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Archive for March, 2005

Mar 25

Some of My Adventures…

img_antarctica.jpgGoing to Space Camp in Alabama. Savannah, GA for St. Patrick’s Day. Having my first German beer in Germany. Driving 300 miles in 3 1/2 hours. Getting my first signing bonus (just for joining a company!). Driving the JFK parade route through Dealey Plaza in a taxi cab. Being mentioned on the front page of USA Today. Drinking Drambuie on a mountain top and asking questions about the night sky. The great mental adventure of attending Pacifica. Flying to St. Thomas with only my flip flops and a laptop. Playing tennis with the drummer from KC & the Sunshine Band. Learning Latin. Age 13, hacking into the arcade game Gauntlet in Tennessee. Riding my bike from Germany across the Dutch border to visit the open air markets.
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Mar 21

The Myth of Sysiphus

The gods had condemned Sisyphus to ceaselessly rolling a rock to the top of a mountain, whence the stone would fall back of its own weight. They had thought with some reason that there is no more dreadful punishment than futile and hopeless labor.

If one believes Homer, Sisyphus was the wisest and most prudent of mortals. According to another tradition, however, he was disposed to practice the profession of highwayman. I see no contradiction in this. Opinions differ as to the reasons why he became the futile laborer of the underworld. To begin with, he is accused of a certain levity in regard to the gods. He stole their secrets. Egina, the daughter of Esopus, was carried off by Jupiter. Read more

Mar 19

O me! O life!

Walt WhitmanO me! O life! of the questions of these recurring. Of the endless trains of the faithless, of cities fill’d with the foolish. Of myself forever reproaching myself, (for who more foolish than I, and who more faithless?)

Of eyes that vainly crave the light, of the objects mean, of the struggle ever renew’d. Of the poor results of all, of the plodding and sordid crowds I see around me, Of the empty and useless years of the rest, with the rest me intertwined, The question, O me! so sad, recurring — What good amid these, O me, O life?

Answer That you are here — that life exists and identity, That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.

by Walt Whitman

Mar 17

Left Outside Alone

AnastaciaLeft broken empty in despair. Want to breathe, can’t find air. Thought you were sent from up above, but you and me never had love. So much more I have to say. Help me find a way. And I wonder if you know how it really feels to be left outside alone, when it’s cold out here. Well maybe you should know, just how it feels, to be left outside alone. To be left outside alone… Read more

Mar 13

Cupid Just Launched a Guided Missle

Barbara, I’d like to propose a toast to the topic I dig the most. Catch, let me dust off my loving cup. Hey Bartender! Fill ‘er up! Look how the neon starts to flicker. Love’s like a shot but works much quicker. And you’re a man who can hold his liquor. Cheers here’s to love!

I’m an old fashion and you’re the cherry. I’ve got a thirst that’s legendary. That’s why I fired your secretary. Cheers here’s to love! Life’s a martini. And you’re the shaker. And baby I sure packed a punch. Hey! You make Dean Martin look like a Quaker. But now it’s only you for dinner. Breakfast. And lunch! Read more

Mar 10

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A Glorious Accident

During my first year at University of Georgia, I remember flipping through a catalog of scientific books and videos. I was always on the look out for something cool and exciting. I also discovered that most of these publishers dealt only with large institutions and universities. Because of this, these publishers offer free “teaching” copies to professors in the hopes that they will assign these materials to their students. Anyway, I would sign myself up as a professor and order tons of these educational materials.

Of all of the cool stuff I received, one was at the top of the list. It was a set of 8 videocassettes that was packed with 15 hours of seriously mind-bending stuff. It was called, A Glorious Accident: Understanding Our Place in the Cosmic Puzzle.

The series was made up of interviews with some of the brightest minds of our time: Oliver Sacks, Rupert Sheldrake, Daniel C. Dennett, Stephen Toulmin, Freeman Dyson, and Stephen Jay Gould. Each interview covers the major ideas, work, philosophy, and questions that confound each of these intellectuals. The series of six individual interviews concludes with a “clashing of minds” as all six scholars join in a three-hour discussion to ponder the fundamental scientific, philosophical, and ethical questions of our time.

My roommates and I must have watched the entire series at least 2 dozen times. I had never heard of Sheldrake before this show. Afterwards, I was hooked. I’ve moved so many times since college that I somehow lost my copies of these VHS tapes. Today, however, I found that they are available again in DVD format from the company that first published the series here in the United States, Films Media Group. I’m so psyched. I think I will give these out as Christmas presents this year. Okay, I’m a geek, I know.

A few days ago I recommended you watch the film, Elegant Universe. Now, I have to recommend you grab a set of these videos. If you have RealAudio, you can actually listen to the interview with Rupert from the series, here. And, you can find out more and purchase the entire series here.

Mar 7

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String Theory for Dummies

I make reference to M Theory (or String Theory) here quite often – unless you’re really up on the latest in theoretical physics you might not understand these concepts. Last year PBS produced an awesome introduction to this topic called The Elegant Universe. The program is based on the best-seller of the same name by physicist, Brian Greene. Greene is also the show’s host and does an excellent job of bringing us up to speed on the past 100 years of physics. Most of what we learned in the classroom is hopelessly out of date. Though the old stuff is still true in many senses – it’s not half as exciting or interesting as many of the new developments in physics today. Watch a preview video clip here.

All of the programs are available to watch online for free. So, take some time to catch up on 100 years of science. You’ll learn big, new words that will impress all of your friends. To start the trip go here:

Mar 7

The Tuatha da Menehuna?

In the latest addition to our Practical Campbell series , Bhodi_Bliss, our key contributor to this on-line periodical, explores the blurred lines between history and myth, parallelism, converging geographies and diffusion.

Original post by Joseph Campbell Foundation