"People who criticize social media, are using the past to understand the present. That will never help them to understand tomorrow." Slim Fairview
Social Media is the Medium: Greater than the sum of its parts.
http://slimviews.blogspot.com/2011/03/social-media-is-medium-greater-than-sum.html
Still explaining the importance of social media to the naysayers.
http://slimviews.blogspot.com/2011/03/still-explaining-importance-of-social.html
Regards,
Slim
Facebook
Twitter,
Blogspot
Linkedin
SlideShare
"I have a Twitter account, a Facebook account, a Linkedin account and a Blog. At last. Finally I feel like a virtual person. For a while, I didn't think I was going to make it." -- Slim Fairview
Copyright(c) 2011 Slim Fairview
email slimfairview@yahoo.com
Monday, March 21, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Social Media is the Medium: Greater than the sum of their parts.
Social Media is the Medium: Greater than the sum of its parts.
How do you do it? Never mind. The real question is, “How will you be doing it?”
Some slow thinkers say, “Soon, tomorrow will be here.” The quick folk say, “Soon, tomorrow will be gone.”
Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Blogspot, and SlideShare.
What do they all have in common besides each other? They are greater than the sum of their parts.
Write something. Save the document. Post it on your blog, on Facebook, on Slideshare. Click the links to share what you’ve written. They go to your Twitter account with a link to click that will take readers to your monograph.
If you’ve posted a document on SlideShare, the link will not only appear on the wall of your Facebook page, but there will be an option for you to choose that will allow a “thumbnail” of the document to appear. If a visitor to your Facebook page clicks the graphic, up pops the document.
Links will automatically appear on the home page of Linkedin—but wait, there’s more:
That document has provisions for links. These links will send your reader to supporting documents—and that’s still not all.
The printed word is now a global event no longer limited to the familiar and ever popular website.
The printed word is now appearing on the internet.
Publications, which include but are not limited to The New York Times, The Boston Globe, Atlantic Monthly, The Wall Street Journal, The Telegraph, and others, are now on the internet.
Many of the articles invite commentary. It is there, that your brief thoughts can invite readers to view a more comprehensive expression of your opinions. Now, this is fine; however, there are business applications as well.
Websites like Linkedin offer the opportunity to create a global network of business colleagues.
Moreover, we’ve barely scratched the surface. Yesterday, I posted PowerPoint presentations on SlideShare. Yesterday, I should have been posting videos on YouTube.
These tools are the virtual offices in use. They are in use globally.
Virtual offices, virtual teams, virtual project management, presentations, lectures, speeches, meetings, all on your computer screen.
If you have a Mac, they are available to you in transit. If using a Mac is not an option, they are available to you on your iPad or your iPhone.
Virtual offices, virtual teams, virtual project management, presentations, lectures, speeches, meetings, all on your computer screen.
If you have a Mac, they are available to you in transit. If using a Mac is not an option, they are available to you on your iPad or your iPhone.
Meetings will not so much be detested by the members of your staff who have work to do, but more efficiently handled by logging on to a virtual meeting.
Documents, photos, contacts, and other information will be shared within seconds. No one will find it necessary (and cumbersome) to lug stuff to the conference room.
Costs will be cut significantly by having information available through links rather than through copies being handed out.
The business research formerly the domain of the business research department, is now a Google away.
Information can be reviewed, commented on, verified, questioned and affirmed, repudiated, or assigned for further review in moments.
Prep work for the meeting will take place in moments.
The tools that are available are not limited to home and office. Nor to your company, industry, or locale.
These tools will enable you to do business globally. I posted two PowerPoint presentations:
Global Management: A shift in the paradigm of corporate America
&
The Future of the G – 20 in Good Times and Bad.
Each can be viewed at http://slideshare.net/slimfairview
For additional information:
For more monographs on management and business administration, please visit my blog: http://slimviews.blogspot.com
PS. I am not Paul Harvey. However, I am open to becoming a paid commentator, columnist, or blogger.
If you’ve found anything I said to be helpful, please don’t hesitate to send me one of those tricked-out laptops and to tuck a few dollars into the envelope along with the thank you note.
Sincerest regards,
Slim
PPS. I forgot to mention the email option: slimfairview@yahoo.com
Copyright © 2011 Slim Fairview
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Sarah Palin and Mad Men
Sarah Palin, draws a crowd, sells books, makes appearances, (Uh, attracts customers?) some people would say she does not have campaign advisers she has a well-oiled marketing team. Look past the politics, the platform, the ideology and study marketing technique. Without the snide remarks. As the old marketing adage advises: "Find a need and fill it."
If I were half as good, people would be booking me for advice, speeches, and book tours.
Still, I was not spellbound by Sarah Palin. I was more fascinated by the public response (pros and cons). Hillary Clinton was an easy out for those who did not want to embrace a female governor who hunts and fishes and does all the guy stuff and does it better than most guys. (Anyone hear the "oops!" when she became the running mate?) Trick question. I'm not talking about the male voters.
Hillary Clinton is tough and smart. I don't hear people raising the cliché comments about women being tough and smart. Another myth debunked? (!)
None-the-less, in a business site, on a business topic, Sarah Palin should be a marketing study. So, too, should Hillary Clinton. However, this is best left for the B-school kids and the MBA candidates. (Although I'd be surprised if Mad Men aren't already in the midst of the study. Albeit one with ponderous academic overtones to deflect the critics. Waffles go best with maple syrup.
Regards,
Slim
Copyright © 2011 Slim Fairview
Does Facebook use reduce worker productivity?
Does Facebook use reduce worker productivity?
Does training reduce worker productivity. Wouldn't it be better if we put new employees straight to work?
Why bother learning how to drive a car. You should get back to work making buggy-whips.
The complainers about social media have their heads buried in a block of concrete. True, if your job is to mow the lawn and you are twittering away your time on your iphone, you will be less productive. (Now that I've tossed the dog a bone.)
Facebook, twitter, blogs, the internet, virtual classrooms, virtual offices, virtual management, cloud computing, this is not the future. In fact, this is no longer the present. Tomorrow is yesterday. Get moving.
Regards,
Slim
copyright (c) 2011 Slim Fairview
Monday, March 14, 2011
The Latest Trend in Management
Hiring a Hiring Manager. Or not. The Latest Trend in Management
"If you have no skills as a hiring manager, the solution is simple. Hire the best people available whether you like it or not." Slim Fairview
The boss should not be the super-person. The boss should be the super-worker.
Not the ubermenschen but rather the “uber-arbeitskraft“
Back in the day when I was going to write the great American novel, I took a holiday job in the packing and shipping department of an upscale company.
First the department got back up and my supervisor’s boss came in to put things right. We were soon backed up again. This time the VP came in to find out, “What do we have to do to get things caught up?” My boss looked at me. The VP looked at me. The next day I had a packing and shipping operation up and running.
What made my operation run so efficiently? I took advantage of my position as a supervisor to move up and down the line to bring the different stages of the operation into sync with the process. I could prepare product for packaging, I could box the product, and I could set up boxes for packing, and so on. Wherever my team needed help keeping up, I joined that stage of the process.
This is missing from the many admonitions to managers, young and old.
A good analogy for management would be to compare the experience of a substitute teacher to that of trying to herd cats. The fallacy of wisdom is that if you show up with a bag full of tuna sandwiches, the cats will embrace a common goal: tuna for lunch. Then reality strikes. One cat goes off in search of a jar of gherkins, another for a bag of chips, and another for a napkin. A smart boss knows that tuna fish sandwiches are not going to solve all the problems; and neither will a common goal. We may all agree on the destination, but we won’t all agree on the best route to get there.
Here is the conundrum: There may not be one right way or one best way. However, we do have to travel together—or not. These are the challenges. Different managers may have different views. Different team members may have different views; and, in addition, just as there may be no one right or wrong way to get to our destination, so there may not be one right or wrong way to manage. We cannot always have consensus either.
The biggest problem is the one size fits all philosophy of management instruction. Another, is the fact that employees come to the table with the notion that one style of management may be better than or worse than another style. (After all, how many employees attended the all-day seminar? How many employees have the three-fold brochure? They cannot be tricked or bullied into accepting a style of management that is not suitable. Suitable to whom? That is another question.
Today, management is being bullied into accepting one form of management as being superiour to another. Employees, team members, are convinced that one method of management is superiour to another. Imagine everyone’s surprise when the tables are turned.
Management has become a victim to trends in management. The latest trend will work if everyone on the team believes that he or she is benefiting from the latest, the newest, and the best that the consulting industry has to offer.
Dr. Henry Kissinger once said of fame, “You still bore people, but they think it’s their fault.”
Let’s not fall prey to the latest trend in management style and technique.
“Style never goes out of fashion, but fashion always goes out of style.”
Regards,
Slim
For additional material, read Ceo the Executive, or The Executive’s New Clothes.
http://slimviews.blogspot.com/2010/08/ceo-executive-or-executives-new-clothes.html
Mail. slimfairview@yahoo.com
Copyright © 2011 Slim Fairview
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Coming of Age by Slim Fairview
My latest SlideShare upload : An allegorical novel of Canadian history: Coming of Age http://slidesha.re/hPthGH
Friday, March 11, 2011
Edison Invented the Light Bulb by Candlelight
Edison didn't invent a better candle. Still, Edison invented the light bulb by candlelight. All the new technology lacks one thing. It cannot convey a message to those who cannot see the new technology.
Egypt, A new world order--a world without borders.
We are moving rapidly from the land of Laptopistan written about in a Times article to Netopia.
What happens when movies on demand becomes TV on demand? What happens when television goes beyond the laptop through Google TV to a direct subscription system.
Time Warner may want to go beyond the old movies of TCM and began broadcasting, what? Leave it to Beaver? The Early episodes of The Simpsons? Gunsmoke? Two and a half men?
The Wolves at Tottenham that I cannot watch on ESPN will be available over the internet. Remember a few scant years ago when the music industry was in an uproar about Napster? Remember that free phone service of ten years ago and VOIP? That debate became moot with Skype.
The best idea broadcast television has come up with to attract viewers is to start airing programmes targeted at people who don't watch television. Thus, driving away viewers who do watch television. Then there is the newer technology.
Sit down to dinner, push a button, and your dining room wall becomes a massive flat-screen television screen allowing you to have dinner with your sister and her family in Bismarck, North Dakota. (Home to the Raccoon National Cemetery.)
The social interaction will move people quickly into Netopia. Your son studying in Sweden, your daughter the doctor on a humanitarian aid mission to Japan for the recent floods, a BritCom years before it hits Channel 13. (American idiom for The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which used to be National Education Television before the marketing people realised that people don't watch television to get an education only to appear to have gotten an education. (There is a sentence in there somewhere: some assembly required.)
What a shame those in the broadcast industry can’t see what is going to happen. Then, too, they don’t seem to be able to see what is actually happening. If only we could figure out whether it’s because they’re watching too much television or not enough.
Regards,
Slim
Mail: Slimfairview@yahoo.com
Copyright (c) 2011 Slim Fairview
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Slim Fairview
My profile link on Linkedin
http://www.linkedin.com/in/slimfairview
Sincerest regards,
Slim
mail slimfairview@yahoo.com
Copyright (c) 2010 Slim Fairview
http://www.linkedin.com/in/slimfairview
Sincerest regards,
Slim
mail slimfairview@yahoo.com
Copyright (c) 2010 Slim Fairview
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Education Problem? Solution!
Education. Problem? Solution!
“There is no expedient to which a man will not resort to avoid the real labour of thinking.” Sir Joshua Reynolds. One of Thomas Alva Edison’s favourite quotations.
This is played out in the Great American Schools Debate. (Great debate, not great schools.) What happened? Why? What can be done to fix it?
First, I have come across nothing that substantiates the claim that using phonics to teach reading caused the decline in the ability of American students to read.
[Hold this thought. The decline was in test scores. We will return to that topic.]
There are numerous reasons that can be cited; and probably were. Failure to identify students needing glasses. Failure to identify students with ADHD. Failure to identify students who came from troubled homes, and so on.
Still, reading ability declined and we embraced a panicked approach to solving the problem—or not.
What really happened is the opportunity to make a buck. Exploiting children. Shaking America down for loot.
Some nincomperson writes a book and becomes an expert by appearing on talk show television. Was he an expert? Did reading ability
A. Go up
B. Go down
C. Stay the Same
D. All of the above
E. None of the above.
Mostly, they went down. Still, studies can and will show that all of the above is most likely correct. It depends on who did the test, on how the test was conducted, on why the test was conducted. None-the-less, children are less able to read today. How do I know this? Because everyone is in a panic to solve the problem of youngsters not learning to read.
Not too long ago, the demand was for better-educated teachers; more experienced teachers; better-looking teachers, and so on.
In a marketing strategy, and to appease parents, school officials fabricated a higher standard. Teachers with Masters Degrees, teachers with PhD’s, and teachers with more experience. This created an artificial demand and pushed up the price of education. This did not work. How do I know this? There is a continued demand to improve education in America.
Now, we have a new mantra: get rid of collective bargaining, fire experienced teachers, lower the cost of education, and everything will be hunky-dory. Will this strategy work? Have the experts been right before? No. How do I know this? If they were, there wouldn’t be a need to do something about declining education.
Now, I admit that my approach to examining the problem involves a bit of trickery. I am using common knowledge and common sense. However, please overlook that for the moment. Then again, don’t.
If performance is lower today than it was yesterday, then it must have been higher yesterday. If performance yesterday was lower than it was the day before, performance must have been higher the day before. Now, anyone with more intelligence than a five-pound bag of store brand cheese puffs will ask, “How did we teach children to read when children learned to read?” Answer, in the public arena, “Things were different back then.” To which I respond, “You’re darn tootin’ they were. Children learned to read.”
Now we get to teacher testing. The new demand is to test teachers. What an incredibly not smart idea.
1. The people who want teachers tested are the same people who inveighed against testing students. (Teaching to the test.)
2. The people who want teachers tested are the same people who’ve said, “Testing promotes memorization and memorization stifles creativity.” (All our children would be kings and captains of industry except that they had to memorize the times tables and that stifled their creativity.)
3. The people who are most concerned about testing teachers are the same people who relied on testing to banish phonics from the classroom. Do you remember what I asked you to set aside for later? [Hint: The decline was in test scores. We will return to that topic.]
Then there is the demand for charter schools. The people who laud charter schools, and cite low costs and high performance as compurgation for their position, apparently don’t listen to what they themselves are saying. They choose to ignore the part about how charter schools are unfettered by the opinions of the experts who are fettering public school education. How do I know that to be true? They are citing the poor performance in public schools. How do they know that? They cite test scores. How do they feel about testing? They don’t want children tested because teachers will teach to the test; however, they want teachers tested to see if the teachers know the subject matter. (There is a sentence in there somewhere, some assembly required.)
I once opined, online, that Parochial schools are doing a fine job at educating children. What no one waited to hear was this: “Parochial schools teach the way public schools used to teach when children learned to read.” What does that mean? Parochial schools are not fettered by the constraints imposed on public schools by the experts in education hired to solve the problems caused by experts in education.
Here is a novel idea. Let the teachers teach.
Regards,
Slim
Mail: slimfairview@yahoo.com
Copyright © 2011 Slim Fairview
Related topics.
Teachers aren’t allowed to teach anymore.
http://slimviews.blogspot.com/2010/06/teachers-arent-allowed-to-teach-anymore.html
How many parents want their children to get the appearance of an education?
http://slimviews.blogspot.com/2010/06/how-many-parents-want-their-children-to.html
No excuse to fail.
http://slimviews.blogspot.com/2010/06/no-excuse-to-fail.html
The virtual classroom class reunion highlights.
http://slimviews.blogspot.com/2011/03/thye-virtual-classroom-class-reunion.html
Now, what about experts?
http://slimviews.blogspot.com/2010/11/experts.html
Friday, March 4, 2011
Book Agent
I am looking for an agent to represent my two non-fiction efforts:
The Quotations of Slim Fairview
and the book I am assembling on management.
Anyone with an interest, please contact me.
mail: slimfairview@yahoo.com
Regards,
Slim
The Quotations of Slim Fairview
and the book I am assembling on management.
Anyone with an interest, please contact me.
mail: slimfairview@yahoo.com
Regards,
Slim
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
The Virtual Classroom Class Reunion Highlights
The Virtual Classroom
E learning in the classroom has been around a while. They started a programme in Pennsylvania a few years ago. In Pennsylvania, it is called Cyber-school. Enrollment is up. Students have graduated, gone on to college, and have done well. This, of course, is anecdotal. For a deeper knowledge of the topic, you might want to do research [wait for it] on line.
There is a great need for social interaction; however, that need for the classroom experience may recede as more youngsters live in Netopia.
One of the vital areas that a virtual experience would be powerful is on a topic that would make it virtually impossible (no pun intended) for every classroom to have access to the expert on that topic.
Instead of youngsters passing notes to their friends in study hall, they can have a chat set up. This may sound satirical at best, however, it does enable students to work in group while in a virtual classroom with a virtual teacher helping the students with their group activities. The virtual connection also allows students to research as they progress through the lesson.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go clap erasers.
Sincerest regards,
Slim
Mail slimfairview@yahoo.com
Copyright (c) 2011 Slim Fairview
E learning in the classroom has been around a while. They started a programme in Pennsylvania a few years ago. In Pennsylvania, it is called Cyber-school. Enrollment is up. Students have graduated, gone on to college, and have done well. This, of course, is anecdotal. For a deeper knowledge of the topic, you might want to do research [wait for it] on line.
There is a great need for social interaction; however, that need for the classroom experience may recede as more youngsters live in Netopia.
One of the vital areas that a virtual experience would be powerful is on a topic that would make it virtually impossible (no pun intended) for every classroom to have access to the expert on that topic.
Instead of youngsters passing notes to their friends in study hall, they can have a chat set up. This may sound satirical at best, however, it does enable students to work in group while in a virtual classroom with a virtual teacher helping the students with their group activities. The virtual connection also allows students to research as they progress through the lesson.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go clap erasers.
Sincerest regards,
Slim
Mail slimfairview@yahoo.com
Copyright (c) 2011 Slim Fairview
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
India 2.0 The Future is Today
That India is a technological leader, not marching but rather moving smoothly and swiftly into the future, is seldom a matter for dispute. In fact, it is not really discussed but simply assumed as the conversation progresses.
Still, as with any country or economy, there are adjustments to be made in the economics of a country's economy.
The issue of food is uppermost on the minds of the people of India. In a previous monograph, I referred to increased supply. A literal understanding would be counter productive. The issue is not resolved by saying, "Grow more food." However, if we were to discuss the issue from that statement, we would have to ask, "Do the same number of farmers increase their output, or do we need an increase in the number of farmers?" A subtext would involve farmers joining to take advantage of economies to scale, and form large farms. (Remember, the absence of primogeniture caused the collapse of pre Soviet Russia. The absence of private ownership led to the collapse of post-Czarist Russia. Conclusion: many small farms don't satisfy the need; collective farming won't solve the problem.
The first issue to address is that India has a culture of co-operation. This will serve India well as time marches on. However, on the question of supply, we are not simply suggesting more food for today; but a stable supply of food for a foreseeable future.
Two problems indicated in recent reports from the media are that
1. India cannot get food to the market. It rots before it can be sold or eaten; and 2. That the fluctuation in food prices in a largely agricultural nation has a greater impact in that nation than they would in a heavily industrialised nation.
Some options to consider.
If there is difficulty getting food to the market,
the food can be preserved at the source. Canned and frozen foods, processed at the source, can be stored as a hedge against future food supply failures. In addition, they can be sold on the national and international market. (The marketing of Indian cuisine can become a larger industry. I had curry for the first time when I was about 9 years old. Only recently have Indian food products made their appearance in supermarkets. That is a gap of almost half a century.)
The food supply prices can be leveled slightly through the investment in commodity options. This would allow investment consortia to
a. Have food available at a more affordable price if food prices rise considerably
b. Provide a return on the investment if national supplies are sufficient to meet demand
c. Provide the necessary supply of food to process for market and hedge against a future crop failure
d. Attract investors to partner with the agriculture, manufacturing, and finance industries to bring in money for capital investment.
The government can assume the responsibility of developing roads; negotiating trade deals (read: taxes, tariffs, concessions, etc.), and provide for a stable food supply and food pricing system to stabilise the government.
The economic growth, political stability, national unity, can be promoted.
Now, many people are skilled in the various areas mentioned above. The only thing necessary is what is too often referred to as a shared vision. This monograph is a demonstration of one of the few times that the term, shared vision, may perhaps have been used appropriately.
Sincerest regards,
Slim
Mail slimfairview@yahoo.com
Copyright (c) 2011 Slim Fairview
Monday, February 28, 2011
Collective Bargaining and Kansachusetts
Collective Bargaining is Good.
Now, does anyone see a similarity between the strategy of the Governor of Wisconsin and the strategy of Moammar Gadhafi? I am not talking about individuals. I am talking about strategies.
The Teachers' Union will make concessions. The Government will relent on bargaining. The only problem is that the government has to create a problem. I am guessing that the bigger problem the government creates, the bigger the solution it appears to implement.
What started out as a dispute between teachers in Wisconsin has grown to a national labour movement. Enough said?
To Understand the issues, let's look at a similar problem in my home state of Kansachusetts. There, Governor Odious Bilgewater stated the case very simply.
Lesterville is poor. Morgan's Farm is affluent. If there is collective bargaining, Morgan's Farm taxpayers can handle the bill. Lesterville taxpayers can't.
Now let's deal with that in a logical fashion.
If we get rid of collective bargaining, Lesterville will have little money. The really good teachers will all go to Morgan's Farm. In Lesterville, the poor children will continue to suffer.
When handing out state aid, Governor Bilgewater always gave more money to Morgan's Farm Schools. This has been ruled unfair by the courts. Governor Bilgewater could index state aid by income level and per student expenditures. No. That would be too simple. Too effective. It would make too much sense.
Governor Bilgewater wants to get rid of LIFO. Last Hired First Fired. He said, "The problem in our schools comes from too many bad teachers."
Really?
It was only a few weeks ago that parents were saying that the reason their children aren't getting an education is due to the lack of experienced teachers. In response to that, governor Bilgewater wants to get rid of experienced teachers.
Who will determine whether one of the new teachers is better than one of the experienced teachers?
The experienced teachers went to school back in the day when students learned to read. Then came the decline in education and reading skills. Do you really want to get rid of experienced teachers?
Well, what if you have a bad teacher. As the system is now, it is virtually impossible to fire one bad teacher. So what does governor Bilgewater suggest? Get rid of more experienced teachers. (I guess that way the one bad teacher won't feel bad by being singled out.)
Governor Bilgewater really kicked the hornets nest, didn't he?
However, as Governor Bilgewater said, "You can have action without planning; but planning without action is a waste of time. And time is what we don't have. Therefore, this is not a time to come up with a plan. This is a time for action." Kansachusetts: The State We All Live In The Honorable Odious Bilgewater--Governor.
Regards,
Slim
Copyright (c) 2011 Slim Fairview
Will the FB Revolution Spread to China? Part 2--Credentialism
Will the Facebook Revolution Spread to China? Part 2--Credentialism
Today, everyone has credentials. Things are not visibly better, but the experts have credentials to explain the problems they were not able to foresee, to prevent, or to fix.
Much of that comes from what is easily discernible: much of what they write is descriptive and not prescriptive. Why do they write it? As Samuel Johnson once said, "None but a blockhead writes except for money."
Now, why talk about credentials? It is a follow up to my monograph entitled "Distortions of graphic proportions." The posting includes a bar graph that purports to show how images are used to distort the facts. This monograph will explain how the exclusion of some facts is used to distort others.
Case in point.
The pundits (experts) have said that what happened in Egypt could happen in China. They said that the Chinese government is worried. Other experts pointed out that the difference in the per capita income between China and Egypt made a Facebook revolution unlikely. Then came the unpleasant situation in Bahrain.
Now the experts are saying that the high per capita income in Bahrain repudiates those who said a Facebook revolution in China is unlikely. Their reasoning? The per capita income in Bahrain. And that is where the substance of their reasoned argument ends.
First of all, consensus among the pundits is that in Bahrain you have a majority group living in a nation governed by a minority group. To put that in U.S. terms: Imagine a nation where 8 million Methodists are governed by 2 Million Lutherans.
This situation does not exist in China. The Chinese people are Chinese. Full stop.
Second, you have the type of money as well as the amount of money to consider. Here is a metaphor.
Pretend I own a 10-unit apartment building in a modest community. I rent each out for $500 a month. I live in one of the units. I make $4,500 a month. Pretend you are an architect. You get hired by a development company to gentrify my community. My property goes up in value. I now rent out my apartments for $1,500 a month. In addition, I moved into one of the fancy new apartment buildings. I now receive $15,000 a month in income. I pay $3,000 a month rent
in an upscale building and receive $12,000 a month in income.
You, however, as an architect earn about $80,000 a year. You are not satisfied with your earnings. You decide to renegotiate your contract. While that is happening, you are not working. While you are not working, 100 bricklayers are not working. If they don't work, they don't eat.
The owner of the building has two choices. Fire you and put 100 bricklayers back to work, or negotiate with you while 100 bricklayers have nothing to do and nothing to eat. Guess what? You lose your job.
You make an income by doing what you do. I make an income by what I own. I make an increased income by what you do. If you stop doing your job, my income stagnates but the bricklayers' income ceases.
Now, let's go to China. China's wealth arises from the efforts of the Chinese people. The Chinese people make a higher per capita income than the Egyptian people. The Chinese people make a higher per capita income by the way the Chinese people earn their income.
Back to my apartment building. If we assume that I have a history of being my own superintendent; mowing the lawn, fixing leaky faucets, vacuuming the carpets, polishing the floor in the lobby, I can cut my operating expenses and increase my earnings. However, when the value of my building goes up, I can hire a superintendent to do the work for me. I can still make an increased income. You, as an architect, must continue to be an architect to continue earning a living.
Will the Facebook revolution extend to China? Probably not. The question of per capita income is only a part of the consideration. The source of the income is also a consideration. The demographics are a third consideration.
Regards,
Slim
Mail slimfairview@yahoo.com
Copyright (c) 2011 Slim Fairview
Today, everyone has credentials. Things are not visibly better, but the experts have credentials to explain the problems they were not able to foresee, to prevent, or to fix.
Much of that comes from what is easily discernible: much of what they write is descriptive and not prescriptive. Why do they write it? As Samuel Johnson once said, "None but a blockhead writes except for money."
Now, why talk about credentials? It is a follow up to my monograph entitled "Distortions of graphic proportions." The posting includes a bar graph that purports to show how images are used to distort the facts. This monograph will explain how the exclusion of some facts is used to distort others.
Case in point.
The pundits (experts) have said that what happened in Egypt could happen in China. They said that the Chinese government is worried. Other experts pointed out that the difference in the per capita income between China and Egypt made a Facebook revolution unlikely. Then came the unpleasant situation in Bahrain.
Now the experts are saying that the high per capita income in Bahrain repudiates those who said a Facebook revolution in China is unlikely. Their reasoning? The per capita income in Bahrain. And that is where the substance of their reasoned argument ends.
First of all, consensus among the pundits is that in Bahrain you have a majority group living in a nation governed by a minority group. To put that in U.S. terms: Imagine a nation where 8 million Methodists are governed by 2 Million Lutherans.
This situation does not exist in China. The Chinese people are Chinese. Full stop.
Second, you have the type of money as well as the amount of money to consider. Here is a metaphor.
Pretend I own a 10-unit apartment building in a modest community. I rent each out for $500 a month. I live in one of the units. I make $4,500 a month. Pretend you are an architect. You get hired by a development company to gentrify my community. My property goes up in value. I now rent out my apartments for $1,500 a month. In addition, I moved into one of the fancy new apartment buildings. I now receive $15,000 a month in income. I pay $3,000 a month rent
in an upscale building and receive $12,000 a month in income.
You, however, as an architect earn about $80,000 a year. You are not satisfied with your earnings. You decide to renegotiate your contract. While that is happening, you are not working. While you are not working, 100 bricklayers are not working. If they don't work, they don't eat.
The owner of the building has two choices. Fire you and put 100 bricklayers back to work, or negotiate with you while 100 bricklayers have nothing to do and nothing to eat. Guess what? You lose your job.
You make an income by doing what you do. I make an income by what I own. I make an increased income by what you do. If you stop doing your job, my income stagnates but the bricklayers' income ceases.
Now, let's go to China. China's wealth arises from the efforts of the Chinese people. The Chinese people make a higher per capita income than the Egyptian people. The Chinese people make a higher per capita income by the way the Chinese people earn their income.
Back to my apartment building. If we assume that I have a history of being my own superintendent; mowing the lawn, fixing leaky faucets, vacuuming the carpets, polishing the floor in the lobby, I can cut my operating expenses and increase my earnings. However, when the value of my building goes up, I can hire a superintendent to do the work for me. I can still make an increased income. You, as an architect, must continue to be an architect to continue earning a living.
Will the Facebook revolution extend to China? Probably not. The question of per capita income is only a part of the consideration. The source of the income is also a consideration. The demographics are a third consideration.
Regards,
Slim
Mail slimfairview@yahoo.com
Copyright (c) 2011 Slim Fairview
Non-verbal Cues in the Virtual World
Non-verbal cues are often subjective.
www.businessdictionary.com
"Perceptual information communicated...by signs accompanying the words used in speech. "
Perceived is the perception of the receiver, not the transmitter. This is subjective. Thus, open to interpretation.
If everything is done (for the purpose of this discussion) on a computer, there would be no non-verbal cues to take into account. Thus, the only inferences one could make would be on the manner in which information is presented.
Now, case in point. Assumptions:
"For example, someone who asks a lot of questions may be [may be] extremely skilled and decisive. In fact they could be [could be] someone who is highly analytical and needs to see the whole picture before moving on."
This person, by way of metaphor, sent you a non-verbal clue by asking a lot of questions. That non-verbal clue you've taken into account is that "the person is highly analytical and needs to see the whole picture before moving on" [quotes mine for distinction] Again, for the purposes of this discussion, the non-verbal clue I perceived is that this person lacks confidence, based on his real or imaginary lack of subject matter knowledge.
To distinguish this, we may have to rely on other members of the group. If you and I are on the same team, you tell the leader that "Bill is analytical and needs to see the whole picture before moving on." I tell the team leader that Bill is an impediment. He prevents the group from moving on.
The leader now must assess whether Bill is qualified or not. Bill sent each of us non-verbal clues. Each of us came to a different conclusion. The team leader now must look for non-verbal clues. Is Cathy a sensitive and supportive team member who likes Bill's quest for answers? Is Cathy insecure and relies on Bill to provide a subterfuge? Also: Is Slim a goal oriented individual who finds Bill an impediment to productivity? Is Slim a rash and impulsive individual who may have a negative impact on the other members of the group by being brusque?
Well, Susan ( another member of the team) sees Slim as too theory X and feels intimidated. While Lorraine is fed up with Bill and is glad that Slim finally spoke up and put Bill in his place.
This is what really goes on in a group. And it doesn't matter whether we are co-located or virtual.
From the Quotations of Slim Fairview: "Did you ever notice, when people say, "you don't understand," what they really mean is, "you don't agree with me."
Sincerest regards,
Slim
Mail slimfairview@yahoo.com
Copyright (c) 2011 Slim Fairview
www.businessdictionary.com
"Perceptual information communicated...by signs accompanying the words used in speech. "
Perceived is the perception of the receiver, not the transmitter. This is subjective. Thus, open to interpretation.
If everything is done (for the purpose of this discussion) on a computer, there would be no non-verbal cues to take into account. Thus, the only inferences one could make would be on the manner in which information is presented.
Now, case in point. Assumptions:
"For example, someone who asks a lot of questions may be [may be] extremely skilled and decisive. In fact they could be [could be] someone who is highly analytical and needs to see the whole picture before moving on."
This person, by way of metaphor, sent you a non-verbal clue by asking a lot of questions. That non-verbal clue you've taken into account is that "the person is highly analytical and needs to see the whole picture before moving on" [quotes mine for distinction] Again, for the purposes of this discussion, the non-verbal clue I perceived is that this person lacks confidence, based on his real or imaginary lack of subject matter knowledge.
To distinguish this, we may have to rely on other members of the group. If you and I are on the same team, you tell the leader that "Bill is analytical and needs to see the whole picture before moving on." I tell the team leader that Bill is an impediment. He prevents the group from moving on.
The leader now must assess whether Bill is qualified or not. Bill sent each of us non-verbal clues. Each of us came to a different conclusion. The team leader now must look for non-verbal clues. Is Cathy a sensitive and supportive team member who likes Bill's quest for answers? Is Cathy insecure and relies on Bill to provide a subterfuge? Also: Is Slim a goal oriented individual who finds Bill an impediment to productivity? Is Slim a rash and impulsive individual who may have a negative impact on the other members of the group by being brusque?
Well, Susan ( another member of the team) sees Slim as too theory X and feels intimidated. While Lorraine is fed up with Bill and is glad that Slim finally spoke up and put Bill in his place.
This is what really goes on in a group. And it doesn't matter whether we are co-located or virtual.
From the Quotations of Slim Fairview: "Did you ever notice, when people say, "you don't understand," what they really mean is, "you don't agree with me."
Sincerest regards,
Slim
Mail slimfairview@yahoo.com
Copyright (c) 2011 Slim Fairview
Thursday, February 24, 2011
The Food Crisis in India: The Price is the Crisis
Food: The Price is the Crisis
At the risk of sounding trite, the law of supply and demand still functions. To solve the price crisis in India, supply must be increased. This is a matter of "time place utility"; "form utility"; "economies to scale"; and direct foreign investment. I mention the last consideration because the advice to some can also be considered advice to another. In short, if you know where and how people are being advised to invest, you can position yourself to be the where and the how.
I've included "Having Problems with Foreign Direct Investment?" to give insight into what investors can look for. This can also give insight into those who want to benefit from the investors. I've included The Marketing of India. I've included a metaphor: Starving Nations and Food Equations: A metaphor. This is not to be interpreted as reference to people actually dying. It is to discuss the economics of agriculture.
Having Problems with Foreign Direct Investment?
What are some of the barriers?
Leverage.
ROI.
It is easy to see that start up costs in some countries are much lower than start up costs in another. If the other country does not have the physical plant for example, it will be cheaper to build that plant in the other country.
Currency considerations are another factor
Incentives from a country with little industry are greater than they are from a country where you will compete with the locals.
Market penetration. Would people in countries in the region be more inclined to buy from countries in the region or from western nations.
Partnering. It is easier to partner with business in some countries where western technology is not readily available by making that technology available.
Just a few thoughts.
Regards,
Slim
mail slimfairview@yahoo.com
Copyright (c) 2011 Slim Fairview
The Marketing of India
Find a need and fill it.
Who has a need for what you can produce?
Partner with that (nation's) companies.
In addition to the profits, offer a minority interest in the company. (This will give investors an incentive to succeed.)
Offer a profit share to the suppliers. (This will give the farmers(?) an incentive to join in the venture.
In addition to money, offer other incentives. [Prestige]. For example: Build schools in the areas where the people are most enthusiastic.
If one or two small companies cannot find the funding (through govt. funding--a bad idea) go to the marketplace.
Economies to scale.
Create a marketing group for the several smaller companies, so they can pool their resources.
In Vermont there is a joke:
Q: "Do you think the rain will hurt the rhubarb?"
A: "Not if they're in cans."
If produce spoils before it hits the market, set up a joint effort to can the produce at the source.
Roads are a government responsibility.
Just a few ideas. (Call me old-fashioned)
Anyone care to amplify, amend, or correct?
Sincerest regards,
Slim
PS. Read The Caste Busters article in the NY Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/02/magazine/02Striver-t.html
Mail slimfairvew@yahoo.com
Copyright (c) 2011 Slim Fairview
Starving Nations and Food Equations: A Metaphor
[This metaphor does not refer to people actually dying. This refers to the discordance in the economy of agriculture specifically and in the economy as a whole.]
If one person in the group does not have enough food to eat, he may die.
For a while, that means more food for the rest of the group. However, that also means one less person to work the farm. That means less food to eat. Less food to eat means someone will die.
For a while, that means more food for the rest of the group. However, that also means one less person to work the farm. That means less food to eat. Less food to eat means someone will die.
Soon, there won't be enough people to work the farm. That means there won't be enough food to eat.
Get the idea?
Slim
Mail: slimfairview@yahoo.com
Copyright (c) 2011 Slim Fairview
At the risk of sounding trite, the law of supply and demand still functions. To solve the price crisis in India, supply must be increased. This is a matter of "time place utility"; "form utility"; "economies to scale"; and direct foreign investment. I mention the last consideration because the advice to some can also be considered advice to another. In short, if you know where and how people are being advised to invest, you can position yourself to be the where and the how.
I've included "Having Problems with Foreign Direct Investment?" to give insight into what investors can look for. This can also give insight into those who want to benefit from the investors. I've included The Marketing of India. I've included a metaphor: Starving Nations and Food Equations: A metaphor. This is not to be interpreted as reference to people actually dying. It is to discuss the economics of agriculture.
Having Problems with Foreign Direct Investment?
What are some of the barriers?
Leverage.
ROI.
It is easy to see that start up costs in some countries are much lower than start up costs in another. If the other country does not have the physical plant for example, it will be cheaper to build that plant in the other country.
Currency considerations are another factor
Incentives from a country with little industry are greater than they are from a country where you will compete with the locals.
Market penetration. Would people in countries in the region be more inclined to buy from countries in the region or from western nations.
Partnering. It is easier to partner with business in some countries where western technology is not readily available by making that technology available.
Just a few thoughts.
Regards,
Slim
mail slimfairview@yahoo.com
Copyright (c) 2011 Slim Fairview
The Marketing of India
Find a need and fill it.
Who has a need for what you can produce?
Partner with that (nation's) companies.
In addition to the profits, offer a minority interest in the company. (This will give investors an incentive to succeed.)
Offer a profit share to the suppliers. (This will give the farmers(?) an incentive to join in the venture.
In addition to money, offer other incentives. [Prestige]. For example: Build schools in the areas where the people are most enthusiastic.
If one or two small companies cannot find the funding (through govt. funding--a bad idea) go to the marketplace.
Economies to scale.
Create a marketing group for the several smaller companies, so they can pool their resources.
In Vermont there is a joke:
Q: "Do you think the rain will hurt the rhubarb?"
A: "Not if they're in cans."
If produce spoils before it hits the market, set up a joint effort to can the produce at the source.
Roads are a government responsibility.
Just a few ideas. (Call me old-fashioned)
Anyone care to amplify, amend, or correct?
Sincerest regards,
Slim
PS. Read The Caste Busters article in the NY Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/02/magazine/02Striver-t.html
Mail slimfairvew@yahoo.com
Copyright (c) 2011 Slim Fairview
Starving Nations and Food Equations: A Metaphor
[This metaphor does not refer to people actually dying. This refers to the discordance in the economy of agriculture specifically and in the economy as a whole.]
If one person in the group does not have enough food to eat, he may die.
For a while, that means more food for the rest of the group. However, that also means one less person to work the farm. That means less food to eat. Less food to eat means someone will die.
For a while, that means more food for the rest of the group. However, that also means one less person to work the farm. That means less food to eat. Less food to eat means someone will die.
Soon, there won't be enough people to work the farm. That means there won't be enough food to eat.
Get the idea?
Slim
Mail: slimfairview@yahoo.com
Copyright (c) 2011 Slim Fairview
Plus ca change, plus ca change!
Plus ca change, plus ca change!
Today: "How do you over come the fear of change?" Tomorrow: How do you overcome the change of fear?"
"It's too late to act as if it were today. We must act as if it is tomorrow"
“On To Netopia: New world order--a world without borders. Passwords, not passports.”
Regards,
Slim
From the Quotations of Slim Fairview © 2010-2011-Slim Fairview
Oppressed People Can't Revolt
"Oppressed people can't revolt: They are oppressed. Only freed people can revolt. That freedom came with the Internet: Facebook, Twitter, et. al" Slim Fairview
Regards,
Slim
Mail: slimfairview@yahoo.com
Copyright (c) 2011 Slim Fairview
Regards,
Slim
Mail: slimfairview@yahoo.com
Copyright (c) 2011 Slim Fairview
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Monographs: Understanding the Future of the Middle East
To Cover the Subject of The Middle East
For a better understanding of what is going on in the Middle East, ask the question: "Will the Facebook Revolution Spread to China? Probably Not."
http://slimviews.blogspot.com/2011/02/will-facebook-revolution-spread-to.html
However, there is more to understanding the shift in the paradigm of Global Affairs with respect to the Middle East.
Transnational Business: From Distopistan to Netopistan.
http://slimviews.blogspot.com/2011/02/tansnational-business-from-distopistan.html
What is to Come in The Middle East
http://slimviews.blogspot.com/2011/02/what-is-to-come-in-middle-east.html
Egypt and the Failure of Global Diplomacy
http://slimviews.blogspot.com/2011/02/egypt-and-failure-of-global-diplomacy.html
The Business of Egypt is Business
http://slimviews.blogspot.com/2011/02/business-of-egypt-is-business.html
Regards,
Slim
Mail Slimfairview@yahoo.com
Copyright (c) Slim Fairview 2011
For a better understanding of what is going on in the Middle East, ask the question: "Will the Facebook Revolution Spread to China? Probably Not."
http://slimviews.blogspot.com/2011/02/will-facebook-revolution-spread-to.html
However, there is more to understanding the shift in the paradigm of Global Affairs with respect to the Middle East.
Transnational Business: From Distopistan to Netopistan.
http://slimviews.blogspot.com/2011/02/tansnational-business-from-distopistan.html
What is to Come in The Middle East
http://slimviews.blogspot.com/2011/02/what-is-to-come-in-middle-east.html
Egypt and the Failure of Global Diplomacy
http://slimviews.blogspot.com/2011/02/egypt-and-failure-of-global-diplomacy.html
The Business of Egypt is Business
http://slimviews.blogspot.com/2011/02/business-of-egypt-is-business.html
Regards,
Slim
Mail Slimfairview@yahoo.com
Copyright (c) Slim Fairview 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Will the Facebook Revolution Spread to China? Probably Not
Will the Facebook revolution spread to China? My guess, probably not.
1. What you are seeing in the Middle East is a reaction not a response, to a reaction. Kings were overthrown by military dictators and the people suffered not just a civil rights oppression but also an economic oppression.
2. In China, there was a technology revolution fueled by the Chinese government to move China into the 21st century with a great leap.
3. In the Middle East, there was an equality of suffering with the exception of a few "friends of the dictators".
4. In China, the old axiom (New by Chinese standards) "When the tide comes in, all the ships in the harbour rise,” is being played out in large numbers. Yes, there may be pockets of poverty. However, they are in a manner of speaking diffuse. Also, not "connected".
5. This brings us to: There is a techno-class. In the same way the intelligentsia was self-removed from the class-contretemps of Europe's social revolution over a century ago, the tech people are focused too fiercely on technology. "If then: go to."
6. There appear to be "tribal or religious" disconnects among the different tribal and religious segments of Middle Eastern society. In China, the Chinese people are Chinese. Full Stop.
7. There is a great deal of anti-American and anti-western sentiments in the Middle East. While there may be Chinese people who like and Chinese people who may not like some or many westerners, there is not a history of exploitation. In addition, China has the means, the methods, and the will to compete on the global stage, in the global arena, playing the same game everyone else plays. For the lack of a better term, I shall call it, Economics.
The West has a rather remarkable view of the Middle East. We preach democracy, we promote democracy, we aid and abet democracy, and we work well with those countries that are and have been democracies. In the Middle East, democracy seems to be a new thing. They will have democracy. They will vote. They will elect representatives and leaders. Then what? That is the conundrum for the US.
What happens when they vote not to establish alliances with the west? They are free to choose. With that freedom comes the freedom to choose not to be our friends. That is a possibility we are not prepared to accept.
With China, we do business. China does business with us. We've never done business with the people of the Middle East. We've done business to the people of the Middle East.
Let's move quickly to mend some fences.
Regards,
Slim
Mail slimfairview@yahoo.com
Copyright © 2011 Slim Fairview
1. What you are seeing in the Middle East is a reaction not a response, to a reaction. Kings were overthrown by military dictators and the people suffered not just a civil rights oppression but also an economic oppression.
2. In China, there was a technology revolution fueled by the Chinese government to move China into the 21st century with a great leap.
3. In the Middle East, there was an equality of suffering with the exception of a few "friends of the dictators".
4. In China, the old axiom (New by Chinese standards) "When the tide comes in, all the ships in the harbour rise,” is being played out in large numbers. Yes, there may be pockets of poverty. However, they are in a manner of speaking diffuse. Also, not "connected".
5. This brings us to: There is a techno-class. In the same way the intelligentsia was self-removed from the class-contretemps of Europe's social revolution over a century ago, the tech people are focused too fiercely on technology. "If then: go to."
6. There appear to be "tribal or religious" disconnects among the different tribal and religious segments of Middle Eastern society. In China, the Chinese people are Chinese. Full Stop.
7. There is a great deal of anti-American and anti-western sentiments in the Middle East. While there may be Chinese people who like and Chinese people who may not like some or many westerners, there is not a history of exploitation. In addition, China has the means, the methods, and the will to compete on the global stage, in the global arena, playing the same game everyone else plays. For the lack of a better term, I shall call it, Economics.
The West has a rather remarkable view of the Middle East. We preach democracy, we promote democracy, we aid and abet democracy, and we work well with those countries that are and have been democracies. In the Middle East, democracy seems to be a new thing. They will have democracy. They will vote. They will elect representatives and leaders. Then what? That is the conundrum for the US.
What happens when they vote not to establish alliances with the west? They are free to choose. With that freedom comes the freedom to choose not to be our friends. That is a possibility we are not prepared to accept.
With China, we do business. China does business with us. We've never done business with the people of the Middle East. We've done business to the people of the Middle East.
Let's move quickly to mend some fences.
Regards,
Slim
Mail slimfairview@yahoo.com
Copyright © 2011 Slim Fairview
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