On Thursday, October 19, 1967 The New York Times published the following, from an Interview with Herman Kahn, who was predicting that tourism would be the biggest industry in the United States. By the year 2000, people will work no more than four days a week and less than eight hours a day. With legal holidays and long vacations, this could result in an annual working … [Read more...] about Why An Improving Economy Alone Won’t Fuel An Employment Recovery
Economic
It’s Time for an Education Revolution
I spoke to at a local education conference today in the Seattle area. As I was discussing the uncertainties in the future of education, I realized that these angst ridden deliberations on the future of education are very timely in an unintuitive way, and that may be the key to innovation. America has the opportunity to seize the future of learning as the emerging markets … [Read more...] about It’s Time for an Education Revolution
US Labor Policy and Employment
Thinking out loud: Back in January of 2009 I wrote the blog post below. Since then, the White House, and several part of the executive branch, with the support of congress, have attempted to shore-up American labor with stimulus funds and various other efforts. I believe much of their effort is misguided because they do not look at the complexity of the relationships involved, … [Read more...] about US Labor Policy and Employment
First Pass: What’s Wrong with the Grand Challenges for Engineering
At the risk of committing more overthinking of the Grand Challenges for Engineering, I want to take a first pass at discussing what I think is wrong with them in a very specific way, and honing the list into something more grand. Here is the current list: Make solar energy economical Provide energy from fusion Develop carbon sequestration methods Manage the nitrogen … [Read more...] about First Pass: What’s Wrong with the Grand Challenges for Engineering
STEM: Abstraction is the Problem with US Lag In Science, Engineering and Math
I am listening to To the Point from Warren Olney. The discussion is on science, technology, engineering and math or STEM and why America is falling behind. I think the big issue is abstraction. We are suffering from a cult of knowledge. We talk about the knowledge economy. The knowledge economy may well be a STEM issue, but it is an abstraction. When I hear about the Grand … [Read more...] about STEM: Abstraction is the Problem with US Lag In Science, Engineering and Math