Free newspaper and poetry @ Copley / Disruptive technologies and PDD - good lectures /…

Free newspaper and poetry @ Copley

"Free Boston Globe, Free Boston Globe. Here we go, my brother from another mother. What about you, my sister from another mister?"

Disruptive technologies and PDD - good lectures

Clay Christenssen gave a lecture in the class today. He is a good lecturer, calm, with deep insights. Read his books, he has written at least two, and all his arguments are somehow, if not that well, covered in the books. I took some notes, which I thought would enable me to write more about the lecture, but now the notes looks silly and messy. Professor Utterback and Christensen have a very friendly competition ongoing, they always like to tease each other. They are both literally big shots in management science, both taller than me. I did feel young, small, and insignificant. (right: Christenssen, left: both professors)
We also had, for a change, a good lecture in our PDD-class. Professor Roemer talked about his research in DSM (Design Structure Matrix). DSM is a way of representing information flows in complex system design. It seems to be a decent tool: being a matrix it lends to easy mathematical manipulation. I need to take a look at it - at least just to get to know the mechanism, and what they can provide. If only all PDD-lectures had been like this one - the whole class would have made some sense.

New books

It was time to buy new books. One has to buy at least 1 book and 1 CD each week. It is much cheaper than owning a car, and much more civilized, and a better investment, too. One also should read at least one book per week, not just buy them.

• A world without time: the forgotten legacy of Gödel and Einstein by Palle Yourgrau. This books tells about the two great scientist, and Gödel's proof that time does not exits. Should be interesting reading.
• The garden lover's guide to the Northest by Paul Bennett. This books features 140 garden from Acadia to Mount Vernon. After this semester, I have lots of time to visit gardens, which are my favorite places. A garden with a library, a book store, and a decent restaurant would be a dream came true. If somebody knows such a paradise, please leave a comment.

Kiss goodbye to your lifestyle

As the production of oil peaks in the very near future. This is what the experts are now saying. When we reach the peak, i.e. we have used half of all oil, the demand will continue grow all the time faster than supply, and prices will skyrocket. This will have profound effect on almost everthing. The newest Guardian Weekly has a long article with the title "Coming oil crisis feared". The article ends with this dire prediction

"The first half of the oil age now closes," says Campbell. "It lasted 150 years and saw the rapid expansion of industry, transport, trade, agriculture and financial capital, allowing the population to expand six-fold. The second half now dawns, and will be marked by the decline of oil and all that depends on it, including financial capital."

So, it would be wise the sell the large house in suburbs, move close to other people in a smaller house, and try to develop a lifestyle, which does not require a car. Or else one ends up having worthless assets.

By the way, during last month I used 83 kWh electricity. Since I also usually walk to MIT and back, my current life style is not too energy intensive.

Strange things in USA, part 6

34. Being able the recognize taxis by the sound they make. There is something peculiar in their drive trains. 35. The popularity of herding lines in cafeterias, shops etc. I think people would be able to form a queue without them too. 36. People putting up with long queues (which then lead to the "need" for herding lines). 37. Invention of Teddy Bears (which is also a good thing) 38. Greyhound and other bus companies having new busses, whose design was obsolete in Europe 15 years ago. 39. Having no railway infrastructure to speak of. Both coasts would be ideal for TGV-type of trains - which are safer, more secure, less prone to congestion than airplanes. 40. People running their car engines when parking temporarily. 41. Wal-Mart, which pays so low salaries, that its employees are entitled to foodstamps. See discussion in NY Times. I am surprised how seldom this aspect comes up in Sloan. In Sloan classes, Wal-Mart is treated like the best thing in the world, the most efficient way of doing retailing.

Alun perin julkaistu kuukausikoosteessa "Blogs from May to June 2005".