[Note: This list of Einstein quotes was being forwarded around the Internet in e-mail, so I decided to put it on my web page. I'm afraid I can't vouch for its authenticity, tell you where it came from, who compiled the list, who Kevin Harris is, or anything like that. Still, the quotes are interesting and enlightening.]

Collected Quotes from Albert Einstein

• "Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius -- and a lot of courage -- to move in the opposite direction."
• "Imagination is more important than knowledge."
• "Gravitation is not responsible for people falling in love."
• "I want to know God's thoughts; the rest are details."
• "The hardest thing in the world to understand is the income tax."
• "Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one."
• "The only real valuable thing is intuition."
• "A person starts to live when he can live outside himself."
• "I am convinced that He (God) does not play dice."
• "God is subtle but he is not malicious."
• "Weakness of attitude becomes weakness of character."
• "I never think of the future. It comes soon enough."
• "The eternal mystery of the world is its comprehensibility."
• "Sometimes one pays most for the things one gets for nothing."
• "Science without religion is lame. Religion without science is blind."
• "Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new."
• "Great spirits have often encountered violent opposition from weak minds."
• "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler."
• "Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen."
• "Science is a wonderful thing if one does not have to earn one's living at it."
• "The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources."
• "The only thing that interferes with my learning is my education."
• "God does not care about our mathematical difficulties. He integrates empirically."
• "The whole of science is nothing more than a refinement of everyday thinking."
• "Technological progress is like an axe in the hands of a pathological criminal."
• "Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding."
• "The most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is comprehensible."
• "We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."
• "Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school."
• "The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing."
• "Do not worry about your difficulties in Mathematics. I can assure you mine are still greater."
• "Equations are more important to me, because politics is for the present, but an equation is something for eternity."
• "If A is a success in life, then A equals x plus y plus z. Work is x; y is play; and z is keeping your mouth shut."
• "Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."
• "As far as the laws of mathematics refer to reality, they are not certain, as far as they are certain, they do not refer to reality."
• "Whoever undertakes to set himself up as a judge of Truth and Knowledge is shipwrecked by the laughter of the gods."
• "I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones."
• "In order to form an immaculate member of a flock of sheep one must, above all, be a sheep."
• "The fear of death is the most unjustified of all fears, for there's no risk of accident for someone who's dead."
• "Too many of us look upon Americans as dollar chasers. This is a cruel libel, even if it is reiterated thoughtlessly by the Americans themselves."
• "Heroism on command, senseless violence, and all the loathsome nonsense that goes by the name of patriotism -- how passionately I hate them!"
• "No, this trick won't work...How on earth are you ever going to explain in terms of chemistry and physics so important a biological phenomenon as first love?"
• "My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble mind."
• "Yes, we have to divide up our time like that, between our politics and our equations. But to me our equations are far more important, for politics are only a matter of present concern. A mathematical equation stands forever."
• "The release of atom power has changed everything except our way of thinking...the solution to this problem lies in the heart of mankind. If only I had known, I should have become a watchmaker."
• "Great spirits have always found violent opposition from mediocrities. The latter cannot understand it when a man does not thoughtlessly submit to hereditary prejudices but honestly and courageously uses his intelligence."
• "The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed."
• "A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeeded be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death."
• "The further the spiritual evolution of mankind advances, the more certain it seems to me that the path to genuine religiosity does not lie through the fear of life, and the fear of death, and blind faith, but through striving after rational knowledge."
• "Now he has departed from this strange world a little ahead of me. That means nothing. People like us, who believe in physics, know that the distinction between past, present, and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion."
• "You see, wire telegraph is a kind of a very, very long cat. You pull his tail in New York and his head is meowing in Los Angeles. Do you understand this? And radio operates exactly the same way: you send signals here, they receive them there. The only difference is that there is no cat."
• "One had to cram all this stuff into one's mind for the examinations, whether one liked it or not. This coercion had such a deterring effect on me that, after I had passed the final examination, I found the consideration of any scientific problems distasteful to me for an entire year."
• "...one of the strongest motives that lead men to art and science is escape from everyday life with its painful crudity and hopeless dreariness, from the fetters of one's own ever-shifting desires. A finely tempered nature longs to escape from the personal life into the world of objective perception and thought."
• "He who joyfully marches to music rank and file, has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would surely suffice. This disgrace to civilization should be done away with at once. Heroism at command, how violently I hate all this, how despicable and ignoble war is; I would rather be torn to shreds than be a part of so base an action. It is my conviction that killing under the cloak of war is nothing but an act of murder."
• "A human being is a part of a whole, called by us _universe_, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings as something separated from the rest... a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty."
• "Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts." (Sign hanging in Einstein's office at Princeton)

Copyright: Kevin Harris 1995 (may be freely distributed with this acknowledgement)

Today, like all other weekend days, life was uneventful. I realized that the older I get the less things I find myself getting in to. I wake up, get my morning cup of vanilla soy latte from Starbucks, go for a walk, come home, read chapters of the current novel I'm on, fix the bed, clean the kitchen, sweep the living room, and some where in there, take a nice relaxing shower. By this time, kids are up, and have made their way out the door to enjoy the day with their friends, and husband is late for work, again.

My days have become so predictable. I must live a boring life, people would think. Am I bored? On the contrary, I'm not. I'm content. But is that enough? If I have to question myself, obviously, it's not, right? For the most part, it is quite accurate. I am content. But there are days, I want to go out and do something totally different and spontaneous.

So I tell myself, I'm going to do it. I'm going to wake up one day and do what ever comes to mind. But first, I have to make sure that the kids have plans. Make sure that whatever their plans are, they have a safe ride there. And I'll need to know who they're with, what they will be doing and what time they will be coming home. After getting that together, during my spontaneous moment, I will have to decide how much money will I need, will I have enough gas, and what should I wear? Oh, and definitely, when I decide on my spontaneous endeavor, what am I going to eat? Will it be during breakfast, lunch or dinner time..or will it be all day? I might have to pack a lunch or bring snacks from home. I would definitely need to plan for when my spontaneous moment comes.

mrsnutt1's photostream

mrsnutt1's photostream on Flickr.

Illegal Immigrant v. U.S. Born and the Education System

I read an article today about a college student who was found to be an illegal immigrant. Wow. That's news right? Not really. I applaude this student for taking the step towards higher education. BUT...her parents brought her into this country ILLEGALLY. She passed through the education system with lies on her record, a false social security number, etc. She is now getting heat for her immigration status from school authorities and immigration law enforcement. She was detained for some time until a hearing is set to determine her faith. Her news touched many people even those who, before knowing her status, were against illegal immigration. Now she is speaking out about her situation. Others are rallying around her in hopes that she will be able to continue with her degree and not be deported. She is being hailed as a relunctant immigration symbol.

That's not was so disturbing to me. What I find disturbing is, while this student who I will stress is an illegal immigrant, is getting support and followers, a US citizen, a mother of two, who only wanted the best for her American kids, was jailed for enrolling her kids in the wrong school district. This Ohio mother, Kelley Williams-Bolar, "illegally" registered her two daughters in a suburban school where her father lived. All this mom wanted was to put her kids in a better school so that they had a better chance of graduating.

Does this not seem ass backwards to you??? Did I mention that Kelly Williams-Bolar is a black woman? Not that I want to make this a racial issue, but would a white woman gotten the same degree of punishment?? And why is it that an ILLEGAL immigrant, who for years, lied through the system, can be idolized, but this Ohio mother is being punished for wanting the best for her kids??? There's something wrong here people!

What do you think?

Immigration reform rallies held across county - San Diego, California News Station - KFMB Channel 8 - cbs8.com

Immigration reform rallies held across county - San Diego, California News Station - KFMB Channel 8 - cbs8.com: "Sharing this comment from @MNutterVMA: LEGAL Americans are slowly losing the American Dream due to the economic downfall that our less than wonderful gov't has bestowed upon us. Why should ILLEGAL Immigrants be given rights and benefits that are not rightfully theirs? Fight for our country like our wonderful military personnel. Then we can talk about your rights to be an American."

Cougarism

I was at a friend's birthday party this evening. She is turning 39. Wow, one more year till 40. Seems so old....if you are looking at it from a 20-some year old's standpoint. My friend doesn't look 39, nor does she act like it. She is very hip and very young at heart. Her husband may have a lot to do with her very young attitude. He's 26. Does that make her a cougar? They are very much in love and great for each other. They have been married since he was 18. Really....18.

O.k. so you are probably thinking, "WTF??" If you ever meet them, you would never guess the big difference in age. He acts very mature for his age and she acts very juvenile for hers. LOL!! (She's probably going to kill me for that statement.) My point is, all though there is a huge difference in number, there isn't a huge difference in personality, goals, passion and love they share for each other. It's amazing to watch them, because they are so in love. And age is not at all a factor.

The whole subject of "cougarism" was brought up by the hostess, the lady whose house they were holding the party at. She herself is in her mid to late 40s, looks great for her age and was totally jamming with the younger, teenage crowd at the party. Although she is married to someone who is relatively her age, she said if she was to do it all over again, she would have no quarrels about dating a much younger man. It's the new thing, its the fad, its the fashion. We went around the whole group that was sitting there and was surprised to find that every couple in that circle was the new the thing, the fad, the fashion, including myself. Of course my husband had no problem on proudly announcing his love for his older wife...me.....grrrr! O.k .I really don't have a problem with it either; it's just the word "older" versus "younger"....grrrr.

Women have come a long way from the traditional homemaker, barefoot and pregnant stereo-type that long has been slapped onto women for centuries. We have now evolved into the money making, career-oriented, super mom and wife. Even professional, single women 35 and up are empowered and love the flexibility of dating younger men.

I wonder: is the increase in older women dating younger men do to the fact that younger men are more open to women bringing home the bacon, having the career, and pretty much being the "boss" of the relationship? Do older women date younger men, because older men are still accustomed to the historical stereo-type of women? Are older men threatened by a powerful, professional women? Could that also be the reason they, themselves seek younger women?

It's funny to hear about older women and younger men. But ironically, it is becoming more and more common. Check out this article and let me know what you think.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/04/05/earlyshow/main2651142.shtml

Interviewing a Criminal About Another Criminal

It's disturbing to read the newspaper sometimes. Majority of the articles are just plain dampering. And sometimes there are articles and interviews that make you think, "WTF?" Like, this morning, I got on NCTimes.com and the first headline I see is an interview from an ex-roommate of accused killer John Gardner. If you don't know, John Gardner has been accused of murdering Chelsea King and Amber Dubois. The girls' remains were found earlier this month.

I have to admit that I started to read this interview. In this interview, statements were made from the ex-roommate, who by the way, is a convicted sex-offender himself, about the personality and day to day life with John Gardner. O.k. I'll have to admit that at first I was intrigued by this interview and wanted to know more about what was going on with this accused child murderer. But then, not even half way through the article, I thought, "I'm reading an interview from a registered sex-offender about another sex-offender." The ironic part of it is that, he gives his opinions and perception on John Gardner as if he had credibility. But then again, what better way to get into the mind of a killer by someone of the like.

I don't know what upset me more: a sex-offender, giving his "professional" expertise, or the media interviewing this guy and letting him have even the slightest bit of fame, though his name was not mentioned. Our world is so twisted.