Claremont Entrepreneurs Get It Done

I regret that I was unable to attend the conference put on by my friend, Chris Brigham and the Claremont Entrepreneurial Society this past Friday. I have been searching in vain for a write up of what transpired. If anyone has any indication of what happened, please let me know. I'd love to hear or read a synopsis.

As many of you know, I harbor ambitions -- or is it delusions? time will tell, of course -- of one day starting my own companies and so the question of entrepreneurship -- how to become one, who is one, and who is not -- has always been pressing on my mind. 

In addition to the wonderful people at the Kauffman Foundation, the largest foundation that contributes to economic research and where in the spirit of full disclosure I am employed, I have also been guided by the writings and thinkings of Peter Thiel and Michael Arrington, one of Claremont McKenna's most successful entrepreneurs. In that model, I enjoyed this chat between the two of them about technology and start ups. Maybe you'll find it interesting and enlightening too? 

My (Hopefully Not) Quixotic Attempt to be on Curriculum Committee

Josh Siegel, ASCMC's VP, has encouraged me to apply for curriculum committee, if I am really serious about attempting to reform our science G.E.s. In the past, I have called for the two obligatory science G.E.s to include computer science.

I've made this case before, which Adam Sherman CMC '09 and Josh Siegel CMC '10 have broadly endorsed, and I'd like to hear what other students have to say about it before I make a serious pitch to ASCMC's Senate. Please feel free to write me. Here are some of the ideas with which I am toying.

• An essential skill set for the 21st century. According to the writings of George C. S. Benson, the purpose of a Claremont McKenna -- then Claremont Men's -- education was to negotiate the divide between a practical and liberal arts education. It was important to produce men who could understand public administration, while being conversant in the great books. A broadly defined liberal arts education was to be an asset, not the function of egg-headed academics in ivory towers. A new focus on computer science would simply update this focus on applied science and accounting or "public affairs." How could you be a public administrator or major be effective if he were ignorant of computers?

• Serious classes for serious minds. It has always made little sense to me why we're permitted to take joke science classes -- the Living Sea? or Energy in the Environment, anyone? -- at all. Which class would have the greater utility for its students? Introductory Computer Science? Or the Living Sea? To ask that question is to answer it.

• Possibility of higher wages. In an increasingly difficult job market, having computer science skills might help Claremont McKenna students set themselves apart from other applicants. Enabling students to rise faster in the job world can only pay higher dividends for Claremont McKenna when it solicits alumni donations.

Scripps Alumna Gabrielle Giffords Picked A Fight with Colbert

Democratic congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona's 8th district has come under fire from the most unlikely source -- Steven Colbert. I'd provide some kind of analysis of what is actually going, but basically Colbert won a NASA contest to get a node named after him and Giffords said the node wouldn't be named after Colbert and poked fun at him. He fired back, hard. Watch the video to see more.  Ouch! Colbert: 1, Scripps College's most distinguished alumna: 0. 

(h/t: Max Hodge CMC '08)