The size of our universe (and wow the Sun is small)

These images show the size of our solar system in relation to some of the stars in the universe. The source seems to be the Observatory at the University of California, Irvine and is part of a teaching guide. The photos show the size of the Earth relative to the other

(download)

planets in our solar system, and then to the sun before comparing the Sun to some of the larger stars in the universe. In addition to the photos below, check the original post for information about the shape, size and temperature of some of the biggest things known to mankind.

Something I wrote for BahamasLocalNews.com. It blows my mind every time I see it.

Tagged Inspirational Interesting Learn something

Randy Pausch's "Last Lecture"; getting what you want AND being happy

Thirty seconds is enough to suck you into this video. In fact, if you haven't taken an hour and sixteen minutes out of your life to watch this video you have missed something special. 

Pausch is an exceptional speaker and a first-class teacher. Even if I disagreed with everything he said I would have to admire the way he made his points. Luckily for me I agree with him wholeheartedly. 

I find that when you have a big idea you find yourself taking great pains to use small words so they don't get in the way (or so I've heard from people who actually have them).

This gentleman had many big ideas and fulfilled so many of them. His humility, intelligence and most of all compassion should give us all reason to pause before we cry cynically to the heavens about the darkness in the world. For me he is a great lesson in the way giving to others ends up giving even more to you. And not in that syrupy way but in that concrete, "holy crap I'm lucky!" kind of way. 

The speech he is giving is for the school's series called  The Last Lecture

The speech is given ten months before he died of liver cancer. He is married and has three children.

He said he can't talk about his family because he will cry. 

Pausch is an atheist (yay!) which he sneaks into the speech without alienating anyone. 

The speech is about acheiving your dreams. Like most good speeches it involves real-world examples from his life. He is also very funny.

I challenge you to watch this without learning something about yourself and feeling good. Immediately followed by immense sadnes that this wonderful human is now gone. Best wishes to his family. 

He also talks about "Head-fake" learning; learning something you did not expect to learn when you are learning something else. 

"When you're screwing up and nobody is telling you any more it means they've given up."

"Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted."

"Brick walls are there to stop people that don't want it badly enough."

"Give someone enough time and they will impress you." (usefull when they are pissing you off)

 

 

Tagged Inspirational Learn something Video

Review: The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss

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When I first saw Tim Ferriss on TED, I immediately thought, "Here is someone doing the things I'm dreaming about."

From facing fears to learning new skills and concepts, he seemed confident but not cocky and intelligent but not elitist. As I read through his blogsand found out about his book, The http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/ I decided that this was a book I had to have.

Here is a man who has learned more than a dozen languages, earned a Guinness record for Tango dancing and traveled to more cities than I have heard of (which says something about my geography knowledge I know, but he has been everywhere). Even better, he has often accomplished these things in record time.

I will probably post several blogs on Mr. Ferriss and his advice but I wanted to get something out right after I finished the book the first time. My feelings and thoughts will most likely change as I go over each chapter and step.

You should buy and read this book if you want to do any of the following:

1. Have more time
2. Work less
3. Learn more about the world around you and act on what you learn
4. Enjoy more things while having less things
5. Accomplish that really big dream you keep telling yourself is too big

Not only has he done these things, he gives clear instructions on how he did it and how you can, including mistakes. Plus he updates his advice on his website which has loads of additional info such as 'How to Learn any Language in 3 months'.

For me, the most valuable advice has been on how to be effective rather than efficient and how to recognize which of your "important" responsiblites are just there so that you don't have to do the things that really scare the crap out of you.

Although I have only begun implementing the ideas in the book (such as checking email no more than twice a day and quitting the multitasking nightmare) the lowered tension and increased optimism has changed every second of my day.

Go and watch his talk on TED, read one of his blogs or best of all buy the book.

With that last point in mind, I have to say that Ferriss is truly modern. As the technology on our planet grows and improves, we are learning that far beyond new ways to do old things, the internet, computers and electronic data will allow us to do totally new things.

Learning, using information and experiencing the world and each other is becoming more dynamic and Ferriss is at the head of the learning curve. Enjoy.

Tagged How-to Inspirational Learn something Reviews TED