[JesseK]

I've sat on this overnight, so I think I've been able to objectively think about this (I think...). Great article, and there's quite a bit in there that makes me think on some pretty deep levels. In short, I don't believe that Dean will have to worry about the continuation of this vision to solve the big picture of finding more problem solvers for the many world problems. He's already inspired many of us to do so, and we're not all kids you know. Maybe it's just me and my endless half-full thinking, look-ahead perspectives, and just-find-the-answer (yes, ADHD) way my brain works during the 90% of time I'm not on vacation?

I do wish that he would take a vacation from this problem, if only to take the time and spend it seeking out and praising the problems that have already been solved, or are being solved. For example, on ABC World News last week I was shocked that they spent 2.5 minutes of their precious time on a critical cancer treatment advancement via DNA-based testing and targetted drugs. Last year NBC had a tiny piece about a team using a Nobel-prize winning idea to track the early stages of cancer treatment. The scientists used the glowing chemicals in jelly fish and discovered that most cancers attack T-Cells first ... probably the HUGEST advancement in cancer prevention to date! But things about progression in Science are so rarely seen by the mainstream media, yet so many of the advancements affect the viewers and readers of the news.

Is this because R&D requires funding with no guarantee for return-on-investment? Is this because promoting specific advances funded by companies gives the appearance that a media outlet is biased towards those companies, hence they just don't do it? I think that removing that stigma and then shifting or broadening the main focus of the media from Sports/Business/Politics to also include Science should be a part of his plan to change the culture, if he truly wants to succeed in the grand scheme of things. After all, children and adults alike follow the media and pop culture; it's just a fact of life. Yet other than promoting FIRST I don't think I've ever seen Dean or an article about him praise any technologies or advances other than what he or his company has invented. Am I wrong here? I'm not attacking Dean, I'm simply trying to stir up some discussion about fundamental ideas that may speed things up.