Nathan Myhrvold: A life of fascinations

[kdg5636]

i bet he can even shoot laser out of his eyes

[headstrong440]

He's so personable. Very bright man

[Incrue]

ADHD

[SuperFinGuy]

Sensationalism...

[GarguzGilva]

OMFG! This guy kicks Chuk Norris' ass.

[Bikemech07]

How can one person do all that in single life.....?!



[wojtek0000]

@Bikemech07 He's jewish. They have all the money.

[cypts1]

@Bikemech07 ...thats what I'm wondering...

[andyrooney12]

This guy has a living room big enough to hold a real-life skeleton of a T-Rex?

[azaces100]

if chuck norris and nathan myhrvold got in a fight who would win maybe a draw just think about that !

[ubersum1]

do i feel worthless, this guy does what i do with wikipedia, only in real life.

T_T

[ppwalk05]

@ubersum1 don't worry, this guy is the worlds biggest patent troll.

[lvpeckerwood]

so im at a del taco in vegas and this lady comes up and sees the drippings falling out of my burrito.She says "Excuse me sir, is that penguin guano"? I say "No,Its a macho combo , rererefried beans and penguin meat !!"She says "At least you wont be starving when these idiots really fuck things up"

[flyingbeagles]

Is there anything he's not good at?

[angela1894]

@flyingbeagles No. He's what we call a polymath, a universal genius. Similar to someone like Da Vinci.

[sparkyboy1983]

"Huhwhy?" 

[gulllars]

Patentmonsteret, the composite of "Patent" and "Monster" (both english) with the Norwegian specific ending "et" which basically is the same as english "the" in front of the word. Translated you just loose the "et" and add - to get Nathan Myrvold the Patent-Monster, holding the meaning he is really good at getting patents for inventions.

[kmerritt100]

I'll go out on a limb. I went to grade school with Nathan. He was the same person who appears here... gentle, excited by everything, and forever good-humored. As a child, he had a super-intellect to explore in a way unknown to others. He surpassed us even when placed 2 and 3 years ahead of his age group. Yet, he forever attempted to share his joy of discovery with us, in literature, science, imaginative play, art, or math. His wits are as unique as his enthusiasm for sharing life's wonders.

[IMMALONGSLAPYOU]

yoyo's hot.

[dcs002]

This is what Asperger's syndrome looks like. I've got it, and I'm pretty sure Myhrvold has it too. All-encompassing fascinations that don't always last very long, but a unique perspective to offer, though in a socially ignorant way. I don't think he knows how self-centered he seems.

[AlgeKalipso]

@dcs002 I don't mean it in a demeaning way, but I am quite certain that he does not have Asperger's. I have been acquainted with several persons with Asperger's (some of whom are my friends and I love), and I don't see any hint of it in Nathan. To give an example, his tone of voice is very thoughtfully modulated in such a way that it goes in synchronicity with the emotional aspect of the topic he discusses (see 10:50). Either way, having Asperger's would not prevent him to do what he does :)

[dcs002]

@AlgeKalipso Well, I'm a little out of line when I try to diagnose other people, and maybe I'm wrong, but I think you missed something. A thoughtfully modulated voice is a sign of deliberate intent, not natural expressiveness.

Maybe he's an aspie, maybe not. If he is he'd be a great role model for how those aspie traits can be put to good use.

I know a few (many) aspies too, and from what I see he'd fit right in. Even if he's not one, he embodies the strengths of people with AS.

[mounirorfi]

The intro was hilarious :D

[Satanicuslupis]

this guy is awesome. Everyone who dislikes him should go make their own millions and then talk

[AlgeKalipso]

@Satanicuslupis I agree in that he awesome, but I disagree in that money places him in a dialectical hierarchy only accessible to those who have become rich on their own. Perhaps what you were referring to was his intelligence (criticize hime when you become as smart), still this is a dangerous invitation. I would say, "come up with better arguments and then talk" :P Did you know that he is proposing to cool the earth with geoengeneering? People oppose that, but his arguments are solid (!).

[wendallstro]

i cannot stand people that make up or embellish stories.

[Janusha]

well he is american. In a loud, self centered kinda way.

He has been around tho and probably has alot to say and share. Hes just not very good at delivering a story.

[carefulben]

He's also built a robot suit which he uses to fight crime. But he doesn't like to talk about it

[youmeandsomeknives]

Funky.

[mccote]

I'd be a way awesomer billionaire.

[THErednuht]

mmm lekker mmm. theres a party in my tummy soo yummy so yummy

[iceheart920]

Interesting lecture but the guy is a bit into himself. Me me me, I I I. Lets hear more about the work you do and less of what you just do.

[youmeandsomeknives]

I gather that most of the work he does is likely to be cutting-edge. He's unlikely to want to reveal the details and may not even be allowed to.

[ViennaPrincess23]

@iceheart920 dude... the POINT of a TED talk is discuss a person's life work. this guy most likely doesn't walk around every day and do this. in fact, this is probably the only place he can do this sort of thing. and honestly, I think it's awesome.

[skaillewokeur]

come on nathan, cure cancer

[markus310773]

Nathan Myhrvold definitely is cool. Nevertheless I really hope he will act responsably with all the power he has (via Intellectual Ventures)!

[bluefireindustries]

Cool guy, very interesting lecture, and FANTISTIC attitude.

[ojewel]

Nathan is kewl. I like how he presents his info.He's funny, nerdy and smart. I enjoyed his lecture.

[amisstarr]

Love him! :P

[Yaowl]

This guy is awesome!!! I can't help laughing since I began watching this..

[Omega7adam]

Cool.

[xsh3bbyx]

haha whats that? a free willy!!

[FightingAtheist]

Awesome

[WiriyakS]

thats really cool.. im impressed!!

[alexQw33]

Wow, this guy completed his PhD on theoretical and mathematical physics by age 23!!!

OMG, what an amazing feat!

[jlkontest]

haha kermit

[alostwolf]

lol great talk. Very humorous and informative <3

[Sinekyre14]

Cool guy, norwegian too!

White Pride

[barrywilliamsmb]

Great talk, all hail to TED!

[MasterMark123]

how much fun he must have just waking up every morning !!!

[semiliteratedgod]

he's full of shit, check on wikipedia

[subgerocallidus]

Havent we all heard enough on how wikipedia is innacurate?

[semiliteratedgod]

'wikipedia is innacurate'

Look at the article, there's a reference to a PCworld's article. The guy is an evil fucking patent troll (it is legal though disgusting)

[Fantabulous666]

i hate it when people over annunciate the H sound in WH words, it's so annoying

[CheezMonsterCrazy]

Did you see that whale penis? Damn.

[funnyguise]

but hwere? hwat? hwy? does he speak like that?

[jerms88]

you heard it.

[NSquarticsurface]

Wow. This is who I want to be. In fact, my career path so far has been almost exactly in line with his. I just didn't think it was possible to do this.

[eladbari]

the CROWS lecture is still the best for me..

Anyone else got a recommendation of what talk is the Best?!

[reivilo]

i really enjoyed the talk from the deaf xylophone / percussion player... she teaches people to hear.

[MrFrankBullitt]

Yeah, check out Professor Ramachandran's talk on Neuroscience. Really great.

[eladbari]

thanx for the recommendations! PLease Recommend on more good TALKS ppl might not have found! :]

[VeracityMedia]

His ego is burning a hole in my screen

[reivilo]

you are sooo right... he has lived a more than fantastic life, but stop rubbing it in my face!!!

[TheWiseCommenter]

he's not rubbing it in your face. TED invited him to talk about himself, and you chose to watch. stop rubbing it in your own face, idiot.

[contrarianbastard]

He's an interesting person, more than be said for some commenters.

[gulllars]

@VeracityMedia with his level of curiosity and enthusiasm, i don't think he thinks much about himself in an ego way. You may percieve it as an ego, i just see a man enthusiastic to share all the interresting things he has discovered and hoping to inspire others. I share his curiosity of how the world works and interrests in way too many topics, but i can only hope for his enthusiasm and joy of life, not to mention intellect. This man is on par with the great theoretical physicists of the 1900's.

[OMGLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL]

dinosaur sex...?

[neotoy]

Not as funny as he thinks he is, still worth watching.

[DeletedDelusion]

Excellent talk.

[semiliteratedgod]

bullshit, IMHO

[AngilasGuy]

Does this guy have any books out?

[itskcm]

Good to see a presentation covering such a wide variety of subjects!

[riversonthemoon]

I had the exact same thought!

[HeroesFail]

Lol hard at whale sex.

[DANE842]

I hope he has lots of smart kids.

[clearmenser]

I think that's one of the costs of being smart... less children.

[DANE842]

ever see "idiocracy"?

[BrimmyTime]

1st comment

[boonyang1991]

Cool. 2nd. XD

[SpinergyDude]

Cool First post :)