Collective Action Dilemna Theory...

Just finished Part 1 of this interview with Marc Smith. Talk about new paradigms... it was quite interesting to think about these social connections through the internet, and actually creating programs that can decipher them.

According to Smith, in these environments, "It makes sense to take and not give." I hadn't thought of that before, but that is exactly what one is doing when one uses information gathered in this way. Also, just like the theory that 10% of the people do 90% of the work in most organizations, he identified the fact that 2% of the population are considered the "answer people" and do 85% of the work. See the similarity?

S.N.A.R.F. = Social Network And Relationship Finder, relevance having to do with relationship, the key to his research and investigation... all new concepts to me.

Sadly I have to agree with him that kids text almost more than they talk, which accounts for the fact that their people and communication skills often leave a lot to be desired.

Stay tuned for comments about Part 2...

Taking it one step at a time...

Well, I am adding to my del.icio.us account, gearing up to purchase a remote headset for Skype, taking it one step at a time, not hyperventilating at all the information posted to the New Basement Tapes, and all of my Google Reader feeds.

On another note, the garden is doing much better now that my daughter and I weeded another 200 artichokes, which were, yes, "choking" the tomato plants. It's an Art thing (my dad) because that's about all he planted last year, and never turned the garden, and the things just keep multiplying. When we turned the dirt this year to plant the tomatoes, we must have dug up hundreds of them, but if you just get half of one, it regenerates and multiplies.... so, you just have to keep up with it. Also added were parsley, basil, and a lovely white eggplant plant. My grandmother was the best gardener, with the greenest thumb. She had violets all over the house, and parsley all over the garden. I did not inherit that thumb, although I did make a strawberry/rhubarb crisp yesterday from the rhubarb in my front yard, which is the only place I get sun, hence the gardening at my parent's house.

Like I said before, I like three day weekends...

...to go where no one in my family has gone before...

Well, this is the beginning of the technological revolution in my house. I told my two teenagers I would be dancing circles around them after taking this course. I now have my own blog, my own del.icio.us account, and feeds to my Google Reader. What is next?

About the tomato plants, we are replacing them. We are also adding a White Eggplant to the mix, as well as the usual herbs, basil, oregano, and rosemary.

I enjoy the leisure of a three day weekend. I think there should be more of them....

More about the bees...

Here's an interesting story about the bees...

http://blogs.earthsky.org/eleanorimster/science/051412/want-to-eat-then-we-need-to-heal-the-honeybees/

I think we need to keep an eye on this...

Be Very Kind...

Be very kind to the people who run small businesses in your neighborhood. They not only contribute to the local economy, but to the ambiance of your town. We have this great family owned hardware store just down the street. I can walk in there and ask for any size nail, bolt, bracket, or screw and buy as many as I need, from one to one hundred. I do not have to buy an entire carton, and they will go in the back room and find it for me. I can also ask them for suggestions and advice on fixing things and they will listen and help me.

So, in appreciation for them being there and staying in business I brought them doughnuts. It was my way of saying "thanks for giving me the joy of having a local hardware store."

We cannot let them go away, these small, family owned businesses. They are the backbone of our communities. Support them, appreciate them, and be kind to them.

Well, well, well

OK, whoda thunk I would be starting a blog. Amazing things happen when you sign up for a class with Tomer. Well, we need more rain. The rabbits ate two of my 32 tomato plants which were lovingly placed in the ground last weekend, with lots of sweat, toil, backache, and care. Now, two are missing, so I think we need some moisture in the ground so they don't try to eat the plants thinking they will get the juice of the tomato before it is even a flower.

Speaking of flowers, what have you heard lately about the bees? I'm guessing it's a combination of cell phone towers, pollution, and too many campaign signs along the highway. Let's just have some good, honest debate, wait, won't that increase global warming?

Did anyone else notice how bright and vivid the spring colors are this year? Is it just the gray days that emphasize them, or the cold winter, or am I just so happy to see color?

Well, gotta go, tea is ready....