Mawlānā Jalāl-ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī "Drumsound rises on the air, its throb, my heart. A voice inside the beat says, 'I know you're tired, but come, this is the way.'" The words of a raver? Jack Kerouac? Not quite. "Who says words with my mouth? Who looks out with my eyes? ... This poetry, I never know what I am going to say. I don't plan it." A freestyle rapper? An improvisational jazz musician? Not even close. These lines, evoking familiar scenes of modern life, were penned in the 13th century by Mawlānā Jalāl-ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī: Sufi theologian, original Whirling Dervish, and America's best-selling poet. Rumi celebrates his 800th birthday on September 30. And how does one honor an 800-year-old poet? UNESCO declared 2007 International Rumi Year, Philip Glass composed music around his words, Donna Karan played Rumi recitations on the runway, and Madonna and Demi Moore sang his verses with Deepak Chopra. Even famed Rumi translator Coleman Barks marvels at the Rumi-mania and the universal appeal of his poetry. "I know these dancers," Rumi might have responded. "Day and night I sing their songs in this phenomenal cage." Suggested Sites... Wikipedia: Rumi - the scoop on the life, teachings, major works, and legacy of our hero. Khamush.com - celebrating all things Rumi. Poems by Rumi - a collection of the hits. Rumi Rules! - a Time Magazine feature on the persistent popularity of Rumi.

Directory categories: Rumi, Poets, Whirling Dervishes, Sufism

Archived under: Literature, Poetry, Regional, Religion, Rumi

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A tip for those asking questions: know your audience (Photo by wzwjon) What's Ask a Stupid Question Day, you ask? We thought you might -- not that we're calling you stupid. Apparently it's a relatively recent holiday, created by teachers in order to encourage students to ask more questions. And who could argue with such a lofty educational goal? Well, how about anyone who has to answer all those inane queries? Sure, people love to say that there's no such thing as a stupid question, or that the only stupid questions are the ones that go unasked. But we respectfully disagree. For every clueless-but-well-meaning schoolkid's question (those aren't the stupid ones, by the way) there are amateurish reporters, game show hosts, and job interviewers eager to give the very idea of questions a bad name. Maybe it's unfair to single out the questions, though. After all, each dumb question seems to have its share of even stupider answers. Suggested Sites... The Straight Dope - answers to questions -- smart, stupid, and obscure. Yahoo! Answers - helpful strangers answer your stupid questions. wikiHow - this user-created how-to manual could save you from having to ask how to make a sock monkey. Ask Philosophers - we don't know if they're good at sock monkeys, but they've got existence covered. Stupid Question Hall of Fame - College Humor's ongoing contest to find the stupidest real questions asked by students.

Directory categories: Web-Based Knowledge Exchange, FAQs, Reference, Ask an Expert, Rhetorical Questions

Archived under: Education, How-To, Humor, Kids, School, Wisdom

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Lancaster: it's more exciting than you might think (Photo by Jeremy B. Yoder) When we saw that Lancaster, Pennsylvania, had been the capital of the United States for one day -- September 27, 1777 -- we were prepared to mock the town for losing its sole claim to immortality. Little did we know.... After some research, we discovered that given Lancaster's history, it would have been more remarkable if the town hadn't been a U.S. capital. Unconvinced? Take the following quiz and see if you don't agree: * What city was connected to Philadelphia in the nation's first long-distance paved road? * Where did Meriwether Lewis travel to learn how to plot latitude and longitude? * What community boasts the oldest continuously running theater in the U.S.? * Where did Milton Hershey start his candy business and Frank W. Woolworth start his chain of five and dime stores? * Which U.S. city first adopted the German custom of the Christmas tree? The answer to all of the above is, of course, "Lancaster." So, on this, the 230th anniversary of only one of Lancaster's (and that's pronounced "LANK-i-ster," if you please) many achievements, we salute a town that, pound for pound, can take on any other. Suggested Sites... City of Lancaster - official site for the world's most important city. Lancaster County and Pennsylvania Dutch Convention and Visitors Bureau - there's more than the Amish to be found in southeastern Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Turrnpike Commission - they've come a long way since 1795. Fulton Opera House - presenting shows since 1852. Christmas Trees and More - who knew one little fir tree would go so far?

Directory categories: Lancaster, PA, United States History, Lancaster County, PA, United States Capitol, Pennsylvania Turnpike

Archived under: American History, Anniversaries, Cities, Government, Hershey, History, Pennsylvania

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Shamu smiles for the camera (Photo by OpenThreads) This summer the kids were clamoring for a road trip to SeaWorld. It wasn't enough that we live near the ocean. They wanted to see the cuddly Shamu. I first saw the popular orca leaping for sardines and squid during the Carter administration. Could it be that the same monochrome mammal is still performing today? Much to my surprise, there is more than one Shamu. Over the years there have been dozens of orcas that have taken the famous stage name. The very first Shamu was captured back in 1965 in Puget Sound. Transported to San Diego, she learned the art of leaping and jumping in front of giddy, wet suburbanites. Since then, a plethora of Shamus have starred in numerous shows, from "Doctor Do Little" in 1965 to "Believe" today. Not all of the trained killer whales were born in the wild, though. On this day in 1985, Kalina -- sometimes known by the stage name Baby Shamu -- was born, becoming the first orca successfully born and raised in captivity. Today, the 6,300 pound Kalina lives the plush life in Orlando with her mother and half-sister. I wonder if she dreams of leaping around that big tank called the sea. Suggested Sites... Shamu TV - look kids, it's Shamu! Ask Shamu - if you've got a fish, Shamu's got an answer. Center for Whale Research - promoting benign studies on populations of whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Killer Whales - all you wanted to know about killer whales, but were afraid to ask. Shamu's Punishment - David Letterman riff on what happens when Shamu misbehaves.

Directory categories: Orcas, SeaWorld, Marine Biology, Dolphins, Animal Training

Archived under: Animals, Entertainment, Marine Biology, Shamu, Theme Parks, Whales

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Brad in Troy (Photo from Yahoo! Movies) Sure, the ladies love Brad Pitt. "He's just so dreamy," they say. "So buff. So sexy. Sigh...." But, I have a confession to make: I love him, too. Seriously, though, Brad is one of the most underrated actors working today. As hunky as he is, he doesn't always have to play the "devilishly handsome lead." He can get trashed-up and nasty, like his trailer park sociopath in the 1993 thriller "Kalifornia," beaten to a bloody mess in "Fight Club," or get totally weirded out and mentally ill in "12 Monkeys" (which earned him an Oscar nod, thank you very much). If the part calls for a foreign accent, then William Bradley Pitt is up for the challenge -- or maybe he'll just create his own language, as he did in "Snatch." Yes, the man twice-voted as the sexiest alive takes his roles seriously, people. He's even playing an outlaw, Jesse James, in that new flick with the long-winded title, and he's already been rewarded for his performance. Surely you don't need any more proof: Brad Pitt is awesome. Does this mean I have a man crush on him? Maybe. I'll tell you this: if I had the chance -- I mean, really had the opportunity -- would I...? Well, duh! Wouldn't you? Suggested Sites... Wikipedia: Brad Pitt - good old Wikipedia provides us with loads of personal info about the man. Pittwatch.com: Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie Gossip - not that I endorse the reading of celeb gossip, but... who can resist? IMDb: Brad Pitt - the scoop on all of Brad's movies -- past, present, and future. William Bradley: Brad Pitt Fanlisting - if you only join one fanlisting, let it be this one.

Directory categories: Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, 12 Monkeys

Archived under: Actors, Brad Pitt, Celebrities, Entertainment, Movies

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