Cognitive Labs

This is a question that is germane in California. It doesn't impact us because we're not in the test-tube DNA assessment business. But one is reminded of the practices of a high priesthood, such as the devotees of Amun in Egypt who chanted up the essential unknowability of Amun who was nicknamed "he-who-is-hidden" or ironically, the "double-concealed"

From the Hymn to Amun in the Leiden papyrus:

"One who is Amun,
who keeps Himself concealed from them,
who hides Himself from the gods,
no one knowing His nature.
He is more remote than the sky,
He is deeper than the netherworld.

None of the gods knows His true form.
His image is not unfolded in the papyrus rolls.
Nothing certain is testified about Him.

He is too secretive
for His Majesty to be revealed,
He is too great to be enquired after,
too powerful to be known."

The essential mystery of Amun was a strong incentive to support the priests as intermediaries in this cosmic dialog between man and the unknown. Thomas Goetz, in Wired, inquires about the deeper meaning in this modern era where knowledge is being unbundled at an exponential pace. In fact, incredible breakthroughs are happening every day in our ability to access and share what's important and are still under the radar. But, as a question of public policy, shouldn't we be in charge of our own information?

Over the weekend, one of the top stories was "ADHD may have a genetic link." Scientists have discovered (in fact have known for awhile) that certain hunter-gatherers have a higher preponderance of short attention spans related to their genetic configuration...and that this was a positive for the last 99.9% of the human experience because it made these individuals more creative and successful at accessing resources, rather than being satisfied and sedentary, with health and aging implications as well.

Taking it a step further, a creative, but impulsive student might say to the teacher..."Sorry I didn't work on the journal project every day, it was just too long. My genes say I'm a hunter gatherer, and I'm programmed to zip from topic to topic like a sprinter. Here's my genetic report, sorry." Here's a case of genes impacting our environment.

Labels: 23andme, adhd, california, dna, goetz, kenya, navigenics, wired

It's been a short, but event-driven year already. Mysterious assassinations, winter storms that brought sheets of snow and rain to the West, a maelstrom of beemer-crushing tree limbs on the Coast and maybe the worst blizzard since the Donner party in the Sierra, as well as unforeseen political surprises in Iowa, where the favorites in both parties were lured into an ambuscade - all suggest that a layer of unreality has been deposited upon our collective perception.

The young year 2008 also marks the 65th anniversary of the invention of the Slinky. In 1943, Richard James was working on a springloaded-powered gauge to measure the horsepower of industrial engines - in this case boilers for U.S. Navy ships, when he accidentally dropped a spring and was shocked to see it take a step forward - illustrating the principle of conservation of energy in dramatic form.

"Hmm," he thought. "This might be an interesting toy."

He spent 2 years working on the concept and introduced the Slinky at a Philadelphia department store in time for Chistmas of 1945. He had a friend in the audience buy the the first one and from then on the saga continued.

Eventually James' wife, Betty, became CEO and led the company into a diverse line of product extensions.

More than 250 million Slinkies have been sold around the world.

links:

Michigan State - history of the Slinky
About.com - invention of the Slinky

Labels: 2008, bhutto, blizzard, california, history, rain, slinky, storms

According to ESPN.com, De Sean Jackson (A wide receiver at California) is 4th in the running for the Heisman Trophy. We have a high percentage of Old Blues related to our company (and Stanford, too).

I only bring this up because in '05 I had a meeting with Jeff Tedford's 'people' because there was a story in the SF Chronicle about his using speed checkers to train quarterbacks; this was a friendly meeting but nothing of concreteness happened. Now, since you have possibly the fastest player in college football who runs a 4.29 40-yard dash, it would seem a good match to have a 'fastest brain' game as well - at the end of the game, you will be presented the option of telling the editors at ESPN.com and some of the other media outlets who they should vote for. We'll release it soon and then let's see what happens. Fastest player/Fastest brain dichotomoy.

For now, check out the video as Jackson actually goes backward in what Brent Musburger's sidekick calls "EA Sports video-game stuff" in a game vs. Tennessee 2 weeks ago. (Thanks to our subscribers in Tennesee, too)

Labels: cal, california, deseanjackson, ESPN, football, musburger, oldblues, tedford

Yet another trader links to cognitivelabs.com just look under the "mydelicious" tab in the right columns for the links, next to portfolio wizard Ken Fisher.

Traders need to stay sharp, evaluating inflows of data, and making split second decisions. In those situations, a faster brain does help

Enhance your personal competitive advantage through judo for the mind.

Labels: california, fisher, futures, highprobablility, tradergav