"hunger was not an issue of scarcity but rather a matter of logistics"

"here in the United States, nearly 40 million people experience hunger every single year, including more than 11 million children that go to bed hungry every night. Yet, we're wasting more food than ever before -- more than 80 billion pounds a year, to be exact. The EPA estimates that food waste has more than doubled between 1970 and 2017, and now accounts for 27 percent of everything in our landfills. And as this food sits, it gradually rots and produces harmful methane gas, a leading contributor to global climate change. We have the waste of the food itself, the waste of all the money associated with producing this now-wasted food and the waste of labor with all of the above. And then there's the social inequity between people who really need food and can't get it and people who have too much and simply throw it away.

All of this made me realize that hunger was not an issue of scarcity but rather a matter of logistics. So in 2017, I set out to end hunger using technology. After all, food delivery apps had begun to explode on the scene, and I thought surely we can reverse-engineer this technology and get food from businesses like restaurants and grocery stores and into the hands of people in need. I believe that technology and innovation have the power to solve real problems, especially hunger. "

https://www.ted.com/talks/jasmine_crowe_what_we_re_getting_wrong_in_the_fight_to_end_hunger/transcript

Your data: You should own it

"Throughout history, there has always been a trade-off between liberty and equality in the pursuit of prosperity. The world has constantly been going through the circle of wealth accumulation to wealth redistribution. As the tension between the haves and have-nots is breaking so many countries, it is in everyone's interest, including the large data companies, to prevent this new form of inequality. "

https://www.ted.com/talks/jennifer_zhu_scott_why_you_should_get_paid_for_your_data/transcript

TED Talks coming to you Live!

Have you seen a TED Talk video?

Would you like to see some of the talks live rather than wait for the video to be released?

For the first time, this is now available. You don't need to go to the TED location, they are broadcasting to theaters near you.

These are the speakers scheduled for Monday night, Feb 15

TED Talks Live  -2/15/16

You can find tickets at a theater near you  http://www.tedtalksincinemas.com/

Julian Treasure: How to speak so that people want to listen

I haven't shared a TED Talk in awhile but this one is definitely worthy of watching and listening to.



So insightful...

Julian's bio and links to other talks he has shared at TED
http://www.ted.com/speakers/julian_treasure

Mastery is in the reaching (video)

In her TED Talk, Sarah Lewis says:

"Mastery is in the reaching, not the arriving. It's in constantly wanting to close that gap between where you are and where you want to be. Mastery is about sacrificing for your craft and not for the sake of crafting your career."

The full transcript (for the speed readers)
http://www.ted.com/talks/sarah_lewis_embrace_the_near_win/transcript

Take a walk and talk

I like this idea!

Nilofer Merchant suggests a small idea that just might have a big impact on your life and health: Next time you have a one-on-one meeting, make it into a "walking meeting" -- and let ideas flow while you walk and talk.

Having recently received a FitBit and while I knew I was spending a lot of time sitting, I figured my three days of running would compensate. Not even close. Now I am trying to figure out how to walk more. Nilofer's idea is a good start.

What will the future jobs look like?

In this TED Talk, Andrew McAfee talks about the jobs of the future and what it means for us.

Winston Churchill came to my home of MIT in 1949, and he said, "If we are to bring the broad masses of the people in every land to the table of abundance, it can only be by the tireless improvement of all of our means of technical production." 

Abraham Lincoln realized there was one other ingredient. He said, "I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to give them the plain facts." 

So the optimistic note, great point that I want to leave you with is that the plain facts of the machine age are becoming clear, and I have every confidence that we're going to use them to chart a good course into the challenging, abundant economy that we're creating.

from the 'failure bow' to inviting happiness (video)

Let's start the new week by stepping out of 'cringe mode' and open the gate to happiness.

Spend a little over a dozen minutes as Matt Smith tells us about the 'failure bow' and how we can celebrate failure in order to achieve happiness!



Do I see you standing with arms raised and "that dumb ass grin"?

Do I see you applauding someone who has done this?

Not yet... okay. Take it slow but take it!



This was also posted to Franklin Matters.


Thanks to +John Haydon  for sharing this

Amanda Palmer: "The art of asking"

Don't make people pay for music, says Amanda Palmer: Let them. In a passionate talk that begins in her days as a street performer (drop a dollar in the hat for the Eight-Foot Bride!), she examines the new relationship between artist and fan.

New work, new market, new opportunity

The nature of work has changed. The nature of finding work has changed. Those I think are accepted statements.

What can technology do to help? In addition to use of social media tools like LinkedIn and Twitter, there is also an opportunity to use software. Wingham Rowan explains in this TED Talk.

"Markets have changed beyond recognition in the last 20 years, but only for organizations at the top of the economy.” (Wingham Rowan)

Andy Puddicombe: All it takes is 10 mindful minutes (video)

I talked about mindfullness earlier this week. And found this in my TED Talk queue this morning.

"Most people assume that meditation is all about stopping thoughts, getting rid of emotions, somehow controlling the mind. But actually it's … about stepping back, seeing the thought clearly, witnessing it coming and going.” (Andy Puddicombe)

Hear this quote in the context of this 10 minute video



Then reward yourself with 10 minutes of nothing.

You can do it!


This was also posted to Franklin Matters today.

If there is a will, there is a way

This TEDTalk is less than 6 minutes. Ludwick briefly summarizes his motivation and process to develop a waterless bathing solution.



The key for me is his motivation. The second and related key is how he persisted to develop his idea with only his cell phone.

Reminds me of that familiar adage "If there is a will, there is a way!"

Bluegrass Monday (video)

Coming off a busy and mostly filled with family events weekend, bluegrass music is good for this Monday. I'd need to talk about as quickly as they play to relate it all!




Enjoy!

reconstructed memories

Coincidence? Not likely.

"Scott Fraser studies how humans remember crimes -- and bear witness to them. In this powerful talk, which focuses on a deadly shooting at sunset, he suggests that even close-up eyewitnesses to a crime can create "memories" they could not have seen. Why? Because the brain abhors a vacuum."

Over thinking? Possible.

"All our memories are reconstructed memories. They are the product of what we originally experienced and everything that's happened afterwards.” (Scott Fraser)

Why this? Now?
The Franklin Food Pantry Board is in the middle of a series of interviews with candidates for our open Director of Development position creating a good process that is fair for the candidates.

What do you take away from this video?

from collaborative consumption to digital ghosts

As one who does spend a lot of time online, creating and sharing information, reputation capital is a concept that I understand. I am comfortable walking in real life and sharing what I see (pictures) and hear (text from meetings) online. While it may seem to some that this is all I do, there are limits. There are whole aspects of daily life that don't go online. There is no need to put those there, they shouldn't be drivers for my reputation.

What do you do online? How much of a digital trail do you create? Are you working on your reputation?

Spend 20 minutes and listen to Rachel Botsman talk about collaborative consumption.



One phrase I really like is "digital ghosts". How to reach them in an increasingly online world is a challenge!

This was also posted to Franklin Matters
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/09/from-collaborative-consumption-to.html

Who eats the crusts of bread?

In this TED Talk, Tristram tells us something we don't normally hear or talk about.

Western countries throw out nearly half of their food, not because it’s inedible -- but because it doesn’t look appealing. Tristram Stuart delves into the shocking data of wasted food, calling for a more responsible use of global resources. 

Tristram Stuart sounds the warning bell on global food waste, calling for us to change the systems whereby large quantities of produce and other foods end up in trash heaps.

If America really has 4 times the food that we need, then the Food Pantry and others in this space are clearly in the redistribution business, and there is still plenty to do.



Approximately 15 minutes and well worth watching!

For more information on Tristram's Feeding the 5,000  http://www.feeding5k.org/ For more on his book http://www.amazon.com/Waste-Uncovering-Global-Food-Scandal/dp/0393068366/ref=la_B001ITTVXE_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1347742133&sr=1-1

Originally posted to Franklin Matters
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/09/who-eats-crusts-of-bread.html

Before i die ...

A busy family and community based weekend has just come and gone. Briefly:

I recall conversations with some Franklin folks at Franklin Ford during a fund raising effort for the Food Pantry. Sirens from the fire trucks interrupted our conversation as they passed. Oddly, not much later that day, the fire trucks came again and stopped at a house just across the way. The occupant is safe but his home is a mess.

Driving down RT 1 to the family dinner to celebrate Mr and Mrs Proulx's 60th wedding anniversary,  we went by the spot where nephew Kevin left us. When we toasted later, his absence and that of his cousin Jonathan's were felt.

Outside the Coast Guard House in Narragansett, the shore is covered with stones and boulders of multiple sizes. Folks have started piling them up. I guess to see after the tide has passed which one may remain standing?

Completed the details to post the job description for the Franklin Food Pantry hiring a "Director or Development".

And then to sit Monday morning and view this....



Food for thought!


Thanks to Shelly Alcorn for the tip to this video
http://www.associationsubcultureblog.com/2012/09/before-i-die-i-want-to.html

More of Candy Chang's projects can be found here
http://candychang.com/category/projects/

The toolkit to create your own wall can be found here
http://civiccenter.cc/the-before-i-die-toolkit/

TED: John Hockenberry on Design

A little story telling, a little humor and some great insights into design.

“An object imbued with intent — it has power, it's treasure, we're drawn to it. An object devoid of intent — it's random, it's imitative, it repels us. It's like a piece of junk mail to be thrown away.” — John Hockenberry

John found his difference with intent. What is your intent?

Off to find some pebbles

This is a great video on story telling. Andrew Stanton has had quite a bit of success telling stories. The lessons he shares are good ones. Now the challenge will be to bring them to life.



"Don't give [the audience] four; give them two plus two.”

“Change is fundamental in story. If things go static, stories die.”

“The greatest story commandment is: Make me care.”

“A major threshold is passed when you mature enough to acknowledge what drives you, and to take the wheel and steer it.”

“A well told promise is like a pebble being pulled back in a slingshot.”


I am off to find some pebbles. Have you found your pebble yet?

"recommended dietary allowance"

On Friday the 13th, let's do a little video. No, not the slasher kind. Too bloody. Let's go the other end of the spectrum and watch as Billy Collins gives us our "recommended dietary allowance of poetry". After all, this is April and April is National Poetry Month.




The Mass Poetry Festival will be held in Salem and more info can be found here
http://masspoetry2012.crowdvine.com/


Note: Billy Collins was part of the inspiration to develop sherku, my own form of haiku. The story of sherku is here and the verse I wrote can be found here http://www.quietpoet.com/


This was cross posted to Franklin Matters
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/04/recommended-dietary-allowance.html