Time

Time past and time future
Allow but a little consciousness.
To be conscious is not to be in time
But only in time can the moment in the rose-garden,
The moment in the arbour where the rain beat,
The moment in the draughty church at smokefall
Be remembered; involved with past and future.
Only through time time is conquered.

From "The Four Quartets" by T. S. Eliot

"Wisdom lies in correctly discerning where we are free to mold reality according to our wishes and where we must accept the unalterable with tranquility." – Alain de Botton

Problems of Scale

Last night, while flying home at fairly low altitude, the Midwest rural landscape appeared as a beautiful painting, lit by the low-hanging sun. One particular moment, I looked down to see a solitary tree casting a long shadow across a curving dirt road and onto a plowed field. The colors, the shadow, the location of the tree, the exact composition of lines—altogether it was beautiful.

Though this spot couldn't be more than 80 miles from where I lived, in all likelihood I would finish my life without ever visiting this particular point on Earth. How would I ever find it? There was nothing particularly notable about the location. Once again, the profound huge-ness of our world had struck me.

Staring Out The Window

Yesterday I spent the day on a field trip with my daughter's fourth grade class. It was a great day. On the bus ride home, my daughter decided to sit one row behind me (piling in with her friends), so I had a few minutes of free time. Taking advantage of this, I—of course—decided to spend the next half-hour staring out the window.

What I learned was this: I quite enjoy staring out the window. In our family, I'm usually the driver, so I'm looking ahead. But I enjoy staring out the window so much, I could do it all day. Have you ever *really* focused on the stuff you see as a passenger? Every car, every house, every person—they all have a story. Every object, every thing—designed by someone.

There are so many fascinating details and so many stories out there, no one ever has an excuse to be bored. I think that's why I'm a real estate developer. I'm fascinated by how people live and work, and enjoy creating spaces for them to do so.

Links: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

The Complex Task of Directing One's Life

"Socrates compared living without thinking systematically to practising an activity like pottery or shoemaking without following or even knowing of technical procedures. One would never imagine that a good pot or shoe could result from intuition alone; why then assume that the more complex task of directing one's life could be undertaken without any sustained reflection on premises or goals?"

Tonight I was driving home, and happened to be talking to my daughter (9) on the phone. Out of nowhere, she decided to play me a song on the piano. This is why life is good.

"What is done out of love always takes place beyond good and evil." ― Friedrich Nietzsche

On The Dangers of Over-Valuing Rare Events

"You know, the most amazing thing happened to me tonight... I saw a car with the license plate ARW 357. Can you imagine? Of all the millions of license plates in the state, what was the chance that I would see that particular one tonight? Amazing!"

― Richard P. Feynman

Edison Wax Cylinder Phonograph

This weekend we took a little road trip, and happened upon a beautiful Edison wax cylinder phonograph in an antique shop. (It was the earliest sound recording medium.)

Letter 62. On good company

We are deceived by those who would have us believe that a multitude of affairs blocks their pursuit of liberal studies; they make a pretence of their engagements, and multiply them, when their engagements are merely with themselves. As for me, Lucilius, my time is free; it is indeed free, and wherever I am, I am master of myself. For I do not surrender myself to my affairs, but loan myself to them, and I do not hunt out excuses for wasting my time. And wherever I am situated, I carry on my own meditations and ponder in my mind some wholesome thought.

When I give myself to my friends, I do not withdraw from my own company, nor do I linger with those who are associated with me through some special occasion or some case which arises from my official position. But I spend my time in the company of all the best; no matter in what lands they may have lived, or in what age, I let my thoughts fly to them.

Demetrius, for instance, the best of men, I take about with me, and, leaving the wearers of purple and fine linen, I talk with him, half-naked as he is, and hold him in high esteem. Why should I not hold him in high esteem? I have found that he lacks nothing. It is in the power of any man to despise all things, but of no man to possess all things. The shortest cut to riches is to despise riches. Our friend Demetrius, however, lives not merely as if he has learned to despise all things, but as if he has handed them over for others to possess. Farewell.

— Seneca the Younger

Old Pipe Organ

Detail of a pipe organ that was built into a mill in Zoar, Ohio.

The motion of the mill powered the airflow for the organ. How strange and beautiful to have music at the mill.

Archiving the Ephemeral: Twitter 12/1/13 - 3/31/14

My favorite Twitter conversations from earlier this year…

Religion:

• "I'm agnostic about god, but I may start telling people I'll 'pray' for them again. Saying 'you'll be in my thoughts' doesn't have weight. …" — "…'Praying' doesn't require a deity. It only requires an earnest, strong hope for something to happen. Praying is good without god." (2/14: @judetx, @allovus, @Linda_Atkins1, @rissy328, @CriminySTFU, @PumaBare, @johnpocalypse, @rundusty, @caracabe, @tillytoogood, @Linda_Atkins1, @NomdeB, @cantata21, @LC_Sun, @DickeyFuller, @MizMelly, @_timskinner, @AntRyanET)
• "Absolutely beautiful: Spend a few peaceful minutes in the Sistine Chapel" (1/12: @billraia, @ArtByAlida)
• "Classic: A frighteningly ignorant sign from the Creation Museum on how to date a fossil" (12/15: @marlenan21, @NomdeB, @picklestfc, @BMahadoBitch, @HeatherHastie)

Philosophy:

• "We must live without certainty, yet not be paralyzed by hesitation." (3/30: @MizMelly, @nishamohsin1) 
• "We have scrubbed the world clean of magic." (3/18: @willentrekin, @mmdoty, @allovus) 
• "What is evil? On one hand, you could say that there's no such thing. On the other, you could say that evil is all around us." (2/25: @TheGistOf, @Bdreamer7, @jaglister, @cantata21) 
• "'Be content with what you have, rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.' — Laozi" (1/5: @JustBeer_NoBull) 
• "I have come to realize that there *is* such a thing as magic, and it comes from the effect that art can have on the soul." (1/3: @NomdeB, @nay731, @aliceinthewater, @Teresa623) 
• "'If you love a flower, don't pick it up. Because if you pick it up it dies and it ceases to be what you love.' ― Osho" (1/1: @mariarfin, @allovus)

Society & Culture:

• "Interesting read; left me as confused as ever — The Gen X/Gen Y Generation Gap" (3/30: @Clevecarole, @nishamohsin1, @thestile1972)
• "Drug dealers aren't to blame for the heroin boom—doctors are." (3/23: @Resoguitar)
• "America is tired of the microwave." (3/20: @Stanmatthias)
• "The nut-jobs crawl out of the woodwork: Coca Cola Super Bowl Ad Inspires Racist Twitter Backlash" (2/3: @allovus, @pfontes95, @beebearninja, @RandyAW)
• "Detroit, followed closely by New Orleans, had the highest #murder rate in 2013." (1/2: @fleurdelivres, @Stanmatthias)
• "#Abandoned steel mill control room, #Detroit (by Jonathan Haeber)" (12/28: @ArtByAlida)
• "Unbelievably offensive advertisements from the past." (12/21: @tinacapalbo, @DianeLMajor, @joshuabigger, @deck449, @newfuneze)

Politics:

• "Capitalism vs. Democracy: Is worsening inequality an inevitable outcome of free market capitalism?" (2/4: @PostRacialMyAss, @RobynDesBois1, @jaglister, @novelsareborn)
• "What we're missing in politics is the great middle. Hanging out at the edges is doing us no good." (1/28: @dparkinson45, @RedwoodGirl, @RoxProgressive, @smokey_herring)

Personal:

• "I have never, nor will I ever, do drugs. It would be a point of no return for me. I have a hard enough time staying grounded as it is." (3/22: @Stanmatthias, @jaredjanes, @Resoguitar)
• "There is no 'I' in team. Well, there's no 'we' or 'us' in there either, dummy." (2/28: @CriminySTFU, @joeman42, @smeaters, @PirateWench, @MonasLists)
• "Friday morning confession: I'm a nice person…but sometimes, in person, I can come across quite harsh. I'm working on it." (1/17: @JustBeer_NoBull, @thomasatmyporch, @allovus)
• "When someone says they 'rock' any particular item of clothing…yes, I want to punch them in the face." (12/27: @DeputyDriscoll, @BoomerPJ, @Retacof, @Astorix23)
• "Teaching our Japanese guest the meaning of "redneck" is the most fun I've had in a while." (12/8: @jencutler1, @allovus, @fleurdelivres, @ArtByAlida)
• "I just do not understand why people "like" some of my more mundane #FourSquare check-ins, such as my office." (12/5: @debexpert, @AlphaNano, @fleurdelivres, @swirlOsquirrel, @Bdreamer7)

Psychology:

• "What drives success? A superiority complex, combined with insecurity and impulse control." (1/30: @MGBazemoreJr, @jaglister)
• "…Hard things you must do to be successful." (1/17: @Bdreamer7)

Economics:

• "The Jobless Ph.D. Generation" (1/15: @TheGistOf, @lakesideliberal, @bombidil)
• "The cruise ship industry: No minimum wages, no labor standards, no corporate taxes, no environmental regulations." (12/3: @thomasatmyporch, @savannastc, @WalterRosenfeld, @ShivaKap, @sharonLeMaster)

Samuel F. Merendino, Sr., 1928-2014

Harmony, East And West

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Book 4:

Take the shortest route, the one that nature planned—to speak and act in the healthiest way. Do that, and be free of pain and stress, free of all calculations and pretension.

Lao Tzu, Tao Te Ching, Verse 8:

The supreme good is like water,
which nourishes all things without trying to.
It is content with the low places that people disdain.
Thus it is like the Tao.

In dwelling, live close to the ground.
In thinking, keep to the simple.
In conflict, be fair and generous.
In governing, don't try to control.
In work, do what you enjoy.
In family life, be completely present.

When you are content to be simply yourself
and don't compare or compete,
everybody will respect you.

I love the philosophical similarities here.

New Photo, 'Depth of Place' Series

A new multi-layered photo I've been working on recently.

Great Twitter Conversations, 10/1/13-11/30/13

From the recent archives—my favorite conversations on Twitter from late last year. Thanks to everyone listed for making it so fun and interesting!

Psychology:

• "To read, and think about: Why Doctors Don’t Die Like the Rest of Us" — 11/27/13 (@komunik8 @thestile1972 @Bdreamer7 @MizMelly) 
• "I'm buying everyone's coffee at the cafe this morning, anonymously (except on Twitter), and it's great fun to watch people's reactions." — 11/5/13 (@ShivaKap @Bdreamer7 @Politijoeblog @mkhajdin @mariarfin @Renonys)
• "News—particularly when it's consumed obsessively—is bad for you, and giving up reading it will make you happier." — 10/8/13 (@WilliamBDevittI @dougiepen @nitpickette01 @Mr_dk @thomasatmyporch)
• "Sometimes it's better to ask forgiveness than permission." — 10/2/13 (@TheGistOf @billraia @homesweetyeg)

Religion:

• "Somewhere in the middle of America, a statue of a dinosaur is fighting on the front lines for ignorance." — 11/24/13 (@BrightEyedDyer @taminespr @DickeyFuller @Dena_K_) 
• "Last night we were telling our Japanese exchange student about Christmas, Jesus rising from the dead, etc.; she was like WTF? #Christianity" — 11/17/13 (@theseedsowerz @wicked_cricket @Bdreamer7 @ArtByAlida @MGBazemoreJr @picklestfc) 
• "I'm in the mood to make fun of religion today." — 11/4/13 (@lisapschneider @vickijee @homesweetyeg @NewReid @BrianDorn @NomdeB @TheGistOf @DickeyFuller @lajkirby) 
• "The state of #religion in America: 'To Stave Off Decline, Churches Attract New Members With Beer'" — 11/3/13 (@ShivaKap @komunik8 @billraia @fleurdelivres @greenjustice428 @TheGistOf) 
• "For anyone who doesn't already know what sick, religious propaganda #ChickTracts are…" — 10/27/13 (@MonasLists) 
• "Ignorance combined with boldness is catastrophic: Taliban ban on vaccination exacerbating polio outbreak in Pakistan" — 10/19/13 (@GameBreakersCan @johnpocalypse @billraia)

Politics:

• "I'm moving there — Vermont has passed a single-payer universal health care law: 'Everybody in, nobody out.'" — 11/19/13 (@edwscott @cantata21 @mmdoty @RedwoodGirl @Bdreamer7) 
• "Utah's welfare drug testing requirements, which apply only to "high-risk" cases, seem to work better than Florida's." — 10/16/13 (@fleurdelivres)
• "'Drawbridge Conservatives': People who get theirs, then cut-off the bridge of opportunity for the rest." — 10/2/13 (@ShivaKap @Matthew_Barlow @WalterRosenfeld) 
• "#Republicans are doing one good thing right now: Giving me strong examples I can show my kids on how NOT to be" — 10/1/13 (@GPBCNYC @fleurdelivres)

Media and Social Media:

• "Bad #Twitter etiquette example number 2,467: Calling people out publicly when they unfollow you. #desperate #crass" — 11/14/13 (@Jenthulhu @GPBCNYC @Bdreamer7) 
• "Unconscionable: Some Online Journals Will Publish Fake #Science, For A Fee" — 10/6/13 (@papicek @SimonRowe6) 

Economics:

• "Misguided attempts at austerity are damaging both the short and long-term health of the U.S. economy." — 11/9/13 (@fleurdelivres) 
• "American capitalism conjures value into being chiefly by convincing everyone it’s there." — 11/6/13 (@Brunothegrape @GPBCNYC @taminespr) 
• "Capitalism and growth are not ends. They are means to enhance our ability to live well, and meaningfully." — 10/30/13 (@mmdoty @WalterRosenfeld @RayChatie)
• "A shorter work-week would improve health, allow more time for personal fulfillment and be better for the environment." — 10/28/13 (@ArtByAlida)
• "The incredible shrinking Internet: How ISPs are lobbying to dramatically restrict content and data speeds" — 10/2/13 (@allovus @SingnPlay)

Non sequitur:

• "My wife has a set of kitchen towels that we use, and then another set that hangs for display from various hooks. Two sets of towels. #WhyGod" — 11/5/13 (@fleurdelivres @CriminySTFU @NY2NC08 @Dena_K_ @mark_hobbs @kgoak201) 

Philosophy:

• "I can't stop watching this: Pencils being sharpened." — 11/5/13 (@jaglister @picklestfc) 

Art:

• "Amazing: Ceiling detail of Gaudi's Sagrada Familia" — 10/17/13 (@cantata21 @louise3anne)
• "Map of Hell, Dante's Inferno" — 10/12/13 (@cecimor339 @billraia)
• "The woods are lovely, dark, and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep." — 10/11/13 (@marieke @Dena_K_ @cantata21)

"Hacker Spirit"

My definition of the "hacker spirit" is:

• Exploration, playfulness, cleverness. 
• Pushing the limits of a system (whether cultural, technical, or physical), but never in an illegal, harmful or immoral way.
• Working smart, not just working hard; getting the most output for the least energy.
• Being like water, which always finds the path of least resistance, and is not afraid to go into the low places.
• Using all the tricks of the trade to your advantage.

One need not be a computer hacker to embody the hacker spirit.

Esmé-Dancer

Here's Esmé bounding at her second-grade ballet "final":

Love this girl.

Milemarker: Interesting Twitter Conversations, 8/3-9/30

Here are my favorite conversations from Twitter during August-September 2013. Thanks to all for making it so interesting!

Values, society, morality:

• "Rats and roaches live…under the laws of supply and demand; it is the privilege of human beings to live under the laws of justice and mercy." (@aghastjan @dougiepen @MeierMac) 9/17/13
• "'We exist in a bizarre combination of Stone Age emotions, medieval beliefs, and god-like technology.' — Edward O. Wilson" (@cantata21 @linaolight) 9/16/13
• "For most Americans, life expectancy continues to rise—but not for uneducated white women. No one knows why." (@SuSmithJosephy @dianefischler @keishadarling) 9/5/13
• "Something to think about this #LaborDay: Why a medieval peasant got more vacation time than you" (@Comanchegyrl @phunphunphun @nitpickette01 @MmedeSevigne @On_Point_Prg @wisermann @maddie273) 9/2/13 *
• "We seem to be developing a culture in which we are fascinated by people with zero self-respect. #twerk #RealityTV" (@rdHunter7 @BombeRouge @JulesAboutTown @bollbar @_NIKD_ @RDeanCutting) 8/29/13 *
• "These superb #maps detail the racial #segregation in America's cities" (@MatthewStuart20 @boris3324 @CleanHouse2014 @DariMD) 8/27/13
• "'I pity the man who wants a coat so cheap that the man or woman who produces the cloth will starve in the process.' —Benjamin Harrison" (@TheGistOf @AuntieMEK @shereedre10 @nyzap @Dena_K_ @ddsnorth @bicchinella @bettyaberlin @ConsiderThis1) 8/27/13 *
• "You cannot separate spirit from science, art from finance." (@mmdoty) 8/24/13
• "Consciousness is the ‘hard problem’, the mystery that confounds scientists and philosophers." (@cantata21 @jaglister) 8/22/13 *
• "Unbelievable that people like this still exist" (@CriminySTFU @fleurdelivres @picklestfc) 8/9/13
• "If I teach my daughter to be smart about how she dresses, not to go overboard with selfies, etc…am I encouraging a #VictimShaming attitude?" (@tinacapalbo @ShivaKap @AuntieMEK @mpanutsos @luckylindy31 @fleurdelivres @ElizabMcCormack @Bill_McL @picklestfc @cantata21) 8/7/13
• "Sad reality…and likely not the only place this is happening: Suicides rise by 40% as Italy's economy slumps" (@MiekeInc @cantata21 @AuntieMEK @jaglister @RandyAW @Comanchegyrl) 8/4/13

Politics:

• "Are Republicans afraid that heath care reform may prove popular? (Answer: Yes)" (@AuntieMEK @donthebear @Barr16Linda) 9/28/13
• "What can we do to speed this along? RT @GlenHess: Texas Official Is Preparing for Secession" (@GlenHess @_NIKD_ @Bdreamer7Helene @luckylindy31 @dhvibe @cantata21 @Editright @fabianaugustus @Joycecurrier2 @Iservedrinks) 9/14/13
• "If verified, I'm pissed: RT @SarahBurris: Staffer from Koch-backed group indicates @Yelp has become a corporate member of #ALEC." (@SarahBurris @ArtByAlida @BerinSzoka @KagroX @sowsearsoup) 8/13/13

Religion:

• "Celebrate the day of rest with this: One-Third of Americans Under 30 Have No #Religion. That's a bright future." (@homesweetyeg @McCarmee) 9/22/13
• "The stupid is strong: #OneMillionMoms (really not a million), is trying to distribute a new anti- #evolution video" (@Britonomics) 8/18/13

Psychology

• "I can't decide whether it's better to have goals or goats." (@bch11 @KSPbama @DincusMincus @vote_out_haters @LennyTheGoat @TheWanjiru @AdamOICU) 9/20/13
• "Having a moment of clarity: I don't doubt that I'll achieve my earthly goals within 10± years. So I wonder, are my aspirations high enough?" (@cantata21 @bombidil @fleurdelivres) 9/17/13
• "I'm 40 and don't rule the world yet, thus I'm a failure. #HowMyMindWorks" (@billraia @IronicHeathen @swirlOsquirrel) 9/7/13
• "The 'wisdom' of crowds and the fallacy of #CommonSense." (@fleurdelivres @docrocktex26) 9/7/13
• "My goal is to buy a #Porsche before I look like the creepy old guy driving a Porsche. #materialism" (@rwrabbit @billraia @fleurdelivres @Comanchegyrl @CrookedKitty) 8/20/13
• "OK, this is really, really interesting: 'Meaning Is Healthier Than Happiness'" (@picklestfc @ColdDimSum) 8/3/13

Arts & language:

• "File under: Strange musical instruments - MT @billraia: Guitar-harp from 1910." (@Resoguitar @billraia) 9/29/13
• "Wow, this is amazing: Secret Paintings in Early 19th Century Books" (@beebearninja @SingnPlay) 9/10/13
• "Wow, check out this old hulk of a steam locomotive" (@josephstokesbar @Renonys @Stanmatthias @DavidJCole1948 @ozigeekette @juniber) 9/3/13
• "As we continue to observe the death of the English language - Oxford dictionary adds 'twerk', 'derp', 'selfie', more" (@CriminySTFU @SimonRowe6 @JBucknoff @VegasJessie @Whatawhich) 8/28/13
• "Dumb-asses have killed English a little bit more: In the dictionary, 'literally' now also means 'figuratively'" (@OverQuill @Jeanine_OConnor @G_times) 8/26/13
• "Dolly Parton's original recording of 'Jolene' slowed down by 25% is surprisingly awesome" (@ArtByAlida @TobyMeadows @allovus @G_times @TaylorCarman @distributedcog @keith_wilson) 8/17/13
• "Beautiful: An abandoned fishing boat, Point Reyes, California" (@G_times @allovus @Stanmatthias @driver_bob) 8/16/13

Non sequitur:

• "I'm always surprised at the level of response to my midnight tweets. What the hell are you people doing up?" (@tinacapalbo @ArtByAlida @allovus @Pamduckling @fleurdelivres) 9/14/13
• "Mind-blowing how many people are in the world, each interesting in some way. Wish I was a god; wish I had the time to get to know each one." (@BrightEyedDyer @DeputyDriscoll @taminespr) 9/2/13
• "Just passing this along: Plastic surgeon falls in love with woman after performing designer vagina surgery on her" (@sailorboyj @liberalboxer @YEGlifer @RichHeelan @Pamduckling) 8/28/13
• "I'm surprised it took so long: The adult-sized #BigWheel" (@Renonys @mmwlawtaos) 8/6/13

Social Media:

• "The problem with #SocialMedia is it makes everyone believe that their every thought should be publicized." (@YEGlifer @Comanchegyrl @Resoguitar @MGBazemoreJr) 8/19/13
• "Unlike some people, I don't freak out when interlopers engage me on Twitter. Remember, everyone: This is PUBLIC!" (@albertaadvocate @oMG_ITS_HER2 @AlphaNano @ArtByAlida @MGBazemoreJr @allovus) 8/14/13
• "Sign me up, too - RT @ModernSauce: 'As soon as there's an interpretive dance version of Twitter I'll be ON it!'" (@theflutterbee @ModernSauce @oMG_ITS_HER2) 8/13/13
• "I wish all my friends on Twitter would change their avatars to their real faces…maybe just for a day. Why the anonymity?" (@ShivaKap @proudliberalmom @BrightEyedDyer @renshaw_emma @TaliaFarrow @Sasa2455) 8/13/13
• "I'm surprised at how many active Twitter users seem to have no VOICE; they just post links all day with little opinion or interaction." (@ModernSauce @Dianora_1 @kaneguindreamz @thecookiebatch @Steve_SR_ @tinacapalbo @Comanchegyrl @notcreative388 @homesweetyeg) 8/9/13

Hiromi Arrives!

Hiromi, whom we met five years ago in Japan, is staying with us for three months while she studies English at Case Western University. We are excited to host—looking forward to learning from her, and showing her our corner of the world!

Fortune Favors Chaos

When I think of the Earth as something created by God, it is not impressive. Although it is beautiful, it is full of pain, suffering, destruction, defects. What god would allow such flaws?

However, when I think of the Earth as something that evolved by chance, it is an amazing, serendipitous place. Although it still contains pain and suffering, these are merely the result of an indifferent universe. And when I consider that the tremendous beauty of the world has largely come from chaos, that is when I realize how profoundly fortunate I am to be alive, to be a part of all of this.

Interesting Twitter Conversations (6/21 - 8/2)

Conversations I want to remember from my Twitter timeline from the past couple months:

Philosophy:

• "On the precipice of the period where we 'evolve' into a more cooperative species than we are now. I'll hold onto that." (@jaglister) 6/21/13

Politics:

• "'Should I give to the poor?' - 'No,' says #RepublicanJesus. 'They should get a job like everyone else!'" (@Dena_K_) 6/20/13
   
• "Republicans seem intent on downgrading America's middle class to 'peasant class'." (@IndigoSky @sailorboyj @LindaWildes @Lvci_frr @smartboyohboy) 6/21/13
   
• "Not making this up: Ted Nugent 'I have 9 children from 7 women, and I'm running for president'" (@padresteve @creditease @RustiResta @ChristiAnne67 @Yecora51 @mmdoty @Dena_K_ @CriminySTFU @BrianBuchbinder @taminespr) 7/5/13
   
• "I'm initiating a #Kickstarter to buy Texas and Florida, and then auction them off to some other country." (@nitpickette01 @MiekeInc @caracabe @picklestfc) 8/1/13

Morality and values:

• "Anti-abortionists aren't 'pro-life', they're 'pro-birth'—no concern for the development of the child's actual life." Part 2 (@CleveNole @AMFKNole @NoleFan86) 6/23/13
   
• "Truth is stranger than fiction: 'Gay cure' ministry closes down after its leader admits he's attracted to men." (@SingnPlay @thomasatmyporch) 6/23/13
   
• "Chief Justice Roberts says, 'Our country has changed.' Yes, it has. Racists have become much more adept at obfuscating their racism. #VRA" (@ModernSauce @kokobyrd @AaronWorthing @Teddyshouse2II @GregPiperMP @Edzones @Matthew_Barlow @ShivaKap @NerdKing52 @geo_love1 @jstines3 @JetNo) 6/26/13
   
• "Every morning, hundreds of thousands of workers show up for jobs that are unseen, uncertain & underpaid." (@Dena_K_ @EdDarrell @pfontes95) 7/2/13
   
• "This does NOT speak well of the profession: Court OKs Barring High IQs for Cops" (@Siiiimonsays @GodlessAndHappy @BombeRouge @vditucci @Green_fille) 7/15/13
   
• "Well. Doesn't Juror #B37 sound like a real class act."(@NANDEE218 @fgsweetdog @Bdreamer7Helene @mmboucher8 @SharonGibson3 @geekchicohio @mdrfl @mary73534 @lsalander13) 7/16/13
   
• "…aware of any study that correlates retailer locations by racial makeup?" (@thestile1972 @schmangee @lynnphares) 7/18/13
   
• "I work in #RealEstate, can confirm this: "Retail Redlining"—One of the Most Pervasive Forms of Racism Left in America" (@ShivaKap @jben1129 @alakshya2) 7/19/13
   
• "Most psychopaths don't become criminals they become CEOs & politicians" (@pfontes95 @SuSmithJosephy @cantata21) 7/25/13
   
• "'Crack baby' study finds #poverty is worse for child development than exposure to drug in womb" (@G_times @NicoleBonnet1 @nyzap) 7/25/13 

Non sequitur:

• "How to pretend you're Canadian when you #travel." (@De8or4h @SuSmithJosephy @tinacapalbo) 7/1/13
   
• "The unstoppable stupid: After Spending $11,000, Woman Sues Psychic For Not Lifting Curse On Her Love Life" (@tinacapalbo @G_times) 7/12/13
   
• "Behold the ineffable cosmos within the forest's cathedral" (@SisterBhugto @pjsirrah) 7/27/13

Health:

• "Quackery: About 50% of Americans use "alternative" medicine, and 10% use it on their children." (@tinacapalbo @RayChatie) 6/20/13
   
• "Study: Skipping Breakfast Could Increase Risk Of Heart Attack" (@ledfist) 7/25/13
   
• "I endorse this research 110%: Harvard study finds #coffee drinking tied to lower risk of suicide" (@Rebecca_Raphael @tinacapalbo @G_times @bombidil) 7/27/13
   
• "Inspiring: New #Alzheimer's blood test is 93% accurate in clinical trials" (@JRChristenson @MikeConundrum @ladyotomoofsaka ) 7/30/13

Religion:

• "Christian poll finds #atheists commit fewer crimes, divorce less, are better educated than Christians" (@amorYvida62 @joeman42 @gatheiststl @Lee123Sue @mksinsa) 7/3/13
   
• "I keep seeing these #Christian women on Twitter who are constantly posting semi-provacative #selfies with Bible quotes. Beyond weird." (@ShivaKap @Promethus_ @RayChatie @Dena_K_ @HollyTheNurse1 @Ms_PriyaS @BrightEyedDyer @MizMelly) 7/4/13
   
• "Ugh: Russia makes it illegal to insult the 'feelings of religious believers'" (@nais1998 @RedScareBot @Bonnieinchgo @pfontes95) 7/21/13
   
• "If we eliminated #religion & started from scratch, it would be different. If we rediscovered all scientific knowledge, it would be the same." (@ShivaKap @JonDrobny @SisterBhugto @HuntWithThimble @Resoguitar @ArtisanTheory @homesweetyeg) 7/24/13

Economics:

• "A goddamn sad state of affairs: #WalMart is the largest U.S. employer…and second? #KellyServices, a temp agency." (@YEGlifer @mierzwei @DesautelsLuc @pbtrue1 @GrainOfSands @Juicexlx @TheDavidMcGuire) 7/9/13
   
• "Now this is a damn good idea: Oklahoma City hospital posts surgery prices online; creates bidding war" (@taminespr @thomasatmyporch @RayChatie @CriminySTFU @bollbar) 7/11/13
   
• "Technology has boosted productivity without spurring job growth." (@milo9) 7/18/13
   
• "Due to low wages & employee reliance on government subsidies, a typical #WalMart costs taxpayers $904,542 per year." (@Princesswikki @diamondave13 @lfredsson @YEGlifer) 8/2/13

Media:

• "The illusion of choice: 6 companies control 90% of the #media in the U.S." (@Resoguitar @magda196 @Bdreamer7Helene @RanyhynRider) 7/14/13

Sustainability:

• "Trendy, pathetic, 'extreme' tourism: Mount Everest Is Now Covered in Litter and Human Poop" (@nitpickette01 @WilliamBDevittI) 7/25/13
   
• "Adaptive re-use: An abandoned #WalMart has become the largest single-floor public library in the United States" (@homesweetyeg @CriminySTFU @MindFreeZone @phunphunphun @YEGlifer @realtmo) 8/2/13

Social media:

• "I don't really have a schtick. Should I develop one? Twitter seems to like that. #SM" (@jlturpen) 7/24/13
   
• "I wish more people would use their real name & face on Twitter. Hiding behind anonymity gives a sort of 'hollowness' to one's voice." (@SingnPlay @YEGlifer @billraia @albertaadvocate @ElizabMcCormack @Truthseeker_013 @RedAnneBolynn @kma916) 7/28/13

A strange dream

Last night I had a strange dream: My family and I attended some sort of non-denominational morning church service. There was a forgettable message, at the end of which a large screen slid down into the stage opening. We spent the last part of the service watching a film of various nature scenes, accompanied by symphonic music. It was a bit like Roth’s “going home” scene in Soylent Green. I whispered to my wife, “Well, this minister is taking a few shortcuts, isn’t he?” Another member of the congregation turned around and attempted to explain the purpose of the film, but his voice was drowned out by the music. Near what I thought might be the conclusion, the theater became disconnected from its moorings: the entire room tilted toward the stage, to about an angle of 60 degrees. Everyone held onto their seats to stop from sliding and falling. No one seemed particularly bothered by this.

Links 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Birthday Kids

Max just hit the double-digits, and Esmé is now seven. Where does the time go? 

Signpost: Interesting Twitter conversations, 4/28 - 6/18

I continue to enjoy the varied and deep conversations I have with people on Twitter.

Philosophy, Spirituality & Religion:

• "…man is a moderately gregarious, not a completely social animal—a creature more like a wolf, let us say, or an elephant, than like a bee or an ant." (@jaglister @mmwlawtaos)

• "I'm sick to my stomach: 'Faith-Healing Churches Linked to 2 Dozen Child Deaths'" (@LC_of_LA @GameBreakersCan @Ibti @jaglister @NabilAbuAmirah @The_Ben2832 @ledfist @OldIgby)

• "I wonder if there is an alternate universe where there's no suffering?" (@MizMelly @Bailey649 @darwinsbulldog)

• "What do you do when your religion is losing influence? Have more kids & indoctrinate them from birth! #QuiverFull" (@donkeyception @Socknitster @TheSurlyShirley @kerriet11)

• "How about we start with a discussion of the harmonic nature of cortical neural function? Those suckers are always firing." (@jaglister)

• "Today I learned about something—apparently real—that bothers me quite a bit: The Voluntary Human Extinction Movement" (@capelessT @allovus @alexa_v @laNitpickette @kropotsky17)

• "Dear Christians: Please read Matthew 26 carefully, and then let me know if you think Jesus would approve of your owning an assault rifle." (@JoeG2001 @geraldpeterson4 @ShivaKap @ASH_auldshaman @tillytoogood)

Urban Planning:

• "Is the [Cleveland] Opportunity Corridor a civil rights issue?" (@schmangee @jaglister)

Politics & Economics:

• "Bye-bye middle class: The share of national income going to workers continues to fall." (@tinacapalbo @BombeRouge @ShivaKap)

• "Ridiculous: Since 2011, Republicans have spent no less than 15% of their time trying to repeal Obamacare." (@jxjs12 @sweetsmithie01 @hrhsar @1Dad2Four @hausdorff80 @ScrewFoxNews @Didikatz)

• "A question about this #IRS thing; What if the supposed targets of the IRS were targeted because they were trying to avoid paying taxes?" (@FranchiseKing @mdrache @ftdatl)

• "I just realized that 'Fox & Friends' is almost exactly like a children's show. It's got the rhythm & content structure of Sesame Street." (@ASH_auldshaman @JoeG2001 @tillytoogood @BevinsElizabeth)

• "Politics aside, let's just appreciate this: #Crime is diminishing across the developed world (but no one knows why)." (@JoeG4Freedom @geekchicohio)

Privacy:

• "James Clapper says the @guardian's leak of #NSA data collection is 'reprehensible'. And the people of the world say: 'thank-you'. #privacy" (@ShivaKap @vickijee) 

Infrastructure:

• "Something NEEDS to be done - American Society of Civil Engineers grades U.S. bridge condition 'C+'" (@joecimperman @Dena_K_ @sjf1 @TheeMattMarquis @Matthew_Barlow @TheGistOf @Another_Wench @ODOT_Cleveland @TeacherReality)

Photography:

• "The canal near Shirakawa-Minami-dori, in the Gion district. #Kyoto #Japan" (@picklestfc)

Science & Technology:

• "Did you know that NASA is *actually* working on faster than light travel? This is not #SciFi." (@LisaToddSutton @TheGistOf @johnpocalypse)

Non sequitur:

• "Slow and steady wins the race. But I'm a little goddamn tired of slow and steady right now." (@BrightEyedDyer @TinaMorphis @mrbabypants @mbattistella @mmdoty @Tehelmin)

• "Last night I dreamt of a wonderful street fair, on a wonderful street that actually exists. The problem is, said street fair does not exist." (@MonasLists @allovus)

• "For better or for worse, I've learned that sometimes the optimal decision has nothing to do with being rational." (@SingnPlay) 

Closing of "Space-Time" photography-video exhibition

"Space-Time" features photography from Jason Robert Carroll and a video installation from Elena Harvey Collins.

"Jason Carroll and Elena Collins explore the complexities of space, both physically and conceptually, taking long looks at some of our most abandoned, mundane, and subliminal spaces."

Closing: Friday, May 17, 2012, 5-11 PM
Location: Survival Kit Gallery - 1305 W. 80th Suite 303, Third Floor (Located in the W.78th St. Studios Bldg.), Cleveland, Ohio 44102

Click here for the event page on Facebook.

Interesting conversations, through 4/28/13

Memorable thoughts & conversations on Twitter over the past couple weeks:

Non-sequitur:

• "Decided to start a campaign to eliminate the abomination-word 'webinar' from the lexicon. Anyone with me?" (@BeKind2Other @mrbabypants @Gary_R_Walker @allovus @tree_hug_r @ShivaChimp @CriminySTFU)
  


• "Putting cheese after most words will make said word sound unpleasant. Foot cheese, scalp cheese, tree cheese, mustache cheese." (@FalconPiss911 @Another_Wench @PerturbSecular @ObservantLynn)

Economics, etc.:

• "Hmmm… Inside India's 'No-Frills' Hospitals, Where Heart Surgery Costs Just $800" (@ledfist @MattTaylor)
  
• "The level of stupidity here is profound: Sustainable Development could be outlawed in Kansas" (@Uppity1 @De8or4h @treehuggeruk)
  
• "Could we consider weather tweets to act similarly to bads in that they artificially inflate GDP?" (@CavsFangelo)

Religion:

• "Read God's laws in Leviticus14. Explain how it differs to voodoo. - Voodoo has dancing." (@ratminer @dawkinsassange)

• "Heartbreaking new poll: a third of Americans want Christianity as the state religion" (@CriminySTFU @drcreek @mariarfin @kahrviacree)

Psychology:

• "I present as an extrovert, but I also have very high social control, strong empathy and I recharge alone." (@picklestfc @DEATHxBLACKHOLE @susancain)
• "What you say and what you do represents who you are. Your intent means nothing. Your effect is everything. Take responsibility." (@picklestfc @indieKari @MiekeInc)

Gun control: "We need to dismantle the #NRA, and apparently also this Congress. Let's dismantle both, then re-build a new Congress." (@JoeG4Freedom @th3v0t4ry @osPatriot @Zionistchuck @demsforprogress @yulianagarcia @forgottentq @usernamenuse @BridgetteJohns2 @unclemiseryguts @ledfist @CriminySTFU)

The Internet: "A little help: there was an article circulating a while back about how viral internet stuff isn't really viral." (@kayaoakes @ChurchSnobTEC @malawijay @adamgurri)

"Space-Time" photography-video installation featuring Jason Carroll & Elena Collins opens April 19, 2013

"Space-Time" features photography from Jason Robert Carroll and a video installation from Elena Harvey Collins.

"Jason Carroll and Elena Collins explore the complexities of space, both physically and conceptually, taking long looks at some of our most abandoned, mundane, and subliminal spaces."

Opening: Friday, April 19, 2012, 5-11 PM
Location: Survival Kit Gallery - 1305 W. 80th Suite 303, Third Floor (Located in the W.78th St. Studios Bldg.), Cleveland, Ohio 44102

Click here for the event page on Facebook.

"With their intent gaze visually manifested through multiple exposures, and exhaustive film shots, they implore us to think twice about our assumed surroundings, digging past their immediate appearance and assigning them heightened significance. We are forced to consider our personal relationships with these spaces, as well as the histories of others there before us."

Interesting conversations for the week ending 4/6/13

You'd think that 140 characters would limit one's ability to carry on interesting discussion. Apparently not…read on.

Urban planning: "In Cleveland, philanthropic foundations, for christ's sake, help fund highway projects…Unbelievable." (@schmangee @thestile1972 @CLEstreetcar @thisismycle @chezrebellion @theGreaterMarin @lynnphares @danmoulthrop)

Religion:

• "'Why do you have to go after religion? It gives people comfort; it doesn't hurt anything.' Oh, really?" (@jaglister @Bailey649 @SimonOkill @homesweetyeg) 

• "'You can safely assume you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do.' - Anne Lamott" (@BevinsElizabeth @homesweetyeg) 

• "Can God create a future event of which he has no foreknowledge? If 'no', he's not omnipotent. If 'yes', he's not omniscient." (@jdvanlaningham @homesweetyeg @thestile1972) 

• "And this is why people keep laughing at Christians - Woman sees God in her goldfish cracker." (@homesweetyeg @JansensDickSays @Jessica_Effect)

Gun control:

• "Interesting idea - Democrats propose $10,000 fine for gun owners who don't have insurance" (@JoeG4Freedom @SarahSecord @ledfist @mariarfin) 

• "RIGHT. WING. NUT. JOB. - Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) links popular gun safety measure to bestiality" (@cheerbear34 @JoeG2001 @JoeG4Freedom)

Photography: "Dilemma…trying to decide if I should print one of my photos on aluminum for my upcoming show. 90% chance of awesome…10% chance of big waste." (@RudyHellzapop @cheerbear34 @thomasatmyporch)

Health: "Why has Obama approved a law giving immunity to the production and sale of genetically modified food in the US?" (@2008Cornish @Bailey649 @DemsChgTheTalk)

Drugs: "The war on #drugs is far more immoral than most drug use" (@Maddog_Squid @Bailey649)

This week's interesting conversations, ending 3/30/13

• Urban Planning: "…who wins the land use lottery in Cleveland? Not the people." (@schmangee @thestile1972)

• Religion: "What a horrible story Passover is…the killing of your enemy's first-born children by a 'just' God? Not telling my children this nightmare." (@G_times @Ibex67 @ShivaChimp @TeriInk @BombeRouge) - "What aspects of religion should atheists (respectfully) adopt?" (@G_times @mmdoty @alaindebotton)

• Social Media: "You scared avatar cartoon c---s. You egg c---s. Who are you f-----g Toons anyway?" (@FalconPiss911 @bustermante @Little___Sister @qx) - "Today I had a thought, and decided to keep that thought to myself. Because sometimes it's better that way." (@JoeG2001 @indieKari) - "Why must people always bicker on here. I mean really?!? Everyone just has to comment, just has to make a fuss! It's frustrating!" (@Skeptical_Lady @JenniferZenda) - "We are in the midst of a 'narcissism epidemic', enabled by the Internet. Enough selfies, people!" (@MiekeInc @mkhajdin)

• Politics: "PDX is considered one of the friendliest cities in the US and we need a politeness campaign? How could that backfire? Let’s count the ways." (@picklestfc) - "LOL: So-called 'small-government' conservatives in Idaho want to forbid any reference to premarital sex on television" (@JoeG2001 @JPHaukkavaara) - "Help me figure this one out (#GOPbubble): 'Fox News Calls Obama 'Enemy Of Israel' As Israel Gives Him Highest Award'" (@CriminySTFU @JohnWallace30 @JenniferKWarden)

• Economics: "'Trickle-down consumption' puts the middle-class in debt & leads to bankruptcies, divorce, longer commutes." (@ledfist @wcgirl1) - "Americans need only work 1/3 the time they did in 1975 to afford a common bundle of household goods." (@ledfist @thomasatmyporch)

• Futurism: "In 'Mining the Sky', planetary scientist John Lewis argues that our solar system can support 10 quadrillion people." (@ArtisanTheory)

• Non-sequitur: "Found in one of the dressers. [a small animal skeleton]" (@CriminySTFU @BombeRouge)

• Tech Security: "So I've been shopping 4 dresses because I'm going 2 Vegas show Sat. Google noticed, now every site I go to is advertising dresses." (@chellegaylor24 @Da_Philosopher)

• The Weather: "Everyone in #CLE is complaining about the snow today…but it's absolutely beautiful. Thankful to see this one last time before it warms." (@cheerbear34 @forgottentq)

• Personal: "Nobody is ever really "too busy". If it's important to them, they'll make time." (@LadyGirlPerson) - "Trying to be cool is…a sickness. Being cool means being aloof. It means that you don't get excited about life…you don't get it." (@Stanmatthias @tinacapalbo) - "My subconsciousness has been actively rewiring the neural networks in my head. True story." (@JoblessJeri)

Turner

I don't think I'll ever tire of the beautiful drama in J. M. W. Turner's paintings. 

Interesting conversations, week-ending 3/23/13

• Politics: "'I'm a libertarian' invariably means 'I don't give shit about anybody but me and mine.'" (@SarahSecord, @QrysBinThynkn, @Jason89, @leight75, @qx, @picklestfc, @PeacefulConserv, @ledfist) 

• Economics: "Elizabeth Warren: Why isn’t #MinimumWage keeping up with productivity? It should be $22 per hour." (@MitchNutter) - "Copyright wasn't meant to be near-permanent. Culture should be recycled to make more culture." (@G_times, @beebearninja) - "Why an MRI costs $1,080 in America and $280 in France" (@Maddog_Squid, @DrLearnALot)

• Gun Control: "N.R.A. Can’t Believe How Well National Conversation About Guns Is Going" (@cheerbear34, @forgottentq, @FranchiseKing) - "A global arms trade treaty would keep weapons out of the hands of war criminals. Of course, the #NRA is objecting." (@BraveBrewer57)

• Science & Technology: "The concept of #QuantumComputing blows my mind. It BLOWS. MY. MIND." (@HovellingHermit, @allovus) - "Don't fool yourselves, all those 'white collar jobs' are just people emailing each other all day." (@joshwalsh, @mtheoryx) - "Why do #Mac users never seem to use their apps full-screen? Don't they have a 'maximize' button? They're always squinting. #tech" (@MiekeInc)

• Non sequitur: "Liquid lunch..." (@jlqiv, @badmouthblonde) - "One of my favorite hobbies is doing nothing." (@Guri02, @johnpocalypse, @fgsweetdog)

• Health: "He should have had the quadruple bypass burger, he would have survived!" (@MadameRamotswe, @RainerPerlitz) - "I'm envious of your target. But call that a calorie spike? When doing 4HB we hit 5000+ on cheat day ;)" (@qx, @thelittlepecan)

• Social: "I'm going to present at @TEDxCLE next year about the benefits of hosting @TEDxCLE at a venue that doesn't sell out in 10 minutes." (@JoeG2001, @lzone)