Importance of Original Knowledge

Principle #1: Don't trust retellers, get hold of the original sources.

A new monk arrives at the monastery. He is assigned to help the other monks in copying the old texts by hand. He notices, however, that they are copying copies, and not the original books.

So, the new monk goes to the head monk to ask him about this. He points out that if there was an error in the first copy, that error would be continued in all of the other copies. The head monk says, "We have been copying from the copies for centuries, but you make a good point, my son."

So, he goes down into the cellar with one of the copies to check it against the original. Hours later, nobody has seen him. So, one of the monks goes downstairs to look for him. He hears sobbing coming from the back of the cellar and finds the old monk leaning over one of the original books crying. He asks what's wrong.

"The word is celebrate not celibate," says the old monk with tears in his eyes.

Source Unknown

Enlightened Musical Comedy

If you never heard of Straight No Chaser's I think you’ll agree their music is enlightened comedy at its best! (And no, I'm not talking about Thelonious Monk's - Straight No Chaser although, I'd bet my left funny bone it inspired the group's name.) Enjoy. Thanks Peter Shankman for turning me on to them! Here are my favorite songs done when they were back in the University of Indiana over a decade ago and their reunion album:

Straight No Chaser - Sitcom Medley
Straight No Chaser - 12 Days
IU's Straight No Chaser - Africa
StraightNo Chaser Reunited