I read this article in the G&B on students at a math camp. It was wonderful. Most of you know about my conditional pass of grade 11 math (the second time I took it, the first time I couldn't have passed even if I had been willing to suck off the teacher) and how I was allowed to pass only if I promised never to take math again. A promise I have gladly kept. But these kids at camp were so passionate about it, so in love with it. Just listen to this quote from an 18 year old boy
"I love it for its elegance, its beauty, its innumerable coincidences. I love math because it is one of the only things in this life in which there seem to be certainty and truth. I love math because it is an endless uncharted territory, and it lets me live the dream of so many children: to be an explorer in wild and untamed countries. I love it because I can share it with others, and they can share it with me, even if we don't always understand eachother. I love it because it is a universal language of thought and reason. I love it for the wonderful people who do math, research it, and teach it."
People are seeing the beauty of this world from so many different perspectives. It's just so totally cool.
Okay, I'll try to do my usual weekend Globe and Mail edition. But it's going to be rough as the almost the whole damn paper was filled with articles about the blackout.
"But even better than being deprived of TV, we're deprived of TV's coverage of the calamity- no endless loops, no hyperbolic pundit gamma blab. THis is maybe the strangest thing of all: For the first time in long while, a disaster is experienced first hand by all involved, rather than watched over and over and over again. It's as if a great compulsion has been lifted from millions of voyeur addicts, and they are all pulsing with the freedom of the newly sober.
"City-TV's down there, man... they're taping, taping, taping everything, they're recording it all. But - but - no one's watching it!"
- from article by G&B's Ian Brown.
The above is an excerpt from the only article about the blackout that held my interest. I'm not saying the whole thing is not worth reading about, it was just a few too many articles saying the same damn thing. I love the fact that people felt free during the black out as it totally proves my point that people need simpler lives and that most of technology just keeps us from going outside. I mean, you'd think "it's totally dark in a big city, everyone's going to hole themselves up and bar up their windows" But they didn't. They went for strolls, they were talking to neighbours from windows across alleyways. And what were the computer pros doing all night long? They were holed up trying to a: fix the electricity "problem" and b: avoid any complications in websites and databases, like the poor guys forced to work the night at Scotia Bank. Now I'm not saying I want to get so simple that we do away with electricity. That's too extreme, even for me. But everyone was commenting on the joys of not having TV for that night, and since I'm completely TV-less and hope to be for the rest of my life, I can assure all of you that not having a TV is an fabulous thing. (those of you who only have TVs because you like to rent movies, you are forgiven) But I beg you to just try living without TV for 2 weeks. See how much you get done. See how much more you leave your apartment. I've been totally without TV for a little over 2 years and I was without cable tv for 2 years prior to that, and I don't think it's done me too much harm. Though sometimes I wish I had a tv to drown out the noise of the fish on my shower curtain, when they start to party... sheesh, you'd think they'd have a little more respect. I clean them, I
Anyhoo...
On that note, I turn to an article by a hideous journalist named Doug Saunders. He claims that nature is much better when humans intervene with it. That places like Mandalay Bay Casino Resort in Las Vegas, where there is a fake beach with filtered water and sand, heated water and no mosquitos, is much better than any real beach you'll find. He ...he.. he just disgusts me.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20030816/DOUG16/TPColumnists
I really can't say enough about how revolting his opinions were. Part of his article rings true in that we're only going to fix our "nature vs humanity" problem with compromise and acceptance of some human intervention in nature. But the fact that he doesn't like real nature and says that the fake stuff is better...he's an idiot. 'Nuff said.
Why can't people just realize that hobbits have the right idea?
Okay, what else is new...um oh here it is. There's an article about how Haida indians are finally getting some of the remains of their ancestors from the museums that have been keeping them in metal boxes. Their ancestors will finally be able to find peace. But the museums agreeing to repatriate are Canadian ones. Museums in the UK are saying that they are totally against this. Yes, because what we humans have learned from skeletal remains lying in metal boxes in museum basements far outshines the importance of respecting the burial customs of entire cultures. Yeesh, stupidity can still astound me at times.
Other than reading the paper, I've been going to see many wonderful shows at the Edmonton Fringe Festival (the world's 2nd largest Fringe) and it makes me glad once again for my void of TV life. The human interaction I get from theatre just can't be beat. Good shows to see: Tyrannous Rex, Sex Violence and the Meanling of Life, and The Garden. Hopefully they'll come to other, lesser, Canadian Fringes.
I'll be back tomorrow (joblessness abounds again!) discussing my recent need for family and friends.
Wishing you all a lovely weekend.
"I love it for its elegance, its beauty, its innumerable coincidences. I love math because it is one of the only things in this life in which there seem to be certainty and truth. I love math because it is an endless uncharted territory, and it lets me live the dream of so many children: to be an explorer in wild and untamed countries. I love it because I can share it with others, and they can share it with me, even if we don't always understand eachother. I love it because it is a universal language of thought and reason. I love it for the wonderful people who do math, research it, and teach it."
People are seeing the beauty of this world from so many different perspectives. It's just so totally cool.
Okay, I'll try to do my usual weekend Globe and Mail edition. But it's going to be rough as the almost the whole damn paper was filled with articles about the blackout.
"But even better than being deprived of TV, we're deprived of TV's coverage of the calamity- no endless loops, no hyperbolic pundit gamma blab. THis is maybe the strangest thing of all: For the first time in long while, a disaster is experienced first hand by all involved, rather than watched over and over and over again. It's as if a great compulsion has been lifted from millions of voyeur addicts, and they are all pulsing with the freedom of the newly sober.
"City-TV's down there, man... they're taping, taping, taping everything, they're recording it all. But - but - no one's watching it!"
- from article by G&B's Ian Brown.
The above is an excerpt from the only article about the blackout that held my interest. I'm not saying the whole thing is not worth reading about, it was just a few too many articles saying the same damn thing. I love the fact that people felt free during the black out as it totally proves my point that people need simpler lives and that most of technology just keeps us from going outside. I mean, you'd think "it's totally dark in a big city, everyone's going to hole themselves up and bar up their windows" But they didn't. They went for strolls, they were talking to neighbours from windows across alleyways. And what were the computer pros doing all night long? They were holed up trying to a: fix the electricity "problem" and b: avoid any complications in websites and databases, like the poor guys forced to work the night at Scotia Bank. Now I'm not saying I want to get so simple that we do away with electricity. That's too extreme, even for me. But everyone was commenting on the joys of not having TV for that night, and since I'm completely TV-less and hope to be for the rest of my life, I can assure all of you that not having a TV is an fabulous thing. (those of you who only have TVs because you like to rent movies, you are forgiven) But I beg you to just try living without TV for 2 weeks. See how much you get done. See how much more you leave your apartment. I've been totally without TV for a little over 2 years and I was without cable tv for 2 years prior to that, and I don't think it's done me too much harm. Though sometimes I wish I had a tv to drown out the noise of the fish on my shower curtain, when they start to party... sheesh, you'd think they'd have a little more respect. I clean them, I
Anyhoo...
On that note, I turn to an article by a hideous journalist named Doug Saunders. He claims that nature is much better when humans intervene with it. That places like Mandalay Bay Casino Resort in Las Vegas, where there is a fake beach with filtered water and sand, heated water and no mosquitos, is much better than any real beach you'll find. He ...he.. he just disgusts me.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20030816/DOUG16/TPColumnists
I really can't say enough about how revolting his opinions were. Part of his article rings true in that we're only going to fix our "nature vs humanity" problem with compromise and acceptance of some human intervention in nature. But the fact that he doesn't like real nature and says that the fake stuff is better...he's an idiot. 'Nuff said.
Why can't people just realize that hobbits have the right idea?
Okay, what else is new...um oh here it is. There's an article about how Haida indians are finally getting some of the remains of their ancestors from the museums that have been keeping them in metal boxes. Their ancestors will finally be able to find peace. But the museums agreeing to repatriate are Canadian ones. Museums in the UK are saying that they are totally against this. Yes, because what we humans have learned from skeletal remains lying in metal boxes in museum basements far outshines the importance of respecting the burial customs of entire cultures. Yeesh, stupidity can still astound me at times.
Other than reading the paper, I've been going to see many wonderful shows at the Edmonton Fringe Festival (the world's 2nd largest Fringe) and it makes me glad once again for my void of TV life. The human interaction I get from theatre just can't be beat. Good shows to see: Tyrannous Rex, Sex Violence and the Meanling of Life, and The Garden. Hopefully they'll come to other, lesser, Canadian Fringes.
I'll be back tomorrow (joblessness abounds again!) discussing my recent need for family and friends.
Wishing you all a lovely weekend.
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