October 9th, 2012 → 6:21 am
“But wonder on, till truth makes all things plain.” – A Midsummer Night’s Dream
I attended a conference at Harvard this past week, where some cutting-edge Big Data research was presented. Some of the papers I thought had flaws, others were presented as “canonical” and discussed as breakthroughs. Who knows?! Isn’t that the beauty of academic research, though? You get to just wonder on…until, hopefully, the truth wills out…(hopefully)
September 17th, 2012 → 6:01 am
“To solemnize this day, the glorious sun
Stays in his course and plays the alchemist,
Turning with splendor of his precious eye
The meagre cloddy earth to glittering gold.
The yearly course that brings his day about
Shall never see it but a holy day.” – King John
Happy New Year to all you Jews out there celebrating Rosh Hashanah! My son sure enjoyed his apples and honey this year.
September 12th, 2012 → 6:45 am
“Disorder, horror, fear, and mutiny,
Shall here inhabit, and this land be call’d
The field of Golgotha and dead men’s skulls.” – Richard II
I kept taking breaks at work yesterday to read about the 9/11 remembrance ceremony taking place at Ground Zero (or should I now say the 9/11 Memorial plaza?). It still feels to me like it all just happened yesterday. I can’t imagine how immediate and visceral it continues to feel to the ones who were more directly affected.
September 4th, 2012 → 8:08 am
“Fortune, that arrant whore,
Ne’er turns the key to the poor.” – King Lear
When I was a graduate student in L.A. years ago, I used to volunteer at a shelter for run-away teens. It was an enormous eye-opener for me, that people could exist that dirty, poor, and without options. Not dirty and poor like a suburban kid after a soccer game with no bus fare home, dirty and poor like no dental care and clothes so threadbare they’re see-through. I was recently reminded of an old friend from those days – who, sadly, never made it out. It leaves me feeling empty and bleak.
August 30th, 2012 → 7:48 am
“The web of our life is of a mingled yarn, good and ill together.” – All’s Well That Ends Well
I’m running late this morning, and though I hate aphorisms (they’re usually too preachy), here’s a good one to start the day.
August 20th, 2012 → 6:01 am
“The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slippered pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose, and pouch on side,
His youthful hose well saved, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank, and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound.” – As You Like It
There’s been a lot of talk lately about Medicare and the differences in approach towards it between Romney/Ryan and Obama/Biden. As such, the elderly have been on my mind. Here’s Shakespeare classic take on that sixth stage in life, when you get so old you start to seem like a child again…
Filed under: Blog & Other & Politics/Politicians
August 14th, 2012 → 7:55 am
“The readiness is all.” – Hamlet
Last week NASA’s rover Curiosity landed on Mars flawlessly. Which is amazing because a million things could have gone wrong, and so much had to of been prepared ahead of time. I am impressed with the readiness and thorough job NASA did. And it seems Curiosity is sending back good stuff! Yeah for science!
August 10th, 2012 → 7:47 am
“There is something in the wind.” – The Comedy of Errors
I woke up this morning and stepped outside into a cold, strong wind. There always comes a day, a moment even, when it feels like the seasons are shifting. This morning was it, reminding me yet again that summer is nearly over. 🙁
July 26th, 2012 → 6:32 am
“Glittering in golden coats like images;
As full of spirit as the month of May
And gorgeous as the sun at midsummer.” – Henry IV, Part I
The opening ceremonies for the London Olympics 2012 are tomorrow night, and I can’t wait. My favorite part of every Olympics is the opening ceremony, where all the athletes from the various countries in their distinctive matching outfits march past. I was in Bulgaria once watching the Olympics with a group of friends and we tallied the countries at least one of us had been to as they came across the screen – it was pretty impressive. I still remember that at age 16 my friend Annelise had already been to Togo. I don’t know about the rest of you out there, but I’ll be watching tomorrow night!
July 18th, 2012 → 6:22 am
“We know what we are, but know not what we may be.” – Hamlet
I’m traveling right now so it’s hard to put a lot of time or thought into these posts at the moment…thus, instead of something pithy, I thought I’d just put up something true. And hopeful (if read the right way). Who couldn’t use a positive thought and a little encouragement now and again? I sure could….