DIDIK.com DIDIK® is a registered trademark Contact Frank Didik at: inquiry [at] didik.com   (New York City, USA) Designs, Projects, Proposals and Innovations by Frank Didik Trans-Global Highway | Inflatable Structures and Shelters | Frank Didik thoughts | Designing Electric Vehicles | Solar Energy | Electric Car Owners Society | Stereo 3D Lenticular | E.Europe | Art, Films and Design | .Frank Didik thoughts | World of Tomorrow | Photo Journalism | NYC in Pictures | Japan Stock Photo Archive  Main Menu I encourage everyone to do whatever you can do, to the best of your ability and try to make your dreams a reality.
Designs, Projects, Proposals and Innovations by Frank Didik Frank X. Didik is a polymath whose knowledge spans a significant number of subjects thus he is able to draw on complex bodies of knowledge to solve specific problems.		Thoughts by Frank Didik
"Didik Sun Shark" Solar-Electric safety motorcycle. "Didik Shooting Star" Gas-Hybrid fantasy vehicle built for trade show. Hybrid Electric Didik Long Ranger (highly modified CitiCar) "DIDIK Muscle Car" Human Powered Version "Didik Project 2000" Solar thermo-couple system with 2 meter (6.5foot) vacuum formed reflective lens. Didik Solar Energy Research Didik Solar Energy Research Ths secret to manufacturing a viable electric car Didik foldable Muscle Car Frank Didik proposal for the Trans-Global Highway "Didik Simplicity" Electric hybrid vehicle with rear wheel turning. DIDIK 2020 Prototype worlds smallest, lightest 4x5 film camera - scanable 5 gigapixels Bottom Door Utility Truck Patent Pending The Bottom Door Utility Truck enhances worker comfort and safety by allowing workers access to manholes from inside of the utility van while maintaining a comfortable work environment. Read More... Self Stick Stray and Contact Voltage Detector Patent. Every year, thousands of people sustain electric shocks which in some cases, can injure or kill. The Self Stick Stray and Contact Voltage Detector is the solution. Patent pending Read More... Lip Reading To Text Hearing Aid Glasses Unique and advanced. Patent Pending Read more...  Isolation Chamber to transport a sick person and to prevent pathogenic microorganisms from spreading to other people. Unique and advanced. Patent pending   Read more... Boat Ungrounder Patent Pending The Boat Saver helps free a grounded boat. Read More... Solar-Human powered DIDIK Muscle Car "Didik Duplexity" human powered, foldable scooter for two. "Didik Bubble Bunker" inflatable, positive pressure, emergency clean room. Didik Sun Shark Didik Solar Energy Research The Didik quest for the worlds lightest bicycle. Nine pounds (4kg). Rear and front wheel turns. Epoxy coated foam. Didik Bubble Bunker Inflatable clean room, filtered Structure How to Build an Electric Car Didik Sun Shark How vehicles are designed Didik's view on design DIDIK Muscle Car Nine day sailing adventure on the Hudson River. Experiments in exceding hull speed and enhanced hull strength with existing fiberglass boats. Frank Didik proposal for the Trans-Global Highway First step in construction of large scale inflatable structures. Didik Sun Shark Didik 360 Degree 3D Stereo lenticular projection system Didik Lenticular Stereo (3-D) Technology Designing and building a simple car top,row boat or motor boat in three days. _________________ Haiti Earthquake Relief Housing Effort Photography by Frank Didik: New York Photo Archive | Asia | Historic Asia (1850's-1920's) | Stock Film Footage Database | Celebrities | Celebrities in 3D Stereo | Protest marches | Tropics | Electric cars | Japan | Croatia | World Trade Center Archives | Alternative Energy  Early Didik 3-D Television Systems from the 70's NYCinPictures.com A photograph of every building in Manhattan. Photographed by Frank Didik. Part of his virtual reality world project. Lenticular Stereo (3-D) Technology Didik Barrier strip stereo-motion 3D images Didik Ultra-light weight bicycle. Worlds lightest bike Realistic analysis of the pros and cons of the Hovercraft Frank Didik Business Books 2003 Edition  History and Guide Book to Lenticular Technology cd-rom by Frank Didik Experimenting Research, Development and Experimenting. Trial and error and developing new materials. Can you charge a cell phone with an orange?!! Proposal for the  Trans-Global Highway. Positive pressure filtration tents.  Virtual reality New York City. Expanded GPSThese photographs are interconnected to create a virtual New York City. This was done a numnber of years before Google street view and has a different commercial purpose. Didik Simplicity Foldable Muscle Car DIDIK Muscle Car   "Didik Bubble Bunker" inflatable, positive pressure, emergency clean room. Didik portable, emergency, germ free safety gurney and bed. Didik Bubble Bunker Didik Bubble Bunker Didik portable, emergency, germ free safety gurney and bed. Didik Bubble Bunker Didik Bubble Bunker Frank Didik designed and built machine to cut lenticular 3D lenses. Didik Lenticular Stereo (3-D) Technology Internal component of the Didik gyroscopic image stabilizer designed to rotate in partially evacuated hydrogen atmosphere Micro housing designed to be built upon a rock outcrop. Please contact Frank Didik for affordable micro housing designed using new, low cost, modern materials. Frank Didik Commercial and Editorial Photography Didik photographs can be found in numerous magazines and publications DIDIK Muscle Car Didik Arctic Explorer Enclosed, heated and floatable snow mobile. DIDIK Muscle Car driving on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan Solar-Human DIDIK Muscle Car. Construction of custom solar vehicle. Be sure to read "How to Build an Electric Car" Light weight is essential for efficiency in solar vehicles. Technique to create lenticular 3D images, from "flat" images. Didik Lenticular Stereo (3-D) Technology Solar array designed by Frank Didik for custom built, solar heated workshop. Didik Sun Shark in classroom for seminar on solar vehicles at the National Design Museum of the Smithsonian Institute. Didik Turtle A truly basic electric car built in just 14 hours. Fleeting Moments Art Project. Current Book Projects and Prior Business Books and Eastern European Business Directory Design exercise Didik Ocean Home page Floating deep water home Ocean Home PDF file "Didik Bubble Bunker" inflatable, positive pressure, emergency clean room. DIDIK Muscle Car DIDIK Muscle Car DIDIK Muscle Car DIDIK Muscle Car DIDIK Muscle Car Be sure to read "How vehicles are designed" and "How to Build an Electric Car" "Didik Bubble Bunker" inflatable, positive pressure, emergency clean room. "Didik Bubble Bunker" inflatable, positive pressure, emergency clean room. Thoughts by Frank Didik Random thoughts on science, business and society today. Index www.DIDIK.com Copyright© 1989 - 2016 by Frank X. Didik All Rights Reserved DIDIK® is a registered Trademark You may also wish to visit www.design1.org Coming Soon: Steam Turbine Solar-Electric Sports Car. INDEX Electric Vehicles Solar, Electric, Hybrid, Alternate Energy Vehicles How the vehicles are designed The secret in designing and manufacturing a viable electric car. How to Build an Electric Car (Smithsonian Institute Talk) Directory and History of Electric Vehicles from 1834 to 2000 A directory of all electric cars ever built. DIDIK Muscle Car Foldable Muscle Car Didik Shooting Star Didik Sun Shark Didik Arctic Explorer Didik Long Ranger Didik Simplicity Didik Duplexity Didik Turtle Worlds lightest bike Hovercraft - Realistic analysis of the pros and cons of the Hovercraft Human Powered Bus Licensing Information for Manufacturers and Resellers PRESS KITS covering DIDIK electric cars Electric Vehicle CD-ROM The Horseless Age First Car Magazine in the USA, starting in 1895. Contains details on every early car. Fascinating. Solar Energy Research The Electric Car Owners Club, which is now known as the Electric Car Society, was founded by Frank Didik Electric Vehicle Registration Page History of the CitiCar and CommutaCar Didik Ocean Home How to Build an Electric Car(Smithsonian Institute Talk) Driving an Electric Vehicle CitiCar and CommutaCar Parts List Electric Vehicle CD-ROM Directory and History of Electric Vehicles from 1834 to 2000 Citicar Catalog from 1975 CitiCar Wiring Diagrams ComutaCar Catalog and specifications from 1980 NEW! For the early automobile enthusiast The Horseless Age The first car magazine printed from 1895 to 1918. Information on every car built and every automotive development during this period. Design Design, Art, Film, Alternate Energy www.design1.org Designs by Frank Didik Art Films Documentaries: "Chinatown in the Shadow" "Secret History of Japan" Resume Frank Didik's Designer Statement Architecture Virtual New York City and Tokyo Current Book Projects Expanded GPS Hurricane Irene Report from, NYC Effects of Hurricane Irene on New York City Aug 27-Aug 28, 2011 Architecture Inflatable structures and emergency isolation tents. Positive pressure, germ free emergency temporary medical bed. Positive pressure filtration tents. "Fleeting Moments" This art project includes a picture of every building in New York City, photographed by Frank Didik To see thumbnails of many of the photographs, also go to NYCinPictures.com  Solar and Renewable Energy Research section SOLAR and POWER PLANT TECHNOLOGY. This section provides an overview of solar energy research. Click here for the Main Power Technology Menu Direct Solar-Electric Generation Improved Efficiency for Existing Power Plants DIDIK Power Technology Systems Solar Electric Vehicle Technology Other Trans-Global Highway. Frank Didik proposal for the Trans-Global Highway BubbleBunker.com Portable, hermetically sealed , inflatable personal shelter. Personal Home Shelters. World Trade Center Horror A first hand, eye witness report of the World Trade Center Horror, as seen by Frank Didik on September 11, 2001 Design and build a simple car top,row boat or motor boat in three days. Real Estate Click here for Real Estate information products for brokers and investors. Hawaii Real Estate CD-Roms Stock Photo and News Archive Photographs by Frank Didik: New York Photo Archive Asia Photo Archive Historic Asia (1850's-1920's) Stock Film Footage Database Celebrities in pictures Celebrities in 3D Stereo Protest marches Tropics in pictures Electric cars in pictures Japan in pictures Croatia in pictures  World Trade Center Archives in pictures photographed by Frank Didik during the 911 horror Alternative Energy in pictures Tokyo1.org -Japan stock photo archive Tokyo1.org (historic) Historic Japanese and Asian photo archive section covering 1853-1923 Hawaii Stock Photo Archive Frank Didik Commercial and Editorial Photography Didik photographs can be found in numerous magazines and publications Nine day sailing adventure Earthquake Relief Housing Effort NYCinPictures.com A photograph of every building in Manhattan. Photographed by Frank Didik. Part of his virtual reality world project. www.News1.net Stock photo and video archive plus editorial and media content. Stereo 3-D Pages lenticular software Lenticular Stereo (3-D) Technology STEREO and THREE DIMENSIONAL (3-D) imaging including Lenticular printing and Vari-Vue. This section covers stereo photography, stereographic cinematography and stereo (3-D) television.  Main Stereo 3-D menu  History and Guide Book to Lenticular Technology cd-rom by Frank Didik 2003 edition Mass Production of Lenticular images for advertisers Production Price list for Lenticular Mass Production Lenticular Photography Lenticular Supplies including lenses for printers and photographers  Early 3-D Television Systems from the 70's Lenticular Technology A brief history of VariVue Since 1936 Directory of 3D (Stereo) films since 1922 Lenticular Technology Book How to view stereo pairs (non-Lenticular) Experimenting Research, Development and Experimenting. Charge a cell phone with an orange? ! Lenticular Licensing Information for Manufacturers and Resellers Press Kits for lenticular 3d DIDIK Stereo Registration Page EASTERN EUROPE Business Intelligence Eastern European Business Directory by Frank X. Didik This business directory can be found in most libraries world wide and required over one year of work, including numerous trips to Eastern Europe. It was the key business book covering Eastern Europe in 1990 till 1992. Besides English, special regional editions of "Didik's Directory of American Businesses" were published in German, Czech and Polish. The primary purpose of all of these directories was to assist the businessman to determine "who produces what". Eastern Europe Business Database CD-ROM by Frank Didik Covers every factory in Eastern Europe and former USSR Easter and Central European Business Directory Eastern Europe Business Information This section is primarily for larger companies, banks and government agencies seeking information or technical assistance on various industries and industrial sectors in Eastern Europe. Special Industrial Reports Over 400 industrial sectors covered Trade Directories and Books Covering Eastern Europe Eastern Europe Registration Page  DIDIK.COM   inquiry [at] didik.com | Electric Vehicles | Solar Energy | Electric Car Owners Society | Stereo 3D Lenticular | E.Europe | NYC in Pictures | Japan Stock Photo Archive | Real Estate | Art | Films | Stock Photo's| | Hawaii Real Estate CD-Rom | Personal Home Shelters | Sponsorship Opportunities | Trans-Global Highway | Trade Shows and Press | Journalist Resources | Legal | Contact Us | To bookmark, press CTRL D now CONTACT Frank Didik: . +1 inquiry [at] didik.com (New York City, USA)   Time: Date: www.DIDIK.com Copyright© 1989 - 2020 by Frank X. Didik, All Rights Reserved DIDIK® is a registered Trademark at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.		Frank X. Didik aboard "The Futurist" in New York Harbor. Thoughts by Frank Didik Random thoughts on science, business and society today. What if and what can or might be. What if the decay rate of elements varies rather than being a constant? Imagine, if this is the case, it would mean that all archeological dating is in question. How old are artifacts? When in fact did the dinosaurs really die out? Further, consider that ... read more ... What is the speed of gravity? If it is instantaneous, then what if gravity can be modulated? Today most scientists, assume that the speed of gravity is the same as the speed of light, but what if the speed of gravity is instantaneous? Further, if gravity can be modulated, it might allow for instantaneous universal communication. Thus it might be possible to communicate with space craft instantly, rather than waiting for minutes for transmissions to reach the craft or earth. Perhaps computer chips can be made to operate vastly faster. And this is just the beginning since ...read more ... Reason, Logic and intellect is not reliable. The late Christopher Hitchens often stated that we should rely on our logic, reason and intellect to determine the truth. Many people who pride themselves as educated, intelligent and progressive believe the same. As reasonable as this seems, Galileo proved over 400 years ago that our logic, reason and intellect is unreliable and that only direct experimental data, should be relied upon. Galileo had dropped two balls of the same material, but different masses, from the Leaning Tower of Pisa to demonstrate that they would hit the ground at the same time, rather than the heavier ball hitting the ground first, as almost everyone, including Aristotle, 2000 years ago, had assumed. Our logic, reason and intellect is not reliable and should only be viewed as speculation. Only direct experimentation and obtaining the same results, over and over again should be relied upon. What if time varies along with all things, rather than being a constant? Consider that...read more ... Can the speed of light vary, even if traveling under the same conditions, or in other words, is the speed of light really a constant? According to Einstein's theory of relativity, the speed of light is a constant but ...read more ... The 1956 Firebird was to be self driving. Self Driving Cars? If you have an accident with a self driving car, who is at fault? The car manufacturer, the owner of the car or the occupant "driver" of the car? I have enjoyed owning and driving some of the most interesting cars made and have always enjoyed the freedom of driving without impediments or restrictions. Nevertheless, if self driving ...read more ... Bicycles? What ever happened to jet packs, flying cars and advanced technology that in the past, was predicted that we would be using by today? Why are bicycles being pushed by cities world wide?...read more ... Question: Do bicycles and skate boards represent a more environmentally friendly world or does it indicate a decline in the standard of living?   I ride my bicycle about 10 miles every day, but only a small percentage of the population benefit from bike lanes, mostly men under the age of 50. Further, most people ride bikes in warm, favorable weather and rarely in the rain, snow or cold weather. Old Computer Formats and the longevity of our digitally stored knowledge. Are we entering into a "pre-history" era? How can we preserve our computer written records, books, photographs, video and knowledge? If you wanted to, would you be able to read a: 3 1/2" or 5 1/4" or 8" floppy? cd-rom or a dvd? 12" optical disk? 9 track tape? IBM punch card? Paper punch tape? If you can not read these one or two generation old formats today, how will society be able to read these documents in 200 years from now? I doubt that the current line up of formats, such as SD cards, USB drives or others, will be easy to read in 15 years. The longevity of computer/digital storage before major failure is also an issue ...read more ... Euthanasia to be encouraged? I was just reading that insurance companies encourage suicide, in states that permit assisted suicide. Greater profits by less medical bills and life insurance policies invalidated? I suspect that with a rapidly aging population, the elderly will be encouraged to end their lives. Perhaps it will be presented as the patriotic or honorable thing to do. We are truly entering into an age of barbarism and abandoning civilization. - June 2018 There is an alternative to population control. Restricting and discouraging the formation of families in order to stabilize or reduce population infringes on the freedom and rights of every human. There is another much better approach...read more ... Questioning the results of modern science. For the last 100 years, we have been experiencing the collapse of real science. Theories, speculation and fantasy is the norm today. By definition, the scientific method is the ability to test and re-test and always get the same results, over and over. If an idea or a theory can not be tested, the idea must be viewed as speculation and not considered true, till that idea is proven without a doubt. Scientific theory has moved to areas that are beyond our present capability of testing and gradually a number of unproven theories have become accepted as fact without any real proof. Further, new theories have been developed based on old theories. Thus we have a situation where science today is largely based on theory upon theory. If something can not be proven, it falls into the realm of philosophy rather than science. This has led to...read more ... Science and media hype: Any sudden "revolutionary" scientific discovery, even if such discovery is written about in every newspaper and scientific journal, should be greeted with skepticism. Such a discovery should only be accepted after the bulk of scientists have have had a chance to review the discovery and confirm that it is in fact correct. Such things that come to mind include cold fusion, the so called "God Particle" and even the recent stated discovery of a "gravitational wave". All too often such media hype has come and gone without any real discovery or fundamental change. ..read more ... What percentage of information, contained in science books is accurate and true? Are we in a post science period? Many science books today present ...read more ... It is time to retest scientific properties. Verify results. I suggest that the properties of all materials be re-tested using modern technology and certify the results. Melting and boiling points, conductivity, hardness, and all physical properties of materials should be re-tested ...read more ... Honesty and integrity in scientific research is essential in order to advance our knowledge base. When a scientist has worked for years to prove a particular theory and finds out that their work has been in vain, it is difficult to admit that their original assumptions were wrong. Still it is vitally important ..read more ... This website displays designs, projects, proposals and innovations by Frank Didik, but this site has also served to inspire people to bring their ideas to fruition. All too often, people have great dreams in high school and college but within a few years after graduation, these ideas gradually become a distant memory. I encourage everyone to do what ever you are good at and try to make your dreams a reality. What people do today represents the future of our great planet. Go out and do whatever you can do, to the best of your ability. Free diverse, intelligent opinions? Is it possible to have truly diverse opinions if everything a person thinks and understands is told to them in school, tv, movies and the rest of the media? On-line chat rooms and "news aggregators" tend to repeat one another, without any truly new information. In many ways, this is causing a dumbing down of society. Perhaps it has always been this way. ---Feb 11, 2019 Automation and robotics will help return businesses to the United States. With new automation and robotics, which requires less employees, it is now possible for most American Based companies to return manufacturing to the United States, with the benefit of lower production costs, lower shipping costs and a safer business climate, when compared with outsourced manufacturing. -February 14, 2018 The Downside of Robotics Robotics will bring about a fundamental change in society. Millions of jobs will be lost, but only a few, high end jobs will be created. Most former employees will not be employable in this new environment. The same occurred in England in the early 1800's with the industrial revolution. High end weaving jobs were lost after the introduction of high speed looms. Another example is the computer revolution from the late 1960's till the mid 1980's and on till today eliminated the need for thousands of office clerks. - May 5, 2019   Frank Didik's Thoughts on how the world will change in the future   No one really knows what the future will be like and rarely have predictions made in the past, become a reality in the same way that it was predicted. Nevertheless, certain generalities of what might happen, can be foreseen based on what is happening today read more 1. In the future, robotics will change society and millions will lose their jobs ...read more 2. In the future, robotic friends, including intimate friends will prevail ...read more 3. In the future, dating and marriage may greatly decline read more 4. In the future, populations may drastically decline ...read more 5. In the future, pet ownership will decline read more 6. In the future, natural child birth may decline read more 7. In the future, Licenses may be required to have children ...read more 8. In the future, virtual living will take precedence to real life read more 9. In the future, aroma, heat, wind, moisture and taste will all be recorded read more 10. In the future, wealth will be concentrated among a tiny group of people read more 11. In the future, technological advancement may slow down ...read more 12. In the future, planets will not be colonized read more 13. In the future, people will travel less in the future ...read more 14. In the future, transportation networks will gradually be reduced ..read more 15. In the future, there will be a Loss of optimism for their future ...read more 16. In the future, people will rarely interact, face to face ...read more 17. In the future, microscopic robotic "bacteria" will be injected into the body to cure diseases and repair or remove internal body issues ..read more 18. In the future, robots will perform medical procedures including surgery more 19. In the future, doctors will be able to operate from anywhere on the planet ...read more 20. Radically changed moral values and decline in human dignity awaits us in the future ...read more 21. In the future, society may gradually fall into a stagnant, non advancing epic ...read more 22. Future crises in Human Dignity ...read more 23. In the future, medicines will be specifically designed for the individual ...read more 24. In the future, robots will do most factory work and manual labor, including farming and cooking, as well as the jobs of professionals such as doctors and accounting, just to mention a few chores and will cause the loss of millions of jobs and make large populations unnecessary .. read more ---Predictions for the future by Frank X. Didik, December 2, 2016 ------------------------------------------ Op-Ed Cell Phone Etiquette Advice for the modern person - December 9, 2016 read more   Time to rethink bike lanes Advice for bicyle based cities  - August 3, 2016 read more       Frank Didik with NYC Mayor Bill DeBlasio and first lady Chirlane McCray, at Gracy Mansion. Corona Virus: What I have observed regarding the Corona Virus can be read here. Further, my photographs of empty New York City, can be viewed here. Pentup Demand caused by Covid-19 lockdown? Unlikely. People are used to staying home, have developed new habits, and after being out of work, will probably want to save money. Forced vaccinations? But Why? read more Do more people die because of the Corona Virus or because of the lockdown? read more Hysterical Fears pushed in the media and other sources: What ever happened to Y2K, the Ozone hole, nuclear winter, missile gap, read more Is Covid-19 as widespread as suggested? read more Restaurants and Bars will spring back? Very unlikely. People go to these places not only to eat and drink but primarily to socialize. If people are social distanced, why go out? Corona Virus "Experts"? Who is to say who is an expert when the entire virus is a new event and nobody has any real understanding what is going on. This is like the transition period of Eastern Europe from 1989 to 1992, when so many "leading experts" came from nowhere and gave the public their speculation with truly disastrous results, causing massive inflation and economic failure in countries who followed their "advice". Remote workers and salary protection read more Internet free speech and censorship read more People should be responsible for themselves and carry their own weight in society read more Liberal Governments verses Conservative Governments read more Career first and family later? read more Question If you can live for a thousand years, but have to live in a 12x12 foot (3x3 meter) room without ever leaving, would you do it? I prefer to live life to its fullest and accept the risks. Everything in life entails a certain risk. Subway Safety-Subway Gate Every year hundreds of people are killed or severely injured when they fall onto the tracks of trains and subways. The prevention is cost efficient and greatly reduces liability ... read more ... Greatly reduce train noise A significant amount of train noise is caused by the train wheels rolling over the expansion joint of the tracks. This vibration creates noise, vibrations, an less pleasant ride and also reduces the life cycle of the train. The solution is relatively simple and cost effective ... read more ... ---- Oposition vs False Oposition read more Best Governments offer a balance between private ownership and public ownership read more Should all citizens be allowed to vote? read more Gradual Control read more Equal does not mean identical but are all people are equal? read more Cashless Society; good or bad? read more ---- Our thoughts are not our own. We are influence constantly by TV, the internet, radio, newspapers, magazines, movies, television shows, advertisements, in school and other places. Almost everything we think, do and say, what we eat, wear, how we act and even our goals and moral perspective, is hammered into us so is our thoughts, really our own? We certainly have the capability to think on our own and in fact, we do have a free will to ultimately choose our direction, but nevertheless, our outside influence is massive. When I interact with people, I often hear the same argument parreted over and over again, and often times the people do not realize that they are simply repeating what they had recently heard or read. Often times outside discussions have little new information to offer since it is so repetative or in on such a basic level. Perhaps the person who can think the most for themselves are people who live in isolated areas, with little interaction with others. Centuries ago, hermits and monks withdrew from the world to be surrounded by their thougths. I do not advocate this, but their action is for sure one way of limiting outside influence. Knowledge obtained from human interaction, reading and learning is essential to move forward, but how does one use this knowledge while at the same time not being overly influenced by others? Human existence and progress is rapid, but still there are obsticles that slow us down.  Is it possible to have truly diverse opinions if everything a person thinks and understands is told to them in school, tv, movies and the rest of the media? On-line chat rooms and "news aggregators" tend to repeat one another, without any truly new information. In many ways, this is causing a dumbing down of society. Perhaps it has always been this way. ---Feb 11, 2019 Where have all the insects and birds gone? Just a few years ago, when I would drive in the country, my windshield would be covered with insects that had hit the car. This simply does not happen anymore. Has the insect population somehow died out? No one seems to talk about this. Has insecticides or plastics or radio transmissions somehow effected them? Further, I have noticed a large drop in the number of birds that we have in the cities as well as in the countryside. It seems that we are headed towards, a silent spring. Frank Didik's opinion On Education Rethinking school and our education system Should everyone attend college or university? ... read more ... Wisdom: I believe that wisdom can not be taught, but rather wisdom is a unique gift of understanding that a person is born with. Can a college or a university really teach a person to be a businessman or an artist or good in any particular field? ... read more ... How come all college undergraduate degree's require four years? Should some degrees require only one year while others perhaps six years? ... read more ... Weak Students: I have long believed that in a classroom environment, the weak student holds the better students back. The idea of putting a weak student with better students is a disservice to both the weak as well as the better students. It should also be recognized that not all people have the same ability and potential in every field. Two individuals completing the same university program and having the same grades and degree, does not make them equal in ability and potential. Students should not be told that they can succeed at anything that they try to do. What courses should and should not be taught at college or university? Can college or a university teach a person how to be a good business person, or how to be creative? ... read more ... ------------------------------- Teaching: I feel that it is not possible to teach a person to be creative or a good businessman and the same applies to many other fields. You can only expose that person to what has already been done and the current understanding of the tools and materials of the trade and perhaps with this understanding, the student can expand upon this knowledge. ------------------------------- Learning: My view is that almost all learning is through observation and questioning. This underscores the importance of parents to teach their children and expose their children to the parents daily lives. In today's society, most parents are forced to work and thus the child has only limited exposure to the richness of the parents understanding of things. I would also argue that when a parent is walking with a child, that the parent should not be using their cell phone or texting and instead be devoting their full attention to the child. Schools, as they exist today, have a limited ability to truly train/educate a student and most of what is taught to the student is repeated over and over with little practical use for the student after graduation. So many students today study for years and yet after graduation, never use what they have learned or what they have learned is of little relevance to their lives. The playgrounds are empty but the dog runs are full. No children, only dogs. I have noticed that in New York City, the playgrounds are empty but the dog runs are full. People are no longer getting married, and having families. Where will this all lead to? When I was a child growing up in NYC, there were children everywhere and the stores catered to families, rather than individual single people. The best boutiques along Madison Avenue on Manhattan's upper east side, always had play areas for the children, so that the children could play, while the mothers shopped. We children knew which stores had the best toys and demanded to go to those stores, which in most cases, were the most expensive stores! Where have all the twenty something year olds gone? Strolling down fashionable Fifth Avenue recently, it struck me how the average age of the crowded streets seems older than in the past. I would guess that the average age of the people I saw was around 35 years old. Twenty years ago, the average age would have been probably around 25 years old. Why? I will further guess that the answer is that many people are postponing marriage and having far fewer children. Perhaps the high student debt or perhaps women seeking careers over family or perhaps the hook-up culture is the culprit. Regardless, this does not bode well for the future and increasing family commitments is a must for a healthy society. --- Feb 11, 2019 The aging population is a sad, worldwide industrial nation phenomenon. I am in Tokyo for a few days and have been here many times before. In 2002, I would guess that the average age on the street was about 24 years old. Today, I would guess the average age is about 35 years old. --- Feb 26, 2019 Immigration: Almost all countries consider what perspective immigrants can do for their country and if those immigrants will contribute or be a burden on their society and also evaluate if the potential immigrant will blend in with their existing culture. Perhaps the United States should take the same approach. ---Feb 11, 2019 Life forever? It is interesting that life never really dies in that life continues, uninterrupted with the offspring. Science has never observed life emerging from minerals or non living elements. ---Feb 11, 2019 Investing in Startups. Good idea or bad? Is investing in a Startup, that has never proven itself in the market place, a good idea or a waste of money (and talent)? Historically, investors invested in companies that were swamped with orders and making money, but needed additional money to ... read more ... Most efficient brain-storming method and how to make morning office meetings more productive and interesting ... read more ... BITCOIN: Bitcoins are backed by nothing more than the gullibility and wishful thinking of the Bitcoin holder. I believe that the Bitcoin rise in value is akin to the Dutch Tulip craze in the early 1600's and that a massive decline in value is imminent. Foreign manufactured products versus American manufactured products: American's will never buy an American made product if the same or similar foreign products is sold at a lower price. This means that manufacturing jobs will never return to the United States, unless there is an import tax, however import taxes will violate most of America's NAFTA and GAT treaties. Any talk of manufacturing jobs returning to America without import taxes is simply idle banter. The Safety of Plastics. Over the past 30 years, there has been a massive increase in the number of human ailments such as Alzheimer's, breast cancer, prostate cancer, autism, declining fertility, and other ailments. Some people say that the cause is actually better diagnosis, while others blame processed foods, GMO foods, pesticides, wifi, cell phones, vaccinations and other outside influences. During this period, there has been a rapid increase of various plastic packaging for food, water and even clothing made out of polyester and other plastics, with a decline in 100% natural fibers such as cotton and wool. Studies should be conducted regarding the safety of these new materials, as well as the fabric dyes and determine if such chemicals can be absorbed by the skin and if they have any type of long range human effect. -February 14, 2018 Good Citizenship  and respect for our fellow human beings. Important quotes from my friends from around the world, that I completely agree with and I am sure that most people would as well: "Do not generalize, but rather individualize." --Daniela D. in Germany, who works for the German diplomatic Chancellery. "Never get angry with anyone. Who knows, perhaps one day that person will save the world!" --Yuka S., who works for Aoyama University in Tokyo (and Kanagawa). "It is important to always remember that every person you encounter has their own goals and aspirations, trails and tribulations and deserves equal respect." --Sue Ann M. in Durham, North Carolina. ------------------------------------ "It's all good" ... is wrong. All is not good. There is an absolute right and an absolute wrong and this is not culturally or time dependent. If you see someone going down the wrong path in life, it is essential that you vocalize your concerns and offer to help that individual. I am a moral absolutist and not a moral relativist. Producing the very best and most effective TV commercials The single purpose of a television commercial is to sell the product or service. The fact that an advertisement might be interesting, funny, informative or well produced is secondary to the main purpose, which is to sell the product or service. One should never leave the creation of the television commercial to the television producer or the video editor. ... read more ... Building the most effective business websites Never let a "web designer" develop the website for you. A web designer should be produce the website under the supervision of an on line marketing master, usually working with ... read more ...   Twitter Frank Didik Twitter feed (www.Twitter.com/FrankDidik). I am not a particular fan of Twitter, though I can see that Twitter has had more impact than I first imagined, particularly in areas of politics, fashion and press releases. Frank Didik's archived twitter blog can be found at www.didik.com/FrankDidikBlog.htm