Benson's Blog

Simultaneously - MEN



http://www.myspace.com/men

via Danny MacAskill's biking video Telegraph.co.uk

"Another World" by Antony & the Johnsons

This is too funny!

This is what the next 10 years will be about!

TED Talks: 20 years ago, Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web. For his next project, he's building a web for open, linked data that could do for numbers what the Web did for words, pictures, video: unlock our data and reframe the way we use it together.

I signed up for Zipcar last week (www.zipcar.com), and tried it out by driving down to San Jose to celebrate my sister's birthday. Several of my friends had recommended Zipcar, and I can see why - it was totally easy and fun to use. I look forward to trying out the BMWs and the Mini Coopers in the fleet. I like the fact that joining here in San Francisco makes me a member in all the other 50+ cities where Zipcar is located, and that gas and insurance are both included in the low annual fee. Maybe I should have retired my aging car sooner!

I played Chutes and Ladders for the first time (for me, that is) with my nephew, and my niece showed me her new growing, talking toy dog. Plus, quality time with my mom, sister, and her in-laws. How wonderful it is to have family so close by!

From the TED conference, Pattie Maes & Pranav Mistry: Unveiling the "Sixth Sense," game-changing wearable technology. (Not the sixth sense I was thinking of!)

From the TED conference, David Merrill demos toy blocks that interact with one another.

I was thinking today about the qualities of sheep - something I know a little about because I actually was a shepherd on a ranch in Montana for awhile. Sheep are stereotyped as innocent, weak, simple-minded, docile followers, and I think they are getting a bum rap.

First of all, most male sheep are castrated shortly after birth, so that leaves flocks of sheep mostly female and neutered. Male sheep left to mature are really, well, rambunctious! They are natural leaders, and, of course, the other sheep follow them.

Secondly, I was thinking about the term 'black sheep', someone who Webster says is "a disfavored or disreputable member of a group." In the typical use of the term, 'black sheep', a member is disfavored by the group itself. But I never saw or heard of sheep attempting to isolate one of their members from the group. And as we defined the term, a black sheep was any sheep that was leading the other sheep away from us, their shepherds! (I.e., disfavored by someone outside of their group.) So besides the obvious color difference between a black sheep and most white sheep, I can't think of any real behavioral justification for the term in sheep. Certainly sheep are not applying the label to each other!

But my lasting impression of sheep was that they were frightened by almost everything and anything, and easily spooked. They could go from pastoral to terrorized in a flash - a skill set that kept us on our toes, for sure!

And they are innocent. Nothing epitomizes joy better than a leaping lamb!

On a theme of 'changing it up', I worked out at the gym at noon today so that I could attend the encore performance of Dr. Atomic this evening. And it worked out great! As a bonus, I wasn't as hungry after the workout, so I ate less. I will probably plan on doing this every now and then - it was a great energy booster for the afternoon as well.

Dr. Atomic was amazing the second time around. John Adams and Peter Sellars, who did the libretto, packed this opera with many complex themes, images, and ideas - too many to take in in one viewing. And I also got more out of the ending - I was able to just sit back and enjoy the incredible building suspense of the ending. The first time around, I thought I was going to crawl out of my skin waiting for the 'moment' to happen!

I saw Jay Brannan at the Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco with my friend Derek yesterday. Loved it! Here's a taste of what you missed, although this clip is not from last night's performance - and, of course, Terra Naomi was not there... I just wanted to share this duet with you!

So tonight I worked out at a different branch of my gym (Crunch) that I've never gone to before (on Van Ness). It was hopping! Plus, I never realized the space was so big. I'm definitely committed to changing up my routine so that I don't get into a rut, get bored, and just drop off going. However, I do realize that there will be many days where I'm not going to be inspired or excited or looking forward to going to the gym - and that the trick will be to go anyway.

I remember someone saying (in relation to quitting smoking) that after 2 weeks of doing something that it starts to turn into a habit, and that after a month it starts to become part of your regular routine. (That's probably not the numbers he used, but the point is good.)

However long it takes, I'm not looking back!

This would drive your co-workers crazy!

If you haven’t heard about this, I highly recommend it. The Metropolitan Opera (and soon the San Francisco Opera) are screening Live HD Simulcasts of some of their operas at local movie theaters. I just saw “Hansel and Gretel”, and it was superb. It’s a wonderful way to see great opera in a unique format that’s very enjoyable (and affordable - the tickets are under $20.)

http://www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/broadcast/hd_events.aspx
Ticket info: http://www.fathomevents.com/details.aspx?seriesid=610

Video by odedgross

Thanks to Qweerty, I can't get this song or video out of my head. Gwen Verdon and some '60s Bob Fosse moves to Unk's "Walk it Out".
And don't miss the Teletubbies walk it out, too.

On Towleroad, I found this amazing new instrument developed by music engineers at a University in Spain. The possibilities are mind boggling.

Well, what a week! I completed the Introduction Leaders Program yesterday. 29 weeks. Wow. I've never run a marathon before but I can imagine it must feel something like this. I'm exhilarated, exhausted, and I'm feeling like I need to walk around the block a few times to unwind. I think the thing that will stick with me the most out of this program is the distinction, “Anyway you are will work", especially when I apply it to myself. There is an amazing amount of freedom and power when we can accept ourselves, others, life, and ... just as it is - 'like this' as they say in Zen. And I have - I'm at peace with the fact that I did not fulfill the measures to be 'candidatible' such that I could really choose to be an Introduction Leader or not. And I'm complete and satisfied with the results I produced. Now it's just time to 'go wash my bowl'. (Sorry I can't stop thnking in Zen lately. It just means to go on with life.)

There are some projects to handle in the next few weeks - not the least of which is doing my taxes. Ugh.

Oh - this is cool - my mom just wrote a book! It's both an autobiography and about her attempt to answer the question - 'What is it all about?'. I'm in the middle of proof reading it, and then it's off to her cousin who wants to see if she can publish it. It think it may push some people's buttons, so it will be interesting to see the final version. I'm enjoying it so far.

I just came back from seeing the movie, 300. It's a sexy movie - lots of skin, fighting, blood and guts, rocking music, and a patriotic theme. 'What's there not to love?' (You've been warned!)

My friend Nancy Marin, a.k.a. Monkey Mama, is inviting "all participating monkeys" to celebrate the 2 year anniversary of her One Hundred Monkey Club on March 11th. Grab a banana and climb a tree - or at least go for a walk!

Her dream is "to transform health so that someday soon Type 2 diabetes will be as rare as polio!" An expert in child nutrition, Nancy was inspired to start the monkey club when she read an article forecasting the spread of diabetes. Of the children born in the year 2000, one in three will be diabetic in their lifetime. If it's a hispanic female the odds are worse with 50%.

Nancy has been traveling the country speaking out for the Monkey Lifestyle (i.e. a healthy diet and exercise), and has been featured in the San Antonio press and recognized with a grant from the Bank of America. The 100 Monkey Club 2 Year anniversary will be celebrated with a health walk in San Antonio on Sunday.

Si, Si, Si to Health! Go Monkey Mama!

100 Monkey Club - 2 Year Anniversary Celebration
Sunday, March 11 1-5pm
Woodlawn Lake Pavilion

I saw the movie, The Queen, last night, and it was truly remarkable. I knew there was uneasiness from the royal family about Princess Di, but this film really brought it to light. Everything about the movie is great. Highly recommended.

I also went out this afternoon and watched the Queen Mary 2 ocean liner pull into the San Francisco bay under the Golden Gate Bridge. Here is an article about the visit. I sat near the top of Fillmore street with an impromptu crowd of fellow gawkers, and enjoyed a panoramic view of the bridge and the bay as the huge ship came in. I then walked down to the Marina, and had a much closer view - it is a BIG ship!

I ended up missing the Super Bowl completely. Oh well. I guess I'm not really a big football fan, anyway, although I will try and check out the commercials on YouTube.

Two queens in 24 hours. Cool!