« Back To Good Ideas

Jim Cashel

User Profile Image User Jim Cashel
Member since : Dec-23-2009 (Verified)
475 Ideas, 151 Comments, 628 Votes

Ideas Posted

New research shows that stretching before running doesn't prevent injuries. NY Times http://nyti.ms/ac5m4l
Dynasty Trusts allow wealthy to pass most assets for generations tax free, helping to establish an American aristocracy. NYTimes http://nyti.ms/9Eg47O
The SunSpring produces 5000 gallons per day of potable water, powered by the sun. Units now at work in Haiti. FastCompany http://bit.ly/byk8Eu
Wouldn't soccer be enhanced by higher scores? Shouldn't championship games be determined at a score higher than 1-0? Via @NickKristof
Nobel Laureate Gary Becker proposes fixing global immigration problems by turning to the market: auction work visas. Economist.com http://bit.ly/9q0oqj
MIT researchers have developed a small device that when combined with a smartphone can offer eye exams in developing countries. Fast Company http://bit.ly/9bWBXJ
A new giant, high-tech billboard in Times Square films the crowd, and then plays tricks on them. Wild. Fast Company http://bit.ly/aSCNLP
According to FastCompany, a short strip of scotch tape will fix any reputed antenna problems on your iPhone. http://bit.ly/dddblE
Simplify your life with a "tiny house" (~130 square feet) from Tumbleweed Tiny House Company. NPR http://n.pr/dzqPag
Biking authorities are concerned that at this year's Tour de France, riders might try to sneak tiny motors into the frames of their bikes. NPR http://n.pr/bEPpmX
Behavioral scientists have recommendations for how to plan a happier vacation. Tips include more, shorter vacations; have it end with a bang; and even interrupting a vacation might be OK. Boston.com http://bit.ly/cmzrwS
Designers in New York City are proposing inflatable buildings to be used temporarily at stalled construction sites. Fast Company http://bit.ly/9DIB4m
If the chance of getting caught in a misdemeanor (parking ticket, speeding) is small, why not band together with other freeloaders and create an insurance market? The Atlantic http://bit.ly/ae1rWa
Interesting roundup (from 2006) of ways to kill head lice not involving pesticides. Methods include suffocation, desiccation and electrocution. NPR http://n.pr/8YnTON
Scientists estimate that winds on planet HD 209458b (150 light years from earth) reach 4500 miles per hour. CS Monitor http://bit.ly/a411PV
The winner of Starbucks "Betacup Challenge" for encouraging reusable cups is a "Karma Cup" chalkboard. Every tenth reusable cup gets a free coffee. CNET http://bit.ly/a5jGBt
Establishing foreign, sovereign enclaves within the borders of another country (think Hong Kong) may be a key to global development, argues economist Paul Romer. The Atlantic http://bit.ly/aRJztD
Researchers argue that designing data systems so the "fade" with time will allow better privacy. BBC http://bit.ly/d3Z4RQ
China seeks to turn Dalian, a high-tech hub, into the "next Silicon Valley". They will invest a lot in the attempt. NPR http://n.pr/duy2gH
The Jane Goodall Institute's "Roots and Shoots" program is involved in efforts to plant one million trees in the arid regions of China's interior. We'll all benefit. James Fallows blog http://bit.ly/cZVwAU
New proposed Stanford University guidelines would require technology companies receiving investments to be able to trace sources of "conflict minerals" such as wolframite and cassiterite. NY Times http://nyti.ms/93U1D1
A new solar lightbulb can shine for two hours after a day of charging. Costing $15, it pays for itself quickly. http://bit.ly/9xzweE
Prisoner's votes are currently counted based on the location of the prison, not their home residence. This dilutes the voting power of urban, minority prisoners. Miller-McCune http://bit.ly/bgshbh
The active ingredient in Botox - botulinum neurotoxin - is the most lethal ingredient known to man. Security experts warn if sufficient quantities were bought or produced by terrorists, they could produce a powerful weapon. Foreign Policy http://bit.ly/aqvMXt
Economists demonstrate that toilet paper sales, including the shifting ratios from ordinary to premium brands, serve as a harbinger for economic recovery. MSN http://bit.ly/d3zIzz
Displaying 1 - 25 of 519 Ideas
12345678910….2021Next »

Comments Posted

Jim Cashel 1 month ago
Mention of this issue on the Guardian: http://bit.ly/cRjZkH
Jim Cashel 1 month ago
Additional information on this topic on the Guardian: http://bit.ly/cRjZkH
Jim Cashel 1 month ago
Nice new article on this topic on the Guardian: http://bit.ly/cRjZkH
Jim Cashel 1 month ago
Excellent! Here is an Amazon page for the book: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0582282411
Jim Cashel 1 month ago
Fantastic!
Jim Cashel 2 months ago
NPR update on the failure of this program | NPR http://to.pbs.org/djNDql
Jim Cashel 2 months ago
New op-ed on the "prison-census" issue. NY Times http://nyti.ms/cguNiM
Jim Cashel 2 months ago
Nice update on this issue by Nicholas Kristof:
http://kristof.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/21/rat-daddies/
Jim Cashel 2 months ago
Nice op-ed by Ezra Klein on the need to factor in externalities to the price of a gallon of gas. Washington Post http://bit.ly/9RLmBf
Jim Cashel 3 months ago
One way to address this challenge is to set up an "innovations" unit within the foundation, such as the Pioneer Portfolio at RWJF or Grand Challenges Explorations within Gates. You can also sent up a whole new foundation, such as Eurasia Foundation.
Jim Cashel 3 months ago
This was voted as a "top ten" idea in the "Ideas for Change" contest on Change.org: http://bit.ly/ciKqmH
Jim Cashel 3 months ago
Another great essay on this topic "Foundations are Free to Innovate" http://bit.ly/aKNLnJ
Jim Cashel 3 months ago
New article on e-bikes on Economist.com http://ow.ly/1NAzT
Jim Cashel 3 months ago
I do like the idea of getting employers involved in this. So long as employers essentially get a free pass, immigration control won't be possible.
Jim Cashel 3 months ago
New article in Boston Globe on low cost schools in India. http://bit.ly/bDmD6D
Jim Cashel 3 months ago
Nice (lengthy) review of the demise of GDP in NY Times Magazine http://nyti.ms/bpmWiV .
Jim Cashel 3 months ago
This seems like a smart idea, a sort of non-profit mini-walmart? I'm not sure the prices in the end would be any cheaper, though (retailers have such tiny margins to begin with).
Jim Cashel 3 months ago
I agree - some sort of pooled telecom resource seems to make a lot of sense, particularly in apartments!
Jim Cashel 3 months ago
I'm sure your skepticism is justified. I also have to say, though, that our current system of pumping toxic liquid from the earth, (trying not to spill it), and then burning it for energy also seems like a pretty crazy idea.
Jim Cashel 4 months ago
You're right - as you dig into the details it gets a little complicated. I do say, though, that I like the conclusion - there is hope for us men!
Jim Cashel 4 months ago
Another initiative, We-Care.com, allows consumers to make a small donation to non-profits of interest during purchase transactions.
Jim Cashel 4 months ago
Now that's a fun idea!
Jim Cashel 4 months ago
More commentary on this topic in the NY Times: http://nyti.ms/dypnZh
Jim Cashel 4 months ago
San Francisco is now offering tours of the Tenderloin, the historic "ghetto" of the city. NY Times http://nyti.ms/9dn7R5
Jim Cashel 4 months ago
Why does it not surprise me that this research took place at NC State? :)
Jim Cashel 4 months ago
Such a great example of "be careful what you wish for"!
Jim Cashel 4 months ago
This post got a lot of play on Twitter, with a number of folks saying "what about Hieiary Clinton" or "Golda Meir"? True, there have been important women involved, but frankly too few and too peripheral to have much gender-impact on the dynamic.
Jim Cashel 4 months ago
I think the pivotal piece of this issue is convincing people that "heavier" doesn't necessarily mean "safer". This is a very widespread perception.
Jim Cashel 4 months ago
I'm also not clear why we haven't figured out how to securely do online elections. I can do many complex, sensitive transactions online. Why not vote?
Jim Cashel 4 months ago
I really like the sentiment of this idea. People often accuse social media of being vapid, but they don't accuse books or the telephone (or other general communications tools) of being vapid. The tools are what you make of them.
Jim Cashel 5 months ago
Nice article on new tiles offered by Dow Chemical: http://bit.ly/9KkzZH
Jim Cashel 5 months ago
Nice review in The Guardian of a crowdsourced effort to make sense of Tony Blair's finances: http://ow.ly/1vSBN
Jim Cashel 5 months ago
I also read an interesting piece by Clay Shirky that is making the rounds called "A Rant About Women" | http://bit.ly/aygOCL
Jim Cashel 5 months ago
I'm hard-pressed to think of any position that is expected to do so much volunteer work as the first lady (or first husband at some point). I'm sure she commands a multi-million dollar budget for staff, the East Wing, travel, etc. - but no salary.
Jim Cashel 5 months ago
Note that there is also an active debate about this issue on the Good Ideas Blog - check the comments: http://bit.ly/cvmEKP
Jim Cashel 5 months ago
Update on DC teachers contract negotiations which have some elements of this policy: http://bit.ly/9d7qOI
Jim Cashel 5 months ago
I like this, another example of "point of purchase philanthropy", similar to the travel industry's "Massive Good" campaign described here: http://www.goodideas.org/a/dtd/33913-6782 .
Jim Cashel 5 months ago
Are you a "donor" if you are compensated? We don't seem to have a problem with that concept :) .
Jim Cashel 5 months ago
The concepts of "Gross National Happiness" doesn't teach how an individual should be happy, it teaches what the government does to at least acknowledge that GNP isn't everything (health, education, vacation, and other government policies matter). I think there is a distinction?
Jim Cashel 5 months ago
Is it possible to have "quality literature" that is about monsters and explosions?
Jim Cashel 5 months ago
Wouldn't requiring teachers to forego seniority give up a key tenet of the unions? Do you think that having given up seniority, teachers would still be impossible to fire?
Jim Cashel 5 months ago
Nice new article from NYTimes on the Eureka Fund, a crowdsourced effort supporting scientific research. NYTimes.com http://ow.ly/1v5Mj
Jim Cashel 5 months ago
New article about Google (and others') efforts to enlist US Government support for these ideas. http://bit.ly/cme2mm
Jim Cashel 5 months ago
Another good article on this topic: 6 million tons per year, a "ridiculous waste": http://bit.ly/aWp0pi
Jim Cashel 5 months ago
Another strategy some authorities use is to use the "mosquito", a box which emits a high-pitched sound annoying to youth but inaudible to most adults. http://bit.ly/ciBmZO
Jim Cashel 5 months ago
There are so many costs and so few benefits to higher speed limits. This idea doesn't seem politically feasible at the moment - but should be!
Jim Cashel 5 months ago
This idea makes me cringe - although I used to work in hospitals and often saw the pathetic communications challenges due to language barriers. More Americans should be poly-lingual, but short that, maybe the iPhone is better than nothing.
Jim Cashel 5 months ago
I volunteer!
Jim Cashel 5 months ago
This idea strikes me as one of the most important - and not understood - concepts in this database. Scientific research is based on "statistical significance" - which is in itself an arbitrary term.
Jim Cashel 5 months ago
This is an impressive idea! Is there a body of literature or research somewhere addressing this? Or do you have a suggested Google search string?
Jim Cashel 5 months ago
Nice article on current efforts to revive securitization | Economist.com http://bit.ly/8ZLfri
Jim Cashel 5 months ago
Nice NYT article on new agreement for 600 million doses of pneumococcal vaccine http://nyti.ms/9V1jXs
Jim Cashel 5 months ago
Providing matching grants, performance reports, and publicity also can help grantees raise funds from elsewhere. So can supporting "core costs" since raising program funds is usually easier.
Jim Cashel 5 months ago
Who can argue with transparency? One issue I have, however, is that I think the philanthropic sector faces a bigger problem than transparency: overall foundations are too image-conscious and risk-averse. If there is any organization that can take risks, it should be an endowed foundation, but they typically don't (especially if the benefactor is no longer alive). My concern is that a focus on transparency in fact increases risk-aversion because of concern about amplified scrutiny.
Jim Cashel 5 months ago
And if the prize isn't claimed (after a ton of publicity), the philanthropist can create another prize!
Jim Cashel 5 months ago
I think this is a really interesting development in philanthropy. The dynamic I'm interested in watching is the relative effectiveness with small vs. large awards. Ashoka gives small awards, yet gets very active participation. Pepsi gives very large awards, which might encourage more "gaming" behavior. We'll see!
Jim Cashel 5 months ago
Here is another glowing article about Costa Rica, this time from the Christian Science Monitor: http://bit.ly/9A1bRW
Jim Cashel 5 months ago
This seems so sensible, it's a little amazing that it isn't happening already. (Although it is also amazing we don't have a "health care budget" in this country like we do budgets for other items).
Jim Cashel 5 months ago
Here is a nice article on nurturing "the wilderness of childhood". New York Review of Books http://bit.ly/bpHHmg
Jim Cashel 5 months ago
Agreed! I could imagine having a web interface which could have quite a few rules / options (such as, if my boss is sleeping in, I want to too?)
Jim Cashel 5 months ago
Good points, Christen. There is not question that Churches to a great deal of social good. But so do many organizations that don't receive tax breaks. Are social services of churches as or more effective as non-profits dollar for dollar?
Jim Cashel 5 months ago
Here are two more nice references on this topic:
Economist (premium): http://bit.ly/atVJGv
PLoS one: http://bit.ly/byteTV
Jim Cashel 5 months ago
This is a truly remarkable research finding that merits broader review and publicity. Michael Pollan would be impressed?
Jim Cashel 5 months ago
I suspect this is the only time that Glad Valley, South Dakota has made the national news?
Jim Cashel 5 months ago
Prediction: this will be many users very favorite idea of all!
Jim Cashel 5 months ago
This one strikes me as a startling research result that would be nice to verify, no?
Jim Cashel 5 months ago
This one seems to be just begging for a nice web site "TurnThatMusicDown.com" or something -- for all those frustrating times when there is loud noise but nothing can be done.
Jim Cashel 5 months ago
The thing I like about this idea is that prenatal care is very "timing" dependent: mothers really need to be doing certain things at different stages of their pregnancy. A smart mobile app can have built in alerts and education.
Jim Cashel 5 months ago
I love this idea - maybe the best I've seen this week! The MobileActive.org site really is loaded with interesting case studies and ideas.
Jim Cashel 5 months ago
Nice HuffPo piece by Josh Ruxin on developing world tourism here: http://bit.ly/c3JHIV
Jim Cashel 5 months ago
Interesting post about how we increasingly constrict the lives of our kids: http://bit.ly/9k4MQb
Jim Cashel 5 months ago
Any comments on business models? Even if driven by volunteers, there are still costs.
Jim Cashel 5 months ago
Excellent, excellent. Have you seen any early models out there by chance?
Jim Cashel 5 months ago
My kids are currently enrolled in a Waldorf school here in Chengdu (a good choice for foreign kids). Waldorf education puts a lot of emphasis on nature and aesthetics. Their school, though modest, has a lake, garden and orchard. It's quite sweet.
Jim Cashel 5 months ago
I like this idea a lot (although maybe hard to audit). If we get (at least a little) tax credit for giving away our old clothes to a non-profit, why not get at least some credit for our time?
Jim Cashel 5 months ago
Credible point - it will be interesting to see how many people agree!
Jim Cashel 5 months ago
Interesting. I wonder if companies could qualify for an additional tax deduction for renting at "below market" to a non-profit. It also seems there could be a website (or maybe tag on craigslist) for something like this.
Jim Cashel 5 months ago
New York Times coverage of this issue is here: http://nyti.ms/aR1MZr
Jim Cashel 6 months ago
New BBC article on electric bikes: http://ow.ly/1gRRx
Jim Cashel 6 months ago
The thing that amazes me about this idea is that nearly all parents would agree with it, and nearly no parents do it. Harder said than done!
Jim Cashel 6 months ago
I love this idea. I remember reading one of your posts in Playborhood.com that challenged people to think of their fondest 10 memories from childhood. You predict that some of them probably involve a fort, and none of them involve parental supervision.
Jim Cashel 6 months ago
Sweet! Educate your employees and delight your clients in one quick step! Nice one.
Jim Cashel 6 months ago
This one seems like an obvious idea -- that I've never seen groups do. Good one.
Jim Cashel 6 months ago
Interesting - rank ideas on more than one dimension. Innovative? Impactful? Unrealistic?
Jim Cashel 6 months ago
Nancy Birdsall of the Center for Global Development is now advocating Advance Market Commitments for things other than vaccines - such as green technologies. http://bit.ly/9S1zdt
Jim Cashel 6 months ago
'Excellent "create a customized song" service at http://www.instasong.com. was merged with this idea.
Jim Cashel 6 months ago
I'm not sure the algorithm IdeaScale uses for related ideas. It definitely uses the tags, not sure which other keywords.
Jim Cashel 6 months ago
The site does a pretty good job of presenting similar ideas (click around some of the categories). It doesn't make an effort at "similar people", although I could imagine that would also be interesting as the community grew (I know Twitter has a few services like this).
Jim Cashel 6 months ago
Interesting. I agree. I think the platform needs to be more "person focused" than it is now (photos, profiles, links to others -- as you suggest).
Jim Cashel 6 months ago
I agree with this. I'll suggest this to the ASP.
Jim Cashel 6 months ago
I'm curious - have you seen models of this? Is it realistic to expect professors to self-publish?
Jim Cashel 6 months ago
I completely agree - this one is tricky. There are a billion people on the planet living on less than a buck a day. If they were next door to you, you'd probably help. How can folks really have empathy if they don't witness reality?
Jim Cashel 6 months ago
Excellent - thanks for the links.
Jim Cashel 6 months ago
Excellent!
Jim Cashel 6 months ago
I'll definitely raise this with the ASP. It's odd - it seems like there is a place for a photo in the user profile, but it doesn't seem to work. I'm looking into it.
Jim Cashel 6 months ago
Good point - no need to leave home to be useful.

That said, I live in a city of 10+ million here in China, and I see very few foreigners. The other day I was in Guangzhou International Airport (next to Hong Kong), with a main terminal bigger than any I had ever seen anywhere - and basically no foreigners. It's kind of cool when visiting - but also concerning: how are we going to understand one another if we hardly meet?
Jim Cashel 6 months ago
Good point about voting being key.
Jim Cashel 6 months ago
Good point - that is possible (with a little work). Thanks for the suggestion!
Jim Cashel 6 months ago
I got a suggestion from one reader:

"Good Ideas: Read 'em and Leap!"
Jim Cashel 6 months ago
Excellent point! Sounds like you should run to the patent office with that one! :)
Jim Cashel 6 months ago
Agreed - very meaningful (but hard to know how to improve!)
Jim Cashel 7 months ago
Kaboom talks about these projects in this blog post: http://bit.ly/60owiq
Jim Cashel 7 months ago
Nice review of Advance Market Commitments and other health financing innovations in Economist Magazine: http://bit.ly/5cBGLz
Jim Cashel 8 months ago
This is really a wonderful video. It probably will spur many other good ideas. I also like how Volkswagen is sponsoring the effort in a form of "cause marketing". Smart.
Jim Cashel 8 months ago
This strikes me as an interesting idea - but couldn't we come up with a solution more elegant than changing the plastic wrap on the handle after every use? Seems wasteful.
Jim Cashel 8 months ago
Looks like Apple has patented something along these lines. http://bit.ly/7hppzU
Jim Cashel 8 months ago
This idea seems like a plug for a commercial service (I guess it is - although I have no connection to these guys). It's just a really clever and well-implemented service.
Jim Cashel 8 months ago
I'll be interested to see how many people "vote down" this idea. :)
Jim Cashel 8 months ago
I like this idea a lot: design assistance for the poor generally involves providing new devices (solar ovens, water pumps, etc.). I seldom see designers trying to improve devices the poor already use. What a great place to start!
Jim Cashel 8 months ago
I'm sure the teachers' unions love this idea. I'm sure the secret will be adding more opportunities that teachers seek rather than more responsibilities they don't (and potentially compensating for the added time).
Jim Cashel 8 months ago
This idea is invariably highly controversial, as it can be perceived as turning slum residents into a spectacle. This is a valid concern. At the same time how else are rich people going to see first hand how very poor people live?
Jim Cashel 8 months ago
This strikes me as an ingenious idea - and a perilous one as well. In the real world, it is important to make decisions based on facts and a shared view of reality. In the online world anything goes. If we start applying online norms to the real world, what does that imply?
Jim Cashel 8 months ago
The Center for Global Development does a great job in introducing a more sensible, if nuanced, way to thinking through global AID programs. Hopefully they influence policy (it appears they do).
Jim Cashel 8 months ago
Anybody that figures out cheap desalination deserves a Nobel Prize (or several).
Jim Cashel 8 months ago
This one strikes me as a smart attempt by Coca Cola to get an awful lot of publicity very cheaply. It is similar to the recent "best job in the world" competition held by Murphy-Goode Winery in Napa. http://bit.ly/7h34gi
Jim Cashel 8 months ago
When I was in medical school, I often puzzled over the fact that diagnosis via stethoscope seemed so subjective. (This was true with many other forms of diagnoses as well, such as reading films or even interpreting EKGs.) It's nice to see some supplemental computing assistance brought to bear.
Jim Cashel 8 months ago
I admit I am surprised the Obama administration hasn't renamed this program, given the "p" in PEPFAR originally referred to President Bush. I guess they have more important things to worry about.
Jim Cashel 8 months ago
A big challenge for marketing (marketing anything) is having something timely to talk about. A playoff system, even if contrived, provides plenty of marketing fodder.
Jim Cashel 8 months ago
There is a great deal written about opt-in vs. opt-out policies for organ donations (wikipedia for starters: http://bit.ly/5PMEGg). There is no question that opt-out policies greatly increase the supply of organs - although raise a number of ethical issues).
Jim Cashel 8 months ago
I feel a little guilty posting this idea, despite its providence, since my wife co-wrote a book called "Securitization". http://bit.ly/85P2aE
Jim Cashel 8 months ago
I read today that a Kindergarterner on average will have watched 5000 hours of television (and 80,000 advertisements) before entering school. Yikes. http://bit.ly/4EnZDd
Jim Cashel 8 months ago
The increases in salary proposed by DC in exchange for giving up seniority were quite staggering - it apparently is a very valuable concession to administrators.
Jim Cashel 8 months ago
I love this idea, mostly because it attempts to keep everyone happy. Why not change rates annually, and codify in the notion that we don't want inequality to increase (or decrease...)?
Jim Cashel 8 months ago
It took me a while to figure this one out - but it is true that small changes in SUV mileage make a big difference, precisely because SUVs use so much fuel. For example, if an SUV moves from 12 mpg to 16 mpg, it will save about 208 gallons in 10,000 miles. If a Prius gets 50 mpg and the driver gives up driving altogether, it will save only 200 gallons in a year.
Jim Cashel 8 months ago
I currently live in China. It is clear that my Chinese friends, despite spending many hours per day online, are not familiar with VPNs, anonymous servers, or other (fairly easy) means for getting free access to the global internet. US college students would quickly figure this out and help their new-found Chinese friends.
Jim Cashel 8 months ago
I believe that offering heads of state a financially secure and dignified departure from office is one of the most important (if overlooked) aspects of a successful democracy. Otherwise, why should they leave?
Jim Cashel 8 months ago
Yikes. I found myself today explaining Advance Market Commitments to my 10 year old daughter. She did an admirable job feigning interest for her policy-interested father.
Jim Cashel 8 months ago
I confess I love this idea mostly because of the idea of using 3 foot long rats. How awesome is that? Could I get one for a pet? Don't tell my wife.
Jim Cashel 8 months ago
I've tried this service and love it.
Jim Cashel 8 months ago
I unfortunately traversed the Alzheimers saga with my father. Although his final care facility was very good - clean, happy staff, many activities - it was nonetheless depressing to visit. His friends really wouldn't go. The idea of having an adjacent pub with some noise and laughter - plus we could hand the guy a beer - seemed totally sensible. I know he would have preferred visits their over a sterile "visiting room".
Jim Cashel 8 months ago
We use the "net promoter" score at our company Forum One. We don't use it alone, however - we imbed it in client follow-up surveys. The challenge in using it alone is that if the score comes back low, you have no way of knowing why and need to follow-up (we'd prefer not to bother clients twice).
Jim Cashel 8 months ago
This idea, believe it or not, was the one that got me thinking about a good ideas web site. I saw my first half-flush toilet a few years back. It had a small button and a big button. I knew immediately what it meant, it made sense, and I thought that every flush toilet on the planet should be similar. It was a really good idea I wished more people knew about.
Jim Cashel 8 months ago
This idea is a painful one in America: it makes a great deal of sense, it is adopted successfully by most developed countries, yet it is politically completely out of bounds.
Jim Cashel 8 months ago
Worrying about "happiness" is an easy notion to dismiss. Even current indexes of national happiness feel incomplete (is everyone really going to move to Costa Rica?). So it's nice to see Joseph Stiglitz and the government of France take this idea seriously - it's a truly great idea.
Jim Cashel 8 months ago
It feels silly to use "Facebook" and "World Peace" in the same sentence. Nonetheless, Facebook has become one of the planet's biggest "countries", and it is essentially transnational in nature. If world peace requires (in part) communications and mutual understanding, shouldn't Facebook have an important role to play?
Jim Cashel 8 months ago
Gridlocked government represents an enormous obstacle to progress in America (and in my state of California, in which it is worse). Senate filibuster rules were never intended to require a permanent supermajority vote. Democracy throws up a lot of challenges to progress. Let's not compound the problem with rules which gridlock government.
Jim Cashel 8 months ago
This idea strikes me as a "forehead slapper": do we really need to do these two activities in series and take an extra seven months? Lovely innovation.
Jim Cashel 8 months ago
This strikes me as a lovely idea except for one obvious drawback: the bottles cost about $100. I expect the technology could be used at a larger, less expensive scale, but am not aware of good examples.
Jim Cashel 8 months ago
I live in Sonoma, California. The high school in our town is representative of national averages (about 1/3 of students take the SAT, for example). If you ask the high school administration for data concerning college admissions, they have almost nothing to offer (nor is it their responsibility). They absolutely have no data regarding college success. It is hard to improve something you can't measure, thus the importance of current proposals to for the first time gather these critical data.
Jim Cashel 8 months ago
The rich are able to become rich in America thanks in part to education, health, security and other programs of the government. This should confer great obligations to the wealthiest, a fact too often lost on them. Thank you to some very responsible wealthy for starting Responsible Wealth.
Jim Cashel 8 months ago
This is arguably the best current idea in the world. Unfortunately it represents a pure public good, is hard to quantify benefits, and therefore lacks the funding or attention it merits. Great kudos nonetheless to MIT for taking very bold steps and demonstrating the reach and power of free online education.
Jim Cashel 8 months ago
Foundations can be frustratingly risk-adverse (especially foundations in which the founders are no longer living). Foundations should be in the best position of any organization to take risks - but seldom in fact do.

The Gates Foundation deserves great kudos for launching Grand Challenges, a program that they know will lead to many failures and probably periodic ridicule. An excellent effort worthy of emulation.
Jim Cashel 8 months ago
Advance Market Commitments is one of the best examples I've ever seen of smart theory translating into practical policy. Great credit goes to Michael Kremer at Harvard, a number of researchers at the Center for Global Development, and funding from the Gates Foundation and support from the World Bank and WHO.
Jim Cashel 8 months ago
Almost half the world lives on less than $2 a day (and nearly a billion people are at half that level). Only the tiniest fraction of people in developed countries ever witness that level of poverty. Without seeing something it is hard to empathize with it.

Jim Cashel 8 months ago
I am currently living in China with my family. One thing that is striking about China is that basically everyone is slim (at least everyone between ages 20 and 50 -- the young kids are showing signs of an early obesity challenge).

There are lots of explanations for the lack of obesity here (small plates, chopsticks, more walking, fewer elevators) - but the main factor seems to be straight out of Pollan. People eat mostly fresh food from local markets, portions are small, and are dominated by grains and vegetables with relatively little meat and dairy.
Jim Cashel 8 months ago
On the surface this idea seems like a no-brainer: CO2 emissions are hard to contain, methane emissions somewhat easier, and they have roughly the same impact on global warming. Methane however appears very far from the public dialog on global warming, so some innovative social marketing (as well as science) needs to take place.
Jim Cashel 8 months ago
There are two enormous advantages to spend-down foundations:

* They spend a lot more money: moving from, say, a 5% payout to a 7.5% payout is a 50% increase. This helps solve problems now, not a century from now.

* They have a sense of time urgency: even if they plan to be around for another 90 years (like the Gates Foundation), there is a huge psychological difference between thinking "90 years" and "forever".

These two factors help move foundations away from their greatest pitfall: serving as shrines to their founders rather than serving the public interest (most of the money in foundation endowments is pre-tax "public" money, if factoring in both corporate and inheritance taxes).
Jim Cashel 8 months ago
Micronutrients as a cost-effective global health intervention has gotten a lot of attention. The Copenhagen Consensus identified it as the most cost effective global health intervention http://bit.ly/7pxbr1 and the idea has also received recent attention from the Economist Magazine http://bit.ly/6c2djf and Nicholas Kristof http://bit.ly/6dGCwI.

The puzzling thing is it seems that no large private, national or multilateral aid agency has pushed this to the very top of the agenda. This seems like an imminently solvable problem given appropriate conviction.
Jim Cashel 8 months ago
At our company, Forum One, we have found this rule to be extremely useful. It is hard to apply quantitatively, but useful even if applied qualitatively. Being clear about prioritizing main activities, but carving out and guarding time for more speculative efforts, is very helpful.
Jim Cashel 8 months ago
Nice op-ed by Nicholas Kristof pointing out that Costa Rica tops three recent happiness studies. Much of the credit is probably due to the 1949 decision to abolish the army and invest instead in education. http://bit.ly/8DV4pq