Well... change almost everything.

This site has been offline for a while due to technical problems, and I have used the opportunity to make some significant changes. The site is now built on a real Open Source Content Management System (CMS), i.e. Drupal. The domain name has changed, from ".com" to ".org." While this may seem like a superficial change, I as a person will never be "for profit," instead aiming my interests at the non-profit world, therefore the domain name change seemed appropriate. (However it could be argued that a ".name" domain would have been more appropriate still.) With the new CMS comes a new template and therefore a new graphic design. The "excerpts from elsewhere" are also gone for the moment, but something similar will return in its place.

About the only things that haven't changed are the existing blog entries and the picture of Mexican bracelets at the top of the page, which I could not bear to part with.

Welcome to version 2 of www.jimrudolf.com. The most obvious thing is the new graphic design; the old site was looking a bit cramped and gloomy. But there are also more substantial changes in version 2.

The first is a separation of original contributions in the blog from the (currently much more frequent) excerpts that I find interesting and worth passing on. Everything used to appear under the "blog" banner, and with this separation it will be absolutely clear which content comes from me and which does not.

Another change is a switch from my home-made, bare-bones blogging software to the very capable open source offering by the name of WordPress. Although I have a (only somewhat deserved) reputation for liking to re-invent the wheel, WordPress offers so much more than I was willing to (try to) program myself.

Once I get the wrinkles worked out of this relaunched site -- not to mention the remaining excerpts from version 1 that require some cleaning up before being published -- I will enable (at least) comments and searching, and try to be a more productive blogger.

Welcome to www.jimrudolf.com, a site that has been up and running, but devoid of content, for almost a year.

The main goal of this site is to be a learning platform -- mainly for me, but perhaps for others as well! Some of the learning will be in the context of developing the software that powers the site. But most it will be in the area of sustainability and related topics. This can include a wide range of subjects, as diverse as the following:

• Global equality: One of the best ways to reduce terrorism is to ensure that every human being has the basics: food, water, shelter, democracy, health care, education. In other words, reason to hope. This is possible only after global inequities (between developed North and underdeveloped South) as well as inequities within countries are addressed.
• Redefining economic profit: The North's current economic model strives to employ as few people and produce as many goods as possible. This economic model needs to be adjusted to respect the health of the planet as well as every person's right to meaningful work.
• Democracy by the people: Governments must be accountable to their citizens and not to special interests and multinational corporations.
• Eat locally: Buying locally-raised meat and produce supports local farmers and reduces or eliminates costs of transportation, processing and packaging.