A Future Vision (Station 11 ~ Emily St John Mandel)

I found this book recommendation in the 'New Statesman' magazine; Tracy Thorne was singing its praises. I was pleased I opted to read 'Station 11' as it's been a long time since I've devoted an entire weekend to reading a novel straight through. However what a compelling read it was. The old world ends and a chilling new one begins; abandoned cities return to nature and random settlements populated with the few who survive dot the desolate landscape. Yet the novel offers hope in humanity as the cast or Travelling Symphony face a new dawn.

It's been a while since I've done a blog entry so a book recommendation is a good start. 

 

Mellow Music from a Cambridge Based Musician.

A very mellow and thought provoking album by a Cambridge based musician.

 

  

http://timhoopermusic.co.uk/music/

A touching song

An uplifting song with a heartwarming video courtesy of the great Van Morrison.

                                       

Garry Kasparov on Chess and His Life

I have always been mystified by chess so I watched this informed and informative portrait of Garry Kasparov talking about chess and his life in the former Soviet Union. He is interviewed by Sir David Frost. 

Last June in Manchester, Garry Kasparov took on Alan Turing's  "Paper Machine" - the first chess computer program ever written - for the first time in public, and Garry true to form wins in 16 moves. 

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/grandmaster-garry-kasparov-takes-on-alan-690039

Engaging Voices

While having a coffee in a small cafe in Cambridge, I came across a lovely thought provoking journal. I noticed from its webpage the following which I thought was worth showing in full and definitely food for thought. 

Why Wisdom?

"Fashionable intellectuals today treat all ideas as fads. Alas, it’s a zeitgeist that’s conducive not to responsible thinkers but rather provocateurs, who do little of substance to foster the kind of humanity they claim to profess. Sensationalising not explaining, bamboozling not enlightening, berating not inspiring: society’s moralising has been entrusted to the likes of radical postmodernists, religious fundamentalists and political extremists, all of whom fit and shape the virulent modern media, even as they critique it.
Yet beneath this entanglement of weeds, wisdom endures: civilisation’s forgotten monument. Inscribed on it are history’s most profound existential lessons – thoughtful, conscientious and deep, yet down-to-earth, concrete and practical. There are homely meditations on how to live a meaningful, happy and good life. There are simple teachings on how to get the best out of oneself and others; to create more of the things that make life worthwhile – such as beauty, love, labour, compassion, peace and learning. And there are insights into human nature and how it can be channelled into achieving all this.
Through contributions from academics and other professionals – responsible intellectuals alike – the Journal of Modern Wisdom seeks to cut through the faddish brambles; to recover, reassert and redevelop wiser ways of living. Because ideas matter. And wisdom is the most valuable thing people can reflect on – and in doing so, with hope, achieve"

http://www.modernwisdom.co.uk/

Reaching Out

This is very poignant and very apt nowadays.

A Warming Song about an Ordinary Town.

A beautiful song about ordinary people in an ordinary British town.

The Artisans of Fez and Solitaire.

On a recent trip to Morocco we were fascinated by just how many goods are still made by local artisans. Apparently the ancient city of Fez has 700 artisans still crafting goods by hand and selling them on to tourists as well as markets abroad. One product we picked up was a game dating back to the French Revolution. The story goes that the game known as peg solitaire was designed by a French aristocrat who was imprisoned in the Bastille. Later it was designed with indentations rather than holes and marbles were used and this is the version we bought.  I just hope that one day we can see more locally hand made products in our local markets. 

Here are the rules clearly explained for this wonderful little game.

Late Night Radio

Late night radio is so refreshing to listen too; intelligent conversation, well chosen songs and an all round warming experience. I heard this song on BBC Radio 6 on Guy Garvey's programme so I thought I would share it. Bruce Cockburn is a new discovery for me so I hope you enjoy the music as much as I did. More can be found out about this Canadian singer on his website: 

 http://brucecockburn.com/about

Foundations of the London Underground

It's fascinating to think that Harry Beck in 1931 sat down at his desk at home and mapped all the stations on the London Underground. Apparently he felt that as the stations were underground the physical locations did not matter as passengers simply wished to know how to get from one place to another. He based his map on an electrical circuit with coloured lines drawn only horizontally, vertically or at 45 degrees. All this was something he did for others to make their lives easier and what a simple yet great idea it was; serving perhaps as a template for other underground,metro or subway maps. 

                              http://www.tfl.gov.uk/corporate/projectsandschemes/2443.aspx

Wise Words from Richard Burton

Richard Burton and Anthony Hopkins are possibly the two greatest British actors of the twentieth century. Here's the former reciting some wise words. 

 

                                       


To find out more on both actors try:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000164/

Father and Son

This is a video I recently found. Its message is so simple yet so powerful.

A Fine Gentleman

"If you go to work, life is sweeter...If you've got good health, you're a millionaire." Well said Mr Biber, an 89 year old barber from Tottenham, London speaking out after the riots. 

A Voice From a Community

This man Tariq Jahan, is a grieving father who lost his son when he and two other boys from the local community were peacefully protecting their properties. All three were killed outright when a car drove straight at them. A 32 year old man who could be the driver is now in custody. Mr Jahan is just an ordinary law abiding man with an ordinary family. Later a group of around 200 local residents held a peaceful candlelit vigil in memory of the three deceased. He acts with such dignity and speaks words of real wisdom. Let's all come together and listen to a genuine voice from the community. 

Great Architecture

The Chrysler Building, NYC 
(One of the finest examples of art deco today)

 The Blue Mosque, Istanbul 
(A masterpiece of craftsmanship and design)

 

The Taj Mahal, Agra 

(A symbol of the power of love; built in homage to the ruler's wife)  

 The Petronas Towers, KL, Malaysia 
(Contemporary architecture influenced by Malaysian religious traditions)

 

 St Basil's Cathedral, Moscow 

(An incredible pattern of beautifully coloured domes) 

Portmeirion,Wales, UK 

(A Mediterranean styled village in North Wales where the original version of The Prisoner was filmed)