Phew: divergent geometry where parallel lines meet; the tempered scale of 12 notes- is it a mathematical or algorithmic scale? It's an exponential scale that the Greeks, with their obsession with astronomy, probably brought it about. Einstein physics goes back to the isosceles triangle and the Pythagorean theorem. My head was spinning and I had to leave the breakfast table to catch my breath! As Loren said, "The noise that you may hear is a lot of minds being stretched (happily)!!!"
It's only the first day that Emil and Judy have been here. I always look forward to the discussions even though many of them are way beyond my ability to comprehend. I just marvel at the minds at work. Emil works for the IMF (International Monetary Fund) and has been to EVERY county in the world! Last year I asked if I could see his passport which was very large and very thick with lovely visas stamped throughout. Judy is a mathematician who until a year ago worked for the National Science Foundation and was very instrumental in establishing a very famous telescope in Chile. One couple brought a world map down with them that was blank. The challenge was to write in every country of the world. When we posed this challenge to Emil he was undaunted. When someone raised the possibility of getting all the "istan" countries correct, Emil said no problem! There are 195 countries in the world and it's mind-boggling to me that I know someone who can name them all!!
It was Valentine's Day and the Zocolo was hopping with couples going up on a stage in the middle of the square and then people stated chanting, "Beso, Beso, Beso" and the couple had to kiss! We surmised it was sponsored by some TV show. There were heart balloons all over the place. It is also Ash Wednesday, but there were more balloons than ashes!
Natalia always goes all out for Valentine's Day and she didn't disappoint this year. The table was decorated with beautiful roses and for dessert, she created a gorgeous heart cake.
Last night we discussed David Brooks' NY Times Editorial called, The End of the Two-Party System. I found it to be very interesting. He contrasts the big news items of the 1990's: the reunification of Germany, the Oslo Accords, the end of the Soviet Union, the end of apartheid in South Africa - all things that Brooks says are part of "an abundance mindset" - to the financial crisis of today, the shrinking of the middle class, the partisan politics, the protective borders of 2017 which Brooks describes as the "scarcity mindset. Trump as the leader of this Scarcity mind set has embraced the Warrior style of governing. Anyone who isn't with him is against him. In describing what this style of governance is doing to the country he says, "Eventually, those who cherish the democratic way of life will realize they have to make a much more radical break than they ever imagined. " We had a very interesting discussion about this and I highly recommend you read the piece.
I just finished the book called The Blue Zones of Happiness by Dan Buettner. It's a fun read. In addition to spending less than one hour watching TV, access to natural light, living near nature and owning a dog among other things, having 4-6 servings of fresh fruit adds to one's happiness quotient. There are actually several components to happiness that occur naturally here in Cuernavaca and the abundance of fruit is only one of them. Every morning we have a platter of fruit passed around the table with mangos, papayas, bananas, grapefruit, pears, pineapples and watermelon. Then often our dessert for lunch has fruit in it.
I loved the other day when a whole, peeled mango appeared stuck on a fork for each of us to eat like a delicious lollypop!
I will leave you with a poem that my son, Arthur, sent to me and which I brought down to share with this diverse political group in Cuernavaca. Hope you enjoy it.
It's only the first day that Emil and Judy have been here. I always look forward to the discussions even though many of them are way beyond my ability to comprehend. I just marvel at the minds at work. Emil works for the IMF (International Monetary Fund) and has been to EVERY county in the world! Last year I asked if I could see his passport which was very large and very thick with lovely visas stamped throughout. Judy is a mathematician who until a year ago worked for the National Science Foundation and was very instrumental in establishing a very famous telescope in Chile. One couple brought a world map down with them that was blank. The challenge was to write in every country of the world. When we posed this challenge to Emil he was undaunted. When someone raised the possibility of getting all the "istan" countries correct, Emil said no problem! There are 195 countries in the world and it's mind-boggling to me that I know someone who can name them all!!
It was Valentine's Day and the Zocolo was hopping with couples going up on a stage in the middle of the square and then people stated chanting, "Beso, Beso, Beso" and the couple had to kiss! We surmised it was sponsored by some TV show. There were heart balloons all over the place. It is also Ash Wednesday, but there were more balloons than ashes!
Natalia always goes all out for Valentine's Day and she didn't disappoint this year. The table was decorated with beautiful roses and for dessert, she created a gorgeous heart cake.
Last night we discussed David Brooks' NY Times Editorial called, The End of the Two-Party System. I found it to be very interesting. He contrasts the big news items of the 1990's: the reunification of Germany, the Oslo Accords, the end of the Soviet Union, the end of apartheid in South Africa - all things that Brooks says are part of "an abundance mindset" - to the financial crisis of today, the shrinking of the middle class, the partisan politics, the protective borders of 2017 which Brooks describes as the "scarcity mindset. Trump as the leader of this Scarcity mind set has embraced the Warrior style of governing. Anyone who isn't with him is against him. In describing what this style of governance is doing to the country he says, "Eventually, those who cherish the democratic way of life will realize they have to make a much more radical break than they ever imagined. " We had a very interesting discussion about this and I highly recommend you read the piece.
I just finished the book called The Blue Zones of Happiness by Dan Buettner. It's a fun read. In addition to spending less than one hour watching TV, access to natural light, living near nature and owning a dog among other things, having 4-6 servings of fresh fruit adds to one's happiness quotient. There are actually several components to happiness that occur naturally here in Cuernavaca and the abundance of fruit is only one of them. Every morning we have a platter of fruit passed around the table with mangos, papayas, bananas, grapefruit, pears, pineapples and watermelon. Then often our dessert for lunch has fruit in it.
I loved the other day when a whole, peeled mango appeared stuck on a fork for each of us to eat like a delicious lollypop!
I will leave you with a poem that my son, Arthur, sent to me and which I brought down to share with this diverse political group in Cuernavaca. Hope you enjoy it.
REFUGEES
written by Brian Bilston
They have no need of our help
So do not tell me
These haggard faces could belong to you or me
Should life have dealt a different hand
We need to see them for who they really are
Chancers and scroungers
Layabouts and loungers
With bombs up their sleeves
Cut-throats and thieves
They are not
Welcome here
We should make them
Go back to where they came from
They cannot
Share our food
Share our homes
Share our countries
Instead let us
Build a wall to keep them out
It is not okay to say
These are people just like us
A place should only belong to those who are born there
Do not be so stupid to think that
The world can be looked at another way
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
AFTER YOU HAVE DIGESTED THIS POEM, READ IT AGAIN STARTING AT THE BOTTOM AND READING TO THE TOP.
3 comments:
Loving it! I cannot imagine trying to keep up with the discussions. Enjoy hearing about the components of happiness...I clearly need more fruit and a dog...otherwise, got it all EXCEPT sunshine! Absorb some of those rays for those of us still in the throes of New England winter.
Sending you via email a blog I read which may appeal to you...many references to writers and thinkers. Back here we are reeling from still another slaughter of the innocents which is why the article ~ on despair and optimism ~ was helpful to me. Interested in what your friends who are more 'conservative' think could help.
Other than that, all good. Keep on having fun! And your hip??
Nice v day cake, very esoteric dinner time conversations- long time fan David Brooks-usually gets it right or at least close, hope all well re today's earthquake Tom Freed
Love, love, love the poem. Thank you Nancy and Arthur. Nancy your blogs are great reading and tell me that the energy that erupts from your discussion would surely shake me up more than an earthquake. Hope all is well at your Cuernavaca Therapy Center.
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