Articles and Publications

Below are some of my various writings. Feedback is appreciated.

Articles

• An Introduction to Spyware, and Why You Should Be Concerned (2003) - A look at some of the newer threats to your privacy and security in the online world: Usage-trackers, adware, spyware, key-loggers, persistent pop-ups, and more. Most of these things aren't (yet) detected by current antivirus scanners, but this essay points to some free tools specifically designed to look for these types of threats. I also discuss why you should care, even if you don't think you do anything important on the computer, or that you don't have anything to hide. (If you use Microsoft Windows in any way, shape, or form, you should probably read this article.)
• Viable Utopian Ideas flier (2003) - A double-sided, single-page flier (PDF format) produced as a quick introduction to the ideas presented in the "Distributed Floating Cities" essay, below.
Background: In April, 2003, some of the book's 47 authors held a group panel discussion, Q&A session, and book-signing at a Barnes & Noble store in Philadelphia, PA. The event was apparently quite lively and well-received, and similar events are now being planned for bookstores in the San Francisco Bay Area and possibly other regions around the country.
Many of the authors produced similar single-paged fliers to introduce their topics at remote signings and panel discussions that they are unable to physically attend. In this way, we hope to represent the larger community of authors who came together conceptually to produce the work, while being geographically spread out across the planet.
If you would like to help bring such a panel discussion to a bookstore near you, please contact me with details about your location and ideas, and let's see if we can make it happen.
• Distributed Floating Cities: A Laboratory for Exploring Social Utopias (Short version) (2002) - Published in the book, "Viable Utopian Ideas: Shaping A Better World", Edited by Arthur B. Shostak. (Copyright © 2003 by M. E. Sharpe, Inc.) [ISBN 0-7656-1104-X (alternate, search) (clothbound) & ISBN 0-7656-1105-8 (alternate, search) (paperback)]. More information is available at http://www.utopianideas.net/
• Comprehensive Anticipatory Design Science - An Introduction (2000)
• How Much Is Your Time Worth? (1999)
• Atmospheric Condensing: A Proposed Solution To Global Thirst (1998)
• GTE vs. Pacific Bell - A Pricing Case Study (1997)
• Just Where Are You Speeding To, On The Information Superhighway? (1997)
• Hydroponics And Housing For The 21st Century (2001) (ASCII text Version) (1996)
• I'm From The Future...And I'm Trying To Get Home. (1995)
• How To Break Up Traffic Jams. (1995)
• "Reforming" vs. "Newforming" (1995) (ASCII Text Version)
• Economies of the Future (1995)
• An Educational Brush With Death (1995) (ASCII Text Version)
• Thoughts About Dec. 21st, 2012 (Terrence Mckenna's Novelty Theory) (1993)
• Oceana: A Proposal For A New Country (1992) (ASCII Text Version)

Designs and Creations

• Agricultural Water Tower Domes (2001)
• The Autonomous House (2000)
• The Whole Future Catalog (Online Edition) (Concept: early 1990's. Ongoing Implementation: 1999-present) -- A collaborative, interactive, and ever-expanding guide to The Future. (Or at least, some aspects of our possible future.) It was inspired by a wonderful and long out-of-print book, and has been realized using Wiki software to allow the community (that includes you) to add, edit and update entries...even to correct typos and spelling errors that others might have made.
Thus, together we can create a body of knowledge and a resource for helping prepare our current and future generations. By teaching the tools and techniques for studying the future, as well as pointing out new technologies that are being developed constantly, we may prepare ourselves (as best we can) for the changes we're sure to encounter.
• The Synergy Ball (1989) -- A spherical paper tensegrity model (and hangable mobile) that demonstrates principles of structure, geodesic math, tensegrity, and a surprising amount of physical strength. (Due primarily to synergies arising from the interaction of the component parts, with the overall structure, and not so much from the material itself. (It is made from a die-cut paper material, and is produced by Design Science Toys, Inc.

Public Speaking and Interviews

• Design Science 3-day session given at Oswego State University (Fall, 2001)
• Radio interview on CBC Radio (January 31, 2001)

Reviews

• Molecules 3-D - Molecular Modeling Software for Mac & PC (1996)
• BuckyWorks: Buckminster Fuller's Ideas for Today - A book by J. Baldwin (1996)

(ASCII text version)

Technical Documentation

• An Introduction to Spyware, and Why You Should Be Concerned (2003)
• How to configure WinCVS with SSH1 (2001)
• Usenet in the Workplace (2000)
• Using Usenet Effectively (1998)