Blogs Deciphered

Instant Messaging (IM) – Yesterday and Today.

noreply@blogger.com (Florida Renegade) — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 02:10:00 +0000

The beginnings of IM Instant Messaging took place sometime in the mid-sixties. Along the way, many improvements to this technology were added to culminate to the IM we know of today. IM is Text Messaging in real-time. IM offers important features for collaborating such as Text Messaging, Offline Messaging, and Broadcast Messaging. Broadcast Messaging allows the user to type one Instant Message to reach all their contacts simultaneously (thus saving time).

An IM program that I favor is that which I use while exploring Facebook. I chose this IM because I have relatively no experience with any others. I do, however, intent to investigate the Skype IM along with many others.

On Skype!

noreply@blogger.com (Florida Renegade) — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 01:25:00 +0000

“Skype…is an application that provides video chat and voice call services. Users may exchange such digital documents as images, text, video and any others, and may transmit both text and video messages. Skype allows the creation of video conference calls” (Skype, 2016). Skype utilizes the ‘Voice Over Internet Protocol’ or VOIP as it is commonly referred.

The Skype platform is interesting as it allows the user and those connected to the user a medium for the exchange of communication by both visual and audio means. Much like the days-of-old when ‘Dick Tracy’ communicated via his wristwatch – the future is here.

Skype offers the would-be user several notable advantages. First and foremost is Skype is free. Another much favored and perhaps greatest advantage is Skype is useful for at-home workers. It also allows the user the ability to build and foster relationships. Among these advantages are others such as Instant Messaging IM, flexibility, and video conference scheduling. These advantages of Skype are counterbalanced by disadvantages. Some disadvantages are, but not limited to, Security, technical difficulties with the Skype server, and poor audio quality.

Reference:

Skype. (2016, November 20). In Wikipedia. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skype

The Practicality of LinkedIn

noreply@blogger.com (Florida Renegade) — Sun, 20 Nov 2016 23:58:00 +0000

LinkedIn is a social networking site that specializes in targeting business to business ‘B2B,’ professionals, and trade persons, among others. LinkedIn differs from many other social networking sites in the following respect: For one to add an associate (friend) to their list, the associate must be known by the requester and vice-versa.

LinkedIn provides a free basic service to all. Other premium services are offered with a different fee structure depending on the service selected. Besides, the basic service allows the user to reach ‘Three Degrees of Separation’ whereas the payment services allow one to arrive at all ‘Six Degrees of Separation.’ To better understand the ‘Six Degrees of Separation,’ please visit my previous post (published on October 16, 2016) regarding the article titled: ‘Chain-Links’ written by Frigyes Karinthy in 1929.

As with many other social media sites, LinkedIn also has many practical applications. First and foremost, the LinkedIn site can be used for the collection of competitive and business intelligence. Other uses of this networking site are, but not limited to, networking, business development, and marketing. These applications that I mentioned will be utilized in the coming months as I create and then build a web publishing business.

I would suggest the following after one establishes a LinkedIn account: (1) Create a concisely written (both in grammar and content) profile page with a professional looking profile and background photos; (2) slowly develop important links associated with your profession, and (3) establish a reputation by writing both posts and comments in your best professional capability. Other interesting applications are to engage in working from online to real-life conversations, optimize your profile page for search engines, and showcase examples of your work.

Three Popular Social Networking Sites Compared

noreply@blogger.com (Florida Renegade) — Sun, 20 Nov 2016 21:05:00 +0000

Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn Compared!

Podcast – What it is and how it fits into Web 2.0

noreply@blogger.com (Florida Renegade) — Mon, 14 Nov 2016 01:01:00 +0000

Podcast & How It Fits Into Web 2.0

('Click' on the Link)

Podcast Directories

('Click' on the Link)

I Choose Podcasts.com

('Click' on the Link)

Reference:

Podcast. (2016). In Business Dictionary online. Retrieved from

http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/podcast.html

Two Podcast Directories Compared:

noreply@blogger.com (Florida Renegade) — Sun, 13 Nov 2016 21:49:00 +0000

A Comparative Analysis of Two Popular Podcast Directories

The ‘Podcast Alley’ Podcast directory is nicely constructed. Its User Interface mimics that of a mainstream news website. In contrast, the Podcasts.com Podcast Directory is more up-to-date. That is, it has been designed and optimized for use on the many mobile devices available today. Moreover, this site also provides for easy navigation. What I like most about this site are the numerous Podcast offerings it contains.

‘Podcast Alley,’ on the other hand, falls short on this as its Podcast offerings are few and far between when compared to the Podcasts.com site. As to what website I give preference to, I would have to say Podcasts.com. The reasons for this are many and here are several:

FREE Podcast Hosting
SEO Optimized Directory Listing
Automatic Subscriber Updates
Easy iTunes Integration
Google Analytics Integration
Unlimited Everything
Wide Selection of Podcast Genres

For further analysis or viewing of the two websites, ‘Click’ on one of the following links:

Podcast Alley - http://www.podcastalley.com/
Podcasts.com - http://www.podcasts.com/

Podcast in Review:

noreply@blogger.com (Florida Renegade) — Sun, 13 Nov 2016 20:06:00 +0000

RADIOLAB

“Radiolab is a show about curiosity. Where sound illuminate’s ideas, and the boundaries blur between science, philosophy, and human experience” (RADIOLAB, 2016). This Podcast provides a large variety of today’s most interesting stories. For instance, ‘The Buried Bodies Case’ offers the would-be web sleuth or mystery and suspense aficionado a good listen – a ruthless criminal and the lawyer who must defend him. Another seemingly good story one may enjoy listening to is ‘The Girl Who Doesn’t Exist.’ The story centers around a born and raised Texas women who cannot prove she legally exist. Feeds to this exciting site are available (to the right) and a direct link to the Website is as follows: http://www.radiolab.org/series/podcasts/ .

Reference:

RADIOLAB. (2016). About. Retrieved from http://www.radiolab.org/about/

Podcast in Review:

noreply@blogger.com (Florida Renegade) — Sun, 13 Nov 2016 20:01:00 +0000

Geek News Central Audio

“Geek News Central is a subsidiary of Podcast Connect, launched in May 2002 with the goal of creating a high-quality tech and informational site for people of all ages and backgrounds” (Geek News, 2016). The goal of the Podcast “continues to be posting quality technical consumer reviews and keeping people informed of happenings within the new media and technology space. As you can see from our content we want you to be exposed to new ideas and technologies by publicizing new and innovative software or pieces of information that effect your daily connected lives” (Geek News, 2016).

Some examples of stories available for listening pleasure are the Universal Wage and Google Secrets, among many others. For those who hold an interest in technology, this Podcast comes highly recommended.

Feeds from this unique site are available in the right sidebar of this Blog. The website can also be directly visited by Clicking on the following link: http://geeknewscentral.com/ .

Reference:

Geek News Central. (2016). About. Retrieved from http://geeknewscentral.com/about/ .

Podcast in Review:

noreply@blogger.com (Florida Renegade) — Sun, 13 Nov 2016 19:57:00 +0000

Codebreakers

“Codebreaker is a podcast that dares to ask – and answer – the fundamental questions about technology that consume us every day. This season we want to know: Can it save us?” (Codebreaker, 2016). The Podcast, in and of itself, is mostly concerned with the targeting of: ‘all that is evil with technology.’ The website is part of the Marketplace which is owned and operated by the “American Public Media (APM), in association with the University of Southern California” (Codebreaker, 2016).

Some of the exciting stories available about technology are: (1) Codebreaker - Is It Evil? Ep 3: The Dark Web; (2) Codebreaker - Is It Evil? Ep 2: Internet Porn, and (3) Codebreaker - Is It Evil? Ep 6: Going Viral. Many other interesting stories await, so give it a view. I am sure you will be satisfied.

Feeds from the website are located in the right sidebar of this Blog. One can also visit the Website by 'Clicking' on the following link: http://www.marketplace.org/topics/tech/codebreaker-podcast .

Reference:

Codebreaker. (2016). About this podcast. Retrieved from http://www.marketplace.org/topics/tech/codebreaker-podcast

An Brief Introduction To Podcasting

noreply@blogger.com (Florida Renegade) — Sat, 12 Nov 2016 14:03:00 +0000

GREETINGS and welcome to this week’s broadcast of ‘The Web Chalkboard.’ ‘The Web Chalkboard’ is a collaborative effort on the part of many whose Podcasts presentations attempt to explain the finer aspects of Web Design and Development. Its intended audience is Web Designers and Developers, Web Marketers, Graphic Designers, laypeople, and all others who hold an interest in acquiring additional knowledge relating to all aspects of the Internet.

As I am sure many of you recall, last week on ‘The Web Chalkboard’ we covered the basics of Wikis. That is, what are Wikis and how are they used. If any of you are joining us for the first time this week, you may review previous podcasts as these have been archived on our website.

This week we will investigate podcasts and how they are used. A Podcast is a culmination of two words spliced together – iPod (meaning Portable on Demand) and broadcast. According to the Business Dictionary (2016), a Podcast is “a digital recording of music, news or other media that can be downloaded from the Internet to a portable media player” (Podcast, 2016).

Audio and video-casting have impacted the world in many ways. First and foremost, this technology has expanded the reach of audiences around the globe regardless of geographic location and most importantly for concern of business, lessened the cost of doing such. Other benefits of this up and coming technology are, but not limited to, the ability to better connect with your audience, increase revenue, a smaller environmental footprint, and the overall quality of output. This medium also allows one to provide their audience with richer content and a much larger broadcasting range than does the traditional radio medium of broadcasting.

Some examples of how these benefits can be used and targeted to an audience are training, product illustration and knowledge, live announcements, and online meetings, among others. The key advantage, however, is one does not need a broadcaster’s license thereby avoiding unnecessary governmental regulations and its so-called red tape.

The use of videocasting will impact the sharing of information to various degrees by furthering education and the proliferation of knowledge, collaborating and crowdsourcing, bringing to light various social issues, and affecting – to some extent – the world, national, and regional events. Some other impacts brought forth by this technology are the better facilitation of information between governments and its people and better engagement of ideas and issues between individuals and private institutions.

These are many problems one may experience during the Podcast recording process. As a result, here – in a nutshell – are many of the problems one might experience as well as the solution to each:

“Missing Audio…

1. Can your tool record what you want? I’ve seen a lot of podcasters think recording Skype calls was as simple as using Audacity, but it’s not. Whether you’re using hardware or software, ensure that it can even do what you want it to do with the tools you have.

2. Is everything properly connected? Cables might be loose or not connected, or apps might not be running.

3. Is everything on? Power, mute, volume, and more could be simple switches or knobs that might not be in their right place.

4. Are signals properly routed? Trace the cables and audio processing chain to ensure everything is going where it should be. On the software side, ensure that your apps are looking at the right devices for inputs and outputs.

Corrupted Audio…

1. Reboot before recording.

2. Quit as many background apps and processes as possible and don’t run anything resource-intensive.

3. Unplug and reconnect digital audio interfaces.

4. Keep enough free space on recording devices.

5. Ensure your input levels aren’t too high.

Noise…

1. Ambient background noise: turn off what’s making noise, move away from it, put things between your mic and the noise, and point your mic away from it.

2. Constant hiss (not background noise from your environment): get closer to the mic (about a fist-width away), use quality equipment, and don’t let low-quality gear handle the audio amplification.

3. Humming, buzzing, or strange interference: keep audio cables away from power cables, plug everything that’s connected to each other into the same surge protector, use a ground-loop isolator, use a HumX, move equipment farther away from each other, and invest in quality gear (including cables).

Volume…

1. Learn good microphone technique: stay a consistent distance from the microphone, but move farther away when you get louder.

2. Watch volume meters when testing different sources: have each host or sound source come through one at a time and ensure they average the same volume range.

3. Record test audio for review: it’s hard to mix your own voice with others’ in real time. A recording will let you see and hear the actual differences to tweak.

4. Listen instead of looking: loudness is more than the visual waveform (although it is generally a good representation). A highly compressed signal may look quieter than an uncompressed signal, but it could still be louder.

5. Use proper measuring tools: use a LUFS-measurement tool, such as r128x-GUI for OS X, Orban Loudness Meter for Windows, or the measuring tools in professional software to get actual numbers. These are integrated loudness (measured in LUFS), loudness range (LRA), and true peak (dBTP). Ideal targets are -19 (mono) / -16 (stereo) LUFS, under 4 LU LRA, and -1.0 or lower dBTP” (Lewis, 2016).

On another realm, my experiences with Podcasting in the past equates to zero. This course has – for the first time – introduced me to Podcasting and various ways of its applications for both professional and personal use. After the initial learning process of becoming acclimated with the rudiments of Podcasting, I experience little, if any, difficulties with any of the required assigned tasks – everything went smoothly. As such – I believe the course lessons and associated learning materials are ample. Lastly, I do not have any suggestions for making the course better as I do not have strong knowledge of the topic at hand.

References:

Lewis, D. J. (2016, June 16). How to fix common podcast recording problems – TAP273 [Blog post]. Retrieved from
https://theaudacitytopodcast.com/how-to-fix common-podcast-recording-problems-tap273/

Podcast. (2016). In Business Dictionary online. Retrieved from
http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/podcast.html

noreply@blogger.com (Florida Renegade) — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 01:32:00 +0000

New Wiki Established - Wikis and Web 2.0

Visit Wikis and Web 2.0 at the following web link: http://wikisandweb2-0.wikispaces.com/

Review of Wikispaces' Discussion Post:

noreply@blogger.com (Florida Renegade) — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 00:13:00 +0000

The 6C’s for 21st Century Competency

The author is honest to begin her post by reflecting on one of the most important lessons she learned about business. “The difference between your industry and mine,” he said, is that “in my industry, we have to change before we need to, while, in your industry, you won’t change even when it’s clear that you must” (Barnes, 2008). This philosophical approach has governed her discussions ever since.

Her [the author] main points of concern are those which affect the world’s education systems in the twenty-first century. Some of which are the many technological advances achieved and those anticipated to come in due time. One concern is she stresses the need to segment educational learning models in the same fashion a marketer would segment their market – different strokes for different folks. To further illustrate this, she [the author] suggests segmenting the learning models by student’s abilities and not by happenstance circumstances such as place of birth, color, economic disadvantages, or the like. She further explains the use of twenty-first-century technology to reach this end.

Lastly, she [the author] stresses the adoption of the so-called 6Cs for 21st Century Competency. These six areas of competency are as follows: 1) Connect 2) Create 3) Collaborate 4) Communicate 5) Compute and 6) Think Critically.

Reference:

Barnes, C. D. (2008, January 29). The 6C’s for 21st Century Competency. Retrieved on November 7, 2016 from http://shifthappens.wikispaces.com/The+6C%27s+for+21st+Centu ry+Competency

Review of Wikispaces' Discussion Post:

noreply@blogger.com (Florida Renegade) — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 00:07:00 +0000

How is good, but let's not forget the why!

The main idea behind this discussion post is that teachers at all levels of education must adapt to the technological advancements second nature to almost all students – they are growing, and some grew up with it. The author coins this lapse of technological knowledge ‘21st-century techno-culture’ and rightfully so. As students learn from teachers, teachers must have an open and yet willing mind to accept student’s ideas and learn from them. Teachers must also learn - in depth – most, if not all the technology students harness to learn – be it by the Internet, Smart Phone, Pod Cast, or others.

Reference:

Mannotw. (2007, September 26). How is good, but let's not forget the why!. Retrieved on November 7, 2016 from http://shifthappens.wikispaces.com/How+is+good%2C+but+let%2 7s+not+forget+the+why%21

Review of Wikispaces' Discussion Post:

noreply@blogger.com (Florida Renegade) — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 00:04:00 +0000

A New Economy?

The author brings to light the so-called ‘New World Order’ with emphasis placed on economic change, shifts, and repercussions that will and is occurring around the world. The author starts the group by asking three critical fundamental questions central to the ‘New Economy.’ These issues are as they pertain to the coming so-called ‘New Economy’: (1) What are some alternatives? (2) How can technology facilitate the world? And (3) What resources should be used?

The members of this discussion group (Wiki) answer these questions from many different points of view. All of which will enlighten all but more importantly, stimulate one’s mind into the finer attributes of the fast-approaching ‘New Economy’ that will significantly influence the ‘New World Order.’ Another group member suggests an excellent book that was written in 1978 by authors Hiltz and Turoff. The book is titled: "The Network Nation" and is concerned with how the use of advanced computer systems and the like will significantly influence our world as a whole. As for myself, I may - in time – locate a copy of this text for reading.

Another group member anticipates a centralized global learning system by which all nation’s education systems are combined and act as one. Moreover, other members address the future of business and how these firms are affected by these advancements in technologies.

Reference:

Bouchec1. (2008, October 24). A new economy. Retrieved November 7, 2016 from https://shifthappens.wikispaces.com/share/view/6415081

Web 2.0 Tool In Review

noreply@blogger.com (Florida Renegade) — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 20:25:00 +0000

Del.icio.us

Delicious (del.icio.us) is a social bookmarking service used for the storage, sharing, and discovery of web bookmarks. It is quite simple to use with a very basic User Interface. This User Interface provided for simple navigation and easy to understand directions for using the tools of the site correctly.

The benefits of using Delicious are first and foremost; it’s free, easy to use, and ultra-quick. Delicious benefits also provide a means of building relationships as well as echoing word-of-mouth. Another key benefit of utilizing the Delicious site is indexing. The links added to one’s Delicious account aid search engines in the indexing and ranking process. The downside is fierce competition and Spam.

I strongly recommend the Delicious Social Bookmarking site for all needs relating to storage of web links in a library format. A free account to the Delicious website can be established by visiting the following link: https://del.icio.us/.

Web 2.0 Tool In Review

noreply@blogger.com (Florida Renegade) — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 20:17:00 +0000

Flickr
Flickr is a photo sharing (web-enabled database) owned and operated by Yahoo. The website was created with the sole intent of uploading and storing digital images. My experience with Flickr is rather limited. Be that as it may, I found little difficulty navigating around the site nor did I have any trouble uploading or tagging any digital images. I would attribute to ease of use to Flickr’s simplicity of design that makes the site extremely user-friendly. Moreover, I can also add that the User Interface is the basics of website design that makes navigating around the site a breeze. I highly recommend the Flickr site for the storage of digital images. A free account to the Flickr website can be established by visiting the following link: https://www.flickr.com/.

SOFTWARE IN REVIEW

noreply@blogger.com (Florida Renegade) — Sun, 23 Oct 2016 22:26:00 +0000

Apache Open Office

Like most people, I too have experience with Microsoft Word, but unlike most others, I also have experience with the other programs that make up the Microsoft Office Suite. Recently, I came to learn of the availability of a generic form of Word. It is called Apache Open Office and is a free Opened Source software program. The latest version (4.1.3.) of Open Office was officially released on October 12, 2016. There are four major improvements with this version. These improvements are:

· BZ 125980 Set default currency to Euro in Lithuanian locale

· Updated dictionaries.

· Enhancements to the build tools

· Security Fixes

Apache’s Open Office consists of four fundamental attributes that hold roots in its debate version. These four fundamental attributes make it a world competitor with Microsoft’s Office Suite and are as follows:

“Apache OpenOffice is synonymous with quality:

• The roots of Apache OpenOffice go back twenty years, creating a mature and powerful product

• Many millions of users

• Independent reviewers around the world have recommended the product

• With a fully open development process, Apache OpenOffice has nothing to hide - the product stands or falls on its reputation

Apache OpenOffice is easy to use:

• The software looks and feels familiar and is instantly usable by anyone who has used a competitive product

• It's easy to change to Apache OpenOffice - the software reads all major competitors' files

• Few language barriers - if it's not yet available in your language, the chances are it will be soon

• Apache OpenOffice is supported by a global community of friendly volunteers, happy to provide assistance to newcomers and advanced users alike

Apache OpenOffice is free software:

• You may download Apache OpenOffice completely free of any license fees

• Install it on as many PCs as you like

• Use it for any purpose - private, educational, government and public administration, commercial.

• Pass on copies free of charge to family, friends, students, employees, etc.

Apache OpenOffice is standards compliant:

• The first software package in the world to use OASIS OpenDocument Format (ISO/IEC 26300) as its native file format” (Apache OpenOffice, n.d.).

To download this – highly recommended - Opened Source software to your computer, ‘Copy and Paste’ the following link into your browser and then follow the clear instructions: http://www.openoffice.org/.

Reference:

Apache OpenOffice. (n.d.). Why apache openoffice?. Retrieved from html

http://www.openoffice.org/product/index.

SOFTWARE IN REVIEW

noreply@blogger.com (Florida Renegade) — Sun, 23 Oct 2016 22:13:00 +0000

GIMP 2.8.18

“GIMP is an acronym for GNU Image Manipulation Program. It is a freely distributed program for such tasks as photo retouching, image composition, and image authoring” (GIMP, 2016). The GIMP software can be compared to Adobe’s Photoshop software. The main difference between the two is one is Free, Open Sourced and the other is proprietary. I have some experience with this software. It is very compatible to that of Photoshop. What I like most about this software is the friendly ‘User Interface.’ The current version available for download is GIMP 2.8.18. that was released on July 14, 2016. Two major improvements of this version are (1) fixed a vulnerability in the XCF loading code (CVE-2016-4994) and (2) addressed and fixed Bugs – especially those that effected system startup. This software comes highly recommended and can be downloaded by visiting the following website link (Copy and Paste into your browser): https://www.gimp.org/.

Reference:

GIMP. (2016). About gimp. Retrieved from https://www.gimp.org/about/

Blog In Review:

noreply@blogger.com (Florida Renegade) — Sun, 16 Oct 2016 21:45:00 +0000

Mashable

"Mashable is a global, multi-platform media and entertainment company. Powered by its own proprietary technology, Mashable is the go-to source for tech, digital culture and entertainment content for its dedicated and influential audience around the globe" (2016).

Reference:

Mashable. (2016). About us. Retrieved from http://mashable.com/about/

Blog In Review:

noreply@blogger.com (Florida Renegade) — Sun, 16 Oct 2016 21:40:00 +0000

Gigaom: The industry leader in emerging technology research

"Gigaom is technology research and analysis firm. Our focus is on helping business leaders understand the implications of emerging technologies and their impacts on business, media, and society. We are forward-leaning, with a futures-oriented take on the trends and tools that are shaping the economy of the 21st century: Cloud, Data, Mobile, Work Futures, and the Internet of Things. Gigaom reaches over 6.5 million monthly unique readers, with a mobile reach of over 2 million monthly visitors" (2016).

Reference:

Gigaom. (2016). About gigaom. Retrieved from https://gigaom.com/about/

The Six Degrees of Seperation

noreply@blogger.com (Florida Renegade) — Sun, 16 Oct 2016 18:17:00 +0000

Why the Internet has Experienced Exponential Growth.

CHAIN-LINKS by Frigyes Karinthy (1929, Everything is Different):

We were arguing energetically about whether the world is actually evolving, headed in a particular direction, or whether the entire universe is just a returning rhythm's game, a renewal of eternity. "There has to be something of crucial importance," I said in the middle of debate. "I just don't quite know how to express it in a new way; I hate repeating myself:'

Let me put it this way: Planet Earth has never been as tiny as it is now. It shrunk - relatively speaking of course - due to the quickening pulse of both physical and verbal communication. This topic has come up before, but we had never framed it quite this way. We never talked about the fact that anyone on Earth, at my or anyone's will, can now learn in just a few minutes what I think or do, and what I want or what I would like to do. If I wanted to convince myself of the above fact: in couple of days I could be - Hocus pocus! - where I want to be.

Now we live in fairyland. The only slightly disappointing thing about this land is that it is smaller than the real world has ever been.

Chesterton praised a tiny and intimate, small universe and found it obtuse to portray the Cosmos as something very big. I think this idea is peculiar to our age of transportation. While Chesterton rejected technology and evolution, he was finally forced to admit that the fairyland he dreamed of could only come about through the scientific revolution he so vehemently opposed.

Everything returns and renews itself. The difference now is that the rate of these returns has increased, in both space and time, in an unheard-of fashion. Now my thoughts can circle the globe in minutes. Entire passages of world history are played out in a couple of years.

Something must result from this chain of thoughts. If only I knew what! (I feel as if I knew the answer to all this, but I've forgotten what it was or was overcome with doubt. Maybe I was too close to the truth. Near the North Pole, they say, the needle of a compass goes haywire, turning around in circles. It seems as if the same thing happens 10 our beliefs when we get too close 10 God.)

A fascinating game grew out of this discussion. One of us suggested performing the following experiment to prove that the population of the Earth is closer together now than they have ever been before. We should select any person from the 1.5 billion inhabitants of the Earth - anyone, anywhere at all. He bet us that, using no more than five individuals, one of whom is a personal acquaintance, he could contact the selected individual using nothing except the network of personal acquaintances. For example, "Look, you know Mr. X.Y., please ask him to contact his friend Mr. Q.Z., whom he knows, and so forth."

"An interesting idea!" – someone said – "Let's give it a try. How would you contact Selma Lagerlöf?"

"Well now, Selma Lagerlöf," the proponent of the game replied, "Nothing could be easier." And he reeled off a solution in two seconds: "Selma Lagerlöf just won the Nobel Prize for Literature, so she's bound to know King Gustav of Sweden, since, by rule, he's the one who would have handed her the Prize. And it's well known that King Gustav loves to play tennis and participates in international tennis tournaments. He has played Mr. Kehrling,2 so they must be acquainted. And as it happens I myself also know Mr. Kehrling quite well." (The proponent was himself a good tennis player.) ~AII we needed this time was two out of five links. That's not surprising since it's always easier to find someone who knows a famous or popular figure than some run-of-the-mill, insignificant person. Come on, give me a harder one to solve!"

I proposed a more difficult problem: to find a chain of contacts linking myself with an anonymous riveter at the Ford Motor Company - and I accomplished it in four steps. The worker knows his foreman, who knows Mr. Ford himself, who, in tum, is on good tennis with the director general of the Hearst publishing empire. I had a close friend, Mr. Árpád Pásztor, who had recently struck up an acquaintance with the director of Hearst publishing. It would take but one word to my friend to send a cable to the general director of Hearst asking him to contact Ford who could in tum contact the foreman, who could then contact the riveter, who could then assemble a new automobile for me, should I need one.

Swedish novelist Selma Lagerlöf (1858- 1940). who received the Nobel Prize for literature in 1909, was I champion of the return of Swedish rornant;c;5m with I mystical overtone. She also wrote novels for children 2 Béla Kehrling, ( 1891-1937) was a noted. Hungarian sportsman, soccer, ping-pong and tennis player. In tennis, he emerged. victorious in 1923 in Gothenberg, Sweden., both indoors and in the open; he placed third in the Wimbledon doubles. He also played soccer and ice hockey.

And so the game went on. Our friend was absolutely correct: nobody from the group needed more than five links in the chain to reach, just by using the method of acquaintance, any inhabitant of our Planet.

And this leads us to another question: Was there ever a time in human history when this would have been impossible? Julius Caesar, for instance, was a popular man, but if he had got it into his head to try and contact a priest from one of the Mayan or Aztec tribes that lived in the Americas at that time, he could not have succeeded - not in five steps, not even in three hundred. Europeans in those days knew less about America and its inhabitants than we now know about Mars and its inhabitants.

So something is going on here, a process of contraction and expansion which is beyond rhythms and waves. Something coalesces, shrinks in size, while something else flows outward and grows. How is it possible that all this expansion and material growth can have started with a tiny, glittering speck that flared up millions of years ago in the mass of nerves in a primitive human's head? And how is it possible that by now, this continuous growth has the inundating ability to reduce the entire physical world to ashes? Is it possible that power can conquer matter, that the soul makes a mightier truth than the body, that life has a meaning that survives life itself, that good survives evil as life survives death, that God, after all, is more powerful than the Devil?

I am embarrassed to admit - since it would look foolish - that I often catch myself playing our well-connected game not only with human beings, but with objects as well. I have become very good al il. It's a useless game, of course, but I think I'm addicted to it, tike a gambler who, having los1 all of his money, plays for dried beans without any hope of real gain - just to see the four colors of the cards. The strange mind-game that clatters in me all the time goes like this: how can I link, with three, four, or at most five links of the chain, trivial, everyday things of life. How can I link one phenomenon to another? How can I join the relative and the ephemeral with steady, permanent things - how can I tie up the part with the whole?

It would be nice to just live, have fun, and take notice only of the utility of things: how much pleasure or pain they cause me. Alas, it's not possible. I hope that this game will help me find something else in the eyes that smile at me or the first that strikes me, something beyond the urge to draw near to the former and to shy away from the latter. One person loves me, another hates me. Why? Why the love and the hatred?

There are two people who do not understand one another, but I'm supposed to understand both. How? Someone is selling grapes in the street while my young son is crying in the other room. An acquaintance's wife has cheated on him while a crowd of hundred and fifty thousand watches the Dempsey match, Romain Roland's3 last novel bombed while my friend Q changes his mind about Mr. Y. Ring-a-ring o' roses, a pocketful of posies. How can one possibly construct any chain of connections between these random things, without filling thirty volumes of philosophy, making only reasonable suppositions. The chain starts with the matter, and its last link leads to me, as the source of everything.

Well, just like this gentleman, who stepped up to my table in the café where I am now writing. He walked up to me and interrupted my thoughts with some trifling, insignificant problem and made me forget what I was going to say. Why did he come here and disturb me? The first link: he doesn't think much of people he finds scribbling. The second link: this world doesn't value scribbling nearly as much as it used to just a quarter of a century ago. The famous worldviews and thoughts that marked the end of the 19th century are to no avail today. Now we disdain the intellect. The third link: this disdain is the source of the hysteria and fear and terror that grips Europe today. And so to the fourth link: the order of the world has been destroyed.

Well, then let a New World Order appear! Let the new Messiah of the world come! Let the God of the universe show himself once more through the burningbush! Let there be peace, let there be war, let there be revolutions, so that – and here is the fifth link - it cannot happen again that someone should dare disturb me when I am at play, when I set free the phantoms of my imagination, when I think!

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