I’d like to start with some words from the late Doug Tompkins what happens when
the late Doug Tompkins what happens when
the late Doug Tompkins what happens when you get to a cliff and take one step
you get to a cliff and take one step
you get to a cliff and take one step forward or do 180-degree turn and take
forward or do 180-degree turn and take
forward or do 180-degree turn and take one step forward which way you go on
one step forward which way you go on
one step forward which way you go on which one is progress
which one is progress
which one is progress well surely here in Minnesota in light
well surely here in Minnesota in light
well surely here in Minnesota in light country we have no cliffs but we do in
country we have no cliffs but we do in
country we have no cliffs but we do in fact I’m an engineer as Brian introduced
fact I’m an engineer as Brian introduced
fact I’m an engineer as Brian introduced me so let’s look at some data according
me so let’s look at some data according
me so let’s look at some data according to the CDC with the advances in
to the CDC with the advances in
to the CDC with the advances in microbial resistance where you are
microbial resistance where you are
microbial resistance where you are looking at the end of antibiotics period
looking at the end of antibiotics period
looking at the end of antibiotics period and there’s a lead pipe cinch also with
and there’s a lead pipe cinch also with
and there’s a lead pipe cinch also with the CDC that maybe we shouldn’t have put
the CDC that maybe we shouldn’t have put
the CDC that maybe we shouldn’t have put in all that lead pipe in the past
in all that lead pipe in the past
in all that lead pipe in the past according to the CDC
according to the CDC
according to the CDC 3,000 areas have more lead in their
3,000 areas have more lead in their
3,000 areas have more lead in their water than Flint Michigan does and of
water than Flint Michigan does and of
water than Flint Michigan does and of course we moved out here to Bemidji for
course we moved out here to Bemidji for
course we moved out here to Bemidji for climate and we certainly haven’t seen
climate and we certainly haven’t seen
climate and we certainly haven’t seen peak climate if you graph up that what
peak climate if you graph up that what
peak climate if you graph up that what the data from the National Weather
the data from the National Weather
the data from the National Weather Service it becomes clear that if you
Service it becomes clear that if you
Service it becomes clear that if you look out in the mid century even we here
look out in the mid century even we here
look out in the mid century even we here in Burma she might not see temperatures
in Burma she might not see temperatures
in Burma she might not see temperatures below zero by mid-century the final
below zero by mid-century the final
below zero by mid-century the final thing is something I’ll call the rule of
thing is something I’ll call the rule of
thing is something I’ll call the rule of 50 if you look in the newspaper and you
50 if you look in the newspaper and you
50 if you look in the newspaper and you see an obituary and it’s less than 50
see an obituary and it’s less than 50
see an obituary and it’s less than 50 words and the age of the deceased is
words and the age of the deceased is
words and the age of the deceased is less than 50 years then you might be
less than 50 years then you might be
less than 50 years then you might be looking at a victim of suicide
looking at a victim of suicide
looking at a victim of suicide alcoholism or drug overdose you may be
alcoholism or drug overdose you may be
alcoholism or drug overdose you may be looking at a victim of despair then with
looking at a victim of despair then with
looking at a victim of despair then with our data I started with antibiotics and
our data I started with antibiotics and
our data I started with antibiotics and water and antibiotics and water and
water and antibiotics and water and
water and antibiotics and water and weather because these are all things
weather because these are all things
weather because these are all things that I knew as a kid and I thought we
that I knew as a kid and I thought we
that I knew as a kid and I thought we could take for granted forever and if we
could take for granted forever and if we
could take for granted forever and if we can’t take them for granted then we may
can’t take them for granted then we may
can’t take them for granted then we may be coming to a cliff cliff for all of us
be coming to a cliff cliff for all of us
be coming to a cliff cliff for all of us if we’re going to proceed if we’re going
if we’re going to proceed if we’re going
if we’re going to proceed if we’re going to thrive we need cliff skills let’s get
to thrive we need cliff skills let’s get
to thrive we need cliff skills let’s get some
some
some we live in a world with where three
we live in a world with where three
we live in a world with where three things predominate there are three
things predominate there are three
things predominate there are three things we offer this world energy brains
things we offer this world energy brains
things we offer this world energy brains and money energy and brains of the
and money energy and brains of the
and money energy and brains of the fundamental things we contribute to each
fundamental things we contribute to each
fundamental things we contribute to each other in this world money is merely a
other in this world money is merely a
other in this world money is merely a token that we use to keep score and
token that we use to keep score and
token that we use to keep score and these currencies have very different
these currencies have very different
these currencies have very different paths ahead we were leaving an age of
paths ahead we were leaving an age of
paths ahead we were leaving an age of cheap abundant energy back at the middle
cheap abundant energy back at the middle
cheap abundant energy back at the middle of the last century
of the last century
of the last century you only had to burn about one barrel of
you only had to burn about one barrel of
you only had to burn about one barrel of oil to get a hundred barrels into the
oil to get a hundred barrels into the
oil to get a hundred barrels into the economy of course we went after the best
economy of course we went after the best
economy of course we went after the best sources first and we’ve had a great
sources first and we’ve had a great
sources first and we’ve had a great hundred year run but we’re now coming up
hundred year run but we’re now coming up
hundred year run but we’re now coming up on what Charles Hall called the energy
on what Charles Hall called the energy
on what Charles Hall called the energy return on investment threshold that’s
return on investment threshold that’s
return on investment threshold that’s the minimum production efficiency that a
the minimum production efficiency that a
the minimum production efficiency that a modern society needs to take care of
modern society needs to take care of
modern society needs to take care of itself to maintain itself and we’ve
itself to maintain itself and we’ve
itself to maintain itself and we’ve certainly left the seemingly endless
certainly left the seemingly endless
certainly left the seemingly endless supplies of cheap energy that made many
supplies of cheap energy that made many
supplies of cheap energy that made many of our advances possible behind at the
of our advances possible behind at the
of our advances possible behind at the same time we’re entering into an age of
same time we’re entering into an age of
same time we’re entering into an age of cheap abundant information cheap
cheap abundant information cheap
cheap abundant information cheap abundant brains Ken Jennings defeat on
abundant brains Ken Jennings defeat on
abundant brains Ken Jennings defeat on Jeopardy to IBM’s Watson would have been
Jeopardy to IBM’s Watson would have been
Jeopardy to IBM’s Watson would have been almost unthinkable even a generation ago
almost unthinkable even a generation ago
almost unthinkable even a generation ago and some of the older folks among us
and some of the older folks among us
and some of the older folks among us here might remember danger Will Robinson
here might remember danger Will Robinson
here might remember danger Will Robinson with modern robots and the advances we
with modern robots and the advances we
with modern robots and the advances we make in them every day those robots
make in them every day those robots
make in them every day those robots don’t need to worry about Will Robinson
don’t need to worry about Will Robinson
don’t need to worry about Will Robinson anymore they don’t need Will Robinson
anymore they don’t need Will Robinson
anymore they don’t need Will Robinson and this is all great energy and brains
and this is all great energy and brains
and this is all great energy and brains are good and you might wonder though
are good and you might wonder though
are good and you might wonder though what is the money we hire now seven
what is the money we hire now seven
what is the money we hire now seven years into a Fed Funds rate of zero a
years into a Fed Funds rate of zero a
years into a Fed Funds rate of zero a magnificent unparalleled age of cheap
magnificent unparalleled age of cheap
magnificent unparalleled age of cheap available money but no one knows quite
available money but no one knows quite
available money but no one knows quite where this train is heading so let’s sum
where this train is heading so let’s sum
where this train is heading so let’s sum up with industrialization we replaced we
up with industrialization we replaced we
up with industrialization we replaced we replaced labor with cheap energy but if
replaced labor with cheap energy but if
replaced labor with cheap energy but if we leave the age of cheap energy it’s
we leave the age of cheap energy it’s
we leave the age of cheap energy it’s not clear how we’ll move forward
not clear how we’ll move forward
not clear how we’ll move forward similarly globalization then replaced
similarly globalization then replaced
similarly globalization then replaced onshore labor with cheaper offshore
onshore labor with cheaper offshore
onshore labor with cheaper offshore labor
labor
labor capital has mobility but labour doesn’t
capital has mobility but labour doesn’t
capital has mobility but labour doesn’t and so this was actually a great path
and so this was actually a great path
and so this was actually a great path forward but here too the low-hanging
forward but here too the low-hanging
forward but here too the low-hanging fruit has been picked so where do we go
fruit has been picked so where do we go
fruit has been picked so where do we go now to see what we’re going in the
now to see what we’re going in the
now to see what we’re going in the future we need to look to the past
future we need to look to the past
future we need to look to the past in legend John Henry was a steel-driving
in legend John Henry was a steel-driving
in legend John Henry was a steel-driving man but John Henry lost his battle with
man but John Henry lost his battle with
man but John Henry lost his battle with the engine and were head and
the engine and were head and
the engine and were head and subsequently
subsequently
subsequently we have headed to a world where people
we have headed to a world where people
we have headed to a world where people no longer provide primary mechanical
no longer provide primary mechanical
no longer provide primary mechanical energy to business because every John
energy to business because every John
energy to business because every John Henry has lost his battle with the
Henry has lost his battle with the
Henry has lost his battle with the engine similarly Ken Jennings lost his
engine similarly Ken Jennings lost his
engine similarly Ken Jennings lost his battle against IBM’s Watson and we may
battle against IBM’s Watson and we may
battle against IBM’s Watson and we may be looking at an age where people no
be looking at an age where people no
be looking at an age where people no longer provide routine decision-making
longer provide routine decision-making
longer provide routine decision-making to business now the final piece of the
to business now the final piece of the
to business now the final piece of the puzzle is actually a legal case about a
puzzle is actually a legal case about a
puzzle is actually a legal case about a hundred years ago in Dodge versus Ford
hundred years ago in Dodge versus Ford
hundred years ago in Dodge versus Ford Motor Company we embraced the goal the
Motor Company we embraced the goal the
Motor Company we embraced the goal the corporate goal of maximizing shareholder
corporate goal of maximizing shareholder
corporate goal of maximizing shareholder value and as long as maximizing
value and as long as maximizing
value and as long as maximizing shareholder value remains the goal then
shareholder value remains the goal then
shareholder value remains the goal then every John Henry and every Ken Jennings
every John Henry and every Ken Jennings
every John Henry and every Ken Jennings is going to lose to the income statement
is going to lose to the income statement
is going to lose to the income statement advances that come from a succession of
advances that come from a succession of
advances that come from a succession of smarter and cheaper machines so where do
smarter and cheaper machines so where do
smarter and cheaper machines so where do we go now do we take one step forward or
we go now do we take one step forward or
we go now do we take one step forward or do 180 degree turn and take one step
do 180 degree turn and take one step
do 180 degree turn and take one step forward here are some places where we
forward here are some places where we
forward here are some places where we can make progress in the world ahead
can make progress in the world ahead
can make progress in the world ahead localism beats globalism globalism has
localism beats globalism globalism has
localism beats globalism globalism has been a 30-year race to the bottom on
been a 30-year race to the bottom on
been a 30-year race to the bottom on wages and it’s not clear how good global
wages and it’s not clear how good global
wages and it’s not clear how good global supply chains are going to be in a world
supply chains are going to be in a world
supply chains are going to be in a world where we leave cheap energy second
where we leave cheap energy second
where we leave cheap energy second friends beat friend requests harsh
friends beat friend requests harsh
friends beat friend requests harsh winters make good neighbors if you think
winters make good neighbors if you think
winters make good neighbors if you think you might lose power in the next
you might lose power in the next
you might lose power in the next blizzard then you really might want to
blizzard then you really might want to
blizzard then you really might want to know already who your friends are
know already who your friends are
know already who your friends are third up smarter beats harder machine
third up smarter beats harder machine
third up smarter beats harder machine learning will take all of the routine
learning will take all of the routine
learning will take all of the routine job
job
job but humans can do things people can do
but humans can do things people can do
but humans can do things people can do things that machine’s cannot our
things that machine’s cannot our
things that machine’s cannot our forebears came here before Thinsulate
forebears came here before Thinsulate
forebears came here before Thinsulate before gore-tex and they thrived and we
before gore-tex and they thrived and we
before gore-tex and they thrived and we will thrive and finally maybe not more
will thrive and finally maybe not more
will thrive and finally maybe not more but better we can thrive with the unique
but better we can thrive with the unique
but better we can thrive with the unique things we make for each other and
things we make for each other and
things we make for each other and provide to our world so where do we go
provide to our world so where do we go
provide to our world so where do we go now to the future from the past the
now to the future from the past the
now to the future from the past the amazing thing is that we have been here
amazing thing is that we have been here
amazing thing is that we have been here before
Minnesotans came here and could have
Minnesotans came here and could have invented diversity with settlers Dakota
invented diversity with settlers Dakota
invented diversity with settlers Dakota and Ojibwe back before the tournament
and Ojibwe back before the tournament
and Ojibwe back before the tournament diversity even existed the Dakota at the
diversity even existed the Dakota at the
diversity even existed the Dakota at the time were attempting the hardest
time were attempting the hardest
time were attempting the hardest transition in human history the
transition in human history the
transition in human history the transition from hunter-gatherer society
transition from hunter-gatherer society
transition from hunter-gatherer society to agriculture before there was ever a
to agriculture before there was ever a
to agriculture before there was ever a diet book on it and the subprime
diet book on it and the subprime
diet book on it and the subprime mortgage crisis would be no news to 1850
mortgage crisis would be no news to 1850
mortgage crisis would be no news to 1850 zero Minnesotans who already knew plenty
zero Minnesotans who already knew plenty
zero Minnesotans who already knew plenty about failed currencies and bad banks
about failed currencies and bad banks
about failed currencies and bad banks the catalyst for the transition we can
the catalyst for the transition we can
the catalyst for the transition we can actually put a finger on the single
actually put a finger on the single
actually put a finger on the single event that led to the world we live in
event that led to the world we live in
event that led to the world we live in today
today
today the 1862 Dakota uprising was a terrible
the 1862 Dakota uprising was a terrible
the 1862 Dakota uprising was a terrible and tragic event in our history in 1862
and tragic event in our history in 1862
and tragic event in our history in 1862 information failed the Dakota were new
information failed the Dakota were new
information failed the Dakota were new to agriculture
to agriculture
to agriculture they weren’t skilled farmers yet and
they weren’t skilled farmers yet and
they weren’t skilled farmers yet and they had a failed crop the year before
they had a failed crop the year before
they had a failed crop the year before also in 1862 money failed the Civil War
also in 1862 money failed the Civil War
also in 1862 money failed the Civil War was a conflict that the Union couldn’t
was a conflict that the Union couldn’t
was a conflict that the Union couldn’t afford and President Lincoln tried to
afford and President Lincoln tried to
afford and President Lincoln tried to paper over the deficits with a paper
paper over the deficits with a paper
paper over the deficits with a paper currency greenbacks
currency greenbacks
currency greenbacks but that a code didn’t trust and they
but that a code didn’t trust and they
but that a code didn’t trust and they wouldn’t accept so in 1862 the previous
wouldn’t accept so in 1862 the previous
wouldn’t accept so in 1862 the previous poor harvest and late payments led to
poor harvest and late payments led to
poor harvest and late payments led to starvation and starvation led to war and
starvation and starvation led to war and
starvation and starvation led to war and that war led us to the world were in
that war led us to the world were in
that war led us to the world were in today but maybe in ways you wouldn’t
today but maybe in ways you wouldn’t
today but maybe in ways you wouldn’t expect one of the cadavers from the
expect one of the cadavers from the
expect one of the cadavers from the executions that follow the Dakota
executions that follow the Dakota
executions that follow the Dakota uprising was taken by a local physician
uprising was taken by a local physician
uprising was taken by a local physician William Morel Mayo who used it to train
William Morel Mayo who used it to train
William Morel Mayo who used it to train his
his
his Suns will and Charlie you may have heard
Suns will and Charlie you may have heard
Suns will and Charlie you may have heard of the clinic down in Rochester that
of the clinic down in Rochester that
of the clinic down in Rochester that will and Charlie Mayo founded similarly
will and Charlie Mayo founded similarly
will and Charlie Mayo founded similarly with the skirmishes that followed the
with the skirmishes that followed the
with the skirmishes that followed the uprising the Dakota were forced West
uprising the Dakota were forced West
uprising the Dakota were forced West this open homesteads including the
this open homesteads including the
this open homesteads including the homestead where William McKnight was
homestead where William McKnight was
homestead where William McKnight was born in 1887 he joined Minnesota mining
born in 1887 he joined Minnesota mining
born in 1887 he joined Minnesota mining and manufacturing in 1907 and in the
and manufacturing in 1907 and in the
and manufacturing in 1907 and in the 60-year career that followed he created
60-year career that followed he created
60-year career that followed he created in 3m the innovating marvel that we know
in 3m the innovating marvel that we know
in 3m the innovating marvel that we know today the troubles of 1862 were a
today the troubles of 1862 were a
today the troubles of 1862 were a terrible time but in the crucible of
terrible time but in the crucible of
terrible time but in the crucible of difficult times good people bond
difficult times good people bond
difficult times good people bond together and they create a better world
together and they create a better world
together and they create a better world that their children then can bring out
that their children then can bring out
that their children then can bring out to the world but what about us today our
to the world but what about us today our
to the world but what about us today our financial system collapsed in 2008 and
financial system collapsed in 2008 and
financial system collapsed in 2008 and as I speak to you we are 13 years of war
as I speak to you we are 13 years of war
as I speak to you we are 13 years of war but here these need to be the spark in
but here these need to be the spark in
but here these need to be the spark in us in good people to try to create a
us in good people to try to create a
us in good people to try to create a better world that we live in tomorrow we
better world that we live in tomorrow we
better world that we live in tomorrow we are fortunate to live in the Giga zone
are fortunate to live in the Giga zone
are fortunate to live in the Giga zone Paul Bunyan Communications is a
Paul Bunyan Communications is a
Paul Bunyan Communications is a cooperative one of a number of
cooperative one of a number of
cooperative one of a number of cooperative that provide technology and
cooperative that provide technology and
cooperative that provide technology and essential services to us every day with
essential services to us every day with
essential services to us every day with those cooperatives have moved as broadly
those cooperatives have moved as broadly
those cooperatives have moved as broadly and as quickly if they were publicly
and as quickly if they were publicly
and as quickly if they were publicly traded corporations I don’t know but as
traded corporations I don’t know but as
traded corporations I don’t know but as we are entering into an age of
we are entering into an age of
we are entering into an age of information abundance I’m fortunate we
information abundance I’m fortunate we
information abundance I’m fortunate we are fortunate to live in the Giga zone
are fortunate to live in the Giga zone
are fortunate to live in the Giga zone as we need something different we can
as we need something different we can
as we need something different we can borrow from the past not to relive it
borrow from the past not to relive it
borrow from the past not to relive it but to use it or something better so we
but to use it or something better so we
but to use it or something better so we can find our future in that past and
can find our future in that past and
can find our future in that past and there’s a lot of good things to find
there’s a lot of good things to find
there’s a lot of good things to find today’s Paleo diet wouldn’t be any news
today’s Paleo diet wouldn’t be any news
today’s Paleo diet wouldn’t be any news to the Dakota who came from hunter
to the Dakota who came from hunter
to the Dakota who came from hunter gathering you don’t even have to stop
gathering you don’t even have to stop
gathering you don’t even have to stop there market gardens in France in the
there market gardens in France in the
there market gardens in France in the mid 18th century kept the world’s third
mid 18th century kept the world’s third
mid 18th century kept the world’s third largest city supplied in fresh produce
largest city supplied in fresh produce
largest city supplied in fresh produce and they did it both winter and summer
and they did it both winter and summer
and they did it both winter and summer and they did it before the Green
and they did it before the Green
and they did it before the Green Revolution with no GMOs no artificial
Revolution with no GMOs no artificial
Revolution with no GMOs no artificial fertilizers or pesticides
fertilizers or pesticides
fertilizers or pesticides so food is good but again you might be
so food is good but again you might be
so food is good but again you might be thinking John where’s the money the
thinking John where’s the money the
thinking John where’s the money the local solution for money is the local
local solution for money is the local
local solution for money is the local currency
currency
currency I’ll call Bemidji box with our
I’ll call Bemidji box with our
I’ll call Bemidji box with our University our forests our lakes wealth
University our forests our lakes wealth
University our forests our lakes wealth comes to Bemidji but if that wealth
comes to Bemidji but if that wealth
comes to Bemidji but if that wealth shops in a chain store and pays with a
shops in a chain store and pays with a
shops in a chain store and pays with a credit card that wealth flows right back
credit card that wealth flows right back
credit card that wealth flows right back out of a migi local currency can give
out of a migi local currency can give
out of a migi local currency can give purchasers a discount and keep the
purchasers a discount and keep the
purchasers a discount and keep the wealth that comes to Bemidji in Bemidji
wealth that comes to Bemidji in Bemidji
wealth that comes to Bemidji in Bemidji a more general solution for money can be
a more general solution for money can be
a more general solution for money can be found next door to us in North Dakota
found next door to us in North Dakota
found next door to us in North Dakota with the country’s only public state-run
with the country’s only public state-run
with the country’s only public state-run public bank Israel the Bank of North
public bank Israel the Bank of North
public bank Israel the Bank of North Dakota runs surpluses and fracking boom
Dakota runs surpluses and fracking boom
Dakota runs surpluses and fracking boom or fracking bust unemployment rates in
or fracking bust unemployment rates in
or fracking bust unemployment rates in North Dakota have been half the national
North Dakota have been half the national
North Dakota have been half the national average for the past ten years so food
average for the past ten years so food
average for the past ten years so food is good and we’ve got some work to do on
is good and we’ve got some work to do on
is good and we’ve got some work to do on money but what about medicine I mean
money but what about medicine I mean
money but what about medicine I mean that CDC said it’s the end of
that CDC said it’s the end of
that CDC said it’s the end of antibiotics period or is it here the
antibiotics period or is it here the
antibiotics period or is it here the 21st century solution to the problem was
21st century solution to the problem was
21st century solution to the problem was found by a Viking studies expert dr.
found by a Viking studies expert dr.
found by a Viking studies expert dr. Christina Lee in the wonderful charming
Christina Lee in the wonderful charming
Christina Lee in the wonderful charming 9th century pages of Bald’s leech book
9th century pages of Bald’s leech book
9th century pages of Bald’s leech book which reads take crop leek and garlic
which reads take crop leek and garlic
which reads take crop leek and garlic and pound it together with Bullock’s
and pound it together with Bullock’s
and pound it together with Bullock’s gall and wine and sit it in a brass pot
gall and wine and sit it in a brass pot
gall and wine and sit it in a brass pot for nine days I’ll leave out the bubble
for nine days I’ll leave out the bubble
for nine days I’ll leave out the bubble bubble toil and trouble but when dr.
bubble toil and trouble but when dr.
bubble toil and trouble but when dr. fray Harrison tried it they found it to
fray Harrison tried it they found it to
fray Harrison tried it they found it to be every bit as effective as the best of
be every bit as effective as the best of
be every bit as effective as the best of our modern antibiotics our predecessors
our modern antibiotics our predecessors
our modern antibiotics our predecessors didn’t have our science but they were
didn’t have our science but they were
didn’t have our science but they were empiricists and they were inventors they
empiricists and they were inventors they
empiricists and they were inventors they were creative if we can discover their
were creative if we can discover their
were creative if we can discover their wisdom we can adapt it to our time and
wisdom we can adapt it to our time and
wisdom we can adapt it to our time and create a better future with it
create a better future with it
create a better future with it now at the top of this talk I mentioned
now at the top of this talk I mentioned
now at the top of this talk I mentioned something I called the rule of 50 and
something I called the rule of 50 and
something I called the rule of 50 and here in flyover country
here in flyover country
here in flyover country might seem unbelievable to think that
might seem unbelievable to think that
might seem unbelievable to think that anything is difficult as the social
anything is difficult as the social
anything is difficult as the social challenges of despair and addiction
challenges of despair and addiction
challenges of despair and addiction could be overcome with a single term as
could be overcome with a single term as
could be overcome with a single term as trite as innovation but Enrico Moretti
trite as innovation but Enrico Moretti
trite as innovation but Enrico Moretti in his book the new geography of jobs
in his book the new geography of jobs
in his book the new geography of jobs explains how just such a transition can
explains how just such a transition can
explains how just such a transition can be done innovation creates wealth wealth
be done innovation creates wealth wealth
be done innovation creates wealth wealth generation creates opportunities and
generation creates opportunities and
generation creates opportunities and creates hope about a year ago ink
creates hope about a year ago ink
creates hope about a year ago ink magazine named for Bemidji companies –
magazine named for Bemidji companies –
magazine named for Bemidji companies – its ink 5000 list of thriving companies
its ink 5000 list of thriving companies
its ink 5000 list of thriving companies so great innovators have already come to
so great innovators have already come to
so great innovators have already come to Bemidji we’re entering the age of
Bemidji we’re entering the age of
Bemidji we’re entering the age of information abundance and we have
information abundance and we have
information abundance and we have providers as you have heard that provide
providers as you have heard that provide
providers as you have heard that provide that information to us in abundance but
that information to us in abundance but
that information to us in abundance but even the best bandwidth won’t help if
even the best bandwidth won’t help if
even the best bandwidth won’t help if you don’t do something with it as we are
you don’t do something with it as we are
you don’t do something with it as we are Minnesotans I am working on something
Minnesotans I am working on something
Minnesotans I am working on something I’ll call social media for shy people
I’ll call social media for shy people
I’ll call social media for shy people the data is the scope of it is local not
the data is the scope of it is local not
the data is the scope of it is local not global the data is private and
global the data is private and
global the data is private and blockchain and a hyper card like
blockchain and a hyper card like
blockchain and a hyper card like interface makes it possible for regular
interface makes it possible for regular
interface makes it possible for regular people to create interactions and
people to create interactions and
people to create interactions and explore the world around them
explore the world around them
explore the world around them entrepreneurship is really important to
entrepreneurship is really important to
entrepreneurship is really important to us here in Bemidji the launch pad gives
us here in Bemidji the launch pad gives
us here in Bemidji the launch pad gives us a place to all get together to move
us a place to all get together to move
us a place to all get together to move our dreams forward and we have a strong
our dreams forward and we have a strong
our dreams forward and we have a strong entrepreneurial community to help turn
entrepreneurial community to help turn
entrepreneurial community to help turn ideas into reality and finally Bemidji
ideas into reality and finally Bemidji
ideas into reality and finally Bemidji State University Northwest Technical
State University Northwest Technical
State University Northwest Technical College and Concordia language villages
College and Concordia language villages
College and Concordia language villages all bring innovators and kids in from
all bring innovators and kids in from
all bring innovators and kids in from around the world the rule of 50 is a
around the world the rule of 50 is a
around the world the rule of 50 is a challenge for every community and we
challenge for every community and we
challenge for every community and we need to plot our path forward our past
need to plot our path forward our past
need to plot our path forward our past isn’t perfect and it’s easy to look at
isn’t perfect and it’s easy to look at
isn’t perfect and it’s easy to look at our predecessors doctors with leeches
our predecessors doctors with leeches
our predecessors doctors with leeches with scorn and derision but it’s a
with scorn and derision but it’s a
with scorn and derision but it’s a mistake if we do that we are of course
mistake if we do that we are of course
mistake if we do that we are of course better adapted better evolved to
better adapted better evolved to
better adapted better evolved to conditions than they were
conditions than they were
conditions than they were but what if the conditions we evolve to
but what if the conditions we evolve to
but what if the conditions we evolve to no longer exist in that case in a world
no longer exist in that case in a world
no longer exist in that case in a world where industrialization replaced many
where industrialization replaced many
where industrialization replaced many hands with cheap energy and
hands with cheap energy and
hands with cheap energy and globalization replaced onto our hands
globalization replaced onto our hands
globalization replaced onto our hands with offshore hands in that case the
with offshore hands in that case the
with offshore hands in that case the future then lies in a past that we can
future then lies in a past that we can
future then lies in a past that we can create to fit the conditions we live in
create to fit the conditions we live in
create to fit the conditions we live in today so what happens when you get to a
today so what happens when you get to a
today so what happens when you get to a cliff do you take a step forward or do
cliff do you take a step forward or do
cliff do you take a step forward or do one or duty to return and take one step
one or duty to return and take one step
one or duty to return and take one step forward we can move forward by embracing
forward we can move forward by embracing
forward we can move forward by embracing the past here in Bemidji
the past here in Bemidji
the past here in Bemidji we are local if we can’t get blueberries
we are local if we can’t get blueberries
we are local if we can’t get blueberries flown up from Chile we’ll grow the Mir
flown up from Chile we’ll grow the Mir
flown up from Chile we’ll grow the Mir ourselves we are community if you are
ourselves we are community if you are
ourselves we are community if you are not in community then 30 below winters
not in community then 30 below winters
not in community then 30 below winters might not appeal to you but when it gets
might not appeal to you but when it gets
might not appeal to you but when it gets cold we go ice fishing we are smart our
cold we go ice fishing we are smart our
cold we go ice fishing we are smart our university colleges and schools are the
university colleges and schools are the
university colleges and schools are the center of our community and our goals
center of our community and our goals
center of our community and our goals are not more but better so let’s make
are not more but better so let’s make
are not more but better so let’s make that turn and take that step the thing I
that turn and take that step the thing I
that turn and take that step the thing I love most about Bemidji in northern
love most about Bemidji in northern
love most about Bemidji in northern Minnesota is our community and meals
Minnesota is our community and meals
Minnesota is our community and meals money and medicine are just a sampling
money and medicine are just a sampling
money and medicine are just a sampling of the wonderful things in our past that
of the wonderful things in our past that
of the wonderful things in our past that we can rediscover and bring into our
we can rediscover and bring into our
we can rediscover and bring into our future
future
future many people vacation in Bemidji we live
many people vacation in Bemidji we live
many people vacation in Bemidji we live here we can move forward by looking to
here we can move forward by looking to
here we can move forward by looking to our past in this way we will thrive
our past in this way we will thrive
our past in this way we will thrive thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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