Came across this sweet little video recently. Check it out for yourself

In the interest of embracing optimism, I decided to look up some quotes by famous and not-so-famous people that inspire me to approach life in a positive, light-hearted manner. Yes, I know, quotes are sometimes looked down upon, and quotes are not the only way to learn anything, the context matters more in most cases. But a good quote is like a good song, a small morsel of wisdom or wit that can inspire great things in the observer’s mind. Here are some juicy ones from my ever-growing collection:

“Snatching the eternal out of the desperately fleeting is the great magical trick of human existence.” ~Tennessee Williams

“When you perceive that an act done to another is done to yourself, you have understood the great truth.” ~Taoist saying

“Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.” ~Buddha

“The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science.” ~Albert Einstein

“To the outside world we all grow old. But not to brothers and sisters. We know each other as we always were. We know each other’s hearts. We share private family jokes. We remember family feuds and secrets, family griefs and joys. We live outside the touch of time.” ~Clara Ortega

“Nothing is so strong as gentleness, and nothing is so gentle as real strength.” ~Ralph Stockman

“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” ~T. Roosevelt

“Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.” ~Albert Einstein

“Genius is the ability to put into effect what is on your mind.” ~F. Scott Fitzgerald

“He is a hard man who is only just, and a sad one who is only wise.” ~Voltaire

“True love stories never have endings.” ~Richard Bach

“Anyone can be passionate, but it takes real lovers to be silly.” ~Rose Franken

“What the world really needs is more love and less paper work.” ~Pearl Bailey

“To all of us the thought of heaven is dear–
Why not be sure of it and make it here?
No doubt there is a heaven yonder too,
But ’tis so far away–and you are near.”
~Omar Khayyam

“For fast-acting relief, try slowing down.” ~Lily Tomlin

From CBC’s Ideas radio show, I am listening to the podcast with Nick Maxwell on the ideas about science presented in his book From Knowledge to Wisdom: A Revolution for Science and the Humanities.

A long but highly insightful conversation between acclaimed authors Salman Rushdie and Irshad Manji on the nature of belief, Islamism, the history of Islam and Quran, and what to do in a world full of crazies on both the Islamist side and the racist westerner side. Rational, thinking people of all varieties will enjoy this video… please watch in full, it’s worth it. Intelligent comments are welcome.

An insightful piece about the “Third Wave” of feminists who are now redefining the meaning of the word “Feminism” as a broader, more comprehensive movement than perhaps it’s been in the past.

The word of the day is intersectionality — the understanding of multiple ways of being and living that shape a person and how we experience the world, and in turn how the world treats them. The idea that one individual can be faced with a multitude of oppressions which can’t be addressed individually any more than the person herself can be physically divided into pieces and be expected to survive.

1. Live for the past.
2. Live for the future.
3. Think everything is always about you.
4. Think that you just don’t matter at all.
5. Believe that pills will solve all your problems.
6. Believe that pills are stupid and useless.
7. Do not let yourself change.
8. Believe that it is all your fault.
9. Believe that it is all other people’s fault.
10. Accept all the bad things you have heard, read or thought about you.
11. Deny any good things you have heard, read or thought about you.
12. Never think about other people’s problems.
13. Think that because you can’t do everything, you shouldn’t do anything.
14. Roll your eyes while reading this list.
15. When happiness comes, greet it with fear or guilt or resentment.
16. Think that you are or have bad luck.
17. Don’t express yourself creatively in any way.
18. Keep on trying to please and/or piss-off Mom and/or Dad.
19. Wait for someone else to come and save you.
20. Exercise only sporadically and only out of guilt.
21. Don’t make friends with silence.
22. Watch a lot of TV.
23. Stay away from Nature.
24. Think of everything in terms of black or white.
25. Take all, give nothing.

~Kiran Mehdee [June 2008]

Battlestar Galactica‘s Tricia Helfer’s
‘Angel for Animals’ PETA PSA

Click on the poster to read more about Tricia and to enter a contest to win Battlestar Galactica DVD’s!

Frito-Lay‘s new Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos, which are the “official sponsor” of The Colbert Report‘s coverage of the presidential primaries, have earned praise from PETA…

“Seeking Common Ground (SCG) was co-founded by five women in response to a growing desire to apply their corporate education and publishing skills to topics closer to heart and home.”

I am deeply inspired and in search of such a group here in Toronto.

Who knows… maybe I’ll just create one!

I recently discovered the strikingly simple and hauntingly beautiful art of Thalia Took. This image is of the Arab Triple Goddess.