Eric Schmidt On How To Tackle Extremism

On the Charlie Rose show, Eric Schmidt of Google explained how we can combat extremism:

“In every case you have somebody who is not very well educated, has a lot of energy, has a lot of energy and he’s got somebody who is religious or over them who is teaching them hate. There is no question, if you just show them some other choice – get them to use the internet for entertainment, and train them a little bit, build education – we’re going to end up with a better outcome.”

The discussion on the Charlie Rose Show in full here.

Nate Silver - Be The Fox, Be A Polymath

Nate Silver, he's the man. Statistician, forecaster, consummate polymath and self-professed fox. A fox because "the fox knows many things." What's special about Nate Silver, who calls theFiveThirtyEight blog on the New York Times his online home, is that he takes a big-picture approach to using statistical tools in his analysis of politics.

Nate Silver rejects much of the mainstream, conventional statistical ideology and method taught in colleges and universities today. Like Michael Oakeshott’s practical cook, Nate Silver is a practical statistician who demands less theory, less hypothesizing and more on-the-ground understanding of how baseball, poker, elections and other uncertain processes work.

His philosophy as a fox is that multi-disciplined polymaths are superior to technocrat, single-subject specialists. His idea is that various skills serve each other well in a positive feedback loop. To find out more about Nate Silver I've transcribed some of the most salient aspects of his discussion with Charlie Rose which you can watch in full, above andhere.

Charlie Rose asked Nate: "What are your core competences?"

Nate Silver responded:

"It’s the combination of knowing about statistics but also being a good storyteller. Here’s a topic where the numbers are really dry; but no, it’s pretty interesting if you actually think through things in the right way. It doesn’t mean creating false certainty but talking about where the forecast is coming from and not just throwing up numbers and leaving the environment.

Rahm Emanuel On Helping 'The Troubled' Youth

 

The Mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emanual known as 'The Fighting Bull' has taken a tough stance on crime, violence and failing schools. The situation sounds very similar to Northern Ireland. But the difference is that Chicago is actively addressing the problems. And so it's from leaders like Rahm Emanuel and his administration that we can learn from.

Read the Time Magazine feature on Rahm Emanual and how he is working to turn around the 'violence-plagued' city of Chicago here. At 30 minutes into a discussion with Charlie Rose, the Mayor of Chicago Rahm Emanuel explained how his administration is tackling underachievement and youth delinquency, especially among African-Americans. He said:

Bill Gates On Reading And Making Notes On Books

 

Even though we're living in the digital age, I still love the smell and feel of reading from a book. Something I just can't get away from, no matter how digitised I become. It's the detachment and escape that it brings; it's a special thing the paper book.

 

And I have one special habit when I read a book: I make copious notes. Covering the cover, back sides, pages and jacket with a copious amount of notes. A habit others have thrown a dubious expression at.

 

But this is a habit I share with Bill Gates who explained to Charlie Rose in a recent discussion, here and at the bottom (at 47 minutes), his reading and note taking habits. Take a look at the various photos on this post which captures Bill Gates explaining his process.

Rahm Emanual and other US Mayors on Rethinking Education

Charlie Rose hosted a ‘Mayor’s Roundtable’ featuring some of America’s leading civic leaders. Education topped the discussion with each mayor bringing forward some fascinating insights into how their administration is tackling under-achievement and low expectations. The Mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel (pictured above) made a particular impact, saying on the show:

“For too many kids, the link between school, college, job, there’s gaps. The way I try to explain it to people is this: I got kids who live 4 miles from down town and down town is just a world apart from them. Now all the possibility is there. And the education system: finish high school, so you can go to college. It’s (the business world) not part of their experience.

And so now we’ve set up systems (STEM high schools) 9^th grade to 14^th , it has the counselling, the mentor, and you finish all the way to the 14^th grade till you’re at college. You get your first job interview at the school. Oracle, Motorola Solutions, Microsoft and IBM – all have taken a high school. 

Charlie Rose Discusses Creativity

Charlie Rose hosts a ten minute discussion on creativity and the art of creating new forms. Watch in full above and see the original source here.

Oliver Sacks said on the show:

"Imitation may be an essential preliminary to any achievement."

Oliver continued, giving the example of a poet criticised for copying the work of earlier English poets:

"He is first concerned to get the technique or to develop the language; and then only once it's developed he then infuses with his imagination. But you can't have anything new until a great deal has become automatic or second nature. The spontaneity and novelty are the most challenging problems in the world."