“Until now, you’ve never seen the world you live in”. I watched the 1982 film Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out of Balance over the weekend. It is directed by Godfrey Reggio with music by Phillip Glass. There is neither dialogue nor a vocalized narration, because, as Reggio explains, in his view, language does not describe in words the world that we live in. Make time for this 90 minute film.
First they came for the communists [article]
John Kiriakou, an ex CIA staffer, was jailed for 2.5 years, for blowing the whistle on the torture techniques that the CIA uses on its “terrorist” prisoners. Before his investigation, he was a decorated member of the staff, until he disagreed with the CIA’s operational techniques.
And for those of us who don’t care about things that don’t impact us directly, this quote from Martin Niemoller summarizes it well:
First they came for the communists,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a communist.
Then they came for the socialists,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a Jew.
Then they came for the Catholics,
and I didn’t speak out because I wasn’t a Catholic.
Then they came for me,
and there was no one left to speak for me.
How old are you really? [Infographic]
For those of us constantly worrying about growing old (at least chronologically), this splendid New York Times infographic demonstrates how, except for your eyes, nearly every other part of your body is relatively new, no matter how old you are!
Omari’s story, continued. [Inspiration]
About a year ago, Anthony Omari, took a machete to the face while protecting 35 children who were housed at the Faraja Children’s home in Kenya, run by this mother. Incredibly, he survived, & so did the children. The story was shared on a social networking site (Reddit) by a person involved with the Longonot Education Initiative, requesting people to help collect $2,000 to build a wall that would keep the children safe. The people on Reddit helped raise over $80,000. The scar on Anthony’s face has nearly disappeared & the kids are no longer afraid to stay in the home. Here’s the link, if you want to follow the story for yourself.
Contemporary practices [pictures]
During the Victorian era, it was not uncommon to have pictures taken with your dead loved ones, especially with children. We look at them today as if it was a weird thing to do, but don’t you think there are practices we have today that will be looked back at by the next couple of generations in the same light?
Vincent Lingiari; from little things big things grow [Video, Paul Kelly]
An Australian icon, Paul Kelly inspires, cajoles, tells stories, and is an incredibly talented songrwriter, although he claims otherwise. Listen to this song of Vincent Lingiari (or more popularly known as the song “From Little Things Big Things grow”) co-written with Kev Carmody. Vincent Lingiari is an Australian aboriginal activist – who I think is to Australia what Rosa Parks is to the United States of America
The best marriage advice I’ve ever read. I repeat, Ever. [Article]
Old Bob Fulghum had me hooked to his writing when I was 16; when I read “Uh oh” from cover to cover instead of listening to an accountancy lecture on ‘double entry system of bookkeeping’. One of my favourite people (not just authors), Fulghum has some advice about marriage to his beloved god-daughter – and universally applicable to anyone contemplating marriage (or who’s already married). “Attend to your marriage, not your wedding.”
The Unhappiness Motivator [Article]
Scott Adams wonders if having a manual job in one’s youth is a good motivator for success. In The Unhappiness Motivator, he asks how much of a role unhappiness plays in peoples’ ability to plan for success. His concern is the level of homework that kids have these days that he feels develops disgust in kids to avoid any sort of mental work.
The Extremist Cult of Capitalism [Article]
Richard Stallman calls it the worship of the invisible hand – the extremist cult of capitalism. Capitalism isn’t turning out to be the panacea that it is often, mindlessly, purported to be to the economic problems of society. In the words of Bertrand Russell, “Advocates of capitalism are very apt to appeal to the sacred principles of liberty, which are embodied in one maxim: The fortunate must not be restrained in the exercise of tyranny over the unfortunate.”
Overcoming obstacles [Video]
A little while ago, I’d posted about Gerry Leary, who is a master roaster of coffee beans and is blind. Here’s another inspiration, blind skateboarder Tommy Carroll [‘There’s always a way to overcome an obstacle, if you really want it enough”] . And here’s a reminder that it isn’t only five physical senses that we humans have – never mind what you learned in school.