August 4, 2011

‘Flash robs’: How Twitter is being twisted for criminal gain

Patrick Jonsson, “‘Flash robs’: How Twitter is being twisted for criminal gain,” Christian Science Monitor. Not every swarmish entity is good. Superempowering tools can be used for evil. Here is one example. It illustrates the challenge of a hierarchical entity defending against a swarm–which is very difficult.

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September 24, 2010

Lessons from Coca Cola by Melinda Gates

via Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Missionaries have often studied Coca Cola. If Coke is everywhere, why isn’t the Gospel? Here, Melinda Gates does the same thing in terms of global health – if Coke is everyone, why aren’t vaccinations? Let’s learn from those who are studying the same cases we are! “Coke’s success kind of makes you stop and wonder. How is it that they can get Coca-Cola to these far flung places? If they can do that, why can’t governments and NGOs do the same thing? I’m not the first person to ask this question, but I think as [...]

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July 16, 2008

A dozen case studies on decentralization

Index to Case Studies • Alcoholics Anonymous. A decentralized organization: anyone can set up a chapter, which follows a standard meeting format in order to accomplish a shared plausible promise (The Starfish and the Spider). • Apache Indians in the United States. A decentralized state which could not be conquered by the hierarchical armies under the Spanish (The Starfish and the Spider). • Illinois Tool Works. A global group of 650 decentralized business units in 45 countries employing 49,000 workers in a highly decentralized fashion. http://tinyurl.com/2nxzzv • Pagan groups organize New Orleans cleanup. How the same pagan group that helped [...]

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