One of AWAD's sponsors is the Idea Festival to be held Sept 21-25 mostly in Lexington, KY but with some events as well in nearby Looahvl. It self-proclaims as "a truly unique event," with quotation marks and everthang.
http://ideafestival.com/IF_HOME.cfm
Wow, that is really cool! Thank you, Anna, for posting about it! Quite a line-up, they have. I'm sending the link to all my friends here. Wow--I imagine that anyone attending all or even most of the sessions would come out of there with their mind just fizzing with new thoughts.
One of the speakers is a "slam poet"...what the heck is that?
I thought this one was really neat:
MYSTICRHYTHMS...the Soka Gakkai International (SGI-USA) has a strong commitment to the realization of world peace through individual happiness. The goal of a group of diverse women who belong to SGI is to form bridges into communities to share our passion for cultivating dialogues of understanding, promote tolerance, and a sharing of cultures. As a drumming group they share mystical African beats of life with the audience and invite their involvement. Pipe dream, but right up my alley.
Hey, ALEX--take a look!
Edit: missed this the first time through:
In the Alphabet Versus the Goddess Shlain explores the historical shift away from goddess worship and the overall political and economic subjugation of women and feminine values.His findings and insights which directly relate to many of the questions raised in the novel The Da Vinci Code...
Momma, momma, I finally got a job teaching people how to play the slots in Vegas. Yup, New (W)agerers.
I'm sorry, every time I see these things with all the highfalutin' language that returns a null content semantically I get really cynical.
"and her own great adventure is the exploration of inner space through the movement, healing and transformative arts"
What the HELL are the transformative arts?
"Inclusive Learning Construct allows multiple opportunities for the sharing of expression, the making of meaning, and transformational learning"
The making of meaning? Transformational learning? Bah humbug. These things just make my eyes glaze.
"The Museum will revisit Art Nouveau in the context of the exquisite beauty of the works and explore how the artists of the period accessed their subconscius and how the unconscious mind manifested itself in the works of art."
I would be unconscious after about two minutes of listening to this sort of drivel. Or at least wish I was unconscious. Why why why do we persist in trying to get into the "subconscious mind" of artists to try and figure out what they really meant? Enjoy the f**king art for its own sake and quit with the second-guessing.
I will admit though that some of the things seem very worthwhile and interesting. The closer the subject gets to the tangible world the better I can appreciate it. I guess you have to take in what interests you.
I'm sorry, every time I see these things with all the highfalutin' language that returns a null content semantically I get really cynical.What'dya expect from "a truly unique event"??
I do like the Goddess-to-Alphabet guy, though, and want to read his book.
Well not all the events appear to be to my tastes, but since it's in my hometown and I am a huge Beatles fan I will definitely be attending the George Martin talk, and also the Oliver Sacks talk. If anybody comes to Lexington for this maybe we can have drinks or something.
"Inclusive Learning Construct allows multiple opportunities for the sharing of expression, the making of meaning, and transformational learning" The making of meaning? Transformational learning? Bah humbug. These things just make my eyes glaze.
I agree. It's especially tiresome when someone completely misses the appeal of some work of art (music or sculpture for example) and blathers on and on about what it symbolizes, as if all great art is basically an essay encoded into some other medium.
re:MYSTICRHYTHMS...the Soka Gakkai International (SGI-USA) has a strong commitment to the realization of world peace through individual happiness. The goal of a group of diverse women who belong to SGI is to form bridges into communities to share our passion for cultivating dialogues of understanding, promote tolerance, and a sharing of cultures. As a drumming group they share mystical African beats of life with the audience and invite their involvement. Pipe dream, but right up my alley.
the Soka Gakkai are the 'born again christian' sect of buddist. you don't have really learn all about buddism, you can learn about current day Soka Gakkai leaders.. all you have to do is chant, Nom Yom coe, wren gey coe(or something that sound like that.... and that's is (just as born again christians (well many sects) don't really preach jesus's message, (repent and sin no more, as well as love thy neighbor,) they just preach 'believe in jesus is christ" (and act any old way you want) and you are saved..and 'justify' killing doctors at women's health clinics, (cause the doctors are murderers..) they also steal, cheat and lie, *but they are saved, cause they believe in jesus!)
there is plenty on the soka gakkai movement on the internet, or watch a bit of "what's love got to do with it" (tina turner movie autobio) she's a soka gakkai buddist.
they are very active in getting converts to soka gakkai buddism.
i have had a few up close encounters with soka gakkai buddist... and well i think they rate right up there with amway salepeople.. but i could be wrong.
'born again christian' sect of buddist Ruh roh; thanks. If I go, I'll be on my guard. I have an intense dislike of "in your face" anything.
And thanks for the slam poetry link, Father Steve.
Thanks, ASP. I had no idea that Jeff "Skunk" Baxter was "...a leading advisor, terrorism expert and defense consultant to Congress and the Pentagon...". The last time I saw him was at the opening of Dan Akroyd's "The House of Blues" in Marina City, Chicago. Maybe I'll take some time for event...
Yes, the Skunk's work has always been shrouded in secrecy.
/terrible aviation pun shrouded even
did anyone go to this thing? If so, how was it?
Looks like it's just starting today, oh Chaotic Clock.
Oh, you're right. On both accounts :)
Well, if any of you go, be sure to give us a little report.
every time I see these things with all the highfalutin' language that returns a null content semantically I get really cynical.
I know what you mean TEd. I just got invited to a workshop on "Developing Clinical Improvement and Rapid Cycle Change Skills" ??????
I went to see the talks by Oliver Sacks and George Martin. Sacks is a wonderful writer but his talk was a little on the light side. Sir George Martin's presentation was very nicely put together.
I have read two of Dr Sacks' books -- The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and The Anthropologist on Mars. I found the first better than the latter and both to be somewhat self-congratulatory in tone, if nonetheless informative and enjoyable.
oliver sack's autobiography(curious called) Uncle Tungsten is excellent-- i highly recommend it. it gives you great understanding to his lifes work.
(in it he mentions he is sort of dullard in a notable family--and gives a few hints who thinks the bright bulbs in the family are.. including his first cousin Abba Eban!)
I went to a lecture, and got my autographed.
I went to a lecture, and got my autographed.
Good Lord, of Troy, don't keep us in suspense! Got your WHAT autographed?
my copy of Uncle Tungsten of course.
i think the first chapter of the book is available on line--there is a link from the Oliver Sack's home page-(maintained by some devoted fan, not the man himself)
he still lives in NY--in one of the more remote parts of the city, City Island. City Island is one of three (out of more than a dozen) east river (not a real river, really a tidal straight) island that is habitated (by the living)
it really has the feeling of a small new england town (its been featured in serveral TV shows--one L&O criminal intent- that 'used' the true story of some boys who 'borrowed' a boat, attempted to row to Hart island (NYC potters field) and drowned. one thing i like about L&O is, its really shot on location in NYC--not all of NYC is manhattan,-- and parts are very rustic. City Island is also home to some of NY's best sea food restaurants. many years ago, i went clamming on the beach there.
habitated (by the living) This struck me as funny! Is there one that's a cemetery, then?
clamming on the beach I cannot imagine this; what do you do if one clam(p)s down on your finger?
re: habitated (by the living) This struck me as funny! Is there one that's a cemetery, then?
Yes, (see above) Hart's Island is home to NYC potters field. (Potters field--idiom used to define a cemetary for the destituted, from NT-)to get to Hart's island, you take road/bridge to city island,then ferry to hart's island. (there was a movie--with Michael douglas--(i'll never tell..crazy girl keeps repeating) not to long ago, that had city island/ferry to harts island and potters field as 'story element'--i always forget the name of it..)
and another island is habitated by the incarcarated--Riker's Island (a place that is known to watcher of Law & Order) is another east river island. (if you ever fly into NY's LAG airport, the last thing you see before you land is riker's!) is very close to LAG.
Ward's island/Randle's Island- (they used to be 2 islands, but land fill has made them one) is home to a number of state hospitals--it used to house orphanages, and to the city's soccer stadium, and to fire department training buildings. (they keep burning them down!)--
Roosevelt island is best known, but then roosevelt island used to be Blackwell island, and it was there that typhoid mary was keep as public health criminal. back then it didn't have a bridge, subway stop and cable car connection to manhattan or queens. and tides in the east river can run at 20 knots, so the water way is an effective barrier (hell gate, is at the north end of roosevelt is. the worst part of the east river is well named--its full of eddy's and whirlpools.
the brother islands (yes, there are 2 brothers) are bird santuaries, i don't know the name of the island with the lighthouse). the remaining island are all pretty small, and some are demi islands--they are almost submerged at high tide!
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to go clamming, you use a rake (the kind with short, stiff teeth) --actually there is a special clamming rake, but if you don't have one, a garden rake will work-- and you rake the clams out of the sand (muck, really, as much dirt as there is sand) and dump them in a bucket filled with sea water..
better still, is to use something like a laundry basket at first, the sea water washes over/through and help wash out the sand and grit.. and then transfrer to a bucket that holds water to take them home.. and you wear gloves!
Memories
What a wonderful description of some of the lesser known islands of the 5 boroughs. Many good memories almost overwhelmed me as I read it. Thanks.
As you say, Roosevelt Island is the one with the suspended (cable car) tramway and a most unusual and wonderful spot.
High School football games and track meets used to be held at the Randle's Island stadium. Perhaps they still are. I ran there myself. The New York Relays, the biggest HS meet of the season was held there. It was fun and thrilling for a High School kid. Concerts were (are?) held there too.
Bad idea
While clam rakes are easier, and gloves certainly appropriate, feet and hands may be used as an alternative method. I feel that galoshes or gloves interfere with the tactile acuity that is needed for optimal claming success. There is no real danger of getting bitten, (shelled?) during the process. But I was reminded of the following as I was reading your post. When my older brother was 16 he had a bad experience with a clam. There was a bucket of live calms (quahogs in New England) in the summer rental house’s ‘fridge. They open up some when in a cold environment. While the rest of the family was at the beach, he, for some unexplained reason, (playing chicken of the sea?) stuck his finger between a clam’s shells and was caught in the cold and clammy vise grip of one of the larger ones. Every time he tried to get his finger out, it clamped down harder. When we got back an hour or so later, he was almost in tears. He was and is very tough, so we knew that it was very painful for him. Knives, ice water, hot water and pliers were useless. Our Dad resorted to a baseball bat to smash the thing off Joe’s squished finger. Gee, I said good memories didn’t I? Well he used to rough me up a bit back then and there was no permanent damage to his finger, although his ego suffered some. I’ve always liked clams.
I've always ethought of Randall's Island as home to the three-way interchange that connects the parts of the Triborough Bridge: two short truss spans RI-->Bronx, RI-->Manhattan, and a long graceful suspension bridge RI-->Queens. The stadium is below...we used the bridge often but never got off the road onto the island iself. My father used to tell us, growing up, that he had worked on it -- nay, had been in charge of the design of the entire Randall's Island Project. Never did find out whether that was all true or embroidered a bit...
yes, wolf, the triboro bridge does make its vortex there--is that the right word? what do you call the common point in a Y stucture?
but randell's island has been merged with wards island, and the mega island is also home to the NYState mental hospital, and to a hosp for children and to state 'residences' for handicapped children--many of whom have mental or emotional handicaps.
most of NYCity's bridges have pedestrian paths, and can be walked over --you can walk across the triboro to the parks stadiums, or drive there
many have walked over the brooklyn bridge (i always recommend it for visiters) but walking over the George washington is much more spectatular in many ways.
my parents walked across the triboro (when i was a young child) and i rode in a stoller!) i have no memory of the experience, except i love NY's bridges.
(PS--one of my glories is i can see the lovely suspension bridge of the triboro from my living room/kitchen and bedroom windows!)