Inspiration is a tricky thing, it can be so meaningful to some, and flat out nothing to another.
The Bible for instance. I couldn't care less. Just a lot of biased writings mainly from men in a male dominated world in a time when knowledge of the real world was dreadfully lacking. Full of massive holes and greatly lacking in consistency. No it does not inspire me at all.
But it inspires some all the same. Just can't figure out the why that it does.
But I am ok that plenty will not fully realize why watching the film Stargaze the Universe as seen by the Hubble Telescope bring me such incredible peace and calm. To be able to see the incredible wonder, and stunning magnitude of all that CAN be seen in the cosmos. To wrap my head around how there is sooooo much out there too, and so much of what I am seeing, actually happened BILLIONS of years in the past. Watching that film makes me ok being just a bland ordinary mortal creature. Because I am still a part of all that magnificence.
I have read many things, that have had a profound effect on me. I know that the author Terry Goodkind is often scoffed at simply because of his beliefs. I am not no expert in the area of objectivism (I think that is it), but, I know his series of books The Sword of Truth and the 9 novels that comprise it, were incredible insights into the follies we humans often get into. And the last book of the series, well, it has effected ME I suppose on par with how the Bible affects so many Christians. But I am not here telling anyone they will be lacking for not reading it. His first book Wizard's First Rule, was stupendous for it's clarity. Wizard's First Rule, people are stupid. It's true, not one of us are safe from that statement's truth either. So often we do the completely stupid, and for reasons none of us can intelligently defend. Wizard's Second Rule is also something to take to heart. Because it's also so true. Wizard's Second Rule, even a good deed can do harm. Something to think about eh. Just because you and a great many claim the action was a good deed, does not mean it can't hurt someone. And that sure has a lot of relevance in our specific area of interest. Be careful what you do, because it might seem like a good thing, and not really be harmless.
I have seen the video portion of Cosmos, titled The Backbone of Night. It comes across better than the print version. In my view, almost no one can watch that with an open mind, and not come out changed and able to accept the whimsical and unproven nonsense of our world's religions. That and Carl's book The Demon Haunted World does so much to strengthen my resolve to not accept anything, that is not capable of being given even the slightest bit of real proof.
I am a big fan of Doctor David Suzuki, a man of great vision. And a man unwilling to be anyone's bought mouth piece.
I love Rick Mercer, a man who can shove a nasty fact right in your face, and make you laugh with him.
I love a lot of comedians actually. I believe that Robin Williams is one of the greatest actors I have ever had the pleasure to watch. He can play roles that make you laugh and he can reduce you to tears with moving scenes of great sadness.
Steve Martin and Bill Cosby have added so much to my life.
My friend Paul, you won't know him, but he is my idea of what Jesus would like in a Christian.
Paul never makes you feel like you are with a Christian. You can tell he's a Christian, but he doesn't bug you with it.
He's also an incredible person. He has education on paper that is no better than mine (I don't think he has his HS diploma either).
And yet Paul can walk into any museum on the planet and correct the curator on an exhibit (music), and you can take it for granted he will be correct, and he has experts with long lists of credentials that will back up Paul.
It's easy to see why when you look at what Paul has made. Google the Gentile Collection when you get time. If you are looking at recreations of miniature musical instruments that are impossibly small, you are in the right place. And they all play.
I have seen him paint to a level that makes him the equal of Michael d'Angelo. I have seen him create things that make him the equal of Leonardo daVinci. It's amusing that Paul is also of Italian decent (his dad was born in Italy)
None of Paul's abilities were taught, he was born this way.
I have seen the machine tools he has made, simply because he needed them, and couldn't afford to buy them. A 50 thousand dollar thickness planner that he made on his own. It can slice off cuts to the 1/1000 th of an inch.
Some day soon, you might hear of his piano he's been working on. I have seen it in person, and even looking right at it, it's almost impossible to believe.
Paul's resume, well I suspect most people would find it impossible to accept considering he has no formal education. But in a room of 1 MILLION people, none of them will be the equal of Paul.
He's my yard stick by which I define achieving the unachievable.
When we were still teens I once told him, Paul, ya know, if you applied yourself, you sure could go far. I never saw it coming though
