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Design solar cloth dryer
I believe solar cloth dryer (SCD) is equally important for saving electrical energy if not more in developed countries. Look how hot it is now outside, but all of us are still using electrical cloth dryers, double waste of energy (releasing heat to the house). Could SCD work like a rotating cage (net like) operating outside? so there is no hassle for using a large space or taking time to hang cloth.
edward long
Aug 1 2013: The military has used net bags for years. They keep the laundry separated. They are good for washing and drying. They serve as soiled laundry receptacles. They are lightweight, transportable, and durable. They are easily marked by a tag. They collapse ionto a very small space when not in use. They are sanitary. So, however your design develops hold-on to the idea of net bags! Also remember moving parts mean reduced reliability. Build a prototype ASAP! Go get'em!
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Aug 1 2013: Good to know. Thanks!
Daniel Early
Jul 31 2013: I've already invented a solar clothe dryer. I attached a string between between two poles and, 'viola!', when I hang my clothes on it, the sun does the drying, and there's even a bit of static electricity generated.
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Aug 1 2013: Good for yourself and those who have space or don't mind using the old way. Would it be nice to invent a method that is as convenient as current indoor dryers?Aug 1 2013: i would also refer to this picture
Aug 1 2013: Is that your laundry drying Krisztián? NICE!Aug 1 2013: Well put, Krisztian.Aug 1 2013: Good job Daniel! You are SOOOOO clever! LOL
Aug 1 2013: Thank you. Not clever enough, however. I should have patented my idea for this 'solar-powered clothe-line' because I'm already seeing them everywhere in people's backwards or between apartment buildings. Alas, I will simply consider it yet another of my many gifts to society.
Aug 1 2013: what about a solar powered tanning bed?Aug 1 2013: @ Krisztian. You're a genius! Quick, get a patent before it's too late. I'm putting one in right now for a solar-powered greenhouse. It's going to revolutionize the way plants are grown in buildings made almost entirely of glass by covering the glass ceilings and installing rows of shade-creating solar panels that will charge rows of fluorescent lights which will hang and beneath the solar panels and provide all the plants with harsh lighting and a monotonous buzzing sound.Aug 3 2013: Wondered why cloth dryers sells in Middle East ?
Aug 3 2013: Hi Salim, I don't quite understand what you mean.
Aug 3 2013: I saw people using electric cloth dryers in Middle East when they have plenty hot sun light to do the job, as you mentioned even having hot sunny weather outside people use electric dryer in developed world ( not sure which countries you meant ).
So was trying to understand what kind of motive is there behind that consumer behavior .
Sorry for being vague .
Aug 3 2013: Thanks for explaining it. I still believe convenience is the main motif as long as people can afford it. If outdoor Sun cloth dryer is basically the same as indoor, except taking it out needs a bit more work and it drys slower, then more people might want to use it.
bart hsi
Aug 1 2013: I concur with most previous posting about hanging clothes to dry on a line under the sun, or in a cloudy warm day. Since I have been a technician in a paper manifacturer, I could also imaging that you could even dry and press the washed clothes by running them through 2 or 3 rotating cylinders one above another, so that you could dry and press them at the same time. This is usually done by some dry cleaners (store) in batch mode too. A small scale machine can be made that the cylinders can be heated by hot water or steam, heated by the sun/solar panels, flowing through the rotating cylinders which could be driven by a pair of foot pedals similar to an old fashioned sewing machine.
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For some clothes items, you can also wrap them on a round top or a cone head heated by the hot water by the solar energy to dry them. This is much less time/space consuming when the water is preheated by the sun and ready for use almost at any time. In other word, with some engineering design, you could batch processing the dry-and-press procedure similar to press a single half wet clothes one at a time.Aug 1 2013: Thank you Alberto. We are here for the same goal ---- reducing the dependence of electricity. So we may understand it more through communication. Actually, I just put my cloth on the concrete floor outside (with a sheet) for the entire summer. They dry in about 2 hours, that's just for my own convenience. I believe there are many ways to do it. We are just trying to share ideas here and hopefully someone who are good at designing would invent a nice solar dryer model that would attract more people to use it :)))) . Your box model is certainly one of those.Aug 1 2013: Freshi Mind,
All of us are NOT using electric dryers my friend. Many of us have been using "solar dryers" our whole life, and it's called hanging the cloths out in the sun to dry! I LOVE the process of hanging cloths in the sun and fresh air, and after 60+ years of doing so, I still LOVE the fresh smell and feel of line dried cloths:>)
In the winter, I hang cloths on a wooden rack in the house, where they can dry from the wood heat as I stoke the wood burning stove....rather than freezing my fingers trying to hang them outside:>)
Your concern seems to be space and convenience? Clothes drying racks do not take up very much space, and are very convenient:>)
Aug 1 2013: Thank you Colleen for doing it and your comments. I guess everyone knows that Sun is a nice furnace and hanging cloth in the Sun can be dried. How many of us are doing it? why or why not?
Aug 1 2013: Yes indeed Freshi, a lot of people know that the sun is a good cloth drier.
I don't know for sure how many are "doing it" Freshi, but there are quite a few of us based on the number of clothes-lines I see everywhere. It is a choice freshi....I'm sure you know that:>)
Aug 1 2013: Sure, I'm glad it works for you. One way is always good for part of people. I like it too. Perhaps we can invent something that attract different group of people :))Aug 1 2013: Well, Freshi, you can certainly invent something else. I am content with hanging clothes on the line to dry in the fresh air and sun:>)
Aug 1 2013: We have to think of what moved us to go from old way to new way (dryer). Now moving backwards is always harder unless people have to. Right? need some creativity.Aug 1 2013: Freshi,
You are suggesting a "solar cloth dryer". That is not a new idea, and if you want to create something more, go to it!
Aug 1 2013: What I meant is a similar kind of physical equipment as people use indoor right now, called washer and dryer. The difference is that the heat comes from Sun not from electricity. If not new, where did you see it?Aug 1 2013: I think I understand your meaning and intention Freshi, and I am saying, that using the sun for drying clothes is not a new idea.
I repeat....if you want to create something more, go to it!
EDIT regarding comment below:
Again Freshi, I do not perceive drying clothes in the sun as a new idea. Any equipment that may be invented to facilitate drying clothes in the sun in another way, would be considered new.
You are welcome:>)
Aug 1 2013: hehe, depending on what you mean by NEW. Any equipment that most people haven't seen it can be called NEW to me, but not hanging cloth on the strings/poles though :))
It's okay that you don't think this is not new.
I wish someday they are smart people inventing this kind of convenient and self contained dryers, saving energy, time, money, and space, so I could be one of the consumers. This wouldn't bother who want to use string/pole to hang cloth.
Thank you for the discussion.Aug 1 2013: if you like add more time to your conversation, click "edit," right now you have 17 hours.Jul 31 2013: Alberto, sound pretty cool. Do you have a photo of it?


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Video: Crashed Ice highlight video
SAINT PAUL, Minn. - Tens of thousands of visitors are expected to descend on Saint Paul during Red Bull's Crashed Ice and there are two website's that are available to help visitors navigate the event and the city.
Visit Saint Paul launched a special website to assist both out-of-towners and hometown fans fired up to immerse themselves in the Crashed Ice experience.
The website includes information on hotel specials, schedules, the course and special events happening around the city as part of the three-day event.
The City of St. Paul also has a section on their website to give additional information about the area surrounding the course, parking/shuttles and other area venues.
An increasing number of businesses are trying to tap into this year's event, noting that last year's Crashed Ice attracted an estimated 80,000 people to the Saintly city.
For example, Eagle Street Grille is hosting the Official Warming Tent of the event across the street from the Xcel Energy Center with DJ and live music, beverages and heat.
(Copyright 2013 by KARE. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. )


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For the past two years I've taken my daughter to Ice! at the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine. Everything is ice. It is amazing, and so much fun. We look forward to it this year. Here's some pics from a couple years ago..
Words cannot say how amazing this is in person..
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- Simone Ines Lackerbauer
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Change Through Imagination and Fiction: we need to communicate our ideas & visions to make them real.
I have been fascinated by the way how ideas and visions, especially related to new technologies, are communicated in real life (TED Talks, scientific conferences, academe) and in fiction (science fiction, cyberculture). I want to explore certain aspects of creativity, fiction, and technological utopia -- visions of the future, fuelled by innovation, new technologies, gadgets, visions, dreams, rumors related to high-tech and small-scale technologies.
One of my hypotheses is that we need imagination and fiction to communicate our visions in order to foster change; for better or worse. Every innvoation starts as pure fiction, so the more we imagine and envision, the more we will be able to innovate and to channel our imagination for positive change.
A commercial example: Steve Jobs had a very particular idea about personal computers and gadgets; the systems he built (as opposed to the ones Steve Wozniak favored) were (and are) "closed" systems, communicating a vision of completedness and a certain digital lifestyle.
A cultural example: TED Speakers use the TED platform -- and bend to the TED rules -- to communicate their ideas. Many Speakers have had special presentation training, many of them have stunning visualizations of their ideas -- impressive slides, fascinating computer animations to communicate their ideas and partly their fiction of what might be possible -- to share their visions and to help them become reality one day.
A scientific example: scientists come up with theories based on observations, then they try to make them real by experimenting, by observing, by comparing, by publishing papers, by talking to peers and eventually by finding evidence (at least in most cases).
Do you think fiction has the power to provoke change? Do you think we need fiction to give our visions more substance and to push them towards reality? Is fiction in everyday life settings powerful? Is fiction dangerous? Can fiction foster innovation and change?
Jeff Viers
Oct 9 2011: As I am reading the comments below (above?) I am reminded of a line from the movie, The International, where a character says, 'the difference between the truth and fiction is that fiction has to make sense'. I hold this belief strongly, that most of what we are trying to accomplish in life is to make sense and somehow control a life that makes no sense whatsoever at times. Perhaps, only in retrospect can we find meaning in some things. Over time the meanings I have placed on events has changed, sometimes dramatically. So, in some ways I see fiction as being a means to explain unexplainable events. Our minds, at least mine, is always trying to make sense out of life, and most of the meanings I give to life are made up, based on what I already know, that's why they change. Because I keep having different experiences, and if I am open, I can allow them to alter my perceptions of what has happened before. Conversely, I can become stuck on what is so, mired in my own truth and unable to see beyond my preconceived notions. At those times, a foray into fiction can open me to what I don't already know, a softer, gentler way of provoking an awareness of alternative ways of seeing things... I reserve the right to change my mind.
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Oct 18 2011: I agree that striving for purpose, sense, and meaning is elementary for us and I also think that fiction is a means to explain the unexplainable (just like science fiction aims to explain what might be possible one day, or in an alternative reality). Moreover, I really like the idea that we are telling ourselves fictional stories when we try to make sense of what happened. My mom for example believes that "everything happens for a reason" and that "when one door closes, another door will open". This may or may not be true, but I find it comforting to think that certain good things only happened, because other bad things happened before which changed my life.
Debra Smith
Oct 7 2011: Fiction absolutely has the power to evoke change. Factual literature only has the chance to show one truth in one situation under one set of circumstances while fiction can distill a whole set of truths in a more universal way. If anyone needs evidence of fiction preceding invention or innovation just look at Star Trek. Many of the things that I saw as a child have come true. We have cell phones. Granted they are not worn on our chests yet but we do have 'communicators'. We have space travel and many astronauts and relevant technicians of all sorts admit to being inspired by Star Trek. We do not yet have replicators but we have microwaves. And the thing that is my current favourite is the thing approaching the universal translator. Google translator allowed me to have TED conversations with an Italian priest at the Vatican archives even though he often wrote in Italian. I love where we are going and fiction is the vehicle which makes enough people wonder at the possibilities to make it happen,
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PS I think it even goes further than that. I think that many many of us are inspired by the view of earth from Star Trek. We want that kind of egalitarian, positive, fair societies.
Oct 16 2011: Debra, thank you very much for the valuable and inspiring comment! I think the Star Trek aspect is absolutely relevant -- I grew up watching Captain Kirk and his crew as well and the series kind of kindled my interest for new technologies.
Regarding the view of earth from Star Trek: that is something worth considering... especially because the Enterprise crew never (or rarely?) visits earth, so there is always a certain distance between the "reality" of their lives and life on earth. Maybe even a certain longing to partake in the society they protect? We never really see what life is like on earth in Star Trek, do we? There is room for our imagination and for our hopes that whatever kind of life it is the crew is protecting is actually worth being protected. Quite interesting from a semiotic point of view.
Debra Smith
Oct 16 2011: Hi Siimone, Later manifestations of Star Trek, like Next Generation actually do give a fairly clear view of the societies at home on earth. Bradbury had a strong vision of a better life here on earth that is clearly transmitted. Even in Deep Space Nine, a facsimlie of life on earth is 'replicated'.
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PS I always love the creativity you bring to your questions, Simone. Thanks for being here with us on TED!Oct 9 2011: For one, consider the worlds best selling book....the Bible. I have just spent the past 45 minutes reading thru many of the replies to your vey worthwhile question, and I did not see one mentioning the possibility....or for some....the belief that the Bible is "Fiction". Science is debunking many of the "beliefs" and or "stories" of the Bible on a daily basis. Fact is Fact, and that is a Fact. Science proves or disproves many ideas as one of your respondents said in kind.
As a quick example of the "Bible" being fiction, Science has now proven without a doubt or question, that based on DNA coding, there is absolutely no way that todays populations of the world could have come from one set of biological parents.
Evolution is interesting in that water animals (i.e. tadpoles becoming land based/living Frogs) are known to evolve into land animals. A worm turning into a butterflie.....a maggot into a fly...see.....this is just an example of evolution and change.
The ideas and morals of the Bible are very important in a society being able to function, yet many examples of society going array (sp) is evident....Cain killing his brother,, the tower of Babel, Fathers having their daughters babies....you would never believe it but the Bible is filled with ficitional tales of lust, incest, bestality, murder, rape, thievery (sp) etc....
Our American author Mark Twain wrote some of the best "fictional" antics of growing up as a boy that million's have loved throughout the ages. Poetry is a really good example of fiction. Lyric's to songs is another. Your doctor trying to explain an illness to you yet another.....what you tell your children in order to get them to understand life is another....ever hear of a father trying to explain where babies come from to his inquisitive 6 yr old son or daughter?
Fiction opens the mind to the realities of life. Pre-supposing leads to supposing, and that gives you the end result of learned factual knowledge.
Oct 18 2011: Thank you very much for these valuable examples -- in fact, I think the Bible explains what I mean when I insist on fiction not being equal to lies: the story of Adam and Eve is in itself no "malice aforethought" and I don't think the Bible as a book ever claimed to be the truth (how it is interpreted is of course another story). As you said, these stories are metaphors that communicate values and fiction indeed opens the mind to the realities of life.Oct 4 2011: Hi Simone -
When I saw your post last night, I immediately thought of my dear friend, Dale Cosper. He was an English Literature professor at Whitman College, a student at La Sorbonne and is an old cowboy and amazing soul. I sent him the link here hoping he'd sign on and participate. He didn't sign on, but did send a response which I'd like to share with you.
First, let me say I do not like science fiction or even fantasy literature. I am commenting here largely because I KNOW that fiction can alter one's way of being and knowing and doing. I learned this at the feet of Jean-Paul Sartre when I was a student in Paris, and, even more, from Albert Camus who died just before I got there. The remarks above about philosophy and literature are pertinent here. Sartre's NAUSEA dramatizes the EXPERIENCE he had at Le Havre as a lycee professor years before he wrote his treatise BEING AND NOTHINGNESS. Similarly, Camus's THE STRANGER engages us to experience in our sensibility the absurd. The fiction of these two French writers changed the way an entire generation thought of freedom and agency. Cormac McCarthy's work transports us into other worlds that we come to recognize as our own. (One can do nothing to change the world until one authentically apprehends the world.) THE ROAD (and I think the film is entirely faithful to the novel) transports us in a straight-line projection from where we are today to where we will inevitably be in the not so distant future if we don't change our culture. Shimmering behind the world we live in are the worlds that were, the worlds to come, and the worlds that could be. Fiction, better than any other means, reveals these worlds to us. I think Wendell Berry's novels, as good as his essays are, surpass everything else he wrote as the exposition of a world he knew, he saw passing, and he hoped to could once again be, if only we could subscribe to "membership" in the human/natural community.
Debra Smith
Oct 4 2011: Linda, this is an amazing gift to us all and one of the generous things that TED conversationalists seem to do. They draw on their expertise and connections to knowledge to enrich us all. Thanks for your efforts hereOct 16 2011: Dear Linda - thank you very much for your comment and I am sorry for the late reply! I also learned these things about fiction by studying here in France - the Colloque de Cerisy for example examined ficion several times (http://www.ccic-cerisy.asso.fr/colloques.html) and the tradition of semiotics in France implies that there is a lot fictional about the way we communicate. Thank you very much for the references, I will definitely look them up. But one question remains: with your expertise on the subject, why is it that you don't like fiction? Or is it just the contemporary fictional literature you are not fond of?
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Nat Strafaci
Sep 26 2011: You must be very young. When you experience life, more life, full life or just enough life, you will see the blinding light. Real life is far more unbelievable than fiction.
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Sep 28 2011: I don't know if you consider 25 very young or just young, but I like your comment :) In what ways would you say real life is more unbelievable than fiction?
Iqtadar Raja
Oct 24 2011: "Your imagination is your preview of life's coming attractions."
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-- Albert Einstein, Physicist
"Imagination grows by exercise and, contrary to common belief, is more powerful in the mature than in the young."
-- Paul McCartney, musician
"A strong imagination begetteth opportunity."
-- Michel de Montaigne, writer
"The world is but a canvas to the imagination."
-- Henry David Thoreau
"Imagination is more important than knowledge."
-- Albert Einstein, Theoretical Physicist
Kasey Gee
Oct 17 2011: Just another talk I think is relevant: http://tedxtalks.ted.com/video/TEDxYouthSydney-Katherine-StaplOct 13 2011: I guess I meant fiction in the sense of deception, like a spy with a fictional I.D. But I still have a bit of a problem with the literary allusions in post modern theory. Yes, language shapes consciousness, but not nearly as much as vision does. If one wants to get closer to the truth of an object, a glance at a photo would tell you as more than a ten page description.
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Oct 18 2011: I am also struggling with the terms "fiction", "delusion", and "deception", but another word I thought of was "virtuality", or "virtual" -- but based on its original meaning before having been associated with synthetic worlds and computer-mediated interaction. "Virtual" as in "possibly existent", or "capable of acting". I unfortuantely don't remember where I found this explanation, I just know there was more to the latin "virtualis" than what's mentioned here: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/virtual ... Or maybe "synthetic", as E. Castronova uses it to describe "virtual worlds" -- he calls them synthetic environments. Man-made, artificial.
I agree that the visual impression has a greater impact on our perception. But a photo -- or a painting -- is an object of personal interpretation, as there is no "truth" about it, whereas the words written down in a text (given they are written in a code or language you can read) cannot be neglected or denied.
Terry Reece
Oct 11 2011: You are very Wise, Simone:
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Although WE are Creating the Comics, as Our/MY Passion for "The Telling of the Stories" and my lifetime love of reading and writing; The Conclusion that You have imagined is So Smartly Correct in Your Assumption.
Our Creations, of The Comics and Novels is to help Change the World's mindset of People all over the World, to be as A Positive Spreading of Images for People of All Colors; Black, White, Chinese, Japanese, Hispanic, Mongolian, Italian, African, etc...
Whenever Children see Super Heroes, who look like themselves, and their Cultures, it Gives them Positive images of Visionary Models of Courage, Power, and Helps aspire them to seek to Achieve Greater Positive things life. IT means so very, very much to be able to Have Toys and Gadgets, and Action Figures, Comics, Animations, Films, Video games which depict Positive Super Heroes, and Positive Images for Children, and IT is Established that These Types of Positive Images inspire Hope, and Dreams, which can give rise to NEW Scientific and Technological advances. the sci-fi aspect within the Comics help spur Imaginations towards the Futuristic NEW Discoveries that can be achieved.
So, Yes YOU have Our Missions and Goals really Correctly Observed. YOU are a Very wise and Smart Person.
Much Love & Friendship,
Terry, AKA "the Warrior" Super Hero
I am very honored to be your friend. Thanks! we "HONOR" WOMEN & MOMS: http://theSIBORG.COM/ http://FamilyMediaSite.com/ http://TDMComics.com/
Oct 18 2011: Terry, thank you very much for sharing your thoughts and experience. I would indeed like to read your poem on "Checks & Balances" and I would even more be interested in an outline of what you have done so far. Please don't hesitate to send me an email via TED.com -- I want to know more about your project(s) and see whether I could use your example as a case study for my Master's thesis... if you are interested, that is!Oct 9 2011: Fiction is a thought of the possible, of what may be or can be or should be. Fifty years ago it was fiction tralking of colonies on the moon, this morning Nasa anounced the possibility of Titanium mining on our satellit. If we have vision of fictional possibilities we would still be in the stone age. The wheel was at one time fiction. The motorised car was fiction as little as hundred and fifty years ago. So I belief fiction is used to advance our lives, new idea are constantly being tested and advanced. Nano technology is being researched and has made huge advances in the last ten years. On a recent trip to a European University, the use of Telepathy was discusse. The brain give off low density electrons, it is now a drive to read these emission and transport them from brain to brain and thought to action by others. Will we see it in the future? Probably if not for sure, but twenty years ago who believed in 'Cloning', in Stemcell treatment? We have now robotics built into the bodies of accident survivors. Long time ago it was the six million dollar man, maybe he was an inspiration to Science. I for one look forward to the realisation of science fiction, or todays fiction to become reality.
Oct 18 2011: Thank you very much for your comment, Erich. I share your curiosity and eagerness to see certainfictional ideas become reality. But at the same time, we need to remain cautious: hasn't the A-bomb once been fiction as well? Or biological warfare? Robotic cyborg-esque prostheses for soldiers? I fear that the gap between industrialized societies and less developed countries will increase even more if we continue to innovate at the current speed. Not just because of money, but also because of the huge paradigm shifts people in such nations will have to adopt. Maybe reading science fiction might actually help to open their minds for these technologies, even though they may not have access to them?
Oct 24 2011: Simone, I am interested to hear why you fear that the gap between industrialized societies and less developed countries will increase even more if we continue to innovate at the current speed. I believe the opposite to be true. Innovation can help developing countries leap frog past issues that took developed countries years to overcome, e.g. bypassing wired adsl and going straight to mobile broadband. Innovations in the developed world always help eradicate problems in the developing world and thereby speed up the development of these countries (e.g. vaccines). And because developing economies have been typically growing faster than industrialised economies, surely the gap is decreasing?
Oct 24 2011: I agree that bypassing wired adsl and directly going to mobile broadband will be a huge and helpful innovation for developing countries and that other measures, such as bypassing traditional cellphones and going for smart phones or tablet computers, will also contribute to the technological literacy. But I think the paradigm shift from not being connected at all to being connected everywhere will be too big, which might incapacitate critical reflection. We have been working on global networks since the 1850s with the telegraph and we have had enough time to adopt new technologies and to research their impact from a sociological point of view. Even if we are only talking about personal computers and the internet: we have known about these things since the 1940s and we have witnessed their transformation from purely organizational devices related to working to personal objects of our "extended self". Even though digital natives may not be aware of this long history, their parents are and will contribute to shaping their childrens' position towards these devices (even though it may only be by saying "stop playing online, it's not good for your eyes and you'll get addicted!"). If we now flood developing countries with the technologies we possess today, I only see two options: total immersion or complete rejection. Older people may simply reject to deal with these alien objects they absolutely have no relation to, whereas younger generations may simply get consumed by the devices, because they don't have anyone telling them they should keep a critical distance. Of course there will be those who use these technologies in a productive way to make their living. But not even vaccines or clean water are available for people in some developing countries, so do you really thing there will be an egalitarian distribution of new technologies and training on how to use them? I don't quite think so.Oct 24 2011: I didn't suggest that there would be egalitarian distribution of new technologies. I simply suggested that innovations help developing countries sidestep the need to go through the same pain that developed countries have been through in the past e.g. driving cars versus using horses, being vaccinated versus dying from diseases, democracy versus dictatorships, farming methods that work versus farming methods that don't, etc. All of this shortcuts the path to development. In other words, innovation has shown a better way of doing things, meaning developing countries don't have to spend time figuring out the best way to achieve a goal, it has already been defined through innovation.By having technology to access education and health services, we can achieve in 5 years what developed countries took 100 years to achieve. The end result of all this is that developing countries should become developed in a much shorter time than ever before in history, diminishing the gap between the rich and poor countries (e.g. Russia, India, China, Brazil, South Africa). In some cases, especially in sub Saharan Africa, the gap seems to be widening, but I think that without innovation the gap would be far wider than it is now.
Oct 24 2011: Setting aside the question of an egalitarian distribution, I still think the paradigm shift would be too significant if we just distributed innovations without accompanying the process. And I am not aware of a model or approach that explains how to do this.
Fritzie -
Oct 7 2011: Simone, this is in reply to your post above- of October 7, which as yet has no reply button.
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I wonder whether you have read, or would be interested in, Joseph Campbell's The Hero with a Thousand Faces. The fundamental theme is that there are stories from across cultures from the earliest times that have the same basic structure, which he felt arose from psychological needs innate to humans.
If his thesis holds (and I have not done it justice here), stories would be maintained regardless of smaller changes in a society's accepted values. The story might go underground until it can arise again, just as people of faith in political climates that deny the right to personal belief keep their stories within their private circles.
Oct 16 2011: Fritzie, thank you very much for the recommendation, I will certainly examine The Hero for my thesis. I think the psychological aspects are indeed important for the communication fo fiction in a society -- in certain times, we may need stories with happy endings, in other times, we may need stories of a dreary future to alert us that we need to change something. I really like your sidenote about the political climate: we have been studying concepts, such as the spiral of silence, agenda-setting and gate-keeping in mediated political communication and these are clearly relevant here as well.Oct 24 2011: I like your idea. Do you know that the non-fictions all start out from fictions? We need to imagine first, dream and write our fantasy. Later by time, they will perhaps turn out to be real.
Communication is the key.
If the idea generator does not communicate it (including through active forums/sites/even TED talks), then that idea will become like a hidden flower with its own beauty which actually never fully bloom.
We want a better world, don't we?
Two minds are always better than one.
They can have this barter process so that it can fulfill each other's weaknesses so that they altogether can form into one strong idea. :-)
Take the example of Sherlock Holmes' series in which the situations and details in the plot story is possible to turn into reality.Oct 19 2011: I love the idea of starting with imagination (ficiton) and making it into a reality. I once had a dream of the perfect utopia. I had to give it up because when I followed it all the way out to the logical end I had gotten rid of everyone that disagreed with me and I found I was the only one there.:) That seems to be a problem with utopias to one degree or another LOL.
Oct 24 2011: I think all philosophers are confronted with the problem you mentioned... and it inspires them to work on their rhetoric, in order to convince others of their ideas. At the same time, this is quite exhausting if you're not philosophizing for a living, so I think I would have given up as well ;)Oct 19 2011: I tend to favor high resolution media, more detail is better. Words are incredibly low resolution- single term descriptors for often huge and complex things. But they are handy because they are much better than sign language. Maybe one day we'll become cyborg Tele Tubbies, with video screens in our bellies with which we can speak in diagrams.
Oct 24 2011: I like the way how you employ the term "high resolution" -- I immediately thought of HD TVs, but your metaphor is of course a lot more subtle. Yes, words are better than sign language, and images are easier to understand than words... but with images, I think the danger of being misunderstood is a lot higher. However, sign language and words both can also lead to misunderstandings, so you cannot say that a higher resolution automatically decreases the intelligibility of an enunciation. At the same time, an intellectual investment should have to be made to foster understanding and especially the critical reflection on what has been communicated. The pleasure of discovering the meaning of something, because you have really tried hard to understand it, is for me one of the things that motivates me to learn.Oct 18 2011: Science definitely has a trickle down effect, yes we built the A-Bomb first and now we have nuclear medicine and power generation. Germany built the first Jet engine in its 'Messerschnmitt' fighterplanes, still today Scvience has advanced to Passenger jets. In revrse we have learned to desalinate water and today we have drinking water from the sea, Saudi Arabia has grown because of it. It is not science that is disadvantaging the poorer nations, it is the love with power their dictators find more important. I look at science as the forefront of medicin, we beat Ebola, the Influenca, most deseases with our ability to advance the science of today to the future, we also will beat Aids. Science is saving the lives of millions in AFRICA, but it cannot overcome the brutality of the land.Science may be technical, Physics or mechanical, medicinal, nuiclear orecological, science is what has served us well if we used it without malice, it also can destroy us if we dont. Oppenheimer once said,"we have created a monster with science, now we have to use shackles to control it!" of course he talked of the Atomic bomb. Still I rather advance science and conrol the men using it, rather then remain stagnant! We learned about 'Fission' now it is time to learn about 'Fusion' . Lets just keep the good things from it.
Oct 24 2011: I strongly agree with your statement that the strive for power is the one dangerous element in human behavior leading to an abuse of the power of imagination, incarnated by scientific innovation. But I'd also advance and create rather than stop. I think after all, humanity is able to learn from its mistakes... and I still think fiction is a means to convey norms, values, and morale... although it is certain that it is not possible to apply such paradigms on a global scale due to the cultural differences.Oct 17 2011: There is ONE lunatic out of a million... perhaps...but history has seen all this before. The positive message IS of course, if we constrict ourselves in thoughts, creativity and ideas we will never really be able to DREAM "the impossible"- which has been shown to be at times very probable. History has shown that as well.....Oct 16 2011: I myself like to put all my Utopian ideas in a powerpoint.
I think that we not only need to have a concrete vision, but we also need to accept that our vision isn't prefect and be open to changing aspects of it.
We need to share these visions with others, let them build upon it and make it their own.
It is crucial to have a physical copy of all of your ideas: good or bad, feasible or unrealistic.
Oct 18 2011: Oftentimes, I also write down -- or sketch -- my ideas and I think it is very helpful to give them a certain substance, to shape them for myself. But I don't think I would feel comfortable sharing them without a proper context. So maybe we have to focus on creating environments where ideas can be spread... oh, wait, we already have one: TED! :)Oct 11 2011: Simone:
Thousands and Thousands of people are hurting, within this national and Global economies. here we are, a small Company trying to do our part to Create jobs, and forget about all of the other under-lying reasons, I have revealed to you... Many, many of the public says "Help Create Jobs, and regrow our way of life for the middle class" WE are doing that! Then there is always an "element" of people who try to undermine, any others, like Us Creating better lively-hoods for people, and enjoying what we do/are doing while working together for The Betterment of people of the world.
Why does these "Elements" of people, wherever-whoever they are speed every minute of their days and nights seeking to try to destroy US, or anyone, who aspires to Create, Help, Grow, and Inspires others to achieve. I know, That is the GREAT Question of all Times....LOL
It is just so Ironic that in knowing That Some of US are out here trying to pave better ways of life for many, and YET, CERTAIN "Elements" try to keep Monopolies clamped down, upon us and many small businesses, therefore limiting the Vast Potentials of Economic growth probabilities for many, many people who could benefit.
IN the end, IF These "elements" keep people from economically growing or achievement, then WHO can afford to buy & Purchase their goods and services??
IT all just seems so Criminally arrogant, and selfish, that it also Limits their own possibilities of their own economic lives.
Do you see my Points? "Checks & Balances" that is a Poem, which I wrote, a long time ago.. and it always has, and always will seem to be so, so TRUE! I'll send you a Copy som day, if You like?
Much Love & Friendship,
Terry, AKA "the Warrior' Super HeroOct 11 2011: Cont.... they "FLICKED-US-OFF" a few years ago, probably thinking that we would simply go away, or never do anything as Globally and Significantly DIVERSE as what we are doing NOW.
A couple of months ago, I was approached by a former Government "Counter Intelligence Agent" about possibly utilizing OUR Comics, Animations,Toys, Films, etc... to Possibly help Fight against Terrorism. I received a complete Plan outline, of how what we were/are doing with Our TDM Comics International/Family Media Company "BRANDS", could be utilized to help Change the mindsets, and cultures of children who are being recruited into terrorist organizations, to perhaps give those children alternative types of aspirations and goals.
I Mean, Really what Child starts out from birth imagining "Blowing themselves up" when they grow up??
So, the facts that we were/are already doing this type of Missions, and Visions, is ironic, that I was so very honored to attend the viewing at the Dearborn, Michigan Arab American Museum, on Thursday, September 29, 2011. That was such and educational and learning experience. "The 99" Comics Creators and Animated Series Film producer, are doing works, right in line with our own Goals and missions. Invited by the Detroit Public TV Network and the Arab American Museum to that Showing and to meet the Creators of "the 99" Comics series, and the Animator Film Maker, Added to my Experiences of What we are doing IS "On-The_Right-Track"
Being "BULLIED" as a Child, inspired a lot of my materials, yet to me in the future of several other Series. I/WE have been in Contact with national "ANTI-BULLYING" organizations, and will reconnect with them, as we grow bigger and bigger. That very day in which their Vice President met with President Barack Obama, I talked with their co-founder, on the phone, and have talked with her a couple times since then.
So, as You can see we have many Inspirations for what we are doing, and its a passion, not just for money.
ReeceOct 11 2011: The other "underlying" positives of our Comics, animations, Action Figures, toys, and Films:
Lon ago, when my youngest Son, Jeremy was only 2 1/2 years old (He is NOW 24 years old, soon to be 25) we purchased the 1st Super Mario video games for Christmas, and the Gifts were actually meant foe his older brother, Brandon. BUT, Jeremy played that game, m did, all that Christmas day, and he Conquered it, by 7:30-8:00PM that Christmas night, even before i could...I was ashamed that my 2 1/2 year old son beat me at that video game (LOL)
But, In admitting That to myself, I gained a Very Visionary Creative Vision of Creating the ©REECENETRICS "Brand" of FUN & Educational Comics, Animations, Videos, Video games, Toys and other "spin-off" items. So, I copyrighted the ©REECENETRICS "Brand". I began to write and Copyright so much materials, that the Library of Congress, imply sent me a whole File and Business registration packet, and so WE have had that Business account since 1992, and have developed so much materials that NOW, we are getting to the point of Being able to Publicly release Products to the Public markets. The Big Comics monopolies, NOW owned by Disney turned us down, about 3 years ago..I look at the denial letter, every time I walk by it upstairs as even more powerful inspiration, They, the Disney machine, then pro to Steal some of our Ideas and change them to use for their own brands, and yet, just as a parent knows a child, I/We know our Material, ("WE know our baby") Just as a parent knows a Child, no matter how a thief or kid-napper tries to change 'em up or disguise them.
WE are not even Publicly Released yet, and yet many, many of their Artists/Illustrators, Animators, and writers have been "FRIENDING" us on all of the Social networks, which we have accepted.. To me it is not just an Honor that they are watching us, but a certain Morale Vindication, of how they "FLICKED-US-OFF" a few years ago, probably thinking that we would simply go away, or never doOct 9 2011: I think the answer to all of your questions is Yes, for some people. Any thought you have is fiction, without an applied action to make it a reality. The automobile would have never been invented if someone had not, first, had the idea of mobility without the use of their own power, water or that of a horse or other animal. Life can have the impact of stifeling our creativity. By accessing our creativity we can find our ability to control our physical environment. It seems that we are driven to survival and procreation. We may become complacent if not driven by survival or procreation, then some people 'need' fiction to access that creative side. Others may find it by meditating, still others by observing pain or displeasure in the world and feeling driven to quell it. A story, parable or fiction can serve to open our minds to concepts that we were either unaware of or uninterested in.Oct 8 2011: If you mean fiction in its literal sense, as in "false" or thus, "lie," there is nothing wrong in that. After all, "artists use lies to tell the truth."
The crazy ones are the ones who told these "lies" but turned these "lies" into realities.
Oct 16 2011: I again want to insist on the fact that from what I have read, fiction does not equal "lies", because fiction clearly states that it is not real and thus does not try to pretend to be true. I don't think artists use "lies" to tell the truth, but rather "imagination". But maybe the word "lie" has a different connotation in other cultures? For me as a German, it is a very... severe and harsh word with nothing positive about it. What about you?
Steve Cho
Oct 18 2011: come to think of it... you're right. Lies are employed to get ahead or to get something... as opposed to a joke. This is rather interesting, and we've probably stumbled upon some philosophical realms of the true definitions of reality.
- +1
But here's how I think of it: reading about an epic fictional tale of some hero overcoming struggles to save the world or whatever evokes the same emotions of hearing the story of your favorite athlete who became number 1 after all this hard work, sacrifice and whatever. 2 stories... one is real, one is fake, but the end result -- the experience being shared and people reacting to it -- is the same. I don't know, something to ponder about.
Oct 24 2011: The comparision between the epic fictional hero and the real athlete is indeed very intersting, thank you for illustrating it. I think it is a very valuable point of view, stating that everyone can be a hero for his own goals, and sharing this emotion with your surroundings to create a positive atmosphere of empowerment.Oct 8 2011: How many times have we heard a comment like (George Orville's 1984) that?
Dream it then DO it. This is how we encourage invetors and entrepreneurs
Oct 16 2011: Indeed we do. But we might also encourage the wrong people by giving them these ideas, don't you think so? I don't know for sure, but I think the control executed in 1984 might be an inspiration -- and a desirable situation -- for certain dictators...Oct 2 2011: Do you think fiction has the power to provoke change? Do you think we need fiction to give our visions more substance and to push them towards reality? Is fiction in everyday life settings powerful? Is fiction dangerous? Can fiction foster innovation and change?
YES, Yes, Yes, and More yeses!!! As A Sci-fi Writer, and Comics Creator, I have vivid Creative Ideas, Theories, Opinions, and Views. I have always been an "All the Way OUT-OF-THE-BOX" type Thinker, and so it natural that I am Now Finally utilizing my Ideas within my Comics and my Novels. OUR Future Films, Animations, Video games, also can give Birth to NEW Toys, Action Figures, New "Spin-offs" and as i have watched many past Creative Films, TV Series, and Suggested Items which would/could be developed in the Future; For many of those, "The Future is NOW" as we have seen many of those from the past come into REAL LIFE Modern Products.
Yes, Certainly Fiction has the Power to Creative NEW generations of Change and Developments.
I am very honored to be your friend. Thanks! we "HONOR" WOMEN & MOMS: http://theSIBORG.COM/ http://FamilyMediaSite.com/ http://TDMComics.com/
Oct 11 2011: One additional question: what is the essence of your comics' and novels' purpose? Is it to create new forms of entertainment other than the super heroes and stories promoted by big companies, or do you have a bigger project, vision, or idea you want to communicate?
Please don't get me wrong, I think entertainment for the sake of entertaining people is a very important element in pop culture -- and being entertained, laughing, or just having a good time without being confronted with morale or values is perfectly fine. But I'm just really curious if there is something more behind your ambition.Oct 1 2011: Hello Again Simone, This is great subject for exchanging ideas . Am glad that you appreciated the positive comment.The ways that real life is more unbelievable than fiction are vast. Including all of the common yet life altering events. Ranging from some of lifes' greatest and unexpected joys, surprises, scares and close calls, to its' most devastating tragedies. All for the one and only same reason, because they are real. They are the basis of all fiction.Just posted a TED Conversation of a real life experience that is more unbelievable than fiction. How is that for coincidence?As far as 25 being young or very young. Age, like most things in life, is relative. In your case, your accomplishments and point of view are most impressive. Looking forward to many more meaningful and interesting TED conversations from you, and maybe a book or film someday.Most Sincerely, Nat
Oct 11 2011: Thank you very much for your comment, I really appreciate your opinion. I also enjoy following the conversation, although I unfortunately haven't done the best job replying to all comments so far.
What you say makes sense, as life definitely can be surprising every day, probably due to the fact that each of us has a history covering more time than any work of fiction ever could. At the same time, questions like "does everything happen for a reason?," arise -- but I believe that luck and coincidences exist... and that fiction or the things we imagine every day somehow fit in somewhere as well.Sep 29 2011: Within the Comics, Animated Films, Video games Industries there are MEGA MONOPOLIES; Gigantic Global Corporations like Disney, Marvel, and DC, WHO IF You did not know are NOW all of the Same Company.
They Control The Major Distribution Companies, and Networks, also.
So, in Our Quest to get NEW, EXCITING "BRANDS" to the Industries, we are fighting these Hugh Multi-National Companies, and the Bankers just look at us with these "Dazzed, out-of-space" type stares, and give us the "NICEY-NICE" treatments, before escorting us out the door, never to be heard from again. And that Sort of thing happens with private, and Angel Investors.....
Yet, we are still making growth steps, small as they keep coming, WE keep making them using our Own Money from daytime jobs to "FUND/Finance" our Operations.
How Can WE, Create Jobs and Growth, if the Same old Gigantic Companies are the only ones who keep gettingh all of the opportunities?
Oct 11 2011: I think there are countless possibilities for fundraising and for realizing personal goals: platforms like Kickstarter make it possible to launch projects and to collect small donations, and event publishing your own book has become easier with Amazon's digital publishing business model. You can have your own homepage, spread your message for free in social media and even earn (at least a little) money with, say, Google Ads. Of course, you need a certain level of media literacy and a marketing / business plan to use all these channels efficiently. But spreading ideas, visions, propaganda has never been so easy -- we just haven't found out how to distinguish the good ideas from the rest of the buzz.Sep 29 2011: I'm glad you liked my ideas. I find your photo bewitching.
Yes, the word "delusion" has a negative context, but I thought "fiction" did as well, so I felt I was working with the same categories as you were working with. In plot structure literature, fiction often refers to a lie or an imaginary story meant to deceive.
"...even a true story told can (and will) be altered by the storyteller." can be applied to say, a video of an event. depending upon the point of view of the videographer. But with more than one point of view, more than one video, you begin to add more and more "realism" and realism is always to be desired in problem solving.
I think imagining the future is the one mental activity that lifts us out of our animalism. A desert coyote might seek the shade of a rock but it will never make a parasol. Imagining the future helps us to invent and is far more creative a motivator than inventing simply to escape immediate discomfort.
Oct 11 2011: I don't remember where I read it, it might have been in Jean-Marie Schaeffer's "Pourquoi la fiction ?", where the author explains the difference between fiction and lies -- I think the essence was that fiction alerts us of the fact that something is not real, whereas lies try to pretend to be real. It might also have been in a book about media reception where the author was taling about reality TV and how it blurs the borders between reality, fiction, and lies.
So I don't quite agree with the fact that fiction necessarily can be categorized as the communication of lies, but I strongly agree that the storyteller alters the story. One question French semiotics targets is how eye-witnesses tell stories of events to the media and that even those witnesses already change what has happened (e.g. to make themselves look like heroes) and that most of the media coverage is not based on events directly witnessed by the media, but on stories of events. I also agree that different angles on one event -- videos, photos, reports -- add more realism to it... but not necessarily more truth!
I really like your definition of imagining the future (or future solutions for a problem) as a mental activity that distinguishes us from animals. Very inspiring thoughts indeed.Sep 28 2011: Philofiction is a genre that merges philosophy and literature and is also a good example of how we can use imagination and fiction to communicate our visions in order to foster change. A philosophical text should be an unbiased reflection on all things. The text should not contain imagination and fictitious elements. This means that no characters may be created and no events may be imagined. Contrary to that, the literary text should only apply as a product of the imagination and feelings. This means that fictitious elements, events and imagined characters may be created here. Let us now pay attention to the difference the public makes between philosophers and writers. Philosophers are known for their usually unintelligible jargon and for reasoning that most people cannot follow. Literature writers are seen more as artists, creative souls who do not really belong in the academic world. But what exactly is the difference between philosophy and literature? Is it the difference between a philosopher and a writer? A writer can have more things in common with a philosopher than with another writer. Isn't it then the case that the individual differences are greater than the differences between those two categories? And how can we describe philofiction? A literary genre that brings together philosophy and literature by blurring the borders between intelligence and feeling with the objective of making the reader know no boundaries. Philofiction dialogues describe events and meetings between part real, part literary created characters, who reason and interpret but also clarify or contradict all kinds of thoughts and statements and in this way enable the reader to deepen its knowledge. Philofiction does indeed appeal to the intellect and the imagination simultaneously and therefore it is no different from the manner in which each of us experiences life.
Oct 11 2011: Alex, thank you very much for your comment and for introduction the concept of philofiction. I think this is indeed a very interesting point of view and I agree that every writer has something in common with a philosopher, but that individual writers do not necessarily have something in common with each other. For instance, look at the variety of literary genres -- certain ideas of course do overlap, but I think that every writer touches philosophical questions on a more or less obvious level. But the question would be: how can we make use of philofiction to communicate ideas and to help them become real innovations?Sep 27 2011: I Agree! As a Comics Creator, and NEW Producer of Sci-FI Entertainment products and "BRANDS" I am dedicated to fostering NEW, EXCITING Thoughts of Creative Futuristic Development from our Graduates, and from people in general.
It seem so very difficult to get the attention of Funding Sources, Venture Capitalists, Angel Investors, Investment Partners, and Banks for NEW Innovative ideas, UNLESS the Ideas come from the Same old Companies and Monopolies..That dramatically Stunts Growth, and Dramatically restricts Our Creative Minds, within This Country.
IT is NO wonder, we are Behind, within the World Global Economies, and Global Innovative NEW Products ... Our Leaders Argue over, such "Small-minded" "Silly" Political things, That WE, as a Nation Suffer, from lack of NEW Developments, because of Political Hatred of each other...
Much Love & Friendship,
Terry "Warrior" Reece
Reece Enterprises/Family Media Company/TDM Comics International
I am very honored to be your friend. Thanks! we "HONOR" WOMEN & MOMS: http://theSIBORG.COM/ http://FamilyMediaSite.com/ http://TDMComics.com/
Sep 28 2011: Terry, what are some examples of ideas you and other small companies have been trying to foster which did not get funded? Do you think that it was the lack of reputation compared to the "same old companies" was what got in the way, or that your ideas were too abstract for them?Sep 26 2011: I actually believe that fiction does certainly inspire future innovation, particularly when one considers that something is fiction till it is created. Ergo, even the initial idea of an invention, before it is practically made, is a fiction.
On a less metaphysical note, texts such as Brave New World and Neuromancer have often been prescient of future developments in technology and I find it hard to believe that some technologies were made without some subconsciousness awareness of their fictional predecessors.
I think in a sense we can thus attribute innovation as much to the formulation of ideas as we can to their invention. If so, fiction which is proposes such ideas gets due credit for a fundamental role in establishing future society.
Sep 28 2011: I absolutely agree, I also find it hard to imagine certain technologies have been invented without referring to their fictional counterparts. I just wonder whether a certain danger lies there: what if someone invented a system meant to do harm for which he found the inspiration in fiction? Or do such examples already exist? Has there been fiction about nuclear bombs prior to their development?Sep 26 2011: I'd be less inclined to use "fiction" as a metaphor for the unknown as it is more literary based. Postmodern theory of life as text is limiting to word sequence cognition, whereas intuition works at far greater speeds than the spoken word. Instead, I see the term "delusion" as more visual and encompassing of the power of extrapolation, visualization into the future. We delude ourselves when we consider the future in any manner of fantasy or internal imaging.
Basically the entirety of future time from this present moment on is an unknown, and only the past can be sensed as "fact". The attempt at divination which we call "analysis" in order to chart future paths, can only be said to be effective when observed in the past as a result. We harness our capacity to experience the future as a delerium in a universal scramble to fill in the blanks of our cognition, knowledge, fate.
Google "Salvador Dali" and "Critical Paranoia"
Sep 28 2011: Thank you very much for your comment, Walter. I wasn't aware of the fact that fiction is so closely connected to literature -- but doesn't "delusion" have a negative connotation? Doesn't being "delusional" mean you have lost control over your cognition?
You are of course right about the future being unknown and I also think saying that the past can be sensed as "fact" is correct: even a true story told can (and will) be altered by the storyteller. But do you think imagining the future is dangerous and misleading, or useful and inspiring?Sep 25 2011: Fiction, recognized as fiction, is harmless and possibly inspires creative efforts. Watching nature and using your own knowledge and experience from these observations to solve problems can lead to creative thoughts. Overcoming adversity can lead to creative thought.
Fiction reading and writing can lead to honing of communication skills, persuasion skills, and conveying subtle messages the author thinks are important. Fiction can be a vehicle to convey unpopular, immoral, or otherwise controversial ideas and suggestions in an arena that is free from most of the rules, regulations, and policies that bind the non-fiction world.
Sep 28 2011: Robert, thank you very much for your comment. I strongly agree that fiction is some sort of protection to communicate controversal issues -- I remember Thomas Morus' "Utopia" as one of the most subtle fictional works to criticize the political system in the 16th century.
Do you think that we rely on fiction in this sense more or less than previous generations? Are there cultural differences?
Fritzie -
Sep 28 2011: Myths and folktales have been used throughout time to convey beliefs and messages. I don't see this so much as people hiding behind them as their being an effective way of connecting to listeners in a way that can be handed down through generations.
- +1
Some of these myths/stories may be taken as literal truth in their cultures, so perhaps they are better called story than fiction.
Oct 7 2011: Thank you very much for your comment, I absolutely agree with that. Tales and fables can be told in any cultural environment and they will probably always be valid, because they are teaching us lessons about values and ethics... At the same time, I wonder how certain stories will either have to change or disappear, because our sets of values have changed (e.g. love among siblings has lost importance in some cultures and other cultures don't support families with more than one child). I wonder if tales relating to our digital society might one day have the same value?Sep 28 2011: Tough question. I think the volume o information has increased substantially, in all mediums. I think we are freer to write satire, spoofs, etc. than prior generations. I think our culture has become more open, so more controversial topics can be discussed and people are more open-minded due to this new breadth of available information. However, we have more mediums(video, animation, song, etc) for communication than prior generations and perhaps more free time. So there are a lot of factors to consider, but overall, yes I think we do. Most of TV, movies, and sadly some news programs are fiction, or at least quasi-fiction. The consumption of this fiction is huge.
Oct 16 2011: Yes, our culture has become more open... but I think that due to the massive stream of information through various media, single events or revelations have forfeited a lot of their relevance. I also think that it's easier to conceal certain things, because we might not even notice that something is missing, sated as we are with information.
One example a professor of mine is currently working on (it is a French initiative, not a German one!). "Mein Kampf" will be subject of the public domain after 2015, 70 years after Hitler's death. While in Germany, people are still keeping silent about the topic (whether or not they have read it, what they think about it, what Germany wants to do about its future), ain international scientific discourse emerges outside Germany where the topic is discussed openly and without the bias of being guilty...Sep 24 2011: Simone, imagination have to be related with intelligence to achieve the thing of your will. Fiction is an strange form of imagination, but when fiction becomes science fiction is already to transform in mith. And mith is an announce for a unknown technology that already we dont know.
Its a process that is well explined in epistemology...from idea to reality theres a lot of steps. But today we are confused with ideas, dreams, imaginations, fictions, ocurrences,concepts...all they are not the same.
Sep 28 2011: I agree that transforming an imagination into reality requires a certain intelligence to have the idea how to make your vision real. But on the other hand, intelligence is no guarantee to make things happen, is it?
You say that transforming fiction into science fiction creates myths. Do you refer to the fact that science fiction tries to make the impossible possible by providing fictional explanations?
Yes, there are many steps from an idea to something real -- and what do you mean by saying that we are confused with ideas, dreams...: do we need to distinguish between all these concepts? Are there definitions that point out the differences between them?
Sep 28 2011: Cara Simone, the real thing after all this is resolution. You have an idea (the pre-vision of the inexistent) then you see the thing and transform the idea in concepto (conceived= live thing), then you have a lot of work to do till the concept is already to be born. The resolution is with the intlligence the real aim to tansform in real all your ideas.
About the mith: science fiction is the form to see the mith when return and came in the house by the rear door.


text:
It has been an exceptional year for life in North Carolina. No one was executed, and only one new person was added to death row (the lowest number since the reinstatement of the death penalty in 1977). This year, as many capital defendants were acquitted as were sentenced to death. More death row inmates were exonerated than executed. North Carolina should be proud.
Nationally, executions began again following the Supreme Court's decision in Baze v. Rees, but lethal injection remains stalled in North Carolina due to litigation by inmates subject to the procedure as well as the doctors forced to participate in it.
Capital Trial Statistics
Life without parole – 9 (Kenneth Hartley, Charles Dickerson, Eric Oakes, Jakiem Wilson, James Stitt, Robert Windsor, Lisa Greene, Neil Sargeant, James Blue)
Sentences less than life -3 (Pliney Purser, Jonte McLaurin, John Chavis Ross)
Death -1 (James Ray Little)
Military capital trial acquittals – 1 (Alberto Martinez)
Post-Conviction Statistics
Executions – 0
Exonerations – 2 (Levon "Bo" Jones, Glen Edward Chapman)
Death row inmates getting new trials – 2 (John Conaway, William Moore)
Death row inmates getting new sentencing hearings – 1 (William Gray)
Otherwise removed from death row – 2 (Clinton Smith, Carlos Cannady)
Incompetent for execution – 1 (Guy LeGrande)
Deaths from natural causes – 3 (Gary Greene, Leroy McNeill, George Page)
If you would like to be part of making 2009 another Year of Life, please consider making a donation to NC-based groups like the Fair Trial Initiative.


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WOONSOCKET — As the fog burned off to make way for sunny skies and the temperature rose out of the 40s on Monday morning, anticipation was running high at the staging areas on Diamond Hill Road for those marching, riding and "floating" in the 35th annual Autumnfest parade.
High school bands, local businesses and politicians from across the state, congregated to get their marching orders before the 9:30 a.m. procession stepped off.
The Dance Company dancers, all 50 of them, swarmed around their white and silver float titled "The Power of a Dream," chatting and anxiously waiting to be called into their place in the parade. Heidi Smith said the troupe from Blackstone, Mass., was excited to be involved in the Autumnfest tradition and couldn't wait to get moving.
Just up the road, The R.I. Athletic Club, which makes its home on Social Street in the city, was also set to join the march, giddy from their win the day before in the Mega War, tug-of-war contest at Veterans Memorial Park.
Bobo The Clown entertained some of the youngsters with balloon animals before the parade began. Burrillville, Mount St. Charles, Woonsocket High School and many other school bands from the Blackstone Valley tuned up and warmed up as more parade participants arrived including a troupe of cheerleaders from Superior Cheer, The Shriners, the Knights of Columbus, veterans groups and firefighters commanding fire trucks.
Then the signal was given and the controlled chaos at the staging area quickly became an orderly march.
Banners representing many local businesses including Navigant Credit Union, CVS, Nolan Electric, and The Lodge Pub and Eatery in Lincoln, moved into line as the parade began, slowly traveling down Diamond Hill Road.
Classic cars and shiny new vehicles, some supplied by Simon Chevrolet, rolled past spectators.
The Autumnfest parade boasts one of the largest contingents of high school marching bands of any parade in the region, and the numerous floats, decorated with themes spanning everything from a Christmas scene, to a tropical paradise, brought smiles to the faces of the hundreds of parade-watchers who lined the streets.
Dave Richards of WOON radio, who was this year's grand marshal, was overseeing the parade from the main viewing stand where other local dignitaries were also seated.
The parade meshed old and new together even including the more historic Yankee Volunteer Fife and Drum corps from Seekonk, Mass., playing flutes and firing muskets into the air.
Unfortunately, the National Guard did not participate Monday, one of the casualties of the government shutdown, but that didn't put a damper on the high spirits of all who were involved on Monday.
The parade is the highlight of the Autumnfest celebration that includes entertainment, rides, a food court and the popular beer tent at the city's downtown park.
[1] http://www.woonsocketcall.com/sites/default/files/101413AutumnfestParade9.jpg


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Interpretive Handbook
83778 :
Mephobarbital and Phenobarbital, Serum
Clinical Information Discusses physiology, pathophysiology, and general clinical aspects, as they relate to a laboratory test
Mephobarbital is an orally administered, methylated barbiturate used for the treatment of epilepsy.(1,2) It is demethylated by hepatic microsomal enzymes to generate its major metabolite, phenobarbital. During long-term use, most of mephobarbital's activity can be attributed to the accumulation of phenobarbital. Consequently, mephobarbital's pharmacological properties, toxicity, and clinical uses are the same as phenobarbital's.(1,2) The use of mephobarbital is uncommon as it offers no significant advantage over phenobarbital alone.(1,2)
Useful For Suggests clinical disorders or settings where the test may be helpful
Monitoring of mephobarbital and phenobarbital therapy
Interpretation Provides information to assist in interpretation of the test results
The therapeutic range for mephobarbital is 1.0 to 7.0 mcg/mL.
In children, the therapeutic range for phenobarbital is 15.0 to 30.0 mcg/mL; in adults the therapeutic range is 20.0 to 40.0 mcg/mL.
Cautions Discusses conditions that may cause diagnostic confusion, including improper specimen collection and handling, inappropriate test selection, and interfering substances
Concentration at which toxicity occurs varies; results should be interpreted in light of the clinical situation.
Reference Values Describes reference intervals and additional information for interpretation of test results. May include intervals based on age and sex when appropriate. Intervals are Mayo-derived, unless otherwise designated. If an interpretive report is provided, the reference value field will state this.
Therapeutic range: 1.0-7.0 mcg/mL
Toxic concentration: > or =15.0 mcg/mL
Therapeutic range
Children: 15.0-30.0 mcg/mL
Adults: 20.0-40.0 mcg/mL
Toxic concentration: > or =60.0 mcg/mL
Concentration at which toxicity occurs varies and should be interpreted in light of clinical situation.
Clinical References Provides recommendations for further in-depth reading of a clinical nature
1. Teitz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics. Fourth edition. Edited by CA Burtis, ER Ashwood, DE Bruns. St. Louis, MO, Elsvier Saunders, 2006, pp 1091
2. Disposition of Toxic Drugs and Chemicals in Man. Seventh edition. Edited by RC Baselt. Foster City, CA, Biomedical Publications, 2004, pp 1254


text:
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Data Transfer Rate150
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Bus TypePCI
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Additional InformationInterfaces: 6 x storage - Serial ATA-150


text:
Hang tight!
Recipe by MARIONROWE
"Chicken breasts marinated in Italian-style salad dressing, then baked! It is the easiest and most delicious meal ever and my husband thinks I slave all day to make it!"
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skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1 (16 ounce) bottle
Italian-style salad dressing
I've been using this recipe for years and it's still one of our favorites. The only thing we do differently is cook the chicken in the italian dressing at a low heat (275 degrees) for 2 or 3 hours or until the chicken browns. It comes out tender and delicious and we use the left over cooked dressing to "dip" the chicken, our seven year old granddaughter's favorite thing to do!
I have never made italian chicken like this before. I always bake my chicken while it is still in the marinade, it makes it MUCH more juicy and flavorful..and I usually spoon some of the marinade over the chicken when I serve it. The family loves it that way. Baking it without the marinade made it very dry. You should definitely bake it with the marinade!!!
204 Ratings
This is the easiest and most delicious chicken recipe!!! I make it for my roommates at least once a week, it is one of their favorites!! Before marinating the chicken I make sure to poke holes in it with a fork to let the marinate soak in, as another reviewer suggested. I use a zesty Italian dressing and usually throw it together before leaving for work, 9 hours later it has a great flavor and makes a quick meal. To give it an extra kick, before cooking I usually take a few pieces and dip each side in a bowl of parmasean cheese. I'm not a fan of the extra cheesy taste but everyone else loves it that way!! Cook this with the Oven Roasted Potatoes recipe from this site and you have an easy and delicious meal that people will love!!
I've made this oodles of times and it's a basic no fail recipe. I do as someone else recommended and pierce the chicken with a fork. I use a 2 1/2 lb. bag of boneless skinless chicken breasts and use enough Kraft Fat Free Caesar Italian to marinate. As someone recommended mushrooms I gave it a try tonight and they were scrumptious! I halved or quartered the big mushrooms and marinated them overnight with the chicken. I cook it in a foil lined 13x9 pan that's also covered with foil for 30 minutes at 375 degrees, remove foil and bake another 10-15 minutes. Since the color is so pale I sometimes sprinkle with paprika. The leftovers are great for all sorts of things like in salads and wraps etc.
This is such an easy and flavorful main course. I dredged the chicken in bread crumbs after removing it from the marinade and then baked it. It turned out great.
I add whole or halved mushrooms to marinate with the chicken. They explode with flavor in your mouth!
I couldn't believe how good this was after only using two ingredients! Definetely marinate the chicken for 2 hours +.
I first poked holes in the chicken on both sides with a fork to let the dressing really seep in and marinated it for about 6 hours. It is a quick and easy recipe that never fails!
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Easy Italian Chicken II
Serving Size: 1/6 of a recipe
Servings Per Recipe: 6
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 344
Calories from Fat: 201
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If I recall there was an idea floating around a few years ago about a course possibility at Webb Bridge Park. Was there not enough room or did the county not approve?
Also wasn't there talk about the Atlanta Athletic Club considering using that large property for a course? Did they reconsider after hosting the PGA Championship in 2011?


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'Ramen'ses Return
Design by Jerry Maninang
Say somethin' nice
No account?
user_1413379431_429 on Oct 15, 2014 at 13:35:43
This is my favorite shirt of all time!
2sites on Feb 18, 2014 at 23:14:12
What a great idea! I really laughed at this!
Fairystruck on Jan 2, 2014 at 15:58:09
Need it in kids sizes my kid grew out of his toddler size but still loves it
roxetta0209 on Dec 8, 2013 at 04:48:45
Love this, this shirt will be my next purchase:)
Vilkal on Aug 14, 2013 at 07:53:21
This is my absolute favorite T! So love it, everytime I wear it, it brings smiles on peoples faces!
aceyed on Aug 1, 2013 at 18:44:27
Had to buy it! Compliments every time I wear it!
aceyed on Jun 17, 2013 at 19:21:13
this made laugh, i love it
Darth Cheeka on Jan 22, 2013 at 18:34:20
Adorable, brilliant!
gryffinfloor on Dec 23, 2012 at 21:13:52
I wish the shirt was printed on the same color as the hoodie. I love the design on the hoodie but I can't afford that.
aicrysar on Dec 3, 2012 at 12:16:28
Great design!
The notes say to order one size down for girl's hoodie, so I ordered a small instead of a medium. It is way too small, I would say order your regular size or one size up for girl's hoodie. I think the hoodie would look better in the same red as the t-shirt.
Maggic on Nov 29, 2012 at 02:34:00
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Kimmeeninja on Nov 27, 2012 at 13:15:15
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catorce on Nov 22, 2012 at 18:09:05
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katapiro on Nov 13, 2012 at 11:38:00


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text: Andrew Lunetta '12 Like many recent college graduates, Andrew Lunetta '12 was intent on seeing the world. It's safe to say that he is well on his way to achieving that goal. Just one day after receving his degree from Le Moyne, Lunetta and his girlfriend, Anna Kozachuk, set out on a cross-country bike ride from Syracuse to San Francisco, Calif., in order to raise funds for the Brady Faith Center, an organization committed to meeting the spiritual, educational and social needs of individuals and families in southwest Syracuse. Over 60 days, the duo traveled a total of 3,899 miles, 3,794 of those by bike and the remainder by train, ferry or car. They endured two punctured tires, read seven books and consumed 19 jars of peanut butter. And perhaps most importantly, they raised approximately $5,000 for the Brady Faith Center. Traveling across country by bike has long been a dream of Lunetta's. His grandparents took a similar trip, riding from Syracuse to Sandy, Ore., nearly 30 years ago. And connecting the trip to an organization that he cares deeply about was a natural fit. A peace and global studies major, Lunetta became involved in the Syracuse community shortly after arriving at Le Moyne in the fall of 2008. He founded the Le Moyne College Sandwich Makers, an organization that provides a bag lunches to the guests of a local soup kitchen; established a drop-in center for the residents of a Syracuse men's shelter; and participated in several service trips sponsored by Campus Ministry. Along with former Syracuse University women's basketball coach Keith Cieplicki, Lunetta also established Pedal to Possibilities, an organization dedicated to providing homeless men and women in Syracuse with exercise and companionship through regular bike rides. The concept is simple. After completing 10 rides, participants are given a bicycle, along with a lock and helmet. The outcome, however, has been remarkable. To date, the participants have traveled more than 20,000 miles together. These rides begin at the Brady Faith Center, so Lunetta and Kozachuk decided to begin their cross-country journey there as well, and to use their adventure as a way to help the center. "It really is where I feel most comfortable," Lunetta said of the center. "It is such a loving space for the residents or anyone else who wants to spend time there." Several participants of Pedal to Possibilities joined them on the first 22-mile leg of their journey from Syracuse to Jordan, N.Y., and friends and family followed the rest of their journey through a blog they kept detailing the highs and lows of their trip – from pedaling through 30- to 45-mile-per-hour winds in Kearney, Neb., to spending a few days relaxing with friends when they finally made it to their final destination in San Francisco. Now that have returned from their trip, Kozachuk is completing her senior year at Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, while Lunetta is continuing to lead the Pedal to Possibilities program at the Brady Faith Center. He recently signed a lease on a five-bedroom house on Syracuse's Midland Avenue, not far from the Brady Faith Center, which is being called Possibilities House. It offers several graduates of Pedal to Possibilities "a safe, sober place to live." As for whether there is another cross-country trek in his future, Lunetta says that is a definite possibility. "Absolutely. I loved being out on the road." Juan Francisco Villa '99 Actors are first and foremost storytellers. It is rare, however, for the story they are telling to be their own. Juan Francisco Villa '99 is breaking with that convention and sharing stories from his life growing up on Manhattan's Lower East Side during the 1980s and early1990s in a one-man show he wrote titled Empanada for a Dream. While Villa has been acting for years, this is in many ways the most challenging role he has undertaken. It has required him to reveal deeply personal details about his life and moments that have helped shape him into the person he is today. And he wasn't sure how his family and friends – who figure prominently in the show – would react to it. That made the project a risk, but one he was willing to take. Villa doesn't mind taking chances. As a child, he loved to read aloud. When he was in fourth grade and rain kept him and his classmates from going outside for recess, he made the most of it by reading The Emperor's New Clothes aloud to the fourth, fifth and six graders. It isn't clear if he knew that he was acting, but he certainly knew that he was having fun. Then as a junior at LaSalle Academy, the Jesuit high school he attended, he was cast in a production of Pippin. Villa was hooked. It was a respite from his neighborhood he said where his friends "were no longer about creating things like we did when we were kids, but were more and more about destroying things, causing trouble and telling jokes that were becoming rougher and rougher." Villa remained involved in theater as a senior at LaSalle, delving into Shakespeare and Voltaire, and continuing to find his voice. "Theater woke me up," he said. "I felt good." When he arrived at Le Moyne in the fall of 1995, it didn't take Villa long to find his way to the Firehouse, then epicenter of theater on campus, where he says he "wasn't just welcomed, but embraced." He spent much of the next four years working on shows for Major Arcana and Boot and Buskin. Former Director of Theater Bill Morris and Associate Professor of Foreign Languages and Literatures Orlando Ocampo introduced him to plays written by Latino and Latina writers. It was, he recalled, "a whole new world. No more cramped apartment. No more cramped neighborhood. No more cramped city." It wasn't clear that acting was to become his vocation, though. After graduation, Villa found a job working for Bell Atlantic (now Verizon) as the youngest manager ever hired off of the street. For two-and-a-half years, he says, he was "living the American dream." Then he saw two films that helped him to realize what he truly wanted to do and helped him to set a new course for his life. The first was the HBO documentary Freak starring Emmy and Tony Award-winning actor John Leguizamo, based on his own life growing up in New York City. The second was a PBS documentary highlighting the rich history of theater in Chicago. He suddenly knew what he wanted to do, and where he felt he had to go to do it. At 25, without knowing anyone in Chicago, Villa moved there. He began to auditioning and working as a teaching artist, training children in acting and encouraging them to write their stories. During this time, though, Villa began to notice that many of the parts he was earning were for characters who were dark, or battling something, and began wonder why. He realized that a lot of things about his childhood – issues of violence, in particular – were tugging at him. That eventually led him back to New York City, and to a training program where students are taught to create stories that are inspired by their lives. Villa began to think seriously about he felt about his family, his neighborhood and his country. He began to write in a journal every day, and that became the basis for Empanada. The chance Villa took on Empanada has paid off. His family and friends came to see the show on its opening night and were ultimately very supportive, and it has earned great critical acclaim. After performances this spring in New York City at the Solo Nova Arts Festival and a sold-out run with Ballybeg at the Barrow Group Theater, it moved to the Yo Solo Festival in Chicago this summer.This fall, Empanada was staged at the Los Angeles Theater Center, where it was produced by the Latino Theater Company. As for the future, it has been suggested that Empanada could become a feature film of television series. Villa also hopes to return to Le Moyne to perform and to work with some of the College's theater students – to have the opportunity to give back. He recalled what Bill Morris used to say when he was a student in his class: "I'm not interested in creating actors. I'm more interested in creating humanitarians." "I am so grateful to my teachers for their persistence," Villa said. "They never caved in and they never gave up on me, and that is a testament to Le Moyne." Andy Parrino '09 Parrino crouches to field a ball during a game as a San Diego Padre (left) and he enters the field before a game (right). Le Moyne College alumnus Andy Parrino '09 became the latest former Dolphin to reach the Major Leagues when he made his debut with the San Diego Padres on Aug. 26, 2011 as they took on the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Diamondbacks won, 5-0. In November 2012, Parrino was traded from the Padres to the Oakland Athletics. He's expected to be in the mix to become the A's starting shortstop for the 2013 season. Parrino started each of his three years as a Dolphin before being drafted by the Padres in the 26th round of the 2007 MLB First-Year Player Draft, after his junior year. He became just the seventh player in the program's history to reach the Major Leagues and just the second infielder to do so. In 150 games as a Dolphin, Parrino hit .350, the seventh-highest record in the program's Division I-era, with a .434 on-base percentage (6th), 201 hits (tied for 8th), 122 runs scored (10th), 98 runs batted in, 41 doubles (tied for 9th) and 15 home runs. As a junior, he was named the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Player of the Year, a third team All-America selection by ABCA/Rawlings and Louisville Slugger/Collegiate Baseball Newspaper and led the Dolphins to the MAAC Championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. That same year Parrino hit .402 (7th on the program's single-season charts) with 80 hits (2nd), 128 total bases (4th), 46 runs scored, 44 runs batted in, 17 doubles (T7th) and nine home runs.