SCHOOL OF THOUGHT

“Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.” – Chinese Proverb

In my New Year thrall of organization, (that is, organization in technology; in what I put into my body; in what I create; in what I think and feel) I have come across an old article from “Smart Start Magazine” (2007), a publication aimed at young students making their way in the world, billed on the Smart Start website as “the essential career and further education magazine for school leavers.” I didn’t realize it then, but looking back, I am so honoured to have been a part of this!

Click on the image a few times to read larger text (which you can do with all of my images):

I am very excited, as one of my great readers (and great writers) Scott Stephenson points out – that I am, and we are “part of a generation of people who are multi-talented, restless, whizzes, who hold insatiable appetites for information.”

“It’s brilliant” he adds, before pointing out his firm belief that the inter-web of internet is perhaps, indeed, “THE most important and significant invention EVER! It suddenly gave everyone (well, almost) the ability to learn independently. There is no curriculum, no agenda, no bias, and no influence as to what you can expose yourself to. It is freedom at your fingertips. It is no wonder that people are questioning the “mediocrity of safety” and everything else we are taught in standardized educational situations. Who needs all that hubbub when you can seek and learn according to your own desires and interests.”

I concur! And my friends, as Fashion Week is fast approaching, you can be sure that Scott will be back with more philosophical and existential musings on fashion.

Je love.

PS. The possibility of learning being made available to everyone is in the mission statement of Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales: “Imagine a world in which every human being on the planet has access to free knowledge.”

Wikipedia has just completed their most successful fundraiser in their history, raising $7.5 million USD in less than 8 weeks. AMAZE-ing.

More amazing is that it’s all thanks to the readers, writers, creators of the content. Jimmy writes: “You have created the largest collection of human knowledge ever assembled: 14 million encyclopedia articles in 270 languages, still growing and getting better every day. You have supported, funded and protected it.”

In Jimmy’s words: “Wikipedia Forever.”

PPS. Thank you to everyone for your support regarding the Carl Sagan celebrations. It is something I’m very passionate about! (The cosmos can know itself!)