October 2011
27 posts
“When human beings acquired language, we learned not just how to listen but how to speak. When we gained literacy, we learned not just how to read but how to write. And as we move into an increasingly digital reality, we must learn not just how to use programs but how to make them. In the emerging, highly programmed landscape ahead, you will either create the software or you will be the software. It’s really that simple: Program, or be programmed.”
—Andy quotes Douglas Rushkoff in our latest announcement. (via fred-wilson)
“Generation Xers are workers. About 86 percent of these adults work full- or part-time, and 40 percent spend 50 or more hours working and commuting every week. They are more likely to be employed, and work longer hours, than a general sample of U.S. adults surveyed in 2008. Two-thirds of the workers in Generation X are happy with their jobs. They are also satisfied with their lives. For instance, they were asked in 2009 and 2010, “Thinking about all aspects of your life, how happy are you? If zero means that you are very unhappy and 10 means that you are very happy, please rate your happiness.” The average score was 7.5, with only 4 percent indicating a great deal of unhappiness (a score of 3 or lower), and 29 percent indicating they were very happy (a score of 9 or 10). [5 Things That Will Make You Happier] Much of life as a member of Generation X revolves around family. Two-thirds of the group is married, and 71 percent of them have children living at home. They are very involved with these kids, and have high expectations for them, with 80 percent of Gen-X parents expecting their children to finish a four-year college. When they aren’t raising their kids or working, the survey indicates that 44 percent of Generation X members spend their time participating in at least one community-based organization including parent-teacher organizations, religious organizations and local sports clubs. Generation X, living up to its description as the first generation of the Internet age spends lots of time online, as well. Ninety-seven percent “regularly” used the Internet, while 75 percent used online banking, and 62 percent said they have a Facebook page. They aren’t all digital, though, as 80 percent reported buying and reading a book in the last year.”
—Gen Xers Lead Happy, Balanced Lives, Survey Finds | Generation X & The Internet | Social, Family & Community Lives | LiveScience (via emptyage)
“As the maker movement marches forward, we’ve hit a lot of milestones: a place to share what you make (MAKE magazine/MAKE blog/Maker Faire, Make: Projects, Instructables), places to meet up and build things (hackerspaces, TechShops, meetups/DorkBots), tools to create (Inkscape, MakerBots, laser cutters, gEDA, kiCAD), places to sell what you make (Etsy, kit businesses, Maker Shed, direct), and now ways to fund your projects (Kickstarter). It really is true: if you can dream it, you can make it, and now you can probably get funding for it. And if you use open source hardware, you have an advantage and a way to give back value at the same time. That’s what’s so exciting to me right now, and I hope we see more open source hardware fueling great Kickstarter projects.”
—How Open-Sourced Hardware is Kickstarting Kickstarter. (via kickstarter)
3-D printers bring designers' ideas to life - Video - Technology →
money.cnn.com
Great interview about GothamSmith & Shapeways !
Emptyage: Generation X Doesn't Want to Hear It →
emptyage.com
Earlier generations have weathered recessions, of course; this stall we’re in has the look of something nastier. Social Security and Medicare are going to be diminished, at best. Hours worked are up even as hiring staggers along: Blood from a stone looks to be the normal order of things “going…
