Christof Koch of Cal Tech: “I’m not a conventional atheist who believes it’s all just a random formation. I believe there is meaning. But as you said, I don’t believe in a personal god or any of the standard things that you’re supposed to believe as a Christian. … This God I have in mind is very ephemeral. It’s much closer to Spinoza’s God than to the God of Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel.”
Tag: 08.29.12
Tango: Better Than Prozac And Meditation
“Those who took the tango and meditation classes both showed greater reductions in depression than those who did neither. But the tango students lowered their stress more than either the meditation students or those on the waiting list. And in something of a surprise, the tango students reported a greater increase in mindfulness.”
Defying (Other) Labels With Naxos
How did Naxos get so big? All is revealed in this Q&A with its founder, Klaus Heymann.
Hiking Fairyland Trail In The Forests Grimm
“Germany is celebrating the bicentenary of the famous fairytales of the Brothers Grimm with a 600km trail that brings their dark tales to life in its castles, forests and towns.”
The Painted Pigeons Of St. Mark’s: An Art Project
“The colors range from brilliant blues and reds to vibrant greens and yellows, not to mention royal purple. The sudden appearance of the pigeons of St. Mark’s – considered so much a public nuisance that the local government made it illegal to feed them in 2008 – in something other than the standard gray seems to have delighted the tourists. But it also seems, perhaps just as predictably, to have outraged animal rights defenders.”
What Novelists Should The BBC Next Rescue From Obscurity?
“if television companies, encouraged by the success of Parade’s End, should decide to look outside the narrow bounds of established classics to the nearly forgotten, where should they look?” (Hint: Look for writers’ writers.)
Does The BBC Have A Racist Show On Its Hands?
Citizen Khan “was supposed to be a ground-breaking new BBC comedy which
finally placed a modern Asian family centre-stage.” But complaints are stacking up – and prompting an investigation.
Malcolm Browne, 81, Photographer Of Powerful Moment In Vietnam
“Browne’s picture went around the world. In Washington, Robert Kennedy was calling his brother, the president, to talk about Alabama when Jack Kennedy, still in bed in the White House, saw Browne’s picture on the front page of the New York Times. ‘Jesus Christ!’ he said.”
Celebrities And Knighthoods: Time To Give That A Rest, Say Some Brits
Some members of the British Parliament want to see fewer actors and musicians, but more ordinary British citizens, receiving honors from the Queen.
Shakespeare Festival Lays Off Staff After Weak Sales
“Executive director designate Anita Gaffney said the layoffs of facilities workers are an attempt by the Southern Ontario repertory theatre company to reduce expenditures without affecting the art on the stages.”