More on Texas genocide advocate

by **Dreams End** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 5:30 pm

It's not the speech that bugged me, it was the applause. Anyway, gouda got me off on a tangent. Check out the resume of "insignificant crazy person" Joseph George Caldwell. Self reported, but still, pretty interesting. Sorry it's so long, but have a look, it's pretty interesting. And it doesn't even include the classified stuff that, if the rest is true, surely is part of his history. <blockquote>Quote:<hr> Education... Ph.D., Statistics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1966 B.S., Mathematics, Carnegie‑Mellon University, 1962 Consultant... to US government agencies, state governments, and corporations Director/Supervisor of major projects in... o strategy and tactics (national security, ballistic missile defense, theater-level operations) o artificial intelligence / expert systems (automated scenario generation) o multisensor fusion; situation assessment; estimation, prediction, and control; correlation/tracking; satellite surveillance systems o simulation and modeling (ocean surveillance, ballistic missile defense, communications-electronics) o systems and software engineering (structured analysis / design; object-oriented design) o system development (requirements, design, implementation and test) o test and evaluation (communications-electronics, C4IEW) o statistical applications (test design, data analysis, statistical methodology, survey design) o scientific programming (statistics, optimization, graphics; expert systems, spatial analysis) o operations research and statistics o geographic information systems, mapping information systems o programming languages / development environments / tools / mathematical software packages: C, FORTRAN, Visual Basic, MS-DOS/Windows, UNIX, SAS, SPSS, Statistica, dBASE/FoxPro/Access, SQL, ArcView GIS, MATLAB, Numerical Recipes, many others o standards: ISO 9000 Quality Management; ISO 12207 Information Technology; DOD-STD-2167A, MIL-STD-498 Software Development; Carnegie Mellon University Software Engineering Institute Capability Maturity Model (SEI CMM) Manager of contract research / system development firm (seven years); successful bidder on numerous technical contracts, including four Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contracts. Manager of R&D department of major US Army test and evaluation center. Director of more than twenty projects. Chief information officer of the central bank of Botswana. Set IT vision, strategy, policy, procedures; supervised all IT operations. Supervised Year 2000 project and bankwide disaster recovery project. Professor of Statistics at the University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona Developer of technical seminars and computer program packages in defense applications, sample survey, forecasting, and geographic information systems Languages: Spanish, French; limited German; "street" Arabic; native in English Summary of Experience. Dr. Caldwell's professional career in systems analysis, system development, research and management has centered on the use of modern analysis techniques to solve practical problems in government, commercial, industrial, and defense applications. His career includes founder and manager of Vista Research Corporation, manager of the R&D Department and Principal Scientist of the US Army Electronic Proving Ground's Electromagnetic Environmental Test Facility, and consultant or employee to major contract firms (Bell Technical Operations, SINGER Systems and Software Engineering, General Research Corporation, Planning Research Corporation, Research Triangle Institute). SUMMARY OF WORK IN MISSILE DEFENSE. The following paragraphs summarize work in ballistic missile defense and related areas. Derivation of Optimal Ballistic Missile Area Defense. Derived the optimal solution to the problem of allocating imperfect (less than perfect reliability) area interceptors to defense sites. This problem is technically referred to as "subtractive overlapping-island defense with imperfect interceptors." It is technically difficult because it is a two-sided optimization problem (a resource-constrained game) involving a "nonlinear, noncontinuous, nonconvex payoff function." The solution to this problem is necessary to compare alternative ballistic missile defense system configurations, and to make decisions about sizing and allocation of interceptor stockpiles. This work is described in the report, Subtractive Overlapping-Island Defense with Imperfect Interceptors, US Arms Control and Disarmament Agency Report ACDA/ST-166. Derivation of Optimal Ballistic Missile Point (Local) Defense. Derived the optimal solution to the problem of allocating imperfect point-defense (hardsite defense) interceptors to local defense sites. As in the case of area interceptors, this problem is technically difficult to solve, since it involves nonconvex, noncontinuous payoff functions. This solution is needed to compare alternative defense configurations in the case of point defense (e.g., defense of an isolated radar facility, or a target of such importance that its interceptors would not be used to defend alternative targets). This work is described in the report, Some Problems in Ballistic Missile Defense Involving Radar Attacks and Imperfect Interceptors, US Arms Control and Disarmament Agency Report ACDA/ST-145. Hardsite Defense Model. Developed the HARDSITE computer model to analyze ballistic missile defense systems. The model included treatment of imperfect interceptors, reprogramming of interceptors, decoy silos and sites, redundant radars, local (modular) and area defense, multiple reentry vehicles (RVs), decoy RVs, and multiple weapon types. The model determines the optimal preallocated, randomized, (min-max) defense-offense strategies, taking radars into account, and can also be used to determine the value of simple nonoptimal strategies. This work is described in the report, HARDSITE Defense Model, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense Contract DAHC15-68-C-0187. Conflict, Negotiation, and General-Sum Game Theory. Developed a computationally tractable general-sum (non zero-sum) game-theoretic solution to war, taking into account the effect of the threat of war on negotiations (this work found a practical solution to John Nash’s bargaining solution to a non zero-sum game). (Game-theoretic formulations arise in the evaluation of weapon systems since it is important to evaluate all systems when optimally deployed.) Most war gaming, weapons allocation, and force procurement models have been developed using either zero-sum payoffs (one player's loss is the other's gain), or ignoring the relationship of conflict to negotiation. This work shows how optimal strategies for the difficult mathematical problem of solving a general-sum game (which represents war better than the zero-sum formulation) can be approximated by the solution to a particular zero-sum game derived from the general-sum game. This work is described in the report, Conflict, Negotiation, and General-Sum Game Theory, Office of Naval Research Contract N00014-69-C-0282. Naval Combat Damage Model; Multiple Resource-Constrained Game Solution. As part of a project to determine a model to assess the value of naval general-purpose forces, methods were determined for solving matrix games having multiple resource constraints. A solution was determined by combining the method of generalized lagrange multipliers and the Brown-Robinson method of fictitious play. This work is described in the papers, Naval Combat Damage Model, ONR Contract N00014-69-C-0282 and Multiple Resource-Constrained Game Solution, ONR Contract N00014-69-C-0282. US Navy Systems Simulation Program. As part of the effort to design the Naval Satellite Ocean Surveillance System, determined methods for performing correlation/tracking and multisensor fusion of surveillance data. This work is described in the reports, Correlation/Tracking Performance Study and Improvements to the Systems Simulation Program, Navy Space Systems Activity (NAVELEX). Evaluation of Alternative Missile Tracking Systems. For the Advanced Ballistic Missile Defense Agency, conducted a study to compare the performance of alternative missile tracking algorithms. The study centered on analysis of the performance of autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA, or "Box-Jenkins"<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/wink.gif ALT=";)"> models compared to the Kalman filter and alpha-beta trackers. The work is described in the report, Box-Jenkins Filter Feasibility Study, Advanced Ballistic Missile Defense Agency, Contract DAHC 60-71-C-0048. This work laid the groundwork for the development of the “Cassandra” tracker, a Bayesian, nonlinear missile tracker subsequently developed by G Lucas and Hugh Everett III. (Cassandra is not only appropriate for tracking maneuvering missiles, but for identifying “turning points” in financial markets.) CAREER SUMMARY Management and Scientific Consultant (1974-present) Served as independent consultant to numerous consulting firms and other organizations, including Planning Research Corporation, General Research Corporation, Bell Technical Operations, Western Research Company, Chemonics, Academy for Educational Development in systems and software engineering, system development, project and program management, management information systems, statistics, operations research, research design, program monitoring and evaluation, and strategy and policy analysis in defense and other application areas. Recent assignments include: Management Consulting / Information Technology / Senior Management. Currently (2002-2003) serving as technical advisor to the Zambian Ministry of Education, to develop a management information system to store and retrieve data collected in the annual school census (US Agency for International Development / Academy for Educational Development). Prior to that (1999-2001), served as Director of Management Systems (chief information officer) of the Bank of Botswana (Botswana’s central bank). Applied standards-based quality management (ISO 9000 Quality Management standard, ISO 12207 Information Technology standard, DOD-STD-498 Software Development and Documentation standard, Carnegie Mellon University Software Engineering Institute Capability Maturity Model) to direct all Bank computer operations. Introduced the use of systems and software engineering tools, including the Popkin System Architect and the Computer Associates (CA) Entity Relationship for Windows (ERwin) and Business Process for Windows (BPwin) products. Acquired the CA Unicenter TNG system management software package for monitoring and control of the bank's 300-computer system. Managed a staff of 16 information-technology (IT) professionals and 30 IT projects (annual budget $3 million, exclusive of personnel, training, and facility). Set IT vision, mission, strategy, policy and procedures, and supervised all IT operations. Supervised Year 2000 project, IT disaster recovery project, bankwide disaster recovery project. Other recent assignments in banking include development of a system for positioning automatic teller machines (ATMs) using lagrangian optimization and the ESRI ArcView Geographic Information System (GIS) (First Union National Bank), and development of an optimal variable-rate pricing strategies for Canada Trust Bank. Automated Receiver Operating Characteristic System; Diagnostic Imaging Systems. Conducted requirements analysis and specification for the statistical system of an automated receiver operating characteristic (ROC) system. The goal of the development effort was to develop an easy-to-use, microcomputer-based system for facilitating the design, implementation and analysis of receiver operating characteristic experiments. (A ROC experiment is an experiment designed to determine and describe the accuracy of a diagnostic system, such as a computer imaging system. The system is to make a decision about what alternative state of nature is true, based on an (image) observation. The ROC methodology lends itself well to graphical presentations on microcomputer screens, e.g., in medical diagnostic imaging systems or military multisensor fusion applications.) Personnel Management Information System for the Government of Malawi. Developed the computer Personnel Management Information System for the Government of Malawi civil service. The system includes a variety of demographic and employment-related data for all 60,000 Malawian civil servants, and offers the users (personnel officers) a wide range of data entry and query/report capabilities. The software includes a 30,000-line graphical user interface (GUI) to enable the user to generate a large selection of queries and reports by making point-and-click selections from a menu with a mouse. The software development was conducted in compliance with DOD-STD-2167A Software Development and Documentation standard (superseded by MIL-STD-498 and ISO 12207). Monitoring and Evaluation of Development Projects; Management Information Systems; Geographic Information Systems. In Egypt, served as Manager of Monitoring and Evaluation for the Local Development Project, the largest local-level infrastructure development project in the world. Developed management information systems to assist the identification, monitoring, and evaluation of local infrastructure development projects. Designed and implemented a national-level sample survey to evaluate the implementation, operating, and service status of the projects. Evaluation systems made extensive use of the dBASE database management system and the SPSS statistical analysis program package. Supervised training of local planners in the use of the PC ARC/INFO geographic information system (GIS). President, Director, Vista Research Corporation (1977-81, 1988-91) Founded and operated contract research firm specializing in strategic and tactical analysis, simulation and modeling, program monitoring and evaluation, artificial intelligence applications, and software systems development. Winner of four Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contracts. Major projects include the following: Research in Artificial Intelligence for Noncommunications Electronic Warfare Systems; Geographic Information Systems; Expert Systems. Directed project for the Electronic Warfare / Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition (EW/RSTA) division of the US Army Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM), to develop the Scenarist, a knowledge-based system to generate scenarios for use in evaluating electronic warfare systems and concepts. The Scenarist positions military units and equipment on maps using rules that take into account tactical doctrine, geographic features, friendly mission, and enemy threat. The system uses digital mapping data and is based on an object-oriented parametric representation of military units. The system, coded in C and operating on MS-DOS or UNIX-based microcomputers, contains an easy-to-use graphical user interface. The system used digital terrain data extracted from the US Army's Geographic Resources and Services (GRASS) geographic information system (GIS), and incorporates the US Army Corps of Engineers' C-Language Integrated Production System (CLIPS) expert system. Tactical Theater Air Warfare Methodologies. Directed project for the Air Force Aeronautical System Division / Wright Aeronautical Laboratories (ASD/AFWAL) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, to develop an analytical theory for the generation of tactical air warfare scenarios to be used as a basis for evaluation of air warfare tactical systems and concepts. The approach involved the development of a rigorous mathematical framework for tactical combat; it incorporated elements of game theory (resource-constrained nonzero-sum games) and artificial intelligence (knowledge-based simulation). Fast Algorithms for Real‑Time Estimation, Prediction and Control. Directed project for the Office of Naval Research to investigate improved algorithms for real‑time estimation, prediction and control. Improved algorithms are needed to provide a solution to a critical problem faced in both industrial and defense applications ‑‑ the fact that the algorithms used to implement state‑of‑the‑art statistical estimation, prediction and control techniques are too slow and failure-prone for many real‑time or near‑real‑time applications of high interest, even using the fastest computers. Under this project, a new estimation algorithm was developed and analyzed. The algorithm, a type of "structured neural network," was demonstrated by applying it to solve multiple linear regression problems in "ill-conditioned" situations, such as the case of a singular or near-singular design matrix (multicollinearity). Manager, R&D Department, US Army Electronic Proving Ground's Electromagnetic Environmental Test Facility (Bell Technical Operations, 1982-8<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/glasses.gif ALT="8)"> Test and Evaluation in Communications‑Electronics. Served as Manager of Research and Development and Principal Scientist of the US Army Electronic Proving Ground's (EPG's) Electromagnetic Environmental Test Facility (EMETF). Supervised the design and analysis of development tests of defense communications‑electronics (C-E) systems. Directed the following projects: o Dynamic Electromagnetic Systems Combat Effectiveness Model. Directed project to develop measures of effectiveness for defense C‑E systems and explore means of linking large‑scale C‑E models to large‑scale tactical combat models. o Simulation of Realistic Electromagnetic Environment for Stress Load Testing. Directed project to demonstrate the feasibility of simulating a realistic C‑E signal environment for loading the EPG Stress Loading Facility. o Simulation Model Architecture / Intelligence Electronic Warfare (IEW) Model Extension. Directed project to develop a dynamic event‑driven simulation model architecture for C‑E test and evaluation. o Statistical Analysis of Voice Scoring Data. Conducted a components-of-variance analysis of data from voice scoring of data from noisy voice communications. o Requirements Specification for Computer-Graphics Deployment Analysis System. Supervised a systems engineering effort to develop a modern computer graphics system to interface existing EMETF communication system simulation programs. OTHER EXPERIENCE. In addition to the preceding positions, served as a consultant or senior employee to a number of other firms. Projects supervised, directed, or contributed to include the following: Simulation and Modeling. Directed or consulted to the development and application of numerous simulation models, including: o National Military Command System Support Center's QUICK General War Game Simulation Model (general wargaming model used for strategic analysis of ballistic missile defense) o US Navy's Systems Simulation Program (to evaluate alternative satellite surveillance systems) o MICROSIM Microsimulation Forecasting Model for Human Development Service Programs o Simulation Model to Perform Economic Evaluation of Alternative Modes of Chemical Manufacturing Intelligence Fusion; Correlation/Tracking Developed algorithms for correlating and tracking ocean vessels using data from satellites and other sources. Algorithms involved use of statistical models to estimate parameters of interest (e.g., location, direction, speed of ocean vessels), by combining spatial and temporal multisensor data. Developed simulation models to compare performance of alternative correlation / tracking methodologies. Methodology took into account the temporal and spatial irregularity of the data-capture technology. Strategic Studies, Optimal Allocation, Game Theory. Directed the following studies: o Analysis of Hardsite Defense (Office of Assistant Secretary of Defense for Systems Analysis) o Nonzero Sum Game Analysis of Defense Systems (Office of Naval Research) o Analysis of Subtractive Overlapping‑Island Ballistic Missile Defense System with Imperfect Interceptors (US Arms Control and Disarmament Agency) The preceding studies involved the development of new theory for analysis of complex optimization problems involving two-sided, nonlinear, nonconvex, discontinuous objective functions in both the sequential-move and simultaneous-move (game) contexts. Scientific Programming. Much career work has involved the sophisticated use of the computer to solve difficult estimation and optimization problems. In the field of weapon systems analysis, developed a computer program which could automatically select the optimal solution from the multiple set of generalized Lagrangian solutions, in the case of a discontinuous, non‑convex payoff function. Developed new optimization and estimation components for some of the largest defense-system simulation programs, including the US Navy's Systems Simulation Program and the Department of Defense QUICK war game model. Statistical Software Development. Developed the first commercially available computer program package for implementation of the Box-Jenkins time series methodology. The Box-Jenkins (autoregressive-moving average) models are useful in system identification problems, such as time series analysis, forecasting, control, digital signal processing (DSP) and linear predictive coding of speech. The software analyzes spatial or temporal data in both the time and frequency domains (correlation and spectral analysis), and uses nonlinear statistical algorithms to estimate model parameters. Sample Survey Design. Developed the sampling plans for a number of national and state sample surveys. Communication Theory. In doctoral dissertation, developed the best known class of codes for correcting both additive and synchronization errors in noisy communications channels. Experimental Design and Quality Control. Developed statistical experimental designs for test and evaluation, simulation model run‑sets, chemical and physical experimentation, and industrial quality control applications. Technical Training. Developed the popular short course, "Sample Survey Design and Analysis," which has been conducted on both a public (advertised) and private (in‑house) basis. Has lectured government and contractor organizations on sample survey, time series analysis, statistical forecasting methods, and microsimulation. Served as professor of statistics at the University of Arizona. Computer Languages, Packages, and Systems. Heavy experience in applications programming in FORTRAN, C, Visual Basic, database (dBASE/FoxPro/Access), SAS, and GIS on mainframe computers, minicomputers and microcomputers under a variety of operating systems (MS-DOS/Windows/NT, UNIX, IBM, CDC, UNISYS, and others); experienced in application of statistical program packages, including SAS, SPSS and BMDP. Strong microcomputer experience, including the development of graphics-based microcomputer software for geographic information systems applications. Familiar with a variety of commercial microcomputer software (e.g., word processing, electronic spreadsheet, presentation, data base, groupware, desktop publishing, accounting). Publications. Over fifty publications in the areas described above, and books on global population, energy and the environment, and tax reform. Honors. Tau Beta Pi National Engineering Honorary Society General Motors Scholarship (Carnegie‑Mellon University, Pittsburgh) NASA Fellowship (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) Positions. Consultant, 1974-present (various organizations, including Bank of Botswana (1999-2001), Academy for Educational Development (1994-95, 2002-03), First Union National Bank (1996-97), Chemonics (1991-92)) President and Manager, Vista Research Corporation, Tucson and Sierra Vista, AZ, 1988-91 Adjunct Professor of Statistics, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 1982-86 Director of Research and Development and Principal Scientist of US Army Electronic Proving Ground's Electromagnetic Environmental Test Facility, Bell Technical Operations, Tucson and Sierra Vista, AZ, 1982-86, 1986-88 Principal Engineer, SINGER Systems and Software Engineering, Tucson, AZ, 1986 President and Manager, Vista Research Corporation, Alexandria, VA, and Tucson, AZ, 1977-81 Vice President, JWK International Corporation, Annandale, VA, 1974-76 Principal, Planning Research Corporation, McLean, VA, 1972-74 Member of the Technical Staff, Lambda Corporation / General Research Corporation, McLean, VA, 1967-72 Senior Operations Research Analyst, Deering Milliken Research Corporation, Spartanburg, SC, 1966-67 Operations Research Analyst, Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, NC, 1964-66 jgcmil17.doc(12/03) J. George Caldwell, PhD Consultant in Statistics, Mathematics and Information Technology Summary: Consultant in information technology, operations research and statistics to business, finance, industry, and government. Specialist in forecasting / time series analysis / stochastic processes; financial modeling / risk management; optimization and optimal strategy determination; sample survey design and analysis; simulation, modeling, and analysis; systems and software engineering; data base design and implementation. Experienced in use of modern statistical analysis and database software (e.g., SAS/Oracle, SPSS, Microsoft Access, ArcView GIS, CHAID, Visual Basic, C, Fortran, SQL, Xbase) on UNIX and Microsoft Windows operating systems. Strong mathematical background (PhD in mathematical statistics), with experience in complex mathematical operations and algorithms such as linear operators, ARIMA models, matrix methods, statistical and optimization algorithms, numerical methods, Monte Carlo simulation. Recent banking risk management experience. Very strong programming skills (time series analysis, optimization, financial modeling / risk management). Diverse international experience. (Currently working overseas – looking to return to US.) Experience 2002 – 2004, Management Consultant, US Agency for International Development / Academy for Educational Development, Lusaka, Zambia. Technical advisor to the Zambia Ministry of Education to develop an education management information system. 1999 – 2001, Director of Management Systems, Bank of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana. Responsible for management of all information technology operations for the Bank of Botswana, Botswana’s central (reserve) bank. The Bank’s computer system is comprised of over 300 networked microcomputers running under Windows NT/95/98/2000, Novell 4.1 and UNIX operating systems. Managed a group of 16 information technology specialists to operate and support the Bank’s computer hardware and software applications (network management; Microsoft Office Suite; Internet/intranet; banking operations; accounting; investment portfolio / foreign reserve management; financial data services; economic analysis; human-resources management; and asset management. Introduced modern management and software engineering practices based on standards-based quality management (ISO 9000 Quality Management standard, ISO 12209 Information Technology standard, Carnegie Mellon University Software Engineering Institute Capability Maturity Model (CMM), DOD-STD-498 Software Development and Documentation). Responsible for system development (design, implementation), procurement, training, operations and maintenance (annual budget approximately USD3 million, exclusive of staff salaries, training, and noncomputer facilities and equipment). Responsible for setting Bank’s IT vision, strategy, policy, procedures, security. Participated in all meetings of the Bank’s Executive Committee and Board of Directors; reported to the Governor and Deputy Governor. 1998, Management Information System Consultant, Asian Development Bank / Academy for Educational Development, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Determined system requirements for the Bangladesh secondary education Educational Management Information System (EMIS) (review of current systems, identification of user information needs, identification and comparative evaluation of alternative systems, cost estimation, budget/implementation plan). 1997 – 1998, Consultant in Risk Management, Canada Trust Bank / Strategic Sourcing Inc., Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Responsible for the development of analytical models for risk management of the Bank's loan products. Utilized a “value-based management” approach to develop variable-rate pricing strategies that maximize shareholder value added, taking into account customer and product characteristics. Developed a model for risk-based variable-rate pricing of loans, using the techniques of Generalized Lagrange Multipliers (GLM) and mathematical simulation. The methodology determines pricing strategies that are optimal (i.e., maximize shareholder value added, or profit in excess of the cost of capital) with respect to the allocation of capital to the Bank's investment opportunities, taking customer, market, and policy factors into account. The computer simulation approach is used as an efficient framework for exploring alternative pricing strategies; the GLM method is used to determine pricing strategies that maximize shareholder value added (profitability) subject to constraints (on capital reserve requirements, probability of exceeding loss provisions, and other factors). Windows NT, UNIX, SAS, graphical user interface developed in Visual Basic 5.0. 1996 – 1997, Statistical / Operations Research Consultant, First Union National Bank / Strategic Sourcing, Inc., Charlotte, North Carolina. Conducted statistical analysis to develop customer segmentation models in support of bankcard marketing initiatives (credit scoring models). Developed lagrangian optimization model for identifying profitable locations for automatic teller machines (ATMs). Used SAS statistical analysis software and ArcView 3.0 geographic information system (spatial analyst) to develop logistic regression and discriminant analysis models to identify likely customers for PC banking. Models used a wide range of economic and demographic data at the block group and ZIP-code levels (population, income, employment, sales, shopping centers, crime statistics, traffic counts, ATM locations and characteristics). Windows 95 and UNIX (Sun Solaris SPARCcenter). 1995 – 1996, Statistical consulting in Malawi and Ghana, Africa. In Malawi, developed the sample survey design for the national annual school enrolment survey for the Ministry of Education. In Ghana, designed a national sample survey of the employment and income impact of nontraditional exports for the Ministry of Industry. 1993 – 1994, Software Engineering / Database Design, Government of Malawi / Academy for Educational Development, Lilongwe, Malawi. Designed and implemented the national civil service information system for the Government of Malawi Office of President and Cabinet, Department of Human Resource Management. System design was developed in full compliance with the DOD-STD-2167A (now MIL-STD-49<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/glasses.gif ALT="8)"> software development standard, and implemented on PC workstations (MS-DOS, dBASE, some UNIX, Informix). System was designed with a graphical user interface (GUI) that enabled personnel officers in the Department of Human Resources and Development to run a wide variety of queries and reports using "point-and-click" menus. Provided technical direction to a staff of six information technologists in modern software engineering discipline (structured, top-down, modular design, software development using a standard; data modeling, data base design, normalization). 1991 – 1993, US Agency for International Development / Chemonics, Program Monitoring and Evaluation, Cairo, Egypt. Served as Manager of Monitoring and Evaluation for the Local Development II - Provincial project in Egypt, the largest local-level infrastructure development project in the world. Designed and implemented a nationwide system for monitoring 16,000 local-level infrastructure development projects in Egypt (roads, potable water, waste water, environment, schools). Designed a national sample survey to collect data on a sampling basis from the projects. Implemented data collection and processing using dBASE, and conducted statistical analysis with SPSS/PC+. 1989 – 1991, President, Vista Research Corporation, Director of project to develop expert system for automatic military scenario generation, Tucson, Arizona. For the US Army Communications-Electronics Command, directed the project, "Research in Artificial Intelligence for Noncommunications Electronic Warfare Systems." Project involved the design and implementation of a prototype expert system for positioning electronic warfare equipment on a battlefield, taking into account the mission of friendly forces, the enemy threat, tactics, and terrain. Used the Army Corps of Engineers GRASS GIS for digital terrain data and the NASA CLIPS expert system for implementation of rules. Development in accordance with DOD-STD-2167A. Object-oriented design. System coded in C. Prior to 1989, operated as an independent consultant or associate of various consulting firms and other organizations, including: Founder and Manager of Vista Research Corporation, Tucson, Arizona and Alexandria, Virginia, contract research firm specializing in statistical / research design, simulation and modeling, policy analysis, and program evaluation in government and defense applications. Contracts with US Department of Health and Human Services, US Department of Education, US Air Force, US Army, US Office of Naval Research, US Agency for International Development, US Department of Agriculture, Government of the Philippines, African Development Bank, various state governments and private firms. Seven years. Director of Research and Development and Principal Investigator of the US Army Electronic Proving Ground's Electromagnetic Environmental Test Facility, Fort Huachuca, Arizona. Four years. Professor of Statistics at the University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona. Four years. Taught graduate course in sample survey design and analysis, and the required undergraduate statistics course for all students of business, management, MIS, and public administration. Other qualifications: Working knowledge of French and Spanish. Director of over twenty technical projects. Developed the first commercially available Box-Jenkins computer program package for prediction, forecasting, and control of stochastic (time series) processes. Author of over fifty technical publications, including a book on tax reform. Education: PhD, Statistics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC BS, Mathematics, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA Contact Information: [deleted] bus20040506.doc Joseph George Caldwell, PhD Contact Information: [deleted] KEY QUALIFICATIONS: Management consultant. Consultant in information technology; systems and software engineering; management information systems; database design; statistics; economics; program planning, monitoring and evaluation; policy analysis; strategic planning and analysis. Consultant to US government agencies, state governments, corporations and foreign governments. Director/supervisor of projects in the areas of: o monitoring and evaluation, institutional development, planning and policy analysis of government programs in health, education, human services, urban problems, rural development, agriculture, environment, economics, public finance, tax policy analysis, cost-benefit analysis, personnel management information systems, engineering, decentralization, privatization, and democratization efforts o international development in Zambia, Botswana, Bangladesh, Ghana, Malawi, Egypt, the Philippines, and Haiti o information technology: computer models, management information systems design and implementation; database design; data modeling; Director of Management Systems (chief information officer) with the Bank of Botswana (Botswana’s central bank); systems and software engineering; ISO-9000 Quality Management Manager of contract research firm (seven years); successful bidder on numerous technical contracts, including four Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contracts. Director of more than twenty technical projects. Adjunct Professor of Statistics at the University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona EDUCATION: PhD, Statistics, 1966, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill BS, Mathematics,1962, Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE (in development applications): Feb 2002 – present (March 2004). Technical Advisor in Educational Management Information Systems, Academy for Educational Development, Zambia. Currently working in Lusaka, Zambia, on a project funded by the US Agency for International Development, to develop an Educational Management Information System (EMIS) for the Zambia Ministry of Education. The purpose of the EMIS is to collect, store, and retrieve data (produce reports) from the Annual School Census, in support of program planning and analysis by the Ministry and donor agencies. Jan 1999 – Jan 2001. Director of Management Systems, Bank of Botswana, Botswana. Responsible for all information technology operations for the Bank of Botswana, Botswana’s central (reserve) bank (IT vision, strategy, policy, procedures, operations, acquisition, training, staff development)). The Bank’s computer system is comprised of over 300 networked microcomputers running under Windows NT, Novell 4.1, UNIX, Windows 95/98/2000 operating systems. Software applications include Microsoft Office 97/2000 software and banking-related applications in support of banking operations, foreign reserve management, portfolio management, accounting, and human resources. Managed a department of 16 IT professionals, reporting to the Deputy Governor and Governor. Introduced modern IT management systems, including ISO 9000 Quality Management, ISO 12207 Information Technology Standard, the Software Engineering Institute Capability Maturity Model, and modern software and systems engineering tools (Popkin System Architect, CA ERWIN (Entity Relationship Modeling for Windows), CA BPWIN (Business Process Modeling for Windows). Supervised approximately 30 IT projects. Apr – Oct 1998. IT Specialist, Educational Management Information System Design for Secondary Education Sector Development Project, Asian Development Bank / Academy for Educational Development, Bangladesh. Developed top-level requirements for the Educational Management Information System (EMIS) to be developed under a multi-year development program funded by the Asian Development Bank. Assignment included review of current systems, identification of user information needs, and identification and comparative evaluation of alternative systems. Sep 1997 – Mar 1998. Consultant in Risk Management, Strategic Sourcing Inc., / Canada Trust Bank, Bank Risk Management, Canada. Consultant in risk management to Canada Trust Bank. Responsible for the development of analytical models for risk management of the Bank's loan products. Developed a model for risk-based variable-rate pricing of loans, using the techniques of Generalized Lagrange Multipliers (GLM) and mathematical simulation. The methodology determines pricing strategies that are optimal with respect to the allocation of capital to the Bank's investment opportunities, taking customer, market, and policy factors into account. The computer simulation approach is used as an efficient framework for exploring alternative pricing strategies; the GLM method is used to determine pricing strategies that maximize stockholder value added (profitability) subject to constraints (on capital reserve requirements, probability of exceeding loss provisions, and other factors). Windows NT, UNIX, SAS, VB5. May 1996 – Jul 1997. Statistical Consultant to Strategic Sourcing Inc. / First Union National Bank, Statistical and Optimization Computer Models in Banking, USA. Consultant to First Union National Bank (US sixth largest bank), conducting statistical analysis to develop customer segmentation models in support of bankcard marketing initiatives. Developed optimization model for identifying profitable locations for automatic teller machines (ATMs). Used SAS statistical analysis software and ArcView 3.0 geographic information system (spatial analyst) to develop logistic regression and discriminant analysis models to identify likely customers for PC banking. Models used a wide range of economic and demographic data at the block group and ZIP-code levels (population, income, employment, sales, shopping centers, crime statistics, traffic counts, ATM locations and characteristics). Windows 95 and UNIX (Sun Solaris SPARCcenter). Nov 1995 – May 1966. Survey Statistician, Income and Employment Survey for Ghana Trade and Investment Program, Sigma One Corporation / USAID, Ghana. As part of the US Agency for International Development's Trade and Investment Program in Ghana, Dr. Caldwell designed and analyzed the survey to estimate the employment and income associated with every $1,000 of exports in non-traditional areas. The survey was designed to produce national estimates and estimates for selected product sectors (pineapples, pineapple juice, tuna loins / canned tuna, and cashew nuts). The sampling plan involved a probability sample of 300 exporting firms selected with probabilities proportional to a measure of size (export value) without replacement. May – Jun 1995. Sample Survey Design and Sampling Statistician, Academy for Educational Development / USAID, Malawi. For the Malawi Ministry of Education, Dr. Caldwell developed the sample design for the Annual Primary School Survey. Previously, the annual school survey was a census of all 3,400 schools and three million students; the amount of time and effort required to collect and process all of these data was placing a serious burden on the Planning Unit resources. The sampling plan involves a probability sample of 500 schools selected with probabilities proportional to a measure of size (the previous year's enrollment) using the Rao-Hartley-Cochran method. With the probability sampling approach, all of the information required by the Planning Unit will be available for a fraction of the effort required by the previous approach. Jun 1993 – Dec 1994. Personnel Management Information System Developer, Civil Servant Personnel Management Information System, Academy for Educational Development / USAID, Malawi. For the Malawi Department of Human Resources Management and Development, Dr. Caldwell designed and implemented the Malawi Civil Service Personnel Management Information System. The system was developed using the dBASE database management information system, for use on microcomputers (standalone or networked) using the MS-DOS operating system. The system includes a variety of demographic and employment-related data for Malawian civil servants, and offers the users (personnel officers) a wide range of easy-to-use data entry and query/report capabilities. Experienced database users may generate queries and reports using SQL (Structured Query Language) commands or any of dBASE's automated query and report-generation features, but the system is designed with a powerful graphical user interface (GUI) so that a nontechnical user may generate all standard queries and reports without the need for any programming or entering of complicated commands, simply by making selections from a suite of menus. Data entry is facilitated by a series of easy-to-use data entry screens, with ample on-line help and validation of all entered data. Employee records may be displayed on the screen or printed. The system development effort was conducted in full compliance with the DOD-STD-2167A software development standard, and included the production of almost 1,000 pages of detailed system documentation, including a System Design Document, Software Requirements Specification, Software Design Document, Software Programmer's Manual, Software Product Specification, and Software User's Manual. The project included on-the-job training of members of the Department's Management Information Systems Unit (systems analysts, programmers) in systems engineering (requirements analysis, technology assessment, synthesis of alternatives, specification of evaluation criteria, selection of a preferred alternative, top-level design, detailed design (optimization), implementation, and test), the modern software engineering discipline (structured, top-down design), management information system design, dBASE, software development project management, and basic microcomputer upgrading and repair; and classroom instruction for system users (personnel officers) in use of the system for data entry and retrieval (queries and report generation). Mar 1991 – Oct 1992. Manager of Monitoring and Evaluation, Chemonics International / USAID, Egypt. Served as manager of Monitoring and Evaluation for the USAID-funded Local Development II - Provincial (LDII-P) project, which provided technical assistance in the development and maintenance of USAID-funded infrastructure projects in Egypt (potable water, waste water, roads, buildings, rolling stock, environment, and information systems). The LDII-P project was the largest USAID local development project in the world, having funded the development of over 13,000 local-level projects. In addition to infrastructure development, a major goal of the project was to promote government decentralization and increase the capacity of local governments to plan, finance, implement, and maintain local projects. Principal activities included: (1) the design and implementation of a nationwide project monitoring survey to assess the implementation, operating, and service status of projects; (2) the development of an indicators system to assist local officials in the assessment of need for public services, the availability of services, and the identification and prioritization of local development projects; (3) the design and implementation of a governorate project monitoring system to assist governorate detection and follow-up of implementation and operational problems. On this project, Dr. Caldwell made heavy use of automated management information system tools (dBASE, SPSS) to store, process, and retrieve data on project status and needs assessment (including continuous monitoring of project status indicators), and applied the techniques of sample survey (questionnaire development, stratified random sampling) and rapid appraisal techniques (focus group interviews) to assist end-of-project evaluation, as well as continuous monitoring of indicators. Dr. Caldwell lectured on the use of geographic information systems (GISs) in development planning, and supervised training of development planners in use of the PC-ARC/INFO GIS. Oct 1979 – Jan 1982. Project Director / Chief of Party, Economic and Social Impact Analysis / Women in Development (ESIA/WID) Project, Vista Research Corporation / USAID / NEDA, Philippines. The purpose of this project, sponsored jointly by the Philippines National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and the US Agency for International Development, was to help improve the capability of the Government of the Philippines to monitor and measure economic progress, social change, and the impact of development projects, including the effects on women in their dual role as agents and beneficiaries of development. The contract provided technical services to assist the Philippines Institute of Development Studies (PIDS) to develop and validate analytical frameworks and indicators for analyzing and measuring progress and the impact of development projects on selected areas of concern; to design and field test efficient means for measuring and monitoring project progress and impact indicators; and to determine a better understanding of the mechanisms by which development projects achieve their goals. The development projects included a wide variety of substantive fields ‑‑ health, nutrition, and family planning; education; integrated agricultural production and marketing, aquaculture production, and agro‑reforestation; integrated area development; feeder roads; ports; local water systems; electrification; small‑scale industries, and tourism. The ESIA/WID project identified and evaluated the use of a variety of statistical design and analysis techniques to assist project impact assessment: quasi-experimental designs, sample survey, analysis of variance, multiple regression analysis, questionnaire design, indicator development. For the Philippines Ministry of Health, Dr. Caldwell developed alternative management information system (MIS) designs to support both agency operations and program monitoring. Dr. Caldwell served as chief of party and directed a team of eleven Ph.D. consultants on the ESIA/WID project. Oct 1975 – Sep 1976. Project Director /Supervisor, Economic Policy Analysis for the Government of Haiti, JWK Intl Corp / USAID, Haiti. Under a contract funded by the US Agency for International Development, this study determined agricultural and tax policy changes that the government of Haiti could employ to increase foreign exchange and increase the income of the small farmer. The study addressed five commodities ‑‑ coffee, cotton, sisal, mangoes, and meat (major emphasis on coffee). The project included the use of sample surveys to collect up‑to‑date data on commodity prices. A major goal of the project was the transfer of policy analysis capabilities to members of the Haitian Ministry of Agriculture. Dr. Caldwell supervised a team of four Ph.D. consultants (economists) on this project. Summary of Experience Related to Development Management Information Systems / Systems and Software Engineering / Computer Models, Systems and Applications. Dr. Caldwell has directed numerous software engineering projects, applying the principles of systems and software engineering. This approach includes requirements specification and analysis, technology review, synthesis of system alternatives, cost-effectiveness analysis of alternatives and selection of a preferred alternative, detailed design, implementation and test. For the software subsystem he utilizes top-down, structured design, and has experience using international standard, including the ISO 9000 Information Technology Standard, the US Department of Defense's Software Development Standard (DOD-STD-2167A and MIL-STD-49<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/glasses.gif ALT="8)"> . He has extensive hands-on microcomputer systems development experience. He designed and implemented a 50,000-line C-language microcomputer program (an integrated geographic information system / expert system), and personally conducted all of the software and database design and most of the programming for the information systems work in Egypt and Malawi (dBASE and SPSS command languages, Quattro Pro presentation graphics, C programming language). In a recent banking application, he developed a geographic information system application (ArcView 3.0 GIS, SAS) to identify good locations for bank automated teller machines (ATMs). He recently developed simulation/optimization system for a bank to determine optimal loan pricing strategies (Windows NT, Microsoft Visual Basic 5.0). Dr. Caldwell's computer experience includes mainframe, mini- and microcomputer applications. Most recent work has been on 30x86 microcomputers (using MS-DOS, Windows, and UNIX operating systems). His system design work includes both hardware and software system design. Much experience with MS-Windows application development systems (Visual Basic, C/Visual C++, Visual Fortran, Visual FoxPro). Computer Models for Forecasting and Demographic Analysis. Dr. Caldwell developed the first commercially‑available general‑purpose Box‑Jenkins computer-forecasting package, and microcomputer software for making demographic projections (cohort-component, synthetic estimation). For the US Department of Health and Human Services, he directed the project to develop a prototype microsimulation forecasting model and a statistical reporting system to provide the data required by the model. The model ‑‑ called MICROSIM ‑‑ was developed to forecast caseloads and expenditures for HHS programs under various policy assumptions. Artificial Intelligence / Expert Systems / Geographic Information Systems. For the US Army Communications-Electronics Command, directed a project to develop an expert system to position military units and equipment, taking into account the location of friendly and opposing forces, mission, tactical combat rules, and digital terrain data. The system incorporated the NASA-developed C-Language Integrated Production System ("CLIPS"<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/wink.gif ALT=";)"> expert system and used digital mapping data extracted from the US Army's Geographic Resources and Services System (GRASS) geographic information system (GIS). The system was developed for MS-DOS-based 80x86 microcomputers, and included a comprehensive graphical user interface (mouse, windows, and menus). Privatization, Decentralization, and Democratization. Broad experience in monitoring, evaluation, and policy analysis related to privatization, decentralization, and democratization, with special emphasis on the development of "harmonious" tax systems that support these objectives; director of several national-level cost-benefit analysis projects. In the Haiti agricultural policy analysis project mentioned above, emphasis was on the identification of changes in tax policy that would increase small-farmer incomes. In the Egypt LDII-P project, a major thrust of the project was to implement the infrastructure development projects at the village level, using local contractors. Training was provided in project planning, design, selection, contracting procedures, monitoring, and financing; Dr. Caldwell directed the development of systems to facilitate decentralized (local-level) development, and to monitor progress in local capacity to design, implement, and finance local-level projects. In the Philippines ESIA/WID project, heavy emphasis was placed on assessment of the role of women in development and on estimation of income changes associated with development projects. In his book on tax policy, Dr. Caldwell presents a systematic methodology for tax system development ("tax engineering"<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/wink.gif ALT=";)"> which takes into account social, economic, and political constraints and objectives. Management Consulting / Business Experience. Dr. Caldwell has substantial experience in management consulting to industry, including consulting, training, and system development in forecasting, quality control, product improvement, process control, and economic analysis of production alternatives. He founded and managed his own contract research firm (Vista Research Corporation, operated full-time for seven years), and set up a ladies' fashions importing/retailing firm (Sonora Marketing Corporation). In these efforts, Dr. Caldwell designed, implemented and managed all major functional components of the operations (marketing, production, and finance). Statistics / Sample Survey Design / Program Monitoring Systems. Dr. Caldwell developed the design for many important national sample surveys and statistical reporting systems. He specializes in the development of analytical survey designs to collect data for model development, and has developed new techniques for handling nonresponse in longitudinal surveys. Surveys and reporting systems include: o Zambia Education Management Information System o Ghana Trade and Investment Program Survey o Malawi Annual Primary School Enrollment Survey o National Center for Health Services Research Hospital Cost Data Study o Professional Standards Review Organization Data Base Development Study o Study of Impact of National Health Insurance on Bureau of Community Health Service Users o 1976 Survey of Institutionalized Persons o Sampling Manual for Utilization Review of Medicaid o Sampling Manual for Social Services (Title XX) Reporting Requirements o Sampling Manual for Office of Child Support Enforcement Reporting Requirements o Dept. of Housing and Urban Development Housing Market Practices Survey o Research Design for the Urban Arterials Section of the Highway Capacity Manual o Elementary and Secondary School Civil Rights Survey Evaluation Research. Dr. Caldwell has conducted a number of evaluation research studies, including the following: o Evaluation Survey of USAID Local Development Projects in Egypt o Social Services Effectiveness Evaluation for West Virginia o Day Care Cost‑Benefit Study o Vocational Rehabilitation Evaluation Standards Study o Cost‑Benefit Analysis of National Institute for Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Alcoholism Treatment Centers o Medicaid Standards Impact Assessment Public Finance. In addition to his work in tax policy analysis and cost-benefit analysis, Dr. Caldwell directed studies to develop alternative allocation / matching formulas for major state/federal programs: o Vocational Rehabilitation State Allocation Formula o Medicaid and AFDC Matching Percentage Formula Operations Research and Statistics in Industrial and Commercial Applications. Dr. Caldwell has applied a wide variety of operations research and statistical techniques to solve practical problems in industrial and commercial applications. Applications include the use of simulation and modeling, experimental design, and statistical forecasting techniques to solve problems in process control, statistical quality control, demand forecasting, and economic analysis of alternative modes of production in the textile and pharmaceutical industries, and test and evaluation of electronic systems and equipment (communications and noncommunications). Technical Training. In addition to his role as university professor, Dr. Caldwell developed the popular seminar, "Sample Survey Design and Analysis." Computer Languages, Packages, and Systems. Heavy experience in applications programming in FORTRAN, C/C++, Visual Basic and dBASE/FoxPro on mainframe computers, minicomputers and microcomputers under a variety of operating systems (MS-DOS, Microsoft Windows, UNIX, IBM, CDC, UNIVAC, and others); experienced in application of statistical program packages, such as SAS, BMDP, and SPSS. Strong microcomputer experience, including the development of graphics-based microcomputer software for geographic information systems applications. Familiar with a variety of commercial microcomputer software (e.g., word processing, electronic spreadsheet, data base, desktop publishing, accounting). Experience working in a Microsoft Windows / UNIX network environment (VB, SAS, Oracle), using Hummingbird, NT and Lotus Notes networking software. Familiar with Microsoft Office suite of products (Word, Access, Excel, PowerPoint) on Windows 95/NT/XP/2002 or UNIX client/server system. LANGUAGES: English (native); working knowledge of French and Spanish; limited German and Arabic (for transportation, household use) GEOGRAPHIC EXPERIENCE: USA, Canada, Haiti, Philippines, Egypt, Malawi, Ghana, Bangladesh, Botswana, Zambia PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS: Institute for Management Sciences and Operations Research (INFORMS), American Statistical Association, Institute of Mathematical Statistics HONORS / AWARDS: Tau Beta Pi National Engineering Honorary Society, General Motors Scholarship (Carnegie‑Mellon University, Pittsburgh), NASA Fellowship (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill) PUBLICATIONS: Over fifty publications in the areas described above, and books on tax reform and global population (list available on request). Many articles on diverse topics (politics, music, guitar, defense, religion / spirituality / philosophy, science fiction). POSITIONS: Consultant, 1974-present (various organizations, recently including the Academy for Educational Development, Chemonics International, First Union National Bank, Canada Trust, Western Research Company) Director, Management Systems Department, Bank of Botswana, 1999-2001 President and Manager, Vista Research Corporation, Tucson and Sierra Vista, AZ, 1988-91 Professor of Statistics, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 1982-86 Director of Research and Development and Principal Scientist of US Army Electronic Proving Ground's Electromagnetic Environmental Test Facility, Bell Technical Operations, Tucson and Sierra Vista, AZ, 1982-86, 1986-88 Principal Engineer, SINGER Systems and Software Engineering, Tucson, AZ, 1986 President and Manager, Vista Research Corporation, Alexandria, VA, and Tucson, AZ, 1977-81 Vice President, JWK International Corporation, Annandale, VA, 1974-76 Principal, Planning Research Corporation, McLean, VA, 1972-74 Member of the Technical Staff, Lambda Corporation / General Research Corporation, McLean, VA, 1967-72 Senior Operations Research Analyst, Deering Milliken Research Corporation, Spartanburg, SC, 1966-67 Operations Research Analyst, Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, NC, 1964-66 jgcdev20040318RevChron.doc List of Publications -- Dr. J. George Caldwell 1. Caldwell, J.G., E.L. Hill, and W.K. Grogan, Determination of Shelter Configuration for Ventilation, Final Report R‑OU‑177, Research Triangle Institute / US Office of Civil Defense, Durham, North Carolina, 1965 2. Caldwell, J.G., Synchronizable Error‑Correcting Codes, Ph.D. Doctoral Dissertation,

by **Qutb** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 6:30 pm

Holy shit... that guy should be researched further.

by **zjurhgvc** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 9:23 pm

Biologists like Pianka sicken me (I'm a social scientist, so they generally loathe me in turn) because of their 'naivete' regarding DISTRIBUTION of resources --most of them have little inkling of political ecology and so they (like many "save the wilderness" conservationists) gravitate to their professions because of youthful misanthropism, that in grad school is converted into scientistic loathing of the human race. (If numbers alone are somehow harmful to the environment when they reach dizzying heights, how is it that we mourn the passing of the great Bison herds and the Passenger Pigeon -- apparently we did them a favor?!) "Hunter-gatherers" were apparently capable of wiping out much of the native megafauna of North America, Madagascar, and New Zealand long before agriculture came along and allowed human populations to become more dense. The reality is that if the best land in the world were grown by small farmers--or, possibly, even ecologically-conscious corporations of the future--many more than the current # of humans could be sustained well. Before World War II, LACK of population was often cited as the major problem, and it was realized that places like the rural US South, Mongolia, much of Africa, etc., were poor because they were sparsely populated, thus, for example, the tax base was too small, distances were too large between populations to make investment in transportation infrastructure cost-effective, and so forth. We see today that there is no correlation between population and wealth, as for every Bangladesh that you show me I can point out a Netherlands, or counter your mythical low-population, low-density country with a Mongolia or Mauritania. The point is that we have an incredibly unequitable global distribution system, getting worse all the time; poor farmers and ranchers deprived of the best land --as they often are, since that is the most desirous for the plantations of the few -- are forced onto marginal land and into competition with other species. North America was hardly a pristine wilderness -- whatever that means -- before Europeans arrived. And as for those hunter-gatherers of long ago, and those light-on-the-land agriculturalists--much if not most of the habitats in the world are either fire-successional or have been 100% affected by human burning: all of Australia over 40,000+ years; the Great Plains; most pine/oak forests and savannas; etc., etc. Charles Mann's book "1491" does an excellent job of explaining much of this. Stephen J. Pyne's 'Cycle of Fire' series is also great. I think that Pianka's comments were heartfelt and he likely would have few regrets watching the die-off. Biologists like Pianka and Ehrlich have been talking about this with relish for years. I have known many like them, very comfortable within their global-economy sustained lifestyles who don't want to think of the inherent contradictions. BUT, do they link up with the likes of the other fellow whose vitae are posted? I've certainly know many biologists and conservationists who are close to big foundation money and close to big corporations who are very well known as destroyers of the environment (the types who endow UT)--but when the big interests drop some money, scientists come running...

by **mother** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 10:59 pm

Very neatly said zjurhgvc, all correct. Now if I could figure out how to pronounce your name. .

by **stickdog99** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 5:42 am

It's insane and Satanic (I'm not sure how else to put it) to endorse genocide in order to sustain bloated, indulgent, inefficient and ossified capitalistic follies. It's like the Titanic is sinking but an empty boat almost the size of the Titanic comes by and you suggest that only the first class passengers should be allowed to board it because otherwise there won't be enough fuel to get to shore before the caviar runs out. More to the point, it's like New Orleans floods and you won't let the Red Cross in to save lives because you're afraid that this will interfere with the cleansing of the city's poor. Or it's like not warning 9/11 clean up volunteers (and anybody working or living in the Ground Zero vicinity) that they are going to die years early just so that you can completely re-open Wall Street and downtown NYC ASAP and with as little cost as possible. Or it's like digging mineral fibers like asbestos out of the ground and slipping them into every product imaginable to this day, 50 long years after their horrible effects have been clear to anyone with access to the health records of asbestos miners. Or it's like aggressively marketing tobacco products ... On second thought, are these secret societies that are supposed to (be trying to) control things actually all Satanists?

More on Texas genocide advocate

Re: A few thoughts

Re: A few thoughts

Too many people or is it who's got the resources?

Too many people o is it who's got the resources?

Re: Too many people or is it who's got the resources?

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