Geographic Predictors

Ok- another potentially cool idea- ready for thesis writing. What if you could "Predict the locations of the next technological innovations and breakthroughs?". It's so fascinating if you think that Sillicon valley is home to so many innovative companies (Google + Apple just to name a couple of recent hyberbolic examples of what many associate with innovation) and also some of the best weather in the country (warm, sunny, mild coastal climate).

So Why?

Are people who invent and create stuff magnetically drawn to certain creative poles ? Really what is most interesting is what are the other politcal, cultural, business and legal (to name several) conditions in certain areas. For so many thousands of years China came of with so many inventions before modernized equivalent came to fruition in other parts of the globe. Something has to be different in more than just the climate.

Some countries produce way more patents every year than others. And what if historical data (economic, educational, scientific was used to extrapolate and predict what areas of the world most closely resemble those which have in the past fostered so much growth in new ideas, inventions, innovations. Using varied forecasting techniques predictions could be made on where money should be invested years before its too late too make 'lots' of money.

Taking a broader perspective you could attempt to predict where the next dictator or bloody riot would take place. You could also predict which Universities will pump out the best graduates each year by automatically updating the most current campus information and not simply what some tradition tells employers where to hire. I realize various attempts have been made with different types of outcome predictors- but compiling this information on a global scale constantly updated would be amazing. I think I should talked to some programmers, economists, and scientists from across the fields- this would be incredible.

Easy Friends

Since being at the United Nations in January, meeting people has been, well... let's say interesting. People always conciously or not calculate how much how time effort or thought they wish to devote towards a new aquientance they meet through a friend, at a party, social gathering or randomly on the street. In New York for most young college educated people the questioning goes something like:

1) Where are you from?
2) How long have you been here? and
3) What do you do?

This is the clincher for many in deciding whether than can really relate to this person, or have any interest at all with further association.
I've noticed that certain places seem to get people excited and they really seem to care about knowing you as more than a forgotten name, based simply off of whether what you do is exciting, lucrative, or otherwise intersting to them.
I've noticed the U.N more often than not fits the bill of prestigous and intriguing place for many people, and people want to be your friend.

JetBlue CEO voted out

I have basically loved the whole concept of JetBlue since the first time I flew on a commercial airline in 1995- 5 years before JetBlue made their first flight-. I always thought service could be more meaningful and the whole experience of flying should be fun. In Fall of 2003 I found out about JetBlue from a news special I saw in Business class, I was totally taken back. There was a certain excitement and enthusiasm about the flying with great service, nice seats and T.V's all standardized for a low cost. It was like the airline I had been imagining should exist.

Behind most of what JetBlue is today are many great planners, advertisers, and people who implemented the venture, but the most significant portion of what created JetBlue is the founder and now former CEO David Neeleman. His whole persona and track record convinced investors this idea would fly, and it has been largely very successful since its inception.

It's amazing how big ideas come to fruition. It makes you wonder what you are really capable of, and more importantly gives some inspiration to find out.

Pears are GREAT

Yesterday I bought some of the best pears I have ever tasted. So soft and juicy- with just the right 'pear taste'. Ripe pears are so good- It's really a shame that only a few species of pears are actually edible. I highly recommend pears.

True Reality

We live in reality. Or atleast the one 'we think' we are in. There is a varying but constant distance between:

1) The true reality

2) The reality we are cognizant of

3) The reality we hope for

and finally

4) The reality that will be

Friction generates as the differences among these four definitions of reality emerge.

The largest type of internal conflicts occur I believe when the true reality (1) collides (sometimes crashes) into the reality we have knowledge of and are cognizant (2) which may drastically alter (or shatter) the reality we hope for. We may feel so secure in what we know (2), and the real danger is when we arrogantly assume that our reality (2) is true reality (1). If we don't give place in our mind for more than what we know, we can hardly improve the reality we hope for(3), and limit our personal influence on true reality (1) and the reality that will be (4).

The most soul rattling occurance of these clashes occur between number 3 and 4 realities when the reality we hope for is extinguished by reality of what must unavoidably be.

For example most people hope to be healthy and live a relatively long and happy life. This can be shattered from discovering a health ailment or terminal illness or cancer in the younger portion of life.

So this really, really is reality, really.

Another day another Doctorate

While interning at the U.N I've been getting all sorts of ideas that have good potential to become a Master's or Doctoral Thesis and I even got a few people who agreed. I wondered for a briefly if I should start selling them because it seems many graduate students hit a mental barrier in coming up with and choosing a thesis to write about. Here is just one idea- A detailed study of the tansfer of power from royalty to society.

This idea would basically look at the differences in countries that transformed themselves from a Monarchy to a Democracy. Obviuously some countries have done this far more effectively which tend to correlate with a happier and more empowered people. Assuming the role of governments is to help provide some order and benefit to the populace this would look at general quality of life indicators before and after in countries like Spain, the Ukraine, Canada or others. It would at macroeconomic indicators of growth compared to disimilar parts of the world.

The idea could be huge (ie a long book) and you could also cross-analyze dictatorships with theocracies, socialist societies with more capatilistic natured countries. You could even do a comparitive analyses within the country's demographics and geographic regions to unlock what types of governments are seen as more favorable to different peoples. Fascinating- and hopefully not too boring.

Passing intelligence

We benefit or hinder those in our close proximity. Both the good and the bad can be passed on through absorption in social, genetic and in familial relationships. However some skills transfer better than others. Well duh, but how does this apply?

Does having a friend who is fluent in a language you are not benefit you at all be it a foreign language, a programming language, legal jargon or whatever. Not really, unless it allows you to unlock a door previously shut by your own lack of knowledge. But if a parent has that capacity they may have passed that same capacity onto you as well. Some aptitudes can be passed on from close relatives- but not always- So a parent who has certain skills, knowledge or abilities may be a positive point but not always.

Really I think our closest colleagues have a powerful impact on how well and how much we learn. The influence of our colleagues sets much of our expectations and probably often determines how high and fast each member flies. Since most people are neither the fastest or the slowest but in "the middle" (of the bell curve) most will gauge their expectations to the closest visable realization of their groups definition of "success". Just like in a race most are faster than the slowest runner yet slower than the faster runner. Moral here: Be your best- Aim high, and of course be a fast runner!

Rainy Sunday thought

It's been dark and rainy all day here in New York. I was thinking about some goals in life and then this thought hit me: "What talents, gifts, abilities do we now posses which are currently dormant because we don't have the wisdom to see or use them, or possibly we are aware of them but don't take the intitiative or time to develop them".

I believe our potential are not as limited as we often may think. I think we very often remember when we learn new things or aquire new skills- there remains a greater portion of unused potential, ideas, knowledge or whatever that we have not tapped into yet.

I believe ideas fed by action create more and better ideas which can be put into action as well, and thus the process continues.

Mr. Jorgensen goes to Washington

I went to Washington D.C last easter weekend. Although it snowed a little bit it, the main sites around the Washington Monument were great and I saw some of the Cherry Blossoms still in bloom. There are quotes everywhere from former presidents, some much more inspiring than others. From Roosevelt there was a quote about not letting your fears of today determine your future, and from Jefferson there was a quote about maintaining the right to freedom of mind and thought. It's good stuff- I like Washington.

Percentages of life

Ok my roomate said this would be a hit. I noticed I've lived 1% of my life in New York- so I added up all the months of my life and time spent in each location. And so these are the locations of my life with percentage thereof. I don't think these percentages correlate with actual influence each location had, but who knows? (Each is listed with months and then percentage)

Total Months: 302

Location:
Brazil (Mainly Northeastern)
24 months
8%
Seattle, Washington
200 months
66%
Rexburg, Idaho
40 months
13%
California (half Bay Area, half Southern Ca)
8 months
3%
New York
3 months
1%
Denver
27 months
9%