tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8779692138030920552024-02-19T01:52:50.869-05:00The John Platt Article LibraryAn archive of current and older (but still enjoyable!) articles, reviews, essays and more.John R. Platthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18031328798487186988noreply@blogger.comBlogger445125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-877969213803092055.post-59221848665947861702019-04-21T20:07:00.000-04:002019-04-21T20:07:59.628-04:00From the Archives: Unleash Your Inner InnovatorHey there! It's been a while since I've updated this blog. That's fine -- all of my current writing appears at The Revelator, instead of in half a dozen disparate publications, like in the heyday of this archive. But at the same time, I'm realizing that a lot of my older articles have disappeared from the web over the years.<br />
<br />
It's time to fix that.<br />
<br />
Here's the first of a few (probably quite a few) older articles that deserve to once again see the light of day. <br />
<br />
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18.0pt;">Unleash Your Inner Innovator</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">By John R. Platt</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>(Originally published by IEEE-USA's Today's Engineer in 2007.)</i> </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I first met Jeff (not his real name) at a bookstore in
central New Jersey. Jeff was an IEEE member and an engineer, but he didn't seem
to have a very high opinion of himself. "I just do my job," he told
me. "I'm not one of those R&D guys." </div>
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<br /></div>
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This surprised me. I asked him, "Don't you think you'll
invent something some day?" </div>
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<br /></div>
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"Nah," he replied. "I don't
think I have it in me to do something really innovative."</div>
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<br /></div>
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I felt bad for Jeff, because of those two words he used:
"<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">really innovative</i>."
Without even realizing it, Jeff was placing so much pressure on himself and his
creativity that he wasn't even willing to try. </div>
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<br /></div>
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The truth is, ideas come in all shapes and sizes, and anyone
can come up an innovative idea. But unfortunately, not everyone puts themselves
in an intellectual place where they are ready to take advantage of their own
creativity to do something innovative. </div>
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<br /></div>
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So... how do you come up with something innovative?
Sometimes all it takes is putting yourself in the right frame of mind. Here are
some strategies and approaches you can take to help unleash your own inner innovator.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Step 1: Ignore the
Nay-Sayers... Including Yourself</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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The first step toward coming up with an innovative idea is
to give yourself permission to innovate. You can't do anything if you are
holding yourself back. If you have ideas, let them live. Write them down. Try
them out. Test them. Voice them. Exercise your creativity. The more you let
yourself think in new ways, them more often you will do it.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Don't let others shoot your ideas down, either. This can
happen far too often on an organizational level. "That won't work here"
or "We've always done it this way" are no longer excuses. Rigidity
leads to stagnation. Don't be afraid of change. Embrace it.</div>
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</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Step 2: Start Small
(Unless You Think Big)</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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Not every innovation changes the world in one giant step.
Sometimes it's just as important to make small, incremental changes. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Think about it: can you make a small improvement to
something that already exists? Can you add value to an existing application? If
you could improve a device that you use every day, how would you do it? Can you
combine two ideas and make them better or easier when the work together? </div>
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<br /></div>
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Along the same line, many processes are ripe for improvement
and innovation. Start by taking a look at the processes you use every day. If
something takes ten steps, can you do it in nine? If not, can you trim the time
for any of the steps and make them more efficient? Is there an entirely
different way of doing something which will produce the same or similar result?
Can you cut costs? These are all vital questions, and answering them is just as
important as coming up with a new product.</div>
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<br /></div>
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You don't have to start small, of course. Your ability to
innovate is limited only by your ability to dream. Speaking of which...</div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Step 3: Inspire/Challenge
Your Creativity</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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You've probably heard the expression "think outside the
box." It's a good phrase, but how do you actually do it?</div>
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<br /></div>
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Here's one example. In 1975, musician Brian Eno and painter
Peter Schmidt came up with a technique to break themselves out of creative stalemates.
They produced a deck of cards they called "Oblique Strategies." Each
card contained a simple, challenging statement, like "change instrument
roles", "turn it upside down" and "emphasize the
flaws." While some of the cards obviously have more to do with music than
anything else, they have been used for years by numerous writers and creative
people to help point their work in directions they might not otherwise have
expected. </div>
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<br /></div>
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The lessons of "Oblique Strategies" are simple:
ask questions, don't make assumptions, don't force yourself down the same path
over and over again, look outside yourself, and trust yourself to come up with
the answers you need. </div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Step 4: Role Play</b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let's say you're working a particularly thorny problem, and
you just can't come up with an answer. But perhaps you know of someone else in
your field -- let's call him Fred -- who excels at this type of work. Don't go
ask Fred for help, but instead, ask yourself: "What would Fred do in this
situation?" Get inside Fred's head and put yourself in his shoes. By
looking at things from Fred's perspective, you might be able to role-play
yourself into an answer.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This technique also works in reverse. Just ask yourself, "What
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">wouldn't</i> Fred do?" Sometimes
taking the opposite approach of the experts in your field can yield surprising
results.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Another form of role playing can be of great use when working
on new products. Try to put yourself in the mindset of your end-user. How will
they use a product? What need will it serve? What problems would get in the way
of their enjoyment? What would make it more useful? Understanding your customer
is more than a marketing technique, it can help you to fill a need that isn't
being filled. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Step 5: Absorb
Everything</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Your mind is just like your stomach: it needs to be fed in
order to fuel your creativity. Read everything you can get your hands on. Try
new things. Cram your head with concepts and ideas and realities. Once your
head is full, your subconscious mind can start to sort through all of those little
bits of information and combine them in unexpected ways. When something new
comes along, it may trigger a memory of something else, and your mind may
combine the two to create something entirely new.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One man how understands this practice is science-fiction and
comic-book writer Warren Ellis (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Planetary,
Crooked Little Vein</i>). Ellis is known for the wild ideas which populate his
fiction. He also has a very good take on where inspiration, creativity and
innovation come from: "You take it from everywhere. It's like making
compost: you stack up a big pile of crap until it starts steaming, and hope
something useful fuses together at the bottom of the pile. You take in as much
information, as much experience, as possible, and let it float around until
bits connect together and form something new. That's inspiration. That's
writing." </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That's also innovation. Give it a try. See if your mind can
take 1 plus 1 and come up with 3.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Step 6: Try, Try,
Try, then Fail Again</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Not every idea is going to pan out. Don't worry about it.
Learn from your mistakes, and keep trying. Or examine where you went wrong, and
ask if it might lead to something different than what you were trying in the
first place. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After that, start again. You've got nothing to lose.</div>
John R. Platthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18031328798487186988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-877969213803092055.post-29065860017976954422017-05-22T08:00:00.000-04:002017-05-22T08:00:37.803-04:00I'm back!Well hello there. It's been a while.<br />
<br />
As announced here a few months ago, my freelancing days are mostly behind me. I am now the editor and lead writer of a new environmental website that launched this past week after four months of development. It's called <a href="http://therevelator.org/" target="_blank"><i>The Revelator</i></a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0WmB-hhSZGaCJlW1RrvKMVeIRMOG0DcPpbXl6uo4d8CsU8DJXpNyfcS1U0kT0bOMclk04_5QSM1R3__Slrg0-wOhKBYQ7Z-BSl2H_cwLjKLP_suWKLxPwdbY0icS7GNYWqYZXUC6Lrjk/s1600/rev+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="93" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0WmB-hhSZGaCJlW1RrvKMVeIRMOG0DcPpbXl6uo4d8CsU8DJXpNyfcS1U0kT0bOMclk04_5QSM1R3__Slrg0-wOhKBYQ7Z-BSl2H_cwLjKLP_suWKLxPwdbY0icS7GNYWqYZXUC6Lrjk/s320/rev+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
I'll still do the odd bit of freelancing here and there, but for the most part <i>The Revelator </i>will be the home for my journalism moving forward.<br />
<br />
And moving forward, we are. We were only "live" for three days last week, but that short time included a whole bunch of new pieces by me, including my opening editorial for the first day and several articles. Here's the whole list:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://therevelator.org/welcome/" target="_blank">Welcome to The Revelator</a><br /><br /><a href="http://therevelator.org/extinction-crisis-keep-feeling-overwhelmed/" target="_blank">The Extinction Crisis is Here. How do We Keep from Feeling Overwhelmed?</a><br /><br /><a href="http://therevelator.org/whooping-cranes-climate-change/" target="_blank">Whooping Cranes Could Be Wiped Out by Climate Change</a><br /><br /><a href="http://therevelator.org/greenlatinos-activism/" target="_blank">GreenLatinos: Working Locally, Connecting Nationally</a><br /><br /><a href="http://therevelator.org/trump-border-wall-10000-species/" target="_blank">Trump’s Border Wall Could Impact an Astonishing 10,000 Species</a><br /><br /><a href="http://therevelator.org/drawdown-solutions-global-warming/" target="_blank">Drawdown: 100 Powerful (and Sometimes Surprising) Solutions to Global Warming</a><br /><br />
<br />
<br />
Expect a lot more moving forward. We're just warming up!<br />
<br />John R. Platthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18031328798487186988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-877969213803092055.post-17927944183036118632017-03-20T08:00:00.000-04:002017-03-20T08:00:04.501-04:00The Green FalconsThis profile of the Atlanta Falcons' efforts to build a "green" stadium is pretty much the last of the freelance articles that I had in the queue before taking the new job -- I turned it in close to six months ago! -- and it's also one of the few times you'll ever find me writing anything sports-related. <br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://americanbuildersquarterly.com/2017/atlanta-falcons/">Green Beyond the Field – American Builders Quarterly</a><br />
<br />
Right now I'm deep into work to create the new environmental news site I announced a few weeks back. I'll tell you more about that soon! John R. Platthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18031328798487186988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-877969213803092055.post-79711952026004454472017-03-06T07:30:00.000-05:002017-03-06T07:30:00.155-05:00Elephants, Bees & DronesHey there! Miss me?<br />
<br />
I haven't had many articles to share lately because I'm deep in the development of the brand-new environmental news that I announced a few weeks ago. More details on that will come soon, but for now, here's one more freelance article that finally made its way into the world:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-to-get-elephants-to-buzz-off/" target="_blank">How to Get Elephants to Buzz Off - Scientific American</a><br />
<br />
Lots more coming soon -- well, maybe not <i>soon</i>, but before too much longer!John R. Platthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18031328798487186988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-877969213803092055.post-84784599836739292282017-02-06T08:30:00.000-05:002017-02-06T08:30:02.546-05:00Cannibals Hey folks! Posts on this blog are going to be few and far between for the next couple of months while I prepare to launch the new environmental news site that I announced last week. I still have a handful of articles working their way toward publication, though. Therefore, here's this week's one and only link, for <i>Hakai Magazine</i>: <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.hakaimagazine.com/article-short/hawaii-being-overrun-invasive-cannibals">Hawai‘i Is Being Overrun by Invasive Cannibals</a><br />
<br />
More as I have it -- and lots more in about two months! John R. Platthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18031328798487186988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-877969213803092055.post-55139613940839296012017-01-30T08:30:00.000-05:002017-01-30T08:30:04.452-05:00An article and a transition<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNDJXBqWqZMQcBTqKb0v82u1hFevZBO0OF23TwqroPpHFEOXWuPuiRKQ-FoVyTzBGXh1-k3G6YPm21XjpXWHCSOe9OemiM38tL7or44qSDtqGeh846Ib0gAJ7MqfeRA7ngHEXkDFNOEYI/s1600/rhino+sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNDJXBqWqZMQcBTqKb0v82u1hFevZBO0OF23TwqroPpHFEOXWuPuiRKQ-FoVyTzBGXh1-k3G6YPm21XjpXWHCSOe9OemiM38tL7or44qSDtqGeh846Ib0gAJ7MqfeRA7ngHEXkDFNOEYI/s320/rhino+sunset.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bigdog3c/5080267878/">J. Todd Poling, <em>Flickr</em> </a><a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(CC BY-2.0)</a></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So this week's only published article was more of an announcement. Here it is:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/not-an-extinction-a-transition/" target="_blank">Not an Extinction, a Transition</a><br />
<br />
That's right, after a decade of freelancing, I have taken a full-time editorial job to create a brand-new environmental news site, which will be affiliated with the Center for Biological Diversity. This independent site, which launches soon, will be the home of my "Extinction Countdown" articles moving forward, as well as other writing about climate change, public lands, environmental health and related topics. There will be hard-hitting investigative journalism, current news, commentary and thought pieces from leaders in the environmental community, and a whole lot more.<br />
<br />
Expect to hear more about the new site in the coming weeks and months.<br />
<br />
I still have a few completed freelance pieces in the queue at various publishers, and I will continue to write a few things here and there that don't fit the scope of the new site, but for the most part, all of my writing and editorial efforts will now be found in a single location.<br />
<br />
So yes, a big transition and a big opportunity to tell meaningful stories that help create change in the world. You can't get much better than that!John R. Platthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18031328798487186988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-877969213803092055.post-65295749476041088822017-01-23T08:30:00.000-05:002017-05-03T11:57:23.670-04:00Jumbos (elephants) and dwarfs (lemurs)This week's articles covered a giant species and a tiny one:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/chinas-ivory-ban-elephants/" target="_blank">Is China's Ivory Ban a Sign of Hope for Elephants?</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/stare-into-the-soulful-eyes-of-this-newly-discovered-dwarf-lemur-species/" target="_blank">Stare into the Soulful Eyes of This Newly Discovered Dwarf Lemur Species</a><br />
<br />
More coming this week -- along with big news about how I'll be spending the rest of this year.John R. Platthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18031328798487186988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-877969213803092055.post-90900643149282665312017-01-16T08:30:00.000-05:002017-01-16T08:30:34.778-05:00Polar bears, ring-tailed lemurs and Jimi Hendrix<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm4cCDrXqDKbd47I6ShkJQDHSWcwd70XRwLf0b1xKKfZ1Y4_ChkdlTDzSma1scwOr-EtVeqO1onVhgVsiJx89OVan8rTsv7S7X0khKJ-AslwWDbbYdNszdpIuw0EUXSAvDyE4Q7KW6Cn4/s1600/arct0080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm4cCDrXqDKbd47I6ShkJQDHSWcwd70XRwLf0b1xKKfZ1Y4_ChkdlTDzSma1scwOr-EtVeqO1onVhgVsiJx89OVan8rTsv7S7X0khKJ-AslwWDbbYdNszdpIuw0EUXSAvDyE4Q7KW6Cn4/s320/arct0080.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Last week brought just three new articles, because the year is still creaking to a slow start. But these are three good, important articles, all for <i>Scientific American</i>:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/polar-bear-plan-climate-change/" target="_blank">Polar Bear Conservation Plan Calls Climate Change "the Primary Threat" to Their Survival</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/endangered-plant-jimi-hendrix/" target="_blank">Meet the Endangered Plant Named after Rock Legend Jimi Hendrix</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/ring-tailed-lemur-crashe/" target="_blank">Ring-Tailed Lemur Populations Have Crashed by 95 Percent</a><br />
<br />
More next week!John R. Platthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18031328798487186988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-877969213803092055.post-9140347623999782672017-01-09T10:09:00.000-05:002017-01-09T10:09:04.099-05:00Looking back, looking aheadGood morning! Happy Monday! 2017 is starting to roll along, and I took the occasion to look both back and forward with this week's "Extinction Countdown" articles for <i>Scientific American</i>:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogs.sciam.com/extinction-countdown/conservation-stories-you-may-have-missed-in-2016/" target="_blank">Conservation Stories You May Have Missed in 2016</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/conservation-predictions-for-2017/" target="_blank">Conservation Predictions for 2017</a><br />
<br />
That's it! A short week for my headlines. More (much more) in the weeks and months ahead!John R. Platthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18031328798487186988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-877969213803092055.post-88424197235291301392016-12-31T08:30:00.000-05:002016-12-31T08:30:13.542-05:00My final article for 2016Welcome to the end of the year. Phew. We finally got here. What a long, strange trip it's been, huh?<br />
<br />
Anyway, I only published one article this week, and it was a look back at ten of my previous articles. How meta, right? Here it is:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/top-10-extinction-2016/">The Top 10 Extinction Countdown Articles of 2016</a><br />
<br />
And that brings 2016 to a wrap. See you in the New Year! John R. Platthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18031328798487186988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-877969213803092055.post-66753083248838309782016-12-26T08:30:00.000-05:002016-12-26T08:30:26.513-05:00Conservation's best and worst of 2016 (plus more)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3nhk4fkQgOspa6FsRiZP1se6P_KyYmnHghQOdl979E3_ay8UVM8_4mdMwvIaKyGvqms0bKYveIO_iXM6DMLpDdOUtEJrqKbJbAglQqVE_q_tan2gjuj0Y-Bk1MrnGyRBWWyBoKlFYsTA/s1600/giant+panda+michael+gwyther+jones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3nhk4fkQgOspa6FsRiZP1se6P_KyYmnHghQOdl979E3_ay8UVM8_4mdMwvIaKyGvqms0bKYveIO_iXM6DMLpDdOUtEJrqKbJbAglQqVE_q_tan2gjuj0Y-Bk1MrnGyRBWWyBoKlFYsTA/s320/giant+panda+michael+gwyther+jones.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Hey folks, happy Monday after Christmas. I'm probably heads-down already today (and the rest of this week) working on a top-secret project for early 2017, but meanwhile, the last of my articles for 2016 continue to eke their way out. Want to read the latest? Of course you do.<br />
<br />
I'll start with two big "Extinction Countdown" articles for <i>Scientific American</i>, looking back at the year that was. (Fair warning, the second piece is pretty darn bleak.)<br />
<a href="https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/best-wildlife-stories-2016/" target="_blank"><br /></a>
<a href="https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/best-wildlife-stories-2016/" target="_blank">The Best Wildlife Conservation Stories of 2016</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/worst-wildlife-stories-2016/" target="_blank">The Worst Wildlife Conservation Stories of 2016</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Next up, my latest for <i>Hakai</i> magazine, on the subject of beach restoration:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.hakaimagazine.com/article-short/reinforce-and-build" target="_blank">Reinforce and Rebuild</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Finally this week, here's my latest tech careers article for <i>IEEE-USA InSight</i>:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://insight.ieeeusa.org/insight/content/careers/564630" target="_blank">The Art & Science of Poster Sessions</a><br />
<br />
<br />
That's it for this week -- and pretty close to the end for 2016. I know I have at least one more article pending before December 31, so <a href="https://twitter.com/johnrplatt" target="_blank">follow me on Twitter</a> for the headline(s) as it (they) happen(s), or come on back here in a few days for another list.<br />
<br />
Happy holidays!John R. Platthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18031328798487186988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-877969213803092055.post-11236438697724370982016-12-19T08:30:00.000-05:002016-12-19T08:30:19.027-05:00Giraffes, Millennials and eBikes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglGxFWbacFXkPr3uzg6cEnnrB6FqbLUGv6BTJim6b-oVKsSBqaIx1mmW3ogIu5HkpxK2p_imweW_b-8A9FRiAtNcDdOYsuVUmNQhxscKta7JRhUiSRWkxpYr54N7pYNYNxhnjhZe_ekCU/s1600/giraffe+sadie+hart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglGxFWbacFXkPr3uzg6cEnnrB6FqbLUGv6BTJim6b-oVKsSBqaIx1mmW3ogIu5HkpxK2p_imweW_b-8A9FRiAtNcDdOYsuVUmNQhxscKta7JRhUiSRWkxpYr54N7pYNYNxhnjhZe_ekCU/s320/giraffe+sadie+hart.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Wow, December sure is motoring along. Like, I'm sure, a lot of you, the coming two weeks are all about tying up the last business of the year. Meanwhile, though, there sure are still a lot of my articles coming down the pike. Last week saw the publication of six new articles by me, covering a pretty broad range of topics.<br />
<br />
Let's start the list with my last two articles for <i>TakePart</i>, which, sadly, stopped publishing last week. I wrote nearly 300 articles for <i>TakePart </i>over the past three
years, including more than a few that I don't think anyone else would
have let me write. It's a shame to see them go, but I'm happy to go out
with two good stories, including one set here in Portland. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.takepart.com/article/2016/12/13/epa-restricts-use-pesticides-help-protect-endangered-species" target="_blank">EPA Restricts Use of Pesticides That Are Harming Endangered Species</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.takepart.com/article/2016/12/14/brown-goes-green-ups-test-electric-bikes-deliveries-portland" target="_blank">Brown Goes Green: UPS Tests Electric Bikes for Deliveries in Portland</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Next up, two new "Extinction Countdown" articles for <i>Scientific American</i>: <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/giraffes-silent-extinction/" target="_blank">Giraffe's "Silent Extinction" Finally Earns Some Noise</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/301-mammals-overhunting/" target="_blank">The 301 Mammal Species Most Threatened by Overhunting</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Switching gears, here's my latest tech careers feature for <i>IEEE-USA InSight</i>:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://insight.ieeeusa.org/insight/content/careers/563851" target="_blank">Generations: What Can Older and Younger Engineers Learn from Each Other?</a><br />
<br />
<br />
And finally, here's a neat business profile piece for <i>American Builders Quarterly</i>: <br />
<br />
<a href="http://americanbuildersquarterly.com/2016/williams-sonoma/" target="_blank">Culture + Art + Science = Retail Innovation</a><br />
<br />
<br />
That's it for this time around. Expect a few more links next Monday! John R. Platthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18031328798487186988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-877969213803092055.post-90223894369001898532016-12-12T08:00:00.000-05:002016-12-12T08:00:18.622-05:00Whale Snot and 13 Extinctions<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfiZjCISmv8KILQStPEEY0-7F2I4K7LIFM7CEUKlDvQhZxG7FB8zpBlG316rE5RsTZh2dN_VQi0fw20VD7rf-B2cjs-nUI6eM8Ndr6bo_8A4HnBvPviz_zB069QJ1RyVQd67_Vdvz3FOM/s1600/Himatione_fraithii.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfiZjCISmv8KILQStPEEY0-7F2I4K7LIFM7CEUKlDvQhZxG7FB8zpBlG316rE5RsTZh2dN_VQi0fw20VD7rf-B2cjs-nUI6eM8Ndr6bo_8A4HnBvPviz_zB069QJ1RyVQd67_Vdvz3FOM/s320/Himatione_fraithii.jpg" width="245" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dead birds flapping.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Welcome back, friends. It's time for this week's Monday morning wrap-up of my articles from the previous week. I have an extremely fun, positive story to start you off this time around, followed by a few downers, but ending on a positive note. My writing is a roller coaster of emotions!<br />
<br />
Ahem. <br />
<br />
Anyway. Let's start with the fun -- my latest for <i>Hakai Magazine</i> -- a story that I followed for a year before it could be told:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.hakaimagazine.com/article-short/how-high-schoolers-hacks-fixed-whale-snot-collecting-drone" target="_blank">How High Schoolers’ Hacks Fixed a Whale Snot-Collecting Drone</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Next up, two really depressing stories for <i>Scientific American</i>:<br />
<a href="https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/13-bird-species-extinct/" target="_blank"><br /></a>
<a href="https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/13-bird-species-extinct/" target="_blank">13 Bird Species Declared Extinct</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/crisis-mediterranean-sharks/" target="_blank">"Crisis" for Mediterranean Sharks</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Finally this week, two interesting stories for <i>TakePart</i>, the second of which gets us back into the fun zone!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.takepart.com/article/2016/12/09/beautiful-critters-score-cash-donors-ugly-animals-not-so-much" target="_blank">Cute Critters Score Cash From Donors, Ugly Animals Not So Much</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.takepart.com/article/2016/12/07/dont-drain-swamp-reigntheswamp" target="_blank">Don’t Drain the Swamp, #ReignTheSwamp</a><br />
<br />
<br />
That's it for this week! Geez, only a few more of these Monday reports before the end of the year. That mean it's time to start tallying up my articles for the year and picking my favorites -- a list that will include one of this week's stories! Come on back next Monday for another list, or <a href="https://twitter.com/johnrplatt" target="_blank">follow me on Twitter</a>, where I'll share headlines as they go live. John R. Platthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18031328798487186988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-877969213803092055.post-49540631083419624532016-12-05T08:30:00.000-05:002016-12-05T14:38:07.364-05:00Sharks that Walk and Coral that DiesHey folks, happy Monday. December is here and the mad rush toward the end of the year has begun. Maybe that's why I had so many articles appear last week, and why I'm working on so many more. <br />
<br />
This week's articles cover a pretty wide range of topics, but they also have some thematic overlaps. A couple of articles address coral ecosystems and the creatures that live in them, while a few more deal with life in the Arctic. There's some parallel between a piece about a day about extinction and an attempt to bring lost species back. Finally, there's a general theme of resiliency in the face of climate change and other threats.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUloP3bNllqd76NrxX9ZJyq3ovRXt4q3-J1fXPGVaKaBpAHPEQpYiINavCLZKthaOmb4AIlMW4_gB4X8AD8Kz11sAdHJSRexfp1qacnuLr80vqxmuNBq_x_U-yVTJVKy3rEMpNF7n25no/s1600/bamboo+shark+steve+childs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUloP3bNllqd76NrxX9ZJyq3ovRXt4q3-J1fXPGVaKaBpAHPEQpYiINavCLZKthaOmb4AIlMW4_gB4X8AD8Kz11sAdHJSRexfp1qacnuLr80vqxmuNBq_x_U-yVTJVKy3rEMpNF7n25no/s320/bamboo+shark+steve+childs.jpg" width="320" /><i></i></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A walking shark. Left, right, left, right...</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
But enough about themes. Let's get to the articles themselves. I'll start this week's list with my latest "Extinction Countdown" articles for <i>Scientific American:</i><br />
<a href="https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/ivory-gull-ice/" target="_blank"></a><br />
<a href="https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/ivory-gull-ice/" target="_blank"></a>
<a href="https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/ivory-gull-ice/" target="_blank">Another Arctic Species Losing Out as Sea Ice Declines: The Ivory Gull</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/walking-sharks/" target="_blank">Walking Sharks at Risk</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Next up, three new pieces for <i>TakePart</i>: <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.takepart.com/article/2016/11/29/lost-species-days-commemorates-animals-lost-extinction" target="_blank">A Day to Mark Fallen Species</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.takepart.com/article/2016/12/02/gone-400-years-beavers-get-protected-status-scotland" target="_blank">Gone for 400 Years, Returned Beavers Get Protected Status in Scotland</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.takepart.com/article/2016/11/30/19-ways-arctic-climate-change-could-unleash-global-catastrophe" target="_blank">19 Ways Arctic Climate Change Could Unleash a Global Catastrophe</a><br />
<br />
<br />
After that, here's my latest article for <i>Hakai Magazine</i>: <br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.hakaimagazine.com/article-short/there-life-dead-coral-reef" target="_blank">There Is Life on a Dead Coral Reef</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFy6RsTm7cowytLjjTDVTcaghaMSji-LgkVbRKMt2zymEDi42STFl3VqxU2raBYOlmAQ_Dd7npACbf0q2LaAb4vm7mCusjg41Gt4AZOe3oMC8dJFaUPRFYgn3lwQZD7HT8vuuh8xeeWPE/s1600/E-Man+1+Cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFy6RsTm7cowytLjjTDVTcaghaMSji-LgkVbRKMt2zymEDi42STFl3VqxU2raBYOlmAQ_Dd7npACbf0q2LaAb4vm7mCusjg41Gt4AZOe3oMC8dJFaUPRFYgn3lwQZD7HT8vuuh8xeeWPE/s200/E-Man+1+Cover.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>
And finally this week, here's the third part of my epic trilogy about Einstein and comic books for <i>From the Grapevine</i>. This is half personal essay, half history lesson:<br />
<a href="https://www.fromthegrapevine.com/arts/e-man-superhero-inspired-albert-einstein" target="_blank"><br /></a>
<a href="https://www.fromthegrapevine.com/arts/e-man-superhero-inspired-albert-einstein" target="_blank">Meet 'E-Man,' the superhero inspired by Albert Einstein</a><br />
<br />
<br />
That's it for this time around. Come on back next Monday for another batch of articles. Hey, it's better than hitting the mall for holiday shopping! John R. Platthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18031328798487186988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-877969213803092055.post-66982955618908601142016-11-28T08:30:00.000-05:002016-11-28T08:30:16.452-05:00Volunteering and Turkeys<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fExu0uZhY-j6yJq7pcqwCmeoWGwuvoYe3TLxm9sP_7pPTcrGP1zkdGJwRXbO6ptbLE5HXcAuhcr3kFrz1GtphQWWQVXE4E9bnt4jJr8jZWYmIPA5YPka1dFVpTGBIo2e17lQofYIwBs/s1600/waigeo+brush+turkey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fExu0uZhY-j6yJq7pcqwCmeoWGwuvoYe3TLxm9sP_7pPTcrGP1zkdGJwRXbO6ptbLE5HXcAuhcr3kFrz1GtphQWWQVXE4E9bnt4jJr8jZWYmIPA5YPka1dFVpTGBIo2e17lQofYIwBs/s320/waigeo+brush+turkey.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goggle, gobble.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Happy Post-Thanksgiving Monday! This week's headline recap is on the light side, thankfully, because publications slow down during the holidays. That meant just two new articles of mine came out last week -- although I worked on quite a few more. Look for those in the coming weeks, but for now, here are last week's stories.<br />
<br />
I'll start with my latest for <i>IEEE-USA InSight</i>:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://insight.ieeeusa.org/insight/content/careers/542483" target="_blank">Engineering for Good: Help Make the World a Better Place by Putting Your Skills to Works as a Volunteer</a><br />
<br />
And here's a short, holiday-themed piece for Extinction Countdown at <i>Scientific American</i>:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/thanksgiving-waigeo-turkey/" target="_blank">Thanksgiving Species Spotlight: Waigeo Brush-Turkey</a><br />
<br />
That's it! I hope you still have some delicious leftovers for lunch today. Enjoy, and come on back next Monday for what will likely be a much longer list.John R. Platthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18031328798487186988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-877969213803092055.post-37752091028124175692016-11-21T08:30:00.000-05:002016-11-21T08:30:28.874-05:00Two Orange Species (and a whole lot more)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSHAawD999azAOp1GlbbyE9WzZ5YmyIoGhUtPK2jmWT6Y1hHbLAI8ApIYWnbYXRwFBN8Delk65AlL3OIaPjWhS58R-YIup3FKAG1H23AMWDsl30BFinI_eD1Rj6YWkq3EEPDczTK7lnmQ/s1600/tiger+caged.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSHAawD999azAOp1GlbbyE9WzZ5YmyIoGhUtPK2jmWT6Y1hHbLAI8ApIYWnbYXRwFBN8Delk65AlL3OIaPjWhS58R-YIup3FKAG1H23AMWDsl30BFinI_eD1Rj6YWkq3EEPDczTK7lnmQ/s320/tiger+caged.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Hello and welcome to another Monday morning link list, showcasing my articles from the previous week. This time around we have four articles for two publishers, one of each has to do with a predominantly orange species.<br />
<br />
Here are the first two, for <i>Scientific American</i>:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/tiger-farms-trafficking/" target="_blank">Tiger Farms Linked to Massive Surge in Illegal Trafficking</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/birds-threatened-remote-sensing/" target="_blank">New Technology Reveals Hundreds of Bird Species at Risk</a><br />
<br />
<br />
And here are the final two, for <i>TakePart</i>: <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.takepart.com/article/2016/11/14/palm-oil-kills-orangutans-can-industry-help-save-great-apes" target="_blank">Palm Oil Kills Orangutans, but Can the Industry Help Save the Great Apes?</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.takepart.com/article/2016/11/16/tuna-now-comes-little-bit-less-mercury" target="_blank">Burning Less Coal Means Less Mercury in Your Tuna</a><br />
<br />
<br />
This is Thanksgiving week here in the States, so there may not be too many new articles published. On the other hand, I have quite a few in the queue at various publishers, so who knows when they'll all appear. In any case, come on back here next Monday for another list, as long or as short as it may be. John R. Platthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18031328798487186988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-877969213803092055.post-85227631714619157212016-11-14T08:30:00.000-05:002016-11-14T08:30:22.596-05:00Elephant Butts and a Whooping Crane WhoopsHappy Monday, dear readers! It's time for another linkfest with all of my previous week's articles. No big theme this time around, just some good stuff.<br />
<br />
Let's start with two new articles for <i>TakePart</i>, one of which has to do with endangered species, the other of which covers interesting new technology:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.takepart.com/article/2016/11/07/90-percent-new-zealand-seabirds-risk-extinction" target="_blank">New Zealand Has the Most Seabirds on the Planet, and 90 Percent Are at Risk</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.takepart.com/article/2016/11/08/disabled-and-driverless-vehicles" target="_blank">You’ve Heard of Self-Driving Cars. Now Here Comes the Self-Driving Scooter</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Next up, my latest for <i>Audubon</i>:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.audubon.org/news/the-saga-16-11-star-crossed-whooping-crane-now-mating-rehab" target="_blank">The Saga of 16-11, a Star-Crossed Whooping Crane Now In Mating Rehab </a><br />
<br />
<br />
Finally, here's yet another elephant-related article for <i>Scientific American</i>:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/asian-elephants-seed-forest/" target="_blank">Asian Elephants Help Seed the Forest</a><br />
<br />
<br />
That's it for this time around. I have quite a few other articles already in the queue at various publishers, and even more beyond that in the works. <a href="https://twitter.com/johnrplatt" target="_blank">Follow me on Twitter</a> for links as they happen, or come on back here next Monday for another list!John R. Platthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18031328798487186988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-877969213803092055.post-76120253479607629732016-11-07T08:00:00.000-05:002016-11-07T08:00:27.027-05:00Voting + Elephants, Bats and Penguins<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgLLluRvaCG_Nv_dXVlbgLx-4ghNT8FCqAqwOdpyMkwtd-zGSgNbNEYkTxF9Owu5kLZsGk3HfCwmFF-fC9uSdtcuuDqwDK8SDzSP-eOb6DxcpQqFIFePdgZ7XoykhOcOEuBsC6wakgULg/s1600/trump+elephant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgLLluRvaCG_Nv_dXVlbgLx-4ghNT8FCqAqwOdpyMkwtd-zGSgNbNEYkTxF9Owu5kLZsGk3HfCwmFF-fC9uSdtcuuDqwDK8SDzSP-eOb6DxcpQqFIFePdgZ7XoykhOcOEuBsC6wakgULg/s320/trump+elephant.jpg" width="320" /><i></i></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Courtesy of Air Shepherd</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Last week brought a bounty of timely articles, and a few pieces on interesting uses of technology.<br />
<br />
The most timely of the bunch was this, my first article for <i>Sierra Magazine</i>, just in time for the 2016 election:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/green-life/vote-for-biodiversity" target="_blank">Vote for Biodiversity</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Next up, two pieces for <i>Scientific American</i>, one of which is also kind of (but really isn't) about tomorrow's election, while the other was timed for last Monday's Halloween:<br />
<a href="https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/elephant-trump-drones/" target="_blank"><br /></a>
<a href="https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/elephant-trump-drones/" target="_blank">How Do You Stop a Marauding Bull Elephant Named Trump? Send in the Drones</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/halloween-horror-spectral-vampire-bat/" target="_blank">Halloween Horrors: The Spectral Vampire Bat</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Finally this week, here's a neat new story for <i>TakePart</i>:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.takepart.com/article/2016/10/31/penguin-detectives-wanted" target="_blank">Penguin Detectives Wanted</a><br />
<br />
<br />
That's it for this time around. Join me next Monday for another list, or <a href="https://twitter.com/johnrplatt" target="_blank">follow me on Twitter</a> for headlines as they happen. John R. Platthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18031328798487186988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-877969213803092055.post-55607710037510109012016-10-31T08:30:00.000-04:002016-10-31T08:30:12.602-04:00Turtle WeekWell here's a rarity: a week with just three new Platt publications. That feels strange, since I think I worked on about 587 other articles throughout the week, including stuff that will see print next week, next month, and probably next year.<br />
<br />
Anyway, here are the links to those three articles, two of which have to do with turtles (and the third of which is just cool). The first one was for <i>TakePart </i>while the next two were for <i>Scientific American</i>:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.takepart.com/article/2016/10/24/state-exported-16-million-turtles-asia" target="_blank">Stopping Louisiana's Turtle Apocalypse</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/bellinger-turtle-update/" target="_blank">Seeds of Hope after Disease Wipes Out 90 Percent of Rare Turtle Species</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/box-lost-species/" target="_blank">What's in the Box? A Long-Lost Species</a><br />
<br />
More next week -- and beyond! Follow me on Twitter for headlines as they happen. John R. Platthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18031328798487186988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-877969213803092055.post-84659424002406438412016-10-24T08:30:00.000-04:002016-10-24T10:18:10.348-04:00Elephant Feet, Snow Leopards and Elevator Speeches<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhobQHibHc1AQYVujaFvCz0Ilz0Ast-A4RDujM45swh3TUe8F5JUwidlAsHZbJ65DiVP_7bKTY8uupmyxVQCt_UOk6LESAkl8v3uMByZKLeXQxkkY0kcMe5DUpzH1yrUFXR_eGMZqyEibg/s1600/sciam+11-2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhobQHibHc1AQYVujaFvCz0Ilz0Ast-A4RDujM45swh3TUe8F5JUwidlAsHZbJ65DiVP_7bKTY8uupmyxVQCt_UOk6LESAkl8v3uMByZKLeXQxkkY0kcMe5DUpzH1yrUFXR_eGMZqyEibg/s1600/sciam+11-2016.jpg" /></a></div>
Another week, another six publications. That's a bit more than usual, but it includes a couple of pieces that were in work for a long time and have now finally seen print.<br />
<br />
Speaking of print, this week's list starts with my article from the November print issue of <i>Scientific American</i>, which is an adaptation and expansion of an article I did for them online two months ago:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/elephant-footprints-teem-with-life/" target="_blank">Elephant Footprints Teem with Life</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Sticking with <i>SciAm</i>, here are my two latest "Extinction Countdown" articles (including my second snow leopard article for the month):<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/mangrove-finch-slow-motion/" target="_blank">The Mangrove Finch: An Extinction in Slow Motion</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/snow-leopards-climate-change/" target="_blank">Snow Leopards Could Lose Two-Thirds of Their Habitat due to Climate Change</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Next up, a new wildlife article and a green-tech piece for <i>TakePart</i>:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.takepart.com/article/2016/10/17/forest-conservation-has-new-poster-child-gopher-tortoise" target="_blank">Forest Conservation Has a New Poster Child: The Gopher Tortoise</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.takepart.com/article/2016/10/20/get-ready-supergrid" target="_blank">Renewable Energy Is About to Get Supersized</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Finally, sticking with tech, here's my latest careers article for IEEE-USA InSight. This is technically geared toward engineers, but I think anyone can get something out of it. I know I learned a lot while writing it:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://insight.ieeeusa.org/insight/content/careers/491717" target="_blank">How to Craft a Winning Elevator Speech</a><br />
<br />
<br />
That's it for this week. Come on back next Monday for another list! John R. Platthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18031328798487186988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-877969213803092055.post-38507378639201471072016-10-17T08:00:00.000-04:002016-10-17T08:00:10.509-04:00Shrinking Leopards, Twilight Coral and Two Extinctions<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4hht77lbtChlpFtm2x4IeNTt4ujLqIq1svbZcMtYOWpPj-orkpZFDIR7kCoLc8be30zhjMxSkNi3_p2FYqMmQAZqvh71oib1WgI9Py453SdWRTguae6S8RwYfxtuJJE3bhuPeXZVR3g/s1600/BlackLeopard-Cropped11-1280x699.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu4hht77lbtChlpFtm2x4IeNTt4ujLqIq1svbZcMtYOWpPj-orkpZFDIR7kCoLc8be30zhjMxSkNi3_p2FYqMmQAZqvh71oib1WgI9Py453SdWRTguae6S8RwYfxtuJJE3bhuPeXZVR3g/s320/BlackLeopard-Cropped11-1280x699.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Credit DWNP, Panthera, and Rimba</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I love my job -- yes, even though I cover some pretty bleak topics, like the ones you'll find in three out of this week's four articles. I may find myself writing bad news more often than not, but it's an amazing opportunity for me to speak to the people who are doing good in this world to help us understand the threats that we face -- and maybe to turn them around.<br />
<br />
That said, let's start with this week's bleakest articles, my latest for PBS's <i>Nature</i>:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/blog/spotty-future-indochinese-leopard/" target="_blank">Indochinese Leopard’s Range Has Shrunk by more than 94 Percent</a><br />
<br />
<br />
And here are two pieces for <i>TakePart</i>, one good and one bad, both important:<br />
<a href="http://www.takepart.com/article/2016/10/10/hawaiis-newly-discovered-deep-sea-reefs-thrive-twilight-zone" target="_blank"><br /></a>
<a href="http://www.takepart.com/article/2016/10/10/hawaiis-newly-discovered-deep-sea-reefs-thrive-twilight-zone" target="_blank">Hawaii’s Newly Discovered Deep-Sea Reefs Thrive in a ‘Twilight Zone’</a><br />
<a href="http://www.takepart.com/article/2016/10/13/san-francisco-bay-starving-water" target="_blank"><br /></a>
<a href="http://www.takepart.com/article/2016/10/13/san-francisco-bay-starving-water" target="_blank">The West Coast’s Largest Estuary Is Being Starved of Water</a><br />
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Finally this week, here's my latest for <i>Scientific American</i>, which combines terrible news with slightly less bad news:<br />
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<a href="https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/beetles-protected-extinct/" target="_blank">1 Endangered Beetle Species Gets Protected, 2 More Go Extinct</a><br />
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That's it for this time around, but hang on to your hats (or glasses, as the case may be). I have at least six articles already in the queue with my editors pending publication and you should start seeing them as early as today. That's in addition to the brand-new stuff that I will actually start writing today. It's going to be a busy week! I'll post the headlines as they happen on Twitter, so follow along there or come on back here next Monday for another list. Maybe they won't all be quite so bleak!John R. Platthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18031328798487186988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-877969213803092055.post-44034780372526220892016-10-10T08:00:00.000-04:002016-10-10T08:00:01.576-04:00Crows + Marijuana + EinsteinWelcome to a new week! Here's another batch of articles for your Monday morning eyeballs. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin_oC929vGrgU-l7puvgz2EoNg5x9MPH-0NDFsTrlMaGQPPnuEtEV2vN3xz4VXZOfvOkZFZ2mH8tgWVqaAgAlrKy4Oap5618nsEp8vqS3GX92emLEJJFzYwc0jZuYAYljmmwrieQw5jSU/s1600/einstein-book-2-1006.jpg.824x0_q71.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin_oC929vGrgU-l7puvgz2EoNg5x9MPH-0NDFsTrlMaGQPPnuEtEV2vN3xz4VXZOfvOkZFZ2mH8tgWVqaAgAlrKy4Oap5618nsEp8vqS3GX92emLEJJFzYwc0jZuYAYljmmwrieQw5jSU/s320/einstein-book-2-1006.jpg.824x0_q71.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Source: Nobrow Press</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Let's start with two positive conservation-themed stories, the first for <i>Audubon</i>, the second for <i>Scientific American</i>:<br />
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<a href="http://www.audubon.org/news/the-hawaiian-crow-ready-make-its-big-comeback" target="_blank">The Hawaiian Crow Is Ready to Make Its Big Comeback </a><br />
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<a href="https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/cites-cop17-wrapup/" target="_blank">Great News for Rhinos, Pangolins, Parrots, Sharks and Chambered Nautilus</a><br />
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Next up, an interesting news story for <i>TakePart</i>: <br />
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<a href="http://www.takepart.com/article/2016/10/05/how-your-pot-habit-contributing-climate-crisis" target="_blank">The Marijuana Boom Is Contributing to the Climate Crisis</a><br />
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And finally this week, an interview with a graphic novelist for <i>From the Grapevine</i>:<br />
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<a href="http://www.fromthegrapevine.com/arts/albert-einstein-comic-anne-simon-corinne-maier-nobrow" target="_blank">Einstein gets graphic in new biography</a><br />
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More next Monday -- or <a href="https://twitter.com/johnrplatt" target="_blank">follow along on Twitter</a> for headlines as they go live. John R. Platthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18031328798487186988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-877969213803092055.post-5641239311811591522016-10-03T08:00:00.000-04:002016-10-03T11:03:53.603-04:00Snow Leopards, Biomimicry and a Frog Extinction<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji23FpFQqZCmWo7eVgwPqMMi7Az9jjvk6yRLpmPrbRKTdfwqKfMKs7q2TmFWhDo4PP5V8XEGhQMxdBNLK3bMUbnw8tJnEqa0WnSJ47FP36aabmMoH8l6eWUKjVMeKr4EH3gST-W1rrmNI/s1600/rabbs+tree+frog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji23FpFQqZCmWo7eVgwPqMMi7Az9jjvk6yRLpmPrbRKTdfwqKfMKs7q2TmFWhDo4PP5V8XEGhQMxdBNLK3bMUbnw8tJnEqa0WnSJ47FP36aabmMoH8l6eWUKjVMeKr4EH3gST-W1rrmNI/s320/rabbs+tree+frog.jpg" width="320" /><i></i></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Say good-bye, little froggie.</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Wow, last week was busy! Five new article publications, plus work on half a dozen more. But let me tell you, the effort was worth it, not just for the chance to tell good, important stories but also for the incredible reaction from all of my readers.<br />
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Nothing personified that more than my latest for PBS's <i>Nature</i>, a positive conservation article that went totally viral:<br />
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<a href="http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/blog/high-tech-tools-enable-study-elusive-snow-leopards/" target="_blank">Snow Leopard Conservation Gets Boost from New Tech</a><br />
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This week's articles for <i>Scientific American</i> were far less positive, but they had to be told. I've been following these stories for a while and neither is a happy tale:<br />
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<a href="http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/rabbs-tree-frog-extinct/" target="_blank">The Rabbs' Tree Frog Just Went Extinct</a><br />
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<a href="http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/two-years-ploughshare-tortoise/" target="_blank">Two Years to Ploughshare Tortoise Extinction?</a><br />
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But let's get happy again with this week's articles for <i>TakePart</i>. The first one might seem like a tough bit of news, but the people working to save the California Condor are doing great work. The second article in this batch is my latest green-tech piece.<br />
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<a href="http://www.takepart.com/article/2016/09/28/tiny-threat-endangering-north-americas-largest-bird" target="_blank">The Tiny Threat That’s Killing North America’s Largest Bird</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.takepart.com/article/2016/09/29/mimicking-nature-fight-climate-change" target="_blank">Mimicking Nature to Fight Climate Change</a><br />
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That's it for this time around. Come on by next Monday for another list, or <a href="https://twitter.com/johnrplatt" target="_blank">follow me on Twitter</a> for links as they go live.John R. Platthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18031328798487186988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-877969213803092055.post-27467736694259740972016-09-26T08:00:00.000-04:002016-09-26T08:00:18.122-04:00Koalas, Killers and a CrisisAh, Monday, that favorite day of the week when all the caffeine in the world just isn't <i>quite </i>enough.<br />
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So let's hold off on the start of this week for a few more minutes while that third cup of coffee starts to work its way through your veins. As far as I'm concerned, it's still last week until your heart starts to beat just a little bit faster and the neurons in your brain start to figure out how to make your vocal chords work once again. While we wait for that to happen, let's take a moment and look at my articles from the week before this dreaded Monday.<br />
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I'll start this list with my latest article for PBS's Nature:<br />
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<a href="http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/blog/climate-change-koalas/" target="_blank">Climate Change Could Turn Up Heat on Already Vulnerable Koalas</a><br />
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Moving on from that happy topic, here are two new "Extinction Countdown" articles for <i>Scientific American</i>, both of which ended up being about invasive species:<br />
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<a href="http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/worst-invasive-predators/" target="_blank">The World's Worst Invasive Predators are Cats, Rats, Pigs and...Hedgehogs?</a><br />
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<a href="http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/killer-shrimp-bullies/" target="_blank">The Killer Shrimp Bullies Species into Extinction</a><br />
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Finally this week, here's my latest for <i>TakePart</i>, an important environmental topic that doesn't get nearly enough visibility:<br />
<a href="http://www.takepart.com/article/2016/09/21/conservation-crisis-no-one-talking-about-sand" target="_blank"><br /></a>
<a href="http://www.takepart.com/article/2016/09/21/conservation-crisis-no-one-talking-about-sand" target="_blank">The Conservation Crisis No One Is Talking About: Sand</a><br />
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That's it for this week. Which is good, because all of that caffeine is starting to make you jumpy. You night want to slow down on that stuff a bit. Maybe a nice cup of decaf with lunch, okay?<br />
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See ya next Monday (sigh), or <a href="https://twitter.com/johnrplatt" target="_blank">follow me on Twitter</a> all week long.John R. Platthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18031328798487186988noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-877969213803092055.post-26808571671067004022016-09-19T08:30:00.000-04:002016-09-23T12:20:18.804-04:00Climate, Crime & Comics Happy Monday, dear readers! It's time for my weekly roundup of my most recent articles. This time around I have five new pieces for you, all focusing on the three big C's: climate, crime and comics.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiyehJoTEeXXHi7MPET3z57cDMaiwjOVb1GscsjEGh62qBMdMy1k4MTkhDuX66VKC819e3J4lRJjSYwnb1rPK2wm3KVAuOhqOCM66sfKe1hhpYNaMhv1L-fMhqv0cAW0Fboj5qvhRHgew/s1600/madhouse+effect.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiyehJoTEeXXHi7MPET3z57cDMaiwjOVb1GscsjEGh62qBMdMy1k4MTkhDuX66VKC819e3J4lRJjSYwnb1rPK2wm3KVAuOhqOCM66sfKe1hhpYNaMhv1L-fMhqv0cAW0Fboj5qvhRHgew/s320/madhouse+effect.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
Let's start with my latest articles for <i>TakePart</i>. The first features interviews with climate scientist Michael E. Mann and editorial cartoonist Tom Toles. The second is a cool program I that doesn't get nearly enough credit for the good it's done.<br />
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<a href="http://www.takepart.com/article/2016/09/15/new-weapon-war-against-climate-change-denial-laughter" target="_blank">A New Weapon in the War Against Climate Change Denial: Laughter</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.takepart.com/article/2016/09/12/agriculture-helps-drive-rural-renewable-energy-use" target="_blank">Rural America’s New Cash Crop: Renewable Energy</a><br />
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Next up, here are two new "Extinction Countdown" articles for <i>Scientific American</i>. The first is a crime story you haven't seen anywhere else. The second is a story I've been following for several years now and it's starting to get me a bit frustrated.<br />
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<a href="http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/african-grey-parrots-stolen/" target="_blank">Thousands of African Grey Parrots Stolen from the Wild Every Month</a><br />
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<a href="http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/extinction-countdown/climate-pika-denied/" target="_blank">Climate-Threatened American Pika Denied Protection--Again</a><br />
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Getting back to the crime angle, here's my profile of World Wrestling Entertainment's top intellectual property attorney, who just loves to fight copyright thieves, for <i>Profile Magazine</i>:<br />
<a href="http://Win Battles Outside the Ring to Protect Trademark and Fans" target="_blank"><br /></a>
<a href="http://profilemagazine.com/2016/wwe/" target="_blank">Win Battles Outside the Ring to Protect Trademark and Fans</a><br />
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Finally this week, back to the comics connection. You may recall a piece I did for <i>From the Grapevine</i> a few months back where I tracked some of Albert Einstein's most memorable appearances in comic books. Well, here's the next logical step in that examination:<br />
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<a href="http://www.fromthegrapevine.com/arts/batman-day-albert-einstein" target="_blank">What did Batman and Einstein have in common?</a><br />
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That's it for this time around. I'm working on all kinds of new stuff, so come on back here next Monday for another link list, or follow me on Twitter for links as they happen.John R. Platthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18031328798487186988noreply@blogger.com0