See the World Without Leaving Your Sofa

One of the highlights of my week has been discovering that Time magazine has put out a fantastic issue titled The World’s 100 Most Important Places. I don’t know about you, but Time has always been influential in the way I achieve my knowledge of the world and I am absolutely ecstatic to be able to own this amazing issue (picked it up at my local Wal-Mart). If you are a traveler, someone who dreams of seeing the world, or even someone who loves to let their imagination run wild over our beautiful planet, I would highly recommend this issue. It’s full of gorgeous photos and inspiring and eloquent descriptions of some of the most alluring places on the planet. I hope you get a chance to check it out! Enjoy!

A Dream Lives On

Today is the anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech. Unfortunately, because of the proximity of Hurricane Irene, festivities in honor of this event were not able to go down as planned. Therefore, even though I already mentioned this in a previous blog, I would like to encourage you to check out www.americanrhetoric.com (just click on the link) where you can not only read this inspiring speech but also listen to it! And as an appetizer to your checking this out, I have a few tidbits for you regarding this historic day: Martin Luther King Jr. received his PH.D in systematic theology in 1955, he delivered the “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963 in Washington D.C.  and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize the following year. Bon appetite and enjoy!

A Testament of Hope to a Dream Come True

Recently we have had a new addition to the memorials located in Washington D.C.; a statue of Martin Luther King Jr. is now included amongst sights to see when you go to visit this wonderful city. Fourteen quotes from the famed civil rights leader are portrayed on the sculpture – although none from his well known “I Have a Dream” speech ( you can listen to and read this speech at www.americanrehtoric.com). I thought that in recognition of this I would suggest the book A Testament of Hope which features the speeches and writings of Martin Luther King Jr. himself. Enjoy!

A Moment with Borges

Want to widen your literary knowledge? Then check out this cool article featured in The Paris Review which has an interview from 1966 with author Jorge Luis Borges. Now some of you may not know who this man is (I admit that I didn’t know and had to do an impromptu search for information) so I will give you a few factoids about him:

1. Borges was an Argentine writer, poet, and essayist.
2. Ficciones and The Aleph – both written in the 1940s – were his most famous works.
3. Although he gradually went blind, Borges did not stop writing and continued his work as director of the National Library in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

21st Century Changes

We live in exciting times when technology is consistently changing and evolving the way we view and interact with the world. Not too long ago most of us would buy actual books – bound reams of paper with the writing of our most beloved authors on its pages. Today some of us have given up paper and started using products like the Kindle for our reading. Most recently, Chris Swain – professor at USC as well as game designer – was quoted as saying something even more surprising. Check out this article to see what Swain believes to be the literature of the 21^st century. You may be surprised! Enjoy!