• About
    • Meet Joel
    • The IMPOSSIBLE Shirt
  • Speaking
  • Giving

IMPOSSIBLE ®

Push Your Limits | Do Something Impossible

  • Home
  • Impossible List™
  • Blog
    • Archives
  • Gear
  • Apps
    • Running + Fitness Calculators
    • Move Well – Mobility Exercises
    • Cold Shower Therapy
  • Podcast
  • Events
  • 777
You are here: Home / Adventures / 7 Things I Learned From My Encounter With Russell Kirsch

7 Things I Learned From My Encounter With Russell Kirsch

August 11, 2012 By Joel Runyon 98 Comments

If you haven’t read An Unexpected Ass Kicking yet, read this first.

—-

After debating a few days whether or not to even share last weeks post, I hit publish. Over the first few days, it got some traffic along with some residual views from  views from my six pack transformation. But Sunday, the piece really took off. It hit the top of Hacker News for 6+ hours,  and got featured on BoingBoing (twice!). In short, over the last few days, the story has received over ~350,000 visits in the past few days and been shared 40,000 times on facebook and 8,000+ times on twitter.

After melting some servers, Russell’s words still reverberated.

  • Nothing is withheld from us which we have conceived to do.
  • Do things that have never been done.

All this started from talking to some old man I didn’t know in a coffee shop. It was an incredible conversation and even more incredible experience. Here’s 7 things I’ve learned from my encounter with Russell Kirsch:

Make Stuff

Table of Contents

  • Make Stuff
  • You Are Not That Important – Be Humble
  • Details May Make You Right, But They’ll Probably Make You Miserable
  • Don’t Complain – Fix It Yourself
  • Don’t Stop Creating
  • Live A Good Story
  • Most Of All

This is really simple.

Make stuff.

Go create something. The only limit on you is what you can imagine. So imagine some impossible things. Then stop waiting around and go create them.

You Are Not That Important – Be Humble

I could have missed out on an incredible encounter if I would have treated Russell like anybody else you see at a coffee shop.

I could have thought I was too important for a tangential conversation with a stranger about Macs and PCs but instead I chose to listen.

On the flip side, a few people commented that Russell needed to learn humility – saying he sounded arrogant. If anything came across like that, it’s my fault in the story telling. If anything, Russell was one of the most humble people I’ve ever met. Just because someone talks about their accomplishments (even as something as big as the first american internally programmable computer), doesn’t mean they’re arrogant. He was relaying facts after I asked him to elaborate.

I’ve kept in touch with Russell since the encounter and let him know about the popularity of his posts. I asked him if there was anything he’d like to add, but he told me he preferred not to talk about his accomplishments en masse.

If one of the guys responsible for one of the biggest advances in the biggest pieces of technology in the last 50 years can be humble about their accomplishments – you can too – you never know who you might meet.

Details May Make You Right, But They’ll Probably Make You Miserable

Several people got so angry about one or two minor details, they missed the point of the story. The story was not supposed to be a wikipedia entry about the history of the computer or the creative potential of the iPad.

Sure, there are ways you can create on an iPad. Sure, there were other advances in computer technology before Kirsch. It wasn’t supposed to be a persuasive essay on the inferiority of iPads or a historical paper on the computing technology of the last 50 years. It was a story.

Russell Kirsch Bad Time

If every time you meet a person with a different viewpoint than you and all you want to do is tell them how stupid they are, you’re gonna have a bad time.

If I would have interrupted Kirsch to reference wikipedia at every possible second and asked for cited references as he told me his story – not only would that have been incredibly rude way to talk to people – but I would have missed out on the opportunity to actually talk to him, hear his story and (maybe, just maybe) learn something from him!

If I would have cut him off on the iPad comment, which was little more than an icebreaker, I would have missed his entire reasoning behind it. And, even if I disagreed with him, I would still be able to have a conversation with him since he was explaining his point of view and not bullying, pushy or arrogant about it at all.

Sure details are important, but they can also make you so dogmatic that you completely miss the point. Being open to learning from other people is more important than defending your viewpoint.

Don’t Complain – Fix It Yourself

Russell invented the first square pixel while creating the first digital picture. As much as square pixels are used (they laid the foundation for satellite imagery, CT scans, virtual reality and Facebook), they have a lot of limitations and end up getting pixelated and grainy up close (you’ll notice this if you zoom in on any photo to any measurable degree).

He mentioned it to me during our conversation.

“I’ve been waiting ever since for someone to change it – and no one has.”

He elaborated on this in an interview with Wired a few years back:

“Squares was the logical thing to do,” Kirsch says. “Of course, the logical thing was not the only possibility … but we used squares. It was something very foolish that everyone in the world has been suffering from ever since.”

Now retired and living in Portland, Oregon, Kirsch recently set out to make amends. Inspired by the mosaic builders of antiquity who constructed scenes of stunning detail with bits of tile, Kirsch has written a program that turns the chunky, clunky squares of a digital image into a smoother picture made of variably shaped pixels.

He applied the program to a more recent picture of his son, now 53 years old, which appears with Kirsch’s analysis in the May/June issue of the Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

“Finally,” he says, “at my advanced age of 81, I decided that instead of just complaining about what I did, I ought to do something about it.”

So, instead of waiting for someone else to fix it, he’s started on it himself. He’s continuing that work with variable pixels now after be inspired by mosaics and even written a program to turn square pixels into variable pixels to smooth out the photo images.

Instead of complaining, critiquing and critizicing other people’s work (or even your own) and waiting for someone else to fix it – step up and fix it yourself.

Don’t Stop Creating

No matter your age, you can create. Just because you’re young doesn’t mean you can’t start, and just because you’re old doesn’t mean you’re done. Russell started his work with his computers in his twenties and is still working on the pixel problems well into his 80s.

It’s never to late to keep changing things.

Keep creating. Don’t stop – Russell hasn’t (and he still finds time to randomly blow young people’s minds in coffee shops throughout Portland). Just because you’re young doesn’t mean you can’t start and just because you’re old, doesn’t mean you’re done.

You’re only done when you decide you are.

Live A Good Story

A couple people told me I made up the story. I didn’t.

A couple people lamented that Russell was bragging. He wasn’t.

I’ve said from the beginning – do something worth writing about…then WRITE ABOUT IT. People love good stories and you’re not bragging if you’re simply relaying facts of what happened.

If other people get offended by your stories, then maybe they need to step up their story. If you’re bored with life, try living a better story yourself, rather than trying to have other people live worse ones.

LifeTip: If someone’s accomplishments make you feel small, there’s two things you can do. You can get mad and angry about it and let it make you feel really insecure OR you can use it as a challenge and inspiration to do something yourself and step your own game up and start telling a better story yourself. I recommend the second option (after all, that’s why I started everything I’m doing).

Live a good story. Then don’t be afraid to tell people about it.

Most Of All

Most of all. Stop reading. Start doing. There’s a lot of things that haven’t been done yet that need you to go do them. Go.

Thanks Russell. Time to step it up indeed.

[Read the original unexpected ass kicking here]

Tweet
Pin7
Share10
17 Shares

Filed Under: Adventures, Hacks Tagged With: americas first internally programmable computer, russell kirsch, square pixel, square pixel inventor, variable pixel inventor

About Joel Runyon

I started IMPOSSIBLE to push myself to try to live a life worth writing about by pushing my limits, living an adventure & telling a great story by doing the impossible. You can get free updates in your inbox via your new favorite newsletter, free fitness training tutorials, and see all my businesses at Impossible X and our philanthropic efforts at Impossible.org

Comments

  1. Jim Flanagan says

    August 11, 2012 at 8:30 am

    Joel,

    Thank you for hitting “publish”.

    “Finally,” he says, “at my advanced age of 81, I decided that instead of just complaining about what I did, I ought to do something about it.”

    I believe this message needs to be shared and heard by everyone. It transcends every category of life.

    I didn’t even know square pixels were original!

    Jim

    Reply
  2. Helen says

    August 11, 2012 at 9:35 am

    Thanks Joel for stopping the train in your head that most people get on when a stranger speaks to them, “my gosh are you POSSIBLY interrupting ME”, especially our older generation, they have seen so much change, lived it breathed it and some, like this wonderful man, created that change . In my life my best days are when I truly LISTEN to people, embrace their ‘story’ there are some cherished moments that if I had let my ego get in the way, I could never look back on today. Peace kindness and humility, all things I am striving for….make the change!

    Reply
    • Carole Pivarnik says

      August 13, 2012 at 8:37 am

      So much this! Amazing what a smile and a warm hello can do to start a conversation with someone–especially in an “agenda neutral” place like a coffee shop.

      Reply
  3. Peter Grabas says

    August 11, 2012 at 11:26 am

    Glad to hear you are still in touch with Russell. Good points about being young and old, creativity and humility.

    Reply
  4. Sharon Zwaagstra says

    August 11, 2012 at 1:03 pm

    Dear Joel, Thank you for writing your article and to my son-in-law, James, for posting it. I feel like we’ve all shared your amazing encounter through your blog post and in no small way. I have a little tile on my bookshelf a friend gave me when I started my business – it says “She believed she could, so she did.” I want to live that way, every day.

    May I suggest you add one more take away to the summary list? I believe it’s the most important thing I’ve read here. The man said – God said it – and I believed it.

    Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26 (NIV) Thanks for the inspiration of the day!

    Reply
    • Jeanne says

      August 22, 2012 at 10:55 pm

      My immediate thought was that Russell was referring to Genesis 11:6–And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.

      Reply
      • Karen Highland says

        August 25, 2012 at 1:18 pm

        I was wondering what the reference was. Interesting.

        Reply
  5. faryl says

    August 11, 2012 at 10:00 pm

    I love both posts and am grateful that you shared your story.

    I like to think of everyone out there who read these and got the extra motivation/shift in perspective to propel them into being today’s Russels.

    Reply
  6. Andy says

    August 12, 2012 at 12:03 am

    Thanks for the post, thanks for the inspiration.

    It’s funny to see how people so easily misinterpret things.

    Reply
  7. Janet says

    August 12, 2012 at 4:29 am

    So glad you hit publish on both your posts.
    And that you responded to the comments on the first post – yes, indeed, they missed the point! Don’t sweat the small stuff – get the big picture!
    Great lessons – let us not forget them.

    Reply
  8. davidd says

    August 12, 2012 at 5:52 am

    “You can get mad and angry about it and let it make you feel really insecure….”

    Give that up? Dude, that’s my STRENGTH! It’s the one thing I’m actually pretty good at!

    Reply
    • sharon says

      August 23, 2012 at 9:31 pm

      It makes me ticked off at myself. No more excuses. Starting right now, this weight that has plagued me for years is coming off and I will start finishing projects that I want to complete and keep putting off.

      Reply
  9. Jim Bathurst says

    August 12, 2012 at 7:26 am

    Stay thirsty, my friends!

    Reply
  10. jo Hodson says

    August 12, 2012 at 7:34 am

    Love this…I hope that I am aroud to tell such an amazing story at that age and still keep going! Inspiring stuff, so many words and quotes to take forward into my own life and work.

    Reply
  11. Brian says

    August 12, 2012 at 10:43 am

    Seniors who want to talk? I always want to listen. If nothing else, I remember that it’s okay to slow down once in awhile and just listen to their story or their idea. To stop and to think before just plowing through might keep you from having a bad time.

    Reply
  12. Margaretha says

    August 12, 2012 at 2:29 pm

    Thanks for doing continuing to share and inspire Joel – you are impacting many lives -much more than you will ever know. You blog received so many hits because you got it so right and you have addressed the “detail” freaks well in this last post.

    I’m sure this coffee shop meeting happened for a number of reasons including an opportunity from the universe to reach more people. Gifts come in such interesting packages.

    Many thanks and Keep inspiring Us Joel.

    Reply
  13. Joe Ketcherside says

    August 12, 2012 at 2:31 pm

    Joel, thanks so much for posting the story and for the follow-up post. There is so much in there, I have read and re-read them. I have always believed in Edmund Burke’s statement that “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing”. You add so much more fuel to the engine that will get people up and challenge them to just DO.

    Reply
    • Dave Ketcherside says

      December 3, 2021 at 9:14 am

      I agree!

      Reply
  14. M. says

    August 12, 2012 at 2:33 pm

    Joel, thank you for publishing this great story, and i give thanks that it’s a true story. I am so often duped by bogus ‘feel good’ stories because i love stories that make me feel good. 🙂

    Reply
  15. Maggie Dodson says

    August 12, 2012 at 3:55 pm

    Onya Joel!!

    Reply
  16. Monica Englander, LCSW says

    August 12, 2012 at 4:07 pm

    1.) Absolutely!!
    2.) You are AMAZING.
    3.) Keep speaking up — keep telling the truth, and pointing to what is of real value.

    Thank you — you have courage.
    M.

    Reply
  17. Linda Mae Baldwin says

    August 12, 2012 at 5:21 pm

    I almost didn’t read the first post because when something says, in the title, “man who invented the computer” more often than not it goes on to praise Apple and bash Microsoft. I’m glad I read it this time because it’s so true and right and real. My husband works for a technology company in Education and I’ve forwarded it on to him. And as for older folks, well, at 52 I’m heading that way, and I sure do hope people don’t start shutting me out! I got lots to say 🙂

    Reply
  18. Carlos Ramos says

    August 12, 2012 at 11:32 pm

    I recently began reading this blog and I find it refreshing. I admit I speacially tend to complain and not do a thing about it. I am on my way to fix that. Thanks for the post!

    Reply
  19. Elaine says

    August 13, 2012 at 12:00 am

    Yes, yes, yes, and yes.

    I learn so much from listening. I had a couple of long breakfasts with an 81 year old relative this weekend (we were the two early birds at a family wedding weekend). He talked. I listened.

    I also am a big believer in bragging. Not in an obnoxious kind of way. If I don’t think I am awesome, then how can I expect to have an awesome life and meet awesome people? This is something that is available to everyone. Get in touch with your inner awesomeness! Celebrate your successes! Your success is my success and I believe my success is your success, so I am going to tell you about it. I am motivated to do the next impossible thing by recalling how I did the last one. As a coach, I assign all my clients to keep a book of wins. Brag away.

    Thanks for another great post, Joel. I love your message and I love your writing.

    Reply
    • Cindy W says

      August 25, 2012 at 10:38 am

      Love the idea of celebrating our successes! As I’m a counselor, I’m always amazed at people who don’t listen, but want to share their next idea before I’m done with mine. When you think about doing this next time, take a breath…it helps a lot. And Joel? Thanks for sharing these posts 🙂

      Reply
  20. Rita says

    August 13, 2012 at 1:14 am

    Thank you for sharing THIS amazing story! There were a lot of amazing things that happened during WDS in Portland, but what I love hearing about more is what’s happened since, and what happened in and around the weekend that we don’t get to find out about, unless someone like you share it! So thanks for being that guy Joel! Thanks!

    Reply
  21. Ruth says

    August 13, 2012 at 1:51 am

    At age 54, I would count as a spring chicken. Thanks for passing on the swift kick. I love Walt Disney’s quote about, “It is kind of fun to do the impossible.” I have dreams to follow and things to do.

    Reply
  22. Kelly Lang says

    August 13, 2012 at 9:20 am

    You are so very wise! Thank you for sharing and clarifying! The world needs to hear your wisdom and take heed!!

    Reply
  23. Amir H says

    August 13, 2012 at 10:00 am

    I feel sorry for the people accusing him of BRAGGING! IF you invent the first fucking programmable computer you must at least have bragging rights, don’t you think?! In a world that every loser brag about their very insignificant instagram entry, all of the sudden this dude should not talk about his invention or he’s too arrogant!
    Anyways, great story.

    Reply
    • Seerak says

      August 19, 2012 at 9:13 pm

      THIS.

      The sort of people who see an earned pride such as this man’s and think “arrogance” and “bragging” are the sort of preachy mediocrity who go beyond their unshakeable belief in their own impotence, to actively hating those who aren’t.

      Ayn Rand called it “the hatred of the good for being the good.“

      Reply
  24. james says

    August 13, 2012 at 10:12 am

    Yes, it is the most misconception about the iPad is that you cannot create stuff from it. Sure you cannot directly compile programs or deploy web pages directly from the iPad, but I do not think that is the target market of that device. I can take notes in meetings and classes using a iPad. I can remote into my workstation to code and other things that cannot be done directly on the iPad. I can read and respond to email, create and edit documents, spreadsheets, and presentations all from the iPad. These are the things that I have used a notebook computer to accomplish in the past and looking at my mobile computing needs, a notebook computer would be a waste of money. We as a society need to understand the concept of looking at our requirements, and purchasing the tools that meet our needs. Each person’s needs are different and therefore there will be different tools to meet those needs. Each person also has their own preferences to meet their needs, therefore there will be different solutions to meet those preferences. Another thing we have to realize, is that sometimes needs change and therefore we should continually reevaluate our solutions based off our needs, NOT the way that we have always done something. If you base decisions because of the way that you have always done something, then you will miss out on great opprotunities.

    Reply
    • Troy says

      September 11, 2012 at 12:10 am

      I think you missed the point. It’s not the computers, it’s the idea! It’s not the tools, it’s the person and the drive within them. It’s not the choice of tools, its the choice of doing!

      Reply
    • Mat says

      January 11, 2013 at 9:02 am

      You missed the point even after it was explained to you.

      Reply
  25. Skip Hunt says

    August 13, 2012 at 11:49 am

    I got exactly what he was talking about with regard to the iPad. Although I know you can create wonderful things with it, and I have… the gist of the device is geared toward promoting consumption.

    Brilliant article that I’m so very glad you wrote and that I found. And glad to find such a wonderful blog!

    Thank you.

    Skip Hunt
    Austin, Texas

    Reply
  26. RG says

    August 13, 2012 at 1:27 pm

    I think life’s great inspirations comes from listening to those who have done it, namely our older generation. When I meet older people on my many motorcycle trips, I relish those conversations. Some notable ones to date; meeting a survivor or Pearl Harbor, a gentleman who rescued my buddy’s BMW who happened to be POW at the infamous Hanoi Hilton, a former Nova Scotian Police Officer(who happened to patrol on a 1930’s Harley) who chased down rum runners.

    Life is full of interesting people (not all of them can create a computer) and much is to be learned if we stop with our own self absorbed world and just listen.

    History is best learned (IMHO) from the breath of those who created it.

    RG

    Reply
  27. Paul says

    August 13, 2012 at 2:26 pm

    This post conveys a great message! I hope people take what you have written about in this post and try to implement it into their own lives!

    Reply
  28. Roger says

    August 13, 2012 at 9:33 pm

    This story is giving me the push I need to do something I really need to do…gotta close the browser now and create.

    Reply
  29. NYPierre says

    August 14, 2012 at 12:25 pm

    Joel, I discovered your blog due to the Russell Kirsch blog post. I have been floored and re-inspired since that day. I never got a whiff of arrogance, if anything I thought it was a telling encounter of Russell’s generation. My dad is 80 and he has done some amazing things, some of them also the “first” – heck if you live 80 years on this Earth, especially lived through the 40’s, 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s 90’s and 00’s – I would imagine that you have done some amazing things and experienced life like no one else likely will.

    I can only hope that my next 50 years will be full of the world changing, life changing discoveries that Kirsch was a part of and I can only hope to make an impact anywhere near creating the square pixel.

    (Yes, I know we have seen amazing things – stop being so self focused.)

    Think about what the world was like in 1931 when he was born and fast forward to where we are today. That is freaking night and day. Nuclear war, World War, Commercial flight, Space, Computers, Science, feats of construction like the Empire State Building, all witnessed with the naked eye – all in his lifetime.

    Yet what does he do for inspiration? look at “mosaic builders of antiquity”… amazing. Fantastic blog post.

    Reply
    • Brian H says

      August 20, 2012 at 4:17 am

      The biggest Next Big Thing I’m pulling for/following is here:
      LPPhysics.com
      A realistic shot at making distributed dispatchable power available world-wide at under 10% of best current costs. The end of poverty, starvation, water-shortage and pollution are just a few of the probable consequences.

      Of course all such advanced science stands on the base of computational capabilities.

      Reply
  30. William Dulitz says

    August 14, 2012 at 2:53 pm

    But, if I stop reading and start doing, I won’t be reading your site

    😛

    Reply
    • Joel Runyon says

      August 14, 2012 at 3:06 pm

      If you’ve only got time to do one thing – spend it doing :).

      Reply
  31. Cathal says

    August 14, 2012 at 3:45 pm

    Joel,

    Thanks so much for sharing these posts and for stopping to listen to such a gifted and insightful human being.

    What an amazing experience that must have been!

    It’s just disappointing, once again, that some people are still jumping on the iPad/PC/i’M right/you see train.

    That express train is going nowhere, dudes! Look across the tracks! Everyone else is on the slow train listening, learning, sharing, reflecting and daring to create. I know whose carriage I’d rather share! 🙂

    Reply
  32. cindie says

    August 14, 2012 at 4:07 pm

    Thanks for these two posts. Just … thanks. There is so much good advice, good insight and just plain goodness in here that my brain overwhelms my fingers and I am stuck at simply … thanks.

    Reply
  33. rhiannyn says

    August 14, 2012 at 9:13 pm

    Thank you for choosing to post two of the best *stories* I’ve read in the last week. Awesome. Pure & Simple.

    Must admit that the first *story* actually brought tears to my eyes. Wasn’t expecting that to happen. So ya, wow.

    Inspiring.
    Shared.

    Thanks again,
    rhi

    Reply
  34. Wilde_at_heart says

    August 15, 2012 at 12:38 pm

    Thank you so much for sharing such a wonderful story, and for being someone who was open to such an opportunity.

    Synchronicity rather than coincidence perhaps?

    Reply
  35. Jennifer says

    August 15, 2012 at 1:51 pm

    Great story. I took one more lesson out of it. Get out of the house. Even if it’s just to work on your computer. Being physically out there in a public space opens us up the world and opportunities and chance encounters.

    Reply
  36. Tracy says

    August 16, 2012 at 8:12 am

    Do something that’s not been done before. I’m possible! Boom! So inspired. Thanks!

    Reply
  37. Randy Carpadus says

    August 16, 2012 at 11:09 am

    I wanted to post this to the prior blog post but for some reason it didn’t render well on my PC and the comments (and the end commenting box)ended up over the top of the rest of the page and were unreadable/usable.

    First of all, thank you for this follow up post, it hit the point(s)square on the head. People like Jim completely missed the forest for the trees!

    Secondly, thank you so much for the first post. I am having to “reinvent myself” at age 55 after being kicked out of the profession that pretty much defined who I was for much of my life and am starting a new business (non-high tech) from scratch with close to no money. Your last two lines/sentences/paragraphs are my new mantra:

    Nothing is withheld from us which we have conceived to do.
    Do things that have never been done.

    The first meaning: if you’ve conceived something in your mind, decide to do it, and are willing to put in the work – nothing can stop you.

    The second is fairly self-explanatory but carries the extra weight of it coming from the guy who invented the very thing that’s letting me type these words out on the internet.

    “Do things that have never been done before” – The guy who invented the computer

    What I am doing (to quote another great, “Do or do not, there is no try) has never been done before quite my way and your post, and Russel’s quotes give me strength. I think I will make a poster out of them to put in my office as a reminder.

    Thank you

    Reply
  38. Kayvee says

    August 17, 2012 at 12:46 am

    Great Post!

    What good would it have done if Russell had just kept to himself that day in the coffee shop?

    This post wouldst have been written and I and many others wouldn’t have benefited from it

    To those who think Russell was bragging, let me ask you

    Who are your favorite athletes, actors or authors?

    Would you consider an author to be bragging because he wrote a book and displaying his talents?

    Would you consider your favorite actor be to showing off by acting in movies that you love?

    If people don’t share their talents, we wouldn’t have all the wonderful inventions and work or art that we so enjoy

    It doesn’t help anyone to hide away their talents from the world

    Reply
  39. Leila says

    August 19, 2012 at 8:56 am

    Two things — first, I love that what you learned was to *do — to create, to act.

    I would just say that one must also know — in the sense of thinking things out, but also in the sense of seeing things whole — and that takes NOT DOING — thinking, learning, studying, but also, just BEING, in silence. None of which will take place if one is passive, paradoxically, so I think that still speaks to your point.

    Second, is it a picture of yourself with Russell in the other post? If so, who took the photo? I think you should tell about that, because it would take away any doubt that this is a real story. Maybe you addressed it in the comments, but there are too many for me to read through. Maybe a caption would be helpful.

    Reply
  40. JR Griggs says

    August 19, 2012 at 6:00 pm

    Honesty, I can’t believe how many complaints or really ignorant comments you got. Some people don’t get it and may never get it.

    They can read something that should inspire them to do something great and instead will only be inspired to nit pick.

    Reply
  41. JacksonJay says

    August 19, 2012 at 7:46 pm

    Has this genius ever been nominated for a Nobel Prize? Seems to me, that he is something very special!

    Reply
  42. Otto Pernotto says

    August 19, 2012 at 11:08 pm

    Simply excellent! Both posts are so incredible. It reminds me of the story of Bill Crawford who was a janitor at the Air Force Academy despite being a Medal of Honor recipient. The cadets looked upon him as a janitor yet he had earned the most honerable award our nation can bestow yet he was a very humble man.

    Reply
  43. Bev. Coooke says

    August 20, 2012 at 12:45 am

    Thank you for both of these stories, and for YOUR humility, which shines through every word about this remarkable man. You were humble enough to treat a total stranger with respect and deference enough to listen. To be polite to a stranger long enough to learn that this stranger was someone special, with something to teach you. You were humble enough to absorb not only the wonder of meeting a remarkable and innovative man, but to learn from him. Not many people under 50 are mature enough and smart enough to do that, no matter who the person is.

    Makes my day! And yes, even at 57, I can learn from both you and him about how to make a difference, and how to create. Thank you for that, too.

    Reply
  44. Byron Smith says

    August 20, 2012 at 1:24 am

    It was not an ‘ass kicking’. It was a Space Shuttle Rocket Booster experience. I’ve run into a few of those ‘older’ gentlemen in my career and had similar experiences. I look back with love on those moments. You have written an excellent piece, and even though I am now retired, I’m going to look for those ‘opportunities’ to expand myself as well. If Russell can smooth out his own pixel problem, maybe I can find a like endeavor in my lower field of computer administration. Thanks!

    Reply
  45. Meg Walker says

    August 20, 2012 at 2:57 am

    Both the original article was *AMAZING* and this follow-up one was as well. I echo the people who have said THANK YOU for pushing “publish”! It was an incredible story to read! My brother posted it on FB and that’s how I found it – I’m so grateful.

    My father has been gone many years, but he was a successful man in the movie industry. I remember him trying to strike up conversations with younger people – a waitress, a store clerk – and how they acted as if he were invisible, this great, accomplished man. It just made my heart ache.

    It never ceases to amaze me that everyone really DOES have a story.

    Reply
  46. phaedruscj says

    August 20, 2012 at 10:09 am

    Quality here

    Thanks for posting about Mr. Kirsch.

    For me this is like the first time I read ZAMM, The Universal Traveller and Kathleen Norris’ Dakota.

    Reply
  47. Doc Chevalier says

    August 20, 2012 at 10:48 am

    Thank you Joel for investing the time to create these posts. I’m sorry that some people misunderstood either by omission or commission your intent but it happened, and will continue to happen. I commend you on an interesting story and your choices as a consequence. For those who choose to disbelieve or to make their own interpretations of the quality of your character or Mr. Kirsch’s character, still a personal choice, but a loss for them. So thanks from me to you. No more than that.

    Reply
  48. SM Babb says

    August 21, 2012 at 8:20 am

    I place this encounter as a “Divine” appointment.
    It was meant to happen at the right time for the right reason (for both of you). Russel reached out, you were receptive.

    Why?

    “Nothing is withheld from us what we have conceived to do.”

    Is it encouragement to pursue something you have conceived and have yet to bring to fruition? Is it something you have yet to conceive and support was provided to you to continue the search, analyze and create?

    Only God and “possibly” you know what that may be.

    I have no doubt you gained far greater than “7” bits of wisdom from this encounter.

    Certainly not an asskicking, but a blessing.

    Thank you for sharing your blessing with others.

    Reply
  49. Kirk Farrar says

    August 21, 2012 at 1:48 pm

    Just wanted to say thanks to who brought me here – Thank you Instapundit! Great site, great story, I think I’ll stick around for awhile.Kirk

    Reply
  50. Bob Rosenbaum says

    August 22, 2012 at 11:19 am

    I’m not worthy! What a great guy. Thanks. What a fine post. Bob

    Reply
  51. Kea says

    August 22, 2012 at 8:02 pm

    Love this whole post, but especially the second to last point. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  52. Ezra Adams says

    August 23, 2012 at 7:49 am

    Excellent post for teachers, learners, and leaders of every age. I’ve called it a must-read and sent it to my network. Thanks for sharing your encounter with Russell Kirsch.

    Reply
  53. Greg Milbank says

    August 23, 2012 at 10:28 am

    Dear Joel,

    Thank you very much for publishing this thought provoking encounter. Reading through the great responses, I was not surprised to discover no one acknowledged who Russel attributes his own inspiration to, God. For the many who who thanked Joel and Russel for their inspirations, I did not read one that gave thanks or even acknowledged the source of Russel’s inspiration. You want an impossible challenge? Attribute some aspect of the origins of scientific thought to God.

    Shalom/Peace

    Reply
    • Jeanne says

      August 23, 2012 at 11:34 pm

      You must not have read the third comment from the top by Sharon, and my response to it. Yes, God is the author of ALL creation, and since we as humans are created in His image, we have the gift of creativity, too. But I’m glad to see that someone else here thinks it is important to acknowledge God the way Russell did.

      Reply
  54. Jimmy says

    August 24, 2012 at 9:33 pm

    God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater! ( apologies to Vonnegut)

    Reply
  55. Debora says

    August 27, 2012 at 2:29 pm

    Wonderful post – great story. Comments are interesting and while I share the lament of current teaching methods, I believe it is the parent’s responsiblity to provide a medium for the child to grow – a loving and nurturing home perhaps or just one that recognizes no limits on creativity and action. I am reminded that Steven Spielberg’s mother let him blow something up in a pressure cooker, just to film it.
    Thanks for the post.

    Reply
  56. Ed Stillman says

    August 31, 2012 at 7:43 am

    Joel, thanks for the story. I’m in my 60’s and encourage your readers and business leaders to observe vs. see and listen vs. hear. Going deeper in conversations by asking, “…tell me more” or “…what else?” will develop a more meaningful conversation and understanding of the topic or story being told. God gave us 2 ears and 1 mouth and we should use them accordingly.

    Reply
  57. Ron says

    September 4, 2012 at 9:04 pm

    Truly awesome stuff! I’ve come to similar conclusions myself, though it’s nice to hear someone else say them. Very inspirational.

    Reply
  58. Martin Tassoni says

    October 17, 2012 at 4:16 pm

    Like you, I just met this very interesting 83 year old man who claimed to be Russell Kirsch. I can’t think of any chance meeting I have had as interesting and inspiring as the one I just had with Russell. He is quite a person and I think we will have a sustaining relationship in the months and years to come in our weekly meetiings in the little coffee shop where we just met.

    Reply
  59. Steve Woodward says

    November 21, 2012 at 12:29 am

    Hey, Joel. I just stumbled across your two posts on Russell Kirsch. It brought back memories of the piece I did on him for The Oregonian in 2007 (“The man who taught computers to see,” http://www.oregonlive.com/living/index.ssf/2007/05/russell_kirsch_the_man_who_tau.html). Russell is remarkable for many reasons, but perhaps most for the sheer breadth and audacity of his imagination. He and his colleagues spent many unauthorized hours using the SEAC computer to dabble not only in digital imaging, but also in syntactic pattern recognition, chemical structure searching, acoustic signal generation (precursor to speech synthesis) and artificial intelligence. Even in his old age, he and his wife, an art historian, have studied the underlying “grammar” of paintings and petroglyphs. His masterpiece, digital imaging, resulted from a simple question he asked himself: “What if computers could see?” That historic first digital image, by the way, is hanging in the Portland Art Museum.

    One more lesson: Don’t be surprised by who you can run into in the Portland area. Linus Torvalds, the creator of Linux, lives here, as does Ward Cunningham, inventor of the wiki. The next time one of your elders sits down at your table, ask him or her how they changed the world. They just might tell you.

    Reply
  60. inyb says

    March 5, 2013 at 11:58 pm

    Joel:

    Thank you for this article and thank you for publishing Mr Kirsch’s insights. I was looking for a kick in the can to get moving, and, I think I’ve just got it.

    Reply
  61. John says

    April 10, 2013 at 4:12 pm

    Joel:

    An extraordinary story, with so many lessons to be learned. You might add the old refrain “listen to your elders.” Also a great achievement for your blog. This is why we have blogs. Who invented them by the way?

    As a grammar/fitness challenge, if you will kick the habit of saying “if I would have” and instead say “If I had” – that is ‘if I [past perfect] then I [conditional perfect] – then I will promise to work out. I pledge to do 100 push-ups every time you use that construction correctly. And I’ll send you a video of the push-ups.]

    John

    Reply
    • John says

      April 10, 2013 at 9:08 pm

      Of course now you’re going to use that construction 100 times in one post, so I’m forced to do 1,000 push-ups 😉

      Reply
  62. Libashaffer says

    April 11, 2013 at 10:09 am

    Than you so much for both of these articles.
    I’ve never liked the iPad but could never put words to my dislike – now I can. On the other hand it is an incredible tool for some people such as my legally blind child.
    I can’t begin to tell you how many times I’ve told people to google “an unexpected a**kicking.

    Reply
  63. Efjay Dee says

    September 12, 2014 at 7:11 am

    Just finished reading your posts about Russell Kirsch. I would have found it to be a very moving and transformative experience, I was amazed just reading about it. The photo of you both is amazing too, I would say it is iconic with a Grand Patriarch of Computing sharing wisdom. Thank you so much for sharing and eternal thanks to Russell Kirsch for his contributions to technology we all take for granted today.

    Reply
  64. Aaron Tang says

    July 11, 2015 at 11:01 pm

    Hi Joel,

    Arrived here from one of Darren Rowse’s posts. What a wonderful story. Best one I’ve read in a long time.

    All the best ahead to you!

    Reply
  65. David Grover says

    October 1, 2015 at 1:09 am

    So glad you hit publish. However I am even gladder that it was you in the coffee shop! Your intelligent and sensitive responses to the inevitable detractors were spot on.
    Incidentally – and the only flaws – were:

    “Here’s 7 things I’ve learned from my encounter with Russell Kirsch:”
    and “there’s two things you can do.”

    Methinks Russell would never make such grammatical errors!

    …blessings 😉

    Reply
  66. Madhushree Kulkarni says

    September 8, 2016 at 12:40 am

    Awesome.

    This is so important.

    Thanks for sharing your experience with us Joel! 🙂
    ♥

    Reply
  67. Adeeba Zaidi says

    November 26, 2019 at 11:39 am

    This fed me the fire I needed today! Thank you!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Living a Good Story. Stop Bitching. Start Doing. - Drew Meyers Blog says:
    August 11, 2012 at 1:12 pm

    […] this takeaway from Joel Runyon’s post: Live A Good […]

    Reply
  2. Sage Advice « Joanne Mackellar says:
    August 12, 2012 at 11:47 pm

    […] 7 Things I Learned From My Encounter With Russell Kirsch Tags: Quotes, Russell […]

    Reply
  3. “An Unexpected Ass Kicking” | Citizen Scientists League says:
    August 14, 2012 at 1:25 pm

    […] reposting this fascinating little vignette from Blog of Impossible Things, which now has a follow up to this […]

    Reply
  4. An Unexpected Ass Kicking | The Passive Voice says:
    August 14, 2012 at 2:55 pm

    […] of course). The whole article is amazing, charming, and humbling, all at the same time. Read the follow-up article too. The core of the encounter is this exchange:At some point in the conversation, I mentioned to […]

    Reply
  5. Once a Weekly › Issue 4 says:
    August 15, 2012 at 9:59 am

    […] 7 Things I Learned From My Encounter With Russell Kirsch […]

    Reply
  6. An Unexpected Ass Kicking | Blog Of Impossible Things says:
    August 15, 2012 at 9:15 pm

    […] You can read the followup to this post here. […]

    Reply
  7. In Need of an Ass Kicking? | says:
    August 18, 2012 at 7:35 am

    […] about a blogger’s encounter with the amazing Russell Kirsch: An Unexpected Ass Kicking & 7 Things I Learn from Russell Kirsch. This entry was posted in Uncategorized by Admin. Bookmark the […]

    Reply
  8. Welcome to Starbucks: Blog Of Impossible Things meets the inventor of impossible things « Club of Awesomeness! says:
    August 19, 2012 at 2:40 am

    […] Follow up post here. Share this:TwitterFacebookLike this:LikeBe the first to like […]

    Reply
  9. Chance Encounter with Inventor of Computer : alexking.org says:
    August 19, 2012 at 11:12 am

    […] story. Check out the follow-up as well. (thanks Jon Henke via Matt […]

    Reply
  10. Unexpected wisdom from a 80+ years old man in a coffee shop « Kempton – ideas Revolutionary says:
    August 19, 2012 at 6:31 pm

    […] “7 Things I Learned From My Encounter With Russell Kirsch“ […]

    Reply
  11. The Unexpected Blessing | Naples Girl Blog says:
    August 21, 2012 at 10:00 am

    […] this is an awesome story.  Make sure to read the follow-up story as well. Photo by Joel Runyon Rate this:Share this:TwitterFacebookEmailDiggRedditStumbleUpon By […]

    Reply
  12. Issue 15 – Ninjas, robots, and the Mystery Machine Bus – plus a special guest! — TLN says:
    August 21, 2012 at 11:46 pm

    […] Great read: 7 Things I Learned From My Encounter With Russell Kirsch […]

    Reply
  13. Gone Viral? Dealing with a Half Million Visitors and Thousands of Subscribers in 2 Weeks — Think Traffic says:
    August 22, 2012 at 8:45 am

    […] few weeks ago, I wrote a story about an encounter I had with an old man named Russell Kirsch in a Portland coffee […]

    Reply
  14. Unexpected Inspiration | everything esteban says:
    September 7, 2012 at 4:34 pm

    […] And then, I read this follow up:  7 Things I Learned From My Encounter With Russell Kirsch […]

    Reply
  15. live a good story | Jana Remy says:
    October 15, 2012 at 9:02 pm

    […] comments Recently I came across the Impossible Things blog through the story of the author’s coffeeshop interaction with Russell Kirsch.  I poked around the site a bit and was impressed with the author’s verve.  I’m the […]

    Reply
  16. barbaraburns.com » Consume vs Create in the Digital World says:
    January 12, 2013 at 12:47 pm

    […] Joel Runyon’s follow-up article, “7 Things I Learned From My Encounter with Russell Kirs… made me think in a new direction about this dilemna of my own with my mind’s imminent demise and removal from myself. Joel Runyon said […]

    Reply
  17. Close Encounters Of The Life-Changing Kind | The Clockwork Conservative says:
    March 12, 2013 at 1:23 pm

    […] Unexpected Ass Kicking  by Joel Runyon at his Blog Of Impossible Things.  He has also posted a follow-up.  Dont miss it.  My two favorite takeaways […]

    Reply
  18. Russell Kirsch was right about Apple ➤ IMPOSSIBLE ® says:
    March 26, 2019 at 7:05 am

    […] didn’t realize till the middle of our conversation who he was and his contributions to the world, but I was blown away both by his accomplishments and by what he was […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

the-impossible-shirt

Hi, I'm Joel Runyon


I created IMPOSSIBLE to help people push their limits by taking on impossible challenges and living a good story.

Follow @joelrunyon

My I recently finished running 7 ultra marathons on 7 continents and raised nearly $200k for Pencils of Promise. Read more about my story here.

Subscribe & Listen To The Podcast

How To Start A Blog Walkthrough

how-to-start-a-blog-guide
impossible abs

no-excuse-workout

cold-shower-therapy

The 777 Project

777-project

THE IMPOSSIBLE FAMILY

  • IMPOSSIBLE • Blog + HQ
  • IMPOSSIBLE Fitness • Tutorials & Training
  • IMPOSSIBLE Podcast • Podcast
  • IMPOSSIBLE X • Businesses
  • IMPOSSIBLE.org • Giving
  • IMPOSSIBLE Gear • Apparel + Supplements

"How To" Guides

  • How To Start A Blog: The Definitive Guide
  • How To Start A Podcast: The Definitive Guide

Looking For Something?

About The Impossible Shirt

IMPOSSIBLE®

  • Impossible X®
  • Impossible.org
  • Impossible Gear™
  • Impossible Fitness ®
  • Impossible Nutrition ®

RECENT

  • Building Calluses
  • New IMPOSSIBLE Gear is Here (End of Winter Drop)
  • The Tao of the Gym Bro
  • If you’re lacking vision, try asking this question…
  • Creative Debt

Inspiration

  • An Unexpected Ass Kicking
  • How Bad Do You Want It?
  • The Iron & The Soul
  • The Only 2 Real Excuses Why People Refuse To Take Cold Showers

We Built a School! (2012)

impossible-pop-school

And We Built 7 More! (2017)

777-project

| Copyright © 2023 | Built on Genesis & Hosted By BlueHost | Affiliate Disclosure | An Impossible X Company

IMPOSSIBLE®, the IMPOSSIBLE® logo, IMPOSSIBLE HQ®, IMPOSSIBLE X®, IMPOSSIBLE Nutrition®, and IMPOSSIBLE Fitness® are registered Trademarks of IMPOSSIBLE X LLC.

The IMPOSSIBLE List™, Push Your Limits™, and Cold Shower Therapy™ are trademarks of IMPOSSIBLE X LLC.

Join Our Newsletter!

Stay up to date with our newest podcasts, latest deals and special offers! We announce new content every week so be sure to stay in touch.