Morning Nap

Nikki (see Nikki Loves Snow) seemed quite comfortable when I left for work this morning. 

Planetary

Trailer for an upcoming documentary about the planet, the universe, humans, plants, animals, mountains, and rivers, and that each and every thing is interconnected and inseparable from the other. Interesting premise, no? It's  time. Includes contributions from astronauts, ecologists, poets, teachers, environmental activists, indigenous elders, Zen priests, philosophers, and storytellers. Go here for more infomation about the film.  

A Song of the Rolling Earth

Seems like a good time for some Walt Whitman. From Leaves of Grass #10, A Song of the Rolling Earth (1881 edition):

The earth does not withhold, it is generous enough,
The truths of the earth continually wait, they are not so conceal'd either,
They are calm, subtle, untransmissible by print,
They are imbued through all things conveying themselves willingly,
Conveying a sentiment and invitation...
I speak not, yet if you hear me not of what avail am I to you? 

Useful words for ecologists, and foresters, and Zen students, and all human beings concerned–or unconcerned–with impending planetary crisis. The earth is clearly sharing its truths with us. [NOTE: A complete version of Whitman's A Song of the Rolling Earth is available here].

Love Has No Labels

Lovely public service announcement from the Ad Council. Really, really well done. Will make you cry. In a good way. [NOTE: Go here for more information about the Love Has No Labels campaign to raise awareness about bias and prejudice]. 

Wonder Where We Are?

U Naing Oo (Nam Sa Bi), U Myint Thein (Htamanthi WS) and I take a concerted look at the GPS while laying out the baseline for the Nam Sa Bi Village Management Area (see Nam Sa Bi VMA). [NOTE: We actually knew exactly where we were; I was checking to see how close our measured and satellite distances were. And they were real close (thx, Myint Thein)]. 

More Kayin Buddhas

An auspicious gathering of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas at the base of a majestic limestone mountain in Kayin State, Myanmar. Go here for a close-up of one of these beautiful statues. [NOTE: The statues are just sitting out in a field along the side of the road. And it was drizzling rain and misty. I did a little bow and took lots of pictures]. 

Human Behavior

I have been a fan of Björk for a long time, but her upcoming retrospective at the MOMA made me think that I should probably post something about this multifaceted (and wonderfully quirky) composer, musician, and singer. Video shows a live performance of her song "Human Behavior":

If you ever get close to a human
and human behaviour
be ready to get confused

there's definitely no logic 
to human behaviour
but yet so irresistible

there is no map 
to human behaviour

they're terribly moody 
then all of a sudden turn happy
but, oh, to get involved in the exchange
of human emotions is ever so satisfying

there's no map and
a compass
wouldn't help at all

Whole video is nice, but Björk gets expecially animated at 3:33. What a voice. Definitely full screen with a bit of volume–or headphones, better. [NOTE: No idea about the date or venue of this performance].

One More Mu

And here is the view from the reading chair (see Blue Dog Mu). Like I am stepping back and letting Mu continue to take more in. Which it will do. So, there's another dog (see Nikki), and the bark paper from Papua New Guinea, and the pre-Columbian statue of the lady with the dog on her lap (see Pre-Columbian Statue), and the red OWU cap hanging on the bannister. Oh, and the little clock (to the left of the statue on the hutch) that I got for 30 years of service at NYBG. 

ReTweet

One of the dragons in the With Wind portion of the Ai Weiwei installation at Alcatraz, "@Large" (see Ai Weiwei at Alacataz). Notice the Twitter birds as pupils in the dragon's eyes. And remember Ai Weiwei's motto, "Don't retreat–reTweet". Amazing exhibit.