Make It So: Let’s Make An STC

by

Paper And Stars

Some time ago I’d mentioned the Lantern and the Outernet. The Lantern was designed to be a wireless, convenient, regularly updated library that would give people access to useful documents. The Outernet would support it, and involve a satellite-based internet system. Idealistic, yes, but I plunked down my cash on the Lantern Kickstarter because, like the Ouya, the idea is almost more important than the implementation.

Around the same time I encountered the Survival Library. This was a site that was rather “Doomstay Prepperish,” a viewpoint I don’t subscribe to (because preparing for Doomsday too often results in one looking forward to it or not preventing it). However the idea of the site was brilliant – collect a large variety of books online that would basically let you rebuild society and technology from scratch, from basic survival up to vehicles.

Philosophical differences aside, I love the idea. As of late, as may seem obvious, I’ve become more aware of our responsibility to curate and preserve documents as citizens. This definitely fits my (developing) philosophy on the idea, and may be one I can explore more.

These ideas began to combine in my head, building on my thoughts about how Dicks Encyclopedia provides a good template we could follow as geeks recording knowledge.

Then in struck me, these ideas (easily accessible information, practical guides, and curated, integrated information) brought together could produce something amazing and useful and needed.

An STC. A Standard Template Construct.

However to explain this, I’m going to have to talk Warhammer 40K, which is a setting (originally for a wargame but now for others) of a dark far future.

. . . hang in there. This may take a little work.

Read more

Steve’s Update 12/14/2014

by

No, I didn’t vanish – but work and the holidays are keeping me real busy.  So what’s going on?

At Muse Hack I did two columns on the question “is there a gap in hiring in IT” – if you work in IT you’ve heard the claim it’s hard to hire people.  In part one I examined the basic numbers and what they tell us, but then dived deeper into specifics and reached some surprising conclusions.  Short form, there’s probably a gap for senior people, it’s concealed due to certain factors – and we’re making it worse.  If you work in IT check it out – it’s very educational

Muse Hack is going to be, as noted, more personal, so I’m still getting it quite right.  I’ve got some more intense, deeper pieces, weekly links, and Way With Worlds as my focus.  Let’s see how it goes.

Another update to the Civic Geek Catalog today – after taking a break.  The more I do this the more I find I like resource gathering, so I may always have one of these “resource” projects in mind for cultivated geek stuff.

Starting to form my next book plans or two.  I’m debating geek citizenship, but i’m also thinking I should bundle up Epic Resume Go! and Quest For Employment with my other job advice columns for a definitive “Steve Talks Careers” book.

Otherwise, some new generator work at the Sanctum planned, you can read more at The Codex.

Thanks everyone, and if I don’t post before Christmas, Happy Holidays!

 

 

– Steven Savage

Steven Savage is a Geek 2.0 writer, speaker, blogger, and job coach.  He blogs on careers at http://www.musehack.com/, publishes books on career and culture at http://www.informotron.com/, and does a site of creative tools at http://www.seventhsanctum.com/. He can be reached at https://www.stevensavage.com/.

Civic Geek Catalog Update

by

And here we go, an update – sorry I didn’t do one last week, life got kind of wild.  But now if the Holiday Of Your Choice Spirit has got you looking to do good, here’s more ways to do so at the Civic Geek Catalog!

And as always, it’s sorted by Geeky Interest and Focus!

This time I focused completely on writing subjects and literacy as there’s a lot of programs out there (and a lot more for me to list)

Writing

  • Literacy
    • Behind The Book – New York Based organization that focuses on literacy programs and access to authors for underserved schooles
    • Believe In Books – Supports literacy programs, scholarships, grants, and book distributions in northern New Hampshire and western Mane.
    • Books Through Bars – A multi-state effort, located in Philadelphia, to provide educational books to people in the prison system
    • First Book – Collects and distribute books to programs and schools that serve children in low-income families in the US and Canada.
    • Florida Literacy Coalition – Florida-focused group that supports adult education, adult literacy, and family literacy throughout the state. Many opportunities to get involved
    • Literacy Kansas City – A Kansas community-based literacy effort that uses research to ensure their programs are maximally effective.
    • Lullalee – Lullalee promotes reading, literacy, and social change, including the use of e-learning and technology.
    • Raising Readers in Wyoming – A wyoming-based organization that provides children with books, and parents with ‘prescriptions’ for reading, to promote literacy.
    • Read Indeed – A nonprofit literacy organization, inspired by Maria Keller, that collects and distributes books to children.
    • Reading Partners – Promotes literacy via one-on-one coaching and a structured curriculum

– Steven Savage

Steven Savage is a Geek 2.0 writer, speaker, blogger, and job coach.  He blogs on careers at http://www.musehack.com/, publishes books on career and culture at http://www.informotron.com/, and does a site of creative tools at http://www.seventhsanctum.com/. He can be reached at https://www.stevensavage.com/.