Superb Experience at IdeaCity 2012

I have just returned to San Diego from  Moses Znaimer's IdeaCity conference in Toronto. It is not to be missed.

I have attended a number of TEDx, BarCamp and technology-oriented conferences in Southern California. Nothing I have seen compares remotely to IdeaCity. The caliber of speakers, the polish with which the event is produced, and the incredibly engaging environment that is created among attendees, presenters, and sponsors is unmatched.


Each day begins with a progression of brilliant thinkers, fascinating storytellers, and enormously talented musicians. Each session consists of 5 or 6 17-minute presentations and performances. Producer Moses Znaimer hosts the event, introducing presenters and meeting each one on stage after each presentation - often with questions. Following each session, attendees are released into a magnificent atrium to discuss the ideas, perspectives, and works of art that have been shared.

A few highlights:


Presentations

Roger Martin is the Dean of the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto. Martin spoke of what he believes to be a core cause of the the financial crisis that we experienced beginning in 2008. According to Martin, misaligned incentives encourage hyper-compensated Chief Executive Officers to focus on increasing expectations of share price. Because CEO's receive enormous compensation in the form of stock options, they seek to inflate expectations - beyond what reflects company performance - so that share price peaks just as the CEO exits the company, booty in hand. This maximizes cash-out for the CEO, which is followed by precipitous stock price declines. The result is increased volatility and lower returns.

I found Martin's analysis to be insightful but I did have one problem with it; it is imperative, when discussing what led to the crisis, to at least mention the epidemic of fraud that precipitated it. Not mentioning the fraud could be construed as tacit acceptance of the impunity that recidivist banks are now enjoying. I do look forward to reading Martin's book as he is a great communicator with a thorough understanding of our financial world.

Another very good presentation was that of André Picard. I cannot recall ever hearing an analysis of healthcare policy that was as lucid and objective (I acknowledge that the bar is low, given that I live in one of the great misinformation capitals of the world). Picard correctly asserts that it is a false dichotomy to claim that Canada's options consist of the status quo, or the American "system" (there is  really no "system" south of the border). Picard suggests that Canada should be looking to successes in Europe to see what can be tweaked to improve service and reduce costs. Another suggestion he makes is to create a mission statement that goes beyond limiting costs and service. Picard's presentation has been posted at the Globe and Mail website and can be viewed here.

Jodie Emery, wife of US-imprisoned Canadian marijuana activist Marc Emery, delivered an impassioned testimonial describing Marc's tireless advocacy for justice and rationality in our legal system. Marc is serving a 5 year sentence in a Mississippi prison for conspiracy to manufacture marijuana. He has spent many years, and millions of dollars, fighting for the rights of individuals whose lives have been ruined by ill-conceived anti-drug legislation. It is a tragic comment on contemporary US and Canadian legal policy that this man has ended up extradited to the USA for incarceration. 

Another fascinating presentation was offered by Terri-Jean Bedford, Amy Lebovitch, and Valerie Scott, who are fighting for legalization or decriminalization of prostitution. They assert that they engage in prostitution as a vocation by choice - and that laws that force them into ghettos, laneways, and shadows, unnecessarily endanger their health and safety.  Who are their clients? According to the presenters, they are our doctors, accountants, and neighbors – in short, decent, productive members of society, and not individuals who should be shamed or punished. I later spoke to Jonathan Hiltz, who is producing a reality show about Terri-Jean Bedford. He will be sending me updates about this project and I will share what I learn.

Wanda Morris, Executive Director of Dying with Dignity Canada, is definitely occupying the role she was meant to play on this earth. Her impassioned presentation forcefully made the case that our society needs access to assisted suicide. It is a matter of dignity, humanity, and respect for our fellow man.

David Eagleman, who developed the concept of Possibilianism, discussed what he sees as the unsatisfying position commonly described as “agnostic”. Eagleman suggests that religion-based offerings preclude his committing to being a “believer”, but that the amount that is unknown about the cosmos precludes going to the other extreme of atheism. Eagleman sees agnosticism as lacking in interest - which also does not describe his intense curiosity. Eagleman is a Possibilian: intensely curious about the functioning of the universe. He is a brilliant guy and a superb speaker.

I had a fine time chatting with Ogi Ogas and Sai Gaddam, who presented on their statistical findings about human sexuality. I found it hard to believe that “penis” is the third most searched for keyword among men, and that straight men seek out shemale porn. Based on my own anecdotal experience and my informal polling data at the conference, they are completely wrong about this. But it was interesting to delve into the data with them.

David Jay proclaims to the world that he is asexual. In his presentation he described how he craves close relationships with others, but that he has no interest in progressing to any kind of sexual relationship with other people. He described taking a relationship he had with a male friend to another level by engaging in deliberate conversation addressing the parameters of their friendship. From that point forward they enjoyed a more meaningful relationship. I was able to engage David in conversation  with a couple of attractive women at one of the IdeaCity parties. The women were very interested in David’s position. Each of them expressed that they saw it as a challenge – that David had lowered the gauntlet. David insists that his position is purely motivated by disinterest. But he sure seemed interested to me. And everyone was certainly interested in mining information about his desires and proclivities. Pure genius, David.

Chester Brown, Libertarian Party Candidate and prostitution proponent, described how he transitioned from a traditional boyfriend-girlfriend scenario to being a prodigious user of prostitutes, to finally enjoying a “monogamous” fee-based relationship with one prostitute. This was a very unique and open discussion of a lifestyle that remains taboo.

The event closed with excellent back to back video presentations by Matt Ridley and Peter Diamandis - both brilliant analytical minds.

Music and Comedy

There were some incredible performances by varied musicians over the course of IdeaCity. Classical guitar icon Leona Boyd played two songs. She has transitioned into vocals and, along with an accompanist, enthralled us with some of her recent work. Carlos del Junco is an off-the-charts harmonicist. Had I not seen him performing, I would have had trouble believing that what he does with a conventional harmonica is even possible. Other incredible performances included the Boogie-Woogie Pianist, Michael Kaeshammer, Accordionist Michael Ward-Bergeman, and a rousing performance by the 14-player Balkan/Gypsy/Klezmer band Lemon Bucket Orkestra. One of the most unique musical experiences was Tod Machina and a group of Toronto Symphany Orchestra musicians collaborating on the composition of a new piece, and then playing it. 

Derek Seguin, the “Funny Francophone from Quebec”, was hilarious. Check out his video gallery and YouTube channel.

Parties

Each evening, attendees, presenters, and sponsors are invited to attend a party at a swanky Toronto venue. The parties are a great opportunity to discuss ideas from a presentation, or whatever else you want to run by one of the great minds in attendance.

Swag and Prizes

The Roots bag-of-swag given to attendees this year included a 64GB Blackberry Playbook, loaded with an IdeaCity app of the event schedule, with bios of the presenters. It is an excellent little device.

There are also numerous prizes given away to attendees. The amazing Andy McParrot won a trip to the Arctic worth over $10,000. If you know Andy, I'm sure you will agree that it makes perfect sense that she would win such an incredible prize.

Making IdeaCity Part of your Intellectual Life

I have shared only a tiny smattering of what was on offer at the event. IdeaCity, and media and entertainment genius Moses Znaimer, attract an eclectic, highly-intelligent, and intellectually-curious group of thought leaders. Moses gathers these people in an inspiring, engaging, and hyper-stimulating environment for three days of, as Moses and Matt Ridley would put it, "ideas having sex". It is an ideal forum to ensure that your synapses are firing on all cylinders and to engage fascinating people on topics that often end up under-addressed in our daily lives.

Check out the IdeaCity website and consider making this event part of your life next year.

Woody Allen famously said, “A missed opportunity is the saddest thing in life.” This is one of those opportunities.