(Spell check pending...I'm busy damn it!)
So recently I’ve been pretty obsessed with learning as much as I possibly can. No real specific topic, but I’ve always been inexplicably drawn to certain topics. Science (especially physics), technology, music, videogames, politics whatever…so anyways I often find myself fumbling around this wacky world wide web looking into all kinds of subject (always with a healthy degree of cynicism of course.) I’ve discovered a series of interesting video from an Annual conference known as the TED talks (Technology, entertainment, design) every year they have two annual conferences, one in Long Beach and on in Palm Springs. They basically gather tons of big movers and shakers from all kinds of facets of industry, science and politics…so naturally this shit is right up my alley.
The TED organization has a pretty simple but noble mission statement. I quote from their website “Our mission: Spreading ideas. We believe passionately in the power of ideas to change attitudes, lives and ultimately, the world. So we're building here a clearinghouse that offers free knowledge and inspiration from the world's most inspired thinkers, and also a community of curious souls to engage with ideas and each other.”
There is so many amazing and/or worrying things happening now in 2010. I firmly believe that this truly is the most exciting era to be alive. People sadly take the world for granted. Anyways I’m also on the bandwagon of spreading ideas. There are discussion that people should be having, but are not. So I am periodically going to be posting videos on topics that are important to me. Since I’ve already mentioned Mr. Ray Kurzweil a few posts ago, I’m going to post a video from a session he did for TED talks. This is once again regarding the exponential increase in computing power and the huge impact it’s going to have and how it will shape things to come. Have a look. Spread this stuff around if it’s interesting to you, people really need to start talking about things that matter. Like my dick yo…just checking to see if your still paying attention…to my junk. Here it is holmes. (Run time 23min 42 seconds)
Hey Kevin,
ReplyDeleteStill watching the video, but I read through the blogin'. I agree with the philosophy that learning as much as you can is the best way to live. Strangely enough, I only began to feel this way fairly recently when I got rid of any religious ideas. huh.
"There is so many amazing and/or worrying things happening now in 2010. I firmly believe that this truly is the most exciting era to be alive. People sadly take the world for granted."
I agree fully on both points.
Examining the change of society, technology, and information (and more specifically its distribution) in modern times is just mind blowing. Every single day we utilize technology and resources that we dont understand at all. Its not just the cutting edge and its not just the unwashed masses either.
Karl Marx said it this way, "The production of too many useful things results in too many useless people."
Ah, there is too much to write. Ill sum it up by quoting the great 'Science Guy' Bill Nye, "Science Rules!"
I have never heard this quote,
ReplyDelete"Karl Marx said it this way, 'The production of too many useful things results in too many useless people.' "
You/Karl are right on the mark with that one. I love how people are so reliant on technology yet have no concept of how it works.
Haha especially when I see fundamentalists post on the CBC comments about how scientists are retarded, yet they are manipulating electrons to post their message. The irony just fucking kills me.
I read that quote somewhere else a while back and just remembered it. I googled it and the internet (which never lies!) claims Marx said it. I have no idea what context he was speaking in, or if infact it is an authentic quote. I like it none the less.
ReplyDeleteI hope it’s only a matter of time before creationism goes the way of the dinosaur (which they may argue, never existed). I mean, god was a good theory when we didn't understand the nature of the universe. Where did earth/people/everything come from? "Well, someone made this table, someone made this hat, and someone must have made all of us."
But modern chemistry, biology, and physics (along with all the other beautiful sciences) are telling the true story.
It was a good theory just like the idea that the world is flat was. They took all the evidence they had at hand (the surface of the earth looks flat from our lowly perspective, ect.) and said, "Well, it looks like we live on a big disc." Then more evidence came to be seen and people adjusted their understanding.
I mean, there is less and less room for our old bearded invisible friend (Zeus, Yahweh, Odin - all the cool gods are old bearded guys)as we learn more about the nature of the universe, why cant we give him up?
Anyways, video was rad. I just wish more people were pumped about an advance that solves our sustainable energy problems or cures diabetes than the latest episode of Jersey Shore.
On that matter; I was paroozing (is that a real word?) Chapters and found a book on how overall science literacy in North America is in the toilet (can't remember the books name). The author pulled a fun fact that science sections in newspapers are being reduced or eliminated at breakneck speed. I also had a media studies teacher in high school who often stated in near frenzied ramblings that more North Americans watch Entertainment News (Entertainment Tonight, ect) than the actual News, although I've never actually seen the statistics to support.
What the hell is going on here?