So what’s up with the title of this blog you ask?

This is a quote from Leonardo DaVinci who actulally said “omo sanze lettere”.  DaVinci surprisingly had no eduation and “made it” in the academic circles during a time when education and thought was so central to success.  It serves as a reminder that one can succeed even when you are pushing against the flow of accepted norms.

I like people who teach themselves stuff.  It means that they actually care about the topic.  It demomstrates that the pursuit of education is not simply a way to get a job, but rather a way to engage with subject matter.  Don’t get me wrong: to finish a degree in anything takes a commitment and dedication to the subject area, but people who engage with subjects simply because they are interested or want to know more have a different outlook on education and the ways that they use that knowledge.

This type of learning also lends itself to making connections between seeming unrelated subject matter.  Linking topics across boundaries is a talent that self taught people seem to be good at.  Seeing larger systems in small related details.

As an totally ADD person, I was completely unable able to do well at school.  It was infuriating then, as I seemed to be the only one in the class that was interested in subjects, yet consistently failed tests.  For instance, during high school I took a course on philosophy that was a very general overview of thinkers from Socrates to Rouseau.  I loved this class.  As we walked through the history of philosophy, I would would be going to the library at night to get some more books on people who interested me.  Loche, Hume, De Beauvoir all had such relevant thoughts and ideas, I just couldn’t get enough.

Sadly, when it came time to take the test, I just couldn’t remember what year a particular thinker published, or the neat and tidy five bullet point list that our teachers would have us memorize and regurgitate.  Ask me who’s work influenced who, where was a particular line of thought is used today, or what effect this had on particular historical events and I was right on point, hand high in the air.

Now that I’m older and working for a living, I still see people asking for those neat bullet points.  But very few ask for systemic understanding.  Guess I just need to find my way into the right crowd…  Still working on that.

So to conclude, I strive throughout all aspects of my life, to demonstrate the value of understanding instead of regurgitation.  To encourage people to think about things instead of knowing just what they need to know. 

I was listening to Forimmideaterelease this morning on the way to work and Neville, recommended that Wordpress was a far superior blog service to the blogger (which I have been using for a while) so I thought that I would give it a spin. 

 They even had my name available for a url which a nice change.  (It always amazes me how “nathanbaron” is taken in so many places.  Who new there were others…)

I try posting here for a bit, maybe duplicating some posts, and see how it integrates with things.  I haven’t had a chance to set up my Treo blogging app to use this service yet, but if that integrates well, then I might just make this a permanent switch.

 Until next time…

Nathan Baron, MWL

Where I am: 
I am currently working for the Ontario Public Service with a brutally long job title (Ministry of Transportation> Operations Division> Eastern Region> Fleet Services> Equipment Control Clerk, aka Fleet Geek).  I am an aspiring government communicator, and am actively working on several communication projects for the Ministry. 
I am also very involved in my local sailing club, the Kingston Yacht Club.  I have been a member for over fifteen years and have served on the Board of directors and am currently leading the KYC Communications, which is looking at internal and external communications at the club. 
A little more about me: 
I am personally interested in technological advances in hardware and software and how these things impact people personally as well as the effects these things have on organizations.  As a kid I was diagnosed as ADD (yes I am a reformed Ritalin kid) and from that experience I have become a big advocate for the adoption of new technologies to help engage students with learning disabilities.  
As you may deduce from the title of this blog, I have not graduated from post secondary education.  (I started in Architecture at Fanshawe College, but teaching people to rock climb was way more interesting at the time.)  I don’t have any serious qualms with schools or higher education, I’m just bitter that people think a good liberal arts education can only come from a university. 
On the “man without letters” 
 

I feel I should explain the title of this blog.  
Leonardo Da Vinci used to call himself “omo sanze lettere” or a man without letters.  This is very much in line with the way that I look at things.  I love to explore ideas and make connections between seemingly unrelated subject matter, much the way Da Vinci did.  He is the perfect example of someone who sought out knowledge to be applied to specific problems in order to find solutions.  (And sometimes, just for the hell of it.) 
I am way more impressed by people who seek knowledge because they want to know and act on it, then by someone with umpteen degrees from fine schools who are totally disengaged with the world.  There is way too much going on to not care!

If you are looking for my formal CV, I will be making it available soon.