The mysterious stranger wanders into town. Gruff and aloof he has no interest in petty, parochial concerns. Unless one of those concerns can make him a quick buck, then he might just stick around long enough to get paid. After all everyone’s got to eat. Gradually we see there’s more to this supposedly cold-blooded mercenary than originally believed. He’s got a soft spot. Maybe its a woman, could be a cute kid, or maybe somebody done shot his dog but this killer with a heart of gold isn’t going to let the bad guys of easy. He’s got a plan…
Author: eclecticeccentric
The Silver Bullet- My Approach to Education
Yesterday I spent a pleasant morning guest lecturing on a wide range of topics for a few high school classes taught by some friends of mine. For me it was a particularly enjoyable experience as a result of having not been in front of a classroom for quite a while. There are few experiences as satisfying in life as the look in a student’s eyes when a concept finally clicks for them. Anybody who has ever been a teacher knows that look and no matter how much you may enjoy whatever it is you moved on from teaching to pursue, you…
In Stores Now- Station Eleven
So I have a confession. Originally I had planned on writing this review about a fantastic non-fiction gem The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson before realizing that it was published all the way back in 2003. A novel that had been out for over a decade did not fit the goal of more current reviews that I had put forth for this particular set of posts. So I decided I should find something else to read and review. No big deal. Then I spent a fantastic booze-filled weekend in San Francisco with old friends and wasted all the reading…
Renewal
January 1st is upon us again. A day of rest and rejuvenation. A day of plans and expectations. Where New Year’s Eve is a day of reflection, New Year’s is a day of anticipation. It is a chance to shed the hindrances and complications of the previous year and embrace a new calendar and a fresh start. It is a day for us to gather our strength and our energy to face the challenges we know are to come. It is a day of rebirth and renewal For me the most powerful lesson of New Year’s Day is that it…
Troping the Riff-The Ghost Ship
Look at it floating out there in the dead of space; no power, no life signs, no sign of how it came to be there. The crew of any respectable spacefaring vessel can have only one response to stumbling across such a find in the cold dark void of infinity: “OMG!!!!! CAPTAIN!!!! CAPTAIN LOOK!!! ITS A SHIP!!! BUT NO ONES ON IT!!! CAN WE GO ABOARD!?!?!! PLEASE, PRETTY PLEASE CAN WE GO ABOARD!?!?!! WE HAVE TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED!!! PRETTY PLEASE CAPTAIN??!!! WE HAVE TO KNOW!!!” and the brave Captain musters all his commander’s charisma, puts asides his reservations and…
Mind Blown- Infinite Worlds Theory
Somewhere out there machete wielding Dinosaurs are oppressing the human race and you are the last great rebel hope to led an insurrection against their brutal regime and finally overthrow the egg laying bastards. Also somewhere out there you write steamy romance novels and wear only jeans that have been properly bedazzled. Thus is the beauty of Infinite Worlds Theory, according to which everything that could happen, has happened. Maybe just not to you. Infinite Worlds Theory, or as it is more properly called by cosmologists and theoretical physicists the Many Worlds Interpretation, states that there are an infinite number…
How Have You Not Seen That?- Toy Story
Everybody has seen Toy Story right? You take that as a given. A simple fact of life. You are never in a conversation, ready to reference this classic and think to yourself “Oh what if they don’t get my joke.” Well you’re wrong. There are people out there who haven’t seen it yet. There are people out there who have no intention of ever seeing it. And I’m not talking about non-english speakers or your six year old niece. (Although six is old enough. Any older and you should really call child services on her parents.) No there is a…
Meanwhile in Countries not Called America- Greece needs a President
This morning the Greek Parliament failed to elect a new president in the final stage of a three stage vote. The Government Coalition’s Candidate Stavros Dimas fell twelve votes shy of the required one hundred and eighty votes. That’s the story. So what does it mean? Well the most immediate consequence is the dissolution of the Greek Parliament and a snap election to form a new government. Multiple news outlets are reporting that Prime Minister Antonis Samaras intends to schedule the elections for January 25th. The opposition party Syriza is leading in the polls and in all likelihood will gain seats…
The Eclectic Eccentric- An Introduction
Hello and welcome to The Eclectic Eccentric, a blog dedicated to the Renaissance Men (and Women) of the world. In this day and age the tendency is to over-specialize, to narrow your focus to such an extent that you become mired in minutia, unable to see the forest through the trees. Depth is important. Focus is important. But there is something to be said for breadth. And here at The Eclectic Eccentric I will make that case. From String Theory to string quartets this site will endeavor to examine the human condition through a wide lens, and in doing so…