Why Black Market Entrepreneurs Matter to the World Economy

Soon, two-thirds of the world's workers will be part of street economies, Neuwirth says.

Photo: Jessica Dimmock

                         Journalist Robert Neuwirth

In an older post I talked about "Off The Books" by Sudhir Venkatesh on the underground economy that I have been studying in terms of street market research.  In the January 2012 issue of Wired magazine there is an outstanding interview with journalist Robert Neuwirth by Robert Capps detailing what Neuwirth calls "System D"  the new do-it-yourself economy that moves under the radar and that we normally refer to as the black market or underground economy and how important System D is now and it's impact in the future. 

If you want to know about Marketing you need to watch what's going on at street level.

Follow the link below to read the full article.

http://www.wired.com/magazine/2011/12/mf_neuwirth_qa

Carbon Drive

Back on a Carbon Drive bike to put on some test miles.  This time I got a Norco and it's been great riding it.  I'm still amazed how quiet the drive system is and the shifting is effortless.  We've had some pretty cold days during the last few weeks, no issues, just a sweet ride.

Winter Bike

Eight degrees out last week.  First real cold ride of the Fall/Winter Season.  Beautiful stars out on the ride in.  Dark on the ride home.  Just the beginning.



Wittgenstein's Hut in Skjolden, Norway



Wittgenstein's Patent

 I recently became interested in Ludwig Wittgenstein for the main reason that here was a man that bridged three distinct fields and managed to design, produce, build, record and publish in these fields over his lifetime. Engineering at Manchester University where he developed and patented  "Improvements in propellers applicable for aerial machines." A propeller equipped with small jet engines at the blade tips.  Philosophy, first with the publication of Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus and finally in architecture where he kept a mountain hut in Norway that he used as a refuge of solitude for his writings and in Vienna where he helped design and build a house for his sister that was the essence of the clean, uncluttered lines of modernism.  The architecture of the hut and house fascinated me because they represent two insights into Wittgenstein's thinking.  The pure austerity of his thought and philosophy that are exemplified in the isolation of his Norwegian mountain hut and the same philosophical characteristics that actually take form in the house in Vienna where the sparse beauty of line, form and detail manifest his words in three dimensions.

Wittgenstein House in Vienna

Chongo

I've known about Chongo for a few years but I just happened to come across this video on him.

Nothing else to say.  Just watch it.

Ray Kurzweil and the Singularity

Watching this fascinating documentary and thinking about the posibilities that it points to.  The amazing number of inventions that Ray Kurzweil has come up with or been a contributor to demands one to a least look at this with open eyes and mind.

Adventures in Tea

Came across this great documentary on David Lee Hoffman and his quest to bring high quality teas form China to the US working directly with the Chinese farmers and the obstacles he overcame to make his business happen. If you do not know anything about tea you will after you watch this documentary.

 

Hans Rosling's Data Visualizations

If you've ever gone into a presentation comma from badly put together data here is a short video of the amazing Hans Rosling. He teaches Global Health and understands the true power of visualization and how to get his story across in way that will stop you in your tracks and tap into a new level of understanding.

Visual Portrait

Handmade Portraits: Liberty Vintage Motorcycles from Etsy on Vimeo.

I came across this video on Adam Cramer by filmmaker Andrew David Watson from my Make Magazine feed on my homepage and was immediately fascinated with it and wanted to post it on my blog. It echos much the same sentiments in the book "Shop Class as Soul Craft" by Matthew B. Crawford that I blogged about at an earlier date. The short film is crafted beautifully by Watson and it's a rare treat to see a workshop as interesting as Cramers. Just great visuals and music.

Jay Baldwin

It was great to see an article about Jay Baldwin in the latest issue of Make magazine.  I've been following his work since the 70's when he first came to may attention in the Whole Earth Catalog.  Ideas on sustainability and the art of design and actually making things that people think are new Jay was working on decades ago.  His association with Buckminster Fuller and the idea of making people successful on this earth had and still has a enormous influence on me.

At age 77 he's still at the design game and his new QuickUp Camper is featured in the article.  A solution to the typical RV that we see on the Amercian roads today.

See Link below.   

                                                        http://www.quickupcamper.com/

Shen Ku

For a number of years I've been reading, or better said referencing the book "The art of Shen Ku" by Zeek.  I got it as a birthday present and no matter how many times I pick it up I get mesmerized by the amount of information available on natural medicine, martial arts, repairs, plants and herbs, fitness, survival and general knowledge on just about everything you should know as you travel through life.  The graphics are amazing and abundant.  A must book to have.

First Circuit

This is the first breadboard circuit that I've ever put together.  I decided it was time to delve deeper into electronics and utilize them some how into my artwork.  So I started with the simple flashing LED.  I took a while to follow the schematic since it's like learning a new visual language.  I actually found the photo of the complete circuit a great help since it was easier to trace the wiring routes and component placements.  All in all after a little trial and error and some help from a friend checking things out with a multimeter it turned out pretty cool for a first attempt.  This is just the beginning.