Sojka's Call

In the previous post "What Will Happen?" the subject of possible scenarios as population demographics evolve was discussed. Some of this ties in with previous discussions about States Rights and other supplemental reading I did at that time and recently when investigating Wilber's analysis based on Spiral Dynamics and recent IQ trends. I apologize for the long post and encourage you to read the previous blog if you missed it so you have the proper context for this discussion. I think you will find it worthwhile. 1. Here is a link to some data on IQ trends.... http://alfin2100.blogspot.com/2009/04/mainstream-projections-of-world-iq.html The trends and the analysis support a Wilber-like conclusion of a societal breakdown if current trends continue. 2. States Rights. One of the biggest impacts to States Rights over the past 100 years was the passage of the 17th amendment. See brief synopsis here.... http://www.laughtergenealogy.com/bin/history/senators2.html and ...

Ken Wilber talks about current sociological trends using spiral dynamics as the lens to view the forces, expectations and possible outcomes. There are three clips (1st one voice only, 2nd is video, 3rd uses voice only) that talks about the various scenarios. Here is the link to the media.... http://integrallife.com/node/58142/?utm_source=monthly_mailer&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nov_2009 If you are not familiar with Spiral Dynamics then check out what the colors mean for describing the reality view of various parts of the world population. Link to Spiral Dynamics overview.... http://www.spiraldynamics.org/Graves/colors.htm I am interested in how Wilber's views might correlate or not with other predictive models like The Third Wave by Toffler, Daniel Quinn's books, etc. Please post your comments on the blog!

These are really cool vids and show the evolution of the internet, video on the internet, social media sites, and advertising to name a few. 2009 2008 2007

Very interesting article on Twitter and its potential use(s). One use explored was in the business world though Enterprises would be very reluctant to use because the information shared could not be controlled. The question is whether the control of that information really buys the business anything or not. It seems obvious that you would not want competitors to know early what your next product is going to be but have studies been done to see if this is actually true? Link to article here.

Video of a guy skiing the Alaskan backcountry with a helmet cam on. He gets caught in a avy and slides around 1500'. This guy was real lucky. Avalanche Skier POV Helmet Cam Burial & Rescue in Haines, Alaska from Chappy on Vimeo . Link to website with some good commentary and Q&A blogging here.

Heart melting video of an elderly father and his grown son....... Link to original website post Video : What is that? YouTube Link (about 5 minutes) Posted using ShareThis

The south is bad for your health according to these statistics. Become a Yankee and live longer! Link to article

Why can't we have a civil discussion and not try to change everyone to our belief, or, worse - label them evil to justify violence? Frank Schaeffer, former Religious Right advocate talks about his reformation and the problems he sees from Sarah Palin and Jerry Falwell on the right to Richard Dawkins on the atheist left.

This video of Clay Shirky (bio below vid) is good since the man lives in a technological world that most people over 50 do not participate in. The interesting bit about how a new political party could evolve in the US is around 15 minutes into the vid. That is not to say the first 15 minutes is not worth watching. Guys and Girls - I recommend watching this. We are already part-way there and you might as well get on the train or at least know how to buy a ticket and board when you need to make the trip. or, if that link does not work watch it in three parts on youtube... 1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9o0fyxvGnBw&feature=related 2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ab7ZT6wYv0Y 3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pouP2DEJsas

This is really bad of me but I cannot resist. The two sides of Sarah Palin. 1. WSJ.... http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125813907900447449.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLTopStories 2. ???..... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsGioqX3J_s I guess all media coverage is good!

"Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to the Senators or Representatives, and Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators or Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens of the United States." This could get health care and social security fixed quickly!

More data and opinion on the rise of Independents in the US. The Republicans have completely marginalized their party and Democrats are doing their best continuing the giveaways to Wall Street. Look for another mainstream politician besides Lieberman to go Independent. I believe Lieberman is too much of a neocon to be viable, but, someone with charisma will emerge. Too bad Ron Paul will never capture the attention of America. ================================================================================== Timothy Egan - A New York Times Blog November 11, 2009, 9:30 pm The Betrayal ST. LOUIS – So long as Budweiser, the King of Beers, was enthroned in this pleasant and nobly resilient middle American city, the blows of corporate condescension from the other giants who abandoned the Gateway Arch could be endured. But then, last year, came a kidney punch that still hurts: Anheuser-Busch, which had survived Prohibition and the micro-brew craze, was sold to a Belgian brewer. Bud was no...

The Op-ed piece below from David Brooks articulates want he believes Independents want. His points at the end about less government intervention in the economy and reduced government deficits are most likely true. I am not so sure about the strategy for a politician winning back the Independents. Most Independents don't want to be "won back". They are going to stay Independent once they make that decision to go that route. And, I believe the Independents of this country are going to start voting for Independents. Look at the Lieberman example in Connecticut. He won as an Independent though his long standing as a Democrat certainly made him well known to the electorate. Look for more well-known politicians and celebrity/business icons moving into politics to do so as Independents. Be ready to fully embrace the good ones and work for them. It is the only way to shake up the current too-cozy, two-party, too-awful-to-talk-about political system today. Post your commen...

Probably the religious right Republicans who got Dede Scozzafava to quit the race and installed an accountant with no political experience as the candidate believe it wouldn't have mattered if Ms Scozzafava won or the Democrat, Bill Owens, who prevailed. They believe both were bad, I guess. In a district where Republicans dominant it is almost certain that Ms Scozzafava would have won if Rush, Palin and Beck had stayed out of the local politics. They put their noses in it and lost the chance to keep a Republican in Congress. The Fox spin on this is funny - they say it was all good. I still think that someone is going to create a new party or redirect a current party to the path of fiscal and foreign policy conservatism and leave the religious right behind. Link to news article here .

The current brouhaha going on in the New York congressional race to replace John McHugh who was recently appointed as Army Secretary is a rallying point for Pubs on all sides of the argument. The article on CNN http://www.cnn.com/2009/OPINION/10/29/feehery.gop.majority/index.html?eref=igoogle_cnn by John Feehery sums up the back and forth drama. The interesting thing for me were the posts by readers. It seems there is a sizable number of Americans who want a conservative government that stays out of religion and abortion but that believes in small government, low taxes, minimal/no foreign intervention - the things I call conservative. It will be interesting to see if somehow a real conservative party either emerges from inside the Republicans or forms outside. Or, is the far-right religious conservative wing the future of the Republicans and the USA? When we see who wins this race it may start to answer that question. Post your response on the blog please!