Techonomics: The Founding Assumptions

Techonomics is a framework – a worldview – that seeks to bring understanding to the observations of chaos in the economy.  Every framework needs foundational assumptions upon which to stand.

Decency Under Attack

Friends of Abunga:

If you wanted to create a bookstore with a massive title offering, but also wanted to limit the content of what you sold to offer family-friendly products, how would you go about doing it? Think about the challenge – you cannot personally read all of the $4 billion in book inventory you have access to sell to customers and you also realize that your definition of family-friendly decency may differ from that of others – so what would you do?

The Special – Larry’s Letter #4

Friends: This letter from Larry came to me at a most needed time.  Abunga has been under attack for our active approach to creating a family-friendly site by eliminating objectionable materials.  I must learn to be thankful for the thorns as well as the successes along the way.  Hope you enjoy Larry’s latest letter. Lee Good Afternoon Everyone:

Todays story has been around a little while but

everytime I read it I see something else I missed

before. Read and enjoy. – Larry

 

The Special

What teachers make: Larry’s Letter #3

Larry has such a heart for good. This one is one of my favorites about what a teacher makes.  I think you will enjoy it.  Its time more folks start to consider what they make above and beyond how much they make.  See if this one touches you like it does me – Lee Hi Everyone:

 

Its getting cold here in the Smokies, but the days are

beautiful. As many of you may know I love

teaching at the college level and really appreciate

the teachers who educate my students before

I get them. Here is a great story dedicated to

teachers. Read and enjoy.

 

 

WHAT TEACHERS MAKE 

Techonomics: The Economy from an Engineer’s Perspective

I wrote a book, Techonomics, for the CRC Press targeted for engineering economics and technical MBA students last year.  The word Techonomics is a combination of Technology and Economics with the root idea being that technology is the driver of change and economics is the determiner of which changes have lasting impact.  The book is available on Abunga.com at (http://abunga.com/?d=product&productid=9780849370670).  It is an engineer/entreprenuer’s explanation of the anecdotal thoughts in The World is Flat. From time to time on this blog, I will share thoughts about Techonomics and the major societal issues that are facing our country.  I hope you will consider these observations and give feedback as to your grounded opinions.  The business model aspects of Abunga are centered around lessons learned in Techonomics, although the heart of Abunga is centered around supporting worthy causes. - Lee Martin, Chariman  

Larry’s Letter #2 – Bobby’s Dime

Here is another letter from Larry for your enjoyment – Lee
Good Morning Everyone:

We had some long needed rain last night here in the Smoky
Mountains and today it is beutiful outside. I hope it is whereever
you are in the world today. I know it is past Christmas, but
here is a story that I have shared before and want to share
again as it has such a deep meaning anytime of the year.
Read and enjoy the story of Bobby’s Dime.

Subject: “BOBBY’S DIME”;

Bobby was getting cold sitting out in his backyard in the snow. Bobby didn’t wear boots; he didn’t like them and anyway he didn’t own any. The thin sneakers he wore had a few holes in them and they did a poor job of keeping out the cold. Bobby had been in his backyard for about an hour already. And, try as he might, he could not come up with an idea for his mothers’ Christmas gift.

Techonomics: A Worldview of Change

Greetings,

Before joining the Abunga team, I wrote a book, Techonomics, based on my observations of the .com boom and my experience of growing a company at that interesting time. Techonomics is an entrepreneur’s-eye view of the impact that technology is having on how business is conducted. As I was writing the book, Friedman’s book, The World is Flat, was released and there are many similar thoughts arrived at from completely different thought processes.

Abunga.com is a business built around the organizational models learned from the experience that resulted in Techonomics. This blog will describe, from time to time, the Techonomic approach as it actively applied in the Abunga operations.

- Lee

Introducing Letters from Larry

Larry Perry is a dear friend of mine that has encouraged me throughout my career. He is a unique person with a background in everything from engineering to law and most things in between. From time to time I will be posting Letter from Larry and how that they will uplift your days as much as they have mine. His life has been one that encourages others to live well. Such encouragement is meant to be passed on.

- Lee

Letter from Larry – December 18, 2007:

My friend Jim out in the frozen midwest sent me this
story early last week, and it is so moving that I wanted
to share it with you today. Only 10 more days until
Jesus’ birthday folks. Thanks Jim for the beautiful
story.

A Christmas Story

This story made the rounds last year, seems to me this is a good time for it to make the rounds one again.

The old man sat in his gas station on a cold Christmas Eve. He hadn’t been anywhere in years since his wife had passed away. He had no decorations, no tree, no lights. It was just another day to him. He didn’t hate Christmas, just couldn’t find a reason to celebrate. There were no children in his life. His wife had gone.

He was sitting there looking at the snow that had been falling for the last hour and wondering what it was all about when the door opened and a homeless man stepped through. Instead of throwing the man out, George, Old George as he was known by his customers, told the man to come and sit by the space heater and warm up.

“Thank you, but I don’t mean to intrude,” said the stranger. “I see you’re busy. I’ll just go”

“Not without something hot in your belly,” George turned and opened a wide mouth Thermos and handed it to the stranger. “It ain’t much, but it’s hot and tasty. Stew. Made it myself. When you’re done there’s coffee and it’s fresh.”

Just at that moment he heard the “ding” of the driveway bell. “Excuse me, be right back,” George said.

Christmas in Barbershop from Abunga’s Chairman

Merry Christmas. The sound files below of favorite Christmas carols are my hobby combining music and technology – barbershop quartets performed by one singer – ME – recorded in my home studio. The technology makes the results pretty enjoyable.

Download one and enjoy with my compliments. Its a way of spreading good cheer, the Spirit of the season and a smile. Tell a friend about Abunga.com when you do.

HOW DID I DO THIS?
First of all, it takes a little equipment. I just a small digital recorder/mixer from Roland (I can get the model number if anyone cares!), a microphone, patch cables and a digital keyboard. I start by playing the melody and putting it on one channel. Next, I sing the melody with the replayed piano to get the pitch and timing right. After that, the base line is sung and added. Each part is added subsequently until all four parts are mastered. Usually, I don’t come near what I want on the first pass of any part, so I get to redo it a lot.

DOUBLING THE PARTS:
Now, with four good parts on the unit, I play them all back without the piano as if I was singing with a barbershop quartet. After 8 parts are down, I usually am finished and ready to master the song. Sometimes I will go for 12 – 16 takes. A two minute song typically takes about 2 hours to finish – but its a lot of good fun.

-Lee

Here are the songs. Click to listen or to download right click and “save link” as.  If you want all the songs, here’s a link to a zip file.

Jingle Bells

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Angels We Have Heard on High

Oh Holy Night

Lu Lee Lu Lay

Silent Night

We Wish You a Merry Christmas