As Kolakowski put it: “We get to know a thing, Bergson says, either by circling around it, or by entering into it.

If we stay outside, the result depends on our standpoint and is expressed in symbols [Bergson called this analysis], whereas in the second kind of cognition we follows the life of the thing in an empathic identification with it [Bergson called this intuition]” (1985, 24). We even apply intuition to objects. For instance, if we see a piano fall out of a moving truck and smash on the pavement, we cannot help feeling squeamish, as if we are imagining what it might be like to experience that ourselves.

If Bergson is correct, this shows that the abilities we use are not applied only to humans, but are generalized to all objects.

The existence of animism among primitive peoples (in which trees, clouds, mountains, and so on are given human attributes) lends support to this idea. We (human brains) naturally tend to use intuition on everything, at least until we become “convinced” that doing so is no longer effective.

William Hirstein: Brain Fiction

Hi folks,

Theme Zoom offices are located in Lake Delton Wisconsin. Our office is located about 500-1000 feet from Lake Delton which is now empty. CNN has been replaying the story over and over again. We are OK! Thank you for those who have e-mailed and “text messaged” me with your concerns.

To answer your question- we were not flooded. If the Dam further upstream on the mirror lake side of our offices decided to break . . . then we would probably at least have some beach front property for awhile. Fortunately we are at the top of the hill near the Lake Delton post office and have been more fortunate than folks who build their vacation homes on the edge of Lake Delton. I have uploaded plenty of video footage to our Youtube page for those people who like to watch my job killers. (Videos unrelated to work or making money).

Thank you for all of your thoughtful concern.

http://www.youtube.com/themezoom

Tomorrow I fly off to the Theme Zoom’s Arizona offices to work with Sue Bell for a couple of weeks. During this time we will finalize several things that will be helpful to every Theme Zoom member.

I want to make a comment that addresses something that several of you have commented on.

Technology “appears” to behaving oddly to a higher degree than “seems” normal. It is almost as if there is a glitch in the matrix. I do not know if this seeming “oddity” is a statistical reality or if it is a cognitive illusion that is simply heightened by a sense of weird weather.

I do know that many of the weather affects we are experiencing in Wisconsin are absolutely a statistical anomaly. This means strange phenomenon like this has not occurred anytime in recent history. This is both interesting and exciting. But here is some advice from a computer addict:

Advice for when your technology is not acting properly:

1. Don’t try to FORCE technology to work. (I know you know what I am talking about!)

If you are sitting in front of the computer waiting for something to happen, and you have the gnawing feeling in your stomach that everything you are doing is an absolute waste of time . . . STEP AWAY FROM THE COMPUTER. Sometimes you need to “reboot” your perspective. When you return after taking a break (recommended that you take MORE than 30 minutes) you will often fine that several “next actions” will have become perfectly clear.

2. Ask For Help!

Don’t be a dopamine fool. The human brain is wired to keep us “glued” to a problem even if the problem ABSOLUTELY CANNOT be solved. This behavior is driven by a little trick that evolution has played on us. Dopamine makes it seem as if the carrot is always hanging from the stick almost within mental reach. Believe me when I say that this neurological substance is just as addictive as a classified drug. For more information on this please read the book called “Satisfaction” by Dr. Gregory Berns. The difference between “intelligent” people and WISE people is that wise people know the INSTANT they have been hooked by biological programming.

(This is why we become such lethal marketers).

So. When you catch yourself being hooked . . . stop what you are doing, step AWAY from the computer . . . and go get the yellow pages! Yeah. You heard me . . . the PRINT yellow pages.

3. Don’t Worship Technology.

Technology = From Greek. tekhnologia “systematic treatment of an art, craft, or technique,”

The key meaning is “art” or “craft” . . . not “self torture” and “humiliation”. Technology is a means to an end, not an end in itself. This same goes while using any software application or web service. Garbage in, garbage out.

4. Remember there is a Turk in the Machine.

There are PEOPLE behind technologies that we use every day. Success does not happen in a vacuum. I can’t tell you how many times I have spent hours trying to solve a simple problem on my server only to have the issue resolved by a 30 second phone call to someone else on my team. This is of course connected to my attempt to solve the problem by myself as warned about in number 2 above.

Ask yourself: who are the people behind this organization or software application. What sort of “people” were the people who programmed this darn thing. I have found that the usefulness or sillyness of a software application almost always reflects the mind of the creator- or the degree to which the programmer understood the problem that was needing to be solved.

The “turk” in the machine, also associated with the Mechanical Turk program at Amazon, was a hoax perpetuated in the late 18th century. An automated chess player was created by Wolfgang von Kempelen which, surprisingly, fooled a lot of people who enjoyed being tricked. This machine could play chess and even defeat human opponents. It was, of course, a hoax.

There was a little man sitting in the machine who was a dang good chess player. He defeated both Napoleon Bonaparte and Benjamin Franklin. But . . . you already know how to read Wikipedia, so I wont expand on this.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Turk

5. People buy Solutions, they do NOT buy Software

I have spoken to several of you who are developing software applications. This appears to be a growing trend. I have shared my own personal growth process being involved in building the software application Krakken/Theme Zoom. Just because you spend a million dollars building something does not mean that people will buy it. Sales and marketing are EVERYTHING. You have to listen to your users, take the feedback, and revise when it is appropriate.

In the end the software developer had to remember that he is selling the solution to a problem that is actually occurring in the field, not in an Ivory Tower. There is a whole generation of software applications and intelligence gathering tools being developed that we never would have thought possible even 2 years ago. I am excited to be in an industry where almost ANYTHING is possible!

Have a great week. I will catch you in Arizona and update you on our developmental process with the Krakken application.

- Russell Wright

This is a conversation between myself and Charles Heflin about Social Media and inbound link building.

Also, be sure to download your free report at the following URL:

http://www.seo2020.com/smm/

- Russell Wright and the Theme Zoom Team

Social Media Infusion Episode 1

Cutting Edge Technology Episode 3

Russell Wright

This announcement is a big one.

Below is my 15 minute audio covering the below document.

The Theme Zoom programming department actually revealed to me last night, the TZX 2008 estimated release dates for each integrated module:

Theme Zoom PKMM Module Roll-Out Date

We have made all of the necessary adjustments to the software based on your survey responses.

In summary, the fully integrated software will take most of 2009 to complete because of the sheer size and expense of it.

The good news is that the most important parts of the module will be finished during the first 2 quarters of 2008.

In the audio above, I also complete the thought on a topic left unfinished on the survey podcast- University 2020. Where is U2020 going? What are we going to do with current members?

I just want everyone to know that we will take care of you and we wont turn you off abruptly.

I am still TRYING to get Sue Bell on an interview-podcast with very little luck. I hope to be able to manifest that today.

- Russell Wright

Here is the 90 minute discussion about the Theme Zoom survey results and my answers to many burning survey questions about where Theme Zoom is going and how we view things from 100,000 feet. This is a rare “rant” that lets slip several ideas that I do not often discuss publicly.

Here are some of the files that are discussed in this podcast:

Theme Zoom Survey Cross Tab Results - Russell

An increasing number of daily decisions appear to be instigated by master marketers and persuaders from every walk of life. The Neuroeconomics “Tip of the Day” is designed to help you reflect on personal choices at a deeper level while helping you waste less time and energy filtering out useless data. Neuroeconomics is one of the five “N’s” of the 5-Neuro Success System.

It is widely known that when someone is desperate or hysterical, they are willing to take greater risks. But few people understand the mechanics behind why your brain drives you to do this.

Neuroeconomics explains the mechanics behind your decision making processes and buying behaviors. As tons of useless data continues to overload our senses and eat up our time every day, a new way of thinking must be adopted. The purpose of the evolving 5-Neuro System is to help you understand how to think about data of all kinds (not just Theme Zoom data) and how to integrate self certainty and core values into every decision you make.

There are only a few hours left in 2007 and I must get this note to you before we kick off the New Year!

I want to thank everyone for a fantastic 2007!

But as we move into 2008, I would make one suggestion:

Don’t’ look back.

To read this enitre post please visit the Theme Zoom Blog.

http://www.themezoombookstore.com

We will also be updating and editing the Theme Zoom Glossary on a regular basis:

http://www.themezoomglossary.com

Again, I wish to thank you all for a fantastic 2007.

This year will very likely be the most profitable and FUN year you have ever had.

I will do everything in my power to provide you with tools and ideas that can assist you in making that happen.

I hope you are getting as excited as I am!

Here is a summary of the new “open source” links and tools that maybe useful to both members and non-members:

http://www.themezoom.com

http://www.themezoomsupport.com (coming soon)

http://www.theme-zoom.com (Theme Zoom Blog)

http://www.themezoomradio.com (TZ Weekly Radio Program)

http://www.themezoomspy.com (Updates and sneak peek on software updates)

http://www.themezoomglossary.com (The Theme Zoom Glossary)

http://www.themezoomapproved.com (Theme Zoom Approved Resources)

http://www.themefeeder.com (coming soon, members only, inbound link system)

http://www.russellsbrain.com (The inner workings of Russell’s brain and 5-N.

Thank you.

- Russell Wright

608-432-1387

”May you find what you are searching for.”

- Old Gypsy Blessing.

”May you find what you are searching for.”

- Old Gypsy Curse.