Category: Musings

10:27 August 14th 2009

A glimpse into the soul of a Nation

My view is that this Blog should be (much) less about the lives of the Blog authors and more about the world we live in within the self-imposed theme of the Blog; integrity.

However, what happened at 405 West Congress in Tucson, Arizona, last Friday morning is an exception to the rule.

The entrance to the Courthouse in Tucson
The entrance to the Courthouse in Tucson

405 West Congress is the address of the Courthouse in Tucson.

Future citizens, families and friends
Future citizens, families and friends

So what brings 50 people, family and friends to a court house in Tucson on a Friday morning in August?

The swearing-in of a group of people to be US Citizens or more properly described as the Order of Admission to Citizenship; the actual process of becoming a US Citizen, other than having been born in the Nation.

It gave me an amazing insight into the generosity of the United States of America and, indeed, of all other free countries in the world that welcome incomers.

Let me explain.

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Storytelling

Something almost as old as mankind itself

We have returned from being in Tucson for a few days and while there we spent many hours one day at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.  But this is no dusty place with fossilised remains behind glass cabinets.  No, the Desert

A Bobcat at the Desert Museum
A Bobcat at the Desert Museum

Museum is an honest attempt to give visitors an insight into the complex and beautiful world of a desert. As the Musuem’s web site puts it,

The mission of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is to inspire people to live in harmony with the natural world by fostering love, appreciation, and understanding of the Sonoran Desert.

That particular evening the programme mentioned an hour’s storytelling by the Native American Gerard Tsonakwa.

Tsonakwa is a member of the Abenaki tribe who live in the Algonquin area of Ontario, Canada.   Originally an active participant in Native American politics and a published author as well, Tsonakwa showed that evening the power and mystery of storytelling.

It’s only in recent times, relatively speaking, that books have been widely available (the book as we know it today dates from the fifteenth century) and in the last hundred years the art of passing information to others through storytelling has practically disappeared.

But listening to Gerard Tsonakwa speak to a packed auditorium in the Warden Oasis Theatre at the Desert Museum was compelling, to say the least.  Compelling because sitting in a group listening to an ‘elder’ tell the secrets of life and the universe seemed to resonate with very deep memories of long time ago.

By Paul Handover

This is a spoof, isn’t it?

Big brother may be watching

But in this case it is a mythical pizza house.  (Includes sound as well)

Anyway, watch this futuristic scene courtesy of the American Civil Liberties Union.

By Paul Handover

Technology and electronics, a personal muse.

The amazing development of electronics over 50 years.

The calendar reliably informs me that this is my 65th year.  My brain, of course, lags somewhat in accepting this!

My step-father during my early teenage years worked for Elliott Brothers (the link goes to an interesting history of the firm that started in 1804) in Borehamwood, just north of London.  He encouraged me to fiddle with ‘steam’ radios and

Frederick and sa Elliot

try and understand how these basic circuits worked.  It was then a small step to deciding to become a radio amateur, popularly known as a radio ham!  In those days it was a case of some pretty intensive studying to pass a Theory exam as well as being able to pass an exam in sending and receiving Morse code.

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You attract what you think about!

It is my very great pleasure to introduce a new author to the Learning from Dogs Blog team.

I first met Dapinder Bains when he became a coaching client some 18 months ago.  Dapinder was seeking some guidance (not that coaching is guidance in the strict sense of the word) with regard to a new Internet business.  That Dapinder really required this coaching was, initially, a puzzle as he was already managing 500 web sites!  Clearly a fascinating person.

Anyway, over the months, we have got to know each other well.  So when Dapinder expressed an interest in contributing to the Blog there was no hesitation in me welcoming him to the team.  Over to him …

Read Dapinder’s first Post

Start the week with a wow, view second.

Astoundingly, beautiful land and sea-scape photography, by Patrick Smith.

One of the amazing things about the world-wide-web is the way that one can follow links and end up somewhere totally unexpected.  This is what happened when I happened across the Blog of Patrick Smith.  It was then a short trip to find his home page and then sit in awe at the magnificent beauty of Patrick’s photography.  This guy is a wonderful artist.

I sent Patrick an email asking for permission to re-publish one of his photographs and, to date, have not heard back.  If it hadn’t been for a comment on his Blog then this Post and the previous one would not have been published by me.

Patrick’s comment on his Blog was:

Some people on ——  are having quite a bit of fun with one of my photos. There is a link back to my photo on Flickr where it is getting thousands of views. Some people might get upset but it seems like they are having a good time not at my expense!What do you think about unauthorized use on a blog or ‘just for fun’ website?

Here are some other blog articles showing my work (with links to my websites) but without my permission. It is fine with me. (my emphasis)

It was a difficult call for me to take but, on balance, and taking into account Patrick’s Blog comment, it was decided to show just one of Patrick’s images because I think his work deserves the widest fanfare possible.

So I urge you to visit Patrick Smith Photography and support him in any way that you can.

Patrick may be found at his web site, via his Blog and on Flickr

Enjoy!

Patrick, if you read this and want the pic removed, just let me know!

By Paul Handover

It’s strange being human!

Ten things we don’t understand about being human, from New Scientist magazine.

Thanks to Naked Capitalism for pointing me towards this fascinating piece in New Scientist.  The article discusses 10 outwardly frivolous behaviours and attributes that have scientists scratching their head.  They are:

  • Blushing
  • Laughter
  • Pubic hair
  • Teenagers’ behavioursNew Scientist skeleton
  • Dreams
  • Altruism
  • Art
  • Superstition
  • Kissing, and
  • Nose-picking

The article links each of the above to a further examination of why it is so strange.  It’s a good read and the accompanying photograph heading up the article, reproduced across, is rather clever.

Reminds me of that lovely English ditty:

The whole world is rather queer,

except thee and me,

and I have my doubts about thee!

By Paul Handover

Full moons and ghostie things.

Man’s continuing fascination in unworldly ideas.

When the bedroom light was turned out last night, the full moon was brilliant through the window.  Inevitably, we pondered about that massive universe out there.  My wish was expressed that before I die, I wanted to know that there UFO(1)was life on another planet.  This one piece of information would be the most thrilling and challenging fact ever presented to mankind.

So it was rather serendipitous to come across a small clip on BBC Television purporting to show a ‘UFO’ being caught by a live web cam.

However, the BBC also had in their archives another clip that did rather bring things down to earth.  Towards the end the reporter interviews the man responsible for crop circles, a better example of an eccentric Englishman would be hard to find!

Bet we still privately hope there is something ‘out there’, don’t we?

By Paul Handover

Airbus A380. What a wow of an aircraft!

Special visitor to this year’s EAA Airventure, or ‘Oshkosh’ to be more familiar.

AOPA have produced a very nice video covering the arrival of the Airbus A380 to Oshkosh.

Pretty sure that the link is a open-access one so Click here to watch.  Any problems seeing it, please comment.

By Paul Handover