"Thiel begins with the contrarian premise that we live in an age of technological stagnation, even if we’re too distracted by shiny mobile devices to notice. Information technology has improved rapidly, but there is no reason why progress should be limited to computers or Silicon Valley. Progress can be achieved in any industry or area of business. It comes from the most important skill that every leader must master: learning to think for yourself.
"Doing what someone else already knows how to do takes the world from 1 to n, adding more of something familiar. But when you do something new, you go from 0 to 1. The next Bill Gates will not build an operating system. The next Larry Page or Sergey Brin won’t make a search engine. Tomorrow’s champions will not win by competing ruthlessly in today’s marketplace. They will escape competition altogether, because their businesses will be unique."
Thanks to Mr. Percifield.
STEPS talk on Weekend 24 June 2017.
"Willis E. McNelly interviews Frank Herbert on February 3, 1969 at Herbert's house.
Set in the distant future amidst a feudal interstellar society in which noble houses, in control of individual planets, owe allegiance to the Padishah Emperor, Dune tells the story of young Paul Atreides, whose noble family accepts the stewardship of the desert planet Arrakis. As this planet is the only source of the 'spice' melange, the most important and valuable substance in the universe, control of Arrakis is a coveted — and dangerous — undertaking. The story explores the multi-layered interactions of politics, religion, ecology, technology, and human emotion, as the forces of the empire confront each other in a struggle for the control of Arrakis and its 'spice'."
"Most people have heard about the 800 foot tunnel that connects Casa Loma to its stables, but there are others out there waiting to be discovered. Here are four real and one fake (but remarkably persistent) tales of underground tunnels in Toronto."
Starring Burgess Meredith and featuring Bob Hope.
"This 1943 educational / training film (originally titled as ‘A Welcome to Britain’) introduces US soldiers to Britain and tells them what to expect, how to behave and how not to behave in Britain during World War 2. The film aims to explain British culture and character. Starting with the ubiquitous pub visit, the film breezes through geography lessons, food, entertainment and traveling on the British Home Front. It was made by the Ministry of Information (United Kingdom) with the assistance of the US Office of War Information. Remarkably the film is not a patronizing propaganda piece like so many other similar productions made during the war."
"This biography explores whether Americans should celebrate Jackson or apologize for him. The program reveals the world of Americas 7th president, who boldly founded the Democratic Party yet was viewed by his enemies as an American Napoleon. Narrated by Martin Sheen, the film tells a story with startling relevance to the modern presidency by bringing to life one of the most remarkable, yet divisive presidents in our history."
"Dame Maggie Smith, who plays the Dowager Countess of Grantham in ITV's costume drama, talks to Mark Lawson about why her character should be killed off, forgetting which film she's shooting on and why she was considered "too common" to appear in plays at school. This event, which was called Dame Maggie Smith in Conversation, was held as part of the BFI + Radio Times TV festival, which took place in April. "
"In the northern reaches of Newfoundland, near the town of St. Anthony, is the Fox Point Lighthouse. I’ve never been there, but I know it has one of the most impressive ocean views in the world. If you face perpendicular to the right bit of rocky coastline there and gaze straight across the ocean, your mind’s eye peering well beyond the horizon, you can see all the way to Australia."