Ok, ever since CJ introduced me to Project Free TV, I've been tripping on NCIS - yes, the TV show. I was curious. Why is a crime procedural drama, the most popular prime time TV show in the US. We have shows that deal with the military (JAG, Combat Hospital), we have shows that deal with forensics (CSI and it's million avatars), we have quirky crime solving team shows (The Mentalist, Castle, Bones), so why is NCIS drawing the crowds? I've watched six and a half seasons now, and I still can't answer that question. I just keep watching, though I'm not sure why. Sure, the plots are relatively mysterious, the forensics are quite hocus-pocus, the characters are endearing and well drawn out, but it's no The Wire, or Battlestar Gallactica, nor is it M*A*S*H. Yet, I keep watching. A mystery...
I have, however, discovered an Israeli hip-hop, funk band through NCIS called Hadag Nahash (roughly translates to either The Fish Snake, or A New Direction). They've been accused of left-leaning politics in their songs (which is true), but they shit out some catchy stuff - much like our "Kolaveri Di" craze.
Check out some of their stuff:
"Shirat Hastikar (The Sticker Song)" - This was written by famed Israeli novelist David Grossman.
"Bella Bellissima" - based on a true story.
And, of course, "Kolaveri Di" - which drove a nation crazy for one fall and produced a dozen offsprings.
I've also been tripping on the writings of A.J. Jacobs - the editor-at-large for Esquire magazine. I first heard about this fellow when I caught him on a TED talk about the year he spent following every tenant in the Bible. Since then I've read most of his stuff. I really identify with his childlike experimental mentality and sense of adventure in writing. The tendency we have of doing things so that we can write/tell other people about it. Check out some of his "stunt journalism". http://www.esquire.com/search/?q=A.J.+Jacobs
New trip: An article by mathematician and teacher Paul Lockhart - "A Mathematician's Lament". A cry of despair about the way mathematics is taught, and has been taught for the better part of the century - curbing creative instincts and replacing them with rigorous techniques or procedures. He claims math should be taught as an art, not as a tool for engineers. While I don't agree with everything he says, I do feel that school curriculum ignores "historical context" and appreciation of mathematics, something, both I, and the author feel very passionate about. It's a great read:
http://www.maa.org/devlin/LockhartsLament.pdf
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