The need for a new news system

Earlier this week, a natural gas main ruptured on the other side of the block.

Our block and half a dozen other surrounding blocks were evacuated.

There were no 30 foot flames shooting into the air. Just the constant sounds of gas leaking into the atmosphere at high pressure.

It could have been worse.

Much worse.

But it wasn’t – so word of the rupture and evacuation was isolated. A couple general sentences in the Star Tribune, Twitter, and KSTP through out the day.

Communication to the affected families. I sensed the fire department was getting frustrated at repeating himself to each citizen that walked up.

Then again how would he have communicated status of the repair to ~60 evacuated households?

My Proposal for an Open-Source Community News Platform

Measuring with an Earthworm

A couple years ago – Pete suggested I look closer at the relationship between the stock market levels, oil prices, and the value of the dollar.

My preferred metric of measuring the strength of the US Dollar is it’s value relative to the Euro. As I write this – 1 USD = .70 Euro. While I’d prefer their values to be equal (the result being the effect of a single global currency and an interesting conversation on global pricing) – I think the USD is undervalued until it passes .80 Euro.

Over the past week, the USD has increased in value from .68 to it’s current .70.

Along the way oil, US stocks, and other commodties prices – including gold – have decreased. Basically anything priced in US Dollars and traded globally.

Fewer (strong) Dollars are needed to purchase the same quantity of these goods.

As the dollar continues to climb – it will continue to have downward pressure on these prices.

Where it gets interesting is when both prices and the USD’s value are increasing.

The earliest we could see that is this autumn.

Minnebar to the Stone Arch .5k

On Saturday, I ran down to Best Buy Corporate HQ to present a session on ‘Do Not Track’ and one on Font Pairings at Minnebar 6

Then after grabbing a quick slice of pizza, I caught the first annual Stone Arch .5k race.

Yes – .5k. From the north end of the Stone Arch bridge to the front door of the Aster cafe.

Both events were not to be missed – and I’m glad I was able to make both. I spent the whole day smiling and laughing harder and longer than I have in quite some time.

For the goofy enthusiasm and community-building nature of both are why I love Minneapolis so much.

Additionally – I didn’t even need to change my clothes in-between.

Here’s me attempting to make font pairings interesting:

Here’s me attempting to make the .5k interesting: