The most beautiful excerpt of a poem--James Joyce

"I asked him with my eyes to ask again yes

and then he asked me would I yes

to say yes my mountain flower

and first I put my arms around him yes

and drew him down to me so he could feel my breasts all perfume yes

and his heart was going like mad and yes

I said, yes I will..."

---James Joyce (“Ulysses”)

Food Art Paintings

****Borrowed from film critic Roger Ebert's Blog:

http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/art-is-where-you-find-it-or-co.html

The most prodigious savant of all--Kim Peek

Kim Peek, who inspired director Barry Morrow to write the movie "Rainman", was considered the greatest living savant with incredible memory capabilities. He knew about history, music, days of the week on any given date, remembered every book he had ever read, maps to everywhere, memorized phone books, etc.

He died in Dec. He was considered a prodigious savant, 1 of 10. His dad, who is in his 90's, was his constant companion. Kim could not dress himself, or shave or cook.

Here is a NY Times article about him and his death: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/27/us/27peek.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1

Dr. Darold Treffert is the foremost authority on savants. His website gives you all kinds of info and also gives you links to many savants: http://www.wisconsinmedicalsociety.org/savant_syndrome/

This is a documentary about Kim Peek:

part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2T45r5G3kA

part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJjAbs-3kc8&feature=related

part 3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Auufbu_ZdDI&feature=channel

part 4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRPxMDj33S4&feature=channel

part 5 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1aA5osvYgY&feature=channel

Adorable Charming Identical Twin Autistic Savants

This is a documentary about the world's only set of identical autistic savant twins, Flo and Kay Lyman. They are both adorable, charming and sweet, and have incredible memories.

They are able to tell the day of the week of any date, the weather, what they ate, and what Dick Clark, their idol, wore on his reign as host of 1,000 dollar pyramid, their favorite show. They can also tell you who sang any song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5IAecvEA-4 part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWnIRECBpik&NR=1 part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGlF8UdptVo&feature=related part 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8T4DqDpBvY&feature=related part 4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLdSwHNfx7s&feature=related part 5

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOhROuH8F0k&feature=related part 6

An Amazing Prodigious Savant (Genius)

Daniel Tammet is one of 10 of the greatest living prodigious savants ever. He has an amazing memory and once recited Pi from memory to over 22, 500 decimal points for a charity. He can calculate numbers in his head with lightening fast speed.

He sees numbers as colors and shapes and they just appear in his head without any thinking at all.

One of the most amazing things about him is that despite being autistic, he is highly functioning and can articulate what goes on in his head. He is able to love (has a boyfriend) and show emotion, has many friends, and has overcome most of his shyness. He learned to speak Icelandic fluently in just a week.

This is a documentary about him. He has written 2 books. I just finished reading his first book, "Born on a Blue day"----amazing and wonderful!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbASOcqc1Ss&feature=related part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfoGsXYLxcs&NR=1 part 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7oEdE2XjXE&feature=related part 3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqLzoiVzEY8&feature=related part 4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMz3gjl9x-M&feature=related part 5

This is Daniel's blog: http://www.optimnem.co.uk/blog/index.php