Harry Chen Thinks Aloud

These days investors of the stock market are happy because the Dow is at its all time high. However, US consumers are not very happy because of rising energy costs, grim housing markets and possible inflation and stagflation crisis.

This situation looks odd to many people. If the US economy is doing well, shouldn’t it benefit both investors and consumers (remember the age of dot-com)? If the US economy is not doing well, how is it possible for many companies to report record earnings?

Answers to these questions can be found in Robert Reich’s podcast — Wall Street’s up, Main Street’s down.

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Critical thinking concerns the problems inherent in human thinking. My first formal introduction to the subject was in an undergraduate philosophy course. It was one of the most valuable course that I have ever taken.

Critical thinking is a skill that I think every human being is obligated to learn. You can learn about this important skill from this comprehensive list of online resources.

In addition, I recommend this podcast called LogicallyCritical. Every episode revolves around a critical thinking topic — e.g., was the United States Constitution created with a Christian-value in core? How to think about the current illegal immigrates issue in the United States? Are your thoughts really yours?

I found the podcasts to be both educational and entertaining. Those discussed topics are also great talking-points for happy hours and cocktail parties.

This Monday’s On Point has an excellent piece on the surging crude oil price and its impact on the US economy and foreign policies. The show host had a talk with New York Time columnist Tom Friedman who has a strong belief about what the US government should do in order to combat the increasing US demand for oil.

1. Let the market do its thing. Friedman believes that a higher oil price will encourage the development of alternative energy sources and bring social awareness to energy conservation.
2. Don’t solve a long-term problem with a short-term solution. There are talks about the US Government will give each taxpayer $100 this summer to help to combat the rising gas price. Friedman believes that this is the worst thing that the Government can do. Not only this short-term solution can’t solve our long-term problem (addiction to foreign oil), but it encourages people to use more gas, driving up more demand for oil.
3. Green is the new Red, White and Blue. Friedman believes that the only way to drive down the gas price is to use less of it. It’s time for more people to become aware of energy saving and drive gas efficient vehicles. If you love you country’s color, begin to love the color green.

I very much agree with Friedman’s point of view. Though in the show, some of his arguments maybe a bit too extreme, but all of which are worthy of some serious discussion. While I don’t believe we can change things over night, but I do believe it’s time for people be serious about energy conservation.

Resource: Crude Reality, On Point with Tom Ashbrook, May 01, 2006, Podcast by WBUR.ORG.

We all know iPod is for music and entertainment. Few years ago, no one would ever guess that iPod could also be used for education. There is a growing number of “iTunes U” in the US. These universities explore the use podcasts and iPods to encourage students to learn.

Here are some real uses of iPods and podcasts:

• A history professor asks students to download 39 films to their video-capable iPods so she doesn’t have to spend class time screening the movies.
• A psychology professor has found a new-age answer to office hours: a podcast of the week’s most asked questions.
• Foreign language students use iPods to immerse themselves in coursework.
• University administrators want to use podcasts to recruit high schoolers to the 3,000-student campus.

Source: Rural college push iPod use for lectures, CNN, March 20, 2006

Technology evolution is a strange thing. Sometimes it’s extremely difficult to predict how a new technology will use when it gets into the hands of general population. The use of iPod is a good example.

Scientific American has launched its own podcast. The first two episodes are as the follows.

Episode 1
In our first podcast, Scientific American editor-in-chief John Rennie reflects on the Korean stem cell debacle; the National Inventors Hall of Fame announces this year’s inductees; and evolution defender Eugenie Scott discusses the importance of the decision in the recent Dover evolution trial. Also: hear outtakes from the CSI show you’re never going to see on TV.

Episode 2
In this episode, Scientific American staff editor Christine Soares talks about avian flu; Bruce Merkin discusses marijuana policy in the U.S. and England; and paleontologist Gregory Erickson describes the newfound long-lost cousin of T. rex. Also: test your science smarts with our quiz and hear how yesterday’s comics might have handled today’s news.

Another science podcast that I recommend is the New Scientist podcast.

There are few different ways to listen to podcasts on your TiVo. TiVoBlog.com explains them in details.

1. Use TiVo HME app (limited podcasts)
2. Use Galleon (requires a decent server machine)
3. Hack around iTune (requires some DIY effort)

Source: How to Listen to Podcasts on Your TiVo (without Galleon or TiVo’s app)

In Technology

• Go Digital (January 30th, 2006): do you know the last week of January 2006 marks the 40th anniversary of the invention of fiber optics? Do you know how important is Wi-Fi to New Orleans people and gorillas in Africa? Subscribe to BBC Go Digital Podcast.

In Business

• There’s Oil in Them Thar Sand: do you know Canada has the second largest oil reserve only after Saudi Arabia? The only reason why Canada hasn’t profit from their oil because it wasn’t economical to extract it. Now a barrel of oil costs around $50-$60, Canadian oil reserve becomes extremely attractive. How will this impact the local natural environment, native Americans, and world economy?

In business:

• New Mouseketeer: Steve Job’s Magic Kingdom (Businessweek): interesting stories about Steve Job’s success and failure as Apple’s ex-CEO and CEO. Predications about Steve Job, Apple and Disney in three years from now…

In science:

• Born to Believe (New Scientist): why did human evolution find God? Is religious faith something that is built into our DNA?