NEOtropolis Big Idea

Post-Show Update: The Power of Energy

The "What's the Big Idea?" (WTBI) segment raised awareness of the importance of energy in tackling other large issues that face the planet Earth.  We also suggested that if we can be successful in creating and harnessing additional, and cleaner, energy - we will be able to solve many of the world's greatest challenges via a beautiful and elaborate 'domino cascade' of events.  

Some of the Stats from the WTBI segment...

• The sun showers on us 5000x the amount of energy we need - everyday
• Currently only 1% of Earth's water is usable by humans
• Water desalination is energy intensive
• 70% of current freshwater use is for agriculture
• Additional clean water = more food
• More Food = Less Famine, Poverty, Disease
• Less Famine, Poverty, Disease = Less Conflict and War
• All of this means... More time, energy & applied brain power
• ... This means we can apply those brilliant minds to other challenges ... 
• Cure cancer, Go to Mars, and stuff we can't imagine right now ... 

Key = The Collective Will to Begin this Beautiful & Elaborate Domino Cascade

Ralphy's Take: "Energy's a Grind" 

Ralph Solonitz 

Referenced:

The Northeast Ohio Clean Cities Coalition, is a program of the Earth Day Coalition.  Clean Cities is an initiative of the US Department of Energy promoting efficient vehicles, advanced vehicle technologies, alternative fuels, and alternative fuel vehicles.  The goal of the program is to promote better air quality through improving transportation emissions. 

For more information check-out:

Northeast Ohio Clean Cities and Earth Day Coalition 

The amazing book that is intriguing us: "Abundance - The Book"

If you're interested in a 'coffee chat' about the powerful content of Abundance - let us know, Craig and Sue  

 

The Original Post... 

How often do you use the term "energy"?  You probably use it in a "traditional" fashion, referring to the energy moving your car, keeping you warm or powering your computer. 

You probably also think of "energy" when you encounter people too - right?  i.e., "He has great (or bad) energy".  You know what you feel - but how do you "know"?

As I write this in a coffee shop, I gaze off to think.  Then, lo and behold, I see this:

At that moment, I realize that "energy" involves everything - everyone - always - everywhere.

On Tuesday, February 28th on NEOtropolis we talk about energy and more: Turning junk into art, waste into fuel, up-cycle, recycle - The works.

During the "What's the Big Idea?" segment, we touch on the big-picture of energy and it's amazing impact on everything we know. 

There's lots to think about: Numerous studies indicate that in the coming decades (if we stay on the current track) there simply won't be much of the stuff (energy, that is) left for us to use.

But it doesn't have to be doomsday.  There are tremendous possibilities if we tap our collective brain-power and explore new aggressive solutions.  For example, the Sun showers the Earth with 5,000 times the energy we need each and every day.

So join us for an energetic Big Idea on February 28, 2012 on WesternReserve PBS NEOtropolis.org @ 9:00 PM.

PS:  What's informing some of the "What's the Big Idea?" thinking for the Episode?  It's an Amazing book (and movement) about the tremendous possible future in front of all of us - if we change our thinking: "Abundance - The Book".

craig arthur james 2012

The above are not necessarily the views of NEOtropolis or Western Reserve PBS.  Rather, the above article is the view of this author related to topics he may discuss as a contributor on NEOtropolis.

Music in the Workplace... and Beyond

[This article is a post-airing update to the 2-14-12 "What's the Big Idea?" on Western Reserve PBS NEOtropolis]

On February 14, 2012 NEOtropolis covered "The Languages of Expression".  The "What's the Big Idea?" segment talked about the power of music in the workplace - and beyond.

Usually we think of music as pleasant or entertaining.  Well, it can be both of those things and much, much more.  Like the power of the smile, expression through music transcends language.  Science is telling us that music is essential to physical & cognitive health, and that it can be a useful tool in the workplace.

Below are the articles and resources mentioned during the segment. 

("Bonus" - If you watched the show, you witnessed that technology daemons within an electronic keyboard robbed host Luke Frazier and contributor Craig James from their chance to play a masterpiece live on the show.  At the bottom of this page is a rare opportunity to witness a "behind the scenes" green room prologue of the masterful (?) performance)

 

Music and Brain Health Links: 

The Surprising Effects of Music - Physical & Brain Health

Music Moves the Brain to Pay Attention from Stanford University 

 

Music Therapy:

A Northeast Ohio gem and a nationally renown Music Therapy department at:

The Cleveland Music School Settlement 

 

Music in The Workplace:

"Music at Work"

Inc. Magazine - 50 Songs to Listen to at Work

 

Luke, Craig & Music - Prologue:

As Luke says, "We will not be denied!"

 

What? The video (above) won't play for you?  Try This

View the entire Languages of Expression Episode & the Big Idea Segment @ minute 11:28

The above are not necessarily the views of NEOtropolis or Western Reserve PBS.  Rather, the above post has been produced by and are the views of this author, related to topics he may discuss as a contributor on NEOtropolis.  Further, the fabulous prologue video is not a production of Western Reserve PBS, but rather an impromptu video capture via iPhone courtesy Sea James.

Musing about Expression

[This article relates to Craig's "What's the Big Idea?" segment on Western Reserve PBS's NEOtropolis Tuesday 2-14-12 @ 9:00 PM on NEOtropolis.org]

--> Update:  Post-show blog post including links to information on Music in the Workplace, Music & Health... and more. Find it HERE

Muse-ic.  Do you know that the word "music" is derived from the the Greek word "mousike" meaning "Art of the Muses"? - Muses are those magic goddesses who inspire the creation of literature, art and lyrics.

You see, there are all kinds of expressions; visual, verbal and artistic.  Spoken language has been around for a long time.  But other types of expressions - the more mysterious and magical ones - are the ones that have been around even longer.  They're the ones that tend to touch our soul and ignite our hearts.

Music might be considered one of the most magical and mysterious of all.  There are no words to express the feelings music can emote.  As my friend Pastor Joe says, "One can read and play notes - but jazz and improvisation can't be described or prescribed.  Life is jazz".

He's right.  Life is jazz - here in Northeast Ohio - and across the world.  Maybe it's time to improvise.

Today's post is primarily verbal via the "audio-blog" you'll find immediately below.  Through it, you'll meet a guitar-playing guy named Pat, and hear a few musings about music, big ideas, and expression.

Could music be a key (no pun intended) to making progress here in Northeast Ohio?  Tune-in on February 14th to find out - and hear a few hints here about the "What's the Big Idea" segment of the Feb. 14th episode called, "The Languages of Expression":

 

iPhone photo by CAJ

 

Visual Music by Ralph Solonitz: 

 

 

By now if you're into music at all, you've probably already seen Walk off the Earth's 5-people-playing-a-guitar video.  53 million people have decided to watch it - and counting.  Is music powerful?:

 

The above are not necessarily the views of NEOtropolis or Western Reserve PBS.  Rather, the above post has been produced by and are the views of this author, related to topics he may discuss as a contributor on NEOtropolis

 

Borders, Barriers or Bridges?

[This article relates to Craig's "What's the Big Idea?" segment on Western Reserve PBS's NEOtropolis Tuesday 2-7-12 @ 9:00 PM on NEOtropolis.org]

As I write this article on the eve of the NEOtropolis Episode "Phantom Borders", I can't help but reflect on the fact that today, February 6, 2012 the U.S. Embassy closed it's doors in Damascus, and our diplomats race back home to safety.  

While Western powers push for a tough UN resolution against Syria - Russia and China veto the Resolution.

Russia, China, The U.S., Saudi Arabia and others... all in a debate over approach, principles and their own interests.

Meanwhile yesterday, 173 million people and 11 billion dollars spell, "Super Bowl".

So: This time, "What's the Big Idea?" isn't so much about a Big Idea as it's a Big (set of) Question(s).

What are borders anyway?   

image by ralph solonitz

• Some are natural: Oceans and rivers are natural borders
• Some are man made: The Great Wall of China, The Berlin Wall, and nation-states were and are created by humans
• Some borders are connectors too: The highway system connects us - but it was originally designed to keep missiles moving efficiently so that we could protect our borders during the Cold War
• Some are virtual: These are probably the most powerful borders and barriers of all. They're the ones in our minds, and are likely the ones that define the others. They can be things such as fear, judgement, self-interest and even greed

Not all borders are bad. Human bodies have skin and smart-phones have cases. Both help protect and "keep out" the bad or the harmful.

But what if we get confused?

• What if we confuse "good" and "bad"?
• What if we too quickly judge "us" versus "them"?

Who are "they" anyway?  

For starters, they're the thousands who have died "over there" in Syria since March 2011. Mostly peaceful protesters. Many of them children. These are images of "them" (Note: The link takes you to a Washington Post photo gallery depicting the situation in Syria. Some of the images may be disturbing)

Humankind's ability to understand and empathize is equally matched by our ability to divide and enforce our "will" over one another. We've perfected such skills over Millenia. And now, like never before, we have the opportunity to more thoughtfully create borders & barriers and/or decide to build bridges.

You see, by the year 2020, 20+ billion devices & people will be connected digitally. We are increasingly able to hear, see and translate via video, image or the written word. Real time. Anywhere. Everywhere. And nearly Everyone.

The "country of Facebook" has no geographic border.

What will we do with this opportunity?

I'm not saying it's easy. There are no easy answers on how to deal with a complex situation such as in Syria, where its leader decides to fire bullets at his own people and rebels decide to fire back.

But we should ask ourselves the difficult questions. More. Often.

Perhaps, at least, we should become more aware. At our fingertips we increasingly have the tools and information that can help inform our observations and actions. 

Why should we care here in NEO about all this non-NEO stuff?  I'll attempt to answer it this way:

• What happens over there, affects over here
• What we do here - affects over there 
• What helps anywhere - helps everywhere
• What hurts anywhere - hurts everywhere
• Civil unrest "somewhere else" breeds the fear, anger and desperation that prompts one to transform a jet into a weapon by flying it into a tower
• Famine, suffering and contaminated water breed the germs that can hop on those same jet planes and land here at "home" (wherever that may be) and can infect us all
• Thinking only about NEO in NEO won't sustainably help NEO - in the long run

I know it's heavy. I know at times I'd rather not see a photo of a child killed in Syria. We all have plenty to worry about day-to-day, and it's fun to watch the Super Bowl - right?

But I think we need to think more about what we think about.

craig arthur james 2012

The above are not necessarily the views of NEOtropolis or Western Reserve PBS, but rather, are the views of this author related to the topics he may have discussed on NEOtropolis as a contributor