100 Days of Gratitude - Day Twelve - Smart & Creative People

Today I'm grateful for smart and/or creative people.

Without them our world wouldn't be as awesome as it is.

They heal our diseases, they entertain us, they advance our technologies, they moved us from a species of survival to a species of abundance.

They share their ideas with us, and we gladly pay - as we value their ideas more than the dollars we trade for them. It's a great system for everyone involved.

So today is for you smart & creative people. Some of you don't even think of yourselves this way - but you're appreciated.

Short list of smart people I'm specifically grateful for: Norman Borlaug (he's fed billions of people), the scientists at Centocor Ortho Bioltech - specifically for the creation of Remicade (the medicine that keeps my severe arthritis under control) You guys may think you only create medicine, but in fact, you change lives, The Wright Brothers - without them my world would be so much smaller, Henry Ford - for the automobile, but even more so for the assembly line, which makes everything more efficient, Steve Jobs - if you use a computer or a smart phone, even if it's not an Apple product, everyone has built on the work of Steve Jobs.

In my own magic profession Jim Steinmeyer is at the top of my list, not only for his immeasurable contributions to magic, but for his books which often explain the WHY not just the HOW. Michael Ammar, who has not only been a good friend, but a great teacher and creator of magic and finally, David Williamson, who created my all time favorite card trick (Torn & Restored Transposition) and who is one of the funniest people I've ever seen.

These are the people I think of right off the top of my head. Who are the smart and creative people that YOU admire & why? I'd love to see your comments here.