Why you should start each day with a poem, Adam Gopnik on Salman Rushdie and the freedom of expression, and Perseverance rover collecting organic-rich samples on Mars!
Cricket writing on Sri Lanka’s AsiaCup win; Founder of Patagonia gives away his company; Influencing your genes to improve health; Houston, the Space City; and a traveling photo studio in Ethiopia.
Why Starting Each Day With A Poem Is ‘As Necessary As Bread’
For the past 8 years, every morning a friend calls me, or I call him, with a poem to start the day. This surprisingly enduring practice arose out of an Improvised Life post called “What’s NOT wrong?” about NOT jumping out of bed to check email or read the news first thing in the morning. Instead, start with a few minutes of reading something really GREAT…anything that reminds you of possibilities, other ways of thinking, grounds you.
https://improvisedlife.com/2020/07/09/for-8-years-weve-started-each-day-with-a-poem/
Inspired by this piece, I’m taking another shot at at ‘a poem a day’ kind of blog. You can check it here: Dhai Aakhar. And yes, I too am starting my days with poetry now.
Salman Rushdie and the Power of Words
Everyone has a right to be offended by whatever offends them, and everyone on earth has a right to articulate their offense. No one has a right to maim or kill someone because our words offend them. Blasphemy is not a mighty category demanding respect but a pitiful invention of those who cannot tolerate having their pet convictions criticized. It demands no respect from anyone; on the contrary, it requires solidarity among all decent people in opposing it. An insult to an ideology is not the same as a threat made to a people. It is the opposite of a threat made to a person. To assume the criticism of ideas as assaults on people is the end of the liberal civilization. The idea that we should be free to do our work and offer our views without extending a frightened veto to those who threaten to harm us isn’t just part of what we mean by free expression—it is close to the whole of what we mean by civilized life.
https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/salman-rushdie-and-the-power-of-words
Perseverance rover collects organics-rich Mars samples for future return to Earth
https://www.space.com/perseverance-rover-mars-samples-rich-organics
For the past few months, Perseverance has been exploring the remnants of an ancient river delta inside Mars' Jezero Crater, which hosted a big lake billions of years ago…Perseverance has collected four samples from the delta formation since early July. All four were drilled out of rocks that show this part of Mars likely could have supported Earth-like organisms in the ancient past — and might even preserve signs of such microbial life.
Anatomy of a miracle: how Sri Lanka won an Asia Cup they shouldn't have
They attacked their way out of dire situations, defended resolutely at the death, and found heroes where heroes should not be found.
Billionaire No More: Patagonia Founder Gives Away the Company
“I didn’t know what to do with the company because I didn’t ever want a company,” he said from his home in Jackson, Wyo. “I didn’t want to be a businessman. Now I could die tomorrow and the company is going to continue doing the right thing for the next 50 years, and I don’t have to be around.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/14/climate/patagonia-climate-philanthropy-chouinard.html
Want to live longer? Influence your genes.
Science tells us that by the time you are about 60 years old, 75 percent of your health outcomes are determined by your choices. That’s genetic self-engineering: Each healthy act switches on youth-promoting genes and switches off genes that cause you to age. This process is the result of millions of years of evolution. Good choices (and the proteins that are developed because of them) beget more good proteins, and the activation of bad genes begets more bad and destructive genes being turned on.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/want-to-live-longer-influence-your-genes
Centers of Progress, Pt. 39: Houston (Spaceflight)
Houston grew from a war-ravaged, struggling trading post into a global oil shipping nexus and then the capital of the Space Age. From liftoff onward, the American astronauts who shattered records and tested the limits of the possible relied on Houston to ensure mission success and bring them safely home. Many people still consider the moon landing to be among the greatest achievements of humanity. It was certainly the greatest feat of exploration in history. For guiding mankind to the final frontier, Houston has landed as our 39th Center of Progress.
https://www.humanprogress.org/centers-of-progress-pt-39-houston-spaceflight/
The nomadic photo studio in a tent
Brilliant, eye-opening, heart-warming portrait of life ❤️ plz do click on the bottom pic and go through the whole thread below the main tweet…thank me later 😊
