User:KTucker/blog

NB New blog page(s) (since 2012 08 08).

Not much of a blogger ... except after accepting requests to blog on other sites. I occasionally "retro-blog" as you will see below (and elsewhere). In general, this is to share thoughts and ideas I would like to but don't have time to think about and invite you to participate.

New Blog Page
For postings after 2012 08 08 see New blog page(s) - Kim Tucker 09:31, 8 August 2012 (UTC)

Libre Software and WikiEducator
21 Nov 2011

Wrote this to remind people that there is an ethical issue involved in choosing which software to use. Open initiatives such as the OERF, OERu, etc. need this reminder from time to time.

Comments welcome: WikiEducator talk:Libre Software.

Installed Ubuntu 11.10
14 Oct 2011

Shared some notes here.

Be Libre
30/9/2011

Set up a page on "Libre Living" to explore freedom from software to knowledge to life with all its diversity and evolutionary potential. See related blog. - Kim Tucker 12:46, 30 September 2011 (UTC)
 * Update: renamed to "Be Libre" as a sequel to "Say Libre" - Kim Tucker 23:40, 30 September 2011 (UTC)

Economic growth and sustainability
29/9/2011

Made the following point on a LinkedIn discussion of the group "Economist of the World": "Way forward for African economies in this difficult times":

Continued [over]use of the term "economic _growth_" will lead us deeper into an obviously unsustainable situation. A new paradigm is required for policy formulation which focuses on "quality of life" i.e. _all_ life with all of its diversity and evolutionary potential.

"Economic growth" has potential negative effects: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economic_growth#Negative_effects_of_economic_growth.

A long term more holistic view of sustainability should underpin all discussions on 'economic policy' in cognisance of the fact that the natural environment is the source of all life. This is universal.

Related: Sustainable evolution.

cc-by vs cc-by-sa
I think the OER community needs to be reminded of the importance of cc-by-sa and encourage anyone to write essays, blog postings, etc. in this regard - Kim Tucker 22:59, 26 June 2011 (UTC)

SchoolNet Namibia Archives
Near the end of May I posted some documents to augment the The Case of SchoolNet Namibia. Feel free to make wiki versions within the links on the left of the table on that page.

Libre Knowledge and Sustainability

 * Are the business models suggested by libre knowledge more sustainable than the models which enclose knowledge? See: Libre knowledge and sustainability (20 May 2011)

新年快樂 - 過年好
年年有餘 - 年年有馀

(Happy Chinese New Year :-) (for 3 Feb 2011)

Knowledge, Patterns, Wisdom, etc.
After the original post on LiveJournal (account closed now) on Tuesday, April 13th, 2004 at 22:48.

Starting this to generate discussion about wisdom, knowledge, technology, and sustainability. One motive is to get into the semantic web, possibly with applications relating to conservation biology (biodiversity).

Imagine agents able to detect conflicts of interest. For example, biotechnology seeks to create GMOs (genetically modified organisms) to solve the world's problems of health and food security, while conservation biologists largely oppose production of GMOs on account of the potential dangers (e.g. invasion, susceptible to unforeseen disease, etc.).

An agent could come across research or business intentions and highlight the need for the two parties to share knowledge and proceed in a wiser fashion.

Another angle is to examine patterns in software architecture, analysis, design, etc. and patterns in other fields such as architecture (buildings, bridges, etc.), patterns of behaviours (organisational and individual), and patterns evident in environmental decision making. Raise the level of abstraction and discover meta-patterns applicable across disciplines.

Ideas, insights, suggestions, pointers to people, papers and existing discussions on this topic are welcome.

Kim Tucker 00:28, 10 November 2010 (UTC)


 * See also: Knowledge Patterns - a proposed book linked to some of the above ideas.

Aliens and GMOs
An anonymous comment on LiveJournal: 2004-04-19 04:50 am UTC (link): "Yes, alien plants, not aliens as in scifi, may have a similar effect in the new environment as could certain GMOs (loss of biodiversity, overuse of water and other resources, etc.). Ontologies would have to distinguish aliens and the conflicting objectives of biotechnologists and conservation biologists. Challenging."

Lore of Learning
11:49, 30 April 2007

Started a wiki book called "Lore of Learning". It requires gurus of philosophy of learning and theory of learning/education. Contributors should also appreciate why the book was so-called: after another book which sets the standard: Lore of Running by Tim Noakes.