I found this strangely compelling and fun to watch.
Been there, want to go there, hadn't even heard of there … I've flown over 4 million miles, and enjoyed realizing I haven't even scratched the surface, yet.
Why watch a video of a guy doing his happy dance in various places around the world? See for yourself.
Here is a link to several of his videos and a link to his website.
Some of my greatest accomplishments seemed almost effortless when they happened.
Some people call it "Flow" while others call it "Being-In-The-Zone". You've probably experienced the same thing.
Genius may be related to that. As I think of it, some of my best ideas seemingly came to me fully-formed.
For example, in 2003 I had a breakthrough discovery resulting in an algorithm now used in a series of trading systems. Leading up to that point, I had spent quite a long time thinking about every little aspect in detail; and the progress had come slowly and painfully. Then, whoosh, it's like the whole thing came all at once. I say (and I believe) that it came to me, through me, and from me. But I still don't know how or why it happened. It is almost like I was television
or radio receiver that somehow got turned into a channel broadcasting something worthwhile.
Since then, I've tried to re-create the environment, my work process, anything to bring back that feeling of inspiration, innovation and progress. And I have had moments like that from time-to-time.
The Ted Talk Video on Genius:
This video is about the process I described above. It is about "Genius" and whether it's something you "Have" or something you "Are".
While this video does not provide answers, hopefully it will stimulate a thought process and provoke some ideas and discussions that you find helpful and enjoyable. I know it did for me.
Here is the direct link.
Elizabeth Gilbert, the author of Eat, Pray, Love, muses on the impossible things we expect from artists and geniuses — and shares the idea that, instead of the rare person "being" a genius, all of us "have" a genius.
Also, here's a link to a website that lists the daily routines and work process that
various famous people have used. I found some interesting things there.
Some of my greatest accomplishments seemed almost effortless when they happened.
Some people call it "Flow" while others call it "Being-In-The-Zone". You've probably experienced the same thing.
Genius may be related to that. As I think of it, some of my best ideas seemingly came to me fully-formed.
For example, in 2003 I had a breakthrough discovery resulting in an algorithm now used in a series of trading systems. Leading up to that point, I had spent quite a long time thinking about every little aspect in detail; and the progress had come slowly and painfully. Then, whoosh, it's like the whole thing came all at once. I say (and I believe) that it came to me, through me, and from me. But I still don't know how or why it happened. It is almost like I was television
or radio receiver that somehow got turned into a channel broadcasting something worthwhile.
Since then, I've tried to re-create the environment, my work process, anything to bring back that feeling of inspiration, innovation and progress. And I have had moments like that from time-to-time.
The Ted Talk Video on Genius:
This video is about the process I described above. It is about "Genius" and whether it's something you "Have" or something you "Are".
While this video does not provide answers, hopefully it will stimulate a thought process and provoke some ideas and discussions that you find helpful and enjoyable. I know it did for me.
Here is the direct link.
Elizabeth Gilbert, the author of Eat, Pray, Love, muses on the impossible things we expect from artists and geniuses — and shares the idea that, instead of the rare person "being" a genius, all of us "have" a genius.
Also, here's a link to a website that lists the daily routines and work process that
various famous people have used. I found some interesting things there.
Microsoft has a new product that people use to create a new genre of really bad music. I have to admit that I enjoy it, even though it's like watching a train wreck.
Microsoft just released Songsmith, a product where you sing the words as best you can, and its software supplies computer-matched musical accompaniment. The truth is that it probably has some pretty advanced technology.
It has become trendy to take a vintage rock video, strip out the instruments, and then let Songsmith process the classic song in "unexpected" ways. So, if you want to hear the Police's song, Roxanne, differently than you had before … Songsmith is the right tool for that job.
To make things worse (or better) Microsoft's promotional video for Songsmith is so bad that it is painful to watch. It is so campy I suspect it was done intentionally to generate buzz. You've got to see it to believe it.
Here is the direct link.
For the record, I'm a fan of Microsoft. It may not be a popular
position to take, but I like and use lots of their software. They come
up with many innovative things. The ad, above, may not be their best
effort. So watch and listen for yourself?
Here is the result of Songsmith processing the classic Police song, Roxanne.
Remember, you get to choose lots of options, like tempo, style, and instruments. So, someone wanted it to sound like this. Still, it speaks for itself, doesn't it? Here is the direct link.
Here's one with a slightly better result … Oasis' Wonderwall.
Here is the direct link.
Here are a few other links worth checking. Remember, real music sounds better when this stops.
Microsoft has a new product that people use to create a new genre of really bad music. I have to admit that I enjoy it, even though it's like watching a train wreck.
Microsoft just released Songsmith, a product where you sing the words as best you can, and its software supplies computer-matched musical accompaniment. The truth is that it probably has some pretty advanced technology.
It has become trendy to take a vintage rock video, strip out the instruments, and then let Songsmith process the classic song in "unexpected" ways. So, if you want to hear the Police's song, Roxanne, differently than you had before … Songsmith is the right tool for that job.
To make things worse (or better) Microsoft's promotional video for Songsmith is so bad that it is painful to watch. It is so campy I suspect it was done intentionally to generate buzz. You've got to see it to believe it.
Here is the direct link.
For the record, I'm a fan of Microsoft. It may not be a popular
position to take, but I like and use lots of their software. They come
up with many innovative things. The ad, above, may not be their best
effort. So watch and listen for yourself?
Here is the result of Songsmith processing the classic Police song, Roxanne.
Remember, you get to choose lots of options, like tempo, style, and instruments. So, someone wanted it to sound like this. Still, it speaks for itself, doesn't it? Here is the direct link.
Here's one with a slightly better result … Oasis' Wonderwall.
Here is the direct link.
Here are a few other links worth checking. Remember, real music sounds better when this stops.
This Animusic video is mesmerizing. The animation is better than what you find in many video games and adds something to the music, which is pretty good in-and-of itself.
The video was not animated by humans. Instead, the studio that created this video invented an animation engine that analyzes the notes in a piece of music and the engine's algorithms animate from there.
Fascinating; check-it-out for yourself.
Here is a direct link to the video on YouTube. Animusic has their own YouTube Channel.
This Animusic video is mesmerizing. The animation is better than what you find in many video games and adds something to the music, which is pretty good in-and-of itself.
The video was not animated by humans. Instead, the studio that created this video invented an animation engine that analyzes the notes in a piece of music and the engine's algorithms animate from there.
Fascinating; check-it-out for yourself.
Here is a direct link to the video on YouTube. Animusic has their own YouTube Channel.
Here are two interactive ways to look at and understand what was said.
Go to Wordle's site to make one yourself. You can choose colors and layouts to get the look you want.
Also, here is a Word Tree from IBM's Many Eyes site. I like this type of tool because you can interact with the data. Type in any word you see in the Word Cloud above. This will show you every instance of that word, in context.
Also, here is an embedded link to a version you can interact with yourself. I suggest you start with words frequently used in the speech like: Nation, People, Today, New and Must. You can also try phrases like "We Will".
The Word Tree tool is interesting and useful. Also, I can see how it will work in a business setting with business plans, proposals, marketing material, etc. This is very cool; and it is easy to build a word tree on your own data at Many Eyes. Have Fun.
Other Links:
Browse through some of the best pictures from 2008. A picture is worth a thousand words; some that come to mind are beautiful, shocking, and surprising …
It took me way too long to put this list together. Why? Because I started browsing and enjoying myself. Hope you do too.
Here are some Best Photos-of-the-Year sites worth looking at as we close out 2008.
Here are some that are just for fun.
Here are some others that are from "artier" sources.
In 2008, many traders felt "over their heads" …
It was scary for much of the year …
Still, here is what I'll leave you with … Winter always comes before Spring.
Best wishes for a Happy New Year.
Browse through some of the best pictures from 2008. A picture is worth a thousand words; some that come to mind are beautiful, shocking, and surprising …
It took me way too long to put this list together. Why? Because I started browsing and enjoying myself. Hope you do too.
Here are some Best Photos-of-the-Year sites worth looking at as we close out 2008.
Here are some that are just for fun.
Here are some others that are from "artier" sources.
In 2008, many traders felt "over their heads" …
It was scary for much of the year …
Still, here is what I'll leave you with … Winter always comes before Spring.
Best wishes for a Happy New Year.