Rhubarb Diaries | Allan Besselink

Rhubarb Report 066

ab@allanbesselink.com (Allan Besselink) — Fri, 10 May 2013 05:11:56 +0000

This year is the first time since 2004 that the Toronto Maple Leafs have been a part of the NHL playoffs. They were, until last week, the owners of the league's longest post-season drought. You would also have to go back a lot of years - specifically, to 1967 - to find their last (13th) Stanley Cup win. That gives them the unenviable title of also having the NHL's longest-active championship drought. It's not easy being a Leaf's fan. Trust me on this one.

Just when hopes were high this season, the Leafs have now found themselves in a 3 - 1 deficit against the Boston Bruins. Somehow, this doesn't surprise me from the team that is now the NHL version of the Chicago Cubs. This doesn't qualify as rhubarb as much as it is a painful reality for Leafs fans worldwide.

Reality check aside, and before Leafs depression sets in once again, there is plenty of rhubarb to make you stop and ponder just what makes the world go 'round. Alas, Episode 66 of the Rhubarb Report - game on!

1. The chasm between college and pro sports became readily apparent recently in the world of basketball. On one hand, you have Kobe Bryant tearing his Achilles tendon. It then took him 16 days to return to the Los Angeles Lakers' bench. In the meantime, he could be found critiquing his team from afar - via Twitter. Contrast this with Kevin Ware, the University of Louisville player that sustained a horrific injury in the NCAA Regional Final. Ware underwent surgery and was back on the bench within the week to cheer on his teammates in the Final Four.

I understand the economic differences between the two. But there is much to be said for the attitude (and gratitude) of the player in these scenarios - or lack thereof.

2. In the "are you serious" department, I bring a disturbing statistic to your attention. According to this report, 29% of Americans see a need for an armed revolution in order to protect liberties. That includes 18% of Democrats and 44% of Republicans.

What happened to protecting liberties with a ballot box? My question is - when was the last time that this 29% was actually within a mile of a voting booth?

3. Finally, it is once again time to question the ability of our legislators to govern effectively. Case in point: the recent Senate vote on background checks for firearms purchasers. Senators voted 54 - 46 against the legislation. However, 90% of the country is in favor of mandatory background checks. Disconnect? Lincoln stated in the Gettysburg Address -

"government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

Shouldn't Congress be representing the people of this country? Of course, that assumes one key thing: that legislators are choosing to represent constituents and not political action committees and special interests. Silly me.

Debate the issue of gun control all you want – that isn’t the point. This really isn’t about guns at all. It is an issue of legislators representing constituents - and constituents trusting their elected representatives to do so. The democratic process doesn't work when the relationship is one-sided.

Photo credits: Wikipedia

The Tragedies Among Us

ab@allanbesselink.com (Allan Besselink) — Fri, 03 May 2013 03:31:11 +0000

Last month was a tough month. The events of Boston, Massachusetts and West, Texas brought tragedy front and center in our world once again.

The news of the Boston bombings was everywhere you looked. Many were exposed to the devastation that struck the community of West. We are in a world these days in which the more sensational or shocking the news is, the more tragic the event is perceived. It could be Boston or West or Newtown or Columbine or Oklahoma City. You don't have to go overseas to find examples. Just look in our own backyard.

Throughout that fateful week, the overwhelming thought wasn't one of making sense of the evil, the pain, or the suffering. My mind kept coming back to our responses to the tragedies among us.

The events of the week remind us of the power of community and the beauty of liberty and freedom in this country. They remind us that we can come together when the chips are down to work towards a common goal. We can reach out to one another. We can ask "are you ok"? We can put our hearts and heads and hands together and get back on our feet. We can help each other. Inspirational, indeed.

"Tragedy is a tool for the living to gain wisdom, not a guide by which to live." (Robert Kennedy)

But when it comes to tragedy, the harsh reality is this: we all have some degree of personal tragedy in our daily lives, be it within ourselves or our friends and family. It could be a friend with cancer, or the passing of one's grandmother or child, or the collapse of our fiscal dreams, or an internal struggle with loneliness or depression. Most of what we experience isn't on the evening news. And even if it is, chances are good it will be short-lived, a mere blip on the media screen. That doesn't make it any less powerful or gut-wrenching or tragic. Most of this gets internalized unless we are fortunate enough to have a good support network, something that many simply don't have.

What saddens me most is that these powerful actions of humanity - of individuals and communities - shouldn't just make an appearance when there is a newsworthy or horrific event. Nor should we turn a blind eye to them once tragedy leaves - because it never leaves. It just becomes less newsworthy. Pain and suffering - oftentimes silent - is amongst us on a daily basis, not just when explosions strike or shots are fired.

The power of community is something that requires nurturing and building on a regular basis. Frankly, we could do with a healthy dose of "coming together" on a daily basis - as a community, and as individuals. But it is easily forgotten when tragedy isn't in your face anymore. And I will be the first to admit, it is easy to lose sight of these things.

Imagine for a moment what your world would be like if you had the strength, courage, fortitude and love of a Boston or West surrounding you every day - when times were good, and times were not so good. I suspect we would all be better for it - tragedy or otherwise.

Photo credits: UCFFool

Rush And The Essay That Changed My Life

ab@allanbesselink.com (Allan Besselink) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 04:30:40 +0000

Rush arrived at the Frank Erwin Center on Tuesday night for the start of their latest tour, just 5 days after being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. What ended up as a phenomenal 2.5 hour performance started with a song from 1982 called "Subdivisions". It immediately took me back to a place many years ago: January, 1984.

I will admit, those were difficult times, struggling as many do with trying to find your place in the world. While my friends gravitated towards the hollow mind candy of Top 40 hits, I found myself immersed in musicians like Jimi Hendrix and, yes, Rush. I saw the world a little differently than most of my friends, and it certainly wasn't without it's share of friction.

Meanwhile, there was this class called "Canadian literature" that I had to survive. Little did I know that it would change my world and forever alter the course of my life.

There's just one problem with Canadian literature. All of the required readings represented what I would have considered (at the time) as the sum total of anything remotely notable in the genre. So when you are then asked to write two reports on books that aren't a part of the curriculum, you have your hands full. This becomes even more problematic when you aren't really much of a writer in the first place. I was a math and science guy, and definitely not a writer.

Welcome to my literary angst.

Fortunately, my English teacher, Mr. Heuther, opened up the assignment and gave us an option. We could select a Canadian musician or band, choose a number of their songs, and do a review and analysis of their lyrics - instead of a Canadian author.

There was hope.

Rush saved me.

I dove headlong into their lyrics, the thoughtful and insightful musings of Neil Peart. I explored themes that had meaning to me. And, imagine this: it was my highest grade in that class all semester. It is the one piece of writing from high school that I filed away. I have it to this day.

There was far greater value to that essay than the grade I received. Until that point in time, I had not really thought that exploring and reflecting upon what was inside me was important or relevant. That changed quickly. I learned to value the process of self-reflection, to try and make sense of it, and then get it onto the page in front of me. I realized at that time that maybe I could write.

When I look back on my journey as a writer and as a human being, I harken back to what I learned about myself during that period. Much of that can be attributed to the themes buried in that one essay. It was alright to be an individual, to be a dreamer, to not necessarily fit. You didn't have to conform. You didn't have to be cool. It gave me strength to examine the world within me when others doubted me and life challenged me.

So you can imagine my thoughts, some 29 years after writing that paper, when Tuesday's concert started with "Subdivisions". I thought back to 1984, and I smiled. I got a little choked up. And I gave thanks to Neil, Alex, and Geddy. Little did you know the impact you had on one man's world so many years ago - and I am much better now because of it.

Photo credits: ceedub13

Rhubarb Report 065

ab@allanbesselink.com (Allan Besselink) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 04:35:28 +0000

The last few days have had me in a reflective mindset. I think it relates to spending more time out walking and hiking at a local park. It is a time to breath, to get away from the demands of the world - just me and my thoughts, nothing more, nothing less.

Of course, the clarity gained while wandering the trails leads to a natural flow of thoughts and plenty of ideas for writing. It is amazing how much good rhubarb can be found out on the trail.

Episode 65 of the Rhubarb Report dives into running, responses to recent national tragedies, and, who else, Rush - and not the Limbaugh variety either.

1. This month, I completed my 12th consecutive Capitol 10K here in Austin - along with over 17,000 of my closest friends. Much has changed during that time. I remember when runners were considerate of other runners by seeding themselves appropriately: faster runners to the front, and slower runners and walkers to the back. However, this year set a new standard for "disheartening". Of 17,000 participants, 10,000 must have been running with headphones blasting, making them oblivious to the world around them. That's fine and good, unless, of course, it prevents you from being aware of other people trying to move around you. Or how about the packs of walkers that started towards the front? Why do they do so? Well, the only answer I have been able to conjure up thus far is "because they want to" - as if that is a good enough reason.

I just don't get it.

2. Many thoughts go out to those affected by the tragedies in Boston and West. As saddened as I am about these events, I find myself more and more perplexed and disturbed, not by the craziness that takes place in the world but the disconcerting social responses that become prevalent afterwards.

Tragedy brings us together and temporarily puts aside our otherwise divisive (and hyper-politicized) behaviors. But not long after we proclaim a need to find solutions for the causes of the tragedy, we promptly and progressively resume the divisive and polarizing behaviors that existed prior to the tragedy. Along the way, anger and hostility drive us to find ways to rationalize throwing out the Constitution, the foundation upon which our lives are built in the first place. The anger slips away, and sanity prevails, but solutions are once again lost in the diatribe - until the next tragedy pulls the nation together again.

I am proud to say that we have a tremendous capacity to come together as a nation - when we feel compelled to do so. But are we learning what we need to learn - and acting upon it - in the meantime?

3. One newsworthy item that I do fully understand and comprehend took place last week. After 41 years of rock and roll, Canadian rock band Rush was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It was far too long a wait. Mix incredible musicianship with thought-provoking lyrics and you get the otherworldly combination that is Rush. Congratulations to Neil Peart, Alex Lifeson, and Geddy Lee for your induction, your musical longevity, and your ability to crank up a stadium of music aficionados. It was a proud moment for Canadian music fans around the world.

Photo credits: Wikipedia

Rhubarb Report 064

ab@allanbesselink.com (Allan Besselink) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 04:19:34 +0000

The Madness is over. No more basketball marathons. Louisville cut down the nets in a epic final against Michigan - well, an epic 30 minutes at least. So now it's time to get back to reality. Or go into hibernation until college football season. Or both.

Oh, wait, the Stanley Cup playoffs are right around the corner, and it looks like the Toronto Maple Leafs might actually be a part of the festivities this year. The zombie apocalypse must be upon us. The Leafs haven't won the Stanley Cup since 1967, and their fans are becoming the hockey equivalent of Chicago Cubs fans.

So before I start the annual process of getting my hopes up for the Leafs, let's get moving on Episode 64 of the Rhubarb Report.

1. In case you missed it (and you cared), Tony Romo just signed a six year contract extension with the Dallas Cowboys worth $108 million. This makes him the the highest paid player in franchise history. This is the same franchise that has seen the likes of Troy Aikman and Roger Staubach under center.

For those doing the math, Romo is going to make $108 million dollars on the basis of his one - yes, one - playoff win in six seasons as a starter. Yes, you read that correctly. It would appear that mediocrity pays well in the NFL these days.

2. There is only one thing worse than lousy quarterbacks making huge salaries. It is lousy quarterbacks going from team to team and still earning a salary at all while good quarterbacks (with good records) are waiting for their phones to ring. Step to the front of the queue, Vince Young - ye of the 30 - 17 record as a starting quarterback.

Sure, Young has made his mistakes that he claims to be attempting to remedy. Debate that all you want. But is he really any worse than Kevin Kolb, or Kyle Orton, or John Skelton? Or any number of journeyman NFL quarterbacks who still have some semblance of an arm and somehow find a way to maintain a roster spot? At least Young had a phenomenal college career prior to making his way to the NFL.

Maybe someone will take a shot on Young this season. I still think that the right coach is going to get himself a winner.

3. Austin, you have made the big time. We are now officially a global community. How do we know? Is it because of Formula One? SXSW? Nope. We are now on the map of places that are at the end of a North Korean missile trajectory. Austin? Really? News reports would indicate that apparently we're on the same North Korean target map as Washington, Los Angeles, and Hawaii. Yet another top 10 list for Austin.

Speaking of top 10 lists for my fair city, it is now rated as the number one over-rated travel destination. Awesome. Maybe it will stop being trendy to hang out here, and we can get back to keeping Austin, well, weird again.

Oh, I can remember the days when Austin wasn't even part of the discussion. Those were the days. I sound like an old-timer ... after 23 years here now, I guess I am.

Photo credits: Wikipedia

Fear Of The Blank Page

ab@allanbesselink.com (Allan Besselink) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 05:38:43 +0000

The blank page. Such simplicity. Clean. Yet so daunting. Scary.

Staring at a blank page, or screen, or canvas, can be one of the most daunting yet exhilarating moments we face. There can be a degree of trepidation and anxiety that forces you to put off the creative process. Maybe a better time or a better frame of mind will come. There are always any number of excuses to walk away from it. Hey, I don't need this right now. You can't make me do it.

Fear of the blank page. I have had my share of moments when I sat looking at this computer screen, thinking that there was simply nothing to say. I think we've all had those moments, not just in creating art, or writing, or pondering the origins of space and time. They come to us in the blank pages of our lives that we are creating moment by moment.

Fear of the blank page. It provides us with another excuse - to not write, to not create, to not go forth and challenge our thinking, to sit back and rest on our laurels. It gives us reason to be mediocre or to take the low road. We like to think that a more opportune moment will strike us serendipitously. It rarely happens that way.

Let's face it - the blank page is the lowest common denominator, the great equalizer if you will.

The blank page, however, is really something that we should embrace. It gives us the opportunity to create something wonderful. It is not a time for fear or trepidation, but a time for creativity. It is in the quietest of moments when epiphany strikes us. And epiphany is spectacular at times.

Our lives are a blank slate - awaiting a splash of paint, an experience, a passion. Can we afford to sit with eyes transfixed on the blank page in front of us? Or do we just need to sit down and hammer out a story? Should we keep the paints in the box, or should we pull them out and throw them onto the canvas?

The blank page of our lives can at times be one of angst or emptiness, fear or anxiety. Darkness. But it is always darkest before the dawn. If we brave the elements, that light, that dawn, always arrives. There may be a fear of doing something - but shouldn't the fear of not doing something be even more compelling?

The only way you get better at writing is if you write. Fear not. Throw the words at the blank page.

The only way you get better at painting is if you paint. Fear not. Throw the paints at the blank canvas.

And the only was you get better at living is if you ... live. Fear not. The blank page awaits.

Photo credits: J Dueck

Rhubarb Report 063

ab@allanbesselink.com (Allan Besselink) — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 05:08:08 +0000

It is now time to take a deep breath. Whew. Week one of the NCAA men's basketball tournament is officially over. If 2 nights and 4 full days of basketball isn't exhausting, I am not sure just what is.

I think that there really should be a new ICD-9 code established for MMS - March Madness Syndrome. It is a seasonal affliction that presents with a number of hallmark signs and symptoms. Those affected by MMS have buttock discomfort associated with prolonged sitting, a subconscious ability to recite RPI rankings and scoring statistics, eyes dilated from prolonged viewing, and a sense of hangover-like symptoms the day after an extended viewing period without having consumed an ounce of alcohol.

Fortunately, the intervention for MMS is simple: more basketball - at least for a couple more weekends. There will be plenty of time after April 8 to recover.

The latest episode of the Rhubarb Report celebrates two of the reasons that make March such a great month - college basketball and the beginning of a new Formula One season. Enjoy!

1. Not only did March Madness begin last week, but it also made an appearance in Austin this past weekend. The Frank Erwin Center was host to six games over two days - for a total of about 15 hours of live hoops. Not for the faint of heart.

This year's tournament draw in Austin had no local or conference ties whatsoever. Strangely enough, no Texas schools are in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1977. To make matters worse, 4 of the 6 games were decided by margins of 14, 20, 29, and 32 points. Please insert multiple yawns here. But it's still the Big Dance, and it is still a spectacle no matter how you cut it.

2. Speaking of spectacles, the Formula One season is officially underway. Though we are only two races in thus far, my thoughts have already turned to the US Grand Prix scheduled for the weekend of November 15 - 17. The apocalypse may be upon us that weekend as the F1 weekend is the same weekend as a UT home football game. Remember, the most important thing in Texas is football, so this could prove interesting. The harsh reality is that there will be 100,000 fans in town for Saturday's game against OSU and 100,000+ fans attending the F1 festivities that weekend.

At least they won't all be downtown at the same time. Maybe.

3. It would appear that there will be plenty of drama in F1 this year, which could be boiling over by the time the teams get here in November. This past weekend's Malaysian Grand Prix set the tone for races to come. Sebastien Vettel made the unilateral decision to go against team orders - essentially stealing the win from his teammate. What becomes more intriguing is that he disregarded the wishes of the same team that made him what he is today. But it was the half-hearted apology and excuses after the fact that really made it stink.

His ego has now officially got the better of him and, as they say, he may now be a little too big for his britches.

Hey Red Bull, have fun dealing with that later on this season. I am certain this won't be the last time it happens.

Photo credits: Wikipedia

Living The Dream That Is March Madness

ab@allanbesselink.com (Allan Besselink) — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 05:48:51 +0000

March Madness. Survive and advance. One play at a time. Protect the basketball. Defend and rebound.

These are more than just over-used phrases that make an annual appearance in March. They truly epitomize the "in the moment, right here, right now" mentality that pervades the NCAA men's basketball tournament.

March Madness is more than just excitement, upsets, and drama. It is about college athletes, their passion for the sport of basketball, and the opportunity to play on the big stage. And it is definitely a spectacle to behold, a microcosm of life itself.

After a weekend's worth of hoops - including a couple of days at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin watching second and third round games - I was reminded yet again of how special this month really is.

Yes, I enjoy just about any sport played at its highest level. But college basketball is a game of simplicity and beauty, power and elegance, speed and determination.

Although the 10 foot high cylinder is the same everywhere the game is played, March Madness somehow becomes a great equalizer between the Harvards and the Dukes, the Wichita States and the Gonzagas, the Davids and the Goliaths. It is a world in which a 15th seeded Florida Gulf Coast University can live the dream and advance to the Sweet 16 – the first 15th seed to do so in the history of the tournament.

Many of these players have been dreaming of having an opportunity to play in the Big Dance since they first picked up a basketball. For many, it is the pinnacle of sport as they know it. They have been presented with the opportunity to live the dream. And they grasp it.

Most of these athletes won't go on to have a career in professional basketball. Most won't ever have the opportunity to even play in the NCAA final. That is reserved for a rare group. For the majority, each tournament game is an opportunity to enjoy the thrill and sheer joy of playing at the highest level, playing a game that they obviously love so dearly. One play at a time. Survive and advance.

The beauty of the month of March is in the exuberance, humility, passion, and child-like emotion that transcends a mere schoolyard game. It is the spirit of "right here, right now". It is all of the great metaphors for life - wrapped up in a 40 minute game. And more. It creates memories that you will, as an athlete and as a human, never forget.

In March, dreams do come true. It is 40 minutes of living the dream. One moment at a time. And that's what makes March Madness so special. Thanks for letting us live the dream with you.

Photo credits: abesselink

Happy Birthday, Ry Cooder - Slide Guitar Extraordinaire

ab@allanbesselink.com (Allan Besselink) — Sat, 16 Mar 2013 03:45:15 +0000

March 15 is a day to rejoice and revel in the beauty of great music. Why today? Because March 15 is the birthday of one of the greatest slide guitar players the world has known - and one of the musicians who has had a great impact on my personal world.

His name is Ry Cooder. For many, that will prompt the next question: who?

Sure, I will admit, it might come across as just another obscure musical reference. That wouldn't surprise me.

But here's a little-known fact: Cooder was rated the #8 guitarist of all time by Rolling Stone magazine. He resides in the top 10 with Jimi Hendrix, Duane Allman, B.B. King, Eric Clapton, Robert Johnson, Chuck Berry, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimmy Page, and Keith Richards. That's some impressive company.

Ry Cooder brought slide guitar front and certain in my world. He exposed me to a rich and eclectic mix of musical genres. Perhaps most importantly, he reminded me of the incredible capacity of one note to bring a person to tears, to joy, and all points in between.

I don't really know why I was drawn to slide guitar at such an early time in my development as a guitar player so many years ago. It evolved from my interest in the blues, but became so much more than that. As I buried myself in the work of the greats of the slide guitar world, I found myself with an ever-growing list of amazing players. There was Duane Allman. Johnny Winter. Lowell George. Sonny Landreth. But all roads for me came back to one person: Ry Cooder. He was da man.

I dove headlong into Cooder's musical history and discovered some tremendous musicianship and vibe. It doesn't take long to realize that Cooder's guitar licks are all over the musical map. He was a session musician that recorded on the Rolling Stones' "Let It Bleed" and "Sticky Fingers". His solo work is eclectic to say the least, encompassing folk, blues, soul, gospel, rock, and all points in between. And then there are the movie soundtracks - "The Long Riders" and "Paris, Texas" to name just a couple. It was the haunting and ethereal music of the latter that really caught my attention. And don't forget "Buena Vista Social Club" - which Cooder produced. That's just scratching the surface. His playing is silky, funky, greasy, and dirty - all good words when describing the work of a virtuoso slide guitar player.

I have only had the good fortune to see Ry Cooder play once - with Little Village, at the Austin Opera House, circa 1991 or 1992. But with that said, his music has always been with me through thick and thin. I can remember listening to a compilation of his music on a nightly basis while away completing the MDT Diploma program. I might have been up to my eyeballs in reading and clinical work, but his music would always be a road back to a good place at the end of the day.

My alma mater, Queen's University, presented Cooder with an honorary doctorate in 2000. A worthy recipient, indeed.

Today is Ry Cooder's 66th birthday. Celebrate the music and the musician. Ry, thanks so much for your fine contributions to the musical world and to my own personal life experience. And as David Lindley mentioned to me once many years ago: "Play Now" - in Austin, please, and not a moment too soon!

Photo credits: Dani Canto

Rhubarb Report 062

ab@allanbesselink.com (Allan Besselink) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 05:04:43 +0000

Spring break. In Canada, it was better known as "Reading Week" and it wasn't in March - it was in February. I don't remember there being a mad rush to Florida or South Padre Island. You were probably spending that week shoveling snow and longing for spring time.

I don't ever remember that week being anything like Spring Break week in Austin - otherwise known as SXSW. What started as 4 days of music from unsigned bands back in the late '80s and early '90s has become a 10 day multimedia extravaganza for music, film, and social media celebrities. As much as I appreciate SXSW, it's just not like it used to be. Austin ends up looking a lot less weird, or, perhaps more appropriately, a lot more manufactured, trendy, pretentious weird.

In an attempt to inject some "weird" back into our world this week, I bring you the the latest episode of the Rhubarb Report. Where else can you find politics, mathematics and physics, and economics all in the same 500 words? You are in the right place. Onwards with Episode 062!

1. If you head just north of all of the SXSW craziness, you find yourself at the State Capitol - home of it's own share of Austin weirdness. Case in point: HB 2416, the "Shopping Bag Freedom Act", legislation introduced by Rep. Drew Springer. Apparently, a ban on plastic bags - for environmental reasons - is officially an "over-reach of big government". I always love it when "government" reminds me of the downfalls of "big government".

The Texas Legislature functions for 5 months every 2 years. As it stands, that's not a lot of time to deal with real issues that have great impact on our state. So what happens? Legislators feel they have the time to put forth legislation on shopping bags. Seriously. I really don't need to say anything more, do I?

2. So it is recovering, or is it not? Therein lies the question these days with the economy. On one hand, the media reminds us that the country is in horrible shape and that doomsday is imminent. On the other hand, the DOW Jones Industrial Average has now had 10 straight record-breaking days and is now over 14,530. I am not a rocket scientist (though I might play one on TV someday) but these two scenarios just don't seem to co-exist. Or do they?

3. March 14 - 3/14 - is officially Pi Day. It is the day we celebrate "pi" - the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter (approximately 3.1415926535 ...). Yes, really. Math geeks, unite! On March 14, there is also a strange coincidence: it is also Albert Einstein's birthday!

Einstein was one of the great thinkers - and not just in the realm of physics. Some of his most profound quotes provide us with a beautiful and almost elegant perspective of the world. Here are three of my favorites from Einstein:

"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

"We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them."

"Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds."

How many of today's problems would have greater clarity by simply using the principles contained within these three quotes?

Photo credits: Wikipedia

Rhubarb Diaries | Allan Besselink

Rhubarb Report 066

Related Articles By Allan Besselink

The Tragedies Among Us

Related Articles By Allan Besselink

Rush And The Essay That Changed My Life

Rhubarb Report 065

Rhubarb Report 064

Fear Of The Blank Page

Rhubarb Report 063

Living The Dream That Is March Madness

Happy Birthday, Ry Cooder - Slide Guitar Extraordinaire

Rhubarb Report 062