I'm no expert on Singapore but I disagree with Wozniak. As far as republics with free markets, Singapore is a huge success.

Maybe Wozniak's percieved lack of creativity in Singapore is due the fact that its people are happy and content. It's my belief that really great writing, music or art is realized through hardship, sacrifice, and many times sorrow.

successful "free markets" are art? he's equating apple's (Job's) vision to art or artists.

what art are you familiar with from Singapore?

he's also speaking of the tolerance level and the punishments--maybe you believe that great art only springs from such miserable places, i.e., intolerance and excessive punishment?

do you also believe that one has to have or have had the blues in order to play the blues?

ever investigated Miles Davis' bio?

any artist who goes through periods of or lives in a more constant state a learning and self-discipline is one who is sacrificing at least something. whether that causes personal sorrow or hardship is another matter.

Who cares about singapore? The Steve Jobs bio was good, though.

ICHIRO-

It does take practice (self sacrifice) to learn an instrument.

I know a little about Miles Davis (I was first chair trumpet in H.S. symphonic band from my sophomore year on up and didn't that piss of the seniors!). Member in Jazz and so on. Dizzy is my favorite.

You asked if I believe if one has to have the blues to play the blues.

My answer is no.

I will argue that without intolerance and excessive punishment there would probably be no blues in the first place.