Thoughtopsy: [process]

Singularity

"Everyone takes the limits of his own vision for the limits of the world" - Arthur Schopenhauer

My neurons are ready for take off.

It's on

This is my first post from typepad mobile via iPhone. Blog posts, gps, mobile apps from all kinds of developers...this is getting good. Next stop; Omnifocus iPhone app.

Brilliant.

I'm Voting Republican...he he he.

thanks to Dan K for this...
In the interest of fair and balanced viewpoints...please post any counterpoint media pieces...here we go. :)

Mind Control

I saw this TED talk, and was amazed at the potential.  This is such a huge field of possibility; to be able to isolate your brain activity as you feel pain, exhibit certain behaviors, etc.  Such a cool approach to behavior and experience modification that technology has only now made possible.

Enjoy....

Disruptive Behavior

I need a distraction / interruption / disruption / re acclimation this morning.
Please comment on how to disrupt negative morning syndrome.

ugh.

AI for real

Thanks to Mark Andreessen's blog, I got a heads up on this you tube video that shows a 'modular' robot reassembling itself.  Pretty cool...and little scary, and exciting all at the same time.  I feel really fortunate to be alive in a period in history that has seen as much innovation as the industrial revolution, and then some.  To remember the first personal computers, and then see stuff like this, it's a bit humbling and very inspiring.

So here's to our collective intelligence; If only we could figure out how to beat the common cold and why Michael Hasselhoff is so popular in Germany...

Enjoy the show:

The Perfect Storm

If you've watched any major media outlet, the overbearing news has to do with 1) gas prices 2) unemployment 3) # of home foreclosures -- and usually a nice combination of all three, plus a specifically depressing story about someone experiencing these to disastrous consequences.  The truth is, we are indeed experiencing some historically significant economic conditions that are making it tough for a lot of people to keeping their standard of living in tact; and we're not happy about it.  So the choice faced by all of us, what are you going to do??  As masochistic as it sounds, I get excited...I get excited at possibility, and even the challenge of making things work despite the 'gloom and doom' segment on local news.  And if I catch myself thinking that things are slowing, things are getting bad....I slam an espresso and hop on the net.  Nowhere can you get a quicker snapshot of just how much is happening in the world.  Amazing companies that are designing amazing stuff, ambitious people embarking on ambitious development projects...and some of the acts of compassion and giving that people are engaging in that make you feel humbled and inspired that you get to breath the same air as some of those who give to extraordinary lengths of their time and energy.

Back to the 'our economy sucks' conversation....Another bi-product of tightening wallets are consumer rights and monitoring of corporate policies; both from a stewardship perspective (do the right thing) and from a consumer impact perspective (do the right thing to me).  And a site that captures all of these elements quite nicely is The Consumerist.  This is a watchdog site of sorts that people can post complaints and extraordinarily bad experiences...and the best part is that companies now have 'firemen' that watch these sites and try to address the grievances before they spiral into a PR nightmare.  In addition, the site has some pretty great deals that it highlights, including a restaurant.com deal that equates to a 90% discount on some restaurants.  Consider an opportunity to vent, rant, exact revenge, and save some dollars...all in one place!  Exactly what the doctor ordered as you fill up your tank for $65....

Apple of my eye

For any armchair investors out there, you may or may not know that Apple is releasing its First Quarter earnings today, and investors are watching carefully to see if Apple is as magical an entity as they seem to be.  As one analyst put it, "the worry is not if the numbers will be great...it's if they'll be great enough."  As I watched analysts this morning talk about it, they all admitted they owned a mac.  What?  These are numbers people - people who deal with spreadsheets and analyst reports...why do they want a mac?  I submit (as do they) it's just a better product; period.  And when I think about the wonder of the iphone, the ipod and entire mac line, I for one am really blown away by what an example of 'great' that company is.  From the branding, to the retail experience, to the innovation curve...the list goes on and on and happens over and over.

What's the point, other than showcasing my talent at stating the obvious?  This - How many times are you that great?  How many times do I consistently 'blow away' estimates, or 'crush' expectations.  I speak for myself when I say, not often enough...

at least I can ride on Apple's coat tails by buying their stock...and maybe learn and thing or two in the meantime.

Apartment in a Box

3 for today

-- AV