Hypotyposis on a Good Day

moleskines and other writing implements

moleskines and other writing implements
Originally uploaded by Raymond Yee.

For Christmas, Laura's folks gave me a large plain Moleskine notebook. Although I quickly took to writing in it sporadically, it is only during this last week that I've been writing many times a day in it. The notebook is, of course, not the only instrument for recording my thoughts. It has, however, become a guiding one as I sort through the jumble of thoughts that buzz around in my brain. Forcing myself to write my thoughts in a linear narrative often helps make sense of the nonlinear, illogical scramble of notions, emotions, questions, and conjectures.

Turning 40

Two weeks ago yesterday, I turned the big 4-O. I look back on my thirties as a decade that vastly improved on my twenties, which weren't too bad. I optimistically look at my forties as a time for profound growth and change and undoubtedly, deep challenge.

The Responsibility to Protect

Among the many wonderful things I learned from Roméo Dallaire's talk on the Berkeley campus on March 14, 2007 was the concept of the Responsibility to protect. See also 03.21.2007 - The responsibility to protect.

Morality, the Wikipedia, and Academics

Scientist Finds the Beginnings of Morality in Primate Behavior - New York Times:

Biologists argue that these and other social behaviors are the precursors of human morality. They further believe that if morality grew out of behavioral rules shaped by evolution, it is for biologists, not philosophers or theologians, to say what these rules are.

Moral philosophers do not take very seriously the biologists’ bid to annex their subject, but they find much of interest in what the biologists say and have started an academic conversation with them.

Wikipedia is good for academia -- nice to see an essay about how the Wikipedia is good for the university and academic culture. I should say more about what I mean here....

Summoning the spirit of Glenn Gould

My friend Dan referred me to Ghostly Grand Piano: Technical Marvel Plays Like an Old Pro - washingtonpost.com, which in turn led me to Zenph Studios - Glenn Gould’s - Bach Goldberg Variations - Connections Column - New York Times:

Zenph also announced it had accomplished this feat of technological legerdemain with one of the most remarkable recordings of the last century: Glenn Gould’s 1955 mono rendition of Bach’s “Goldberg” Variations. Gould, who retreated from performance into the private realm of the recording studio where he could splice and fiddle with sound and phrase, would be posthumously pulled back into the realm of public performance.

I'm almost ready to plunk down the money to hear the recreation of Gould's famous Bach recording. (See *BACH: The Goldberg Variations - Glenn Gould's 1955 performance re-created in modern hi-res surround sound and hi-res binaural sound by Zenph - Sony Classical for the album cover.) Where can I buy it?

Notelets for 2007.03.15

I'm happy that TimesSelect University program opens up TimesSelect to university folk like me. (It would be even better if my friends and family outside the university could also read the special features of The New York Times for free.

Enchanting TED - Pogue’s Posts points to the latest round of TEDTalks (audio, video).

Guidelines for Using a Cellphone Abroad - New York Times is useful if I ever go to Europe or Asia -- but mostly, when I leave the USA, I'm in Canada.

The Bach Birthday Bash sounds tempting. Stanford is just a bit too far away these days for me:

Join us for a celebration of the master's 322nd birthday with a musical party, featuring Bach family videos, a wig tossing contest, and an intimate performance of several of his wonderful Brandenburg Concerti. Featuring the award-winning Palo Alto Chamber Orchestra and their music director, Benjamin Simon, this evening will be an opportunity to brush up on your Bach trivia, have a fugue explained to you, and learn the names of all of Bach's twenty-plus offspring. Those attending in period costume are eligible for valuable door prizes!