As outlined in Construct Zero, I believe that creating connections of endeavor between groups across perceived (national, religious, economic ...) borders will lessen the likelihood of human conflict.

No one seems to dispute this much.

But what if those connections were stimulated not only through philanthropic enterprise, but also through business? (This idea was first put forth - along with clear instructions - in my new book, Integration Marketing - which you can get in PDF format now for free before it hits the shelves next year.)

I propose that we drop a "Peace Bomb" on the world by deliberately and aggressively working to create more of these connections now.

Not only will your participation in this exercise boost the profitability and stability of your business (that benefit of Integration Marketing is well-proven), but it may increase the survivability of our species.

Of course, this is already happening despite the best efforts of many interest groups to slow down the rate of global cooperation. How can we speed up the process?

What we need to figure out is:

a. How to effectively spread the idea

b. How to stimulate and track these connections more effectively

What we've started at the Integration Marketing community is a start, but we need to do more. I invite suggestions, comments, and questions ... (use the comment link below)

It's been over a year now since I did the famous water car video testing what Steve Ryan from Biosfuel in New Zealand claims is a water based fuel that runs on a normal car.

The test was dramatic, but inconclusive: it was not performed in a controlled environment, nor did it analyze the emissions of the car.

I asked to set up a 2nd experiment in an accredited lab and the folks at Biosfuel agreed.  Unfortunately, up until this point the promised test has never materialized.

Without analyzing the emissions, it's impossible to know what is actually happening with this fuel.  For example, some have rightfully suggested that it may just be burning the waste oil mixed into the fuel and not hydrogen as Biosfuel claims.  Indeed, something has to be happening with the waste oil. 

Analyzing the emissions would tell the full story.  And of course you'd have to do that in a controlled environment independent of the inventors to gather any scientifically-useful evidence.

So, I'm going to have to lay this one to rest ... 

The folks at Biosfuel showed me other alternative energy technologies that seemed promising, but without testing them there's no way I can report any of that to you responsibly.  (Nothing personal against the folks there.  They have all been friendly to me every step of the way.  But I can't allow that to cloud my reporting of the facts to you, and there you have it.)

Conclusion:  Inconclusive.  I wish them the best and cordially invite a rebuttal from them in the comments below.

Moving on ...

So, what about the toy hydrogen fuel cell car I showed you?

Well, despite what some of the supremely ignorant flamers on YouTube would have you believe, hydrogen fuel cells are still quite promising.

In fact, there are now "Hydrogen Highway" projects in Canada, Denmark (together with Norway and Sweden), Japan, and the United States (in California and Florida).

And the suggestion I made about creating a network of solar panels to power the fueling stations is becoming a reality as well.

Further, it's not just for cars.  Many of these Hydrogen Highway projects are showcasing consumer electronics that use micro-fuel-cells and various industrial applications as well.

It appears the biggest bottleneck is getting the cost of hydrogen production down.  Setting up a solar grid that is constantly producing and storing the hydrogen sure seems like a solution that would work.

Conclusion:  there are still a few issues to be worked out, but they don't seem in any way insurmountable.   Like it or not - believe it or not - hydrogen fuel is coming.

No matter how you slice it, our dependence on the industrial-era technology of fossil fuel seems to be one of the primary causes of planetary havoc right now ...

1.  Whether or not you agree with Al Gore's global warming arguments, we can all agree on this:  air pollution sucks.  I don't know of anyone that is "pro-smog" (it would be sort of like saying you're "pro-cancer") and fossil fuels are one of the primary causes.

2.  In the United States we are highly dependent on fuel imported from other countries.  Not only does this weaken our economy, but it negatively affects our national security as well.  Think about it like this:  the military runs on fossil fuels.  If forces outside of the U.S. control this resource (remember what I said about Technology Binds), we can be controlled.

3.  If those who believe we have already passed the Peak Oil mark are correct, you aren't going to see a reduction in gas prices any time soon (our presence, or lack thereof, in Iraq won't make much difference if the real issue is one of production capacity).

4.  Our National Debt is at $9.5 trillion.  About 25% of that debt is owed to foreign creditors, and that percentage is growing.  One of the reasons this is happening is the war in Iraq.  No matter how you feel about the war, the fact is that we can't afford it.  So, we're allowing the central banks of foreign countries (primarily China) to purchase treasury bonds in order to fund the war.  Is that somehow tied in to our dependence on fossil fuels?  Well, it depends on whether or not you believe oil was one of the motivators for going to war.  Can we really know?

What baffles me is that none of the U.S. presidential candidates are addressing this issue in their campaigns.  At least, I haven't heard anything about it ...

(I'd like to personally thank the mainstream media for ensuring that I'm far more familiar with Obama's pastor than I am with his energy policies.)

We need to pick up the pace, folks.  Our governments are moving on this, but not nearly fast enough.

What are you going to do about it?

My book The Irresistible Offer has been one of the top-selling marketing books of the last 3 years, but I think it can do better.

My theory is that by letting people download it for free it will in fact positively impact sales.

I've seen other people do this, but given that they did it while the book was in pre-launch or mid-launch it's really impossible to know what kind of impact it had.

Sales for The Irresistible Offer, on the other hand, have been relatively steady and predictable so if we see a boost as a result of this it will be a good indicator that the tactic works.

If the sales suddenly come to a screeching halt, that would be evidence to the contrary.   (And may not make my publisher happy, but hey, they are great people and innovative thinkers.  Otherwise, they wouldn't have allowed me to do something so edgy.)

It's not a perfectly scientific test, of course, but it will be very strong data given the current status of the book.

This is significant for many reasons.  Most importantly because the print publishing world (of all forms: books, CDs, DVDs, etc.) is getting increasingly anxious about the impact of digital publishing and digital piracy on their businesses.

I think digital publishing not only opens up new revenue streams for them, but also positively impacts the sales of print media.

The same may, in fact, hold true of piracy.

Take DVDs as an example.

Yes, there will be many people who will avoid purchasing something if they can download it for free.  But what about all of the conversations they start with people after having viewed it?  Conversations that wouldn't have otherwise taken place.

If you read my recent book The Rise of the Author you'll find that this assertion may appear to fly in the face of what I said there, but only superficially so.  (more about this later)

Meanwhile, I invite you to take part in this experiment by downloading The Irresistible Offer for free ...

Please digg this and pass it around.  We need to gather as much data as possible for meaningful results.  I'll be sharing what we find with you here.

With the release of Mind Control Marketing this week as an ebook, I've been thinking a lot about the ethics of mind control tactics.

When I first wrote that book I intended it as a guidebook for hacking into the "loopholes" in the human brain so you could sell products and make millions of dollars.

These days I'm more interested in:

A.  Yes, teaching people how to use these techniques to make money, but only with the proper context and guidance (the above ebook version includes that - the print version didn't).

B.  How these ideas methods are being used to talk large populations into things that are not good for them.

So, I thought I'd show you guys how to start your own conspiracy - legally.  (OK, I'm not a lawyer, so check with yours first.)

Step 1.  Form a Front Group

The "National Smoker's Alliance" was a "grassroots" movement to oppose anti-smoking laws.

These good citizens felt their rights were being trampled on with bans on smoking in public buildings.

Or so their propaganda said.

They were actually a "front group" for the tobacco industry funded and created by Phillip Morris.

Sounds like a "conspiracy theory" - and it is - minus the "theory" bit.  (Google it.)

Step 2.  Incorporate in a Place That Hides Your Identity

Nevada, for example.

It's the only state in the union that does not share information with the IRS.

Further, Nevada protects the names of the Board of Directors and Officers of companies incorporate in Nevada.

Step 3.  Cover Your Financial Tracks

If you're "big tobacco" and you don't want people to know you're secretly funding a group that supports your cause, large cash donations to that group showing up on your books won't help your cause.

Filter those funds through other front groups, charities, causes, offshore accounts, etc.

...

Pretty easy, right?

Sure is, and that's why there are thousands of front groups in full operation these days ...

They represent agendas ranging from the political to the religious.  (Google "Narcanon" and "Center for Union Facts" for some interesting case studies, if you are so inclined.)

The idea here is to take advantage of the psychology of "Conformity."  If you can create the appearance of a group of people who share your cause, it will be much easier to sway others.

Hey, here's a thought for them: how about putting just half the energy you put into propaganda into doing something helpful for people?

I theorize that will actually get you a higher cash return on the energy you invest.

Am I right?

I'm looking for someone and I really need your help finding them.  With the net, I think we can do it.

I don't know who this person is, but perhaps you do.

In fact, it may be you.

Here's why it's so important ...

We didn't know the extent of the impact the Printing Press and the Internet would have on our lives, but it turns out they are the two most significant technological advancements in our history.

Rather than wait a thousand years for the next one to happen, what if we could make it happen in the next 2 to 5 years?

On page 66 of The Rise of the Author (available immediately for free), I feel we have identified exactly what that next advancement will be.  And I feel with today's technology (if not, we're at least very close), it may in fact be immediately possible.  We just need to get the right minds focusing on the right problem.

If you're not the right person for the job, I want to use the power of the net and your help to find them.  I feel this will be such a huge leap forward, and that it is so close within our grasp that we would be crazy not to focus our energy on this.  (when you read it you'll understand exactly why)

Here's how we'll do it:

1.  Digg this post.

2.  Email this post to anyone you know who may have the right skill-set or might know someone who does.

Put this cartoon on your blog.  

When the mainstream news media is allowed to exclude candidates from debates (both Kucinich and Paul were excluded when candidates with lower poll ratings were included - why?) ...

When the mainstream news media can "predict" winners (and thus influence your vote) on statistically irrelevant information ...

Has the news become propaganda?  Or are there just some really irresponsible decisions being made?

Theories?

...

On a lighter note ... If you want to know who won the Online Music Fame competition, you can - just scroll down to the bottom of that page.  (more about them later)