[Applause] Joseph Keller used to jog around the
Joseph Keller used to jog around the
Joseph Keller used to jog around the Stanford campus and he was struck by all
Stanford campus and he was struck by all
Stanford campus and he was struck by all the women jogging around as well he was
the women jogging around as well he was
the women jogging around as well he was struck by their lovely their bouncy
struck by their lovely their bouncy
struck by their lovely their bouncy ponytails why did the Epona tails swing
ponytails why did the Epona tails swing
ponytails why did the Epona tails swing from side to side like that being a
from side to side like that being a
from side to side like that being a physicist he set out to answer why
physicist he set out to answer why
physicist he set out to answer why professor Keller was curious about many
professor Keller was curious about many
professor Keller was curious about many things how people’s dribble why
things how people’s dribble why
things how people’s dribble why earthworms wriggle heck in a spare time
earthworms wriggle heck in a spare time
earthworms wriggle heck in a spare time he studied where the underwater nuclear
he studied where the underwater nuclear
he studied where the underwater nuclear tests could set off tsunamis to three
tests could set off tsunamis to three
tests could set off tsunamis to three months ago I hadn’t heard of Joseph
months ago I hadn’t heard of Joseph
months ago I hadn’t heard of Joseph Keller I read about him in the New York
Keller I read about him in the New York
Keller I read about him in the New York Times in the obituaries so he died three
Times in the obituaries so he died three
Times in the obituaries so he died three months ago and I read about him in the
months ago and I read about him in the
months ago and I read about him in the New York Times in the obituaries the New
New York Times in the obituaries the New
New York Times in the obituaries the New York Times had half a page dedicated to
York Times had half a page dedicated to
York Times had half a page dedicated to him in the print edition which as you
him in the print edition which as you
him in the print edition which as you can imagine this premium space for a
can imagine this premium space for a
can imagine this premium space for a newspaper of the estate oh actually I
newspaper of the estate oh actually I
newspaper of the estate oh actually I read the obituaries in the New York
read the obituaries in the New York
read the obituaries in the New York Times almost every day
Times almost every day
Times almost every day my wife understandably thinks I’m rather
my wife understandably thinks I’m rather
my wife understandably thinks I’m rather morbid to begin our day with scrambled
morbid to begin our day with scrambled
morbid to begin our day with scrambled eggs and uh let’s see who died today but
eggs and uh let’s see who died today but
eggs and uh let’s see who died today but I take solace in the fact that there are
I take solace in the fact that there are
I take solace in the fact that there are at least twenty-two thousand other
at least twenty-two thousand other
at least twenty-two thousand other morbid people like me that’s the number
morbid people like me that’s the number
morbid people like me that’s the number of people who follow the New York Times
of people who follow the New York Times
of people who follow the New York Times or bit theories on Twitter but if you
or bit theories on Twitter but if you
or bit theories on Twitter but if you think about it
think about it
think about it the front page of any newspaper is
the front page of any newspaper is
the front page of any newspaper is usually bad news and highlights man’s
usually bad news and highlights man’s
usually bad news and highlights man’s failures scandal strife controversy
failures scandal strife controversy
failures scandal strife controversy crying these are the things found on the
crying these are the things found on the
crying these are the things found on the front page an instance where bad news
front page an instance where bad news
front page an instance where bad news cues accomplishment is at the end of the
cues accomplishment is at the end of the
cues accomplishment is at the end of the paper in the obituaries in my day job I
paper in the obituaries in my day job I
paper in the obituaries in my day job I focus on future insights that marketers
focus on future insights that marketers
focus on future insights that marketers can derive from past data
can derive from past data
can derive from past data it’s kind of like a rearview mirror
it’s kind of like a rearview mirror
it’s kind of like a rearview mirror analysis and I began to think what if I
analysis and I began to think what if I
analysis and I began to think what if I applied this rearview mirror to data
applied this rearview mirror to data
applied this rearview mirror to data from the New York Times or Victory’s
from the New York Times or Victory’s
from the New York Times or Victory’s what might that teach us what their
what might that teach us what their
what might that teach us what their lessons and how you could get your
lessons and how you could get your
lessons and how you could get your obituary featured even if you aren’t
obituary featured even if you aren’t
obituary featured even if you aren’t around to enjoy it with this go well
around to enjoy it with this go well
around to enjoy it with this go well with scrambled eggs so we looked at the
with scrambled eggs so we looked at the
with scrambled eggs so we looked at the data mm or bit curious over a 20 month
data mm or bit curious over a 20 month
data mm or bit curious over a 20 month period between 2015 and 2016 I say we
period between 2015 and 2016 I say we
period between 2015 and 2016 I say we because an analysis of this magnitude is
because an analysis of this magnitude is
because an analysis of this magnitude is too much for one person and so I begged
too much for one person and so I begged
too much for one person and so I begged borrowed and stole my colleagues time
borrowed and stole my colleagues time
borrowed and stole my colleagues time and talent to codify and interpret the
and talent to codify and interpret the
and talent to codify and interpret the data and for this I’m grateful to them
data and for this I’m grateful to them
data and for this I’m grateful to them so what do these two thousand deaths
so what do these two thousand deaths
so what do these two thousand deaths rather two thousand lives teach us for
rather two thousand lives teach us for
rather two thousand lives teach us for starters let’s look at some demographics
starters let’s look at some demographics
starters let’s look at some demographics like what’s the ratio of men to women
like what’s the ratio of men to women
like what’s the ratio of men to women men are written about four times as
men are written about four times as
men are written about four times as often as women not something to take
often as women not something to take
often as women not something to take line down this is simply a reflection of
line down this is simply a reflection of
line down this is simply a reflection of life and chauvinism that existed in the
life and chauvinism that existed in the
life and chauvinism that existed in the mid nineteen hundreds the good news is
mid nineteen hundreds the good news is
mid nineteen hundreds the good news is this is changing so when the people who
this is changing so when the people who
this is changing so when the people who are doing amazing stuff today die in 50
are doing amazing stuff today die in 50
are doing amazing stuff today die in 50 years that will look different hopefully
years that will look different hopefully
years that will look different hopefully how old were they when they died on an
how old were they when they died on an
how old were they when they died on an average 81 and their ages ranged from
average 81 and their ages ranged from
average 81 and their ages ranged from 19-year old Lauren Hill who played
19-year old Lauren Hill who played
19-year old Lauren Hill who played basketball for Mount Saint Joseph
basketball for Mount Saint Joseph
basketball for Mount Saint Joseph University while contending with an
University while contending with an
University while contending with an inoperable brain tumor to ruth newman
inoperable brain tumor to ruth newman
inoperable brain tumor to ruth newman who at 113 was a last female survivor of
who at 113 was a last female survivor of
who at 113 was a last female survivor of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake what
the 1906 San Francisco earthquake what
the 1906 San Francisco earthquake what did they die off causes of death were
did they die off causes of death were
did they die off causes of death were what you would expect in any population
what you would expect in any population
what you would expect in any population cancer and heart disease accounted for
cancer and heart disease accounted for
cancer and heart disease accounted for many of the deaths death certainly
many of the deaths death certainly
many of the deaths death certainly doesn’t discriminate what were these
doesn’t discriminate what were these
doesn’t discriminate what were these people remembered for
people remembered for
people remembered for to answer that we need to look at words
to answer that we need to look at words
to answer that we need to look at words this here is a headline of an arbitrary
this here is a headline of an arbitrary
this here is a headline of an arbitrary this one is of the amazing Lee Kuan Yew
this one is of the amazing Lee Kuan Yew
this one is of the amazing Lee Kuan Yew if you remove the beginning and the end
if you remove the beginning and the end
if you remove the beginning and the end you left with a beautifully worded
you left with a beautifully worded
you left with a beautifully worded descriptor that in just a few words aims
descriptor that in just a few words aims
descriptor that in just a few words aims to capture an achievement over a
to capture an achievement over a
to capture an achievement over a lifetime just looking at these is
lifetime just looking at these is
lifetime just looking at these is fascinating it’s riveting let me show
fascinating it’s riveting let me show
fascinating it’s riveting let me show you a few try and guess who they are
you a few try and guess who they are
you a few try and guess who they are these are all famous people who died in
these are all famous people who died in
these are all famous people who died in the last couple of years this one’s
the last couple of years this one’s
the last couple of years this one’s Prince who’s this absolutely my favorite
Prince who’s this absolutely my favorite
Prince who’s this absolutely my favorite songwriter and come on oh yes so we took
songwriter and come on oh yes so we took
songwriter and come on oh yes so we took those descriptors and did what’s called
those descriptors and did what’s called
those descriptors and did what’s called natural language processing where you
natural language processing where you
natural language processing where you feed these into a program the program
feed these into a program the program
feed these into a program the program takes out all the superfluous words like
takes out all the superfluous words like
takes out all the superfluous words like the and off the kind of words you can
the and off the kind of words you can
the and off the kind of words you can mine easily in charades and then it
mine easily in charades and then it
mine easily in charades and then it leaves you the most significant words
leaves you the most significant words
leaves you the most significant words and not just with these five for all
and not just with these five for all
and not just with these five for all 2000 descriptors and this is what it
2000 descriptors and this is what it
2000 descriptors and this is what it looks like the arts film theater
looks like the arts film theater
looks like the arts film theater literature music dance and of course art
literature music dance and of course art
literature music dance and of course art a huge you have to ask why in so many
a huge you have to ask why in so many
a huge you have to ask why in so many societies including ours here in India
societies including ours here in India
societies including ours here in India we insist that our kids pursue
we insist that our kids pursue
we insist that our kids pursue engineering and business and and law and
engineering and business and and law and
engineering and business and and law and medicine to be counted as successful and
medicine to be counted as successful and
medicine to be counted as successful and while we’re talking profession let’s
while we’re talking profession let’s
while we’re talking profession let’s take a look at age again what is the
take a look at age again what is the
take a look at age again what is the average age at which they accomplished
average age at which they accomplished
average age at which they accomplished things on an average that number is 37
things on an average that number is 37
things on an average that number is 37 what that means is on an average you got
what that means is on an average you got
what that means is on an average you got to hit 37 before you first achieve
to hit 37 before you first achieve
to hit 37 before you first achieve something significant that you will be
something significant that you will be
something significant that you will be written about for 44 years later when
written about for 44 years later when
written about for 44 years later when you die at 81 talk about having to be
you die at 81 talk about having to be
you die at 81 talk about having to be patient
patient
patient of course it varies with profession if
of course it varies with profession if
of course it varies with profession if you’re a sports star we’ll probably hit
you’re a sports star we’ll probably hit
you’re a sports star we’ll probably hit your stride
your stride
your stride much earlier in your 20s and if you are
much earlier in your 20s and if you are
much earlier in your 20s and if you are near 40s like me you can join the fun
near 40s like me you can join the fun
near 40s like me you can join the fun world of politics because politicians do
world of politics because politicians do
world of politics because politicians do their first and sometimes only
their first and sometimes only
their first and sometimes only commendable act in their mid 40s
commendable act in their mid 40s
commendable act in their mid 40s and sometimes getting it obituary
and sometimes getting it obituary
and sometimes getting it obituary written about is simply a matter of
written about is simply a matter of
written about is simply a matter of timing
timing
timing Steven Bolin Bach a hotelier who was
Steven Bolin Bach a hotelier who was
Steven Bolin Bach a hotelier who was featured earlier this year had spared
featured earlier this year had spared
featured earlier this year had spared Donald Trump from declaring personal
Donald Trump from declaring personal
Donald Trump from declaring personal bankruptcy in the 90s and we all know
bankruptcy in the 90s and we all know
bankruptcy in the 90s and we all know president-elect Trump wasn’t just in the
president-elect Trump wasn’t just in the
president-elect Trump wasn’t just in the news this year he was the news and if
news this year he was the news and if
news this year he was the news and if you’re wondering what those others are
you’re wondering what those others are
you’re wondering what those others are here are some examples buddhu topless
here are some examples buddhu topless
here are some examples buddhu topless entertainment a tailored of presidents
entertainment a tailored of presidents
entertainment a tailored of presidents isn’t it fascinating the tapestry of
isn’t it fascinating the tapestry of
isn’t it fascinating the tapestry of life that things people do and the
life that things people do and the
life that things people do and the things they are remembered for oh and
things they are remembered for oh and
things they are remembered for oh and hang in there if you are a student less
hang in there if you are a student less
hang in there if you are a student less than 5% of the 2000 dropped out of
than 5% of the 2000 dropped out of
than 5% of the 2000 dropped out of school or college dropping out is
school or college dropping out is
school or college dropping out is romantically overrated at least for the
romantically overrated at least for the
romantically overrated at least for the folks who died up along parents you can
folks who died up along parents you can
folks who died up along parents you can thank me later at this point our
thank me later at this point our
thank me later at this point our curiosity was an overdrive and we said
curiosity was an overdrive and we said
curiosity was an overdrive and we said what if he ingests even more data so you
what if he ingests even more data so you
what if he ingests even more data so you went beyond the headline into the entire
went beyond the headline into the entire
went beyond the headline into the entire first paragraph did it for all 2,000
first paragraph did it for all 2,000
first paragraph did it for all 2,000 orbit Ares but did it separately for two
orbit Ares but did it separately for two
orbit Ares but did it separately for two groups of people people that are famous
groups of people people that are famous
groups of people people that are famous and people that are not famous famous
and people that are not famous famous
and people that are not famous famous people Leonard Cohen Prince Muhammad Ali
people Leonard Cohen Prince Muhammad Ali
people Leonard Cohen Prince Muhammad Ali Harper Lee not so famous people people
Harper Lee not so famous people people
Harper Lee not so famous people people like joseline Cooper Reverend Curie
like joseline Cooper Reverend Curie
like joseline Cooper Reverend Curie Lana Kelly who spend time with Mother
Lana Kelly who spend time with Mother
Lana Kelly who spend time with Mother Teresa in in Calcutta amazing people I’m
Teresa in in Calcutta amazing people I’m
Teresa in in Calcutta amazing people I’m sure you haven’t heard any of their
sure you haven’t heard any of their
sure you haven’t heard any of their names they are not famous so what if we
names they are not famous so what if we
names they are not famous so what if we analyze the first paragraph of the
analyze the first paragraph of the
analyze the first paragraph of the obituaries of the folks were famous and
obituaries of the folks were famous and
obituaries of the folks were famous and the folks were not famous how would
the folks were not famous how would
the folks were not famous how would those look side-by-side here’s how take
those look side-by-side here’s how take
those look side-by-side here’s how take a moment to look at that
anyone here named John should thank your
anyone here named John should thank your parents and remind your kids to cut or
parents and remind your kids to cut or
parents and remind your kids to cut or EOB to you in your gone and second help
EOB to you in your gone and second help
EOB to you in your gone and second help we uncovered many lessons from lives
we uncovered many lessons from lives
we uncovered many lessons from lives well led and what those people
well led and what those people
well led and what those people immortalized in print could teach us the
immortalized in print could teach us the
immortalized in print could teach us the exercise was a fascinating testament to
exercise was a fascinating testament to
exercise was a fascinating testament to the Kaleidoscope that is life and even
the Kaleidoscope that is life and even
the Kaleidoscope that is life and even more fascinating was that the overriding
more fascinating was that the overriding
more fascinating was that the overriding majority of obituaries featured people
majority of obituaries featured people
majority of obituaries featured people famous and non famous who did seemingly
famous and non famous who did seemingly
famous and non famous who did seemingly extraordinary things they made a
extraordinary things they made a
extraordinary things they made a positive dent in the fabric of society
positive dent in the fabric of society
positive dent in the fabric of society they helped so ask yourselves as you go
they helped so ask yourselves as you go
they helped so ask yourselves as you go back to your daily lives how am I using
back to your daily lives how am I using
back to your daily lives how am I using my talents to help society because the
my talents to help society because the
my talents to help society because the most powerful lesson here is if more
most powerful lesson here is if more
most powerful lesson here is if more people lived their lives trying to be
people lived their lives trying to be
people lived their lives trying to be famous and death the world would be a
famous and death the world would be a
famous and death the world would be a much better place thank
much better place thank
much better place thank [Applause]
”
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