61–70 of 94 posts
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That's what I usually try to do. It's the ones on literature that get me. There's not much to be said about a play by Shakespeare.
http://www.orwell.ru/library/reviews/tolstoy/english/e_tas
Why did you link this?
What would you do if you found out, right now, that you have exactly 2 years left to live? Nothing more, nothing less. Exactly two years, and then you'll die in your sleep. What would you do with those 2 years? PS: "I'll train myself not to sleep" is not a good answer.
Reminds me of "Instantes" by Jorge Luis Borges: If I were able to live my life anew, In the next I would try to commit more errors. I would not try to be so perfect, I would relax more. I would be more foolish than I've been, In fact, I would take few things seriously. I would be less hygienic. I would run more risks, take more vacations, contemplate more sunsets, climb more mountains, swim more rivers. I would go to…
I've spent my entire life trying to figure out how to make the most of life with the inevitability of death on my mind. It is still hard for me to imagine that most others really only consider their life within the context of death when death is 1, 5, maybe 10 years away.
I am moved by this video poem. I am in awe of the the beauty of Borges's words - it stopped my day in its tracks. However, on a discussion board amongst doers, builders and rationalist, I feel motivated to encourage more.
We live in a unique time in humanity - a time where our rationalization about death can extend beyond feel-good sentiments like 'make the most of your life'. We live in a time where we can extend our lives; we can use motivations like this to encourage our culture and society to put a greater emphasis on technologies that enable drastic life extension. Make the most of your life and others by working or influencing to extend our lifespans. Use this motivation to adopt the mindset that you can preserve all that is wonderful about life for hundreds, possibly thousands of years - influence your peers and hack longevity.
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Sorry to butt in all pedantic, but I was unable to confirm that Borges wrote this poem (it's usually presented as a poem), and found a few online conversations where it's claimed it has been attributed to several different writers and is of uncertain authorship.
For some reason this comment bothers me, mostly because it's something that I do. I will often interrupt a beautiful moment with some irrelevant fact or correction. I notice that I always apologize for it, either politely like you did, or just in my head. Man to man, let's be honest, is it worth it?
I liked that submission because I could easily identify with most of the behaviors in that list. I too often have the urge to correct someone over something arguably unimportant. It's so strange.
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Sorry to butt in all pedantic, but I was unable to confirm that Borges wrote this poem (it's usually presented as a poem), and found a few online conversations where it's claimed it has been attributed to several different writers and is of uncertain authorship.
For some reason this comment bothers me, mostly because it's something that I do. I will often interrupt a beautiful moment with some irrelevant fact or correction. I notice that I always apologize for it, either politely like you did, or just in my head. Man to man, let's be honest, is it worth it?
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Sorry to butt in all pedantic, but I was unable to confirm that Borges wrote this poem (it's usually presented as a poem), and found a few online conversations where it's claimed it has been attributed to several different writers and is of uncertain authorship.
For some reason this comment bothers me, mostly because it's something that I do. I will often interrupt a beautiful moment with some irrelevant fact or correction. I notice that I always apologize for it, either politely like you did, or just in my head. Man to man, let's be honest, is it worth it?
Actually, "Instantes" started life as a Reader's Digest (prose) article in 1953. Over time, it was transcribed by several anonymous scribes, rendered in free verse, and attributed to different authors. I remember seeing it published in an Argentinian newspaper as a Borges poem (Clarin? if I remember correctly) sometime in the '80s, shortly after Borges' death. I think that was the first time it was attributed to Borges.
For more information:
http://reelyredd.com/blog/2009/04/
http://www.borges.pitt.edu/bsol/iainst.php
Last link is a hyper-pedantic article in Spanish by a Borges scholar, with quote by Borges himself on the subject: "[If I was to live this life again] I would do the same things. Because one is like one is, no?"
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You have excellent taste; go now and grab a copy of Borges's _Ficciones_ for more. http://books.google.com/books?id=4dPBlkL1dkIC
Thank you, my friend. I was about to ask for a book recommendation. Ah, HNer's you're awesome ;) If you've any more recommendations please feel free to share. Thanks.
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Given a healthy parent-child relationship, things would probably have been mended again a few days later. If she realizes that, I don't see why that last goodbye should be such a regret: it is a normal and essential part of life together to fight. In fact, you might even view such a thing as a shining example of the way you and your parents loved each other: despite strong emotions, despite your mutual passions for l…
As wallflower said, try experiencing it. You're giving a rational explanation that is probably correct. But emotions are not rational, and I know I would probably be devastated if that happened to me. (Then again, I don't get into shouting matches.)
Moreover, I don't think of my comment as a 'rational explanation'. I don't just think you can think about a situation in multiple ways, I am sure that you should feel about a situation in multiple ways.
Being able to see, and choosing to feel, the brightest side in each situation is the only thing that can help someone cope with an absurd, unjust, world. Otherwise, you're just a victim of the emotions society presses upon you. When the last thing you did was shout, you are supposed to feel guilty. Doesn't every magazine say that; don't movies depict it? Thinking freely and ridding yourself of the cultural baggage also enables you to feel differently. Still sad, but with a bright edge, remembering the promises that lay hidden in that last argument.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Sorry to butt in all pedantic, but I was unable to confirm that Borges wrote this poem (it's usually presented as a poem), and found a few online conversations where it's claimed it has been attributed to several different writers and is of uncertain authorship.
For some reason this comment bothers me, mostly because it's something that I do. I will often interrupt a beautiful moment with some irrelevant fact or correction. I notice that I always apologize for it, either politely like you did, or just in my head. Man to man, let's be honest, is it worth it?
Reminds me of "The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch. That was one of the most inspiring talks I've ever heard. Check it out if you haven't yet - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo