Action Figure Daniel

Author: Daniel

  • A Muse on Whales

    Whales weep not, neither do they sorrow. For they, more so than any other creature, know of nothing to cause either. They are born in the midst of their very womb, a womb they will only leave for mere moments as they leap out of the water into the infinite sky above.

    Whales worry not, neither do they fret. For they, more so than any other creature, know that the earth, their true mother, will always provide for their every need. So, they are left to ponder their existence. Not in the same lowly way as a man, but from all, to all, for all.

    Whales cry not, neither do they shed any tears. For they, more so than any other creature, know only of being surrounded by joy. Their greatest joys are shown in their bounding out of the ocean’s soothing embrace and in the songs they sing from the ocean glades.

  • “When Life Nearly Died” by Michael J Benton

    Benton does a fantastic job detailing the evolution of geology, paleontology and other related sciences over the past couple of centuries. The author actually details the two largest mass extinctions, though he gives extra coverage to the larger of the two (which is the namesake of the book).

    Interesting tidbit: most of our knowledge of these past two (of the five great extinction) has been put together over the past two decades. Sometimes I think that everything we know about the ‘dinosaurs’ we have known forever, but no, it is common for us to have only recently figured it out.

  • Matthew Taylor: 21st century enlightenment

    Science has helped us to realize that we are bad at guessing what will make us happy in the future, bad at knowing what made us happy in the past and, in general, bad at guessing how the world works. Taylor argues that modern enlightenment needs to focus more on fostering emphatic capacity and less on pursuing progress for the sake of progress.

    RSA Animate – 21st century enlightenment
    Matthew Taylor – 21st century enlightenment (RSA)

  • The Night is Sad

    Note: I wrote this some time ago (as in several years ago). I am not sure where it came from though I am thinking that I woke up in the night and forgot that I should have been sleeping and instead started writing.

    The sadness of the night seeps in through the open window. Like the gentle breeze it rustles my hair and fills my nostrils with its sweet ways. If not for this, the quietly crying night, I would myself be asleep. But when the night is sad, how can I sleep?

    I feel that I must listen to its sad song and cry with it. Somehow we, crying together, can be healed of her pain and heartache. Why is she sad? Scorned by some ancient lover past, betrayed by a dear friend or perhaps the death of a precious star that she spent so much time and effort to keep alive. In the end, it doesn’t matter why. What matters is that I am here to hear her weeping sobs and console her with what little I have to offer, just like she has been there for me so many times before.

    Tears all gone, we stop and wait. Tick, tick, tick. The seconds pass as we contemplate the future.

    Futures all considered, we drift to sleep. Drip, drip, drip. The thoughts pass between us until hope and life are restored.

    Me and the night, together once again.

  • Edward Tenner: Unintended consequences

    Tenner discusses how unintended consequences have shaped and changed our lives over time.

    Edward Tenner: Unintended consequences (TED)