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Diogenes and Alexander the Great

12/30/2014

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Diogenes was an ancient Greek Cynic philosopher. Some scholars have suggested that Cynical philosophy influenced the area around Palestine and Galilee at the time of Jesus' mission and that his teaching may have had this Hellenistic echo from the Cynics. The term cynic, as we understand that today, has a different connotation than that of ancient Greeks. The Cynics were so named because they were described as "kynikos" or dog-like by the citizens of Greece. They lived on the streets and embraced voluntary poverty as a means to access wisdom. They actually believed that the goal of life was human flourishing by living a life based on reason.

Diogenes was one of the most famous of the Cynic philosophers and the relevance for this season is his indifference to possessions. A humorous anecdote drives home the lesson and is instructive for us today as we are surrounded by consumerism of all kinds and people, including adults, ask "was Santa good to you" (sigh).

H/T Diogenes and Alexander the Great

Diogenes was a strange man. He said that no man needed much, and so he did not live in a house but slept in a barrel, which he rolled about from place to place. He spent his days sitting in the sun and saying wise things to those who were around him.

When Alexander the Great came to that town he went to see the wise man. He found Diogenes outside the town lying on the ground by his barrel. He was enjoying the sun.

When he saw the king he sat up and looked at Alexander. Alexander greeted him and said:

"Diogenes, I have heard a great deal about you. Is there anything I can do for you?"

"Yes," said Diogenes, "you can step aside a little so as not to keep the sunshine from me."

The king was very much surprised. But this answer did not make him angry. He turned to his officers with the following words:

"Say what you like, but if I were not Alexander, I should like to be Diogenes."

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Best of the Season!!

12/26/2014

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Keep on Keepin' On

12/23/2014

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I am really looking forward to seeing the film, Keep on Keppin' On. It appears inspirational and moving. Below is the description.

Shot over the course of five years by first time filmmaker Al Hicks, KEEP ON KEEPIN’ ON depicts a 23-­year­-old, blind piano prodigy, Justin Kauflin, and music legend and teacher Clark Terry, 89. After a life spent working with and teaching the most totemic figures in jazz history, Terry continues to attract and cultivate budding talents.

KEEP ON KEEPIN’ ON highlights Terry’s friendship with the preternaturally gifted Justin Kauflin, who suffers from ebilitating stage fright. Not long after Kauflin is invited to compete in an elite Jazz competition, Terry’s health takes a turn for the worse. As the clock ticks, we see two friends confront the toughest challenges of their lives.

Terry, now 93, was Quincy Jones’ first teacher, and mentor to Miles Davis. He is among the few performers ever to have played in both Count Basie’s and Duke Ellington’s bands. In the ‘60s Terry broke the color barrier as the first African-American staff musician at NBC – on The Tonight Show.

Kauflin’s work on the film’s score with composer Dave Grusin sets the tone for a story covering decades. KEEP ON KEEPIN’ ON is a film crafted with great affection by Hicks – another former student of Terry’s –  a grace note for his teacher, infused with soulfulness and serendipity.

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Steve Martin's Holiday Wishes

12/14/2014

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Classic and always cracks me up.  (Sorry for the poor quality. A better version is available on You Tube but the owner would not let it be reproduced on any other medium :()
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Bill Evans sings (yes sings!) Santa Claus is coming to town

12/3/2014

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I found this and it is just too cool. It is a recording of the great jazz pianist Bill Evans playing around and singing the classic Christmas number Santa Claus is coming to town.
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    My Pensées

    The title of this blog is an allusion to the famous work of Blaise Pascal.  This blog represents the variety of my interests and thoughts on any given day and are  strung together, like Pascal's Pensees, in no particular order. I work in the field of mental health,  education, and human rights. I write and am a human rights advocate. I enjoy poetry, jazz, spirituality, politics and a potpourri of other interests that you will see reflected in this blog.

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