My qualifications look very impressive, though I can't say they're correct! It seems you've mixed me together with whatever individual you have that is a former hedge fund manager. I am indeed almost finished with my doctor of pharmacy, but I have no background in finance whatsoever. Just thought I'd let you know so you can make sure to forward to pertinent information to the proper individual. Sorry if I caused any confusion!
On May 9, 2010 2:30pm, Barrett Brown <barriticus@gmail.com> wrote: > Hi, Danny- > > I'm going to be sending out a mass e-mail to everyone soon with more info, but wanted to let you know that we've been making some progress on the Africa development program, which, in addition to the direct benefits to the populations in question, is also intended to demonstrate how collaborative networks are better-equipped to handle such tasks as these than are, say, existing charities (which use portions of their donations for administrative costs, for instance). I've gone ahead and put you down as a "subcommittee" member on this one since you probably have more background in finance than anyone else we've recruited thus far (I still have to ask some of the recruits what their skills are, though) and have shared the pertinent Google document with you; perhaps you will have some ideas on how and to what extent we ought to invest a portion of whatever donations we take in in order that we might make best use of them and manage the largest impact possible? > > > On Thu, Apr 22, 2010 at 11:28 AM, omegasol11@gmail.com> wrote: > > Hey Barrett, quick response! I see you're quite the night owl. > > I do like the sound of everything, so you can sign me up for the governing network if you think I can help that way. > > As far as skills that may be useful, I'm currently working towards my doctor of pharmacy degree. I'm going to be finished with the entirety of the 3 didactic years of pharmacy school in a few weeks, and then I have a year of rotations. My contributions in reddit reflect what I may bring to this community. I like to comment when people ask about medical issues, medications, or scientific considerations in general related to health and medicine. I'm not quite the expert in the field that I will be a little over a year from now after graduation, but I'm getting there. In any case, that's why I said I wasn't sure how much time I have. The next few weeks is all finals and presentations, so I'm very pressed for time, but next year may free up a little, depending on the type of rotation it is. > > > In any case, I'll support your project however I can, just let me know about any details as they arise. > > > On Apr 22, 2010 4:14am, Barrett Brown barriticus@gmail.com> wrote: > > > Danny- > > > > Thanks for getting in touch; this effort will only succeed if people such as yourself assist in it. It's particular heartening to learn that so many people are in agreement regarding what the situation is and what ought to be done. This project is absolutely viable, and I'll make you the same promise I make everyone else: work with us on this and you will absolutely have a real impact on the world. There is nothing stopping Project PM from growing into a significant force for decency, competence, and honesty in the news media. > > > > > > > > > We're reasonably far along and will be launching sometime this summer. The software is still being written and there's a lot to be done, particularly in terms of deciding how certain aspects will be implemented. > > > > > > > > > A lot of this decision making will be done by our governing network, which I'd like you to join. As you say, it's hard to figure out how much time one will have to dedicate to this, but the governing network is designed in such a way as that one can join without committing to any work at all, and one's lack of input will not harm the network (aside from not having your input). Let me know if you'd be willing to join the governing network at this point. This entity will operate in an informal manner until launch and I've already got a couple folks started on, for instance, designing a sub-project by which to manage a charitable trust intended to promote sustainable development in East Africa - fellow in charge has a background in managing hedge funds, and he'll be working with my lawyer on this with more folks to be brought on to that "committee" as needed. Got a few dozen people already joined up. > > > > > > > > > Regarding having a website, we haven't made a final decision on that yet but we probably will create one at some point; the setup will be such that no website will be necessary, but insomuch as that everything has a website, it might not be a bad idea to set one up, for instance, to serve as quick means by which readers can see the information that's being popularized on the network on a given day. We intend to do that by way of a downloadable widget as well. > > > > > > > > > Anyway, thanks for your enthusiasm, which as I mentioned helps to keep me working all-nighters to get this thing up and running. I'm CCing this e-mail exchange to my right-hand man Caleb Pritchard, who is in charge of recruits, among other things; please let him know what skills you may have that might prove useful, and confirm to him whether or not we can sign you up for the governing network. Feel free to ask me or him any other questions or pitch us any ideas; we'll have a means set up soon by which to temporarily facilitate communication among our recruits until such time as the software is ready, thus allowing you guys to incubate ideas in the meantime. You can also be of assistance by telling other clever, honest people about this project and encouraging them to join up as well. > > > > > > > > > > > On Thu, Apr 22, 2010 at 1:12 AM, Danny Libin omegasol11@gmail.com> wrote: > > > > Hey Barrett. I just spent the better part of an hour reading about your "Project PM" on True/Slant. I think that your plan is a breath of fresh air, and indeed what seems to be, at least in my mind, the next logical step in the evolution of the acquisition of information on the internet. > > > > > > > > > One of my biggest hurdles in the quest for knowledge has always been the lack of unbiased information. Truly, there is no such source. I do keep in mind, however, that an 'unbiased source' is an elusive thing both in the world of the internet, as well as the rest of the media. It is inherently human to have a motive or self-interest behind every action, even altruistic. It seems that every source, even those desiring to be unbiased, tend to have some slant regardless. However, the majority of news outlets have a very outward bias, one which deters from their very ability to deliver meaningful news. As such, I find it exceedingly difficult to find concrete information unspoiled by some direction of bias, which makes acquiring knowledge on any particular subject a tedious task. It is because of all of this that I think your idea is brilliant. If we could truly gather up the cream of the crop of the internet, and retain the all-important filter which prevents sub-par contributors from flooding the community, I think we would have something really great. Instead of one person trying to sift through various sources with various biases for the real truth behind a matter, we could have a community of like-minded, skeptical, intelligent individuals work together to this end. > > > > > > > > > > > Honestly, I don't know how much time I would have to be a significant contributor at this particular point in my life. However, this very lack of time on my part is what mandates the need for such a community in the first place! I have a desire for the truth a matter, and I dislike being mislead by pundits and media outlets simply because I lack the knowledge to discern fact from fabrication. Were I to have help from people such as yourself, I would be much more capable of gathering information on news and other matters. > > > > > > > > > > > In any case, I'd love to be a part of your community, and after reading about your project I felt it was worth sending you an email to voice my support. How far along are you in this project? The most recent date is March 24th, in the article describing the project itself. Are you going to set up a separate website which encompasses the functions you describe in your post? In other words, would it be like reddit.com, in the sense that you have a website which members can join, or will it be something more like gmail in its beta stages, where individuals can be invited by those already in the club? > > > > > > > > > > > As a side note, I found your post from the recent discussion on reddit.com regarding the purported events surrounding the Polish president's plane crash. I thought your comments were very insightful, and of course well written. I love reddit because of people like you, contributing quality posts. However, I was surprised at how well you pegged my main problem with it in (a) of your list of problems Project PM seeks to eliminate. I was a member of digg for a long time when it first rose to popularity, but when its comments slowly degraded to youtube level, I made the switch to reddit, a community which seemed smaller and more intelligent. Though as you've observed, the very popularity of sites like these lead them down a path which makes them more entertaining novelty than serious medium for discussion. Nonetheless, it remains a solid resource for me, and I still frequent it. Though again, a site such as yours would be just the thing for me. > > > > > > > > > Cheers! > > > > > > > > > > -- > > Regards, > > > > Barrett Brown > > Brooklyn, NY > > 512-560-2302 > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > Regards, > > Barrett Brown > Brooklyn, NY > 512-560-2302 >