Gandhi reminds us that “Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.”
The Freedom to Make Mistakes
Category Archives: Uncategorized
The Elusive Big Idea
[…] While we continue to make giant technological advances, we may be the first generation to have turned back the epochal clock — to have gone backward intellectually from advanced modes of thinking into old modes of belief. But post-Enlightenment and post-idea, while related, are not exactly the same.
Post-Enlightenment refers to a style of thinking that no longer deploys the techniques of rational thought. Post-idea refers to thinking that is no longer done, regardless of the style. […]
Read the full article at http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/14/opinion/sunday/the-elusive-big-idea.html
Fun Innovation: Catch the Train via Slippery Slide
ignore the code: More on Software Patents
http://ignorethecode.net/blog/2011/08/08/more_on_software_patents/
Nilay Patel, on the This is my next podcast:
Nobody has ever told me exactly why the patent system is fundamentally broken.
Here’s why: it is simply not possible to create any non-trivial piece of software that doesn’t violate hundreds of [software]patents. As a result, you can’t release software without putting yourself into a position where you might suddenly lose all of your money. Essentially, thanks to the patent system, you can be put out of business at any time, for no good reason.
Educational Song Lyrics
The Exception by Eddie Reader. The second verse:
The workaholic millionaire and his pretty younger wife
Had everything there was out there in the ad mans perfect life
But she left him for the milkman and then moved into his flat
Everyone said silly girl to do a thing like that
The house, the cars, the credit cards but he didn’t ask her why
He knows that there’s some things even cash can’t buy
Oh yes he thought he’d be the exception
Oh yes he thought he’d be the exception
But don’t we all think we’re the exception
Sometimes, sometimes
Of course, The Beatles sang about this long ago in “Can’t Buy Me Love” (1964) on their A Hard Day’s Night album.
It’s kinda obvious, and of course relates to happiness in general as much as love specifically, but we often forget and chase money with a ridiculous number of working hours. Consequently you’ll miss out on a life now, and not only be stuck later with the monster you built, but possibly also lose things in your life that you really care about.
I’ve had people tell me “oh I’ll just work 80+ hours a week this year, so I can take it easy from next year.” – I’m still waiting for any of them to accept my bet that in twelve months they’ll still be working 80+ hours, if not more – they already know they’re really deluding themselves!
What they’re doing is building business processes that presume that they’re working those hours and occupying various critical spots in operations, and that’s one aspect of the monster I referred to above. You get what you build, so if you want it different, build it differently.
By the way, do you know how children spell love? T I M E.