Lisa Margonelli: The political chemistry of oil

ABOUT THIS TALK

In the Gulf oil spill's aftermath, Lisa Margonelli says drilling moratoriums and executive ousters make for good theater, but distract from the issue at its heart: our unrestrained oil consumption. She shares her bold plan to wean America off of oil -- by confronting consumers with its real cost.



So I'm going to talk to you about you about the political chemistry of oil spills and why this is an incredibly important, long, oily, hot summer, and why we need to keep ourselves from getting distracted. But before I talk about the political chemistry, I actually need to talk about the chemistry of oil.

This is a photograph from when I visited Prudhoe Bay in Alaska in 2002 to watch the Minerals Management Service testing their ability to burn oil spills in ice. And what you see here is, you see a little bit of crude oil, you see some ice cubes, and you see two sandwich baggies of napalm. The napalm is burning there quite nicely. And the thing is, is that oil is really an abstraction for us as the American consumer. We're four percent of the world's population; we use 25 percent of the world's oil production. And we don't understand what oil is, until you check out its molecules, And you don't really understand that until you see this stuff burn. So this is what happens as that burn gets going. It takes off. It's a big woosh. I highly recommend that you get a chance to see crude oil burn someday, because you will never need to hear another poli sci lecture on the geopolitics of oil again. It'll just bake your retinas. So there it is; the retinas are baking.

Let me tell you a little bit about this chemistry of oil. Oil is a stew of hydrocarbon molecules. It starts of with the very small ones, which are one carbon, four hydrogen -- that's methane -- it just floats off. Then there's all sorts of intermediate ones with middle amounts of carbon. You've probably heard of benzene rings; they're very carcinogenic. And it goes all the way over to these big, thick, galumphy ones that have hundreds of carbons, and they have thousands of hydrogens, and they have vanadium and heavy metals and sulfur and all kinds of craziness hanging off the sides of them. Those are called the asphaltenes; they're an ingredient in asphalt. They're very important in oil spills.

Let me tell you a little bit about the chemistry of oil in water. It is this chemistry that makes oil so disastrous. Oil doesn't sink, it floats. If it sank, it would be a whole different story as far as an oil spill. And the other thing it does is it spreads out the moment it hits the water. It spreads out to be really thin, so you have a hard time corralling it. The next thing that happens is the light ends evaporate, and some of the toxic things float into the water column and kill fish eggs and smaller fish and things like that, and shrimp. And then the asphaltenes -- and this is the crucial thing -- the asphaltenes get whipped by the waves into a frothy emulsion, something like mayonnaise. It triples the amount of oily, messy goo that you have in the water, and it makes it very hard to handle. It also makes it very viscous. When the Prestige sank off the coast of Spain, there were big, floating cushions the size of sofa cushions of emulsified oil, with the consistency, or the viscosity, of chewing gum. It's incredibly hard to clean up. And every single oil is different when it hits water.

When the chemistry of the oil and water also hits our politics, it's absolutely explosive. For the first time, American consumers will kind of see the oil supply chain in front of themselves. They have a "eureka!" moment, when we suddenly understand oil in a different context. So I'm going to talk just a little bit about the origin of these politics, because it's really crucial to understanding why this summer is so important, why we need to stay focused. Nobody gets up in the morning and thinks, "Wow! I'm going to go buy some three-carbon-to-12-carbon molecules to put in my tank and drive happily to work." No, they think, "Uggh. I have to go buy gas. I'm so angry about it. The oil companies are ripping me off. They set the prices, and I don't even know. I am helpless over this." And this is what happens to us at the gas pump. And actually, gas pumps are specifically designed to diffuse that anger. You might notice that many gas pumps, including this one, are designed to look like ATMs. I've talked to engineers. That's specifically to diffuse our anger, because supposedly we feel good about ATMs. (Laughter) That shows you how bad it is.

But actually, I mean, this feeling of helplessness comes in because most Americans actually feel that oil prices are the result of a conspiracy, not of the vicissitudes of the world oil market. And the thing is, too, is that we also feel very helpless about the amount that we consume, which is somewhat reasonable, because, in fact, we have designed this system where, if you want to get a job, it's much more important to have a car that runs, to have a job and keep a job, than to have a GED. And that's actually very perverse.

Now there's another perverse thing about the way we buy gas, which is that we'd rather be doing anything else. This is BP's gas station in downtown Los Angeles. It is green. It is a shrine to greenishness. "Now," you think, "why would something so lame work on people so smart?" Well, the reason is, is because, when we're buying gas, we're very invested in this sort of cognitive dissonance. I mean, we're angry at the one hand, and we want to be somewhere else. We don't want to be buying oil; we want to be doing something green. And we get kind of in on our own con. I mean -- and this is funny. It looks funny here. But in fact, that's why the slogan "beyond petroleum" worked. But it's an inherent part of our energy policy, which is we don't talk about reducing the amount of oil that we use. We talk about energy independence. We talk about hydrogen cars. We talk about biofuels that haven't been invented yet. And so, cognitive dissonance is part and parcel of the way that we deal with oil, and it's really important to dealing with this oil spill.

Okay, so the politics of oil are very moral in the United States. The oil industry is like a huge, gigantic octopus of engineering and finance and everything else, but we actually see it in very moral terms. This is an early-on photograph. You can see, we had these gushers. Early journalists looked at these spills, and they said, "This is a filthy industry." But they also saw in it that people were getting rich for doing nothing. They weren't farmers, they were just getting rich for stuff coming out of the ground. It's the "Beverly Hillbillies" basically. But in the beginning, this was seen as a very morally problematic thing, long before it became funny.

And then, of course, there was John D. Rockefeller. And the thing about John D. is that he went into this chaotic wild-east of oil industry, and he rationalized it into a vertically integrated company, a multinational. It was terrifying. You think Walmart is a terrifying business model now, imagine what this looked like in the 1860s or 1870s. And it also the kind of root of how we see oil as a conspiracy. But what's really amazing is that Ida Tarbell, the journalist, went in and did a big exposé of Rockefeller and actually got the whole antitrust laws put in place. But in many ways, that image of the conspiracy still sticks with us. And here's one of the things that Ida Tarbell said. She said, "He has a thin nose like a thorn. There were no lips. There were puffs under the little colorless eyes with creases running from them." (Laughter) Okay, so that guy is actually still with us. (Laughter) I mean, this is a very pervasive -- this is part of our DNA. And then there's this guy, okay.

So, you might be wondering why it is that, every time we have high oil prices or an oil spill, we call these CEOs down to Washington, and we sort of pepper them with questions in public, and we try to shame them. And this is something that we've been doing since 1974, when we first asked them, "Why are there these obscene profits?" And we've sort of personalized the whole oil industry into these CEOs. And we take it as, you know -- we look at it on a moral level, rather than looking at it on a legal and financial level. And so I'm not saying these guys aren't liable to answer questions, I'm just saying that, when you focus on whether they are or are not a bunch of greedy bastards, you don't actually get around to the point of making laws that are either going to either change the way they operate, or you're going to get around to really reducing the amount of oil and reducing our dependence on oil. So I'm saying this is kind of a distraction. But it makes for good theater, and it's powerfully cathartic, as you probably saw last week.

So the thing about water oil spills is that they are very politically galvanizing. I mean, these pictures -- this is from the Santa Barbara spill. You have these pictures of birds. They really influence people. When the Santa Barbara spill happened in 1969, it formed the environmental movement in its modern form. It started Earth Day. It also put in place the National Environmental Policy Act, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act. Everything that we are really stemmed from this period. I think it's important to kind of look at these pictures of the birds and understand what happens to us. He we are normally; we're standing at the gas pump, and we're feeling kind of helpless. We look at these pictures, and we understand, for the first time, our role in this supply chain. We connect the dots in the supply chain. And we have this kind of -- as voters, we have kind of a "eureka!" moment. This is why these moments of these oil spills are so important. But it's also really important that we don't get distracted by the theater or the morals of it. We actually need to go in and work on the roots of the problem.

One of the things that happened with the two previous oil spills was that we really worked on some of the symptoms. We were very reactive, as opposed to being proactive about what happened. And so what we did was, actually, we made moratoriums on the east and west coasts on drilling. We stopped drilling in ANWR, but we didn't actually reduce the amount of oil that we consumed. In fact, it's continued to increase. The only thing that really reduces the amount of oil that we consume is much higher prices. As you can see, our own production has fallen off as our reservoirs have gotten old and expensive to drill out. We only have two percent of the world's oil reserves. 65 percent of them are in the Persian Gulf.

One of the things that's happened because of this is that, since 1969, the country of Nigeria, or the part of Nigeria that pumps oil, which is the delta -- which is two times the size of Maryland -- has had thousands of oil spills a year. I mean, we've essentially been exporting oil spills when we import oil from places without tight environmental regulations. That has been the equivalent of an Exxon Valdez spill every year since 1969. And we can wrap our heads around the spills, because that's what we see here, but in fact, these guys actually live in a war zone. There's a thousand battle-related deaths a year in this area twice the size of Maryland, and it's all related to the oil. And these guys, I mean, if they were in the U.S., they might be actually here in this room. They have degrees in political science, degrees in business. They're entrepreneurs. They don't actually want to be doing what they're doing. And it's sort of one of the other groups of people who pay a price for us.

The other thing that we've done, as we've continued to increase demand, is that we kind of play a shell game with the costs. One of the places we put in a big oil project in Chad, with Exxon. So the U.S. taxpayer paid for it; the World Bank, Exxon paid for it. We put it in. There was a tremendous banditry problem. I was there in 2003. We were driving along this dark, dark road, and the guy in the green stepped out, and I was just like, "Ahhh! This is it." And then the guy in the Exxon uniform stepped out, and we realized it was okay. They have their own private sort of army around them at the oil fields. But at the same time, Chad has become much more unstable, and we are not paying for that price at the pump. We pay for it in our taxes on April 15th.

We do the same thing with the price of policing the Persian Gulf and keeping the shipping lanes open. This is 1988. We actually bombed two Iranian oil platforms that year. That was the beginning of an escalating U.S. involvement there that we do not pay for at the pump. We pay for it on April 15th, and we can't even calculate the cost of this involvement. The other place that is sort of supporting our dependence on oil and our increased consumption is the Gulf of Mexico, which was not part of the moratoriums. Now what's happened in the Gulf of Mexico ... as you can see, this is the Minerals Management diagram of wells for gas and oil. It's become this intense industrialized zone. It doesn't have the same resonance for us that the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge has, but it should, I mean, it's a bird sanctuary. Also, every time you buy gasoline in the United States, half of it is actually being refined along the coast, because the Gulf actually has about 50 percent of our refining capacity and a lot of our marine terminals as well. So the people of the Gulf have essentially been subsidizing the rest of us through a less-clean environment.

And finally, American families also pay a price for oil. Now on the one hand, the price at the pump is not really very high when you consider the actual cost of the oil, but on the other hand, the fact that people have no other transit options means that they pay a large amount of their income into just getting back and forth to work, generally in a fairly crumby car. If you look at people who make $50,000 a year, they have two kids, they might have three jobs or more, and then they have to really commute. They're actually spending more on their car and fuel than they are on taxes or on health care. And the same thing happens at the 50th percentile, around 80,000. Gasoline costs are a tremendous drain on the American economy, but they're also a drain on individual families, and it's kind of terrifying to think about what happens when prices get higher.

So, what I'm going to talk to you about now is: what do we have to do this time? What are the laws? What do we have to do to keep ourselves focused? One thing is, we need to stay away from the theater. We need to stay away from the moratoriums. We need to focus really back again on the molecules. The moratoriums are fine, but we do need to focus on the molecules on the oil. One of the things that we also need to do, is we need to try to not kind of fool ourselves into thinking that you can have a green world, before you reduce the amount of oil that we use. We need to focus on reducing the oil.

What you see in this top drawing is a schematic of how petroleum gets used in the U.S. economy. It comes in on the side -- the useful stuff is the dark gray, and the unuseful stuff, which is called the rejected energy, the waste, goes up to the top. Now you can see that the waste far outweighs the actually useful amount. And one of the things that we need to do is, not only fix the fuel efficiency of our vehicles and make them much more efficient, but we also need to fix the economy in general.

We need to remove the perverse incentives to use more fuel. for example, we have an insurance system where the person who drives 20,000 miles a year pays the same insurance as somebody who drives 3,000. We actually encourage people to drive more. We have policies that reward sprawl. We have all kinds of policies. We need to have more mobility choices. We need to make the gas price better reflect the real cost of oil. And we need to shift subsidies from the oil industry, which is at least 10 billion dollars a year, into something that allows middle-class people to find better ways to commute. Whether that's getting a much more efficient car and also kind of building markets for new cars and new fuels down the road, this is where we need to be. We need to kind of rationalize this whole thing, and you can find more about this policy. It's called STRONG, which is "Secure Transportation Reducing Oil Needs Gradually," and the idea is, instead of being helpless, we need to be more strong. They're up at NewAmerica.net. What's important about these is that we try to move from feeling helpless at the pump, to actually being active and to really sort of thinking about who we are, having kind of that special moment, where we connect the dots actually at the pump.

Now supposedly, oil taxes are the third rail of American politics -- the no-fly zone. I actually -- I agree that a dollar a gallon on oil is probably too much, but I think that if we started this year with three cents a gallon on gasoline, and upped it to six cents next year, nine cents the following year, all the way up to 30 cents by 2020, that we could actually significantly reduce our gasoline consumption, and at the same time we would give people time to prepare, time to respond, and we would be raising money and raising consciousness at the same time. Let me give you a little sense of how this would work.

This is a gas receipt, hypothetically, for a year from now. The first thing that you have on the tax is, you have a tax for a stronger America -- 33 cents. So you're not helpless at the pump. And the second thing that you have is a kind of warning sign, very similar to what you would find on a cigarette pack. And what it says is, "The National Academy of Sciences estimates that every gallon of gas you burn in your car creates 29 cents in health care costs." That's a lot. And so this -- you can see that you're paying considerably less than the health care costs on the tax. And also, the hope is that you start to be connected to the whole greater system. And at the same time, you have a number that you can call to get more information on commuting, or a low-interest loan on a different kind of car, or whatever it is you're going to need to actually reduce your gasoline dependence. With this whole sort of suite of policies, we could actually reduce our gasoline consumption -- or our oil consumption -- by 20 percent by 2020. So, three million barrels a day.

But in order to do this, one of the things we really need to do, is we need to remember we are people of the hydrocarbon. We need to keep or minds on the molecules and not get distracted by the theater, not get distracted by the cognitive dissonance of the green possibilities that are out there. We need to kind of get down and do the gritty work of reducing our dependence upon this fuel and these molecules.

Thank you.

(Applause)



我想和大家談談漏油事件的政治化學性質 以及這件事非常重要的原因 冗長，油膩，炎熱的夏天 以及我們必須持續聚焦在這件事情上的原因 在我開始談政治化學之前 我必須先談談石油的化學性質

這是一張我在2002年 造訪阿拉斯加的普拉德霍灣時的照片 我去巡視礦產管理服務 並測試他們的能力 在寒冰上燃燒漏油 在這裡你可以看到一點原油 一些冰塊 看到兩個三明治大小的凝固汽油彈 凝固汽油彈正在燃燒 對於我們這些美國消費者來說 石油是一種抽象過程 我們的人口佔全世界的4％ 我們卻使用了全世界油產的25％ 然而我們卻不了解石油是什麼 除非我們來檢視一下它的分子 在看到這東西燃燒之前，我們也無法徹底了解 這就是石油燃燒的景象 它賤起火花，轟的一聲 我強烈推薦大家有機會的話去看一下原油燃燒的景象 如此一來你便不需要再去聽別的波利科技講座 是有關石油地緣政治學的演講了 它將烘烤你的視網膜 就像這樣, 烘烤視網膜

讓我來講一下石油的化學性質 石油是碳氫化合物分子的混合物 剛開始的時候非常小 1個碳原子,4個氫原子 這就是漂浮在上面的甲烷 然後還有各種的介質混合中等數量的碳 你們可能聽說過苯環，它的致癌性很高 苯環在散佈整個過程中 變成這些大型高厚度的東西 它們包含數百個碳原子以及數百個氫原子 還有釩、重金屬和硫 以及各種瘋狂的東西緊貼在兩側 它們被稱為瀝青質，瀝青的元素 它們在漏油事件裡扮演重要的角色

讓我再來講一下 在水裡的石油化學成分 也是讓石油變成災難的化學成分 石油在水裡不會下沈，而是漂浮在水面 如果它真的下沈了，漏油事件就會變的完全不一樣 而它的另外一個性質是在它碰到水後會散撥出去。 它散播開來，變成薄薄的一層 所以你很難將它網起。 接下來發生的事是 輕烴蒸發 和一些有毒的東西飄進水柱 並殺死魚卵 和較小的魚類等，以及蝦子。 然後還有瀝青質 - 這是關鍵的東西 - 瀝青質被海浪掀起 乳化成泡沫，類似蛋黃醬 面積變成三倍 油膩膩的，骯髒混亂的在水中 這使得它很難處理 這也使得它非常粘稠 當威望沉沒在西班牙海岸 有大的漂浮的沙發墊的大小的靠墊 乳化油 有口香糖一般的濃度及黏稠度 非常困難去清理 而當它散播在水中每一個油有不同的狀況

當油和水的化學性質 也影響到我們的政治 這是相當爆炸性的 這是第一次，美國消費者 將看到石油供應鏈呈現在自己面前 他們目前有一個“eureka！” 當我們突然明白石油在不同的狀況 那麼，我現在就要談論一點點有關這些政治的起源 因為它是讓我們真正的理解至關要件 為什麼今年夏天是如此重要，為什麼我們需要集中精力 沒有人早上起床，然後想著 “哇！我要去買 一些3碳到12碳的分子然後放進我的油箱 和然後愉快地開車去工作。“ 不，他們會認為，“喔不，我必須去購買天然氣。 我真是感到不開心。石油公司像在搶劫我。 我甚至不知道他們什麼時候會調高價格 這樣會讓我很無奈。“ 這就是發生我們在加油站的狀況。 而實際上，加油站有特別的設計去 化解這種憤怒。 您可能會注意到，許多加油站，包括這一個， 設計看起來像自動取款機。 我有和工程師談論過。這是專門設計減低我們的憤怒， 因為據說我們在自動取款機前會感覺良好。 （眾笑） 這表明你是多麼糟糕。

但實際上，我的意思是，這種無奈的感覺 大多數美國人實際感受到 石油價格是一個陰謀的結果 不是世界石油市場所形成的。 而事實上也是 我們也對於我們消費的金額感到很無奈 這是某些理由 因為，事實上，這是我們造成的 在那裡，如果你想找到一份工作， 要有車可以開是很重要的 這樣才能有一份工作，保持一份工作 而這其實是很反常的

現在有另一種有害的東西是有關我們買天然氣 我們寧願做別的 這是BP的加油站 在洛杉磯市中心 它是綠色的。是淺綠色。 現在，你想想，為什麼這東西會如此跛腳 對人卻是這麼聰明？“ 是的，原因是，因為當我們買天然氣 我們非常投入在這樣的認知失調 我的意思是，一方面，我們感到憤怒，我們想要去別處。 我們不想要去買石油 我們希望做一些環保的事 我們被自己哄騙 我的意思是 - 這是很有趣的事 在這裡這件事看起來很有趣 但事實上，這就是為什麼這個口號“超越石油”是有效的。 但在我們的能源政策中它是一個固有的一部分 這我們不談論 減少我們使用石油的數量， 我們談論能源獨立。我們談論氫汽車。 我們談論還沒有發明的生物燃料 因此，認知失調 我們處理石油的方式是不可或缺的一部分， 處理溢油是真正重要的。

OK，政治石油 美國是很不道德的。 石油工業是像一個無底洞 對於工程及財務 和其他一切 但我們真正看到它在道德上。 這是一張早期的照片。你可以看到，我們有這些噴油井。 記者看著這些早期漏油， 他們說，“這是一個骯髒的行業。” 但他們也從中看到了 人們的生活越來越富裕且不勞而獲。 他們不是農民，他們只是得到豐富的東西出自於地底。 這是“暴發戶”基本上是這樣。 但在一開始，這個被認為是一個非常不道德的事情， 不久，就成為笑話。

當然，還有約翰洛克菲勒。 和他有關的的事情是... 他走進這未開發的東部 石油工業， 他合理化它 垂直整合成一個公司，一家跨國公司。 這是非常可怕的。就像你認為沃爾瑪現今是一個可怕的商業模式， 這看上去就像19世紀 60年代或19世紀 70年代。 它也是一種 我們如何看到油作為一個陰謀。 但真正令人驚訝的是， 井田塔貝爾，一位記者， 深入了解並爆料洛克菲勒 並使得反托拉斯法 到位。 但在許多方面， 這種陰謀仍然與我們同在。 而在這有一件事 開發協會塔貝爾說。 她說：“他有一個很細的鼻子像一根刺。 沒有嘴唇。 有無色的小眼睛 皺摺的運行他們。“ （眾笑） 好了，那傢伙實際上仍然和我們在一起。 （眾笑） 我的意思是，這是一個非常普遍的 - 這是我們的DNA的一部分。 然後還有這個傢伙，沒問題。

所以，你可能想知道為什麼它是， 每次我們有高油價或漏油， 我們叫這些老總到華盛頓， 我們與他們在公眾面前談論問題，我們試圖羞辱他們。 這些就是我們一直在做的事情，從1947年起 當我們第一次問他們：“為什麼會賺這些黑心錢？” 我們已經有點個性化的石油行業 就在這些CEO。 你知道的，我們把它當作 我們看它在一個道德水平， 而不是看它的法律和財務方面。 所以我不是說這些人沒有責任回答問題， 我只是想說，當人們關注 無論他們是不是一群貪婪的雜種， 你實際上並不迴避的問題 制定法律要嘛改變運營方式， 否則就會有漏網之魚 真正的石油量減少 並減少對石油的依賴。 所以我說這是一種分散注意力。 這真是一場好戲 它有力的宣洩，你也許看到的最後一周。

因此，對漏油的事件 在政治上是非常狂熱的。 我的意思是，這些照片 - 這是從聖巴巴拉蔓延。 你有這些照片的鳥類。 他們真的影響人。 當漏油發生在聖巴巴拉 1969年， 在當時成了最熱門的環保運動。 這就是地球日的由來。 它也設立了國家環境政策法 清潔空氣法案，清潔水法案。 一切真的是源於這個時期。 我認為，重要的是要種看看這些照片的鳥類 並了解其發生在我們身上。 我們通常 站在加油站，而且感到一絲無奈。 我們看看這些照片， 我們理解，這是第一次，我們的角色在這個供應鏈。 我們連接點的供應鏈。 而且我們有這種 - 作為選民，我們有一種“尤里卡！”時刻。 這就是為什麼這些時刻，這些漏油 是如此重要。 但我們不要分心也很重要 在看這齣劇或它的道德。 我們實際上需要去 與工作有關的問題的根源。

其中一個發生的事情與前兩次漏油 我們真正的工作是針對一些症狀。 我們非常被動的，反對預先處裡 將會發生的事。 我們所做的是， 提出暫停在東部和西部海岸鑽井。 我們停下來鑽 ANWR， 但實際上我們並未減少石油的消耗量 事實上，消耗量仍持續增加 唯一可以真正減少石油消耗量的作法 是將價格抬高 如同您所見到的，我們的產量已經下降 這是因為儲存槽的老化以及昂貴的開採成本 我們只擁有全世界百分之2的石油礦藏。 另外有百分之65在波斯灣。

有一件事即因此而發生 從1969年起 在奈及利亞開採石油的地區， 這個地區是一個三角洲 --比美國馬里蘭州大上兩倍-- 但每年都有無數的石油洩漏出去 意思是，這就如同出口石油外洩 當我們從另一個地方進口石油， 而當地又缺乏嚴謹的環境法規 這就如同Exxon Valdez(阿拉斯加港灣漏油事件)一樣 從1969年起，年復一年。 當然我們清楚了解有關石油外洩的一切 是因為我們在這裡看到了所有相關的資訊。 但事實上，這些人是住在戰區 每年有上千人在這裡死於無情戰火 就在這個面積比馬里蘭州大上兩倍的地區 這些都和石油息息相關 這些人，如果他們都生在美國 他們都有可能會在這裡 他們可能有政治學的學位，也可能會有商學學位 他們更可能是企業家。事實上他們並不想做現在他們正在做的事。 他們其實是另外一群人 另外一群為我們付出無數代價的人

而另外一件我們所做的事 就是我們持續增加對石油的需求 那就像賭博是需要付出代價的 例如在其中一個我們投資了大型石油開採專案的地區 在查德，由Exxon公司負責主導 理所當然，美國納稅人為此專案買單 世界銀行的部分，Exxon則為其支付了所需的款項 我們投入許多精力在這個專案。但這其實是一個非常嚴重的竊盜問題 2003年時我在那裡 我們沿著這條陰暗的道路駕駛前進， 然後那位穿著綠色衣服的人走了出去 我說：「阿哈，就是這個了」 而後又有一個穿著Exxon公司制服的人走了出去 我們知道一切都沒問題了 因為他們擁有私人軍隊駐守在油田周圍 但就在同時 查德的局勢因此變得更加的不穩定 但是我們在加油站加油時並不會因為這些而負擔任何費用 我們只在4月15日納稅時用我們所繳的稅金去支持這個專案

也同樣以這些 作為監管波斯灣的費用 以及維持航道暢通 在1988年 那一年我們炸毀了兩座伊朗的鑽油平台 而且美國對當地的干涉程度正開始逐步上升 但同樣我們在加油站加油時也不會因為這些而額外支付任何費用 我們同樣只在4月15日時以稅金支付 而且我們甚至無法計算這樣的投入中間所需付出的成本 還有另外一個同樣支撐著我們對於石油的依賴 以及不斷增加的消耗量的地區 是墨西哥灣 墨西哥灣並不是暫停開採的地區 而現在墨西哥灣發生了什麼事...就如同你所見到的 這是和礦產管理相關 在天然氣氣井以及石油部分的圖表 這裡已經變成了密密麻麻的工業區 雖然這和我們之間並沒有任何共同點 但與北極國家野生動物保護區卻有 因為這裡原本應該是個鳥類保護區 而且當你每次在美國本土購買汽油 實際上約有一半是沿著墨西哥灣海岸精煉的 因為此海灣大約占了 總生產量的百分之50 且擁有許多碼頭 所以在此海灣生活的人實際上 是在一不太乾淨的環境下工作，來支撐我們對於石油的需求

但其實每一個美國家庭也需要為石油付出代價 一方面，加油站所制訂的汽油價格並不是太高 我指的是在你考慮了所有與石油相關的成本的情況下 但在另一方面 是因為人們沒有其他的交通方式可選擇 意即這些花費占了收入中的一大部分 但只是為了在工作與回家之間往返 而且通常是使用相當低等的車種 如果你看到有人每年賺5萬美元，並有兩個小孩 他們可能會有三個工作，甚至是更多 所以他們需要花費許多時間通勤來回往返 這些人花費於汽車以及燃料的費用 大於他們納稅的金額或是用於身體保健的花費 而且同樣是百分之50 大約是8萬元 其實汽油的耗費 對於美國的經濟而言是一大損失 且對於每個家庭而言也是一筆為數不小的花費 令人只要一想到當汽油價格上漲時發生的情況就感到害怕

所以，現在我要說的是 現在我們需要怎麼做? 有哪些相關法令?又有哪些是我們需要持續關注的? 其中一項就是我們需要暫停 我們需要停止關注那些暫停計畫 我們需要再次注意 石油的分子 雖然延期是好事，但我們仍須注意 石油的分子 我們也必需做一件事 我們必須試著別再欺騙自己 去想像你可以有一個環保的環境 在減少石油用量之前 我們必須集中於減少油品的使用

看這個圖就是一個藍圖 石油在美國經濟中被使用多少 換句話說--有用的物質是深灰色的 而無用的物質 稱為不良能源、廢料 非常地浪費 你可以了解到廢料遠多於 真正能使用的總計 你必須做一件事 就是不單是提升交通工具使用的燃料效率 也使它們更有效率地被使用 但我們也必須使全體的經濟復甦

我們必須屏除「多使用燃料」這種不正當的動機 舉例來說，我們有一種保險制度 有人每年駕駛20000哩的地方 和有人駕駛3000哩的地方付一樣的保險費 我們真心鼓勵人們多開一點車 我們有增加獎勵金的政策，有完整的配套 我們必需擁有更多彈性的選擇 我們必需使瓦斯的價格 能夠更加反映石油的成本 我們必需從製油工廠轉換獎勵金 一年最少100億 來使中產階級找到更好的通勤方式 或是買一輛更節能的車 也像是要建立一個市場 給將來使用新燃料的新車 這就是我們要達成的目標 我們必需合理化全部的東西 你可以找到更多這種政策 它叫做STRONG 是「確實地漸漸減少大眾運輸工具的用油需求」的政策 這個主意是來自於「解決無助的處境，我們必需更堅強」 都在NewAmerica.net.可以找到 重要的是 我們試著去改變 對油井感到無助的想法 去變得非常積極主動 真的去想想我們是誰 給自己一個特別的時間 在政策上做一個有效的結合

恐怕現在的德克薩斯石油 是第三條美國政策--禁飛空域 說真的--我同意一加崙一美元 可能太貴了 但我想如果我們開始一年 用三分錢買一加崙的石油 在隔年又上漲為六分，下一年就會是九分 直至2020年上升到30分錢 我們真的能夠明顯地減少石油的消費 同時我們給人們時間去準備 去做應變措施 我們應該要籌錢同時提高自覺 我來給你認識一下這世界是怎麼運作的

這是一張瓦斯費的收據，假設從現在開始一年 你必需繳的第一張稅單是 一份使美國更繁榮的稅--33分錢 所以在油井，你不是無助的 你第二個擁有的是一個警告標識 和你可能會找到的非常類似 一個香菸盒 總是說「國立的科學學術機關 認定你用的車製造每加侖的瓦斯 會增加29分你身體上的負擔」 這太多了 由此你可以了解到你很少注意 自己的健康成本 也希望 你能開始轉到一個比較好的循環 同時，你可以打一個號碼 取得更多通勤的相關資訊 或是低利率的貸款來支付不同款式的車 不論如何你正需要去 真正的減少你對石油的依賴 用一整套政策 我們可以真正減少我們的石油消費 或是油品的消費 20%在2020 就是一天減少三百萬桶石油

但為了這個目的 有一件事我們真的必需做，就是我們必需記得 我們是由碳水化合物組合成的人類 我們必需記住石油的成分 不要被外界所欺騙 不要被認知所蒙蔽 還有很多環保的可能性 減少對石油的依賴 認真地減少對燃料的依賴

謝謝大家

(拍手)

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octo - gimbal and stability test from Eduardo lavratti on Vimeo.

Video: Turn any surface into a touchscreen

Watch the video to see how users can create a screen, move an image on the screen, zoom in and out, paint using a palette of colors, select buttons on a menu, and more.




This video explains how the system learned to identify and track the movement of fingers, in order to detect commands on the system.

The first Story of Broke teaser

The United States isn’t broke; we’re the richest country on the planet and a country in which the richest among us are doing exceptionally well. But the truth is, our economy is broken, producing more pollution, greenhouse gasses and garbage than any other country. In these and so many other ways, it just isn’t working. But rather than invest in something better, we continue to keep this ‘dinosaur economy’ on life support with hundreds of billions of dollars of our tax money. The Story of Broke calls for a shift in government spending toward investments in clean, green solutions—renewable energy, safer chemicals and materials, zero waste and more—that can deliver jobs AND a healthier environment. It’s time to rebuild the American Dream; but this time, let’s build it better.

Gloves for use with Touchscreens : DigInfo

At Tokyo International Gift Show Fall 2010, Alta, which plans, manufactures, and sells original goods, exhibited Touch Gloves, for using touchscreens in cold weather.

"These are called Touch Gloves. They let you use a touchscreen while wearing gloves."

"Touch Gloves were originally targeted at salespeople. We developed them because, if you're using an iPhone outdoors in winter, it's a hassle to take your gloves off - and your hands get cold."

"Originally, touchscreens that use the capacitive system detected the electric charge from the user's body. But this product has a special textile on the fingertips, so you can use a touchscreen even with gloves on."

"Touch Gloves with a printed design are priced at 1,700 yen, while plain ones are priced at 1,500 yen."

iPad cover made by Japanese metal-workers - ARMOR for iPad

Tokyo International Gift Show Spring 2011, Takeda Kanagata Seisakusho exhibited ARMOR for iPad, a special-purpose metal cover for the iPad.

"We've designed the curves to match the image of Apple products. This cover protects the iPad while it's not being used, and when the iPad is being used, the cover goes on the back."

"We've made the cover out of metal, so it can protect the iPad's screen, while having a design consistent with Apple's image on both sides."

Because there's a slight tolerance in the iPad's dimensions, each cover is adjusted manually by professional metal-workers. For this reason, the cover is deliberately designed to feel tight when you attach and remove it when you start using it for the first time.

"We specialize in metal dies, so we wanted to make a product that exemplifies "metal." The first feature we aimed for was slimness. Our goal was a simple, stylish design that appeals to businesspeople."

"The aluminum version of ARMOR for iPad is available for 6,300 yen ($75). The titanium version costs 13,000 yen ($160). The titanium version has been the most popular by far."

Takeda plans to release magnesium and duralumin versions.

"We want these products to epitomize "Made in Japan." It's quite hard to make them in large quantities. So to start with, our goal is to sell 1,000 covers, just as the first step."

2012 Honda Gold Wing

Honda displayed its new North American model Gold Wing at its company showroom in Aoyama. The company plans to launch sales of the 2012 model in America in May with a Japanese release slated for this Autumn.

"This model is characterized by strengthened front drive and toughness, while the rear mounts a new combination taillight, for a stylish design. The seat is now made of urethane material for more a comfortable ride. The audio functions are also greatly improved, improving usability."

It has a powerful and quiet 6-cylinder 1800cc engine, the chassis is based on a highly improved aerodynamics with an elegant flow line from front to rear, for individualistic styling befitting the flagship touring model. and it also includes a sat-nav and trip planner, and a surround sound audio system with iPod connectivity.

"The main users are anticipated to be people who buy it to replace older Gold Wing models, especially in their 40s and 50s. We have not decided yet, but we want to price it boldly lower than models up until now, so that more customers can learn the attractions of the Gold Wing."

3D iPhone Display - i3DG

i3DG, which was exhibited as a Jury Recommended Work at the 14th Japan Media Arts Festival, is a device which enables 3D content to be viewed on the iPhone and Pod touch.

To display pictures in 3D, three images are combined using three half-mirrors. Content is produced in a unique format that divides the screen into three parts.

i3DG uses a different approach from current 3D devices, which emphasize realism in 3D. With this approach, viewers can perceive depth in abstract images using planes and lines, as well as a unique worldview.

Also, because this device makes it easy for anyone to create 3D content for the iPhone, the developers believe it will create a new era where people don't just watch 3D content, but produce it themselves.

Sharp IS03 Android Smartphone : DigInfo

KDDI and Sharp have announced the IS03, an Android smartphone which supports all the features traditionally found in Japanese mobile phones.

The IS03 runs Android 2.1 on a 3.5-inch 960x640 pixel display and features a 9.57 megapixel CCD camera with autofocus. It also has all the capabilities expected of a mobile phone in Japan, including the Osaifu Keitai mobile wallet service, mobile digital TV, infrared connectivity, and Decoraion Mail.

"Now that the Japanese market is quickly shifting to smartphones, we thought we also needed to offer a smartphone. As overseas makers have taken the lead in this area, we thought the most important thing was to distinguish ourselves from them. In developing this smartphone, we gave top priority to specs and features that are easy for Japanese customers to use."

The IS03 also supports au's LISMO! music service and the au one Navi Walk navigation service, bringing all the mobile capabilities people want into one handset. In addition, it supports multi-touch and Flash Lite 4.0.

"The camera is a 9.6 megapixel CCD model. Most mobile phone cameras are CMOS models with 5-8 megapixels. The IS03 delivers higher resolution and sensitivity with a very similar body size. So it takes beautiful photos even in dark locations or with fast-moving subjects."

In addition, the IS03 has the industry's first "combination LCD," with a large screen and a memory LCD. So users can always check the clock and battery life, even while the main display is switched off.

The IS03 will be available in three colors: orange, white, and black, and it's scheduled for release from late November 2010.

Docomo P-07C Fashionable Android Smartphone #DigInfo

NTT docomo has announced the first Android smartphone from Panasonic, the P-07C, as one of its 2011 summer models.

This smartphone runs Android 2.3, and features a 4.3-inch 854 x 480 pixel display. This model supports mobile TV, infrared data transmission, and tethering.

"This smartphone is mainly targeted at women, so it features a great design. The sides have a layered structure, making this model look really cute. And the rear of the phone is rounded, which helps it fit snugly into the hands."

"As this phone has a big, 4.3-inch screen, to enable ladies to hold it in one hand, we've given it a UI called a touch speed selector. This makes it easy to select applications, even when only using one hand."

The size of the on-screen keyboard can also be varied, so users can adjust it to fit the size of their hands. Even keys that are hard to reach when typing with one hand, can be pressed by making the keyboard smaller.

As an integrated application, this smartphone includes Future Plus, which provides users with a range of information pulled from a variety of sources.

"For example, you can use a single application to show the weather, news, and nearby restaurants, as well as Twitter, mail, and incoming calls, in order of the time the information arrives."

This phone also lets users decorate the home screen and keypad.

The P-07C is available in two colors, black and white and it will be released in July or August 2011.

SHOT NOTE - Next-generation Notepad for Smartphones

At Tokyo International Gift Show Spring 2011, King Jim exhibited the SHOT NOTE, a notepad for storing handwritten notes in digital format. This product will be released on February 7.

"Everyone's gotten used to using smartphones like the iPhone, and some people make notes on their iPhone. But many people think that paper notepads are easier to use. Although it is easy to write on paper notepads, paper notes can also be lost. And if you have a lot of them, it's hard to search for particular notes. So we wanted to make a product that combines the advantages of paper with smartphones, to make writing, as well as searching and organizing easy."

The SHOT NOTE is used with a special-purpose, free iPhone application. When you start up the application and take a photo of your handwritten notes, the application recognises the markers in the corners of the SHOT NOTE and automatically compensates for perspective distortion, color, and size, enabling the notes to fit into the screen precisely.

"Handwritten text can be imported as-is from the photo, and if you write in the No. and DATE boxes, on the top right of the notes, they get read using OCR. You can use the number and date to search your data and re-arrange your notes."

"Of course, you can just put your iPhone photos in the camera roll. But lots of iPhone owners also use Evernote, and they want to keep all their e-mails, pictures, and information together in Evernote. So to meet that need, we've made it possible to send notes made using the SHOT NOTE to Evernote."

Currently, the SHOT NOTE supports the iPhone only. But King Jim is thinking about providing applications for other smartphones.

The notepads are available in small, medium, and large sizes, and is priced from 320 to 600 yen. King Jim intends to sell 150,000 notepads in the first year.

Compact Fuel Cell Charger - Aquafairy AF-M3000

Compact Fuel Cell Charger - Aquafairy AF-M3000




At FC Expo 2011, Aquafairy exhibited the AF-M3000, a compact fuel cell for charging smartphones. This product will be released in April.

"It's called a fuel cell, but it's actually a generator, producing electricity using hydrogen and oxygen as fuel. It's a ubiquitous generator, providing power anywhere that doesn't have an AC supply. In particular, we've developed this fuel cell to match the specifications for charging mobile devices like smartphones."

The power output is about 3 W, and the capacity is about 3-4 W-h, so actual running time is about 90 minutes. The module weighs 128 g and the fuel cartridge weighs 17 g.

"In concrete terms, this product can charge a smartphone that's run out of power back up to 60% capacity. And it can charge an ordinary cellphone up to full capacity."

"A feature of our fuel cells is that they produce hydrogen on demand. The hydrogen is released from the hydrogen source material, and reacts with oxygen in the air to generate electricity. The hydrogen source produces hydrogen when water is added. The water and the cartridge are for one use only."

This product is currently manufactured in a limited quantity. Consequently, the module costs 25,000 yen and the cartridges cost 500 yen each.

"This price is beyond the reach of ordinary consumers, so the next step will be to start mass production. We'd like to provide the module for less than 10,000 yen and the cartridges for less than 200 yen each."

From now on, Aquafairy plans to develop fuel cells for other devices as well as smartphones.

"As this version is for smartphones, it's slightly large, but a version for regular cellphones only could be made smaller by using four cells instead of the current eight. We're also considering a larger version that delivers more power, for digital cameras, video cameras, and notebook PCs. As we're a venture, we can't release both types at once, so we'd like to decide on our next step by seeing what feedback we get from presenting this here."

Ultra-Fast Charging Smartphone Battery Charges In 10 Minutes #DigInfo

Docomo has developed a prototype supplementary smartphone battery which can be charged in just 10 minutes, and integrated it into a smartphone jacket.

"This jacket contains a battery that can be charged super-fast. There's one battery built in, and this charges fully in 10 minutes. You can attach the jacket to your smartphone while you're on the move, so the phone gets charged from the jacket."

"I think everyone's had the experience of getting up in the morning and finding they've forgotten to charge their phone. We expect that in the future, there'll be charging counters in all kinds of places, such as convenience stores and restaurants, so people can fully charge their smartphone very quickly."

"This battery is the same as previous ones in the sense that it's a lithium ion battery. But we've used a new material, titanium oxide lithium, for the negative electrode, and this enables fast charging. Here's an actual demonstration. The bottom value is the current during ordinary charging, and the top value is the current during super-fast charging. As you can see, the current is over ten times higher during fast charging."

This prototype jacket is only for the MEDIAS WP smartphone from NEC Casio, and as it requires such a high current, it doesn't support charging via a USB port.

"There's a great need for fast smartphone charging. A lot of customers say their batteries are big and take a long time to charge. To meet their needs, we'd like to utilize this exhibition to speed up commercial development of this jacket."

Smartphone Jackets With Built-In Sensors #DigInfo

Docomo has presented a range of prototype smartphone jackets which not only protect the phone, but add extra functions through the use of various sensors.

These hardware accessories, being developed by docomo, add a range of functions not normally accessible in a regular smartphone. The three jackets on display contained a UV and breath odor sensor, a radiation sensor, and a health management jacket which can check the users body fat and muscle ratios after exercise.

"There are various sensors on these smartphone covers, this one here has a radiation sensor. You slide the cover onto the smartphone like this, and start up a special-purpose application. Now you can measure the radiation level in the environment."

Jackets containing the sensors can be changed depending on the situation, so, for example, an office worker could check their breath before a meeting.

"When sensors are built into a smartphone, the problem is that the phone becomes thicker. And people don't always need sensor capabilities every time they carry their phone. So we think it would be better if customers who want to use sensor capabilities can buy sensors and attach them to their phone."

"Regarding commercial release, we're still considering this product, so we can't give a precise date yet. This prototype is being used as a sensor jacket for the MEDIAS WP from NEC Casio. We're still considering whether we need to provide a sensor jacket for each model, and whether we can make a jacket that can be attached to any model."

55" 4K Glasses-Free 3D Regza LCD TV #DigInfo

Toshiba has unveiled its flagship model in the Regza series. This new model features a 4K 2D display with four times the resolution of Full HD, as well as supporting glasses-free 3D. This will usher in the era of 4k TVs in the consumer market, and it'll be released in Japan in mid-December 2011.

"This TV has a 55-inch screen, so compared with the previous 20-inch glasses-free 3D model, it's impressively large. With the glasses-free 3D, even if several people are watching side-by-side, everyone sees a 3D picture. So with this model, you don't need glasses to enjoy 3D."

To produce a natural 3D picture, the 55X3 has a built-in face detection camera. This determines a suitable viewing range from the positions of people's faces in front of the TV, and makes the required adjustments.

"Toshiba's glasses-free 3D system produces nine pictures, so easy-to-see zones alternate with hard-to-see zones. What the face tracking does is, it moves the picture left and right on the screen, so people's field of view coincides with the easy-to-see zones."

As opposed to 3D, where there are nine "parallax" pictures with 1,280 x 720 pixels, in 2D mode, the picture has four times the resolution, at 3,830 x 2,160 pixels. To input 4K pictures like that, you need to use an adapter, which is available separately, and connect it to a PC. In this demo, video and photos taken with a 4K camera were displayed in this mode.

"We also use ultra-resolution technology for current Full HD content, like TV broadcasts and Blu-ray, to get more vivid colors. So this feature is effective even if you're only watching the content you've had so far."

"This model will be released in mid December. We expect it'll be priced around 900,000 yen."

Sony's DEV-3: 3D Full HD Binoculars #DigInfo

Sony has developed digital recording binoculars that can shoot Full HD video in 3D.

"One feature of these binoculars is variable zoom. These are ten-power binoculars and they have autofocus, which was hard to achieve with optical binoculars, as well as optical shake compensation. The autofocus and shake compensation work automatically while you're zooming. So you can capture a whole series of movements in Full HD, which hasn't been possible with binoculars before."

These Sony binoculars have twin back-illuminated CMOS sensors and BIONZ image processing engines, so they can record video for the left and right eyes in Full HD. As well as vertical and horizontal shaking, rotational blurring can also be compensated through image processing. So these binoculars enable observation and recording even at high levels of magnification, where shaking made it difficult with optical binoculars.

These binoculars have been designed so they can be easily operated while you are looking through the finder. They have two separate record buttons on the left and right hand sides as well as a manual focus dial. As the only part that lights up is on the back of the binoculars, you can easily blend into the field while bird or animal watching, so you don't attract unnecessary attention. They have a simple clean design with a focus on usability.

"Compared with a Handycam, binoculars let you record while you're watching. When you record with a Handycam, you're looking at a screen, so you can't enjoy looking at the subject itself. We think these binoculars are good for watching sports, children's presentations, birds, and animals, as you can capture the action while you watch."

They will be released on November 1, 2011 for 210,000 yen or around US$2,700.

Watch Me Talk To My iPhone 4S (Siri Demo)

Keen On… The Problem With the Internet: Consumers Want Culture for Nothing

Once Magazine Brings Compelling Photojournalism To Your iPad

Once Magazine — Available Now from Once Magazine on Vimeo.

Children In Need Losing Out On Frontline Services

Channel 4: Thousands of vulnerable children and families are being left without access to vital services because of the government cuts

3D Shapes I Know (song for kids)

Steve Wozniak On How The iPhone 4S Will Change His Life (TCTV)

Steve Wozniak Is “A Little Afraid” About The Future Of Apple

Rebtel On The iPhone

Axe - Give Website Feedback From Your Tablet

Episode #26: Guy Kawasaki

Known for marketing the Macintosh in 1984, venture capitalist, author of The Art of the Start, and his new book Enchantment, Guy Kawasaki, is this week's guest.


The Art of the Start
The Art of the Start: The Time-Tested, Battle-Hardened Guide for Anyone Starting Anythin

What does it take to turn ideas into action? What are the elements of a perfect pitch? How do you win the war for talent? How do you establish a brand without bucks? These are some of the issues everyone faces when starting or revitalizing any undertaking, and Guy Kawasaki, former marketing maven of Apple Computer, provides the answers.

The Art of the Start will give you the essential steps to launch great products, services, and companies—whether you are dreaming of starting the next Microsoft or a not-for-profit that’s going to change the world. It also shows managers how to unleash entrepreneurial thinking at established companies, helping them foster the pluck and creativity that their businesses need to stay ahead of the pack. Kawasaki provides readers with GIST—Great Ideas for Starting Things—including his field-tested insider’s techniques for bootstrapping, branding, networking, recruiting, pitching, rainmaking, and, most important in this fickle consumer climate, building buzz.

At Apple, Kawasaki helped turn ordinary customers into fanatics. As founder and CEO of Garage Technology Ventures, he has tested his iconoclastic ideas on real- world start- ups. And as an irrepressible columnist for Forbes, he has honed his best thinking about The Art of the Start.


Enchantment
Enchantment: The Art of Changing Hearts, Minds, and Actions

Enchantment: The Art of Changing Hearts, Minds, and Actions is Guy’s tenth book. In it, he explains how to influence what people will do while maintaining the highest standards of ethics.

The book explains when and why enchantment is necessary and then the pillars of enchantment: likability, trustworthiness, and a great cause.

The next topics are launching, overcoming resistance, making enchantment endure, and using technology. There are even special chapters dedicated to enchanting your employees and your boss.

Finally, because there are times you may want to resist enchantment, there’s even a chapter about how to do this too.

Check These Out . . .

Special thanks to Tim Meyer Photographer for his hilarious (Loved the nappy changing video) and great programme and presentation at Atlanta WPPI U on Posing Faces and lighting. This was in his presentation and they really are incredible. Check out these 2 You Tube videos by Philip Scott Johnson 500 Years of Female Portraits in Western Art & Women in Film.

Why Broke?

Building a power plant under Greenwich Village

When New York University set out to build a co-gen power plant in the heart of New York City, it was a big engineering challenge. But it was worth the work: the new plant is almost 90% efficient, and will save the school up to $8 million a year on utility bills.

Travel beauty of taiwan 發現台灣

Travel beauty of taiwan 發現台灣

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Apple - Introducing GLaDOSiri on iPhone 4S

Apple announced Siri on iPhone 4S, which lets you use your voice to send messages, set reminders, place phone calls, and more.

However, they decided to replace it with GLaDOSiri, which is way better.

Inspired by my love of Portal, and GLaDOS' inevitable take over of every iPhone in America.

UPDATE 4: We broke a million! You guys kick ass. Thanks so much for watching and sharing. We were also on Attack of the Show tonight, so I'm glad everyone is enjoying this!

UPDATE 3: Wow...over 600,000 views in less than 2 days. You guys are awesome. Thanks to everyone watching and enjoying!

Wozniak on Steve Jobs: Macintosh experience hurt him a lot

Steve Wozniak reflects on Steve Jobs, youth, being naive and the intersection of common sense and building products.

How to Enter the Space Lab Competiton

How to enter the most awesome SPACE COMPETITION EVER!






What is YouTube Space Lab?








Biological Habitat #2 - The OptiCell Processing Module

Bernie Sanders What This Is Called Is Socialism For The Rich!

David Kirkpatrick: Steve Jobs Was Energetic, Confident, And Uncompromising

Yang Lan: The generation that's remaking China

The night before I was heading for Scotland, I was invited to host the final of "China's Got Talent" show in Shanghai with the 80,000 live audience in the stadium. Guess who was the performing guest? Susan Boyle. And I told her, "I'm going to Scotland the next day." She sang beautifully, and she even managed to say a few words in Chinese. [Chinese] So it's not like "hello" or "thank you," that ordinary stuff. It means "green onion for free." Why did she say that? Because it was a line from our Chinese parallel Susan Boyle -- a 50-some year-old woman, a vegetable vendor in Shanghai, who loves singing Western opera, but she didn't understand any English or French or Italian, so she managed to fill in the lyrics with vegetable names in Chinese. (Laughter) And the last sentence of Nessun Dorma that she was singing in the stadium was "green onion for free." So [as] Susan Boyle was saying that, 80,000 live audience sang together. That was hilarious.

So I guess both Susan Boyle and this vegetable vendor in Shanghai belonged to otherness. They were the least expected to be successful in the business called entertainment, yet their courage and talent brought them through. And a show and a platform gave them the stage to realize their dreams. Well, being different is not that difficult. We are all different from different perspectives. But I think being different is good, because you present a different point of view. You may have the chance to make a difference.

My generation has been very fortunate to witness and participate in the historic transformation of China that has made so many changes in the past 20, 30 years. I remember that in the year of 1990, when I was graduating from college, I was applying for a job in the sales department of the first five-star hotel in Beijing, Great Wall Sheraton -- it's still there. So after being interrogated by this Japanese manager for a half an hour, he finally said, "So, Miss Yang, do you have any questions to ask me?" I summoned my courage and poise and said, "Yes, but could you let me know, what actually do you sell?" I didn't have a clue what a sales department was about in a five-star hotel. That was the first day I set my foot in a five-star hotel.

Around the same time, I was going through an audition -- the first ever open audition by national television in China -- with another thousand college girls. The producer told us they were looking for some sweet, innocent and beautiful fresh face. So when it was my turn, I stood up and said, "Why [do] women's personalities on television always have to be beautiful, sweet, innocent and, you know, supportive? Why can't they have their own ideas and their own voice?" I thought I kind of offended them. But actually, they were impressed by my words. And so I was in the second round of competition, and then the third and the fourth. After seven rounds of competition, I was the last one to survive it. So I was on a national television prime-time show. And believe it or not, that was the first show on Chinese television that allowed its hosts to speak out of their own minds without reading an approved script. (Applause) And my weekly audience at that time was between 200 to 300 million people.

Well after a few years, I decided to go to the U.S. and Columbia University to pursue my postgraduate studies, and then started my own media company, which was unthought of during the years that I started my career. So we do a lot of things. I've interviewed more than a thousand people in the past. And sometimes I have young people approaching me say, "Lan, you changed my life," and I feel proud of that. But then we are also so fortunate to witness the transformation of the whole country. I was in Beijing's bidding for the Olympic Games. I was representing the Shanghai Expo. I saw China embracing the world and vice versa. But then sometimes I'm thinking, what are today's young generation up to? How are they different, and what are the differences they are going to make to shape the future of China, or at large, the world?

So today I want to talk about young people through the platform of social media. First of all, who are they? [What] do they look like? Well this is a girl called Guo Meimei -- 20 years old, beautiful. She showed off her expensive bags, clothes and car on her microblog, which is the Chinese version of Twitter. And she claimed to be the general manager of Red Cross at the Chamber of Commerce. She didn't realize that she stepped on a sensitive nerve and aroused national questioning, almost a turmoil, against the credibility of Red Cross. The controversy was so heated that the Red Cross had to open a press conference to clarify it, and the investigation is going on.

So far, as of today, we know that she herself made up that title -- probably because she feels proud to be associated with charity. All those expensive items were given to her as gifts by her boyfriend, who used to be a board member in a subdivision of Red Cross at Chamber of Commerce. It's very complicated to explain. But anyway, the public still doesn't buy it. It is still boiling. It shows us a general mistrust of government or government-backed institutions, which lacked transparency in the past. And also it showed us the power and the impact of social media as microblog.

Microblog boomed in the year of 2010, with visitors doubled and time spent on it tripled. Sina.com, a major news portal, alone has more than 140 million microbloggers. On Tencent, 200 million. The most popular blogger -- it's not me -- it's a movie star, and she has more than 9.5 million followers, or fans. About 80 percent of those microbloggers are young people, under 30 years old. And because, as you know, the traditional media is still heavily controlled by the government, social media offers an opening to let the steam out a little bit. But because you don't have many other openings, the heat coming out of this opening is sometimes very strong, active and even violent.

So through microblogging, we are able to understand Chinese youth even better. So how are they different? First of all, most of them were born in the 80s and 90s, under the one-child policy. And because of selected abortion by families who favored boys to girls, now we have ended up with 30 million more young men than women. That could pose a potential danger to the society, but who knows; we're in a globalized world, so they can look for girlfriends from other countries. Most of them have fairly good education. The illiteracy rate in China among this generation is under one percent. In cities, 80 percent of kids go to college. But they are facing an aging China with a population above 65 years old coming up with seven-point-some percent this year, and about to be 15 percent by the year of 2030. And you know we have the tradition that younger generations support the elders financially, and taking care of them when they're sick. So it means young couples will have to support four parents who have a life expectancy of 73 years old.

So making a living is not that easy for young people. College graduates are not in short supply. In urban areas, college graduates find the starting salary is about 400 U.S. dollars a month, while the average rent is above $500. So what do they do? They have to share space -- squeezed in very limited space to save money -- and they call themselves "tribe of ants." And for those who are ready to get married and buy their apartment, they figured out they have to work for 30 to 40 years to afford their first apartment. That ratio in America would only cost a couple five years to earn, but in China it's 30 to 40 years with the skyrocketing real estate price.

Among the 200 million migrant workers, 60 percent of them are young people. They find themselves sort of sandwiched between the urban areas and the rural areas. Most of them don't want to go back to the countryside, but they don't have the sense of belonging. They work for longer hours with less income, less social welfare. And they're more vulnerable to job losses, subject to inflation, tightening loans from banks, appreciation of the renminbi, or decline of demand from Europe or America for the products they produce. Last year, though, an appalling incident in a southern OEM manufacturing compound in China: 13 young workers in their late teens and early 20s committed suicide, just one by one like causing a contagious disease. But they died because of all different personal reasons. But this whole incident aroused a huge outcry from society about the isolation, both physical and mental, of these migrant workers.

For those who do return back to the countryside, they find themselves very welcome locally, because with the knowledge, skills and networks they have learned in the cities, with the assistance of the Internet, they're able to create more jobs, upgrade local agriculture and create new business in the less developed market. So for the past few years, the coastal areas, they found themselves in a shortage of labor.

These diagrams show a more general social background. The first one is the Engels coefficient, which explains that the cost of daily necessities has dropped its percentage all through the past decade, in terms of family income, to about 37-some percent. But then in the last two years, it goes up again to 39 percent, indicating a rising living cost. The Gini coefficient has already passed the dangerous line of 0.4. Now it's 0.5 -- even worse than that in America -- showing us the income inequality. And so you see this whole society getting frustrated about losing some of its mobility. And also, the bitterness and even resentment towards the rich and the powerful is quite widespread. So any accusations of corruption or backdoor dealings between authorities or business would arouse a social outcry or even unrest.

So through some of the hottest topics on microblogging, we can see what young people care most about. Social justice and government accountability runs the first in what they demand. For the past decade or so, a massive urbanization and development have let us witness a lot of reports on the forced demolition of private property. And it has aroused huge anger and frustration among our young generation. Sometimes people get killed, and sometimes people set themselves on fire to protest. So when these incidents are reported more and more frequently on the Internet, people cry for the government to take actions to stop this.

So the good news is that earlier this year, the state council passed a new regulation on house requisition and demolition and passed the right to order forced demolition from local governments to the court. Similarly, many other issues concerning public safety is a hot topic on the Internet. We heard about polluted air, polluted water, poisoned food. And guess what, we have faked beef. They have sorts of ingredients that you brush on a piece of chicken or fish, and it turns it to look like beef. And then lately, people are very concerned about cooking oil, because thousands of people have been found [refining] cooking oil from restaurant slop. So all these things have aroused a huge outcry from the Internet. And fortunately, we have seen the government responding more timely and also more frequently to the public concerns.

While young people seem to be very sure about their participation in public policy-making, but sometimes they're a little bit lost in terms of what they want for their personal life. China is soon to pass the U.S. as the number one market for luxury brands -- that's not including the Chinese expenditures in Europe and elsewhere. But you know what, half of those consumers are earning a salary below 2,000 U.S. dollars. They're not rich at all. They're taking those bags and clothes as a sense of identity and social status. And this is a girl explicitly saying on a TV dating show that she would rather cry in a BMW than smile on a bicycle. But of course, we do have young people who would still prefer to smile, whether in a BMW or [on] a bicycle.

So in the next picture, you see a very popular phenomenon called "naked" wedding, or "naked" marriage. It does not mean they will wear nothing in the wedding, but it shows that these young couples are ready to get married without a house, without a car, without a diamond ring and without a wedding banquet, to show their commitment to true love. And also, people are doing good through social media. And the first picture showed us that a truck caging 500 homeless and kidnapped dogs for food processing was spotted and stopped on the highway with the whole country watching through microblogging. People were donating money, dog food and offering volunteer work to stop that truck. And after hours of negotiation, 500 dogs were rescued. And here also people are helping to find missing children. A father posted his son's picture onto the Internet. After thousands of [unclear], the child was found, and we witnessed the reunion of the family through microblogging.

So happiness is the most popular word we have heard through the past two years. Happiness is not only related to personal experiences and personal values, but also, it's about the environment. People are thinking about the following questions: Are we going to sacrifice our environment further to produce higher GDP? How are we going to perform our social and political reform to keep pace with economic growth, to keep sustainability and stability? And also, how capable is the system of self-correctness to keep more people content with all sorts of friction going on at the same time? I guess these are the questions people are going to answer. And our younger generation are going to transform this country while at the same time being transformed themselves.

Thank you very much.

(Applause)

Future SpaceX rockets will set you down gently after your long commute (video)

Elon Musk's space ferries will one day require nothing so prosaic as parachutes to soften their landings. Instead, SpaceX's latest 'Dragon' design will rely totally on rocket boosters for the final leg of its descent. In fact, take that notion and triple it: it's intended that each of the Dragon's three sub-sections will be able to return to earth separately under boost power, making the system 100 percent reusable. Check out the slick animation after the break and then see this for a dose of reality.

Children's Portrait Photography with Tamara Lackey: Introduction

Celebrated children's photographer Tamara Lackey leads a special 3-day worldwide workshop on the magic, art, and business of child portrait photography.

Take a live, front-row seat with Tamara as she works with a wide range of kids. You'll watch as she works to put them at ease, gets them laughing, and coaxes out their natural personality for fun poses and great family portraits.

More importantly, you'll be part of an ongoing weekend conversation with fellow photographers around the world about how to grow your own successful portrait photography business, while balancing personal and professional lives.

Jonathan Coulton talks coding, Creative Commons and becoming an internet rockstar (video)

http://www.viddler.com/explore/engadgetshow/videos/75/


http://www.viddler.com/engadgetshow/videos/86/

NTT DoCoMo bad breath, body fat and food analyzers hands-on (video)

NTT DoCoMo Shared Bicycle Initiative hands-on (video)

NTT DoCoMo menu translator app hands-on (video)

This episode is part one of our two part interview with photographer and director Chase Jarvis.

This episode is part one of our two part interview with photographer and director Chase Jarvis. Tamara met with him in his sleek Seattle studio. In the episode, Chase shares his journey to becoming a 10 year “overnight” success, which included more no’s early on than you might think, and just how much inspiration for his visionary work comes from outside of photography.







At a recent event at the Children's Museum of the East End in the Hamptons, Tamara sat down with author and television host Katie Brown, of The Katie Brown Workshop on PBS and Next Door with Katie Brown on Lifetime to discusses success, balancing motherhood and working with photographers.

Photoshop Touch apps and SDK extend desktop functionality to iPad and other tablets

Any discussion about Adobe and the iPad seems to always devolve into a Flash vs. HTML5 debate. For today at least, Adobe's hoping to temporarily refocus the conversation on a trio of new tools that extend desktop Photoshop functionality to the iPad via native iOS apps. First up is Adobe Eazel, an iPad drawing app that lets you create a five-fingered painting on the iPad before transferring it back over WiFi to the Photoshop application running on your Mac or PC. Adobe Nav turns the iPad into a Photoshop companion device by extending live controls and menu bars from the Photoshop workspace to the iPad's display. Finally, there's Adobe Color Lava which turns the iPad into a hi-tech color mixing palette. Of course, these are just the first in what Adobe hopes to be a full range of Photoshop extensions hitting app stores just as soon as devs get their talents around Adobe's Photoshop Touch programming tools (consisting of a Photoshop scripting engine and enhanced SDK) for Android, BlackBerry, and iOS devices (available for Mac and Windows platforms today). Expect to see the Eazel, Color Lava, and Nav Photoshop Touch apps arrive next month -- alongside the 5.5 update to Adobe's Creative Suite (and free Photoshop update for CS owners) expected on May 3rd -- with prices ranging from $1.99 to $4.99. Until then, why not feast your eyes on a video preview posted after the break?

Apple's iPhone 4S is swell, but pricing is the real killer app

The flight to Vegas, Video clip Yvon (Doorhof )

New wall

'Printing' your next house

Bezos: “In The Modern Era Of Consumer Electronics Devices, If You Are Just Building A Device You Are Unlikely To Succeed.”

The Kindle Fire

Lego Tries Augmented Reality With “Life Of George” Game

The game marks Lego’s further attempts at capitalizing on its strong lead in children’s toys into new markets. The impetus for Life Of George is based on the success of the Lego series of video games (Lego Harry Potter, Lego Indiana Jones, Lego My Dinner With Andre) as well as its quiet but apparently popular Lego Universe, a brick-based MMO. By adding a casual game like Life of George, with it’s candy-coated graphics and clever gameplay, you grab the kids who may not want to bring their entire Lego collection to Grandma’s but still want to play with their blocks. As a parent, I find that the game is also helpful in teaching counting and hand-eye coordination as you need to find blocks as quickly as possible and then smoosh them together.

Naysayers will note that George does not offer much in the way of imaginative play and I’d agree. But, as we all know, making the thing on the Lego box is often far more exciting than making another “car” using the big green board and a bunch of bricks. There’s a reason behemoths like the 1200-piece Millennium Falcon exists: people love to build things with Lego, but they don’t always want to be structural engineers.

To be clear, Life Of George is a casual game in the vein of Cut The Rope or Angry Birds. You play it for a while, maybe forget about it, maybe dump all of the pieces into the main Lego box down the line. However, at $29 plus a free iOS download (a price I suspect will go down over time) it’s a fun way to interact with your Lego using electronics.

Video: Jeff Bezos Demos The Kindle Fire

The highlight of today’s Amazon event was when CEO Jeff Bezos finally announced the Kindle Fire about midway through. We captured it on video, and you can see for yourself how Bezos introduced the device.

He demos the unique interface, which highlights the media you’ve interacted with most recently. There is also Whispersync for movies, which lets you pick up watching a movie where you left off when you move between devices. And he even plays Fruit Ninja to show off the dual-core processor’s speed.

You can also watch our hands-on videos for both the Kindle Fire and Kindle Touch to see the devices in action some more (but the one above is the only one with Bezos). And here is more coverage of the Kindle Fire and the rest of the Kindle family.

The Future Of... Boarding Passes

The Future Of... Packaging

The Future Of... Shopping

The Future Of... Composting

Amazon Kindle Fire hands-on! [video]

Sesame Street: Measure, Yeah, Measure

Angry Birds Now Available In Creamy And Not-So-Deadly Moon Pie Form

And...............

Angry Birds Costumes Arrive Just In Time For Halloween


Angry Birds Movie Begins To Take Shape


SWAMPY IN WHERE’S MY WATER?

Disney’s Appmates Turn The iPad Into An Interactive Playmat

I wasn’t much for playing with toy cars as a kid — you’d have found me parked in front of a Sega Genesis, if anything — but I suspect Disney Mobile’s new line of Appmate iPad peripherals would have been just the thing to change my mind.

The Appmates and the iPad work in tandem to create a pretty novel play experience. Featuring the likenesses of characters from Cars 2, the Appmates are miniature figures with special sensors mounted on the bottom.

Those sensors (patent pending, naturally) identify each particular figure to the iPad, so it will know the difference between Tow Mater and and Lightning McQueen even if you don’t.

By gently pressing the figure down on the screen, the corresponding app essentially turns the iPad into an interactive playmat. Since the iPad can differentiate between characters, players will hear different bits of narration and dialogue depending on the figure they’re using.

The app itself takes a sandbox approach to the Cars world: players can engage in races with other characters, complete missions to pick up some virtual cash, or just tool around scenic Radiator Springs. It’s an incredibly cool concept, and one that you can believe Disney will milk in coming months.

The last time we heard from Disney Mobile was during the launch of “Where’s My Water?”, an iOS game starring a brand new character who they hoped would hit an Angry Birds level of ubiquity. The plan seems to be working so far, as Where’s My Water? has since overtaken Angry Birds in the Top Paid Apps chart. If the Appmates gain the same kind of traction, expect to see them everywhere just in time for the holidays.

Sunni Brown: Doodlers, unite!

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Sunni Brown
In her book "Gamestorming," Sunni Brown shows how using art and games can empower serious problem-solving.

ABOUT THIS TALK

Studies show that sketching and doodling improve our comprehension -- and our creative thinking. So why do we still feel embarrassed when we're caught doodling in a meeting? Sunni Brown says: Doodlers, unite! She makes the case for unlocking your brain via pad and pen.



TRANSCRIPT

So I just want to tell you my story. I spend a lot of time teaching adults how to use visual language and doodling in the workplace. And naturally, I encounter a lot of resistance, because it's considered to be anti-intellectual and counter to serious learning. But I have a problem with that belief, because I know that doodling has a profound impact on the way that we can process information and the way that we can solve problems.

So I was curious about why there was a disconnect between the way our society perceives doodling and the way that the reality is. So I discovered some very interesting things. For example, there's no such thing as a flattering definition of a doodle. In the 17th century, a doodle was a simpleton or a fool -- as in Yankee Doodle. In the 18th century, it became a verb, and it meant to swindle or ridicule or to make fun of someone. In the 19th century, it was a corrupt politician. And today, we have what is perhaps our most offensive definition, at least to me, which is the following: To doodle officially means to dawdle, to dilly dally, to monkey around, to make meaningless marks, to do something of little value, substance or import, and -- my personal favorite -- to do nothing. No wonder people are averse to doodling at work. Doing nothing at work is akin to masturbating at work; it's totally inappropriate.

(Laughter)

Additionally, I've heard horror stories from people whose teachers scolded them, of course, for doodling in classrooms. And they have bosses who scold them for doodling in the boardroom. There is a powerful cultural norm against doodling in settings in which we are supposed to learn something. And unfortunately, the press tends to reinforce this norm when they're reporting on a doodling scene -- of an important person at a confirmation hearing and the like -- they typically use words like "discovered" or "caught" or "found out," as if there's some sort of criminal act being committed.

And additionally, there is a psychological aversion to doodling -- thank you, Freud. In the 1930s, Freud told us all that you could analyze people's psyches based on their doodles. This is not accurate, but it did happen to Tony Blair at the Davos Forum in 2005, when his doodles were, of course, "discovered" and he was labeled the following things. Now it turned out to be Bill Gates' doodle. (Laughter) And Bill, if you're here, nobody thinks you're megalomaniacal. But that does contribute to people not wanting to share their doodles.

And here is the real deal. Here's what I believe. I think that our culture is so intensely focused on verbal information that we're almost blinded to the value of doodling. And I'm not comfortable with that. And so because of that belief that I think needs to be burst, I'm here to send us all hurtling back to the truth. And here's the truth: doodling is an incredibly powerful tool, and it is a tool that we need to remember and to re-learn.

So here's a new definition for doodling. And I hope there's someone in here from The Oxford English Dictionary, because I want to talk to you later. Here's the real definition: Doodling is really to make spontaneous marks to help yourself think. That is why millions of people doodle. Here's another interesting truth about the doodle: People who doodle when they're exposed to verbal information retain more of that information than their non-doodling counterparts. We think doodling is something you do when you lose focus, but in reality, it is a preemptive measure to stop you from losing focus. Additionally, it has a profound effect on creative problem-solving and deep information processing.

There are four ways that learners intake information so that they can make decisions. They are visual, auditory, reading and writing and kinesthetic. Now in order for us to really chew on information and do something with it, we have to engage at least two of those modalities, or we have to engage one of those modalities coupled with an emotional experience. The incredible contribution of the doodle is that it engages all four learning modalities simultaneously with the possibility of an emotional experience. That is a pretty solid contribution for a behavior equated with doing nothing.

This is so nerdy, but this made me cry when I discovered this. So they did anthropological research into the unfolding of artistic activity in children, and they found that, across space and time, all children exhibit the same evolution in visual logic as they grow. In other words, they have a shared and growing complexity in visual language that happens in a predictable order. And I think that is incredible. I think that means doodling is native to us and we simply are denying ourselves that instinct. And finally, a lot a people aren't privy to this, but the doodle is a precursor to some of our greatest cultural assets. This is but one: this is Frank Gehry the architect's precursor to the Guggenheim in Abu Dhabi.

So here is my point: Under no circumstances should doodling be eradicated from a classroom or a boardroom or even the war room. On the contrary, doodling should be leveraged in precisely those situations where information density is very high and the need for processing that information is very high. And I will go you one further. Because doodling is so universally accessible and it is not intimidating as an art form, it can be leveraged as a portal through which we move people into higher levels of visual literacy. My friends, the doodle has never been the nemesis of intellectual thought. In reality, it is one of its greatest allies.

Thank you. (Applause)

Abraham Verghese: A doctor's touch

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Abraham Verghese
In our era of the patient-as-data-point, Abraham Verghese believes in the old-fashioned physical exam, the bedside chat, the power of informed observation.

Geoff Mulgan: A short intro to the Studio School

Project based learning is hardly a new concept!

It is a cornerstone to progressive education in many places. It is certainly relevant and engaging for many students, but there are some it does not suit so every school program needs a balance (or choices) to be able to cater for the needs of all students.

"On the beginning of a journey"...my goodness, look to other examples in the world where this has been tried and tested for decades and decades!

Are they really that far behind in the UK and USA?






ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Geoff Mulgan
Geoff Mulgan is director of the Young Foundation, a center for social innovation, social enterprise and public policy that pioneers ideas in fields such as aging, education and poverty reduction.…

Awesome Dutch Design Duo Scholten & Baijings & Their Philosophy [Video]

Dutch Design Fashion Architecture from Scholten & Baijings on Vimeo.

From Everybody Sing Along with Mitch!