Loved this ... especially the story about Milton ( Hank had given me the Cliff Notes version years ago)
As a bespoke builder of everything from buildings to amusement park rides, I learned that out of the box solutions come from the vacuum surrounding out of the box problems.
Some are world changing while some are of the “better mousetrap” variety
Regarding infant stem cell cancer treatment research, could FDA blockages be circumvented by doing the R&D in someplace like Trinidad/Barbados, Bahamas, UAE, India, Thailand, etc? Get a cancer treatment that works beyond the U.S. and ‘medical tourism’ will beat a path to your door.
Louis Braille went blind as a boy and attended the French national school for blind boys. At that time, books for the blind were laboriously printed using letters embossed on paper. Each book took a year to print. Braille had heard of a "night writing" system used by soldiers to pass notes to each other silently in the dark. Unfortunately, it was too complicated to be practical. After becoming a teacher at the school, Braille spent ten years improving and simplifying the "night writing" system into the practical "Braille system" of six-position cells to represent each letter. He began teaching it to his pupils, who found it an efficient way to take notes in class. Braille's bosses at the school were horrified and forbade use of the Braille system. By then, sparks from the brushfire had spread. Graduates of the school were writing letters to each other in Braille and printers were printing Braille books for them. I wonder, why did the administrators of the school try to suppress what was obviously a boon to the blind people they were supposed to help? I suppose it is a literal case of, "There's none so blind as he who will not see."
Oddly, I found this depressing. We have so many institutions that control so many things that it seems like there is no room for the non-credentialed to contribute anymore. I fear that people like these would be laughed out of the room by finance, tech and media people now. Our elite- always certain, often wrong.
I often wonder whether, if Joe Smith down the street came up with a cheap cure for cancer, would it be buried to protect the medical/pharma/academic industry?
Hanlon’s Razor says, “Never attribute to malice that which can be explained by stupidity. I’m not so worried about the evil Pharma theory. Come up with a cheap cure for cancer, and I’m sure the industry could find a way to monetize it for quite a while. What worries me is the well-intentioned hall monitor blocking the cure out of fears that just maybe there’s some risk involved. In an upcoming piece, I’ll quote St Teresa of Avila, who said, “God save us from gloomy saints.”
Given our recent experience with COVID and the banning of mere discussions of alternative treatments, are you so sure that stupidity is the driver?
One certain thing I have learned in my life is that people, as individuals, can rationalize greed by cloaking it in benign sounding language. It turns their greed into nobility, both internally and externally to the rest of society.
Is the bureaucracy stupid or is is it smart enough to rely on a naive populace to feed its greed?
Good question. :) My guess is that Hanson’s Razor is a good default. But there’s a good question to be had in how to draw the line. I suspect that if subjected to a polygraph or sodium pentathol, the sort people you describe would pass the test if asked, “Are you doing this for the good of others?” Self-deception is a powerful force.
These stories reminded me of the book "Range" by David Epstein - it is the serendipitous connections made that lead to breakthroughs. https://davidepstein.com/the-range/
l can identify. my backyard visitors hopped over the chicken wire meant to thwart their pear thefts, and scoffed at the garbage can lid tie wrapped above the bird feeder. only thing made any difference was lining the suet feeder with 1/2" square wire mesh but not fool, er, squirrel proof lwas the one felt like a fool
I've always loved the Lamarr - Antheil story - I first read about it in George Antheil's autobiography, "Bad Boy of Music" - a very fun read. I'm enjoying the following 'techno-breakthrough' stories carried out mostly by amateurs; - some good writing going on there ... thanks ...
Bob, Slightly OT; where can I listen to your music/compositions? I would be interested in exploring a composers' group; I have posted some of my originals and covers on Soundcloud (feel free to screen my music worthiness there - I sometimes have my doubts but keep plugging ... cheers!) DQ
Loved this ... especially the story about Milton ( Hank had given me the Cliff Notes version years ago)
As a bespoke builder of everything from buildings to amusement park rides, I learned that out of the box solutions come from the vacuum surrounding out of the box problems.
Some are world changing while some are of the “better mousetrap” variety
Highly entertained by this episode
Glad you enjoyed it. And yes, Milton was quite the story and quite the character.
Fascinating!
Regarding infant stem cell cancer treatment research, could FDA blockages be circumvented by doing the R&D in someplace like Trinidad/Barbados, Bahamas, UAE, India, Thailand, etc? Get a cancer treatment that works beyond the U.S. and ‘medical tourism’ will beat a path to your door.
That’s a distinct possibility!
Louis Braille went blind as a boy and attended the French national school for blind boys. At that time, books for the blind were laboriously printed using letters embossed on paper. Each book took a year to print. Braille had heard of a "night writing" system used by soldiers to pass notes to each other silently in the dark. Unfortunately, it was too complicated to be practical. After becoming a teacher at the school, Braille spent ten years improving and simplifying the "night writing" system into the practical "Braille system" of six-position cells to represent each letter. He began teaching it to his pupils, who found it an efficient way to take notes in class. Braille's bosses at the school were horrified and forbade use of the Braille system. By then, sparks from the brushfire had spread. Graduates of the school were writing letters to each other in Braille and printers were printing Braille books for them. I wonder, why did the administrators of the school try to suppress what was obviously a boon to the blind people they were supposed to help? I suppose it is a literal case of, "There's none so blind as he who will not see."
I never knew that story. It’s fantastic. I’ll be publishing something similar on the topic of deafness soon.
Oddly, I found this depressing. We have so many institutions that control so many things that it seems like there is no room for the non-credentialed to contribute anymore. I fear that people like these would be laughed out of the room by finance, tech and media people now. Our elite- always certain, often wrong.
I often wonder whether, if Joe Smith down the street came up with a cheap cure for cancer, would it be buried to protect the medical/pharma/academic industry?
Hanlon’s Razor says, “Never attribute to malice that which can be explained by stupidity. I’m not so worried about the evil Pharma theory. Come up with a cheap cure for cancer, and I’m sure the industry could find a way to monetize it for quite a while. What worries me is the well-intentioned hall monitor blocking the cure out of fears that just maybe there’s some risk involved. In an upcoming piece, I’ll quote St Teresa of Avila, who said, “God save us from gloomy saints.”
Given our recent experience with COVID and the banning of mere discussions of alternative treatments, are you so sure that stupidity is the driver?
One certain thing I have learned in my life is that people, as individuals, can rationalize greed by cloaking it in benign sounding language. It turns their greed into nobility, both internally and externally to the rest of society.
Is the bureaucracy stupid or is is it smart enough to rely on a naive populace to feed its greed?
Good question. :) My guess is that Hanson’s Razor is a good default. But there’s a good question to be had in how to draw the line. I suspect that if subjected to a polygraph or sodium pentathol, the sort people you describe would pass the test if asked, “Are you doing this for the good of others?” Self-deception is a powerful force.
ummm, yes?
These stories reminded me of the book "Range" by David Epstein - it is the serendipitous connections made that lead to breakthroughs. https://davidepstein.com/the-range/
Never heard of the well. Will definitely check it out. Thanks!
Absolute loved this - a great Sunday morning read.
Thanks! And you’ve made my Sunday by saying so.
l can identify. my backyard visitors hopped over the chicken wire meant to thwart their pear thefts, and scoffed at the garbage can lid tie wrapped above the bird feeder. only thing made any difference was lining the suet feeder with 1/2" square wire mesh but not fool, er, squirrel proof lwas the one felt like a fool
I've always loved the Lamarr - Antheil story - I first read about it in George Antheil's autobiography, "Bad Boy of Music" - a very fun read. I'm enjoying the following 'techno-breakthrough' stories carried out mostly by amateurs; - some good writing going on there ... thanks ...
Never seen Antheil's book! I'll look for it. Thanks to you, too! I'm enjoying your Substack, too.
Bob, Slightly OT; where can I listen to your music/compositions? I would be interested in exploring a composers' group; I have posted some of my originals and covers on Soundcloud (feel free to screen my music worthiness there - I sometimes have my doubts but keep plugging ... cheers!) DQ
Thanks for the interest! Go to https://YouTube.com/@RFGraboyes/videos/.