Thank you for choosing to visit. I have a wide range of interests. My major mission is creating global peace and prosperity and empowering individual freedom/responsibility. My websites solnx and Vision 2020 give a good outline of much of my current thinking. I am getting more concerned that we are running out of time. We have passed the latest solar activity minimum, and the Sun's activity will pick up significantly over the next few years. If the downturn in the US economy leads to any reduction in jet aircraft traveling across the northern hemisphere (the vapour trails and ices crystals from which reflect back much of the sun's energy to space), then we could see some very rapid increases in the effects of global warming (these two things have masked most of the longer term trends over the last decade - if both reverse, we, as a species, could have real problems). We need tools that can let us deal with these possibilities, or the opposite (like dust from a major volcanic explosion blocking the suns rays and leading to crop failure over much of the planet).
I am a husband, a father, managing director of Solution-Multipliers NZ Ltd (and designer, programmer, support technician and office cleaner), a keen politician, philosopher, fisherman, cyclist, pilot, hunter and conservationist.
I got the cycling bug thanks to Bill Edwards, and began training for the Rainbow Rage on 20th Jan 2005. The miracle (for those of you familiar with the old couch potato Ted) is that I did it and loved it. So much so that I did it again in 2006 (2hrs and 8 mins quicker than in 2005).
The picture of me holding a 31lb Hapuka (below) was taken on 9th May 2004. The fish was caught in 270m (900ft) of water, about 4 miles from home.
When not delving into matters fish or computing, I spend a lot of time considering our history, our current trends, and thinking about the future of Humanity, and life on this planet (and beyond), and considering how we might maximise freedom and empowerment for people while caring for the ecosystem around us. Solnx.org is the result.
I joined the Zaadz (seeds) community which transformed itself into the Gaia community where I keep a semi regular blog tedhoward.gaia.com/blog.
Here is an entry on communication.
This entry on freedom has generated more interest than most.
Some of that thinking has led me to publish some ideas. After one such publication in July 1991, a few people responded (some not too sympathetically) and one person (Roy Edmundson) came and talked about the possibilities involved. Ideas flowed freely for a few months, then things started to jell. Based on my beliefs, our conversation, and a lot of work, by both Roy and myself, the germ of a new project was born Vision 2020.
As part of a process towards that objective I am involved in many community activities, training myself in the realities of politics, and project management, while being of service to others (a win-win outcome).
"Ted for Mayor" was on again for 2004. I stood for Mayor of Kaikoura, this time as an existing councilor. I came 4th (out of 4), but enjoyed the process, and gave it a good effort. Being completely straight works when talking to people, it just takes time.
I have always had an interest in philosophy, and have found this site Philosophers Notes to be great value. I have a different interpretive schema, in that I think it unlikely that there is any sort of God that has any sort of intention for us, so for me studying this stuff requires translating all of these concepts to language that involves the holographic processing abilities of the human mind, and it is a great source of wisdom and tools.
I stood for the Act Party in 2008 click here to see why. In 2005 I stood as an independent for Kaikoura Electorate, it was a lot of fun, and 170 people voted for me. I think most of them had a good idea of what I was standing for, and thank them all. I am still to the idea of individual freedom, exercised responsibly, and the need for coordinated activity with a vision of sustainability and freedom to deal with problems like ignorance, war, poverty and global warming.
If you are at all interested in Physics or Quantum Mechanics the these articles by John Murphy are a must read. Perhaps there is no wave/particle duality - only matter excitation. Local copy as at August 2000
If you are interested in a powerful paradigm from which to consider existence, one that can deliver breakthroughs in being effective in your life, then I recommend The Landmark Forum. It's great for becoming complete with your past, and putting it behind you. It also gives a very powerfuul view of what is possible.
More recently I have found another very powerful paradigm for considering humanity -
Vision Force. Here Michael Skye shows
how the mind resolves inner conflict by compromising our highest values to get rid
of feelings of guilt, and gives powerful ways of staying present to our highest values
by looking to the feelings of honour we have when we think about the heroism that exists
all around us, when we look at what people stand for and stand in the face of feeling.
I did the Vision Force Bootcamp in May 2006, and strongly recommend it to anyone who is
up to making a difference in the world. It is a powerful way to relate to yourself,
and to others. I didn't turn on a TV in the 2 weeks after doing it,
and TV wasn't even mentioned on the Bootcamp. Old habits crept back over time, through
lack of discipline on my part in putting in place new structures to support the new paradigm.
During 2007 I was active in several fora. www.global-mindshift.org was very interesting. The paradigms they use differ from mine in some significant ways, and the exercise was well worth the effort.
I have spent a few days working with Edward De Bonos global council Edward de Bono. I have also been working with the team at Flow.
Many days in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 spent with Te Korowai in meetings and producing the website and helping on the characterisation report.
Since 2006 also saw many days working with Scott, Trish and the team at Option4 working on many reports and submissions in my capactity as president of the Kaikoura Boating Club.
2008 saw an improvement in my golf handicap - to 17, and continued involvement in fisheries, once again president of the Kaikoura Boating Club, while also active in commercial circles, Forest and Bird, and now also on the executive of the NZ Recreational Fishing Council. I have had several meetings with Roger Douglas and Rodney Hide, and was again briefly active in ACT New Zealand.
Best book to read "The Selfish Gene" by Richard Dawkins (available from University Bookshops).
Close second "Wrinkles in Time" George Smoot.
I was born 1955, 6'2", married to Ailsa (nee Ailsa McGilvary), and father of William (1985) and Jewelia (1996). I have a long involvement with the fishing industry (since 67) and also a long involvement with politics (since 75), computers (since 73) and considering the future of humanity (since 62 - Cuban Missile crisis following Bay of Pigs).
My interests include my family, community, flying (Kites, Cesnas, Cherokees and gliders) boats - power and sail, fishing, tramping, traveling, reading, skiing, golf and most events, Looking at the view (contains a 130K JPG panorama view).
My favourite walking companion runs Short Walks for Guided walks in the Kaikoura Area.
I was a candidate for ACT New Zealand in the 1996 & 2002 general elections, and was again in 2008. A political movement with much to reccommend it. In 1984 I stood for Labour in Tauranga against Winston Peters - a very interesting exercise. From 1983 - 1990 I was a member of the Primary Producers Council of the NZ Labour Party (with many other local and regional offices). From 1974 - 1978 I was active in the Values Party.
Right now - the best way to make a difference is to commit some money to Solnx.org.
If you are still reading, and still want to know more - then I keep a frequent blog here tedhoward.gaia.com/blog
Still interested - this blog on freedom and the discussion that went on for 3 weeks, was my most visited blog entry as at November 2009.
I am on facebook which I sometimes update also.
If any very high tech entity is reading this - please help me.