Monday, December 14, 2015

original



"An original is a creation motivated by desire. Any reproduction of an original is motivated by necessity... It is marvelous that we are the only species that creates gratuitous forms. To create is divine, to reproduce is human."

- Attributed to Man Ray [1890-1976] by Joel at Artsy.

Thursday, October 29, 2015

How we know the earth is older than 6000 years


All our evidence for changes in the Earth comes from looking at rocks. Folds and fossils in sedimentary rocks, radioactive dating and the weathering of ancient craters show that the oldest rocks are about 4000 million years old. That means the Earth must be at least as old as this. It is from being able to understand the age of the rocks on the earth that we know how old the earth itself is. The technique of dating the age of rocks is known as radiometric dating:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiometric_dating.

For specifics of how the rocks are used to evaluate the age of the earth, please see this article:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_the_Earth, which gives much more detail on the geological calculations used in this science. 

 You might also be interested in this recent data from National Geographic:


which finds the Earth to be 4.4 Billion years old (4400 000 000).


Kind regards,

Victoria

Public Information Volunteer
David Suzuki Foundation
219 – 2211 West 4th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V6K 4S2
604-732-4228
www.davidsuzuki.org

Saturday, September 19, 2015

Case Study in Quality Service



Maine's L.L. Bean rightly prides itself on surpassing customer expectations. Open 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. There is no time limit or explanation needed on returns. Harvard Business School may still rank them at the top of their customer satisfaction list.

A local contender is K.W. Appliance Plus, who assumed the blame for an order snafu. English is not the first language of the manufacturer, which impaired order clarity. Along with a dismissive rude arrogant attitude, which can accrue from a monopolistic mindset. As their area dealer, K.W. Appliance Plus quickly sorted the problem and in contrast to the indifferent manufacturer exceeded expectations.  

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

routine


At the Beverly Hills Hotel, Liz Taylor and Richard Burton ordered two bottles of Vodka for breakfast and the same for lunch.

Monday, September 7, 2015

the appeal of religion


"If you believe in something you don't have to think for yourself."
- Former Scientologist Paul Haggis

"No one can ride a camel; it's impossible. All that you can do is find a beast whose discomfort you can tolerate."
- Omar Sharif

Thursday, September 3, 2015


"Make simple the difficult things."
- Italian proverb

Monday, August 31, 2015


"Three o'clock is always too late or too early for anything you want to do."
- Jean-Paul Satre

Sunday, August 30, 2015

The four essentials of life



  1. Hot baths
  2. Cold Champagne
  3. New peas
  4. Old brandy



Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Mountaineer



"Modern man is conditioned to expect instant gratification, but any success or triumph realized quickly, with only marginal effort, is necessarily shallow. Meaningful achievement takes time, hard work, persistence, patience, proper intent and self-awareness. The path to success is punctuated by failure, consolidation, and renewed effort."

- Mark Twight as submitted by blog consultant Gary Dek

Image source here.

Monday, August 10, 2015

loveliest of love letters

JULY 14, 1861
MAJ. SULLIVAN BALLOU

Camp Clark, Washington
My very dear Sarah: 
The indications are very strong that we shall move in a few days - perhaps tomorrow. Lest I should not be able to write you again, I feel impelled to write lines that may fall under your eye when I shall be no more.
Our movement may be one of a few days duration and full of pleasure - and it may be one of severe conflict and death to me. Not my will, but thine 0 God, be done. If it is necessary that I should fall on the battlefield for my country, I am ready. I have no misgivings about, or lack of confidence in, the cause in which I am engaged, and my courage does not halt or falter. I know how strongly American Civilization now leans upon the triumph of the Government, and how great a debt we owe to those who went before us through the blood and suffering of the Revolution. And I am willing - perfectly willing - to lay down all my joys in this life, to help maintain this Government, and to pay that debt.
But, my dear wife, when I know that with my own joys I lay down nearly all of yours, and replace them in this life with cares and sorrows - when, after having eaten for long years the bitter fruit of orphanage myself, I must offer it as their only sustenance to my dear little children - is it weak or dishonorable, while the banner of my purpose floats calmly and proudly in the breeze, that my unbounded love for you, my darling wife and children, should struggle in fierce, though useless, contest with my love of country?
I cannot describe to you my feelings on this calm summer night, when two thousand men are sleeping around me, many of them enjoying the last, perhaps, before that of death -- and I, suspicious that Death is creeping behind me with his fatal dart, am communing with God, my country, and thee.
I have sought most closely and diligently, and often in my breast, for a wrong motive in thus hazarding the happiness of those I loved and I could not find one. A pure love of my country and of the principles have often advocated before the people and "the name of honor that I love more than I fear death" have called upon me, and I have obeyed.
Sarah, my love for you is deathless, it seems to bind me to you with mighty cables that nothing but Omnipotence could break; and yet my love of Country comes over me like a strong wind and bears me irresistibly on with all these chains to the battlefield.
The memories of the blissful moments I have spent with you come creeping over me, and I feel most gratified to God and to you that I have enjoyed them so long. And hard it is for me to give them up and burn to ashes the hopes of future years, when God willing, we might still have lived and loved together and seen our sons grow up to honorable manhood around us. I have, I know, but few and small claims upon Divine Providence, but something whispers to me - perhaps it is the wafted prayer of my little Edgar -- that I shall return to my loved ones unharmed. If I do not, my dear Sarah, never forget how much I love you, and when my last breath escapes me on the battlefield, it will whisper your name.
Forgive my many faults, and the many pains I have caused you. How thoughtless and foolish I have oftentimes been! How gladly would I wash out with my tears every little spot upon your happiness, and struggle with all the misfortune of this world, to shield you and my children from harm. But I cannot. I must watch you from the spirit land and hover near you, while you buffet the storms with your precious little freight, and wait with sad patience till we meet to part no more.
But, O Sarah! If the dead can come back to this earth and flit unseen around those they loved, I shall always be near you; in the garish day and in the darkest night -- amidst your happiest scenes and gloomiest hours - always, always; and if there be a soft breeze upon your cheek, it shall be my breath; or the cool air fans your throbbing temple, it shall be my spirit passing by.
Sarah, do not mourn me dead; think I am gone and wait for thee, for we shall meet again.
As for my little boys, they will grow as I have done, and never know a father's love and care. Little Willie is too young to remember me long, and my blue eyed Edgar will keep my frolics with him among the dimmest memories of his childhood. Sarah, I have unlimited confidence in your maternal care and your development of their characters. Tell my two mothers his and hers I call God's blessing upon them. O Sarah, I wait for you there! Come to me, and lead thither my children.
--Sullivan

Source here.

Sunday, May 10, 2015

Saturday, May 9, 2015

routine


René Descartes slept to 11am daily.

Friday, April 24, 2015


"Keep silent and be thought a fool rather than speak and remove all doubt."
- Abraham Lincoln

Sunday, March 22, 2015


"... humiliation (is) a more intensely felt emotion than either happiness or even anger."
- Monica Lewinsky

Sunday, March 15, 2015

starchitects


"My pain is your entertainment."
- Jay Z

Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Saturday, March 7, 2015

donate and possibly see Jon Stewart



Donate to autism and be entered to win two tickets to Jon Stewart's last show. Fly you there/put you up.

There are many donation levels starting at $10; the more you donate the better the potential commensurate prizes.

Excellent interface:



Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Saturday, January 31, 2015

another excuse to go to Thailand


Five Star health services at Walmart prices here.

Friday, January 30, 2015


How the sausage is made here.

Monday, January 26, 2015


"All creativity is the resolution of internal tensions."
- P.D. James crediting an unnamed psychiatrist

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Friday, January 2, 2015


"(I'm) calling myself bad until I be best."
- Richard III

Image source here.