Source:
Gourma-Rharous
Mali, 1985
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Hawking
Quantum
Existentialism
Existentialism
: The Philosophical Movement
In an abstract outlook existentialism is the idea that dread, boredom, death, the absurd, freedom, choice, authenticity, alienation, and nothingness is fundamental to human existence. Existentialism grew as a philosophical and intellecutal movement in 19th and 20th century literature and philosophy. Beginning with the works and thoughts of Soren Kierkegaard and Friedrich Nietzsche the movement of existentialism itself took over the academia as well as the lay public with the continuing work and thinking of Martin Heidegger, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Albert Camus. But what exactly is existentialism and how can one come to know it in order to apply it for oneself? Jean-Paul Sartre defines existentialism with a simple axiom that "existence precedes essence". In Adelin Gasana's final documentary film as a college student an overview of existentialism is outlined in a one-hour time frame. This documentary portrays the historical thought, fundamental tenets and praxis of existentialism.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Dan Buettner: How to live to be 100+ | Video on TED.com
What do Seventh-Day Adventists in California, the residents of Sardinia, Italy and the inhabitants of the islands of Okinawa, Japan have in common? They enjoy the longest, healthiest lives on the planet. Dan Buettner assembled a team of researchers to seek out these "hotspots of human health and vitality," which he calls Blue Zones, and to figure out what they do that helps them live so long.
Buettner, a world-renowned explorer and a writer for National Geographic, travels the world seeking out new Blue Zones (he's found five, to date) and speaking at seminars and on TV, sharing the habits that lead to long life. He is the founder of Quest Network, and has set three world records for endurance cycling.
"Dan Buettner takes us on a journey to explore the secrets of longevity and in so doing introduces us to a world of joy in aging ... at 91, this is very good news!"
Walter Cronkite
Dan Buettner: How to live to be 100+ | Video on TED.com
What do Seventh-Day Adventists in California, the residents of Sardinia, Italy and the inhabitants of the islands of Okinawa, Japan have in common? They enjoy the longest, healthiest lives on the planet. Dan Buettner assembled a team of researchers to seek out these "hotspots of human health and vitality," which he calls Blue Zones, and to figure out what they do that helps them live so long.
Buettner, a world-renowned explorer and a writer for National Geographic, travels the world seeking out new Blue Zones (he's found five, to date) and speaking at seminars and on TV, sharing the habits that lead to long life. He is the founder of Quest Network, and has set three world records for endurance cycling.
"Dan Buettner takes us on a journey to explore the secrets of longevity and in so doing introduces us to a world of joy in aging ... at 91, this is very good news!"Walter Cronkite
Peter Eigen: How to expose the corrupt | Video on TED.com
From the website of Transparency International comes this elegant definition: What is corruption? Corruption is the abuse of entrusted power for private gain. It hurts everyone whose life, livelihood or happiness depends on the integrity of people in a position of authority.
Peter Eigen knows this. He worked in economic development for 25 years, mainly as a World Bank manager of programs in Africa and Latin America. Among his assignments, he served as director of the regional mission for Eastern Africa from 1988 to 1991. Stunned by the depth and pervasiveness -- and sheer destructiveness -- of the corruption he encountered, he formed the group Transparency International to take on some of the main players in deals with corrupt officials: multinational corporations.
Eigen believes that the best way to root out corruption is to make it known. Thus, Transparency International works to raises awareness of corruption, and takes practical action to address it, including public hearings.
Deborah Scranton on her "War Tapes" | Video on TED.com
Filmmaker Deborah Scranton helps real people tell compelling, honest stories. Her 2006 documentary The War Tapes put cameras in the hands of National Guard troops stationed in Camp Anaconda, in Iraq. Through their raw footage and diaries, they brought home a truth that we at home would never otherwise know about what one soldier calls "the war for cheese."
Scranton has also created the TV documentary Stories from Silence, Witness to War, which tells the stories of World War II veterans in living New Hampshire. Her latest film appeared at the 2010 Tribeca film festival. Entitled Earth Made of Glass, the film examines the consequences of the Rwandan genocide on the personal and political level 15 years later. She's currently working on a nonfiction feature film that will, in her words, "tell the US-Mexico immigration and border story from the inside out -- putting cameras in the hands of the Border Patrol ... ranchers who live on the land being crossed, humanitarians who leave water in the desert trying to save lives, coyotes ..."