Understanding

via rudecactus.com

Still alive. And well. Plenty of interesting things to blog (and brag) about, but not enough time around the clock. And life frequently takes over the driving seat. Which is not always fun, unless you are sipping on something nice, and in the company of someone nicer. Both of which I do not often have the pleasure of.

So, what have I been up to? Well, yesterday I learnt how to make text to follow a curved path, using GIMP;  Decided to take a look at the US America Invents Act again, which was passed by the House of Representatives sometime last September, and later on, after watching some footie (Grr..how rain annoyingly messes things up. Apparently, sleeping pills are now involved in the saga), I found myself admiring art by the Benin born and legendary artist that is Romuald Hazoumè. All fascinating stuff I thought.

Wait a minute. What’s the date today, 18th. I think I just missed something.

Alas! what of the US presidential debate? Surely, nothing could be more fascinating than watching a shady Mormon millionaire named Mitt dress down a Christian chap whose middle name is Hussein, and happens to be the US President. Nah, will pass.

I then entertained an episode investigating a conspiracy theory (Conspiracy Road Trip) and later found details of it online that were wierder than what the program had  just shown(12 of them fined £375 each? wow, thats about £4500! Ah, so besides financing Jeremy Clarkson‘s holidays, thats where the television license fees actually goes to).

In the evening, while enjoying a Kingfisher, found myself reflecting on the meaning of ‘understanding’, since it could be said to be crucial to many aspects of human interaction. With this serene theme in mind, I stumbled upon two mildly inflamatory quotes, one of which resonates directly with my position in life at this very moment:-

Understanding is often a prelude to forgiveness, but they are not the same, and we often forgive what we cannot understand (seeing nothing else to do) and understand what we cannot pardon.

– Mary McCarthy

Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocrities. The latter cannot understand it when a man does not thoughtlessly submit to hereditary prejudices but honestly and courageously uses his intelligence.

–  Albert Einstein

Mmmh, time spent usefully? Me thinks so.

Related articles

• In pictures: Benin’s spooky dolls (bbc.co.uk)
• Einstein, A bottle of liquor and Illumination! (thewhyaboutthis.com)
• Researchers Suggest Faster-Than-Light Travel Theoretically Possible (mashable.com)
• I’ll Never Understand . . . . . . (espadathoughts.wordpress.com)
• New Book Explains Albert Einstein and Relativity for Kids (wired.com)
• Overcome Or Be Overcome – Part 2 (Are You A Hoarder?) (krisbelfils.wordpress.com)
• History of Iran & USA in 10 min, Every American must watch this!! (tgrule.com)