Re: "First Praxis"

On Mon, Dec 6, 2010 at 9:32 AM, Erik Kain <erik.kain@gmail.com> wrote:

Barrett,

First off, no worries on the question of temperament and such. Everything seems to be going quite well at this point.

Second, we did attempt at one point to try something similar to your suggestion. I think at this point we're attempting to change things on a structural level instead. In any case, I have some ideas. Finding the time to actually implement them is the trick.

All the best,

Erik

On Sun, Dec 5, 2010 at 1:56 PM, Barrett Brown <barriticus@gmail.com> wrote:

Guys-

Just wanted to keep you appraised of this since you've both expressed an interest in working more closely with Project PM. Read the from the bottom and let me know if you have any questions at this point.

Regarding potential methods by which to improve a blog such as yours, I discussed this in general terms with my associate Clark Robinson (and no one else), who basically runs my affairs and otherwise serves as my adviser on these things/keeps me in check, and he has suggested that a feature whereby all or most contributors agree to all blog on a particular specific issue over a time span of a day or two might be worth trying. Such a feature would not require any radical changes to format or anything else, is easily implemented, and could be abandoned without any fuss if it doesn't prove useful in getting the League really going again. I'll continue to think about it but I thought I'd convey that to you.

Also, I want to apologize for having sometimes fallen short of the standards you've set at The League in regards to language and temperament. I'm making a conscious effort now to be a bit more professional; aside from being in extended adolescence, I'm not used to writing for blogs, per se, and it's taken me more time than it should have to adapt to the style that you've quite understandably set. If you ever have any further concerns about anything I write, please let me know immediately.

Hope you both enjoyed your weekend.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Kenneth Lipp <kenneth.lipp@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, Dec 5, 2010 at 3:40 PM
Subject: Re: "First Praxis"
To: Barrett Brown <barriticus@gmail.com>

Just right, thank you. Will fwd. the final text of the post a little later.

On Sun, Dec 5, 2010 at 2:29 PM, Barrett Brown <barriticus@gmail.com> wrote:

Let me know if this suffices as a quote:

There is always a delay between the onset of new technology and the onset of its various applications. Such a delay is inexcusable in such fields as African aid and development. It is more inexcusable when that new technology is accompanied by a tremendous growth in our ability to organize and implement those very same life-and-death solutions by way of the internet and its particular virtues as a tool of collaboration. When new ideas are easier than ever to implement and can do tremendous good if so implemented, we have less cause to delay than did any of our predecessors who worked to tackle the same problems and did so under more difficult circumstances.

On Sun, Dec 5, 2010 at 3:12 PM, Kenneth Lipp <kenneth.lipp@gmail.com> wrote:

Hello first-named everyone, my pleasure.

Barrett, just a blurb about the importance of scientific advancement to improving living conditions in the developing world. Polemic=just fine.

On Sun, Dec 5, 2010 at 2:02 PM, Barrett Brown <barriticus@gmail.com> wrote:

I just wanted to bring this to everyone's attention. I don't think many of you have yet met Dr. Kenneth Lipp, who joined us a few days ago through Emma and who's currently based at Darwin College. As per below, he has proposed that his latest grant project be tied to Project PM. As this project involves new solutions by which to contribute to African development, this strikes me as a fortuitous offer which I've accepted. Lipp will be heavily involved with us starting this week so I wanted to introduce him and give everyone a chance to read over the specifics of what we'll be working with him on.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Barrett Brown <barriticus@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, Dec 5, 2010 at 2:56 PM
Subject: Re: "First Praxis"
To: Kenneth Lipp <kenneth.lipp@gmail.com>, Emma Allan <emilieduchatelet8@gmail.com>

Having just looked at this a bit more closely, I wanted to check and see if I'd mentioned to you that one of the two sub-projects we're launching concerns new solutions by which to approach Africa development? We do have a number of people involved who could be of assistance to you, and I'd love to have Project PM work with you as closely on this as possible. What sort of quote do you need from me?

On Sun, Dec 5, 2010 at 2:50 PM, Kenneth Lipp <kenneth.lipp@gmail.com> wrote:

thx, shoot me a quote later if you think of it.

On Sun, Dec 5, 2010 at 1:44 PM, Barrett Brown <barriticus@gmail.com> wrote:

Certainly, I don't object at all and don't worry about timing, I'm working today anyway. Also I might have some questions regarding your earlier e-mail with the diagram just to make sure I know what you're asking, will get back to you reasonably soon.

On Sun, Dec 5, 2010 at 2:42 PM, Kenneth Lipp <kenneth.lipp@gmail.com> wrote:

Barrett:

I know this is poor occassion to discuss this. Wishing you well.

Just wanted to be sure you had no objections before I put your or PM's name in print. Posting later today:

"First Praxis is the project beta for an applied research and education network, designed to build an interconnected system of highly skilled nodes for assessing and responding to crises in human health and general well-being. Although still beta, or pre beta, in development, Praxis is as of this moment an active project, operations in motion commensurate with need according to our present limitations."

After being notified that my grant for primate research was approved, I think it probably took about 5 minutes: I was already anxious to begin something new. I do have a need to keep agile in my interests; but something stronger compelled me than lack of attention span.

Despite global advances in technology bringing better quality of life and greater hope in areas of disease prevention and alleviation of poverty, much of the perceived progress has been a western world conceit. While science has indeed sped forward in blur toward better understanding of improving the human condition, the places where that condition is the most tragic have for the large part been ignored.

It is tradition to ignore Africa. The mother continent has, in various degrees of verse, been subdued, patronised, exploited, and cruelly neglected.

The availability of quinine allowed Europeans safe access the dark continent, where malaria, dengue, and other exotic vapors had extant prevented colonisation. The heavy caucasian Burden of commerce and its martial regulation defined the western relationship with Africa until the pressures of modern culture made colonialism a political liability (following, naturally, a collapse in its economic benefit).

The dissolution of imperial control was for the most part complete by the mid-1970s. Now, 2010, after a half-century which inluded the Congo War ( this conflict and its aftermath had killed 5.4 million people), the conflict and genocide in Darfur, and more social and political strife than space or emotional stoicism permit, Africa is the forgotten foster-child of the world. Although headway has been made, multiple factors of cultural and religious regression have teamed with incompetence and/or indifference to stall progress at the gun line.

In Africa, First Praxis intends to help to bring about something beyond the fragile evangelistic aid efforts, a paradigmatic shift, by emphasising lucid assessment, widespread uncensored education, and apolitical direct action at the most urgent loci.

This is first draftish. Cambridge as well as another University from the THRiVE network, in addition to several academics and an orphanage in Ghana run by a high school friend have all agreed to participate. I am actively recruiting for expansion. I intend to focus on Latin America & Asia as well as Africa.

action pts:

poverty, violence, etc all have causes in ----

HIV-disease

Science education

Cultural exposure (against incubation)

My intention was to include the ScienceJIP and ProjPM as partners contributing access to expertise and possibilities for info dissemination (something like that). Will use "Modern Solution" article.

I have several grants in the works, some applied for--irrespective of their approval, I will not be attempting to renew my grant in Cambridge, there's something big happening south.

cheers

Kenneth

--
Regards,

Barrett Brown
512-560-2302

--
Regards,

Barrett Brown
512-560-2302

--
Regards,

Barrett Brown
512-560-2302

--
Regards,

Barrett Brown
512-560-2302

--
Regards,

Barrett Brown
512-560-2302