Clifford Stoll, astronomer, scientist and author of Silicon Snake Oil, is undoubtedly a smart man (he once caught KGB hacker back in the infancy of the Internet). But did you know that he has a very ... unique form of public speaking? Great Scott!
Here's Clifford giving a talk at TED 2006 ... wait till he pulls out a slide rule! Hit play or go to Link [YouTube] - via Fazed
> in the infancy of the Internet
Actually, Clifford discerned a discrepancy of a couple of cents in billing at Berkley, which eventually led him to track down members of a German hacking group. Although the information gained was purportedly sold to the KGB, the hackers themselves had no affiliation with either the KGB or the Soviet Union.
Sure he's brilliant.
But I find him painful to watch, kind nails-against-a-blackboard.
And way to full of himself.
This guy's mind is as agile as a butterfly. His mind doesn't go the same direction for two wing beats.
Many highly intelligent people are flighty and strange. I had a brilliant electronic music instructor who paced like a crazy person when he lectured. He'd bob up and down, play with his hair, act generally hyper and strange. By the end of the class, he'd literally be dusted head-to-toe in chalk.
It bothered people. But whatever. He was damn brilliant. I think it's the same with Mr. Stroll. Quit trying to diagnose him and actually listen to what he's saying.
...and thank you Briannana for saying that. You hit the hammer right on the nail.
There's no point in being highly memorable if what you're /teaching/ isn't remembered as well.
While he may take a while to get to a point, it's like reading a fractured narrative to me. There are lots of little points that seemingly do not add up or go anywhere, but if you can make the connections you can draw quite a bit from it, much as in this "lecture" where the shards are connected by the inscription on the bell.