http://www.ted.com/talks/joshua_prager_in_search_for_the_man_who_broke_my_neck.html

VIII
Labour is blossoming or dancing where
The body is not bruised to pleasure soul.
Nor beauty born out of its own despair,
Nor blear-eyed wisdom out of midnight oil.
O chestnut-tree, great-rooted blossomer,
Are you the leaf, the blossom or the bole?
O body swayed to music, O brightening glance,
How can we know the dancer from the dance?

• Yeats looks for a solution to the pain of unrequited passion. In this poems original ending, Yeats conjures the nostalgia of the spring of youth and reciprocated sexuality.
• Yeats looks towards nature for inspiration, admiring the grand chestnut tree, giving forth blossoms even after old age with a continual spring of vital energy:
• However, Yeats acknowledges that mankind in old age is not looked upon with such veneration as is the old, stately tree.
• In asking his final question as to the use of a long life, he looks to the dancer – a dancer who creates his or her own choreography to the constraints of the pace of musical accompaniment.
• To Yeats, life is a series of fluid and self-invented steps, not governed by time but rather invented against time.

“truly to enjoy bodily warmth, some small part of you must be cold, for there is no quality in this world that is not what it is merely by contrast. Nothing exists in itself. If you flatter yourself that you are all over comfortable, and have been so a long time, then you cannot be said to be comfortable any more.”

Blow

Quotes

Sometimes you're flush and sometimes you're bust, and when you're up, it's never as good as it seems, and when you're down, you never think you'll be up again, but life goes on, remember that. Money isn't real, George. It doesn't matter. It only seems like it does.

So in the end, was it worth it? Jesus Christ. How irreparably changed my life has become. It's always the last days of summer and I've been left out in the cold with no door to get back in. I'll grant you I've had more than my share of poignant moments. Life passes most people by when they're busy making grand plans for it. Throughout my lifetime I've left pieces of my heart here and there. And now, there's almost barely enough to stay alive. But I force a smile, knowing that my ambition far exceeded my talent. There are no more white horses or pretty ladies at my door. 

This is 100% pure Colombian cocaine, ladies and gentleman. Disco Shit. Pure as the driven snow.

Sir John Lubbock - Music (...and more)

http://www.authorama.com/pleasures-of-life-21.html

Super Human - Kílian Jornet Burgada

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/24/magazine/creating-the-all-terrain-human.html?adxnnl=1&ref=general&src=me&adxnnlx=1363892449-bergpIHU91VbSTL9ZhVbTQ

Roberto Benigni Oscar Speech

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8cTR6fk8frs

...L'amor che move il sole e l'altre stelle

"But already my desire and my will

were being turned like a wheel, all at one speed,
by the Love which moves the sun and the other stars."

Famous People Smoking

http://famouspeoplesmokingcigarettes.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/olivia-wilde.html

20 amazing facts about the human body

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2013/jan/27/20-human-body-facts-science

Shut Up and Listen

http://www.ted.com/talks/ernesto_sirolli_want_to_help_someone_shut_up_and_listen.html


Book: Dead Aid

Book: Small is Beautiful (A Study of Economics as if People Mattered)

Peter Drucker - management consultant

Richard Branson - autobiography

7-unfortunate-habits-of-unhappy-people

http://www.marcandangel.com/2013/01/23/7-unfortunate-habits-of-unhappy-people/

Cameron Russell "Genetic Lottery"

http://www.ted.com/talks/cameron_russell_looks_aren_t_everything_believe_me_i_m_a_model.html

Movies and Manhood

http://www.ted.com/talks/colin_stokes_how_movies_teach_manhood.html

made me cry

http://www.ted.com/talks/israel_and_iran_a_love_story.html

Robin Chase

http://www.ted.com/talks/robin_chase_excuse_me_may_i_rent_your_car.html

What we get from this adventure is just sheer joy. And joy is, after all, the end of life. We do not live to eat and make money. We eat and make money to be able to enjoy life. That is what life means and what life is for.

http://www.ted.com/talks/ben_saunders_why_bother_leaving_the_house.html

Entrepreneurship of Trust

http://www.ted.com/talks/rachel_botsman_the_currency_of_the_new_economy_is_trust.html

Everybody Needs a Fish Bowl

"The secret to happiness is low expectations"

http://www.ted.com/talks/barry_schwartz_on_the_paradox_of_choice.html

First Aid Kit :O

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fPlCxGJX-k&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdajTu0IkQU&feature=related

How to Memorise a Deck of Cards at Random Order

http://www.ted.com/talks/joshua_foer_feats_of_memory_anyone_can_do.html?awesm=on.ted.com_Foer&utm_campaign=&utm_medium=on.ted.com-static&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_content=awesm-publisher

Reinventing Fire - a 50 Year Plan for Energy

http://www.ted.com/talks/amory_lovins_a_50_year_plan_for_energy.html


http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-listing/1603583718/ref=sr_1_1_olp?ie=UTF8&qid=1335998627&sr=8-1&condition=new

How To Buy Happiness

http://www.ted.com/talks/michael_norton_how_to_buy_happiness.html

YouTube artists that are going to EXPLODE

Gabrielle Aplin

Sarah Close

Meghan Tonjes

How simple ideas lead to scientific discoveries

http://www.ted.com/talks/how_simple_ideas_lead_to_scientific_discoveries.html

Homo homini lupus

Homo homini lupus est is a Latin phrase meaning "man is a wolf to [his fellow] man." First attested in Plautus' Asinaria (495, "lupus est homo homini"), the phrase is sometimes translated as "man is man's wolf", which can be interpreted to mean that man preys upon man. It is widely referenced when discussing the horrors of which humans are capable.

As an opposition, Seneca wrote that "man is something sacred for man."^[1] Both aphorisms were drawn on by Thomas Hobbes in the dedication of his work De Cive (1651): "To speak impartially, both sayings are very true; That Man to Man is a kind of God; and that Man to Man is an arrant Wolfe. The first is true, if we compare Citizens amongst themselves; and the second, if we compare Cities." Hobbes's observation in turn echoes a line from Plautus claiming that man is inherently selfish.

A Time Comes When Silence Is Betrayal

what a powerful voice!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlM87dwYPjg

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/sep/02/911-photo-thomas-hoepker-meaning

http://www.ted.com/talks/donald_sadoway_the_missing_link_to_renewable_energy.html

"After me, the flood" -Lovely Phrase?

The phrase “Après moi, le déluge” (“After me, the deluge") is attributed to the King of FranceLouis XV (1710-1774):

According to another interpretation, the phrase may have been coined not by the king himself, but by his most famous lover, Madame de Pompadour (1721-1764)

(Also phrase used in hebrew, "אחרי המבול", which translates similarly to "After me, the storm/flood"

The verb could be understood as a subjunctive concession: After me, let the deluge come (it can come, but it makes no difference to me). In this case, the speaker asserts that nothing that happens after his disappearance matters to him. 

It seems that there existed in Greece an expression or proverbial saying which is preserved in verse in a fragment of a tragedy whose author has not been identified (Tragicorum Fragmenta Adespota, 513 Nauck):

ἐμοῦ θανόντος γαῖα μιχθήτω πυρί·
οὐδὲν μέλει μοι· τἀμὰ γὰρ καλῶς ἔχει.

When I die, let earth and fire mix:

It matters not to me, for my affairs will be unaffected. 

Karl Marx also relates the phrase to Capitalism:

"If you read Karl Marx, the Capital (Vol. 1, Part III, Chapter Ten, Section 5)

Capital that has such good reasons for denying the sufferings of the legions of workers that surround it, is in practice moved as much and as little by the sight of the coming degradation and final depopulation of the human race, as by the probable fall of the earth into the sun. In every stockjobbing swindle every one knows that some time or other the crash must come, but every one hopes that it may fall on the head of his neighbour, after he himself has caught the shower of gold and placed it in safety. Après moi le déluge! [After me, the flood] is the watchword of every capitalist and of every capitalist nation. Hence Capital is reckless of the health or length of life of the labourer, unless under compulsion from society. [81] To the out-cry as to the physical and mental degradation, the premature death, the torture of over-work, it answers: Ought these to trouble us since they increase our profits?"

Elizabeth Gilbert...


“Because—in the end it’s like this—centuries ago, people used to gather for these moonlight dances of sacred dance and music that would go on for hours and hours, until dawn. And they were always magnificent, because the dancers were professionals and they were terrific, right?


But every once in a while, very rarely, something would happen, and one of these performers would actually become transcendent. And I know you know what I’m talking about, because I know you’ve all seen, at some point in your life, a performance like this. It was like time would stop, and the dancer would sort of step through some kind of portal and he wasn’t doing anything different than he had ever done, 1,000 nights before, but everything would align. And all of a sudden, he would no longer appear to be merely human. He would be lit from within, and lit from below and all lit up on fire with divinity. 

“And when this happened, back then, people knew it for what it was, you know, they called it by its name. They would put their hands together and they would start to chant, ‘Allah, Allah, Allah, God, God, God.’ That’s God, you know...

http://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_on_vulnerability.html

http://www.ted.com/talks/andrew_stanton_the_clues_to_a_great_story.html

http://www.ted.com/talks/susan_cain_the_power_of_introverts.html

http://www.ted.com/talks/tan_le_my_immigration_story.html

http://www.ted.com/talks/drew_dudley_everyday_leadership.html

Idan Raichel - Mom, Dad and all the Rest - Links and Lyrics

Idan Raichel - Mom, Dad and all the Rest

A beautiful Israeli song by the Idan Raichel Project. The song portrays the true and deep pain of soldiers returning home from war. It also questions whether a soldier's family even knows the experience they have been through. It firmly states there is no glamour and pride associated with a soldier's work.

The song was actually written by a fallen soldier of the Yom Kippur War.

Lyrics

And when the night is over and the sun shines

Will you know Mom, what our eyes have seen?

Tall tree-tops around, yet with scorched stems

Big houses around, but ruined and matte colored

I walk on ruins, Mom

And believe me, there is no pear and there is no flower

We are not heroes because our labour is dark (black)

The sun will set, the darkness will come

And we will sleep with our clothes in the bed

Yes mother, it's important, it's hard and it's terrible

I swear that it is hard, but I am staying

The ground is gray and the horizon is black

And the blue of the sky lingers and waits

And does not touch, it does not touch the black horizon

A space between them, nothing to do with all the rest

And it is very hard, but I am staying

There is a wired fence, and beyond it a drawn sword

Mom, Dad and all the rest

We are not heroes because our labour is dark (black)

The sun will set, the darkness will come

And we will sleep with our clothes in the bed

Yes mother, it's important, it's hard and it's terrible

And when the night is over and the sun shines

Will you know Mom, what our eyes have seen?

Michel Cohen - Links and Lyrics

Michel Cohen - Al Tashlicheni Le'et Zikna (Do not cast me off in time of old age)

Young vocal-genius Michel Cohen covers a song which is based on a Psalm from Tehilim, Chapter 71.

"My mouth shall be filled with Thy praise, and with Thy glory all the day. Cast me not off in the time of old age; when my strength faileth, forsake me not"

Lyrics

My mouth shall be filled with Thy praise

And with Thy glory all the day.

Do not cast me off in time of old age;

do not forsake me when my strength fails.

Shay Hamber - Links and Lyrics

Shay Hamber - Veat (And You) (Harel Skaat Cover)

And You

This day, which crashed on me

Which made it too hard

I forgot about myself and that's it

I was, I was not myself

I'll close this door behind me

Again could not touch me

In the depths of my heart

I was wrong, I was not myself

That the emptiness will not struck me again

The reality which awaits

That I will not cry again

That I will find comfort

A little bit

And you

Who are you kidding, when you

Don't hug me, again

You almost raised me for a moment

I would have been different, if I would have known

That you,

Who are you getting closer to?

Who are you falling in love with?

Who are you not leaving?

If only you would stay,

I would have made you happy

And again I walk, the same city, the same faces

I know the smells in the air

I was wrong, I didn't see you

And suddenly they are all the same

Every song reminds me

From every ring my heart stops

I touched, I didn't feel you

And I never again want to fall in love

The love that will rot

The emotions

That will burn

Slowly

And you,

Who are you kidding, when you

Don't hug me yet again

You almost raised me for a moment

I would have been different, if I would have known

That you,

Who are you getting closer to?

Who are you falling in love with?

Who are you not leaving?

If only you would stay,

I would have made you happy

And you,

Who are you touching slowly?

Who are you hurting?

Almost like then, when you wounded me

The whole world you discovered,

And then took with you

Who is it now that is touching you?

I hope that he is happy that he has you

That he doesn't hurt you,

That he doesn't harm you,

I would have been like that, if I would have known

The Greatest Movie Ever Sold / Exit Through The Gift Shop

"Corporations are raising our children, McDonalds feeds them. And Disney 
and Time Warner entertains them."

The Best T-shirt Website

Skreened

The Most Dangerous Drug

Brilliant article by Charlie Brooker from the Guardian

The most dangerous drug isn't meow-meow, it isn't even alcohol...

Favourite TED Videos - Denis Dutton: A Darwinian theory of beauty

Denis Dutton: A Darwinian theory of beauty

Educating! Explores a whole new point of view on the subject of beauty and its origins

Favourite Quotes:
Is beauty in the eye of the beholder? No! Its deep in our minds, its a gift handed down from the intelligent skills and rich emotional lives of our most ancient ancestors. Our powerful reaction to images, to the expression of emotion in art, to the beauty of music, to the night sky - will be with us and our descendants will be with us for as long as the human race exists

Favourite TED Videos - Paul Bloom: The origins of pleasure

Paul Bloom: The origins of pleasure

Favourite Quotes:
The mind is its own place,
and in itself
Can make a Heaven of Hell,
a Hell from Heaven

Trust Quotes

• "People ask me why it's so hard to trust people, and I ask them, why is it so hard to keep a promise."

• "I'll start letting my guard down when people stop giving me reasons to keep it up. "

• "I've learned the best way to prevent your heart from getting broken, is to act like you don't have one. "

• "“Trust yourself. Create the kind of self that you will be happy to live with all your life. Make the most of yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibility into flames of achievement.” -Golda Meir, 4th Prime Minister of Israel

• "Never trust sheep. " -Ryan Stiles

And my favourite one of all, of course by the great William Shakespeare:

• "This above all, to thine own self be true." -Hamlet

A clever interpretation of the quote:
"It means to first know thyself, who you are, why you behave, act, speak and react in the way you do. Know all that lurks in your subconscious driving your will at times to your destruction. To know your own mind and conquer it with mastery of will is to be true to oneself without compromise or egotism."

Christian Troy from Nip/Tuck

"God gave me a dick and I intend to glorify him by playing that organ as intensely and as often as possible."

"Once you've seen a woman's cumface, you've seen her soul."

"You want the wisdom to know the difference between what you can and can't change? Here's step 13: everything disappears. Love, trees, rocks, steel, plastic, human beings. None of us get out alive. Now you can huddle in a group and face it one day at a time, or you can be grateful that when your body rubs against somebody else's it explodes with enough pleasure to make you forget even for a minute that you're a walking pile of ashes. Now that is the truth. If you're strong it'll make you free, if you're weak, it'll make you... you."

Matisyahu

Jerusalem, if I forget you...

My Favourite YouTube Channels

WatchListenTell - best acoustic performances around the streets of London
http://www.youtube.com/user/watchlistentell

http://www.youtube.com/user/kinkradio/videos

Édith Piaf

Vocal Geniuses - Angus & Julia Stone

The Australian brother-sister duo, Angus & Julia Stone, were introduced to me by a dear someone. Julia's voice reminds of Lykke Li's - they both possess such magical and unique voices.

"Its been days now, and you change your mind again...

it feels like years, and I can tell how time can bend your ideas"

Angus & Julia Stone - And The Boys (acoustic)

Angus & Julia Stone - You're the one that I want (Grease musical acoustic cover)

Angus & Julia Stone - For You (acoustic)

Angus & Julia Stone - Mango Tree (live)

Angus & Julia Stone - Santa Monica Dream (acoustic)

Too Big To Fail

Last night I watched the HBO film, Too Big To Fail, which centers around US Treasury Secretary - Henry Paulson - and his struggle during the 2008 financial meltdown. The movie spans over the few weeks in September and October of 2008 when...


Favourite Quotes




Recession Jokes

(Referring to Henry Paulson's $700bn bailout proposal to Congress in 2008)

(Referring to the $80bn Dubai Debt Crisis in 2009)

(Self-explanatory :P)

(My favourite one - banks need money - 'Recession style' bank robbery)

Khaleesi: "Moon of my life, are you hurt?"

An emotional scene from the seventh episode of Game of Thrones titled 'You Win or You Die'

X-Men First Class

Favourite Quotes
"Charles Xavier: Listen to me very carefully, my friend: Killing will not bring you peace.

1. Erik Lehnsherr: Peace was never an option."

"Colonel Hendry...

Sebastian Shaw"

And of course the breathtaking January Jones

Lykke Li

Lykke Li has been my favourite musician ever since I heard 'Until We Bleed' years ago. I have absolutely loved almost every song shes made and so if I were to start posting my favourite videos of her this post would never end. I have tried to narrow down the list in an attempt to only include the special performances and truly powerful songs.

Lykke Li - Tonight (live acoustic)

This performance would even make Schwarzenegger or Stallone cry

Lykke Li - I'm Good, I'm Gone (live in the back of a cab)

Lykke Li - Little Bit (acoustic on the beach)

The Story of a Gentleman?

This is the story of my reflection on a night out with the guys regarding the characteristics, behaviour required of a gentleman.


For years I've tried to follow a narrow set of rules to guide my behaviour so that it is more gentleman-like. Quite basic manners - treat people (especially women) with respect, be patient and polite etc.


Last night I was out in a nightclub in Budapest when two somewhat-funny occurrences reminded of the importance of  maintaining a gentleman's etiquette.

The first awkward incident happened when a waiter at the club stopped by our table to collect the empty glasses. As he started collecting the empty ones, I leaned over and made a 'go away' hand gesture like this:


Obviously my intention (and in my head this made sense) was to communicate to the waiter can that he can take all the empty glasses away. Awkwardly-enough the waiter interpreted the gesture as a 'get away from my table and get out of here' because he asked my friend next to me in a worried voice, "Should I leave? I'm just trying to clean up the table..." This was unbelievably embarrassing but the waiter left before I could explain to him what had happened. I immediately explained to my friend (who knew this already) that I would never ever treat another human being like that.


This brings us to the second story of the night involving the friend I just talked about. From this story you'll see that he certainly lacks the gentleman code. Now throughout the night a lot of people kept bothering us - sitting down at our table, crossing over to other tables by stepping on the white couches leaving black footprints which in itself is inconsiderate and rude. And so each time this happened my friend became a little bit more angry at people's behaviour. Then at one point three girls tried to cross through the table (climbing over the couches) to the dance floor. My friend released his built-up anger on these three drunk girls by pushing one of them so hard that she fell down on our couch. As soon as I saw this happen, I stepped in to help the girl up and explain to her that although it was disrespectful of her to just jump over the table - my friend had no right to use violence, ESPECIALLY on a girl. My friend clearly knew he over-reacted but that is just another part of acting respectfully - being patient and calm. These two stories precisely show the immense difference in the mindset guiding my behaviour and the mindset of my friend. The most important rule of all - never ever raise your hand at a woman.


In the last section I want to talk about some of the qualities that make up this 'gentleman' figure. I remember reading an article a few years ago in GQ about the desperate need of gentlemen in the modern world - it was actually that article that sparked my initial behavioural guide. Some of these points are taken from other articles on the subject:


1) Respect for oneself, respect for others, respect for tradition, respect for change. Style may be irrelevant but putting thought into your outfit implies a degree of self-respect.


2) When engaging in an activity, do it well as it is a reflection of yours values and capacity.


3) A gracious loser who knows that not all battles can be won and that losing can be honorable. However, a gentleman must not be scared to fight for something if it required. The gentleman faces a problem head-on but is not ashamed to ask for help if it is needed.


4) In regards to women, a gentleman will never use pick-up lines, will always be honest and complementary - a man will show genuine interest in a woman.


5) No man is above apologizing and no gentleman should gossip unless a story needs to retold.


6)  “A man’s true character lies in how he treats someone who is of no consequence to him.” This quote really applies to my waiter situation - that manners and professionalism can be practiced at any level of any kind.


7) Lastly, the gentleman will usually be well-read, educated and culturally-open. The gentleman will not impose his beliefs on others but instead will listen, discuss and debate his point of view.

Lissie - yet another vocal genius, brava!

How raw... How pure...

Lissie - Everywhere I go (acoustic)

Adele...

Favourite Songs from 21

Adele - One and Only (goosebumps from 1:10)

Adele - He Won't Go, no acoustic version :(

John Legend - Rolling in the Deep (cover)

Adele - Rolling in the Deep (Jamie xx Shuffle - my favourite)

Bonnie Tyler

"...it wasn't until she damaged her vocal cords
through sheer frustration that she developed her career-defining husky voice..."

Bonnie Tyler - It's a Heartache

"...my voice was huskier than before, and had more of an edge. It turned out losing my voice was not too treacherous for me - I had my first hit in America with my new husky voice on It's a Heartache..."

Game of Thrones Quote on Death

"There is only one god,” he says.

“And his name is Death."

And there is only one thing we say to death... "Not today."

Dr House Quote on Life

"...you are mortal, you're just a bag of cells with an expiration date..." 

Again Google can be very educational

It was Martha Graham's birthday today! (I just found out who she is today)

This picture really reminds me of Natalie Portman's powerful final dance performance in the film Black Swan

Black Swan - Final Scene - 'The Swan's Escape'

The song used in the YouTube video is Cosmic Love by Florence and the Machine

Below is a link to a beautiful acoustic take of Cosmic Love

"A falling star fell from your heart and landed in my eyes

I screamed aloud, as it tore through them, and now it's left me blind

The stars, the moon, they have all been blown out

You left me in the dark

No dawn, no day, I'm always in this twilight

In the shadow of your heart"

I digress...

Consumerism! - "I keep on buying so much I don't need"

So how did we get here..? Well it all started with a Marketing Ethics assignment which fueled...

Malcolm Gladwell - Blink

http://www.nerve.com/screeningroom/books/thestorytellingproblem

Enzo Ferarri

Enzo Ferrari with one of the drivers racing for Scuderia Ferrari

I recently read a case study on how Enzo Ferrari (and a very talented team) built the iconic and prestigious Ferrari brand for over 60 years to be valued today at $7.3 billion. One of the most interesting stories in the article was about how the black prancing horse on a yellow background became the symbol of Ferrari.


Before Scuderia Ferrari (the original name) was formed, Enzo was actually a race car driver in Maranello, Italy. After winning one of the races, Countess Paolina awarded Enzo the prize and suggested that he draw a prancing horse on the side of his car as it brings good luck. She explained that her son was a fighter pilot in World War I who died fighting fearlessly and he had a drawing of a prancing horse on the side of his plane. Enzo honoured her offer and admired the powerful idea of a prancing horse -  It is then that he decided to add the yellow background and use this as a official Ferrari logo.


The article then also went on to discuss the numerous automobile engine innovations causing significant changes in the racing world. Enzo often insulted and questioned the logic of the British car manufacturers (such as Lotus) when they began using rear-mid engines (engines that are placed in the back of the car). Enzo would always say "The horse does not push the cart - it pulls it"


The last interesting topic worth mentioning is the use of the word 'Sprezzatura' in the article. Sprezzatura is "a certain nonchalance, so as to conceal all art and make whatever one does or says appear to be without effort and almost without any thought about it." Another shorter definition is "studied carelessness." The relevance of this word to the article was in relation to the current Chairman of Ferrari - Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, who has been present in the company almost since its beginning. Montezemolo is known for his stylish classic dressing and his sprezzatura. Seems quite fitting to the Ferrari culture as Enzo was also known to be persistent and strict regarding his designs, as well as uncaring regarding the drivers racing for Ferrari (most of whom died in crashes during races). Interesting person that's for sure...

Favourite TED Videos - Stanley McChrystal: Listen, learn ... then lead

Stanley McChrystal: Listen, learn ... then lead

LEADERSHIP, amazing, brave, honour, respect, intelligent, extremely powerful...

Favourite quote:
"Leaders can let you fail... and yet not let you be a failure"

Favourite TED Videos - Sarah Kay: If I should have a daughter

Sarah Kay: If I should have a daughter ...

Great poem! Cute and inspirational

Reminds me of this famous slam poetry video about daughters

Also here's a link to the song she sings in the poem

Favourite TED Videos - Caroline Casey: Looking past limits

Caroline Casey: Looking past limits

Inspirational, powerful, motivating, moving

Favourite quotes:
"Disability is like the elephant in the room. And I wanted to make you see it in a positive way, no charity, no pity..."

"Car and motorbikes and elephants - that's not freedom, being absolutely truly yourself is freedom. And I never needed eyes to see, never, I simply needed vision and belief..."

Just Some Quotes About God

Some humorous ones at first, but then respectable ones second

• "If you could reason with religious people, there would be no religious people." (By House :p)
• "Science flies you to the moon, religion flies you into buildings."
• "When I was a child, I prayed to god for a bicycle, then I realized that god doesn't work that way...so I stole one and prayed for his forgiveness." (Emo Phillips)
• (About religion but applies to almost anything) "Never argue with a fool. He'll drag you down to his level then beat you with experience"
• (Another one like that) “Never argue with a fool; onlookers may not be able to tell the difference.”

Now some intelligent ones,

• “Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is not omnipotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Then whence cometh evil? Is he neither able nor willing? Then why call him God?” Epicurus (BCE 341-270)
• "The way to see by faith is to shut the eye of reason." Benjamin Franklin
• "I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use." Galileo Galilei
• (The answer to people when they tell you: Yeah, but you can't disprove God either!)                     "You are never called upon to prove a negative, that is a law of logic." The great Ayn Rand!

(Ayn Rand interview about God)

Google Logos are sometimes very interesting!

The great Mr. Harry (not Potter) Houdini

Built-in Toothpaste Dispenser

I thought my first post should be about dispensing.


Although this is an almost totally-pointless gadget that will likely sell a mass volume of 3-4 units, it might serve some frequent travelers well.


The sad truth is that gadgets don't amaze us anymore. They have become categorized as television home shopping products where "bored" people go to "waste" their money on junk. We read about them, we blog about them, we link them to friends that read and blog and go "Oh cool", but thats about as far as they go. Hm.


http://www.complex.com/tech/2011/03/cool-concept:-a-toothbrush-with-built-in-toothpaste