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Posted on June 9th, 2007 by Vlad the Impaler.
Categories: Philosophy & Spirituality, Philanthropy & Environment, Business & Finance, Science & Technology.
Below is the transcript from Bill Gates’ commencement speech given this past week at Harvard University. Kudos, Bill. Inspired by George Marshall’s (the Marshall Plan guy) speech, Bill brings inequality back to the forefront. Too many times we are all victim of focusing on ourselves. We all must remember that the world is immense and humankind has tremendous capacity. In order to combat the tremndous complexity of the world, we must lift ourselves from the equation, gain perspective and acheive. It is the responsibility of the fortunate. And yes, that means you.
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President Bok, former President Rudenstine, incoming President Faust, members of the Harvard Corporation and the Board of Overseers, members of the faculty, parents, and especially, the graduates:
I’ve been waiting more than 30 years to say this: “Dad, I always told you I’d come back and get my degree.” I want to thank Harvard for this timely honor. I’ll be changing my job next year … and it will be nice to finally have a college degree on my résumé. I applaud the graduates today for taking a much more direct route to your degrees. For my part, I’m just happy that the Crimson has called me “Harvard’s most successful dropout.” I guess that makes me valedictorian of my own special class … I did the best of everyone who failed. But I also want to be recognized as the guy who got Steve Ballmer to drop out of business school. I’m a bad influence. That’s why I was invited to speak at your graduation. If I had spoken at your orientation, fewer of you might be here today.
(more…)
Posted on April 18th, 2007 by Vlad the Impaler.
Categories: Media & Entertainment, Consumer Products, Arts & Literature.
Just in case you’re looking for a reason to break out that tire iron and give your TV a good once over, take a look at the following stats on “Branded Entertainment”:
In the fourth quarter of 2006, an average hour of monitored prime time network programming contained 5 minutes, 10 seconds (5:10) of in-show Brand Appearances and 18:11 of commercial messages. The combined total of 23:21 of marketing content represents 39 percent of a prime time hour.
Unscripted reality programming had an average of 8:55 per hour of Brand Appearances as compared to just 2:34 per hour for scripted programs such as sitcoms and dramas. Late night network talk shows had even higher levels, averaging 10:17 per hour. The combined load of Brand Appearances and paid ad messages in these shows approached 33 minutes per hour, or 55 percent of total content time.
So drop the remote and pick up a book. At least you know that 50% of the book pages won’t end up being ads for shaving cream or lawnmowers. Your mind will thank you.
Source: TNS Media Intelligence
Posted on March 28th, 2007 by Vlad the Impaler.
Categories: Science & Technology.
Often mistaken for the Danish Association of Reformed Pornography Addicts, DARPA is actually the Defense Advance Research Projects Agency, the US Department of Defense’s advanced research arm. You may be familiar with some of their previous creations, such as the internet.
http://www.darpa.mil/body/off_programs.html
The link above connects you to the lists of projects they are currently funding. They have some absolutely mind blowing stuff happening. Take some time to troll around through their project listings and you’ll see exactly what I mean. Projects like the High Energy Liquid Laser Area Defense System (HELLADS) and the Multi Dimensional Mobility Robot (MDMR) are just the beginning. They’re at the forefront of advances in technological, biological, and even psychological research. One particular point of interest are the loads of Artificial Intelligence programs that are in there, including one called HI-MEMS, which is of course, cyborg insects. I’m getting a vision now of a world halfway between Terminator and Starship Troopers. Of course by then their space programs will have advanced far enough that the exercises can probably be staged on the moon for greater civilian safety.
So enjoy a glance into the future, courtesy of the US government. And remember two things:
1) What you see here are only the programs that they’re willing to tell the public about. Imagine the ones they keep secret.
2) You are now being monitored, so please proceed accordingly. Seriously, you are.
