"A More Perfect Union"

The greatest speech of our generation.
Read the full text at the Huffington Post.

Backpacking the JMT

A teacher takes 6 of his high school students on a 220-mile backpacking trip across the John Muir Trail.


High Sierra HD - Backpacking the John Muir Trail from Pete Bell on Vimeo.

"Begone Dull Care" featuring the Oscar Peterson Trio

"Begone Dull Care" is an abstract film that features the dazzling piano play of Oscar Peterson. Duke Ellington dubbed Peterson the "Maharaja of the Keyboard."

South Africa's Answer to American Hip Hop

This song was featured prominently in the 2005 South African film Tsotsi. According to Wikipedia, the languages heard in the film include Tsotsitaal (an Africaans creole 'thug' language), Zulu, Xhosa, English, and Africaans. Not too surprising, given that South Africa has 11 official languages.

Odie

Right back at you, Odie.

MIA speaks about music as agent for social change

Grammy- and Oscar-nominated artist MIA speaks about the Sri Lankan genocide of Tamils on the Tavis Smiley Show (Click link to view interview).
"The pressure of standing up for nothing is just so big."

"Wake" by Adam Jeppeson

View the entire photoset here.
See more haunting images at AmericanSuburbX.

Mixed Race Categorical Flow Chart

Mo'Nique in the movie Domino.

William James Quote

The greatest revolution in our generation is the discovery that human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives.

John Lewis Quote

I have fought too hard and too long against discrimination based on race and color not to stand up against discrimination based on sexual orientation. I've heard the reasons for opposing civil marriage for same-sex couples. Cut through the distractions, and they stink of the same fear, hatred, and intolerance I have known in racism and in bigotry.

-- Civil Rights Leader and Congressman John Lewis.

Read the full editorial at the Boston Globe.

Nevermindthewordstheywaste

My brother's new website redesign. Check it out.

Recurring Themes in John Irving's Work

Recurring themes in John Irving's work are New England, prostitutes, wrestling, Vienna, bears, deadly accidents, a main character dealing with an absent or unknown parent, sexual relationships between young men and older women and other variations in sexual relations.

Scroll down Irving's Wikipedia page to view the table of recurring themes. Hilariously bizarre.

Are we too clean?

A baby cannot resist stuffing anything within reach into her mouths, often to the chagrin of her paranoid parents.

Biologists are studying why a baby's instinctive behavior -- specifically, stuffing dirt into her mouth -- would be in fact beneficial. They propose a 'hygiene hypothesis," eating dirt and the billions of microbes and, yes, worms inside that dirt may sicken the child (and parent) in the short term, but will reduce the chance of developing immune-related illnesses in the long run.

According to immunologist Mary Ruebush, children raised in a hyper-clean environment are not exposed to the organisms that help them develop appropriate immune circuits. Research suggests that the increase in immune system disorders (e.g., asthma, allergies, multiple sclerosis, Type I diabetes, and inflammatory bowel disease) in the US may be due to our restrictions on the environment and behavior of our children.

Dr. David Elliott of the University of Iowa cites specific evidence in developing countries; for example, he claims that the eradication of worms in some villages in Gambia have led to an increase in children's skin allergies.

Obviously, dirtiness is not a desirable outcome. But too much cleanliness is harmful, too. Professor Ruebrush suggests that we rue antibiotic products and stick with plain soap and water whenever our hands need washing. Dr. Joel Weinstock of Tufts Medical Center goes even further: “Children should be allowed to go barefoot in the dirt, play in the dirt, and not have to wash their hands when they come in to eat." He also suggests that kids have two dogs and a cat, which will expose them to intestinal worms that can promote a healthy immune system.

Read the NYT article here.

9/17/09 Update:
A man infects himself with hookworm to cure his asthma and hayfever. Listen to his account on Radiolab (his story begins at ~32 minute mark in the show).


This cute little bloodsucker can cure your asthma.

Work

The growth of the exploiters' revolution on this continent has been accompanied by the growth of the idea that work is beneath human dignity, particularly any form of hand work. We have made it our overriding ambition to escape work, and as a consequence have debased work until it is only fit to escape from. We have debased the products of work and have been, in turn, debased by them. Out of this contempt for work arose the idea of a nigger: at first some person, and later some thing, to be used to relieve us of the burden of work. If we began by making niggers of people, we have ended by making a nigger of the world. We have taken the irreplaceable energies and materials of the world and turned them into jimcrack "labor-saving devices." We have made the rivers and oceans and winds niggers to carry away our refuse, in doing this to the world that is our common heritage and bond, we have returned to making niggers of people: we have become each other's niggers.

But is work something that we have a right to escape? And can we escape it with impunity? We are probably the first entire people ever to think so. All the ancient wisdom that has come down to us counsels otherwise. It tells us that work is necessary to us, as much a part of our condition as mortality; that good work is our salvation and our joy; that shoddy or dishonest or self-serving work is our curse and our doom. We have tried to escape the sweat and sorrow promised in Genesis -- only to find that, in order to do so, we must forswear love and excellence, health and joy.

from The Unsettling of America by Wendell Berry

What if?

Imagine a women’s magazine that positively featured round models, short models, old models – or no models at all, but real individual women. Let’s say that it had a policy of avoiding cruelty to women, as some now have a policy of endorsing products made free of cruelty to animals. And that it left out crash diets, mantras to achieve self-hatred, and promotional articles for the procession that cuts open healthy women’s bodies. And let’s say that it ran articles in praise of the magnificence of visible age, displayed loving photo essays on the bodies of women of all shapes and proportions, examined with gentle curiosity the body’s changes after birth and breast-feeding, offered recipes without punishment or guilt, and ran seductive portraits of men.

It would run aground, losing the bulk of its advertisers. Magazines, consciously or half-consciously, must project the attitude that looking one’s age is bad because $650 million of their ad revenue comes from people who would go out of business if visible age looked good. They need, consciously or not, to promote women’s hating their bodies enough to profitably hungry, since the advertising budget for one third of the nation’s food bill depends on their doing so by dieting. The advertisers who make women’s mass culture possible depend on making women feel bad enough about their faces and bodies to spend more money on worthless or pain-inducing products than they would if they felt innately beautiful.

from The Beauty Myth (1991) by Naomi Wolf

Hang Gliding -- 300 ft. Launch and My First Spot

Wendell Berry Quote

We do need a 'new economy,' but one that is founded on thrift and care, on saving and conserving, not on excess and waste. An economy based on waste is inherently and hopelessly violent, and war is its inevitable by-product. We need a peaceable economy.

Magnetic Movie

Magnetic Movie from Semiconductor on Vimeo.

Jenny Holzer's Truisms

A STRONG SENSE OF DUTY IMPRISONS YOU

ABSOLUTE SUBMISSION CAN BE A FORM OF FREEDOM

AMBIVALENCE CAN RUIN YOUR LIFE

ANY SURPLUS IS IMMORAL

ANYTHING IS A LEGITIMATE AREA OF INVESTIGATION

ARTIFICIAL DESIRES ARE DESPOILING THE EARTH

AT TIMES INACTIVITY IS PREFERABLE TO MINDLESS FUNCTIONING

AT TIMES YOUR UNCONSCIOUS IS TRUER THAN YOUR CONSCIOUS MIND

AUTOMATION IS DEADLY

BEING JUDGMENTAL IS A SIGN OF LIFE

CALM IS MORE CONDUCIVE TO CREATIVITY THAN IS ANXIETY

DEVIANTS ARE SACRIFICED TO INCREASE GROUP SOLIDARITY

DISORGANIZATION IS A KIND OF ANESTHESIA

EVERY ACHIEVEMENT REQUIRES A SACRIFICE

FAKE OR REAL INDIFFERENCE IS A POWERFUL PERSONAL WEAPON

FREEDOM IS A LUXURY NOT A NECESSITY

GIVING FREE REIN TO YOUR EMOTIONS IS AN HONEST WAY TO LIVE

GOING WITH THE FLOW IS SOOTHING BUT RISKY

GRASS ROOTS AGITATION IS THE ONLY HOPE

GUILT AND SELF-LACERATION ARE INDULGENCES

HIDING YOUR MOTIVES IS DESPICABLE

HOLDING BACK PROTECTS YOUR VITAL ENERGIES

HUMOR IS A RELEASE

IF YOU HAVE MANY DESIRES LIFE WILL BE INTERESTING

IF YOU LIVE SIMPLY THERE IS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT

IGNORING ENEMIES IS THE BEST WAY TO FIGHT

ILLNESS IS A STATE OF MIND

INHERITANCE MUST BE ABOLISHED

IT'S BETTER TO BE A GOOD PERSON THAN A FAMOUS PERSON

IT'S BETTER TO BE LONELY THAN TO BE WITH INFERIOR PEOPLE

IT'S CRUCIAL TO HAVE AN ACTIVE FANTASY LIFE

IT'S IMPORTANT TO STAY CLEAN ON ALL LEVELS

IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO RECONCILE YOUR HEART AND HEAD

IT'S JUST AN ACCIDENT YOUR PARENTS ARE YOUR PARENTS

IT'S NOT GOOD TO HOLD TOO MANY ABSOLUTES

IT'S VITAL TO LIVE IN HARMONY WITH NATURE

JUST BELIEVING SOMETHING CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN

KEEP SOMETHING IN RESERVE FOR EMERGENCIES

KILLING IS UNAVOIDABLE BUT IS NOTHING TO BE PROUD OF

KNOWING YOURSELF LETS YOU UNDERSTAND OTHERS

LEARN TO TRUST YOUR OWN EYES

LEISURE TIME IS A GIGANTIC SMOKESCREEN

LETTING GO IS THE HARDEST THING TO DO

LISTEN WHEN YOUR BODY TALKS

LOOKING BACK IS THE FIRST SIGN OF AGING AND DECAY

LOVING ANIMALS IS A SUBSTITUTE ACTIVITY

LOW EXPECTATIONS ARE GOOD PROTECTION

MANUAL LABOR CAN BE REFRESHING AND WHOLESOME

MODERATION KILLS THE SPIRIT

MOST PEOPLE ARE NOT FIT TO RULE THEMSELVES

MUCH WAS DECIDED BEFORE YOU WERE BORN

MYTHS MAKE REALITY MORE INTELLIGIBLE

OFFER VERY LITTLE INFORMATION ABOUT YOURSELF

OLD FRIENDS ARE BETTER LEFT IN THE PAST

PAIN CAN BE A VERY POSITIVE THING

PEOPLE WHO GO CRAZY ARE TOO SENSITIVE

PEOPLE WON'T BEHAVE IF THEY HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE

PLAYING IT SAFE CAN CAUSE A LOT OF DAMAGE IN THE LONG RUN

POTENTIAL COUNTS FOR NOTHING UNTIL IT'S REALIZED

PURSUING PLEASURE FOR THE SAKE OF PLEASURE WILL RUIN YOU

PUSH YOURSELF TO THE LIMIT AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE

RECHANNELING DESTRUCTIVE IMPULSES IS A SIGN OF MATURITY

REMEMBER YOU ALWAYS HAVE FREEDOM OF CHOICE

REPETITION IS THE BEST WAY TO LEARN

REVOLUTION BEGINS WITH CHANGES IN THE INDIVIDUAL

SACRIFICING YOURSELF FOR A BAD CAUSE IS NOT A MORAL ACT

SIN IS A MEANS OF SOCIAL CONTROL

SOLITUDE IS ENRICHING

SOME STONES ARE BETTER LEFT UNTURNED

SOME WOUNDS NEVER HEAL

SOMETIMES ALL YOU CAN DO IS LOOK THE OTHER WAY

SOMETIMES SCIENCE ADVANCES FASTER THAN IT SHOULD

STRONG EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENT STEMS FROM BASIC INSECURITY

TALKING IS USED TO HIDE ONE'S INABILITY TO ACT

THE CRUELEST DISAPPOINTMENT IS WHEN YOU LET YOURSELF DOWN

THE LAND BELONGS TO NO ONE

THE MORE YOU KNOW THE BETTER OFF YOU ARE

THE MOST PROFOUND THINGS ARE INEXPRESSIBLE

THE MUNDANE IS TO BE CHERISHED

THE UNATTAINABLE INVARIABLY IS ATTRACTIVE

THREATENING SOMEONE SEXUALLY IS A HORRIBLE ACT

TIMIDITY IS LAUGHABLE

TO DISAGREE PRESUPPOSES MORAL INTEGRITY

TO VOLUNTEER IS REACTIONARY

TRUE FREEDOM IS FRIGHTFUL

UNIQUE THINGS MUST BE THE MOST VALUABLE

UNQUESTIONING LOVE DEMONSTRATES LARGESSE OF SPIRIT

USING FORCE TO STOP FORCE IS ABSURD

VIOLENCE IS PERMISSIBLE EVEN DESIRABLE OCCASIONALLY

WHEN SOMETHING TERRIBLE HAPPENS PEOPLE WAKE UP

WISHING THINGS AWAY IS NOT EFFECTIVE

WORDS TEND TO BE INADEQUATE

WORRYING CAN HELP YOU PREPARE

YOU ARE A VICTIM OF THE RULES YOU LIVE BY

YOU ARE GUILELESS IN YOUR DREAMS

YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CONSTITUTING THE MEANING OF THINGS

YOU MUST KNOW WHERE YOU STOP AND THE WORLD BEGINS

YOU OWE THE WORLD NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND

YOU SHOULD TRAVEL LIGHT

YOU SHOULD STUDY AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE


See the unabridged list.

TED Talks: Amy Smith

Cliff Young

In 1983, the Westfield Ultramarathon in southeast Australia featured an unlikely contestant named Cliff Young. Mr. Young did not resemble his fellow competitors. First, he was 61 years old. Second, he showed up for the race in overalls and workboots. As a result, many feared for his health and safety -- after all, the event did cover a grueling distance, 543.7 miles, the distance from Melbourne to Sydney.

When the race started, Mr. Young shuffled at a leisurely pace while the other competitors ran out to an early lead. However, Mr. Young did not stop running at night. He continued his shuffle for the whole race without stopping for sleep, and he ended up not only winning the race but setting a new course record.

Today, many ultramarathon runner emulate Mr. Young's running style; it's been dubbed the "Young-shuffle."

You can read more about the legend of Cliff Young here.

Kafka Quote

There is no need for you to leave the house. Stay at your table and listen. Don't even listen, just wait. Don't even wait, be completely quiet and alone. The world will offer itself to you to be unmasked; it can't do otherwise; in raptures it will writhe before you.

Haiku from Loserland

These brilliant drawings and poems were done by a friend.

I draw back, and hope
it won't take all afternoon
to find the arrows.

Susan's lunch lecture:
true bible stories and the
downside of large breasts.

Sunday night's garbage:
dead mouse, burnt cupcakes, mangled
puppet theater.

Accept the Good

Accept the good with gratitude, accept the bad with fortitude.

The Best Sports Story of 2008

David Slays Goliath -- The New York Giants stun the New England Patriots in Superbowl XLII

The football cognoscenti have all but coronated the 18-0 Patriots as the greatest team of all time.

Twelve point underdog New York trails 14-10 with only 1:15 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. The G-men are pinned down on their own 44 yard line. It's 3rd and 5, do or die.

Quarterback Eli Manning hikes the ball from the shotgun.

Immediately, the pocket collapses. Everyone has a hand on Manning, but he manages to squirm free from the pocket and launch the ball into traffic downfield:

Unheralded wide receiver David Tyree miraculously hauls down Manning's pass to set up the winning play.

Manning connects with Burress in the end zone, and Spagnuolo's defensive line stuffs the Patriot's vaunted offense one last time.

David slays Goliath, The emperor Bill Belichick and golden boy Tom Brady have no clothes, and Manning goes from chump to champ.

I leap and scream in ecstasy.

Final score of Superbowl XLII: New York Giants 17, New England Patriots 14.

The Downside of Pornography

Naomi Wolf deconstructs the "Porn Myth" in New York magazine:

Young men and women are indeed being taught what sex is, how it looks, what its etiquette and expectations are, by pornographic training—and this is having a huge effect on how they interact.

But does all this sexual imagery in the air mean that sex has been liberated—or is it the case that the relationship between the multi-billion-dollar porn industry, compulsiveness, and sexual appetite has become like the relationship between agribusiness, processed foods, supersize portions, and obesity? If your appetite is stimulated and fed by poor-quality material, it takes more junk to fill you up. People are not closer because of porn but further apart; people are not more turned on in their daily lives but less so.

The onslaught of porn is responsible for deadening male libido in relation to real women, and leading men to see fewer and fewer women as “porn-worthy.”

The reason to turn off the porn might become, to thoughtful people, not a moral one but, in a way, a physical- and emotional-health one; you might want to rethink your constant access to porn in the same way that, if you want to be an athlete, you rethink your smoking. The evidence is in: Greater supply of the stimulant equals diminished capacity.

Edward Abbey Quote

A venturesome minority will always be eager to set off on their own, and no obstacles should be placed in their path; let them take risks, for Godsake, let them get lost, sunburnt, stranded, drowned, eaten by bears, buried alive under avalanches -- that is the right and privilege of any free American.