Charles Meyrick

    a work in progress

Tempus fugit. Festina lente.

I have been fortunate to be able to travel most of my life. I was raised as a Navy Junior, with all the moving about that implies. Born in California, I have lived in Florida, Massachussetts, Virginia, France, New Hamphsire, North Carolina, New Jersey, Texas, Connecticut and Japan. So, I am conversant in various flavors of English, and am also fluent in French. (I attended what was more or less "middle school" in France, and worked there as an adult.) Having lived in so many places, I have been sensitized to situations where communication is not happening, and frequently find myself "translating" between people speaking what appears to be the same language. ("I don't think that's what he meant...") All this has also given me what has turned out to be a surprisingly valuable diplomatic skill: the ability to eat other country's foods. I suspect that some people use cuisine as a test of foreigners: does this stranger respect us enough to eat unfamiliar dishes? One time I was in Taipei, and was served rooster soup, a key ingredient of which was that which distinguishes a rooster from a hen. When I finished the soup, I was told, "Next time you come we have a great restaurant for you!" I knew then that I had passed a test.

High-tech toys. A Kindle, an iPod Touch and a portable GPS unit: my constant companions. On the other hand, I admire Steam Punk, and have certain retro tastes: I prefer to write with a fountain pen.

Politics. This is my spectator sport of choice. I have my favorite team; I love to watch the game. For some political tomfoolery, and occasional serious discussion, please see my Politics page.

A review of The Wisdom of Crowds in the July-August 2007 issue of Competitive Intelligence Magazine.

A review of Super Crunchers and The Black Swan in the January-February 2008 issue of Competitive Intelligence Magazine.

For a more traditional view of my accomplishments, please see my Curriculum Vitae.

I invite you to take 5 minutes out of your day to enjoy Amazing Grace performed by Il Divo in Rome's Colliseum.