Category Archives: innovation

The Wheel vs. the Slave: An Ancient Struggle

Posted on 11 May, 2020 by alfin2101

Before the wheel, slavery was inevitable. After the wheel, it was optional. __ From “The Wisdom of Al Fin” We tend to think that inventing the wheel was item number two on our to-do list after learning to walk upright. … Continue reading →

Posted in innovation, Transportation | Tagged | 1 Comment

Long Lasting Lithium Batteries that Don’t Explode

Posted on 27 February, 2020 by alfin2101

2,000 Cycles; Charge from 0 to 100% in 10 Minutes; No Explosions After several charge-discharge cycles, lithium batteries tend to grow “dendrites” that can short-circuit the cell and start fires: There’s a problem with lithium batteries that stems from those … Continue reading →

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Global Innovation: Foundations and Futures

Posted on 23 January, 2020 by alfin2101

Turnover is common on the Bloomberg Innovation Index. The 2020 list is no exception, as nations are rising and falling in the rankings across the board. Who Will Lead in Innovation in 2030? China is catching up with the rest … Continue reading →

Posted in China, Economics, Europe, innovation, University | Tagged | 2 Comments

Can Social Justice Build a Better Bridge?

Posted on 27 August, 2018 by alfin2101

Social Justice Warriors Infiltrate Engineering Schools Engineering education has been infiltrated by a “phalanx of social justice warriors” who are steadily corrupting the field, according to a Michigan State University professor. “They have sought out the soft underbelly of engineering, … Continue reading →

Posted in Cognition, Disruptive Technologies, innovation | Tagged | 5 Comments

Is There a Recipe for Disruptive Innovation?

Posted on 23 August, 2018 by alfin2101

Singularity University’s Global Startup Program The Singularity University (SU) is Ray Kurzweil’s and Peter Diamandis’ attempt to bring about radical planetary change for the better. The SU’s Global Startup Program is a boot camp and training program for entrepreneurs who … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, innovation | Tagged | 1 Comment

Fusion: Far and Near, Slow and Fast

Posted on 9 August, 2018 by alfin2101

Politically Correct Fusion by 2060 or Later … ITER’s workers often liken themselves to stonemasons hewing blocks for a cathedral: They may not get to see the fruits of their efforts in their own lifetimes. To the researchers at fusion … Continue reading →

Posted in Disruptive Technologies, Energy, Future, innovation, Nuclear Fusion | Tagged | 4 Comments

Open Source Innovation: From Out of Nowhere

Posted on 22 July, 2018 by alfin2101

The Disruptive Innovation That Knocks You On Your Ass These types of innovations often come from out of the blue. The more open the society, the more types of financing can be discovered to take a blockbuster innovation from new … Continue reading →

Posted in Creativity, Economics, innovation | Tagged | 2 Comments

Venture Startups and Disruptive Innovations

Posted on 16 June, 2018 by alfin2101

The election of Donald Trump as US President in November 2016 sent a signal to investors that the Obama government sabotage of business was coming to an end. Following 4 straight quarters of decreasing investment, investors poured a record-breaking $5 … Continue reading →

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Is Evil Google Destined for a Mighty Fall?

Posted on 30 April, 2018 by alfin2101

Stormy Seas for Google and Other Giant Corporations It is not only Google that is facing the peril of capitalism’s “creative destruction,” it is every corporation that thinks it has made it into the safe port of the S&P 500. … Continue reading →

Posted in Disruptive Technologies, Future, innovation | Tagged | 1 Comment

Machine Paradox: Master/Slave vs Symbiosis

Posted on 17 March, 2018 by alfin2101

Over the past 200 years, machines have released large numbers of humans from lifetimes of physical drudgery — and literally from slavery — in the advanced world. But as machines learn to replace more and more human jobs, vocations, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Competence, innovation, IQ | Tagged | 1 Comment

A World Badly In Need of a Proper Disruption

Posted on 11 February, 2018 by alfin2101

First Bitcoin, Then Stocks, Then Oil Prices Fall Recent turbulence on global markets has cast a spell of “fear and trembling” over many financial journalists. The financial media is known for its blatant stupidity, making mistakes such as confusing stock … Continue reading →

Posted in Creativity, Disruptive Technologies, Economics, Groupthink, innovation, Making Government Unnecessary | Tagged | 2 Comments

Good Elon vs. Bad Russia: The Gap Widens

Posted on 9 February, 2018 by alfin2101

In “Good Elon, Bad Elon: A Tale of Two Elons,” we looked at Elon Musk’s highly profitable and likely successful trajectory into space (SpaceX) vs. some of his other more questionable and money-bleeding enterprises such as Tesla. As you can … Continue reading →

Posted in innovation, Space Future | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

A Fundamental Misunderstanding of Disruptive Innovation

Posted on 28 August, 2017 by alfin2101

Brian Wang discusses future disruptive technologies as if the disruptors of the past will also be the disruptors of the future: Technological disruptors like Elon Musk, Google and Amazon will force industries and companies to accelerate or die. Companies will … Continue reading →

Posted in Disruptive Technologies, Google, Green Quagmire, Groupthink, innovation, Technology, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Ugly US Economy Wins “Least Ugly Economy” Beauty Contest

Posted on 5 March, 2017 by alfin2101

By some measures, the US is neither the most productive economy nor the most innovative per capita. The US government is mired deeply in exponentially expanding debt, and US society is undergoing a demographic decline of a dysgenic nature. And … Continue reading →

Posted in Donald Trump, Economics, innovation, Politics | Tagged , | Comments Off on Ugly US Economy Wins “Least Ugly Economy” Beauty Contest

Innovation, Productivity, and Enterprise: Wealth of Nations

Posted on 17 January, 2017 by alfin2101

Innovation Leads to Greater Productivity and Wealth Both innovation in new products and innovation in new processes tend to contribute to higher productivity for both individual firms — large and small — and for nations. “Disruptive innovation” contributes more than … Continue reading →

Posted in Demographics, Economics, Europe, innovation, Technology, Wealth of Nations | Tagged | Comments Off on Innovation, Productivity, and Enterprise: Wealth of Nations

Secret to Survival in a World of Corrupt Dysgenic Decline

Posted on 3 January, 2017 by alfin2101

Four guys are standing on a street corner… an American, a Russian, a Chinese man, and an Israeli… A reporter comes up to the group and says to them: “Excuse me… What’s your opinion on the meat shortage?” The American … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, innovation | Tagged | Comments Off on Secret to Survival in a World of Corrupt Dysgenic Decline

Making Government Unnecessary II : Disruptive Innovations

Posted on 25 November, 2016 by alfin2101

Alexei Kudrov, a brilliant and honest Russian, speaking of the potential effects of blockchain technology on governments: “Soon technology will replace many of the functions of government. The technology of block chains can almost completely replace the state bureaucracy. Society … Continue reading →

Posted in Disruptive Technologies, Economics, Government, innovation, Making Government Unnecessary, Technology | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Destroying These Threats Before They Destroy the Human Future

Posted on 22 November, 2016 by alfin2101

The Three Faces of Challenge Three powerful forces seek to dominate — or conquer — today’s world. Each of the three should be considered deadly enemies to an abundant and expansive human future. The tactics and strategies used to meet … Continue reading →

Posted in China, Coming Anarchy, Demographics, Disruptive Technologies, Empire, Europe, Future, geopolitics, Government, Groupthink, Human Slavery, Ideology, Idiocracy, innovation, Islam's Bloody Borders, Media | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Destroying These Threats Before They Destroy the Human Future

Core v. Periphery VS. IQ and the Wealth of Nations

Posted on 21 November, 2016 by alfin2101

Core v. Periphery The world can be perceived as a core / periphery dichotomy where core countries are characterized by high levels of development, a capacity at innovation and a convergence of trade flows. The core has a level of … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Economics, innovation, IQ, Peter Zeihan, Wealth of Nations | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Trump Overcoming Media Bias; US Elections a Big Headache

Posted on 14 October, 2016 by alfin2101

Donald Trump Ahead of Clinton in Rasmussen Presidential Poll At the close of a week that began with him trailing by seven points, Donald Trump still holds a slight lead over Hillary Clinton in today’s White House Watch survey despite … Continue reading →

Posted in Disruptive Technologies, Hillary Clinton, innovation, Politics | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Why North America is the Focus of Global Innovation

Posted on 11 September, 2016 by alfin2101

The Anglosphere and Europe are Innovating the World of the Future, with a Strong Assist from East Asia All innovation is not created equal. Higher quality and more disruptive innovations count far more in terms of future global impact than … Continue reading →

Posted in Disruptive Technologies, Economics, innovation, Peter Zeihan | Tagged , | 9 Comments

Mexico and Russia in Virtual Dead Heat in IMF GDP Rankings

Posted on 23 July, 2016 by alfin2101

Russia and Mexico: Not Usually Considered as Geopolitical Equals Rank Country/Economy GDP Nominal (billions of $) 2016 share 2017 2018 1 United States 18,558.130 25.081 19,285 20,145 2 China 11,383.030 15.384 12,263 13,338 3 Japan 4,412.600 5.963 4,514 4,562 4 … Continue reading →

Posted in China, Economics, innovation, Russian Decline | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

US Exceptionalism is Real, But Not What Most People Think

Posted on 4 July, 2016 by alfin2101

The United States is a country like no other. It began as a tiny, indebted, isolated country. But over the 100 years from 1789 — when the US Constitution was first ratified — to 1889 when the US became the … Continue reading →

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Why Can’t China and Russia Innovate?

Posted on 19 June, 2016 by alfin2101

These days, China and Russia are more famous for stealing, pirating, and copying foreign technology than for meaningful homegrown innovation. Europe Can Innovate Over the past 6 centuries, Europe and its diaspora have been the global centre of innovation. European … Continue reading →

Posted in China, Creativity, Economics, innovation, Russian Decline | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Disruptive New Paradigms in Space Launch and Nuclear Power

Posted on 9 May, 2016 by alfin2101

A New Paradigm for Nuclear Technology Development What’s different this time is that there is a profound shift taking place from government-led, and funded, nuclear R&D to private sector-led efforts by people with strong entrepreneurial goals… These developers want to … Continue reading →

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