Innovators and Scientists

To tread the path less taken in solving the big problems in isolation, or to be satisfied working on the little problems? To work for monetary gains or for the sheer pleasure of finding the solutions to hard problems?

Here are a couple of interesting posts exploring these themes:
From Daniel Lemire: Getting a Ph.D. for the money?
From Ramanand: From New York to New Guinea
From Paul Graham: Hackers and Painters