On Operating Systems

Is it possible that operating systems will disappear into the background for most users? I certainly hope so, and my reason is simple: I am tired of being held hostage by corporate mind control. For many years now I have had to comply with the choices my company makes on the operating system, the wordprocessor, the spreadsheet, the e-mail programme, etc. I use. And this influences what I can use at home, because I must be able to easily transfer my work from home to work. My day is not broken into work bits or home bits or gym bits. It has elements of everything mixed up nicely to my liking. Being forced to go with Linux (because this is a corporate decision to throw off the tyranny of Microsoft cost structures in poor countries like South Africa (!)) by my corporate masters is rather disabling. Suddenly all my old little apps must make way for new ones and with it new learning and wasting of time. So if someone could come up with a computer system that is fun to use, that allows me to work in a paradigm that fits with that of my clients when needed and fits my needs at other times, I'll go out and buy it. Maybe I'll go look at that beautiful Mac again.

"Black Swan" Events

During a visit to Australia recently, I bought a book (see BOOKS below) recommended by a good friend of mine, Andrew Fields. It is all about the Black Swan events, unanticipated, unimaginable and surprising discoveries that reset our paradigms of thinking. In short, up to the discovery of Australia, the concept of a swan did not include anything but white swans. Swans were white, a fact there for all to see, and I cannot imagine that anybody even speculated about swans being black. The question is: how much of what we hold as absolute truth is in fact absolute! I've been struggeling through another book for about a year now, simply called "Truth: A Guide", by Simon Blackburn. He takes an interesting stance on the epistemology of truth - almost a stance of "you know it when you see it". Well, I am still to get to the end of that book. Meanwhile, back at the ranch so to say, a black swan arrived this week. And I am wondering how much of what I see around me will remain as absolutes. Welcome Jacob Zuma.
Jan

Space-Based Solar Power

Imagine we could get "carbon free" power from space. It sounds like science fiction, but it seems that there are people that believe enough in this concept to publish around it. On earth we are looking at heliostat farms, places where solar collectors are set up to drive power generators that will supply so-called off-the-grid communities with electricity. SBSP takes this concept to space! The picture on the left (taken from "Space‐Based Solar Power As an Opportunity for Strategic Security" - Report to the Director, National Security Space Office Interim Assessment Release 0.1) shows the idea. I would like to hear from you if you have an interest in this!

This blog spot was born on 15 December 2007

Something we wanted to do for a while, but never got round to. We hope you enjoy the images and stories we'll share here.
Jan