tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030822408035973930.post2444867555250479802..comments2010-08-28T18:45:05.262-07:00Comments on Musings of a Midwesterner: The Golden Meanayolkuthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12251404253226911741noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030822408035973930.post-19989383749777385282009-10-14T22:03:06.024-07:002009-10-14T22:03:06.024-07:00pureneeds.pureneeds.Chinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02555383070907327861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030822408035973930.post-41263672247119801822009-10-14T12:01:19.499-07:002009-10-14T12:01:19.499-07:00To quote a famous scholar, "a day without sun...To quote a famous scholar, "a day without sun is like night." What did he mean by that? Did he mean that sun is what makes the day day? In this astronomy class that I am currently taking, as part of the Columbia university core requirement, the professor explained that a day has many defining characteristics. I will continue this discussion in a later post...i must pay attention in the 20 minutes left of the class i am in now as I am the next to read a section of Talmud and I have yet to prepare it. What do you think is the reason behind my lack of interest in this class? The material is quite interesting but for some reason I cannot bring myself to pay any amount of attention as I sit here every Wednesday afternoon for 2 hours. I think I may have swine flu. What a terrible feeling! I feel fine but I am imagining that if I were to have swine flu, it would be a terrible feeling. It would have to be. Being sick s the worst. As my grandfather-in-law-to-be always says, getting older is better than the alternative...that would be dieing for all of you who are too slow to make the connection. It's ok if you are, that's why i explained it. <br /><br />Adir, step up your blogging.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12866529981442313126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030822408035973930.post-43373998932400723032009-10-14T08:26:52.088-07:002009-10-14T08:26:52.088-07:00As I sit in one of the many intro courses I have t...As I sit in one of the many intro courses I have tried to bypass over the past three years, I realized the importance of keys. I was looking around the classroom and noticed several freshman biting their fingernails anxiously pondering the results of their midterms which they will take later this week, some sophomores sipping on their cups of coffee trying to relieve their pounding headaches from the excessive drinking last night, and some, more than one, playing with their keys. Where would all be without keys? Most likely, we would be stuck outside of our homes, classrooms, cars, and other places locked with locks! Keys are such a crucial aspect of modernity. It is a small piece of nickel plated brass or steel that unlocks the doorways and portals to somewhere else. It is our escape from the struggles and turmoils of life. Think about how often you are relieved when entering your home, dorm room, or car. Keys are crucial passports that allow us to go where we were once forbidden. It is true that this entire discussion of keys is more or less completely irrelevant if it were not for locks. However, I would like to present the idea that locks are the result of keys. Throughout time, there has always been a search for the answers and understandings behind the world, the universe, and our place in the greater cosmos. Keys are dated back to as late as 4000 years ago. Archaeologists found the first key in archaeological digs near Ninveh. The first key seems to be a predecessor of the pin tumbler type of lock very common in Egypt during that time. The lock was made from large wooden bolts holding the door shut and wooden pegs that prevented the moving of the large wooden bolt. These wooden bolts seem to have been invented to hide the knowledge of the ancient Egyptians and prevent the secrets of the universe from being released. In ancient Greek mythology, Chaos (tohu vavohu...there Adir, I threw in some Bible stuff) created Gaia (mother Earth), Nyx (pronounced Nux, goddess of night), Eros (god of lust and beauty), and Tartarus (also known as Erebos, the underworld, hell). Gaia parthenogenically (by herself) creates Ouranos (god of the sky), the Ourea (mountain gods), and Pontus (god of the sea). Ouranos and Gaia (yea...there's a lot of incest in Greek mythology) have the 12 titans, 3 cyclopses and 3 Hecatonchires. Ouranos is repulsed by the Hecatonchires and hides them in Gaia (either hidden on earth or hidden in Gaia's womb). Gaia, very upset, asks the titans to revolt against Ouranos. Kronos, the youngest of the Titans agrees and Gaia gives him a sickle to fight Ouranos with. Kronos castrates Ouranos and throws his manly organs into the sea. From the foam of the sea and Ouranos's manhood, comes Aphrodite and from the blood spilled on the floor comes vengeance. Aphrodite rose out of the sea as a beautiful woman. Zeus, who later became the head god, was nervous that the gods would fight over Aphrodite, because she was so beautiful, and married her off to Hephaestus, the handyman of Olympus. Later, after Prometheus tricked Zeus and stole fire for man, Zeus commissioned Hephaestus to create Pandora, the first woman, as a punishment for man. It is through stories like these that we can grasp the meaning and purpose of life. Love is a fusion of vengeance and beauty; it is both from both the bloody testicles of Ouranos and the punishment of man, and the beauty of Aphrodite. It is here where I will leave you all with something to think about. Keys unlock the portals and doorways to forbidden places and it is knowledge and thought that are the keys to understanding the cosmos. Don't let time or the stresses of life prevent you from striving to find your keys; they will give you the answers and let you into your homes. As I once read in a fortune cookie, "We are born naked, wet, and hungry, and get slapped on our butt ... then things get worse." <br /><br />Happy Wednesday.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12866529981442313126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030822408035973930.post-60565767710553812182009-10-14T06:47:28.964-07:002009-10-14T06:47:28.964-07:00c'mon adir...write us some more!c'mon adir...write us some more!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12866529981442313126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030822408035973930.post-5911537755456306142009-10-13T21:25:47.441-07:002009-10-13T21:25:47.441-07:00So thrilled that you're joining the blog world...So thrilled that you're joining the blog world. Thanks for the shoutout! I'll try and send some traffic your way and I look forward to your (albeit-not-5-times-weekly-like-mine) regular updates!nathanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06903141873697546030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030822408035973930.post-90161041340786994292009-10-13T14:05:51.904-07:002009-10-13T14:05:51.904-07:00I love the blog -- gave me a good laugh. Write awa...I love the blog -- gave me a good laugh. Write away brother...<br /><br />Love<br />Your sister aka as noa now calls me the best tanta better than adir...yes she said that, when told you too might be a rabbi :)KEEPING KAVANNAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04512112855388770528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030822408035973930.post-57111629693309389472009-10-13T10:22:51.226-07:002009-10-13T10:22:51.226-07:00just to let you all know, Adir just danced around ...just to let you all know, Adir just danced around the apartment half naked dancing and singing "walk like an egyptian"<br /><br />I love blogs.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12866529981442313126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8030822408035973930.post-44265171106069556392009-10-13T10:16:17.411-07:002009-10-13T10:16:17.411-07:00For all of you readers of Adir's blog,
Just t...For all of you readers of Adir's blog,<br /><br />Just to let you all know, I am Adam, one of Adir's roommates. I have little to say at this juncture but I just wanted to introduce myself as I will inevitably be writing incredibly often on the ridiculous ramblings that my dear dear roommate will spew.<br /><br />Much love to all,<br />AdamAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12866529981442313126noreply@blogger.com