In the interests of social science dealing with the theory experimented by psychologist Stanley Milgram ,1960’s, Yale University, on the concept of degrees of separation: `Six degrees of separation is the theory that any person on the planet can be connected to any other person on the planet through a chain of acquaintances that has no more than five intermediaries’ (google search). And, the subject of like experiments conducted by Duncan J. Watts, Professor of sociology, Columbia University, and associates, as detailed in his book: Everything Is Obvious – Once you know the answer, (Chapter 4 Special People – Six Degrees of Separation, page 82); I am interested to conduct my own experiment.
Several years back when Stephen Colbert, currently the late-night host of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (CBS Broadcast); was the host and political pundit satirist on the Colbert Show, Comedy Central, I have been attempting to get a communication to his attention.
It began when the Colbert Show ran an art competition involving portraits to be submitted rendering Colbert in all his, self-indulgent, narcissistic glory.
To that end, I responded with the following photo-shop rendering:
It was meant to reflect his mastery of satirical yet, poetic, right-wing political punditry to rival the rhetorical eloquence of Shakespeare. It certainly seemed relevant for the time.
Though Stephen Colbert’s stature and image being elevated since his taking the host position of the Late Show formerly held by David Letterman, I’d like to think he’d get a kick, or at least a chuckle, of his portrayal in this dated image.
So, to the experiment: how many individuals will it take to get this image to the eyes of
Stephen Colbert, host of the Late Show broadcast from the Ed Sullivan Theater, New York City, New York, US of A? And his comment to its accompanying poem written in his honor:
‘Stephen Colbert’
This ode of word to the King
Of the comedy hour
His craft of speak
Is yielding much power
Nightly he espouses
A pundit’s cynical political view
To most who watch
It sounds as something new
The double entendre of his nightly spiel
Is taken by some who think it real
He manifests reasons for thought
A most clever and insightful plot
His wisdom portrayed by his crafty craft
Even all the while making his audience laugh
How great is Stephen’s desire to have you know
That his is not just another COMEDY SHOW
But before the close there’s need for just one more claim:
To all who are aware, Stephen Colbert – is more then just a name!
So, with each communication to an individual you think would get a link of this page (https://naykdpoet.com/2018/02/13/six-degrees/) to Mr. Colbert, please:
Cc: naykdpoet@outlook.com
and lets see how many emails, etc., it takes to determine how close I really am to Mr. Stephen Colbert!
The Millennial Challenge: Survival of the Species?
Tags: administration, commentary, environment, inspiration, Internet, life, media, science, truth
As the title infers, the present course of humanity on the planet is destined toward destruction: self-annihilation. Whether this unwelcome end is manifest by the disastrous effects of climate-change or, equally as bad and potential: thermal nuclear war and the nuclear winter that will ensue.
Regardless of the mechanism, to thwart such potential happening, if there is a solution to be had, it is the Millennial generation, to this current epoch, to take affirmative and permanent action to manifest it.
Inspiring such a movement is Vice documentary production titled: `The Third Industrial Revolution: A Radical New Sharing Economy’ (https://youtu.be/QX3M8Ka9vUA) hosted by Jeremy Rifkin, American economic and social theorist, writer, public speaker, political adviser, and activist, who addresses an American audience of several millennial age men and women, detailing what amounts to a challenging road map to usher in a new economic system. A system presently hinting its way into the lexicon by way of such words as `block-chain’; `share-economy’; bio-system economy’; etc..
The hour and half is stark in Rifkin’s picture painted of the present state of global and earthly affairs detailed by the chronology of events initiated from the start of the 1st industrial revolution, through the second, and to where matters stand today. And the picture is not pretty nor is to where, if matters do not change dramatically, and soon, things are determined to get much worse.
What is clearly evident by way of Rifkin’s presentation; the European Union countries, led by example of Germany’s Chancellor, Angela Merkel; and, China’s President, Xi Jinping; are leading their respective countries through revolutionary policy changes clearly established to lead them on the path to what he refers to as the `third industrial revolution’. And, simultaneously, asks: `where is the United States on this important issue?. And further, for that matter, by extension: all of North America and remaining regions of the world to address what is essentially a global problem demanding a global solution.
It is almost an imperative that those comprising the Millennial generation, supported by those of all previous generations, to watch, listen and respond to what Jeremy Rifkin details in this very informative and inspiring documentary.
In the United States, Millennials will have the opportunity to institute affirmative action by voting in the upcoming mid-term, November 2018 election to draft a new body of legislators, Senators and Congressman. Those acknowledged to be pro-active in the challenges, not solely on matters of climate-change, but too, a heightened awareness of the role smart technologies and systems of value exchange such as block-chain and crypto-currency/asset value exchange; AI infra-structure and autonomous technologies; construct of the share-economy, to ignite a new era of human r-evolution:`The Third Industrial Revolution: A Radical New Sharing Economy’.
In keeping with my typical voice being expressed in poetry; the following is a poem written early in 2010 acknowledging the state of matters then, that, eight years later, seems most appropriate to express in context of the revolution humanity is upon the threshold to embark:
R-evolution of Human-kind
Only a handful of the world’s people are in the know
And what evil doings they do sow
And from it the hatred amongst all does grow
Question to be answered: What is their game?
And from it: What is the gain?
And by it: Who ultimately does the pain?
The saga of this siege has long been played
The life and blood of the masses is the price paid
When does it stop – when does it go away?
Populations of people are all getting smarter
No longer will they serve as the elite’s fodder
The uprising to come will undo this ongoing slaughter
A cataclysm will it take to break the slave chain
Only then will the people of the world take back their rightful claim
With actions taken to see it never happens again!
(Naykdpoet 2010)
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