Nigel Hey's Blog, page 3

Tripping Without the Drugs – Fresh Take on “Spontaneous Mystical Experience”

Viewing the cosmos close-up, from astronomer and sci-fi writerCamilleFlammarion‘s L’atmosphère: météorologie populaire(1888)

In the pastdecade especially, my interest in the puzzles of personal, unexplained “mystical” phenomena has been remorselessly worn away. It is as though science, or at least scientific theory, had gone to battle against my lust for wonder. True, countless other sources of wonder still surround me, but my own “spontaneous mystical experience” naturally was the one I like...

Tripping Without the Drugs - Fresh Take on “Spontaneous Mystical Experience”

Viewing the cosmos close-up, from
astronomer and sci-fi writer Camille Flammarion's
L'atmosphère: météorologie populaire (1888) In the past decade especially, my interest in the puzzles of personal, unexplained “mystical” phenomena has been remorselessly worn away. It is as though science, or at least scientific theory, had gone to battle against my lust for wonder. True, countless other sources of wonder still surround me, but my own...<![endif]--><!--[if gte vml 1]>

Spoken English: The most eccentric (and eclectic) way to communicate?

New Mexico: The talented (American) cast of Michael Frayn’s (English) farce “Noises Off!” (Photo: Randy Talley)

Quite recently, after a long period in which I must have heard it many times, I learned the American term glassa wodda.

I have a waitress at a local restaurant to thank for this, for she repeatedly asked “What?” or “What did you say?” when I asked for something so commonplace that it was not even listed on the menu. I asked for a glass of water. Maybe I said “glahss” and “wawtuh,” b...

Spoken English: The most eccentric (and eclectic) way to communicate?

Photo: Randy Talley                       
                       New Mexico: The talented (American) cast of Michael Frayn's (English) farce "Noises Off!"    

Quite recently, after a long period in which I must have heard it many times, I learned the American term glassa wodda.
I have a waitress at a local restaurant to thank for this, for she repeatedly asked “...

Is this America? Do Muslims have the right to celebrate their culture in the USA?

Photo: Prayers at the beginning of New York’s annual Muslim Day parade

The email subject line asked the question “This is America?” So, intrigued, I clicked for the message to come on screen. Several photos came up, and below them the wildly out-of-context warning, “The further away from God we go as a nation, The closer evil will come to us.”

Well yes, this is America, and the images showed men praying at the beginning of New York’s annual Muslim Day. And thereby hangs my tale.

Some people s...

Is this America? Do Muslims have the right to celebrate their culture in the USA?

Prayers at the beginning of New York's annual Muslim Day parade
The email subject line asked the question “This is America?” So, intrigued, I clicked for the message to come on screen. Several photos came up, and below them the wildly out-of-context warning, “The further away from God we go as a nation, The closer evil will come to us.”

Well yes, this is America, and the images showed men praying at the beginning of New York's annual Muslim Day. And thereby hangs my tale.

Some people seem to be...

What’s happening to London? Could there be too much ‘Gotham City’ building?

‘Gotham City’ image published in the Evening Standard hints at future viewacrossthe Thames fromVictoria. Building at far right is on the site of the new US Embassy.

Whenever I take my favorite bus ride from London’s East End to Oxford Street I am impressed that cranes – the kind used for construction — seem to be sprouting everywhere in Britain’s capital.

How could this be? The daily news is full of glum and sometimes grim reports, large-scale manufacturing business seems almost to have died...

What's happening to London? Could there be too much 'Gotham City' building?

“Gotham City' image published in the Evening Standard hints at future view across
 the Thames from the Victoria area of London. Note old,once-high riverside buildings.
Whenever I take my favorite bus ride from London’s East End to Oxford Street I am impressed that cranes – the kind used for construction -- seem to be sprouting everywhere in Britain’s capital.

How could this be? The daily news is full of glum and sometimes grim reports, large-scale manufacturing business seems alm...

New Mexico: Sweet Summer Mornings

Tiger swallowtail rests on our red yucca. (Photo: Nigel Hey)

The dog days started early this June in central New Mexico. Temperatures rise daily to 95 degrees F (35 C), prompting people to stay close to their air-conditioned refuges. Hot yes, but for us the mornings bring an extra dose of delight to the Land of Enchantment. We wake at 6, make the tea, don dressing gowns and make haste to the outdoor table and chairs, where we will salute the morning in the pre-dawn refreshment of, say, 65 deg...

New Mexico: Sweet Summer Mornings

Tiger swallowtail rests on our red yucca.    Photo: Nigel Hey      The dog days started early this June in central New Mexico. Temperatures rise daily to 95 degrees F (35 C), prompting people to stay close to their air-conditioned refuges. Hot yes, but for us the mornings bring an extra dose of delight to the Land of Enchantment. We wake at 6, make the tea, don dressing gowns and make haste to the outdoor table and chairs, where we will salute the morning in the pre-d...