Reverend Tyson Goes Hard

It's been a while, I know.  But I simply could not let this one pass by.



What I would love is for all of you to watch all of this.  But if not, at least give a bit of attention to what Dr. Tyson says around 38:23.  It's the same message that was the thesis of his Senate testimony a few weeks ago.  I feel it's the most important message regarding the state of our economy I've heard since 2000.

I had this argument with someone a couple of weeks ago.  An iPhone, as useful as it is, is NOT true innovation.  And without true innovation, we have no reason to complain.



peace.

Even "God" Loves Science

Well, at least a guy who played him a couple of times does.

In case you haven't noticed, Morgan Freeman has been headlining a fantastic series on The Science Channel for the past couple of years called Through the Wormhole. On the show, they've tackled a number of difficult and sophisticated questions posed by scientists, theorists, and philosophers throughout the ages. Now in its third season, the show has been quite innovative in their ability to make scientific inquiry engaging and entertaining.

The best part: all of the episodes are also on youtube for free! Yes!

peace.

Reverend Tyson Takes It to the Hill

A few days ago Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson testified before Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation committee. Here is the testimony and q&a in its entirety.

For some reason, I can't stop thinking that Dr. Tyson should be sitting not in the testimony seat but rather as a member of the committee itself. I hope the people in Congress have the enthusiasm and foresight to take some real action based on the Dr.'s remarks. This stuff is d*mn important.

peace.

For Nerd Eyes Only

So, I get home tonight from our first preview of This Is the Week That Is (Come see it! It's great!) and begin the usual youtube surf session. As you may or may not know, if you cruise youtube long enough they will start suggesting videos for you to view. For tonight, I was given this:

So, you mean to tell me I can watch a show about science hosted by Jeremy Clarkson? Yes, please.

peace.

Neil deGrasse Tyson Takin' it To 'Em

I've been gone for a couple of days. Most of my energy recently has been dedicated to rehearsals for a show. Things are moving along incredibly well, but there has been little time for thought and reflection on ideas and topics currently occupying my interest.

So, allow me to humbly offer a bit of my science hero Neil deGrasse Tyson.

All this info on this particular lecture can be found here on the youtube page for this video.

I'll be back tomorrow with the Emcee of the Month.

Thanks for stickin' with me.

peace.

Reverend Tyson For The Win

Tonight I'm hanging back. I had a great day meeting with the cast of a play in which I'll be performing around the holidays. So, I think I'll allow myself some time to slow down and sit with the resonance of the day.

So while I goof off, I offer to you another Neil deGrasse Tyson video that I've recently discovered. He's in exceptionally fine form with this one.

Enjoy!

peace.

The Actor's Brain

Science proves actors are weird.

From The Guardian:

'My bra! My bra! I have to take off my bra!" yells Fiona Shaw, running past me into a changing room. She sounds like Richard III after the battle of Bosworth Field: "A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!" What a top thesp Shaw is: even when she's in a panic about her underwear she sounds Shakespearean, such is her actorly grasp of prosody.

And this is no small matter. Shaw has come to the basement of London University's psychology department to be analysed by cognitive neuroscientists. Today's experiment will find out what – if anything – goes on in actors' brains when they perform a role. "I'm sure there's some sort of muscle," says Shaw. "I'm sure I'm using the wrong word – some sort of muscle in an actor's brain which is extended."

But why does Shaw have to take off her bra? Because it's underwired. Metal plays havoc with the huge magnet used in the machine that is going to scan her brain. There have been accidents involving highly magnetised flying oxygen canisters – not here but in scanning rooms in other parts of the world.

More here.

People who aren't actors usually have one question they ask more than any other: how do we memorize all those words? My response has stayed fairly the same for a few years now: we don't memorize the words, but rather the thoughts. Knowing the actual words becomes an inevitable byproduct of understanding the progression of a character's thoughts, needs, and impulses. This video offers an exciting and fascinating scientific view into the actor process. It's absolutely marvelous.

Now, I'll get back to memorizing lines.

peace.

Challenger Deep

I offer you Richard Hammond's Journey to the Bottom of the Ocean. This is the first of four parts.

I discovered these videos today while search for an old Top Gear segment. I think they're marvelous; Hamster is an appropriate and entertaining guide in journeys of the world. Be sure to check out his other special "...Center of the Planet."

peace.

Osmosis

Every night I go to sleep with a video or movie playing as I doze off. It's usually something I've seen a few times before so I don't have to process too much new information and I try to begin in a new place every night. I've found this allows my mind to stay restfully aware of something happening so as not to wander from thought to thought. When attempting to fall asleep without a movie or a video, my thoughts keep me uncomfortably awake for quite a while.

For a while during my senior year of high school my nightly movie was Die Hard with a Vengeance. The next big one was The Hunt for Red October, and after that I was using Porco Rosso. Since I got my iPod touch, I've been making a move towards extended youtube videos and Top Gear episodes on streetfire.net.

Tonight it will be this:

I've yet to make it all the way through this video, but I've been chipping away at it for a couple weeks now. My hope is that perhaps, somehow, I'll absorb on some of Dr. Tyson's brilliance by osmosis. Maybe I'll be smarter in the morning.

!!!

peace.

Reverend Tyson

Whenever I find myself lacking in inspiration to perform or write or practice, there are a few key thoughts or ideas that usually help me get back in gear. Recent events in my professional progress have jostled me a bit and I've noticed feeling a bit weighted down. But tonight, I'm feeling somewhat rejuvenated as I've revisited the stories, thoughts, and musings of one of my current heros, Neil deGrasse Tyson.

Dr. Tyson is the director of the Hayden Planetarium inside the American Museum of Natural History in New York. He's written 11 books, including Death By Black Hole: And Other Cosmic Quandaries and The Pluto Files: The Rise and Fall of America's Favorite Planet. He's appeared on The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Rachel Maddow Show, and half a dozen other television programs enlightening audiences about the fascinations of the universe. He's also the host of NOVA scienceNOW on PBS. For a full bio, check this out.

He's also one of the best storytellers of our time.

He has a way of talking about the universe with colors and textures that arrest me with interest. There's no way I'm not going to listen to what he says. He makes the most complex scientific theories refreshingly digestible without watering down their importance. But what's most important, he has fun discussing the universe with people. From what I can tell, he doesn't seem to mind people asking him questions about the cosmos. He's an educator, and he's good at.

I could go on and on about Dr. Tyson's dopeness, but I'll save that for another night. It's much better now if you have a chance to see for yourself.

So for your viewing pleasure, a bit of Dr. Tyson doing what he does. I hope you enjoy.

peace.