Curiosity killed the cat But satisfaction brought her back
Curiosity and Perseverance
In the world of science, these attributes can lead to breakthroughs. Rewrite text books. Create paradigm shifts in our thinking.
Let's spotlight two prominent physicists of the late 20th century, who exemplified those qualities.
* Dr. Stephen Hawking * Dr. Richard Feynman
Stephen Hawking is considered one of the greatest physicist of recent times. And he passed away this year (2018) on March 14th, the same day as Einstein's birthday. [reference: Stephen Hawking ]
Yet perseverance helped him overcome the physical challenges of ALS. With perseverance and curiosity, he pursued a distinguishing career in cosmology and theoretical physics, as shown below:
Likewise, Nobel laureate Richard Feynman was driven by curiosity. Which drove him to learn new things. Get out of his comfort zone. Search for answers. Solve nature's puzzles. Connect the dots.
While a graduate student days at Princeton, Feynman developed a method that served him well. He started with an empty notebook titled -
NOTEBOOK OF THINGS I DON’T KNOW ABOUT.
He filled the pages as he reorganized his thoughts in the concrete form of pen and paper. Trying to find the essential kernel of each branch of physics. This discipline may have paved the way to his Nobel Prize.
In high school, yes. I played in pep band. Attended most of the games. Rooted for the home team. I knew all the players, the cheerleaders, the mascot, the pep club, and my fellow pep band members.
After high school, life got in the way. And I didn't pay much attention to sports.
But while on vacation, going south to the warmer climes, we rendezvoused with friend, who was a sports fan. In the lounge of the motel room we hunkered down to watch the game:
I enjoy the Super Bowl ads. Usually watch them over and over again on YouTube. I wondered what Lady Gaga would do for half-time. And she did not disappoint her audience.
First half of the game, the Patriots were getting slaughtered. It looked like it was over.
During half-time, I wondered what was being said the locker room. All the Falcons had to do was to run out the clock.The Patriots? I thought of Al Pacino's inspirational speech in Any Given Sunday (1999).
Maybe the Patriots heard a speech like that. In the last half of game, a miracle happened. The biggest comeback in Super Bowl history. The game went into over-time. Never happened before. The instant playbacks showed the players catching the ball within a inch of the ground, staying in-bounds by that inch, making the goal by an inch. It was the inches that won the game. A real-time drama that was stranger than fiction. Other words....
The Best Game Ever! An inspiration to never give up. And fight for those inches. Even if it's never been done before.
That game was a great life lesson. Even made a football fan out of me. And that was a miracle.
We want it. Especially its fruits. But it costs us. And it's not guaranteed.
Recently, we had a international exhibition of that. The Olympics in Rio earlier this month.
Hard work. Not giving up. Going for the gold.
As ABC sports used to hype: The thrill of victory. And the agony of defeat. The human drama of athletic competition. [reference: ABC Wide World of Sports Intro 1981 ]
Also striving for success applies to other challenges in life. And Steve Jobs (1955 - 2011) is still an inspiration in following your dreams and doing what you love. In spite of rejection, setbacks, failures:
Cold War. Vietnam. Counter culture. Hippies. US vs USSR Space race. Iron Curtain. Civil Rights. Assassinations. Not to mention: Drugs. Sex. Rock N Roll.
But the early 1960s were almost an extension of the perceived calmer, more innocent 1950s. Leave it to Beaver. Happy Days. Kennedy and Camelot.
And the year 1962 is the setting for Dear Eleanor(2016). The recently released movie, on DVD and internet, captures the spirit of those times.
It begins in California as the Ellie Potter's mother leaves the house that day to give an introduction to former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt. Only Ellie's mother is killed in a car accident along the way. The same day Marilyn Monroe died.
While Ellie's dad shrugs off his parental responsibilities and sinks into depression, Ellie takes on the roll as Little Mom as the oldest girl. But Ellie's best friend Max the Wax has ideas. And convinces Ellie to ditch school for a road trip cross country. From California to New York. To deliver her mom's speech to Eleanor Roosevelt in person.
During this "Thelma and Louise" type road trip, the Cuban Missile Crisis grips the nation, the girls unwittingly find company with an escaped convict from Alcatraz, and they pick up Max's Aunt Daisy, a dancer in Las Vegas. That is, Las Vegas, New Mexico. Not Nevada. Meanwhile, Ellie's father and the boy next door discover the girls' plans and are on their tail to bring them back home.
The extended movie trailer below sums it up pretty well.
It's a shame the movie didn't get a wider release. Based on what I've seen in the theaters these days, this would make it in the top ten percent or higher. And much of the songs, pop culture, news of the times, are interwoven in the story. At bit of nostalgia. Like Forrest Gump (1994). Only far more realistic of a story.
It was an uplifting movie with a good message. During difficult days, the heroines dream big and they go for it. Though it didn't turn out as they had hoped, they all were enriched by the journey.
And this movie has a special meaning for me. One of its writers is Amy Garcia. Before I retired, I had the privilege of working with Amy's father. And I learned from him that his daughter had worked very hard over the years, overcame many obstacles and setbacks, to see this project through.
To all creatives out there, this is encouraging. Take the risk! Go for it!
The picture above is a stained glass rose window in the Christ Church Cathedral, High Street, Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland, depicting the Fruit of the Spirit. And St. Paul listed these virtues -
In this third part of English, Literature, and Musing (ELM), the Fruit of the Spirit are virtues cultivated in many of the protagonists in English literature. And such classics are a rich source of material for films. For example ... After the successful trilogy - The Lord of the Rings (2001,2002, 2003), a trilogy of its prequel The Hobbit is now playing on the big screen (2012, 2013, 2014).
In this world, evil seems so strong. To fight against it, many look for a champion of great power - like a Superman. Yet, the theme of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings is that it is not the great powers that hold evil in check, but the ordinary folk.
This scene was not in the original book, but it seems faithful to the theme of The Hobbit. And I agree with the comments of the poster of this clip on YouTube - In my opinion this is one of the greatest lines I've heard in all of cinema.
And that testifies to the power of the story as well as the power of everyday acts of kindness and love of ordinary folks!
called US women into the workforce, doing "men's work" such as munitions and other heavy jobs during World War Two.
And 70 years ago as a nation, we were united in the effort to defeat Hitler, who was bent on world domination and genocide, and Hirohito of Japan - Hitler's ally - who approved the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.
Ramping up to fight - and win - another world war after the decade long malaise of the Great Depression truly was an example of the resiliency of the American spirit and a showcase for American Ingenuity.
After winning that great victory of World War Two, many Americans espoused the sentiment (as we have for years) -
Likewise, we seemed united in the race to the moon.
More than 40 to 50 years ago, the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union was in full swing. And this Space Race was a must win for political reasons as well as advancements in science and technology. Beating the Soviet Union on this front was imperative ... and we did it!
And as we pass another anniversary of that day - July 20, 1969, Americans landing on the moon was a crowning achievement of American Ingenuity in the 20th century.
Looking back, some have called most the 20th century - the American century (reference: THE AMERICAN CENTURY)
But in the 21st century, many pundits see America in decline and conclude ....
America is * no longer * the greatest country in the world.
Below is a clip from the opening scene of the HBO series -The Newsroom. Television anchor, Will McAvoy, played by Jeff Daniels, answers a sorority girl's question - Why is America the greatest country in the world?
His no spin answer - which so many blogs laud him for -
It's not the greatest country in the world ... that's my answer.
(caution - there is some strong language if you play the clip.)
;
About 3 1/2 minutes into this clip, the anchor seems to mourn for what we Americans used to be. And here are a few nibbles -
We stood up for what was right ... we reached for the stars ... acted like men ... we aspired to intelligence ... we didn't scare so easy ...
He ends his rant ...
First step in solving any problem is recognizing there is one. America is not the greatest country in the world anymore. ... Enough?
Ouch! What a downer. But this clip from our pop culture reflects the sentiments of many. Can we reclaim being great, or better yet, being a noble nation, again?
Ironically, a more optimistic view of the American people comes from "the other side of the pond" by two Englishmen.
I love Stephen Fry. He is an British citizen who unapologetically loves America. And he did a mini-series in 2008, based on his book - Stephen Fry in America, in which he talks about in part of the interview.
Sometimes it takes an outsider to see more clearly and objectively what is really going on in this country. And this resident alien expresses his opinion that our national emotion is optimism ... even during these times when so many of us natives are discouraged.
Only in America?
Yes. It's something wonderful.
Stephen Fry's theory is that the source of America's greatness can be found in the gene pool, those who left the Old World (like three of my grandparents) or other oppressive regimes and came to America - by choice. Their driving force?
There can be something better ...
... let's risk it!
... let's try it!
and
We Can Do It!
That entrepreneurial spirit to be unleashed is the stuff that makes ...
American Ingenuity!
And as long as we nurture the indomitable optimistic spirit and a climate of freedom which fosters achievement - other than squashing it - America will continue to be a great country. Otherwise, we will slide down the slippery slope of mediocrity and self-loathing into the dustbin of history as many pundits say we will.
May that never happen ... at least, on my watch.
This is the first part of a new thread - American Ingenuity (AI) - which will highlight the indomitable American spirit ... and may the posts continue as we face trying and challenging times ahead.
When writer's block hits (especially when I'm on the computer), I am tempted to fritter away time on a myriad computer games or wander about the Internet. Sometimes I need a jump start to get the words flowing.
One of the best motivators installed on my computer is the game Scrabble. When stuck, I take a short breather playing a game or two.
My computer opponent sometimes displays unfamiliar words. These times, the handy dictionary on the board is at my disposal, so I can easily look them up. And I learn some new words for the day! After a game, words start to flow, again.
And the other up sides? The computer does not get mad when I win. I don't feel guilty playing this computer game. And it gets my mind on words, again.
What games - computer, mind, otherwise? - do you play for writing inspiration?
