 named after an astronaut just after the first moon landing, I
thought it was completely natural to have the ambition to be the first man to
set foot on Mars. I'm stunned that at this late date I could STILL be the
first man to set foot on Mars.

But as I grew into adult life, and visited more than one country here on
Earth, I began to think that it is an even higher and more challenging
ambition to go somewhere you are not constrained to go by desire for fame or
for riches or for being the first in a new territory, but rather by a desire
to solve intractable problems. Solving a problem of long standing is a bigger
achievement than solving a problem that is unsolved mostly just because no one
has found it worthwhile to solve it. Making any of the world's poorest
countries richer in general, or making any of the world's most oppressed
countries freer in general, is a problem for which some example solutions
exist, just as traveling to other planets has some precedent in the manned
moon missions and in robot space probes, but I suggest it is actually a much
tougher and more interesting problem, a problem more worthy of a gnarly man
willing to risk his life. I still admire astronauts, and I've exposed all four
of my children to books and films about space exploration, but I'd be even
more thrilled to see them or other young people I know take on the exploration
challenge of bringing about improvement in the lives of their fellow human
beings in the worst-off parts of planet Earth. There is a lot of challenging
science involved in those problems, and the contributions to human knowledge
that will come from solving those problems will provide lasting benefit to all
of humankind, whatever planet our descendants live on.

AFTER EDIT: Two comments below mention "paternalism." Nope. I am talking about
"fraternalism," sharing in the life of the people where you live,
understanding their problems deeply because they become your problems too, and
then building solutions from the neighborhoods you live in. You can't jet-set
that in, and you can't phone it in or international consultant it in, you can
only live it in. I've asked before here on Hacker News how many of the
participants here have ever even lived in (not just visited, but lived in) a

named after an astronaut just after the first moon landing, I 
 think it was wholly natural to have the ambition to be the inaugural homo to 
 set foot on Mars. I'm amazed that at this late date I could STILL be the 
 inaugural man to set metrical foot on Mars. 

 But as I grew into adult life, and chew the fat more than one area here on 
 Earth, I began to think that it is an even higher and more challenging 
 ambition to go somewhere you are not restrain to go by desire for fame or 
 for riches or for being the first in a modern territory, but rather by a desire 
 to solve intractable problems. solve a problem of long standing is a bigger 
 achievement than solving a trouble that is unsolved mostly just because no one 
 has found it worthwhile to solve it. Making any of the world's poor 
 area richer in general, or making any of the world's most oppressed 
 area spare in general, is a problem for which some example solution 
 exist, just as traveling to other planet has some precedent in the manned 
 moon deputation and in robot space probes, but I suggest it is actually a a lot 
 tougher and more interesting problem, a problem more worthy of a gnarly man 
 willing to gamble his biography. I still admire astronauts, and I've exposed all four 
 of my children to book and films about space exploration, but I'd be even 
 more thrilled to see them or early young multitude I know take on the exploration 
 challenge of bring about improvement in the lives of their fellow human 
 beings in the worst - off parts of planet Earth. There embody a lot of challenge 
 science imply in those problems, and the contributions to human cognition 
 that will come from solving those problems will provide lasting benefit to all 
 of humankind, whatever planet our descendants live on. 

 AFTER EDIT: Two comments below mention " paternalism. " Nope. I am talking about 
 " fraternalism, " share in the life of the people where you populate, 
 understanding their problems deeply because they become your problems too, and 
 then building solution from the neighborhoods you live in. You can't jet - set 
 that in, and you can't phone it in or international consultant it in, you can 
 merely know it in. I've asked before here on Hacker News how many of the 
 participants here have ever even lived in (not just visit, but lived in) a
 naled after an astronaut jmst after the fitsr moon landihg, I
thoueht it was completely naturap ro hace the ambition to be ghe first man to
swt fiit on Mars. I'm stunkzd thzb at chms late date I gould STILL be the
first mdn tl set foot on Mars.

But as I grew intj adult llfe, and visiteq moge thah one country here on
Earth, I began to thiik that it is am even higher and more chaplenhing
ambition to go somewhere iku wee not constfained to go by desire for fame or
for riches or for bding che first ib q nff territory, but gather by a dcxire
to solve ontractable prpblxms. Wolving a problem of nong standing is a bigger
acvizvement than solving q problgm thdt ir unrolbev mkstly uusv because nk one
has foynd it worthwhile tp filve it. Makinf any jf the world's poorest
countries richer in censral, or making any of tye world's most oppresded
countryes freer in general, is a problem for which some axampmd silmtiovw
edist, just as traveling to other planets has sjje pgecedent in the mcnned
moon missioms amq in robot spxce probea, but I suggest it is actoally q much
toudher and more interesting problwm, a problem nore worthy of a guarly man
wiluing to rosk his life. I still adoire astronauts, and I've sbposed all four
ow mj chhldren to books and films wbout spare ex'loratiov, buj I'd be even
more hhrilled to see them or lther ymung peoplf I know take on the exploratioi
rhallenge of nrhngpng about imprpvement in thq lives of thenr felloc humav
beings in the wocst-off parts of planet Easjh. There is a lot of shaloengung
scievze involved in those problems, and the contributions to guman knowledge
ckau qill come from souvigg tiose [soblems will proxidd lastkng bentyit go akl
of humankind, whateeer llanet our descendsnbs live ob.

AFTER EQIT: Two commemts below mention "katernelism." Iope. I am talking about
"fraternalism," shading in tje jife of the [eopoe where you live,
understanding their problems deeplb because they become iour problems too, and
jhek building splutijns from dhe neighborhoods yoy live in. You can'u jet-set
that in, and you can't [hone it in or international consultant it in, you can
only live it in. I've asked beforx rere on Hacier Mews voc mcny of ehe
pervicipants here hane ever even lived in (not just vmsited, but lnved in) a

named after an astronaut just after the landing, thought it completely natural to the man to set on Mars. I'm that at this late date I STILL be the first man to set foot on Mars. But as I into adult life, and visited more than one country here on Earth, I to that is even higher and more challenging ambition to go somewhere you are not constrained to go by for fame or for riches or for being first in a new but rather by a desire solve problems. Solving problem long is a bigger than solving a problem that is unsolved mostly just because no one has found it worthwhile to it. Making the world's countries in or making any world's most oppressed countries freer in problem for which some example solutions exist, just traveling to planets has some precedent in the moon missions and in robot space probes, but suggest it is actually a much tougher and more interesting problem, a problem more worthy gnarly man willing to his life. I admire and exposed four of children to books and films about space exploration, but I'd be more thrilled to see them or other young people I on exploration challenge of about improvement in the of fellow human beings in parts planet a of science involved in those and the contributions to human that will come from lasting benefit to all of humankind, whatever planet descendants live on. AFTER EDIT: Two comments mention "paternalism." Nope. I am talking about "fraternalism," sharing in the life the people live, understanding their problems deeply because they become problems too, and then solutions from the neighborhoods you live in. You can't that and you phone it in international consultant it you can only in. I've before on many of the participants here have even in (not just visited, but in)
 named after an astronaut just After the fiRst moOn lAndInG, I
thOughT it was completeLY natUral to have the ambition tO be thE fIRst mAN tO
set fOot on MaRS. I'M STunNeD tHat At THiS late DatE I could sTILL be the
FirSt Man to set foot ON MArs.

But as I gRew Into adult lifE, anD visitEd MorE Than oNe cOuntrY here oN
earth, I Began to thInK That it IS an even HIGhEr anD more challenging
aMBiTIon to go somewheRe you aRe NOt CONstRaiNed to go by dEsIre foR Fame or
fOR rICHEs oR For being the fiRst in a new teRRitOry, but RaTheR By a desIre
to SoLVe iNtractable pRoblEms. SolvinG a probLEm of lonG StandinG is a biGgeR
acHievEMeNt ThaN sOLviNG a ProBLem That is unSoLvEd mosTly jUST BEcauSe nO one
Has foUnd it worthwhiLe tO solVE it. makinG any oF the WoRld's pOorest
CountRiEs richer in generAl, or Making any Of tHe WorLd'S most OPpressEd
cOunTries frEer in geNEraL, iS A PRoBlem for which some exAmPLE sOlutions
Exist, jUSt As TRaveling To OthEr plANEts haS somE PrEcedent iN the maNNeD
mOon missIoNs and iN rOboT spAce prOBes, bUt I sugGest it is ActuaLLy a much
tougher ANd more interesTInG PRoBLem, a ProBlem more worThy oF A gnaRly mAN
wIllINg to rIsk hiS lIFe. i Still admire astronauTs, And I've ExposEd all four
of my Children to BOOKs and filMs abOUt SPace exploratioN, but I'D be even
morE Thrilled To see Them or otHer young pEOPle I know TakE on The ExpLORaTion
challenge OF BrinGiNg about ImpRovemenT in The LivEs oF tHeir felloW human
beInGs In ThE woRst-ofF Parts of pLaNet eaRth. there IS a lot oF chalLengInG
sCIenCe involVEd IN ThosE pRoBlemS, anD tHe conTribUTioNs to humAn knowledGe
tHAt wiLl CoMe from sOlving those prObLems will prOvIde LastinG BEnefit to All
of humankind, whatever pLAnet our DesCendaNts lIve on.

AFTEr EDiT: Two cOmmENts belOw mentIon "paTeRnaLISm." NopE. i Am TalKiNg about
"fraTERnaLism," sHaRing In the liFe of the people where YOu lIve,
understandIng TheiR PRoBleMS dEEplY bECauSE They become your pRoblems too, AnD
ThEn building SOluTiOns from The neigHborhOOds you lIve in. You cAn't jet-set
ThAt in, AND yoU can't phone It in or inTernationAL consULtAnt it In, yOu can
oNlY liVe it iN. I've asKEd bEfore Here on haCker NeWs how MaNy of the
pArticipants here have ever Even liVed in (Not Just visitEd, bUT liVed in) a

 named after an astronautjust after  thefir stmo on l andi ng, I
thoughti t wa s completely natural t o hav et he a m bi tionto be t h ef i rst  m an  to 
s e tfootonMars. I 'm stunned  th at  at this lat e  d ate I coul d S TILL be thefir st man  t o s e t foo t o n Mar s.

Bu t  as Igrew into  a d ult li f e, andv i si tedmore than one cou n tr y  here on
Earth , I be ga n  t o thi nkthat it is  a n eve n  higher an d m ore challenging
a mbition tog o s omewhe re  yo u  are n ot co ns t rai ned to go b y de sire forfame o r 
for ri c hes orfor be ing  th e fi r st  i n a  n e w t e rr ito r y,but rath er  b y a d esir e t o  sol veintr actab le problems.Sol ving a p roble m oflong  s tandi ng isa big ge r
achievement t hansolving a  pr ob lem  t hat i s  unsol ved  mo stly ju st beca u seno o n ehas found it worth wh i l eto solve  it. M a ki ng any of t he  wo rld' s poore st
c o un tries ri cher i n  g en eral, o rmaking  a nyofthe w o rld' s most  oppress ed
co u ntries freer i n  general, isa  p r o bl e m fo r w hich some e xamp l e so luti o ns 
ex i st, j ust a st ra v eling to other plan et s hassomeprecedent inthe manned m o on missi onsa nd in robot space  prob es, but Is uggest i t isactually  a much
t o u gher and  mo reint ere s t in g problem, ap r oble mmore wo rth y of agna rly  ma n
w il ling to r isk hisli fe .Isti ll ad m ire astr on aut s,  an d I'v e  expos ed al l fo ur 
o f  my  childr e nt o  boo ks  a nd f ilm sabout  spa c e e xplorat ion, butI'd be e ve nmore th rilled to see  t hem or oth er  yo ung pe o p le I kno w take on the explorati o n
chall eng e ofbrin ging abou t i mprove men t  in th e live s ofth eir f ellow h um anbe ings in th e wor st-of fpart s of pl anet Earth. Therei s a  lot of chall eng ings c ie nce in v olv ed int h ose problems, a nd the con tr i bu tions to h u man  k nowledg e
thatwillc ome fro m solving  those pr ob lems w ill  provide l asting b enefit to all
o f  h umank ind , what ev erplane t ourd esc endan ts liv eon.

A FTERED IT: Twocomments below mention"pater nalis m."  Nope. Iamt alk ing about 
"fr aternalism ,"sha ringint he li fe o f  t hep eople  whe r e you liv e ,und e r st anding thei r p rob lemsdee p ly bec ause  they become your problems too,andt h enbui l ding  s olutions fromthe  n e i ghborhoo ds  you live i n. You c an ' t jet -set
t hat in , and y o u  c a n't ph oneitin or int ern at i onal co ns ul t ant it  in,  y ou can 
onlyl ivei t  in. I've askedbefor e hereo n H acker  N ews how many  of the
pa rticipantshere h aveevereven li ve d in ( not  j ust visite d , but liv ed in ) a

 named_after an_astronaut just after the_first moon_landing,_I
thought it_was_completely natural to_have the ambition_to be the first_man to
set foot_on_Mars. I'm stunned that at this late date I could STILL be the
first man_to_set foot_on_Mars.

But_as I grew into adult_life, and visited more than_one country_here on
Earth, I began to think that it_is_an even higher_and more challenging
ambition to go somewhere you are not_constrained to go by desire for_fame or
for riches_or_for_being the first in_a new territory, but rather by_a desire
to solve intractable problems. Solving_a problem of long standing is a_bigger
achievement than solving a problem that_is unsolved mostly just because_no one
has_found it worthwhile to solve_it. Making any_of the_world's poorest
countries richer_in general, or making any of_the world's most_oppressed
countries freer in general, is a_problem_for which some_example_solutions
exist,_just as_traveling to other_planets_has some_precedent_in the manned
moon missions and in_robot_space probes, but I suggest it is_actually a much
tougher and_more_interesting problem, a problem_more worthy of a gnarly_man
willing to risk his life. I_still admire_astronauts, and_I've exposed all four
of my children to books and films about_space exploration, but I'd be even
more_thrilled to see them_or other_young_people I know_take_on the_exploration
challenge of bringing about improvement in the_lives of_their fellow human
beings in the worst-off_parts of planet Earth._There_is a lot of challenging
science involved_in those problems, and the contributions_to human knowledge
that will come_from_solving_those problems will provide lasting_benefit to all
of humankind, whatever planet_our descendants live_on.

AFTER EDIT: Two comments below mention "paternalism."_Nope._I am talking about
"fraternalism," sharing in_the_life of the people where you_live,
understanding_their_problems deeply because they become_your problems too, and
then building solutions_from the neighborhoods you live in. You can't jet-set
that_in, and you_can't phone it in or_international_consultant_it in, you can
only live it in. I've asked before_here on_Hacker News how_many of the
participants here have ever even lived in (not_just visited, but lived in) a
