Survival of the fittest

I was looking for another TED talk when I stumble upon this one- sorry couldn't find the talk as a single video- this is one talk in two parts.

I like this concept of "Survival of the Fittest" no as the tyipcal zero sum game (x winners equal y losers) but fit as in how well we all fit together.

Niel DeGrasse Tyson

Needless to say, I am a big fan.  And I agree to his clarion call to double NASA's budget, if given the proper mission (like say Solar Power Satellites).  Since he is in the news for his new book I'll share my favorite opinion he expressed on some talk show I saw.  Since I don't remember the show (might have been the "the Daily Show with Jon Steward") or the exact quote I'll summarize my best and please forgive (and comment) if I miss something.

Basically he starts with most of our political leaders are educated as lawyers and there are very few doctors, engineers, or scientists in political office.  He remembers from school that the people who became lawyers were the people who liked to argue and win- not necessarily be right- just win.  Is it any wonder that our leadership (or country) is in the shape it is in when the leaders are only concerned with winning an augment and not the merit of the agrument itself or even the fact the situtation more likely doesn't have a "right" versus "wrong" answer.

We cannot continue with this right versus wrong mentality.  We are ignoring too many problems.  I have a real problem when most of our leadership seems proud they don't understand the nuiances of a problem and will only respond with catch phases.

Neil, I feel close enough to him to refer to him first name only in this blog, was on Science Friday Audio Podcast last week.  I'll listen to it later on my phone, but in case you're interested this was the best link I could find:

http://www.sciencefriday.com/feeds/radio/

look along the right side under recent episodes.

More on the future: What will it be like

As I mentioned before, I listen to Doggcatcher when travel instead of the radio.  I listened to two related TED.com talks one right after the other and that have good information.  What I really love is just from there titles they seem to present conflicting ideas. (Note: I mention in one of my previous posts whether Doggcatcher is available for the iphone and like my clueless self the open screen says "podcasting for Android" so that the obvious answer I missed is that it is not available for iphone.

TED: Peter Diamandis: Abundance is our future

TED: Paul Gilding: The Earth is full

Fossil fuels are getting harder produce (or get to), nuclear power has significant grand risks, and I agree that solar has a lot of potential, but I really feel more effort should include Solar Power Satelites (SPS).  I'll write more on it in the future, but Rebecca Costa mentions it in "The Watchman's Rattle".

On the second video, it is obvious to me that we must change our economic system that is based on endless growth.  Not only should it change, or must change, but it will change.

These videos do re-enforce my belief that we can overcome the vast multitude of problems we face.

Most to follow...

Two more TED talks you should watch

This is an truly innovative idea that would change the world:

harald_haas_wireless_data_from_every_light_bulb

I found this talk extremely touching,.  After hearing these stories, it helps me to keep a positive and open outlook about the future.

ben_dunlap_talks_about_a_passionate_life

TED: Ideas Worth Spreading (Technology, Entertainment, and Design

We live in a time of ever increasing complexity and the rate of the increase in complexity is also increasing. We need to eliminate our false beliefs and biases to solve the critical problems we face if we are to survive.




If you have never heard of www.ted.com, I strongly encourage you to check it out. Technology, Entertainment and Design is a nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading that has been around since 1984. TED endeavors to bring together the world’s most fascinating thinkers. They provide all the talks for free on the website, and you can speak about anything.



If we are going to solve the ever increasing complexity of the problems we are facing as a society we will need to share our knowledge and work together to eliminate our ingrained basis to reach the truth.



I will be posting links to TED talks I find especially important as well as my own comments on those talks.



Always feel free to email, contact, comment on this blog about TED talks or any websites that give information on any of the varied subject I discuss in this blog or that you think I should check out.

To making sense,

Thanks, Frank.