Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!

A Great Article

We all have days where we feel particularily intelligent; maybe we got into a discussion and wowed the other participants with our contribution, or we figured out how to hook up our new television properly. But then something happens to us that brings us down to earth and we realize that in the grand scheme of things, there is a whole world going on around us that we will never understand. Reading this article is an experience of the latter.

In the most recent New Yorker, Malcolm Gladwell writes about “Intellectual Ventures”, a company founded by the retired research director at Microsoft. His entire company exists to bring genius together and spitball inventions and ideas ranging from quantum physics to medicine to war. It is a fascinating read and it reminded me that the amount of intelligence out there is scary. Their goal at the inception of the company was to patent 100 inventions a year, which seems like an impressive number except when compared to the 500 annual patents they are averaging now. They tell the story of one dinner where 8 of them got together and agreed to have their conversation recorded by their patent attorney. What they considered to be a normal dinner eventually produced 36 patented inventions in one night! 

Anyway, I highly recommend giving this article a read if nothing else but to be impressed by the brain power of some of our fellow human beings. I think it also raises good points about the regimented work schedule most companies employ and how this may or may not stifle both genius and creativity. In my opinion it is no coincidence that many of todays leading companies (Google etc.) all intentionally have created a culture of free thought and inspiration into their business model.

New Addition

I just wanted to quickly point out a new edition on the blog that can be found in the column to the left. As those who followed my old blog know, I have a passion for quotes. I think they are humbling in the sense that any “original” thought or epiphany we may articulate, there is a good bet that someone far wiser than us has already said it. So to the left you can find the “Because Someone Already Said It” box that I will update with no particular pattern. I will also keep an archive here (which can also be found with my links) in case you are looking for inspiration. It goes without saying that I will be taking suggestions from my fans so please feel free to post any ideas.

Returning the Favor

My dad linked to my blog this weekend in an effort to boost my readership. In case you happen to land here without being directed by him I urge you to check it out yourself sometime. I will include the link on my blogroll to the left or you can click here. He has been at it for some time now and his postings are always thought provoking, well written, and kerosene for argument. He wishes to remain relatively anonymous so I shall not include his first name, although calling him my father certainly makes it a little easier to figure out…..

Inspiration vs. Education

“Me got no education, me got inspiration. If I was educated I’d be a damn fool.” I heard this quote from Bob Marley the other day and after enjoying his simple wisdom I began to think about a recent conversation I had with my cousin and his wife. My cousin’s wife grew up in Brazil but attended high school in the states. We were discussing that experience and how surprisingly easy she found academics to be in the USA. This echoed similar sentiments I had heard from classmates at UC Davis which likely explains why the United States has fallen far behind other countries in standardized education. In a recent UNICEF study of 24 countries, the United States was ranked 18th in relative effectiveness of its’ educational system. This has been a developing issue that I think is cause for concern for most Americans today, especially in light of escalating budget cuts to school districts throughout the country. But this truth raises an interesting question. Assuming these studies are accurate, why does the US continue to be the most innovative nation on earth?  

American companies continue to lead in computer technology, medical research, engineering, entertainment and numerous other fields. This is where this quote began to display (unintentional?) wisdom to me. I am not the biggest fan of capitalism. The reasons behind this are not worth discussing but lets just say that like many things it is likely an ethos better theorized than applied. However, I do realize that capitalism inspires. Some of our greatest inventions have not been rooted in intelligence or education but pure passion and the knowledge that the hard work would pay off in the long run. This is what still distinguishes the US from those 17 countries ranked ahead of them.

The foundation of the American dream is that with hard work and luck anyone of us can go from pauper to prince and to a certain extent this is still the case. This becomes part of our personality and it allows us to compete with countries around the world whose citizens – although educated – lack the passion to apply their talents. It should be noted however, that more than ever this outlook is under threat. If our greatest strength is our intellectual capital than this inspiration needs to be nurtured. I don’t think anyone can argue that the last few years has seen a sharp rise in the gap between rich and poor. While certainly this may be due to the cyclical nature of the free market, we need to monitor this and maintain that inspiration at all costs. It is our greatest asset and the distinguishing trademark of our wonderful country. Let’s honor the memory of Bob Marley and protect that which fuels our innovation and greatness.