Dance dance revolution

Some really cool photos over at The Big Picture.

The liberal arts as a catalyst for change and restoration of our principles

Defending the liberal arts

This one by Lane Wallace at the Dish hit me close to home: I received a liberal arts education and wouldn’t trade it for the world. I think his characterization here sums up pretty well why that’s the case:

In an increasingly global economy and world, more than just technical skill is required. Far more challenging is the ability to work with a multitude of viewpoints and cultures. And the liberal arts are particularly good at teaching how different arguments on the same point can be equally valid, depending on what presumptions or values you bring to the subject. The liberal arts canvas is painted not in reassuring black-and-white tones, but in maddening shades of gray.

What’s the “right” solution to the conflict in Sudan? What was Shakespeare’s most important work and why? Was John Locke right in his arguments about personal property? Get comfortable with the ambiguities inherent in a liberal arts education, and you’re far better equipped to face the ambiguities and differing viewpoints in a complex, global world. (The late David Foster Wallace expanded on this point in his acclaimed 2005 Kenyon College commencement address, which, if you missed it at the time, is worth taking the time to read.)

[...] Yes, the U.S. needs technical expertise to keep pace, economically and technologically. But we need innovators and entrepreneurs creating break-though concepts and businesses. And while knowledge in an area is important, I’d argue that the most important trait a pioneering entrepreneur needs is the confidence to buck convention; to believe he or she is right, despite what all the experts say.

Practice makes genius

David Brooks on the role of practice and diligence (not innate ability) on cultivating genius:

The key factor separating geniuses from the merely accomplished is not a divine spark. It’s not I.Q., a generally bad predictor of success, even in realms like chess. Instead, it’s deliberate practice. Top performers spend more hours (many more hours) rigorously practicing their craft. [...]

By practicing in this way [focusing meticulously on technique], performers delay the automatizing process. The mind wants to turn deliberate, newly learned skills into unconscious, automatically performed skills. But the mind is sloppy and will settle for good enough. By practicing slowly, by breaking skills down into tiny parts and repeating, the strenuous student forces the brain to internalize a better pattern of performance. [...]

The primary trait she possesses is not some mysterious genius. It’s the ability to develop a deliberate, strenuous and boring practice routine.

Coyle and Colvin describe dozens of experiments fleshing out this process. This research takes some of the magic out of great achievement. But it underlines a fact that is often neglected. Public discussion is smitten by genetics and what we’re “hard-wired” to do. And it’s true that genes place a leash on our capacities. But the brain is also phenomenally plastic. We construct ourselves through behavior. As Coyle observes, it’s not who you are, it’s what you do.

Scrambled? Fried?

I take mine over-easy.

Egg art:

"Eggs of History #61" by apeface

"Eggs of History #59" by apeface

More photos

There’ve just been a lot of good ones lately. This one by Paul Souders:

Read the post: it’s great. And in case it took you a minute (like me) to figure this one out: it’s a reflection in a pool of water.

“The 365 Project”

And… I’ve now been sucked into Flickr. There are some pretty cool shots in here. I like “.(40/365)” by burnt out Impurities:

This one is a Creative Commons license… so I know I can use it.

Photos at CERN, continued

Xavier – Atlas Experiment, CERN LHC

Originally uploaded by strobist

Ok… so update: After making my own official Flickr account and fiddling with my profile, it’s possible to mark settings for whether your photos are “bloggable” (if that’s a word). Since it possible to click “blog this” on David’s photo, I’m assuming it’s ok. Of course, all rights are reserved to him.

Photos at CERN

David, the Strobist, takes some stunning photos at CERN. I’ve recently begun trying to be more aware about copywrite stuff… and I’m not really sure what I am and am not allowed to reproduce on a blog… so in the meantime, I’ll just link you there. Photos here. Blog post here. Enjoy.

Participating in the divine

When in the act of creation we have a task, but the result does not come from us. We facilitate it, but do not provide it. Emerson talked about this. Nietzsche talked about this. David James Duncan has talked about this. And now Elizabeth Gilbert. She gets it.

more about “Participating in the divine“, posted with vodpod

Sage advice

From Garrison Keillor:

And stay off the obituary page as long as possible. One hopes for an opulent send-off but it’s not going to happen, dear heart, and so you may as well go ahead and live your life because your obituary is bound to be a big disappointment.

We were greated as liberators…

The NY Daily Times headline says it all:

Saddam’s hometown unveils statue dedicated to man who threw shoe at President Bush

The picture:

The article:

The statue is inscribed with a poem honoring Muntadhar al-Zeidi, the Iraqi journalist who stunned the world when he whipped off his loafers and hurled them at Bush during a press conference on Dec. 14.

In the Arab world, even showing someone the sole of a shoe is considered a sign of disrespect.

(Danke: Monkeyfister)

American artist Andrew Wyeth dies at 91

Update: Sullivan post

“Master Bedroom” (1965) Andrew Wyeth

Michael Kimmelman covers his passing and his impact.