CERTIFIED ACTOR COMBATANT

I got re-certified for the third time, in Broadsword, Rapier & Dagger and Unarmed Stage Combat with David Wooley, a Fight Master from Chicago who studied under David Leong.
We put up scenes involving these weapons and presented them for an audience! Great fun....

ARE WE THAT ARROGANT TO THINK THAT WE ARE THE ONLY PLANET WITH LIFE IN THIS VAST UNIVERSE?

I attended the last lecture in the Templeton Lecture Series. George Ellis a Professor Emiritus of Applied Mathematics and Cosmologist spoke about possible intelligent life outside of earth. The presentation considererd what kind of social organization might be expected in an alien culture. Would they have language, families, schools, libraries, police? What technology might they have? Will they have cars, computers, cell phones, or the internet? Above all, what values will they have? Will they be religious in any way? The case was made that their mathematicians will understand mathematics much as we do, and that their more spiritually minded members will have discovered kenotic ethics as the deep basis for living, and that they will love music and beauty.

It's nice to think about other things besides Theatre....

BRADY, MY BUDDY!

Thought I would post a picture of my buddy Brady F., the son of my dear friends Jessica and Chris who I met in Seattle 4 years ago at The Village Theatre in Issaquah. She was in Theatre Marketing and he was a pianist for the Theatre. Chris works in the Music Department at The University and we often run into each other in passing. What a small world huh? They now live here in Tucson. We're planning to take a trip with friends up to Mt. Lemmon in the next couple of weeks!

IMPLICATIONS OF LIFE BEYOND EARTH

I attended a very fascinating lecture on Astronomy and how it relates to human evolution. Biggest lesson I learned from it: most animals are actually a lot smarter than humans. Look up this website:
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/Birds/NewsEvents/crow.cfm
A study was conducted where both Crow and Human were to extract food from a narrow space with a twig: guess who figured out how to do it first? Yes, Crows are Brainiacs.

A University Distinguished Professor in the department of astronomy, in 2002 Impey was named the National Science Foundation Distinguished Teaching Scholar as well as the Arizona Teacher of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation. In 2005 he was selected as a Galileo Circle Scholar, the College of Science’s highest honor. Impey created the Astronomica.org Web site, which provides students with interactive tools and instructional technology, and has been instrumental in curriculum development in astrobiology.
Astrobiology is the scientific study of biological processes on the Earth and beyond. It connects research in physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy and planetary science. After centuries of speculation, we will soon have the capability of detecting ancient life or pre-biotic chemistry in the solar system, microbial life on extra-solar planets by its alteration of global atmospheric chemistry, and technological civilizations throughout the galaxy. Success in any of these areas would profoundly affect social discourse at all levels, reawakening religious questions in a new context. This series pursues these implications by bringing together voices from the relevant areas to form a new kind of interdisciplinary networking community that will encourage dialogue, research, and publication from the participants. Astrobiology has a firm scientific footing and it makes an excellent platform for gathering scientists, humanists, philosophers and theologians in an exploration of the role of humans in the universe.

CAN SCIENCE INFORM THEOLOGY?

I attended a free lecture by Tom Lindell a University Of Arizona Associate Professor in Molecular and Cellular biology. He has been studying Theology lately and had some interesting things to say in regards to integrating Science and Theology. I came away feeling grateful to be alive. The bottom line is, Life is precious. How do we best CONTRIBUTE in this brief existence we call Life?

THE 300 WORK-OUT

Yes, a buddy and I have begun our effort to replicate the workouts the actors endured for the movie. We've been hitting the weights everyday. Next week, I'm going to start hitting the weights two times a day. I hope to look like this guy by summer's end....
Crazy? Maybe, but my time in Tucson is about REINVENTING BEN. Narcissistic? Maybe...I don't give a fuck.

LOVE, JANIS

Saw a theatre piece at Arizona Theatre Company last weekend entitled, "Love, Janis". There were two women portraying Joplin. One sang while the other was the "speaking" Janis, who recited actual letters Joplin wrote to her parents during her ascent to stardom....

LIFE X3: A COMEDY

I'm working on a play called, "Life X3", written by Yazmeen Reeza, a French playwright. It's about betrayal, ambition and love. And it's a comedy! Above is a picture from the original Broadway production. ( I play Henry, the same character that Turturro played.)

ASTROBIOLOGY & THE SACRED

I attended another free lecture by Bill Stoeger an Astrophysicist and Jesuit Priest. He had an interesting talk about the Universe, physics and humankind's notion of "God". There was a heated debate between scholars, scientists, and students afterwards. It was fun to see great minds clashing like atoms. I attended as part of my research for a new play I'm doing called, "LIFE X3". It's a comedy...yay! I'm playing the role of Henry, an astrophysicist (formerly played by John Turturro on Broadway!)

A VISITING TEACHER: Acting with compassion and kindness in an unsettled world.

I attended a free lecture by Khenchen Rinpoche, a Tibetan Buddhist teacher. It was fascinating to watch his inner peace. He had a great wit and sense of humour as well.
The best advice I got from him, "LAUGHTER IS GENETIC!"

STREET BALL!!!

I organized a huge basketball game with the undergrads a couple days ago! Great turnout! Bloody noses and everything! It was a game worthy of Sparta....