Author Archives: admin

Physics Can Blow a Dude’s Mind

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The Elegant Universe

The Elegant Universe

A few years ago I read The Elegant Universe by Brian Greene. It’s a dizzying explanation of string theory and quantum physics.

Back then, the internet was just taking off, and TED wasn’t pumping out 20 minute videos on YouTube about dizzying ideas. Now we can learn what took me a few weeks to muscle through in a matter of minutes.

The internet is awesome.

Here’s a great video of Brian Greene diving into some awesome ideas about physics, the Multi-verse, string theory, the future of cosmology, and why our Universe is perfect for us.  If you’re into science that sounds like science-fiction, you’ll dig this.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bf7BXwVeyWw[/youtube]

He’s a Climber

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He's a Climber

He's a Climber

I’ve heard kids referred to as “climbers.” As in, “Keep an eye on him; he’s a climber.”

Now I know first hand what that is. Little Dude will claw his way up anything he can. It’s like watching a mountain climber scale a cliff as he tries to maneuver up the cabinets in search of a jellybean.

Clearly Little Dude needs a climbing wall like this little guy. The safety seems a bit questionable, but clearly he knows what he’s doing. As if by instinct. 🙂

Nature is amazing.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58xVk48t4GI&feature=related[/youtube]

 

Getting Old is Comical

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That title is true, but it’s not the whole truth. Getting old can be hard too, but maybe with the right perspective the hilarity can outweigh the challenges.

I’m not old enough to face the full onslaught of age, but the Dude has entered the “Dude, I’m old” stage.

Age is definitely a state of mind more than anything, but there are some realities that are unavoidable.

1. Concerts take on an entirely new perspective as a parent. I love music, and live music is amazing, but these days the Dude is happy to trade a great Pandora station for a live show. That just seems like a lot of work. 🙂

Questionable Skills does a great job capturing this.

Questionable Skills - Concert for Parents

2. The mid-30’s is an interesting stage. Not young, but not old.

Whoa! Did I just define myself as mid-life?!

Below is a comical video about the mid-30’s. The Dude’s peers. I’d like to think that I’m better off, but I can definitely relate. It’s interesting to see where people are in their mid-30’s.

Luckily, I fall into the “Parent Concert” category. And I couldn’t be happier to be here. Being young and dumb is fun. But it’s nothing compared to having fun as a parent. And the comparison to mid 30’s and looking for fun at an improve class isn’t even in the same universe.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HWHXMBDs5U[/youtube]

Choose Your Media Wisely

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In addition to the core family-life focus of Dude Knows Best, I’ve been cataloging groovy ideas and links that I come across. These topics fall loosely under the category of “Dude’s Flow,” i.e. anything the Dude happens to be interested in at that particular time.

I love the idea of being able to look back on the evolution of the Dude Family and the Dude’s interests. Who knows what twists and turns lie ahead.

The internet connects us instantly to an infinite number of rabbit holes that we can explore, and leaving a trail of breadcrumbs – in the form of Dude Knows Best – seems like an interesting practice.

However, this exercise has underscored an important point for me. We need to be careful with the media we expose ourselves to. And more importantly, we need to be extremely careful with the media we expose the kiddos to.

This video from Miss Representation offers a great lesson for The Princess – and all the ladies in our lives – about being selective with where we put our focus.  We need to guard against overexposure to the wrong ideas and cherish the right messages.

Cause & Effect: How the Media You Consume Can Change Your Life

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/38593312[/vimeo]

The Future is Amazing…According to Jason Silva

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Have you heard of Jason Silva? Odds are you haven’t. This dude is out there…in an awesome way.

He’s a “performance philosopher” that is spreading some crazy, but great, ideas about what the future holds. And some mainstream publications are listening. Here’s a lengthy article from The Atlantic, and below is a video of a talk he did for The Economist.

Both are filled with wild ideas about the exponential growth and potential that we have as a planet.

Silva merges ideas from a lot of varied areas, and the majority of his thoughts center around the rapid advancement of technology, which in his mind seems to lead us to merging with technology. A singularity.

A technological singularity is not a new idea, but Jason’s fast-talking approach to “performance philosophy” is captivating. And while he just scratches the surface on all of the ideas he puts out there, it’s intriguing, and he paints a positive perspective of the world…which is nice to see these days.

It could be 90% BS, and all areas require additional research and contemplation, but this dude’s worth watching. If for no other reason than he can help us get excited about the lives we’re living and the potential we all have…whatever that means.

I haven’t made it through all of Jason’s “philosophical espresso” on his Vimeo channel, but the Dude will definitely be tuning in for some more wild ideas.

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/40464684[/vimeo]

 

The Power of Music – Part II

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The other day I knocked out a post about the Power of Music, showing how much listening to music can have positive effects on Alzheimer patients. It’s a amazing to see the immediate reaction in the video.

But the power of music goes beyond listening. Playing music may have an even more profound effect. Perhaps staving off degenerative mental disorders like Alzheimers?

A bold assertion, but there is now scientific evidence that “lifelong musical experience has an impact on the aging process.” And “older musicians [have] a distinct neural timing advantage.”

Pretty cool article from ScienceDaily.com.

I’ve always dug great music, but I regret not learning how to play earlier in life. But the great news is that it’s never too late.

I’ve been trying to teach myself the harmonica for quite a while. It’s been a long road, but I’m making progress, and hopefully my efforts rub off on the kiddos.

Let’s start the love of music – listening and playing – early and often. It sure is powerful.

PS – To all you grandparents out there, get to playing. We want you around as long as we can have you.

Dude + Nature = Happy. John Muir Agrees.

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Dude + Nature = Happy. John Muir Agrees.

Dude + Nature = Happy. John Muir Agrees.

The Dude is a sucker for the natural world…and a great beard.

This John Muir cat is one rad dude. Loves nature and beards.

A large part of conservation land in the U.S. can be connected to Muir. But beyond any activism – activism always has pros and cons – I dig John’s view that nature is an integral part of our lives, and that we should break away from civilization to “wash [our] spirit clean.”

Happy spring. It’s a beautiful day. Let’s get out there and wash our spirit.

And Muir had a killer beard. Lookin’ good John, lookin’ good.

For anyone interested, here’s a list of 10 Cool Things About John Muir…see, a cool cat.

“Keep close to Nature’s heart… and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.

The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness.

The gross heathenism of civilization has generally destroyed nature, and poetry, and all that is spiritual.”

Is That You God? Nope, Just a Dude.

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Ya know the telephone game that is on playgrounds these days? Spit a goofy voice in one end and the the kiddos will hear you on the other end.

I know the parental units out there know what I’m talking about.

How about that game magnified from the top of the tallest mountain overlooking a valley town, forcing anyone with in earshot to listen? And all you need to do is call a phone number to boom your god-like voice over the valley.

Brilliant.

The Dude is 50% Norwegian. Or so they tell me. So this brilliance makes me proud of my homeland. 🙂 Nice work Norway.

I’m not sure what I’d want to say, but as Little Dude has already discovered, hearing your echo is awesome….regardless of what your saying. Usually the dumber the better.

I can only imagine the dumb shit that is echoing across Norway. Love the light-hearted ingenuity.

Via Unsworn Industries:

Telemegaphone Dale stands seven metres tall on top of the Jøtulshaugen mountain overlooking the idyllic Dalsfjord in Western Norway. When you dial the Telemegaphone’s phone number the sound of your voice is projected out across the fjord, the valley and the village of Dale below.

God? Nope, Just a Dude.

God? Nope, Just a Dude.

 

 

Dude, Suess-isms for Life. Love it.

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Seuss-isms

Seuss-isms

The internet is amazing. Such a constant flow of great information.

You just have to know which rocks to look under. And the Brain Pickings rock offers some gems. I’ve added quite a few books to my “wish list” after a Brain Pickings post, but this could be my favorite.

The Dude is a giant fan of Dr. Suess. The poetry is infectious, and the philosophy is perennial. The Good Dr. has just as much to teach adults as kids.

Not sure how I’ve missed this all these years, but I am jazzed to find Seuss-isms: Wise and Witty Prescriptions for Living from the Good Doctor. 

Words to live by.

Think left and think right
and think low and think high.
Oh, the thinks you can think up
if only you try!
(Oh, the Thinks You Can Think!)

Thank you Brain Pickings. The Dudes are going to enjoy philosophizing with the Good Dr.

By the way, you should peruse the B.P. for other super cool book recommendations as well.

The Power of Music

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This video is worth 6 minutes of your time.

Watch how much music effects an Alzheimer patient.

His expression when he first hears the music explains it all.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKDXuCE7LeQ[/youtube]

Hats off to swissmiss & Kottke for sharing the video.

Check out Mrs. Dude’s Alzheimer portrait of her Grandfather, Poppy. Great story and amazing pictures.

Have I mentioned that Mrs. Dude is fantastic photographer?