Zoom-in on Privacy, Pan to Cuban Doctors

Thursday, April 9, 2015, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)

In the last meeting, we discussed privacy concerns due to government surveillance. But private companies gather much more of our personal data to do targeted marketing. As the saying goes, if the product is free, than you are the product. But since private companies cannot arrest us, should we be concern?

In the first hour of our meeting, the Zoom-In, we will explode the myth that our personal data is safe with private companies. This talk by Gary Kovacs demonstrates the how companies track your web browsing even if you don't provide any information. This talk by Christopher Soghoian, explains how companies, if asked, must turn over your personal data to the government. If these talks don't scare you, maybe this second talk by Christopher Soghoian will. Please note that there will not be enough time to show both Soghoian"s talks at the meeting. I will show the last video, so please watch at least the first Soghoian video before coming.

In the meeting's last half hour, the Pan, we will review a talk about Cuban doctors, which is the last of the five suggested five videos to be explored. There are actually two topics in this video that we could use for future discussion. The first is about our own healthcare system when compares to Cuba; the other is about the normalization of US-Cuban relations.

Here is a challenge. While the Zoom-In and Pan portions of our meeting are not suppose the be related, it is interesting to think of a way they might be. So can you think of a way that privacy can be related to Cuban doctors?  I'll let you know what I think at the meeting; see you there.

Privacy and the War on Drugs

Thursday, April 2, 2015, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)

For the next meeting we will try a new format. Rather than focusing on one topic, we revisit an old topic and introduce a new one. This way we can go into greater depth while keeping in mind the big picture. You could say we will both Zoom-In and Pan.

For the first hour of the next meeting, we will continue the topic of privacy from the last meeting. For those that missed that meeting HERE is the TED Talk that introduced the topic. Here is another TED Talk by Glenn Greenwald which goes into greater detail. 

For the last half hour, we cover one of the skipped topics that was on the list from our previous meeting. I thought all the topics on the list were good but we just did not have the time to cover all of them. So I am just picking the War on Drugs, just to get the new format going.

For those curious about the other popular topic on the list, Race Relations, we will cover that topic in May so that it will fit into Sherman's schedule, who volunteered to lead the discussion. We will also work-in the meetings by Tim, Norm and Bill, which were cancelled due to bad weather.

Zoom-In Reboot

Thursday, March 26, 2015, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)

Spring is near and the Bain Center will reopened next week; so we will restart our Thursday Zoom-In meeting at the same time and place. We have a lot of catching up to do; several canceled meetings need to be rescheduled.

Since the next meeting is the last Thursday of the Winter Quarter, I thought we could use it to plan what we should cover in the Spring Quarter, Apr- Jun. To get things going we will review the five TED Talks that were suggested in the previous blog post. Of course these are just suggestions and you are encouraged to make your own suggestions.

Looking Forward to the Spring

No meeting until the Bain Center reopens

Until the Bain Center reopens, just enjoy the winter. Bad weather is not a problem if you can stay inside and watch TED videos on the Internet. Here are some TED Talks that you might like. Please let me know if you would like to have a session on any of these talks.

1. James A. White Sr. on racial relations
2. Catherine Crump on police surveillance
3. Ethan Nadelmann on the war on drugs
4. Gail Reed on Cuban doctors
5. Michael Rubinstein on a new kind of microscope

Environmental Herisies

Thursday, March 5, 2015, 10am to 11:30 in the Patapsco Room of the Miller Library (directions)
This meeting has been cancelled due to bad weather

The Bain Center will be closed for the first week in March and possibly longer. So for at least the next meeting, we will meet at the Miller Library Branch. Please note that the library does not open until 10am. We will NOT meet if the Howard County School closes or is delayed due to bad weather, even if the library stays open.

Rather than just having an open session, I tried to find a topic that would be worthwhile for you to travel the extra distance. I think that this TED Talk by Stewart Brand will fit the bill. It ties together the themes of climate change and sustainability by reexamining controversial solutions from the perspective of an old environmentalist who gained wisdom through age, someone who we may identify with. The talk covers solutions to overpopulation, clean energy, food supply and catastrophic climate change. The solutions offered are squatter cities, nuclear energy, genetic crops and climate engineering. There should be plenty to talk about.

Because we will not be at the Bain, we will not show the video at the meeting. So please watch the video before you come. If you have to watch the video before you decide if you want to come, please watch the video now. I will be on travel and Norm will lead the meeting. It takes work to prepare to lead the discussion, so please let us know if you plan to attend as soon as possible.

Update: We have a quorum. We will have the meeting, weather permitting. Thank you for your early response.

Winter "Break"

Thursday, February 26, 2015, 10am to 11:30 in the Avalon Room of the Miller Library
This meeting has been cancelled due to bad weather

Because of the unusual circumstance, the meeting will be informal and will be open to any topic of interest. For starters, we can talk about the crazy weather or the Academy Awards which will be held this Sunday. We should also discuss what you want for future topics.

Water Management

Thursday, February 19, 2015, 10am to 11:30 in the Meeting Room (behind the fireplace)
This meeting will be rescheduled when the Bain Center reopens after the water damage is repaired

Tim will fill in for me while I am on travel. The meeting will continue the discussion on water, with the focus on water management. The dis cushion will be based on the book, The Big Thirst.

I found a video on water management on YouTube which can provide some background information. Note that this video will not be shown during the meeting.