Friday, February 27, 2015

DEATH


Leonard Nemoy, 83, has died

Bon Voyage, Spock. Live long and prosper. I wonder if you
see a white light or the void from which we were all created?




How to Get Away with Murder

Here are the suspects. Study them well. We know who killed Sam but who killed Lila? If you watch How to Get Away with Murder you will - or have enjoyed - Thursday nights season finale. One person in this picture was killed. Did you figure it out? I didn't ... nor the unusual plot twists at the end. I'm usually much better at this. I'll give you the answer tomorrow.




Speaking of murder, mayhem and death ... we come to the cool story below about a 22 year old man who died twice. He didn't see the traditional "white light" of projected illusion from the "projection room" of the hologram. All he saw was nothingness - darkness - blackness - the void. This begs the question ... Could it be that at the end of the illusion, the white light is already off as reality fades to black? None of the souls who have recently crossed go to a white light, nor have spirits who have come to visit mentioned anything about a white light.

This is what it's like to be dead, according to a 22 year old guy who died   Independent - February 25, 2015

    It's a fascination with life that's at the root of our fascination with death. Do we live on in some sort of metaphysical way? Do we experience anything comparable to what we call 'consciousness'? Death is only a man-made term after all. For some a beginning, for some an end, and for many simply a state of disrepair when medicine gives up. Consciousness is something neither science nor philosophy can adequately define and it takes a living being to experience it, so perhaps someone who spent a short while medically dead is our best insight into post-life. A man who died twice for about two minutes at a time, once from a motorcycle accident, once from an overdose of painkillers, gave an AMA on Reddit today and fielded questions on his experience.

    On the sensation of death ... "I had no idea, it was just black emptiness. No thoughts, no consciousness, nothing. Both times I was just "not there". It was just all black. I would describe it as when you take a nap. A short nap with no dream, you wake up and it feels like you've been sleeping a long time, when in reality it's only been about 15 minutes. The only reason I know is because the doctors were obligated to share the information with me. So yeah, you were dead for a couple of minutes, just FYI" ha ha ha. So if the doctors wouldn't have said anything I would've just thought that I took a dreamless nap. It was definitely not just a gap. Much like a dreamless nap, you don't just wake up and feel like time just jumped ahead. You know that you've been asleep for a while. At the same time, you can't really remember experiencing anything at all, unless you had a dream. So yes and no. I experienced something, and that something was nothing."

    On the sensation of dying ... "The first time was right before the accident and the only thing in my mind was 'oh fuck'. "The second time I had no idea. I was in pain and all of a sudden there was nothing, just no life. Then I was awake and in pain again. On whether the different causes of death yielded different experiences... The two experiences were exactly the same. The only difference is that the accident one, I remember the seconds before a lot more clear. The second time, I was in so much pain that I wasn't really fully aware of my surroundings if you understand what I mean. On other people's reports of near-death experiences. I think that in their cases, their minds were still active. What they experienced was just a sort of dream.

    On being told he had died ... "Well my first reaction was 'Omfg, that's fucking cool! Now I can tell my friends that I've been dead and come back to life etc' but most of those thoughts were the morphine talking. "Then reality sets in, and I realized that 'wow, I could've been dead right now.' That's when I started to understand how serious my situation really was. "I definitely fear it less. I know now that death is nothing worse than sleeping. When you die, you just stop existing, nothing to worry about!"

    On religion and the afterlife ... "I have always been an atheist, but I have always had a part of me that hoped there was a God or Heaven or something greater than us. I mean, who wouldn't want there to be a Heaven? I am still an atheist, and now I know that there is no such thing as God or Heaven. At least not for me. My reasoning behind that is no God would ever put a person and family through such a experience. I am an Atheist, and always will be. But I believe that your belief is your belief. The only thing we can share is our own experiences and let people make up their own mind. People need to stop forcing their own beliefs onto others.

    On approaching life after death ... "All I want to accomplish in life is to have fun and make other people's lives better as best as I can. "No personal achievement will matter to me once I'm dead, the only thing that will live on after my death will be my impact on the people that are still alive. And hopefully my impact will be positive!"

    In summary: "Death is death. Once your dead, that's it, it's over." ... said the man who died twice.

Story 2: Man Who Claims To Have 'Died Twice' Reveals What Really Happens When We Die   Huffington Post - February 27, 2015




2 Series Premiering in March


Dig (Wiki) -- Dig on USA



13-episode miniseries Heroes Reborn (Wiki) -- Heroes on NBC




Thursday, February 26, 2015

A Day of Music



My day of music began on Broadway as Pat and I went to see Beautiful seated center orchestra. It is probably one of the best musicals I have ever seen. Actress Jessie Mueller - who plays Carole Klein a.k.a. Carole King - starts things off by saying she was from Brooklyn as the audience applauded. Hit song after hit song was performed by the extremely talented cast - culminating in a standing ovation and a sing-a-long with the entire cast and audience.




After the show, Pat and I went to dinner in the theatre district having fun on Broadway as the weather cooperated. I also want to add that while parking her car in a garage on West 43 Street and Broadway, the parking attendants checked the contents of not only the interior of the car but the trunk. This takes us to yesterday's blog Reality Check February 2015 and Wednesday's news: Three Brooklyn men sought to join Islamic State, FBI says.




Kings Theatre

Pat and I next plan to visit the newly renovated Kings Theatre not far from Barclays Center. When I was a teen, I attended live performances there with some of the most famous singers of that timeline. Those were the days I danced on the Alan Freed TV Show - and life was so much simpler.

The Kings Theatre, formerly Loew's Kings Theatre, is a movie palace-type theater in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn. Opened in 1929 and closed in 1977, the theater reopened on February 3, 2015 following a complete renovation. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 22, 2012. The lavish theater, located at 1027 Flatbush Avenue near Beverly Road, was designed in the Rapp Brothers' signature French-influenced baroque style. The unusually spacious theater boasts superb sight-lines, with the majority of its seats located on the main floor. Instead of a large balcony, the Kings has only a small mezzanine, allowing the entire elegant design to be viewed from anywhere in the auditorium. It has a sweeping staircase in the lobby that leads to the mezzanine.

Upon returning home from my day on Broadway ... I watched two favorite shows featuring multi-talented performers: Empire (Black Culture) followed by Nashville (Country and Western) . Nashville took me back to my adventures in Nashville on my 70th birthday two years ago when I met singer, actor Chris Carmack.

Empire   Wikipedia

Nashville   Wikipedia




Musicians Born on This Date

Make some noise !!


February 26, 1928

Fats Domino

  Fats Domino Google Videos

Fats Domino is an American R&B and rock and roll
pianist and singer-songwriter. Discography


When whippoorwills call and evening is nigh, I'll hurry to my Blue Heaven.
You turn to the right, you find a little bright light that leads you to my Blue Heaven.

You'll find a cozy place, a fireplace, a cozy room, a little nest that nestles where the roses bloom;
Just Molly and me, and baby makes three, be happy in my Blue Heaven.

Fats Domino




February 26, 1932 - September 12, 2003

Johnny Cash

  Johnny Cash Google Videos

Johnny Cash was an American award winning singer-songwriter and
one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. Discography


Build on failures.
Use them as stepping stones.
Close the door on the past.

Don't try to forget the mistakes,
but you don't dwell on them either.


Johnny Cash Quotes 1

Johnny Cash Quotes 2

Johnny Cash Quotes 3




February 26, 1953

Michael Bolton

  Michael Bolton Google Videos

Michael Bolton is an award winning American
singer-songwriter and a former hard rock singer.
Discography


Music should transcend time.

Michael Bolton Quotes 1

Michael Bolton Quotes 2




February 26, 1979

Corinne Bailey Rae

  Corinne Bailey Rae Google Videos

Corinne Bailey Rae is an award winning British
singer-songwriter and guitarist Discography


Success is fantastic! When you make a record, you're so busy with good
sounds and lyrics, that you forget, sometimes, what others would think of it.
And when the record comes out, you're like, "****, what if they won't like it?.

Corinne Bailey Rae




February 26, 1986

Crystal Kay

  Crystal Kay Google Videos

Crystal Kay is a Japanese singer
songwriter, radio host and actress.
Discography -- Filmography


After love ... you will find yourself.

Crystal Kay




Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Beautiful

This afternoon my friend Pat is taking me to see the Broadway show Beautiful: The Carole King Musical for my birthday on the best weather day of the week here in the city. Among its many awards, the cast album won the 2015 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theatre Album on February 8, 2015.




Reality Check

Embellishing the News: First, it was Brian Williams, now, it's Bill O'Reilly ... As I read more and more, I realize that much of what is reported by media is not what happened. We know reality is subjective, but some stories are obvious fabrications. I'm not quite sure why people embellish the events in their lives. I would suspect it has to do with ego mostly ... and the ever driving need to say they made a difference.

In case you missed the memo -- WWIII is underway. Thousands will die or worse. There are cyber wars, drugs wars, and those fought on battlefields, all part of our aggressive need for drama. The feeling of end times will make more and more sense as this is the last global go-round. Old and new diseases will surface as if by design. Things we know nothing about will underlie the global face of reality. The current mall threats and other potential terrorist acts ... I knew about them but there is not much we can do other than be prepared and careful until the end. Most people I know understand the collapse of society and its systems. They are watching and waiting just as I am. Some believe things will get better, but are not sure how. The answer comes when the hologram ends.

In the midst of that one has to stop and enjoy the sun - rising and setting as our lives unfold each day.




Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Water Under The Bridge

The water has turned to ice in many places

Not even the birds are venturing out in the cold.

Not to worry ... March is almost here ... Spring will arrive ... With new adventures waiting in the "wings".




Monday, February 23, 2015

2015 Oscars

  The winners were ...   BBC - February 23, 2015

Winners - Academy Awards   CNN - February 23, 2015

Oscar Highlights - 15 Photos   CNN - February 23, 2015

Photos and Report from Entertainment Tonight

The 87th Oscars was another star-studded event honoring the talents of some of the greatest stars in show business - some still performing - and others who have crossed over. The fashions, accessories, hairstyles, and more are always worth watching. And then there's the amazing Neil Patrick Harris who never fails to deliver even when he comes on stage in his underwear. Yes, we will remember that Oscar moment. Speaking of things remembered ... Idina Menzel (from Queens, NY) and John Travolta were humorous reflecting on John's mispronunciation of Idina's name last year year - this year having fun then presenting an award.


I grew up in a world filled with Broadway shows, films and though not a performer, enjoyed my dance and music lessons, and going to the theater. One of the best parts of growing in NYC is the future and how it inspires you. Last night, Lady Gaga surprised me with her wide range of musical talent while performing songs from "The Sound of Music" - taking me back to the time I saw the show on Broadway - not once but three times. Last night, Lady Gaga performed then introduced another legend Julie Andrews, 79.

This Wednesday, I return to Broadway to see Beautiful - the story of the life of Carole King a Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter, Jewish, from Brooklyn, 73, and a curly haired fellow Aquarian. Watching her current performances reminds me that any age you can look good, feel good, and create. The cast album won the 2015 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theatre Album on February 8, 2015. Another Jewish female sensation born in Brooklyn three-month after Carole King is Barbra Streisand who I also saw on Broadway back in the day and hope to see again in the future.




Technology pioneers have birthdays back to back ... Interesting


February 23, 1965

Michael Dell

  Michael Dell Google Videos

Michael Dell is an American business
magnate founder and CEO of Dell Inc.


It's through curiosity and looking at opportunities in new ways that we've
always mapped our path at Dell. There's always an opportunity to make a difference.


Michael Dell Quotes 1

Michael Dell Quotes 2




February 24, 1955 - October 5, 2011

Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs Google Videos

Steve Jobs was an American businessman, and the
co-founder and chief executive officer of Apple Inc.


Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.

Steve Jobs Quotes 1

Steve Jobs Quotes 2

Steve Jobs Quotes 3




February 24, 1943

Terry Semel

  Terry Semel Google Videos

Terry Semel is a notable American corporate executive who was the
chairman and CEO of Yahoo Inc. where he earned over $500 million.


There is nothing to be embarrassed about being profitable.

Terry Semel Quotes 1

Terry Semel Quotes 2

Saturday, February 21, 2015

History Repeats Itself
in More Ways Than One



In the loops and cycles of time - everything repeats in patterns based on the duality of reality - forever seeking balance yet destined to never find and maintain it until the end. It's all about algorithms and the architecture of creation appearing to evolve in time and yet always the same. Sacred Geometry




As is Above, So it Below The Emerald Tables of Thoth the architect of our reality.


Then there was Quetzalcoatl - one and the same god - with a recycled platform.





Ancient and modern cities aren't so different   PhysOrg - February 21, 2015
Despite notable differences in appearance and governance, ancient human settlements function in much the same way as modern cities, according to new findings by researchers at the Santa Fe Institute and the University of Colorado Boulder. Previous research has shown that as modern cities grow in population, so do their efficiencies and productivity. A city's population outpaces its development of urban infrastructure, for example, and its production of goods and services outpaces its population. What's more, these patterns exhibit a surprising degree of mathematical regularity and predictability, a phenomenon called "urban scaling."


History Repeats Itself: Ancient Cities Grew Much Like Modern Ones   Live Science - February 21, 2015
Before Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes destroyed the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan in 1521, he marveled at its impressive size and wealth. In a letter to his king, he wrote that the city was as big as Seville or Cordoba back home. Tenochtitlan had boulevards, bustling markets, canals, courthouses and temples. The Aztecs didn't model their capital after a European city, but what Cortes saw was remarkably familiar.

Sure, each city has its own local quirks, architecture, language and cuisine. But recently, some theoretical scientists have started to find there are universal laws that shape all urban spaces. A new study suggests the same mathematical rules might apply to ancient settlements, too. Using archaeological data from the ruins of Tenochtitlan and thousands of other sites around it in Mexico, researchers found that private houses and public monuments were built in predictable ways.




Pyramids of Mesoamerica




Astronomical Observatories



Friday, February 20, 2015

Weather Updates

The temperatures are so cold in my area, it's ridiculous - 4 degrees in Brooklyn this morning. What's ahead ... snow, sleet, and freezing rain this weekend turning to all rain as temperatures rise to the 40's on Sunday.

  Winter Storm Pandora: Snow, Sleet, Freezing Rain in South, Midwest and Northeast; Rockies Snowstorm   - February 20, 2015

When ice is nice


Arctic weather transforms New York fountain into growing 'ice volcano'   Today - February 20, 2015
Located at Letchworth State Park, the "volcano" is actually a solid cone of ice coming from a man-made fountain that normally sends a thin stream of water 30-40 feet in the air. Park officials say the ice cone currently stands about 50 feet high, and is growing higher every day as water continues to spout out from the top.




February 22, 2015

Academy Awards Website

87th Academy Awards

Here's Who Will Win at the Oscars   Time - February 19, 2015