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On Writing: by Stephen King
Please join us for the next two months as we discuss Stephen King's critically acclaimed memoir. Share your views on writing (and thinking) and stay tuned for more posts. Thanks.
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On Writing, by Stephen King
I very rarely think in words at all. A thought comes, and I may try to express it in words afterwards. —Albert Einstein
Stephen King’s bestselling book is part memoir, and packed with funny anecdotes and pithy advice on the craft of writing. Having pondered why he wanted to write a book on writing, he acknowledges that the easy answer isn’t always the truth: “We are writers, and we never ask one another where we get our ideas; we know we don’t know.” He states it in no uncertain terms: “Let’s get one thing clear right now, shall we? There is no Idea Dump, no Story Central, no Island of the Buried Bestsellers; good story ideas seem to come quite literally from nowhere, sailing at you right out of the empty sky: two previously unrelated ideas come together and make something new under the sun. Your job isn’t to find these ideas but to recognize them when they show up.”
Even, like Einstein, if no one know where the ideas come from, King makes an honest attempt to put down, briefly and simply, how he came to the craft, what he knows about it now, how it’s done, and warmly recommends the widely acclaimed Strunk and White, for style. He notes: “This is not an autobiography. It is, rather, a kind of curriculum vitae— my attempt to show how one writer was formed. Not how one writer was made; I don’t believe writers can be made, either by circumstances or by self-will (although I did believe those things once). The equipment comes with the original package. Yet it is by no means unusual equipment; I believe large numbers of people have at least some talent as writers and storytellers, and that those talents can be strengthened and sharpened. If I didn’t believe that, writing a book like this would be a waste of time.”
A great writer perhaps emerges from a mysterious blend of nature and nurture. King’s advice on writing, however, is grounded in salient memories from childhood recalling encouragements of his mother, and his early experiments as a writer: “imitation preceded creation; I would copy Combat Casey comics word for word in my Blue Horse tablet, sometimes adding my own descriptions where they seemed appropriate.” Some suggest that it was his passion for writing, and the beautiful meaning that writing bestows, which helped him recover from the near-fatal accident in 1999. Brilliantly organized and inspiring, On Writing, will charm and entertain anyone who loves the written word and wonders about the unknowable thoughts behind it.
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The Story of Philosophy by Will Durant
“And last are the few whose delight is in meditation and understanding; who yearn not for goods, nor for victory, but for knowledge; who leave both market and battlefield to lose themselves in the quiet clarity of secluded thought; whose will is a light rather than a fire, whose haven is not power but truth: these are the men of wisdom, who stand aside unused by the world.”
― Will Durant, The Story of Philosophy
Considered one of the finest introductions to the lives and opinions of some of the world’s greatest Western philosophers, Will Durant’s The Story of Philosophy (1926), was such a huge success (it sold more than two million copies in less than three decades), that it gave him the necessary and sufficient leisure, for almost fifty years, to work on his critically acclaimed 11-volume series, The Story of Civilization. Given the contributions he had made for the writing of popular history and philosophy, and championing freedom and human rights, he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1968 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977.
― Will Durant, The Story of Philosophy
Considered one of the finest introductions to the lives and opinions of some of the world’s greatest Western philosophers, Will Durant’s The Story of Philosophy (1926), was such a huge success (it sold more than two million copies in less than three decades), that it gave him the necessary and sufficient leisure, for almost fifty years, to work on his critically acclaimed 11-volume series, The Story of Civilization. Given the contributions he had made for the writing of popular history and philosophy, and championing freedom and human rights, he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1968 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977.
Please join us at Brooklyn Book Talk, for a discussion on philosophy and philosophers such as Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Bacon, Spinoza, Voltaire, Kant, Schopenhauer, Spencer, Nietzsche, Bergson, Croce, Russell, Santayana, James and Dewey, whose ideas have formed the enduring foundations of Western civilization. Philosophy, which has also been defined as “what we don’t know,” comes alive in the delightful prose and passion of Will Durant who towards the end of his life was humble enough to admit: “Sixty years ago I knew everything; now I know nothing; education is a progressive discovery of our own ignorance.”
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Phillippa's Christmas Pudding
This recipe was featured on Foodie Tuesday, a weekly segment with Raf Epstein on Drive, 774 ABC Melbourne, 3:30 PM, courtesy of Phillippa Grogan. Her new book is 'Phillippa's Home Baking.'
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Mango Alphonso Recipe
This recipe for Mango Alphonso featured on Foodie Tuesday, a weekly segment with Raf Epsteion on Drive, 774 ABC Melbourne, 3.30PM, courtesy of Christy Tania, head chef at the Aldelphi Hotel's Om Nom restaurant.
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Phillippa's Gingerbread Rabbits
This recipe features on Foodie Tuesday, a weekly segment on 774 Drive with Raf Epstein, 3.30PM, courtesy of Phillippa Grogan. Phillippa's latest book is "Phillippa's Home Baking".
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Pho Noodle Salad with Tofu, Wombok and Broccolini
This recipe features on Foodie Tuesday, a weekly segment on 774 Drive with Raf Epstein, 3.30PM, shared by Hetty McKinnon, founder of Surry Hills community kitchen Arthur Street Kitchen and author of new cookbook 'Neighbourhood'.
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Phillippa's Ginger Almond Shortbread
This recipe features on Foodie Tuesday, a weekly segment on 774 Drive at 3.30PM. It was shared by Phillippa Grogan, adapted from Phillippa's Home Baking written with Richard Cornish.
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Interdisciplinary Team Care for Diabetic Patients by Primary Care Physicians, Advanced Practice Nurses, and Clinical Pharmacists
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Management of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
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Cardiac Manifestations of Congenital Generalized Lipodystrophy
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Hypoglycemia in Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes: Physiology, Pathophysiology, and Management
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Amylin Replacement With Pramlintide in Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes: A Physiological Approach to Overcome Barriers With Insulin Therapy
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Mathematical Metaphors
Theories in all areas of science tell us something about the world. They are images, or models, or representations of reality. Theories tell stories about the world and are often associated with stories about their discovery. Like the story (probably apocryphal) that Newton invented the theory of gravity after an apple fell on his head. Or the story (probably true) that Kekule discovered the cyclical structure of benzene after day-dreaming of a snake seizing its tail. Theories are metaphors that explain reality.
A theory is scientific if it is precise, quantitative, and amenable to being tested. A scientific theory is mathematical. Scientific theories are mathematical metaphors.
A metaphor uses a word or phrase to define or extend or focus the meaning of another word or phrase. For example, "The river of time" is a metaphor. We all know that rivers flow inevitably from high to low ground. The metaphor focuses the concept of time on its inevitable uni-directionality. Metaphors make sense because we understand what they mean. We all know that rivers are wet, but we understand that the metaphor does not mean to imply that time drips, because we understand the words and their context. But on the other hand, a metaphor - in the hands of a creative and imaginative person - might mean something unexpected, and we need to think carefully about what the metaphor does, or might, mean. Mathematical metaphors - scientific models - also focus attention in one direction rather than another, which gives them explanatory and predictive power. Mathematical metaphors can also be interpreted in different and surprising ways.
Some mathematical models are very accurate metaphors. For instance, when Galileo dropped a heavy object from the leaning tower of Pisa, the distance it fell increased in proportion to the square of the elapsed time. Mathematical equations sometimes represent reality quite accurately, but we understand the representation only when the meanings of the mathematical terms are given in words. The meaning of the equation tells us what aspect of reality the model focuses on. Many things happened when Galileo released the object - it rotated, air swirled, friction developed - while the equation focuses on one particular aspect: distance versus time. Likewise, the quadratic equation that relates distance to time can also be used to relate energy to the speed of light, or to relate population growth rate to population size. In Galileo's case the metaphor relates to freely falling objects.
Other models are only approximations. For example, a particular theory describes the build up of mechanical stress around a crack, causing damage in the material. While cracks often have rough or ragged shapes, this important and useful theory assumes the crack is smooth and elliptical. This mathematical metaphor is useful because it focuses the analysis on the radius of curvature of the crack that is critical in determining the concentration of stress.
Not all scientific models are approximations. Some models measure something. For example, in statistical mechanics, the temperature of a material is proportional to the average kinetic energy of the molecules in the material. The temperature, in degrees centigrade, is a global measure of random molecular motion. In economics, the gross domestic product is a measure of the degree of economic activity in the country.
Other models are not approximations or measures of anything, but rather graphical portrayals of a relationship. Consider, for example, the competition among three restaurants: Joe's Easy Diner, McDonald's, and Maxim's de Paris. All three restaurants compete with each other: if you're hungry, you've got to choose. Joe's and McDonald's are close competitors because they both specialize in hamburgers but also have other dishes. They both compete with Maxim's, a really swank and expensive boutique restaurant, but the competition is more remote. To model the competition we might draw a line representing "competition", with each restaurant as a dot on the line. Joe's and McDonald's are close together and far from Maxim's. This line is a mathematical metaphor, representing the proximity (and hence strength) of competition between the three restaurants. The distances between the dots are precise, but what the metaphor means, in terms of the real-world competition between Joe, McDonald, and Maxim, is not so clear. Why a line rather than a plane to refine the "axes" of competition (price and location for instance)? Or maybe a hill to reflect difficulty of access (Joe's is at one location in South Africa, Maxim's has restaurants in Paris, Peking, Tokyo and Shanghai, and McDonald's is just about everywhere). A metaphor emphasizes some aspects while ignoring others. Different mathematical metaphors of the same phenomenon can support very different interpretations or insights.
The scientist who constructs a mathematical metaphor - a model or theory - chooses to focus on some aspects of the phenomenon rather than others, and chooses to represent those aspects with one image rather than another. Scientific theories are fascinating and extraordinarily useful, but they are, after all, only metaphors.
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New JHBS: Mind-Body Medicine Before Freud, Psychology and Biography, Jung and Einstein
The Spring 2020 issue of the Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences is now online. Full details about contributions to this issue follow below. “Practicing mind-body medicine before Freud: John G. Gehring, the “Wizard of the Androscoggin”” by. Ben Harris and Courtney J. Stevens. Abstract: This article describes the psychotherapy practice of physician … Continue reading New JHBS: Mind-Body Medicine Before Freud, Psychology and Biography, Jung and Einstein
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Examining the Pros and Cons of Phone Therapy
Telephone therapy has taken on greater significance in the mental health industry in wake of the covid-19 pandemic. While some individuals may have avoided telephone therapy in the past, the temporary closure of mental health offices and the necessity of social distancing have resulted in an increasing number of people asking for more information on […]
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How Phone Counseling May Help Save Lives During the Covid-19 Lockdown
With the covid-19 pandemic now affecting virtually every country on earth, it is understandable that much of the world’s focus has been on protecting people’s physical health. Hand washing and social distancing is important in the fight against the coronavirus. However, it is important to remember that mental health issues may lead to loss of […]
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The gender-fluid history of the Philippines | France Villarta
In much of the world, gender is viewed as binary: man or woman, each assigned characteristics and traits designated by biological sex. But that's not the case everywhere, says France Villarta. In a talk that's part cultural love letter, part history lesson, he details the legacy of gender fluidity and inclusivity in his native Philippines -- and emphasizes the universal beauty of all people, regardless of society's labels.
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Annual Interdisciplinary Symposium on Decision Neuroscience (ISDN), Philadelphia, June 5-6, 2020
DEADLINE FOR ORAL PRESENTATIONS: FEB 15, 2020 On June 5-6 2020, Temple University will host the 10th Annual Interdisciplinary Symposium on Decision Neuroscience (ISDN) in Philadelphia, PA. This symposium is unique in that it brings together a range of constituencies involved in the use of neuroscience techniques to understand consumer decision making – world renowned […]
The post Annual Interdisciplinary Symposium on Decision Neuroscience (ISDN), Philadelphia, June 5-6, 2020 appeared first on Decision Science News.
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Memphis Superintendent Dorsey Hopson Leaving to Join Healthcare Company
Hopson became the interim superintendent in Shelby County, Tenn., in 2013 after the Memphis City School system merged with Shelby County schools. That merger then led six suburban communities to break away from the merged school system to form their own school districts.
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High Court to Hear Telephone Arguments, Including in Religious-School Case
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments remotely in May, including on whether religious schools are exempt from employment discrimination claims brought by lay teachers.
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NJ Schools Closed Until at Least May 15, Gov. Murphy Says
New Jersey's schools will be closed because of the COVID-19 outbreak at least until May 15, Gov. Phil Murphy said Thursday.
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Federal Appeals Court Upholds Oregon District's Pro-Transgender 'Safety Plan'
A federal appeals court rejected a multi-pronged challenge to a school district plan allowing transgender students to use restrooms and other facilities that match their gender identity.
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'Good Morning Football': Sophomore QBs we're excited to see in 2020
The "Good Morning Football" crew discusses which sophomore QBs and their offensive weapons they're most excited to see play in 2020.
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Philip Rivers lines up a high school coaching job for after he retires
Colts quarterback Philip Rivers is signed for the 2020 season and he hasn't made any decisions about whether he'll keep playing in 2021, but it looks like he knows what he'll be doing when he does hang up his helmet. Rivers said when he signed with the Colts that he looked forward to coaching his [more]
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Washington High Court Upholds Most of State Charter School Law
Charter schools in Washington state can continue to receive public funding, the state's high court ruled last week.
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Remunerating legal practitioners : contracts that giveth and taketh, Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) / presented by Elbert Brooks, Buxton Chambers ; Chair, Joseph Wearing.
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Carly Tarkari Dodd : shackled excellence : 1 October - 10 December 2019 / curated by Adele Sliuzas ; photography by Morgon Sette.
Carly Dodd is a KaurnaNarungga and Ngarrindjeri artist. Carly mixes traditional and contemporary techniques, to produce works that are conceptually and culturally driven. Jack Buckskin is a Kaurna, Narungga and Wirangu man, born in the Adelaide Plains region, who has dedicated himself to learning and sharing the Kaurna language and culture.
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A survey of the orange-bellied parrot Neophema chrysogaster in Tasmania, Victoria & South Australia : a report prepared for World Wildlife Fund (Australia) / P. B. Brown & R. I. Wilson.
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Forum 2019 : 2A: Competition and consumer law update 2019 : slides / presented by Matt Murphy, Anthony Mason Chambers.
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Offensive words in wills : putting them in and taking them out / paper presented by Christopher Parker, Treloar & Treloar.
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ONE TO ONE: The family history and autobiography of Gary Robert Toone - a boy from Kendenup, Western Australia.
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Seismic processing, inversion, and AVO for gold exploration : case study from Western Australia / Christopher B. Harrison and Milovan Urosevic.
"We investigate the potential of using high-resolution seismic methods for rock characterization and for targeting of gold deposits at the St. Ives gold camp. The application of seismic methods in hard-rock environments is challenged by complex structures, intrinsically low signal-to-noise ratio, regolith distortions, and access restrictions. If these issues can be addressed, then the unparalleled resolving power of reflection seismic can be used for mineral exploration. Appropriate spatial sampling of the wavefield combined with a survey geometry design and rigorous data processing to incorporate high fold and long offsets are necessary for creation of high-quality seismic images. In the hard-rock environment of Western Australia, accurate static corrections and multiphase velocity analysis are essential processing steps. This is followed by a rigorous quality control following each processing step. In such a case, we show that the role of reflection seismic could be lifted from mere identification of first-order structures to refined lithological analyses. Five deep boreholes with sonic logs and core sample test data wer eused to calibrate 2D seismic images. Despite seismic images were produced with relatively robust scaling it was possible to achieve reasonably high seismic-log correlation across three of the tightly spaced boreholes using a single composite wavelet. Amplitude-versus-offset (AVO) analysis indicated that gold-bearing structures may be related to elevated AVO effect and increased reflectivity. Consequently, partial stack analysis and acoustic and elastic inversions were conducted. These results and impedance crossplots were then evaluated against known gold occurrences. While still in the preliminary stages, hard-rock seismic imaging, inversion, and the application of AVO techniques indicated significant potential for targeting mineral reserves" -- Summary.
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