The World is....Hilly?

I just saw another of the TED talks - this one hits a general theme that is a favorite of mine - the wildly inaccurate perception of "everybody knows" topics, as well as the specific debate about a flat world, globalization, etc.

One of my personal favorite myths is the "everyone is on the Internet" mantra.  When I ask "then why does only 34% of the world's population have access to the Internet?"  I get a blank stare ... and then they go back to 'liking' everything in sight on Facebook.  

Pankaj Ghemawat's video is informative and worth watching (I think there is an implicit case in here for requiring a history/economics/facts test for all voters as well !).




The implicit debate between Tom Friedman's view and this video is not as stark as it may seem.
I found Tom Friedman's books on the subject to be compelling although it is difficult to quantify into hard data the exact degree of 'flatness' such as he describes.   Much of his evidence is 'macro' in scope and based on the perception of the Western world as to markets and economic forces which have certainly shifted to some degree to a 'flatter' view.  

Regardless, I find listening to this type of discussion one of the real rewards of being a thinker rather than a blind follower of trends.....

 

Do Not Break Into Small Groups!

“There's zero correlation between being the best talker and having the best ideas.” — Susan Cain

I have written elsewhere about TED as a source of inspirational, educational talks for thinkers.  I did not expect to find this video however - Susan Cain very clearly speaks to my own experiences in her talk.
   
Throughout my college education and business career, I have been subject to the pervasive 'groupthink' preferences and 'cattle car' office organizations.  I have strayed (I told myself ventured?) a few times from the 'introvert' path, and it has almost always been to my eventual detriment.  This went right to the top of my favorite 'TED Talks' and I don't think anything is going to match it any time soon!!!

It is very inspiring to hear someone speak about why the suppression of introverts is perhaps not the best way to go .....



I plan on reading her book very soon - it is on the way from Amazon - look for the review on Goodreads or here (and watching hthis video a few more times!).

Update: Well, perhaps not right away -- I decided this book was going to be a Christmas present to me...so I probably won't dive into it until....oh sometime early on the morning of the 25th!  But I do plan on watching her TED Talk at least four or five more times before then!

Canadians Saying No to F-35?

I have always admired the way Canada's government works.  They have some anachronistic practices for sure, some of which we don't understand in the US at all (and they have way too many political parties, but any number greater than zero is too many).  Their results however (at least for the last 30 years or so) always seem to work a whole lot better and be much more "adult" than many of the infantilisms that come out of the US Congressional stink-pile.

And as this article discusses, they have a serious "get things done" attitude in their Parliament, and a culture of much less pretense, self-importance,  and politicization than the US Congress which undoubtedly is a big contributor. 

In fact, it turns out that some MPs are tired of the more than the usual amount of smoke blown around (using Canadian standards) about the F-35 and the seemingly out-of-control costs currently funding the lifestyle of many American "1% ers" in the military-industrial complex. If you don't remember, this was the "war" plane that was delivered to the US Marines sans guns and way over budget. 

It looks like the Canadians may be about ready to pull the plug on it entirely.   Good job, eh?

Fiscal Cliff ? - Lets Get Real!

Shields and Brooks on PBS NewsHour this week were their usual erudite selves....but again I noted that in the entire "fiscal cliff" dicussion there was no mention of the real "gaping maw" at the bottom of the cliff -- the Defense budget which has doubled in the first decade of this century...to no discernible improvement on our military that I can see.  (Other than we have even more over-budget, non-working weapons systems than before).    

Still...an interesting and worthwhile discussion as always....

Watch Shields & Brooks on Jobs Report, 'Fiscal Cliff' Negotiations on PBS. See more from PBS NewsHour.


 

What Were They Thinking, Part 2

The second part of Michael Berens Sunday piece in the Seattle Times on elephants in captivity arrived today. 

The story doesn't get any prettier I am afraid, but it should give food for thought to thinkers about our assumptions concerning what we perceive as the 'lesser' life forms.

Great, Great, Grand Canyon?

When you reach a certain age...it is sometimes comforting to hear a debate about something, or someone, that is a  WHOLE lot older!

Watch Grand Canyon May Be 60 Million Years Older Than Thought on PBS. See more from PBS NewsHour.

What Were They Thinking?

Every once in awhile, someone (frequently a dedicated journalist) uncovers a story that makes you wonder....what WERE they thinking? 

There is such a story beginning today in the Seattle Times by Michael J. Berens - I recommend you read it and view the accompanying video.