Wild Turkeys; Photo Credit: Stephen Crafts
Bird of the Day: (Thanksgiving Shout Out!)
Humor
Things You Do Not Need To Know, But What The Heck
If you are a fan of these fun prizes, click the image of the book to go to the publisher’s site:
Marc Abrahams, the founder of the famous Ig Nobel Prize, offers an addictive, wryly funny exposé of the oddest, most imaginative, and just plain improbable research from around the world. He looks into why books on ethics are more likely to get stolen and how promoting people randomly improves their work, to what time of month generates higher tips for Vegas lap dancers and how mice were outfitted with parachutes to find a better way to murder tree snakes in Guam.
Abrahams’ tour through these unlikeliest investigations of animals, plants, and minerals (including humans) will first make you laugh, then make you think about the globe in a new way. Continue reading
Purposive Fun
He is probably already famous in geek world, but Matthew Inman (if you click through to his profile, scroll half way down the page to the Quizzes, Widgets, & Gadgets links on thoughtful subjects) just came to our attention because of our interest in underdogs, in creative communication, and in humor. Matthew is, in this regard, a trifecta. After reading the Tesla “comic” (all the way to the end, you should) click back out to the main site where he says he puts most of his time and energy these days. Brighten your day with a good laugh.
Project Management and Homestay in Kerala, India
Last week, I was very fortunate to be invited to live, work, and learn development process with a project management company here in Kerala, India. I have to say that it was a short but a very meaningful opportunity: both culturally and academically. Here is a story of my two day journey:
Fresh Lime Juice with Banana Chips @ Break time
In the US, the concept of project management is very common, and thus most construction projects often include a project management company; a mediator that facilitates the communication among the client/owner, architect, interior designer, and the various contractors by managing construction schedules, budget & estimates, and translation of design to actual building structure. However, in India, many construction projects happen without project management, which may cause all kinds of issues. So, when I first heard that RAXA was hiring a project management company, I was thrilled to meet the project managers and what I’d be learning from them.
A Learning Laboratory (Stop Motion Video!)
Yesterday, Jonathon, Siobhan, Milo, and I moved into one of the new Raxa Collective properties under development. As the four of us huddled silently under our covers, the backwaters of Kerala’s nighttime accompanied Jonathon’s ghost stories…
Instead of spooky tales, though, today I want to share with you another story Jonathon narrates, Raxa Collective presents “A Learning Laboratory.” It’s a short video, Jonathon (narrator), Sunnie (illustrator), Siobhan (director), and I (producer) put together with the help of all the staff and summer interns to highlight some of the best anecdotes of how Raxa Collective’s Cardamom County ecolodge has acted as a “learning laboratory” for its staff, international trainees, and summer interns.
Enjoy!
Complex Ideas Made Simple
Maths in Deauville, Normandy (Rene Maltete)
Click the image above for a Krulwich confection. While nominally about the challenge of understanding genetics, it is actually a reminder that when we celebrate the oddball, often underdog approaches to challenging ideas or situations, we sometimes oversimplify in the interest of clever/cute and sometimes in the spirit of brevity (which Shakespeare called the soul of wit, and Dorothy Parker called the soul of lingerie).
Art of Taxi Driving
It has been a week since I arrived in Kerala, India. Not surprisingly, my first cultural shock was the ear-piercing, honking sound of rickshaws (small Indian taxis) that welcomed me when I stepped out of the Cochin airport. In the beginning, I thought the drivers here were just a little more aggressive or would get frustrated easily: the reason why they honked so much. But, as we drove away from the airport, our driver explained to us that these drivers honked to show their existence and alert others. In addition, drivers in India tend to not keep to their lanes. They use the entire road sometimes driving on the left side, right side, and in the middle…so ALL sides! These days, many young Indians are actively protesting to eliminate this unnecessary honking and to reduce noise pollution. So, increasingly you can see many signs like “Yi Horn Not OK Please.”
Rickshaws in India
Bird of the Day: Dodo (Mauritius, c.1681)
Photo by Harri Kallio
Whole Foods April 1, 2012
Poisson d’Avril
It was unlike me to have missed acknowledging the Vernal Equinox last week but please note that it wasn’t forgotten. In much of the northern hemisphere spring began sprouting all over the place, sometimes unseasonably early, and the first day of spring was observed in all its glory in Crist’s Holi series.
So I’m being careful not to miss April 1st and in the spirit of that celebration am sharing some of artist Ken Brown‘s collection of turn of the century (the 19th to the 20th that is!) French fantasy postcards that celebrate “Poisson d’Avril”, the French equivalent of April 1st or April Fools’ Day. Continue reading
“You-er Than You!”
Photo: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division
A Dr. Seuss centennial had come upon me a few days ago in an “almost missed it moment”. In many ways the consumate “ad man” who became one of the most beloved children’s book authors never actually changed careers. Nearly each and every one of his books continues to reach the pinacle of salesmanship, but not for a product. With joy, wit and often irony, they sold the love of reading, imagination and exploration.
Positively Happy
My high school chemistry teacher always said, “Don’t be negative; be positive. Multiply the love and divide the hate,” while she used her hands and fingers to represent each mathematical symbol. This phrase would surface in my memory occasionally, but I must admit I rarely took it to heart. However, I was preparing for a presentation about affirmations when I stumbled across a Ted Talk that affirmed this old saying.
I found this short speech relatable, funny, and surprisingly thought-provoking.
Lessons Of The Road
I recently wrote about India’s pithy little roadside instructions with the promise of photos to come. My last drive to Thekkady was on an unusually traffic free day, so it seemed safe enough to pull over and finally get my shots.
Library Lovers Unite
Someone at the Greene County Public Library had the bright idea, and creative ability, to put a fun spin on an erstwhile quiet, sometimes sleepy, and recently endangered institution. The little library in Ohio that roared.
Amazing coconut tree
Photo: T J Varghese
Photo taken near Alappuzha, Kerala.
Vive La Différence
One of our favorite phrases comes to mind upon seeing the news that Umberto Eco, whose book on experiential travel is as must-read as it is little-known, is curating an exhibition on lists at a museum. Long live the difference: the man of letters, whose academic work on semiotics even many scholars are challenged by, can write trash-free page-turners as well as travel books and, why not, curate a museum exhibition. Long live the difference: the museum that resists the trashy blockbusters can invite a man such as this to open his cabinet of curiosities. Continue reading
Saip!
In my own favorite post of the last few months (Kerala: Seeing & Learning), I briefly mentioned the word. But I didn’t make it clear just how hilarious the instances of its utterance can be, especially when the subject knows its significance.
A New Zealand writer who lived in Kerala for a few years describes a few bizarre Continue reading
Our Gang, Thevara (#3)
In more than one earlier post, we might have given the impression that every young person in our neighborhood seems to smile all the time. Not necessarily so, though most do. But for certain when they see someone they do not recognize, they will definitely say hello.
Wonderful Krulwich
…somebody has been dropping glorious little paper sculptures into libraries and museums all over Edinburgh, Scotland, and we’ve just heard … that there are now three more…
Life Mein Ek Baar, Featuring River Escapes
Every minute of this is fun. The 35th minute is particularly fun for those of us based in Kerala because members of our organization join the stage with the stars of this show.
About five months ago we were approached by a film production company about a show they were filming for National Geographic Channel. They told us that River Escapes was recommended to them as having the best houseboats in the Kerala backwaters (a bit of music to our ears). Then they proposed that their Kerala episode should be based on our houseboats (we danced to that music).
Organikos 