If this dude had trouble in math, there's really no hope for me

Today in 1879, this guy:

was born in Germany.

I appreciate his contribution to the field of physics, but since I don't understand physics, here's a bunch of things he said that I get a kick out of.

Like his observations of the way we are:

"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

"Gravitation cannot be held responsible for people falling in love. How on earth can you explain in terms of chemistry and physics so important a biological phenomenon as first love? Put your hand on a stove for a minute and it seems like an hour. Sit with that special girl for an hour and it seems like a minute. That's relativity."

"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."

Or one that appeals to me especially in the midst of a spring break that will be filled with midterms studying and essay-writing:

"It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education."

And the significance of creativity:

"Imagination is more important than knowledge."

"Reading, after a certain age, diverts the mind too much from its creative pursuits. Any man who reads too much and uses his own brain too little falls into lazy habits of thinking."

"The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing. One cannot help but be in awe when he contemplates the mysteries of eternity, of life, of the marvelous structure of reality. It is enough if one tries merely to comprehend a little of this mystery every day. Never lose a holy curiosity."

I have a more considered post waiting in the wings with content generated by me instead of a mishmash of re-posted stuff, but that's just going to have to wait because my brain, she has been taken by the midterms. In lieu of an actual post I offer this quote to ponder:

Michael Miner, writing in the Chicago Reader: "The Internet pelts us with news; a good newspaper arranges it in our heads." [Originally from here].

And, in closing, here's a creative video to stimulate the imagination:

Random bits of randomness

Some amusing videos I saw on the internet today:
-A video tutorial on "What Facebook is For".
-Wii Breakfast, the newest evolution in video games!
-My favorite of this round-up: Ryan Started the Fire, a ditty borrowing from Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire" to pay homage to The Office.

Also, I watched The Jungle Book for the first time since I don't know when and everyone should have this song stuck in their heads if I do, so The Bare Necessities, a singalong:

And no more for the rest of story

Paul Harvey died today.

His "And now for the rest of the story" tag line is (along with Garrison Keillor's 'Guy Noir, Private Eye' from "A Prairie Home Companion") my earliest and most enduring memory of listening to the radio.

Toolkit of the roving reporter

From the Feb./Mar. 2009 issue of Ready Made, suggestions for a complete roving multimedia reporter's kit. In case the print's too small to read, it contains, starting from bottom left and going clockwise:
-video (Flip MinoHD camcorder)
-digital audio recorder
-data storage (flash drive)
-a power source (Chargepod Charging Hub)
-camera
-tripod (Gorillapod)
-USB hub expander
-rechargeable batteries



I have nearly all these things, though I hardly carry them all around all at once. My digital camera substitutes as my video I guess. I have a knock-off Gorillapod which works fine but is a bit cumbersome to carry around. My rechargeable batteries aren't as nifty as the ones shown in the magazine which are really cool - they recharge via USB plug in.

They really needed to include a notebook and pen though.

What's in your multimedia kit?

Everyone's a Farmer

On Conan O'Brien's last show he showed his favorite clip: He went to Long Island where they play old time baseball with 1864 rules and costumes. Watch the clip till the end to see Conan participate, replete with Civil War-era mustache and slang.

I've just found my new favorite sentence

"'Pride and Prejudice and Zombies' features the original text of Jane Austen's beloved novel with all-new scenes of bone crunching zombie action."

Nothing like a little zombie killing to spice up stuffy Regency romance. I will be ordering my copy immediately. Because the only thing more dashing than Mr. Darcy is Mr. Darcy kicking zombie ass.