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Paul Allen has died

cnbc.com

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Re: Paul Allen has died

#181

Post by PostOnce »

melling wrote: post #17

Paul wrote an autobiography: Idea Man: A Memoir by the Cofounder of Microsoft https://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/18/technology/18allen.html https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idea_Man

It's a good read.

I often wonder what would have become of him had his parents not had the forethought to send him to Lakeside School; his family wasn't rich like Bill Gates' family; I imagine, with money, Gates would have done well whether or not he had gone to that school, but if Allen hadn't, and therefore hadn't met Gates, where would have gone?

It makes me think long and hard about my children's education. They'll get a fantastic education regardless of what school they go to, since we'll learn at home, but just how important is the networking? Does that itself supercede the education?

I guess biographies always make you ask yourself these what if questions, and often apply them to yourself.

Re: Paul Allen has died

#182

Post by 8bitsrule »

CydeWeys wrote: post #133

For whatever reason, I always remember him for the Allen Telescope Array: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allen_Telescope_Array Not many are willing to donate that much into funding a project whose chance of success is small, but whose success would change everything.

A worthy, pioneering investment.

I'll also remember Paul for the Museum of Pop Culture, a wonderful gift to the Pacific Northwest. Born as the 'Experience Music Project' in 2000, it has since added a Sci-Fi museum which became the SFF Hall of Fame. Much appreciated by all fans of pop music and sci-fi, and a location for numerous cultural and educational events.

Re: Paul Allen has died

#183

Post by [deleted] »

drawkbox wrote: post #129

Paul Allen did enough good for hundreds of lifetimes in one. Allen's skills helped create Microsoft/Windows and allowed him to attain wealth which he also used for good reasons, funding brain, medical research and history as well as fun and entertainment. Allen is the type of person you want people, and especially wealthy, to be, supporting good efforts and being a force for good in humanity.

[deleted]

Re: Paul Allen has died

#184

Post by sharkweek »

dhairya wrote: post #139

I had an opportunity to work at both the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence (AI2) and the Allen Institute for Brain Science (AIBs). I was part of the 10 year strategic planning efforts at AI2. Paul Allen was both involved and hands-off in the support of the leadership AI2 and AIBs. It was a rare balance and Paul Allen knew how to create the conditions for innovation and novel research breakthroughs with micr…

It’s fun to see the same style applied to the Seahawks - he hired Pete Carroll to run the team the way he wants with the resources he needs. Without Paul Allen as the owner, our home team doesn’t win the 2013 Super Bowl.

The team has had its fair share of problems too, but they’re always entertaining.

Re: Paul Allen has died

#185

Post by chokolad »

mikeyouse wrote: post #157
ad_hominem wrote: post #150

It doesn't detract from his greatness but I didn't like his hypocrisy in giving millions to gun control initiatives while personally owning a Panzer tank, SCUD missile launcher, MiG fighter jet, etc.

That's silly. None of those things were in working (fighting) condition. You can be a war historian and think that private ownership of war implements is a bad idea.

His tanks are definitely capable of shooting at least blank rounds. They do it weekly at the museum. I would not be surprised if they can shoot the actual live munition without issues if you can get hands on it.

Re: Paul Allen has died

#186

Post by orionblastar »

He always amazed me because he never gave up even when he had cancer. He kept on going and that took a lot of guts.

Steve Jobs was that way when he had cancer, kept on going until he passed on.

Re: Paul Allen has died

#189

Post by etatoby »

joe_the_user wrote: post #148

I have to mention an article by Allen which I think is the single best critique of the idea fo the "singularity" which I have seen. Paul Allen: The Singularity Isn't Near https://www.technologyreview.com/s/425733/paul-allen-the-sin...

> There’s even exponential growth in the rate of exponential growth.

When you know somebody didn't take calculus or didn't "get" it.

Either that, or he didn't explain what he meant.

(Not Paul Allen, just another interviewee.)

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