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Archive for August, 2008
Fallacy of Distance
As we progress down the road of technological advance we must learn to remove from our minds the grasps of time and space. It is in the advancement of technology that both constraints are no longer at the mercy of our lives.
I have had the pleasure of getting to know a young lady in Romania who I have since shown parts of Washington DC this trip via Skype and a webcam. Did I mention this was via a cellphone card while riding back with a coworker? At the most superficial level this seems like an ample use of technology. Yet, we must divulge this moment as did Mr. Bell as he sent the first spurts across the ocean to another part of the world. The mere possibility of knowledge share at this level changed our entire world.
Reviewing these things with that mindset shows just how ground breaking this act was. Dropping down to the packet layer means that my MacBook Pro captured the image of DC and myself smiling, converted it to tiny 1’s and 0’s, and then transfered this from the computer to the cell phone towers we were passing at 80 Mph. It then was routed back to the internet backbone and traversed to Romania where she was greeted with a goofy looking American boy smiling as the Pentagon rushed by. She then was able to hear my voice synchronized explaining what the Pentagon was.
Here is the source of awe. We have always spoke to locations by their distance. “I live 40 minutes from DC” or “3 hours south of Nashville.” How does one relate distance when your voice and image are accessible anywhere in the world? I live one router jump from your country?
The meaning to our society is vast as it removes from even the poorest of the world the incapability to become cultured. Each party knowingly and eagerly comes to the table of knowledge like a potluck. Sharing with the other their native dishes of perspective and knowledge.
This schmorgisboard of world class food excites me beyond reason. Find me at the table, I will bring drinks.
Smart People
One of the greatest benefits to working with bright people is bright conversations. There are people in this world who I yearn to be near for no other reason that one of their amazing ideas may be there for me to feast upon when they are done. Every so often the pleasure is mine to meet and talk to these individuals. What I learn is added to my arsenal as both an engineer (little e Engineer) and a person.
“What motivates you” the HR representatives ask in order to find out if you will be a good fit for a team. Our culture of political correctness removes the capability to say “smart people.” As I have grown older (to some of you that will bring a smile) I have become ever aware that it is not the top dog I wish to be. Being at the top simply means you have won the race. That is counter-intituve and exactly opposite to what we should look for as progression in life. Granted, no one remembers anything other than the last seconds as the runners cross the finish line. I would be willing to wager the runners remember the view from behind the next racer on turn 3.
That image fits well into our lives if we move from a finish oriented culture to a journey oriented culture. We all know our list of checkboxes to get to the top and we swiftly check them. Good Grades through high school, college, a pretty wife, and a big house. Then I win! The only feeling one can be left with at this point is emptiness. Where to next?
When I first had the self awareness that I wanted to be successful, it was my goal to be the best in my field. I studied tirelessly and found myself often in positions of being the goto guy. What a blessing! I thought I was on top of the world as men twice my age looked to me for knowledge and expertise. The problem with this, one is doomed to stay there. Without the runner on turn 3 pulling ahead of me there is no push to run faster.
My recommendation to all is that you search to surround yourself with brighter people. That means humbling yourself for the opportunity to work with someone much smarter than you. Chances are this person will be a complete blow hard (I know I am when in this position,) but there is the offbeat chance they will piss you off enough to grow. Being driven by money leaves you nothing more than things and the chance that you will be passed. Pursuing knowledge leaves you with the tools and training to pull through till the end.
Memoirs are Dead
In a world of twitter and 140 character posts, how will the world change in the realm of memoirs? My memoirs are here, each blog a cross section of my intellect and soul. In the past it was the desire after someone’s passing to know their deepest thoughts on a subject or introspective review of self. It is no longer a need to wait for that moment or read a book, the internet holds them all.
It will take generaterations for this paradigm shift to occur as the Cold War warriors and Gulf War veterans find their resting place. My belief is this generation to which I belong will be the first. The combination of twitter, youtube, and blogs offer the world a play-by-play of my everything. Many will say this constitues a great injustice to privacy, but I say it offers future readers the ability to know that while I typed this post I ate a turkey sandwitch from 7-11. Seriously, tell me a memoir that offers more than that?!
Government Planning Perfection
I was allowed to leave the Air Force with no strings attached in 2003. I found this slightly odd as I had a special security code attached to my AFSC making me a rarity and highly critical to every base and deployed location. Who am I to argue with the govt. if they want to let me go? I receive this email yesterday:
Dear Veteran,
My name is TSgt Bob Marley. I am the Recruiting and Retention NCO for the 224th Joint Communications Support Squadron and the 165th Air Support Operations Squadron located in Brunswick, GA. The reason I am contacting you is because according to the Inactive Ready Reserve database, you once held one of these 5 critical AFSC’s:
1C4X1 TACP
2E2X1 Electronic Computer and Switching Systems
3C2X1 Communications Computer Systems Control
3C0X1 Communications Computer Systems Operations
2E1X1 Satellite and Wideband Communications
The 2 units I recruit for need your help to bring our numbers up to 100%. Each one of these AFSC’s offer a $15,000 enlistment bonus for a 6 year commitment or $7,500 for 3 years provided you meet the requirements.
After letting me out, they then try to pull me back in with a Bonus. Govt. planning perfection! I must have been a great number on someone’s budget the year they let me go. Chances are they are promoted and now they can try and get us back.
