Curiously enough, in spite of the myriad of channels avaliable for viewing these days, I find myself actually watching LESS television than in years past. Now since we're not "fortunate enough" to have our cable bill paid for us or have satellite, we get by with the basic plus from our favorite monopoly: COMCAST.
Still, there's just not that much worth watching these days, aside from some Sci-Fi Channel, History Channel and a (very ) few other shows on various stations (TCM comes to mind). I myself rarely watch network except for the local news and some CBS shows (The Unit, NCIS, Criminal Minds, Shark). But one show that has grown on both me and the missus of late has been Boston Legal. I tuned in for the sci-fi connection (Shatner/Kirk & Spader/Stargate), but wound up getting "hooked" because of relevant social issues that were being presented in their various cases.
Shatner portrays wonderfully eccentric and overly libidinous law firm partner Denny Crane, while Spader plays the subdued (but equally overly libidinous) and eruditic cohort Alan Shore. 
Last night's episode provided the impetus for today's posting.... Long story short...Denny Crane (Shatner) was going to fly to Maui to be with (yet) another "girlfriend" (he's the resident poster boy for testosterone), and found out he was on a "NO FLY LIST" according to Homeland Security. In fact, it was explained to him that ANYONE with the name Denny Crane was unable to board a plane to or from anywhere, because of a "potential" threat. He could have gotten on the eligibility list if he filled out a form which would take (in typical governmental terms) an "indeterminate time" to process.Suffice it to say, Denny took the FEDS to court, with Alan defending his right to be able to fly, and that Homeland Security was arbitrarily prohibiting law-abiding citizens from flying while not being able to catch the "real" criminals intent on terroristic activities. As a marvelous Coup de Grace, he presented to the court a ROOM full of people with the name Denny Crane, stating that all of them were not allowed to fly as well, and for no good reason, other that THEIR names were on this "list". Yet Homeland Security was "unable" to just srike the names from this list.
Denny won the case, and his name was removed from the NO FLY list, by order of the judge. But there was a fantastic reasoning behind Alan Shore's closing argument to the court. Alan stated that with ALL the techniology abvailable today (his iPod could hold 20,000 songs in the size of a cellphone), surely the process that had selected Denny's name could be streamlined. It was further argued that with ALL the "brains" developing the latest gadgetry in AMERICA, maybe the government would best be served by hiring THEM to fix the problems...ask THEM to help with Homeland Security. The best thinking "outside" the box might be found WITHIN the box itself.
Now all that made me think of a more microcosmic scale in Fort Wayne regarding the recent 900 Mhz problem in the FWPD when they switched over their comms systems. There was some sort of computer foul-up, and a lot of the software was unusable. It took Lord knows how much time (and money) to correct the problems, but how much easier would it have been to "recruit" some computer honor students from a local TECH COLLEGE to advise the departments how to best proceed and how to fix their problems? Or what about a professor (or two)? I wonder how many businesses have owners with the "chutzpah" to come forward (if asked) to assist with city problems (the FWCS repair fiasco comes to mind....as in maybe some contractors could help with this AND reduce costs).
How many more problems does our city face, and why are the leaders wasting so much time, effort and money looking outside for someone to come IN and help(at typically higher costs), when we surely must have a vast well of talented individuals who could possibly see things with a fresher perspective RIGHT HERE in "River City"?
I can hear Robert Preston singing now.....
"That's Talent...with a capital *T* which rhymes with *P* and that stands for POOL" (of untapped local resources, that is).
And the state worries about our Brain Drain?
Hell, it seems they're the ones CAUSING it , when the "cure" is as obvious as the noses on their pudgy little faces!
4 comments:
I don't want to be negative here, but you also have to take into account if the professors/smart guys WANT to get involved with government tech issues, even if it's for the good of the people, even if they get paid big bucks for it.
They're probably already being snatched up by big corporations (Macintosh, Sony, etc) and would just scoff at the mere thought of being asked to help.
It's a shame, not wanting to help your fellow man and to help with potentionally saving human lives in the process. People get more and more selfish everyday.
However, your proposal makes a hell of a lot more sense than wasting tax payers' hard-earned money. Maybe you can try and bring up the idea in the next city council meeting?
You're not negative....but I think that many successful corporate types might like the philanthropic aspect to helping solve problems...like Gates is doing...tossing a ton of his $$$ around to help...at least HE is doing something somewhere...many could take a page or two from his book and make things ebtter for a LOT of people.
And a lot of people with the brains but no experience would jump at a chance to prove themselves...at least I think they would...
That kind of involvement works wonders...
And don't forget...much of today's tech was born in someone's GARAGE...and not in some boardroom!
;)
I gotta hand it to ya Bob, that is masterful, punctuating a point with a "Music Man" reference! Now that's something crazy like I would do!!
Dennis Miller would be proud as well!
Ah Dennis Miller...not just my hero, but a peer as well!
A buddy of mine recently emailed me, thanking me for the "abstract" way I use to solve problems when we worked with STS back "in the day"...
Why think outside the box when the shape of the box can be altered....
Now THAT my friends is called Philosophy!
;)
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