I thought I could not contain it.
In My Life I have been so overwrought with Sorrow that I believed I could not bear another moment of it.
________________
In My Life I have Believed so strongly that no person or circumstance could impair my conviction.
In My Life I have Doubted so deeply that a single criticism could sway my belief.
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In My Life I have been so Optimistic there wasnt a single dream of mine that I was not convinced I could make a reality.
In My Life I have been so Discouraged that I dare not dream.
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In My Life I have lived with Hope and been magnificently empowered.
In My Life I have been Hopeless and rendered powerless.
________________
In My Life I have enjoyed Abundance where I felt no person or circumstance could ever take away my worldly possessions.
In My Life I have lost all my worldly possessions and been humbled by destitution.
________________
In My Life I have recklessly Judged and caused great pain for others.
In My Life I have felt the brutal sting of being Judged.
________________
In My Life I have been Admired so ardently that it was almost embarrassing.
In My Life I have been Despised so deeply that I felt like crawling away and hiding.
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In My Life I have Apologized and felt the amazing healing.
In My Life I have Forgiven and felt the amazing freedom.
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In My Life I have flown with Angels and felt the true comfort they brought.
In My Life I have danced with the Devil, delving into shameful worldly temptations.
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In My Life I have bathed in the pure calm of Peace.
In My Life I have endured the calamity of Chaos.
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In My Life I have been Charitable and made a difference in someones life.
In My Life I have accepted Charity that made a difference in my life.
In My Life I have been Selfish and made a difference to one.
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In My Life I have Compromised and created a better outcome.
In My Life I was too ignorant to know when Compromise was a good thing and there was no outcome at all.
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In My Life I have been a Hero – to my partner, to my children, to my parents, to my siblings, to my friends, and to strangers.
In My Life I have acted Cowardly – towards my partner, my children, my parents, my siblings, my friends, and strangers.
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In My Life I have been willing to Sacrifice for the greater good.
In My Life I have been so reluctant to risk my Security that I missed so much goodness.
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In My Life I have learned that I will never do wrong by doing anything for the right reason.
In My Life I have learned that I will never be right by doing anything for the wrong reason.
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In My Life I have discovered that the greater Good doesnt always feel good.
In My Life I have discovered that when the greater Good was not my goal, nothing good was accomplished.
________________
Now, may I ask . . .
In Your Life . . .?
© Rick Beneteau
Rick is co-creator of the breakthrough Make Every Day A Great Day Program. Read the powerful, life-changing testimonials and discover how this revolutionary product can dramatically change Your Life too!: http://www.MakeEveryDayAGreatDay.com/yes
I am not an auto designer or anything close to it, but for many years I have envisioned two things; one being a train system that runs along the middle of the LA freeways taking commuters off the road and into the trains. This is finally starting to happen.
The second thing is a hydrogen car. A hydrogen car runs on hydrogen and the waste output is water. A non-carbon based fuel.
There have been a few scientific discussions about such a vehicle, but now it seems that Honda is making this happen.
They say that it is too soon yet before a commercially available model will be released. They need to reduce the production costs. But I am eagerly awaiting this. I am sure the big oil companies are too….
We recently purchased our home, it had its ups and downs. Experience and some self taught education made it a lot better. Once site I referenced was http://www.wmrc.net . This site is a collection of links and information on mortgage refinance/purchases. One bit of advice, there are many programs, make sure you take the time to understand which one is best for you.
Another aspect that many people forget is the credit. You do not need perfect credit to get a loan, but the better the credit the cheaper the loan is. But if you don’t have great credit don’t dispair, you can get a loan, you may pay more, but in a year or two, you can refinance and it will have been worth it.
My two cents is that if you can get into a property do it. We waited too long and are wish we had done it sooner. We just didn’t realize that we could afford the loan, when in actuality there are so many lenders and loans that you can do it now.
Did you ever have one of those days where you feel under appreciated and overworked?
Today seems to be one of those days. I feel like the world is pressing down and I don’t have the strength to press back.
So I know that I need to recommit myself. Finish my projects and get things complete. Doing so will free me up and help me feel on top of things again.
But how do you get started when you don’t feel like getting started. I guess just go out and do it anyway.
Getting ready to go to my company’s annual holiday party. Sure doesn’t feel like the holidays… I guess part of it is living in Southern California. You don’t get the delineation of seasons. So to me it is still fall. When will winter be here? Aren’t the holidays in winter?
What is the point of the holiday anyway? Aren’t we programmed by the media and the retail industry to feel joyeous and giving? Why do we need a season to be kind to others? Shouldn’t you be giving and kind all year round? Oh yeah, this is right before the year end and quarter end financial reporting. Tis the season to be profitable.
I heard an unsubstantiated factoid that more people commit suicide on Christmas day than any other day. Hmmm… makes sense. The Christian day of celebrating the birth of the savior… most suidices… something is out of wack.
Now that I am a Buddhist, Christmas doesn’t hold the same fascination it did growing up in a generic Christian household. Buddhism teaches you the law of cause and effect is very strict. So if you are kind to others all year round, you will receive kindness yourself. If you are rude and self serving (like in mall parking lots), you will receive the same. You are either spiraling up in a path towards enlightenment, or you are creating the causes that lead you downwards to lower life conditions.
Somehow this whole holiday season seems shallow and thus people are forced into behavior that brings out the stress and strain. What if people celebrated one another all the time? What if giving was from the heart? What if giving was for the other, instead of ourselves?
Just a thought.
After a lot of waiting, I finally purchased Star Wars Episode III on DVD from Amazon.com and sat down last night to watch it. It was just what I expected. I suspect that that is what George Lucas had in mind. Give the people exactly what they expect this time to satisfy and resolve.
As everyone has already said, the best part was when Darth Vader in the mask appears for the first time, with that first “hhhhhhhhhh” of a breath. That was cool! It was what people waited for for almost 30 years to find out. What or how was Darth Vador created.
If you haven’t seen the movie yet. Get it. I almost bought it at Blockbuster, but found it to be cheaper on Amazon. Enjoy!
There is already so much written about this movie that I probably can’t contribute too much more. For more good reading go to http://www.starwars.com
