When my sister and I were little, my Uncle Chick used to make fun of my Mom’s more flighty moments by invoking Carl Sagan and saying the above line in a funny voice. Bevin and I loved this despite only a vague familiarity with Mr. Sagan at the time. We loved the voice my uncle used and the mysterious, provocative line “billions and billions of stars”.

Well today, stopping in for my occasional visit at Just Stuff I Find (see Blogroll on right), I enjoyed this short movie by David Fu, which brought pleasant memories of my youth, my home, and my uncle, and also re-inspired me to enjoy simple things and to live in the present. Ikiru.

A picture of my new favorite blogger:

RADMAN, a blogger for Lifelounge

I’m not sure if Lifelounge is RAD’s personal blog or what, but there sure are some awesome photos of bygone RAD times. Here’s an example of a post entitled “When spandex karate was rad“. Wow.

11/25/09 — Since I initially posted this I have found out more about Lifelounge Magazine.

Since 1999 lifelounge.com has been serving up inspiring, entertaining and authentic content and ideas from Australia and around the globe. With daily news and up-to-the-minute posts from a team of local and international editors, lifelounge.com is Australia’s number one destination for its culture-hungry and dedicated readership. And just like the magazine, it’s pixel-packed full of the latest music, fashion, art, and design – not to mention a healthy dose of exclusive videos, forums and blogs.

i didn’t know where to put these sites I came across during my lunch today, so here they are…artists in residence.

http://www.anabenaroya.com/ — art of Ana Benaroya.

http://www.behepp.com/ — Photos, findings, and art of Elizabeth Heppenstall.

http://silhouettemasterpiecetheatre.com/ — the silhouette art of Wilhelm Staehle. (Good quips on his twitter page too!)

Just had to clip this little segment from tvashtarkatena’s latest trip report, Torture Memo #2, The Beatings Continue, on Cascade Climbers. Hilarious. Perhaps you’ll agree.

His reports are worth following for the tale and his rather amazing close-up photography (and photography in general).

I don’t understand the whole ‘torture debate’. “How can we, or why do we torture people” is often asked by the deeply concerned.

Why?

Because it’s fun, that’s why.

And no torture method is more fun, save perhaps putting the victim in coffin with a live insect (one of the more imaginative officially sanctioned methods, at least according to former Justice Department legal counsel), than taking a newbie out into the mountains.

There are two basic ways to learn a language. One is to study the syntax, grammar, pronunciation, slowly, deliberately, piece by piece, until you finally decide to stay only in hotels where English is spoken. The other is to swagger up to the counter, recite your carefully memorized “I’ll need a woman about twice my weight and that bottle of clear liquid with the wolverine penis floating in it”, and let the magic begin.

Having taught climbing both ways, I’ve become a firm believer in immersion. It’s quicker, and a whole lot more sadistic.