Category: Education

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Education Reading Vietnam War

Latest read: Matterhorn

Tonight I have just finished reading Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War and have been just amazed at how this book has strengthened my understanding of the toll of war has on American soldiers.

matterhorn

There seems to be a strength in Matterhorn about the unique lives of soldiers facing death.  Author Karl Marlantes served honorably in Vietnam and it proves to be the difference.

This is a story in the footsteps of Eugene Sledge’s With the Old Breed: At Peleliu and Okinawa and Robert Leckie: Helmet for My Pillow.  These two books were the basis for HBO’s The Pacific series. Matterhorn now sits with Philip Caputo’s A Rumor of War and Michael Herr’s Dispatches as must-read books about Vietnam.

As I continue reading The Pentagon Papers I am reminded of casualty reports, focusing on body counts as a way to gauge of victory.  Marlantes brings this to life.  It was all a lie. The soldiers knew it all too well.

Marlantes deserves all recognition surrounding this work.  The riveting story of a US soldier stationed along an ambush line mauled to death by a tiger was just as appalling as the fragging of an officer in the final pages.

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Cyberinfrastructure Design Education Network Technology

The Power of Networks

Explore the power of network visualisation to help navigate our complex modern world.  Enjoy!

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Education Vietnam War

Intrepidity

The Medal of Honor was bestowed posthumously upon Leslie H. Sabo Jr. who served our country honorably during the war in Vietnam.

They say that a man’s true character is revealed in the heat of battle. History teaches us there are acts of selfless heroism in battle that only certain people are capable of accomplishing.  What instinct compels someone to jeopardize their own life?There is no way to measure true heroism under harrowing enemy fire. It certainly cannot be taught. However at the absolute apex of battle a rare selflessness emerges.  I can only surmise seeing his fellow brothers dead, wounded or at great risk of being killed revealed this trait.

There is a very special bond between men who face death in battle. Leslie H. Sabo’s actions saved the lives of his brothers while pinned down under overwhelming hostile fire. Intrepidity — a very seldom used word to describe “resolute courageousness.” The Medal of Honor was justly bestowed posthumously upon Leslie H. Sabo Jr.

Does time diminish his sacrifice more than 40 years ago? Read the description of his last moments of his life and pause to not just look — but to see photographs of him in his childhood with his family, his wedding day and with his brothers in Vietnam.  As I, you may be moved to tears recognizing today how especially devastating his loss has been for his wife, his family, his brothers in arms and our country.

I find his true selfless heroism deeply moving.

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Design Education Globalization Innovation Milwaukee Reading Tablet Technology

Will printed books remain relevant in the future?

Milwaukee radio station 620am WTMJ broadcast a segment regarding ebooks last week.  I finally got around to blogging about it today.  The segment was titled: Will printed books remain relevant in the future?  Book/library aficionado/blogger Paul Everett Nelson joins WAN at 4:34pm.

While the discussion was simple and well targeted to their audience there is certainly more to this story.  I understand the limited time allocated to radio segments — its Milwaukee’s WTMJ – not NPR.

My own experience and love of reading drew me to think deeper about the discussion of the publishing industry and their new demand to charge libraries unbeliveable fees.Some believe the publishing industry has been decimated in the internet age like the music industry.  Not sure that I completely agree with this statement.  A well run publishing business should be able to make significantly more profit from selling ebooks.  But in order to be successful the publishing industry must cannibalize itself.

One of the points of discussion is a rather draconian sales policy ebook publishers have demanded. They are changing their Terms  by actually charging libraries to repurchase (at full price no less) any ebook checked out more than 25 times. Yes you read that correctly – publishers plan to force every library that checks out an ebook 25 times to re-purchase the ebook at full price.

When exactly did those same publishers force those same libraries to purchase additional hardback copies of their books at full price after they were checked out 25 times?  Never, since the idea is just asinine.

Imaging a cable company requiring you to purchase a new cable package after watching 25 TV shows. Yep – now you know how stupid — or simply greed — is driving this decision.

Ever see a stack of 500 books on a shipping pallet?   Consider all the costs for print, assembly and shipping.  Add costs to distribute those books to bookstores and big box resellers….that is an expensive and time consuming process.  Oh yea…want it fast? — then pay extra for overnight shipping. Remember those books are only available during business hours.

Continue reading “Will printed books remain relevant in the future?”
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Cyberinfrastructure Design Education Globalization Google Network Rich media Technology

MDNA: sales vs. torrents

I simply burst out laughing reading the Detroit News‘ article regarding Madonna’s sharply falling record sales.  Her latest release MDNA debuted at #1 last week after selling 359,000 copies according to Nielsen SoundScan. Yet as the article indicated: Madonna set to make the wrong kind of chart history.  Clearly author Adam Graham (@grahamorama) has no idea how torrents have simply crushed the music industry.  If he does understand — it was not mentioned in his article.

Riddle me this: How does Nielsen, Billboard or any other entertainment resource accurately reflect the impact of torrents on sales?  Ah….they can’t. The fact that Nielsen/Billboard still lists “traditional chart history” tells me another analog business is choking to death on the globalized internet.

I have come to accept that illegal downloads are no different than drugs, ebooks, guns or music.  All are in heavy demand.  The only difference: ebooks and music use the internet. Supply and demand.  Nothing more.

Its been a long standing issue for me to see mainstream media really show how inept they are when it relates to the globalization of the internet.  So what exactly did Adam Graham miss?

If you really want to understand the way the world works…

Continue reading “MDNA: sales vs. torrents”