Trembling Stranger

Jason Summers on the future of SETI:

Science caught hold of me early on in life, as is often the case for those who go on to become professional scientists. But, as is also often the case, the science that first captured my childhood mind was markedly more fantastical than the science to which I am now devoted. That’s not to say that science practiced is necessarily prosaic, but rather that it more often finds sources of wonder in the quotidian [everyday] than in the exceptional.

Eugene Cho, a pastor at Quest Church in Seattle, on his experience meeting President Obama:

I was simply introduced by “Eugene Cho” and I’m certain many were asking, “Who is this and why is he here?” In fact, President Obama, himself, had a puzzled look as he said, “Hello Eugene.” So, I had to introduce myself to him and explained to him that I was a pastor here in Seattle and involved with some other work. We chit-chatted briefly about stuff  but there is something I very specifically remember and I don’t know if I’ll ever forget this portion of our conversation.

I shared with President Obama that I occasionally but regularly prayed for him and this is how he responded:

“Thank you, Eugene. I really appreciate that. Can you also please pray for my wife and children? Pray for their protection.”

If you are a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, this is the new procedure for how to vote in Wisconsin.

I want to be like these kids when I grow up.

Piracy is the new radio. That’s how music gets around.

—Neil Young

Do you dread peeling copious amounts of garlic?  I’m using this bowl technique right now, and it is so fast and much more fun than anything else I have tried.

I have only experienced the rush of emotions that comes from dropping a smartphone once.  (My phones prior to the iPhone were never fancy enough to warrant this type of reaction.)

One day, I was biking to work at about 10-15 mph.  The pants I was wearing had shallow pockets, and amidst the vigorous pedaling, the phone slipped out, bounced on the asphalt, and came to a skidding stop.  

In that instant I “knew” it was completely shattered.  Amazingly, when I picked up the phone, there was not a single scratch anywhere, not even on the glass display.

Perhaps, this is the first miracle on the path to sainthood for Steve Jobs?

Don Miller: 

People don’t judge who we are, they judge who we’ve led them to believe we are. The more time and effort we put into making ourselves look great, the longer and harder the fall when the truth comes out. And eventually the truth comes out.

All of Don Miller’s books have had a profound impact on my life.  He is an insightful memoirist who struggles with deep meaning-of-life-type issues.  Check out Blue Like Jazz or A Million Miles in a Thousand Years.