Authors whose work I think will stick with me…

What a piece of work is a man….in search of truth – again

I have been studying philosophy in the era of Shakespeare. As part of that I watched Kenneth Branagh’s excellent full-length version of Hamlet, set in 1800s, later than the original setting of the play, which was Elizabethan England. In this video clip is a soliloquy from act II scene 2. The same soliloquy in a very different, and fascinating rendition of Hamlet, with Ethan Hawke in the lead role, this latter is set in the modern times and in ‘Denmark Corporation’ rather than the court in Denmark.

On a light note, as I listened to this soliloquy I could not believe it, when I heard these words: “What a piece of work is a man, how noble in reason, how infinite in faculties…”, by this time music from ‘Hair’ was playing in my mind. ‘Hair’ happened to be one of two LPs I played over and over when I was about ten years old. The other one was Carmen Jones. Weird, huh!

HAMLET, Act II, Scene 2

I will tell you why; so shall my anticipation prevent your

discovery, and your secrecy to the king and queen moult

no feather. I have of late, but wherefore I know not, lost

all my mirth, forgone all custom of exercises: and indeed

it goes so heavily with my disposition, that this goodly

frame the earth, seems to me a sterile promontory, this

most excellent canopy the air, look you, this brave o’erhanging

firmament, this majestical roof fretted with golden

fire, why, it appeareth nothing to me but a foul and pestilent

congregation of vapours…What a piece of work is a man,

how noble in reason, how infinite in faculties, in form and

moving, how express and admirable in action, how like

an angel in apprehension, how like a god: the beauty of

the world, the paragon of animals; and yet to me, what

is this quintessence of dust? man delights not me, no,

nor woman neither, though by your smiling you seem to

say so.

The works of Shakespeare, H. Evans, P. Leyris, Cambridge University Press, 1957 (more…)

Wouldn’t it be nice…

“Wouldn’t it be nice….” Sounds like the advertising jingle for ‘dark matter’, some random chocolate brand I don’t like.

In fact it is a sentence which describes well this segment I’ve started to write, instead of calling it “my utopia” or some such thing, it is simply “wouldn’t it be nice”. Thus giving me some room to throw stuff out there.

These rants, lamentations and wishful thoughts can be found under the category called “Wouldn’t it be nice”. Those who wish to, or have made a pact with me to, follow it, can find it relatively easily there.

I have a few people to thank already now, before I’ve even started. No need to wait until the end of this, what ever this ends up being, to thank them.

(more…)

Once I got caught…..@ TED2009

This is my TED2009 story [TED = technology, entertainment and design]. It aims to give you a sense of what it feels like to be there. Some of this may seem like an insider’s story and I apologise for that.

For 3.5 days we watched, heard, tasted [those who got the bread in Long Beach and all of us with the Vosges chocolates] as well as felt many wonderful performances. That chocolate with beer was such a novel taste!

As is now becoming a tradition @TED satellite event we started, carried on and finished on a funny note – thanks to Rives and Kelly and a team of comedians. TEDsters – us community members in attendance – were invited in the beginning to get on stage to get the interactive thing happening. The deal was that we had 30 seconds to tell the audience a story around “Once I got caught….”. (more…)

6ft

Recording the progress

Today the spirit level told us that the little 14 year old is not very little at all. He has now surpassed both parents in height and is within reach to the forecast made when he was 2 years old that he’d be 192cm tall as an adult. He is now 183cm.

Now I get big bear hugs from a 14 year old. He finds it rather amusing to carry me with ease or somehow now that I am the ‘little one’ he thinks it is his right to squeeze my cheek and talk baby talk at me

I knew we’re supposed to become kids again as we age but hey this is ridiculous. Nah, I love it.