Perhaps the most common mantra I chanted was, “I don’t care what you think, I care deeply that you think.” Contrary to what many people think, an overwhelming amount of education involves massive memorization and minimal original thought. I preferred the Socratic method of teaching, which involved asking students what they thought about reading assignments, … [Read more…]
The Thing With Feathers: Noah Strycker Whether he can trace his genetic lineage back to a Biblical ancestor or because of his masterful acquisition of ornithological knowledge, Noah Strycker is superbly qualified to be the resident superintendent on the avian deck on a modern Noah’s Ark. Rogue and retro are the two words that describe … [Read more…]
We shouldn’t need a designated day to remind us to celebrate epiphanic gifts, however, January 6 can be a good annual reminder. January 6 is the day reserved by some Christians to celebrate the arrival of the Magi at Bethlehem. However, for all people, epiphanies are those “Little Prince moments” when we realize that “what … [Read more…]
“WE have seen the highest circle of spiraling powers. We have named this circle God. We might have given it any other name we wished: Abyss, Mystery, Absolute Darkness, Absolute Light, Matter, Spirit, Ultimate Hope, Ultimate Despair, Silence. But we have named it God because only this name, for primordial reasons, can stir our hearts … [Read more…]
“If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.” – Meister Eckhart “And even as each one of you stands alone in God’s knowledge, so must each one of you be alone in his knowledge of God and in his understanding of the earth.”- Kahlil Gibran … [Read more…]
With over 4,000 ex-students, sometimes I struggle remembering who was in what class. Stepan Hovenesian asked me in Yosemite if I would forget him. I laughed and said that I was sure I wouldn’t if he did something remarkable or awful, otherwise, I was not so sure. Although, every Biodesign Class was remarkable, some had … [Read more…]
Warning! Readers of this post are likely to experience a severe brain cramp! Excerpt: Biodesign Out For A Walk, Chap. 10, Matthew I. Unbeknown to me, a quiet, thoughtful Latina girl went to church the following Sunday. After the service, she approached her priest and asked, “Father, if God made the universe, what made God?” … [Read more…]
If I were still teaching Biodesign, I would have students quietly concentrate on this image for one full minute and have them “write out of their stream of consciousness.” I can assure you, their descriptions would be astounding! Why not try it? The “Big Bang Theory” and evolution have something in common, both are events … [Read more…]
One of the alternate definitions of cornucopia is “an abundant supply of good things of a specified kind.” Using that definition, the wilderness areas of the US represent a cornucopia on the grandest scale. We should not need a specific time designated for offering thanks, but November gives us two special opportunities. November 11 is … [Read more…]
Ellis Island – Isle of Hope, Isle of Tears https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10Pb2ia28QM From a purely biological perspective, what has evolved into what is currently called the United States, is simply a matter of ecology. Darwin would describe it as “survival-of-the fittest,” but it involves plants and animals seeking a place on the planet to live. From a … [Read more…]