New fire at Fukushima..pools run dry? (via Follow The Money)

On By southwerkIn business ethics2 Comments

It appears that Fukushima will be generating stories for some time. It seems our old favorite No. 4 reactor is trying out a new crisis on the world.

One of the more interesting parts of the story is that the Japanese government has decided that children living near the plant can have the same exposure as a nuclear plant worker. That’s right, the local children are in the same boat as nuclear workers when it comes to radiation exposure.

Time marches on and as the disaster becomes more and more boring to the public, it slips away from view. But radiation and nuclear disaster don’t depend on publicity to function.

James Pilant

New fire at Fukushima..pools run dry? From March 15 http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/16/world/asia/16fuel.html?_r=1 Even as workers race to prevent the radioactive cores of the damaged nuclear reactors in Japan from melting down, concerns are growing that nearby pools holding spent fuel rods could pose an even greater danger. The pools, which sit on the top level of the reactor buildings and keep spent fuel submerged in water, have lost their cooling systems and the Japanese have been … Read More

via Follow The Money

Understanding India (via New Avatar)

On By southwerkIn business ethics3 Comments

Wow, this blog has more than few thoughts in it. We go from history to culture to IT to world power to economic growth. I admire that wide a set of thoughts in one post.

As a citizen of the United States, generally referred to as US in the blog, I am struck by how much influence the economics of my country seems to be having in India. I do see a good number of citizens of India in the community here, so I can confirm that there definitely is some movement from India to the United States.

I am not sure if the author would put it this way, but it does strike me as odd that a nation with little less than 250 years of existence would have so much effect on a culture measured in thousands of years but, of course, that is to be expected. The United States is the “brand” of the moment, in a way like Great Britain in the 19th century.

I have complete faith that as India asserts itself as a world power the United States will become far less significant in India and that, strangely enough, other countries will complain about Indian influence.

It’s the circle of time.

Please read the post. It’s well written and has a lot of thought and ideas in it.

James Pilant

My thanks to New Avatar!

The first thing I wanted to know is how to tell something about India to other nationals. Where do I start? If I meet a Greek, he will gladly tell me about the Spartans, Socretes, the neo-classical architecture etc. If I meet a Romanian, he will tell me about Dracula. If I meet an English, he will brag about Imperialism. If I meet a Scottish, he will explain me about Sir Walter Scott, Walter Wallace etc. If I meet an Indian, he will tell me about … Read More

via New Avatar

what happened? (via cmilette)

On By southwerkIn business ethics2 Comments

Here is a blogger trying to work through a series of problems as college beckons but not yet.

This takes me back about 35 years. I don’t know whether to be glad that so little has changed or that so much has.

I lived in a time where there were few demands on my time and energy. I have a 17 year old son and I know for a fact that his work load exceed what I was called upon to do.

Now, to our posting friend. You have to do that stuff and it’s not fair. At this age, you are not supposed to know what you are going to be. That is a work in progress. So are you.

I would be curious to know what you are reading and doing to keep yourself relaxed and able to respond to these demands on your time and spirit.

I have not encountered a few new adults with your kind of problems, I’ve encountered hundreds. Not only have I encountered students trying to make their lives better, I have counseled juvenile delinquents in the same age group.

The last thing you want to hear is how I had the same problems and got through them. Or that horror of adult response, “You don’t know how good you’ve got it, these are the best times of your life.” I always want to take a bat and pop them one on the head whenever they say that. My high school had a great deal of horror and suffering in it and that’s true for many a sensitive soul.

I tell you what though, your energy and creativity is obvious. You should be proud of that.

You are very sensitive. That means you live more alive and vibrant than many of your comrades but it also means you suffer more. Once you are loose, free to choose your own purposes and your own use of time, you will find that power of perception to be a great advantage but when you’re boxed as if you were just like every other student, it stings.

Obviously, you can write and that probably absorbs some of your stress. I wish you well. I teach college and I would be delighted to have you as one of my students. I like what you have to say and I’d like to turn you loose on all the topics of the day, so I can hear an original voice. Those kind of people are invaluable.

Good luck!!

James Pilant J.D.

senior year has really taken a toll on me, and quite frankly I’m surprised to have gotten this far. all of the things I was scared about ever happening happened, and then some; I got stuck with designing two book covers for the school, I got rejected by someone whose signals I honestly misread, I wasted the year making a 12-piece concentration for an AP exam that offers college credit that my college doesn’t accept, I’m losing a friend that I mig … Read More

via cmilette

Photo reporters have feelings and souls (via Blognovic’s Weblog)

On By southwerkIn business ethics

I, too, believe that photo journalist are not getting the credit they deserve. The risks they take are not appreciated as we focus more and more on the strange talking heads that inhabit our media world.

With the recent deaths in Libya, we should all become more aware of the guts it takes to go into a shooting war with only a camera.

James Pilant

My thanks to Blognovic’s Weblog.

If you have read my post about Obama’s answer to Donald Trump during the Annual Dinner of the White House Correspondent Association, maybe you’ll know I found sensitive from his part to take some last and serious words to recognize the work of journalists in war zones. Some days after, when I found an article by Bill Keller, executive Editor of the New York Time who, after spending time reporting in conflict zones is now in charge of sending prof … Read More

via Blognovic’s Weblog

Andrew Comments on the Previous Post – Ethics (via Linear perspective)

On By southwerkIn business ethics

Andrew is a regular commentator on my blogs. Today, he is commenting on my previous post, “Ethics (via Linear perspective.”

My wife has seen this more than I have. She is a canine trainer and nutritionist. She has a problem with veterinarians advertising and recommending inferior food, such as Pedigree brand foods, because Pedigree is one of the largest corporate donors to the major veterinary schools in the country.

Very often, part of her training regime includes a change of diet. These inferior kibbles cause health problems with the dogs, and those health problems manifest both medically and behaviorally (Afterall, dont we all feel crabby when we dont feel well).

Is it ethical? No. Is academia to blame for allowing corporations to dilute the integrity of its institutions? Yes.

Crisis Jones Comments on a Previous Post – Ethics (via Linear perspective)

On By southwerkIn business ethics3 Comments

Crisisjones has this comment for “Ethics (via Linear perspective).”

An extension of what has become business as usual. I guess we shouldn’t be surprised. The more attention we bring to these issues the greater the chance that honest folks will put an end to it.

There is an emerging situation of monumental proportions RE The New Madrid Fault, and NLE 2011.

We reported on this yesterday at crisisjones.wordpress.com. There is an audio report (23) that has potentially life saving information.

PLEASE my friends, email the link to this report to EVERYONE you know.

The people on The New Madrid Fault Line need to know what is coming on May 11.

Thank You and May GOD continue to Bless Us All.

-CJ

Crisis Jones posts regularly. You might want to visit and perhaps mart it as a favorite.

James Pilant

In’s and out’s of hiring a house inspector – comments from those who have learned. (via Oakville Homes)

On By southwerkIn business ethics

If you are a homeowner or intend at some point in the future to become one, this is critical. I teach about this in my Business Law classes. I ask how many in the class could find termites, determine if the electrical wiring is up to code and if there is a dangerous level of formaldehyde in the wall board. Sometime, I have an electrician or a contractor but generally no one has any knowledge.

A home is the most expensive purchase in most people’s lives. An undetected problem cannot be fixed. Worst, a problem that manifests itself later can cost tens of thousands of dollars. You don’t want a home that is worth a fraction of what you paid for it and is actually dangerous to the inhabitants.

So, you should hire a building inspector. In the United States, most cities have a building inspector who checks projects to see if they are up to specs. That’s a good starting place. I recognize that spending several hundred dollars on a building inspector when you have just laid out every dime you can find on the down payment for a house. But it is vital to have that knowledge. You need as much certainty as possible when you are buying a house.

It is an unfortunate fact that there are builders who take shortcuts when building a home. Generally speaking, a homeowner has seven years after the home is built to bring a lawsuit for a defect. Once you are past that time, there is no possibility of a law suit. New homes look beautiful and your new neighbors will swear it is all wonderful, but they are as likely to have any training in assessing home problems as you are. Get the facts, then make your decisions. We can’t always make the right call, but we can up the odds.

This article, blog post, talks about the in’s and out’s of hiring a professional to look at your home. If you intend home ownership, I would read every word.

James Pilant

Thanks to Oakville Homes.

For those who have read this blog for some time, you will know that my main thrust is that no matter how new or old your potential home is, it is considered good practice to hire a house inspector to protect your investment.  New or resale, doesn’t matter.  I think, using my Mattamy experience, along with the suffering of others as an example, that I have shown, that no matter who your builder is, a house inspector is a must. Here are a few point … Read More

via Oakville Homes

Canada, we have an ethics problem in government (via Nechakogal’s Blog)

On By southwerkIn business ethics

I share the concern with ethics in the field of economics and politics. It seems that economics has become, in many or most cases, little more than selling your views for the most benefits in terms of money and influence. The truth does not pay well and after a while and a little self indoctrination, it will all look all right and the conscience will clear.

I would have expected more from the academic field of economics but the politician as an animal generally is a feral creature not subject to domestication. I am not sure ethics reaches the government save as a source of amusement.

Really good post. I recommend it.

James Pilant

My thanks to Nechakogal’s Blog.

Canada, we have an ethics problem in government I have done several posts about economists and the stunning lack of ethics for this profession, but I completely overlooked the profession of the politician despite awareness that the state of ethics among our politicians and in the structures housing our democracies.  I was also persuaded that simply changing the party in power and the nature of how our votes are represented would result in the solution, but I am now convinced that no system wil … Read More

via Nechakogal’s Blog

Ethics (via Linear perspective)

On By southwerkIn business ethics5 Comments

Should a corporation be able to influence curriculum at a college to provide it with free research? Should a school forbid publication of research that might be embarrassing to a corporate donor? These are questions discussed in this posting. We might add, “Should faculty promotion be based on winning research grants?” How about, “In a free society, how much should a public college depend on corporate money to operate?”

Where does the public and private conflict? Should higher education be an informal extension of corporate interests?

Read the blog entry. It’s good. We all need to think about these things. Just letting it happen and continue by the force of inertia makes stopping or reining this influence in much more difficult.

James Pilant

Ethics Is it ethical to modify the curriculum of a subject in a graduate studies to suit the needs of an organization? We had a marketing project that required us to estimate the market size and the positioning of competitors for the parent body of the B-school. While doing this work, I felt enraged by the thought that the school had modified the deliverable of the course and was using MBA students to perform the market research. What bothered me more w … Read More

via Linear perspective

Friday Links (via A Thinking Reed)

On By southwerkIn business ethics

I love those blog entries that list little teasers connected to links. It’s a sort of internet buffet, a little of this and a little of that. This one has some fun teasers and interesting ideas.

James Pilant

–A challenge to libertarians on the coecivene power of private entities. –A.O. Scott on superhero movies as a Ponzi scheme. –Richard Beck of Experimental Theology on why he blogs. –A political typology quiz from the Pew Research Center. (I scored as a “solid libera.l” Although I’d take issue with the way some of the choices were presented.) –An end to “bad guys.” –Def Leppard’s Hysteria and the changing meaning of having a “number 1” album. … Read More

via A Thinking Reed