Thinking about the beauty of stone sculpture, I wonder why it is not done more commonly nowadays. When I look in a modern art gallery, I see very few sculpture marble examples. Most modern Art is abstract forms made out of contemporary materials. Perhaps they will use wood, perhaps plastics, but never stone. It is almost as if artists don’t have the patience to make marble sculptures anymore. If you talk to the artist, they may tell you that they make forms in the media that appeal to them most, but I think this is a load of hooey. The great thing about marble sculpture is that the artist has to put so much time and so much thought into it. Anyone can cobble together an abstract form out of plastics or cloth, but making a life size sculpture of marble really require some skill and some dedication.

Of course, you can find marble sculpture online, but most of it lacks originality. Basically, most of the sculptures marble that people are selling imitates classic forms. Instead of selling a contemporary marble sculpture, they will create one that is meant to look like Greek sculpture. Don’t get me wrong – I love the Greek sculptures, but I can’t imagine that our culture can’t come up with anything original in the medium of marble!

The only place where you ever find the original stone sculpture work is among Native American and Chinese traditional artists. Although marble sculpture is rare, it is still sometimes used. More common by far, however, is soapstone sculpture or jade. Marble sculpture isn’t really done much by either of these peoples, because marble is not very common in the areas where they live. Jade, however, is ubiquitous in China, and soapstone is quite common up north where the Inuit still ply their craft. These sculptures a unique and beautiful, unlike anything still made in Europe or America.

The time when local social groups are going to mean the most is in high school. Teenagers are learning about who they are and where they fit it in within the world around them. This can lead to problems. Social groups within schools can be very exclusive and very rough. Image is everything at this age because teens don’t know enough about themselves to distinguish themselves in any other way. That doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with them, that is just how it is at that age. Some excel in these social climates and others have a horrible time.

The good news is that these social groups become less important as a child moves on to college. They know more about who they are, and with that, they grow to be more curious and tolerant of those that they would have never spoken to in high school. As college begins, some stick to old high school habits and ideas about social groups, but that does not usually stick for long. Soon, none of those things matter, and budding adults begin to choose friends because of compatibility and common interests rather than just looks or labels.

Though these social groups will play a role in any life from time to time, things get better as we age. Our groups take on whole new meanings, and we rarely have a hard time admitting someone into our circle of friends if they share our values and our interests. It doesn’t matter who they look like, where they came from, or if we would have liked them years before. Social groups are no long as exclusive, and more encompassing of who we really are as people and what we want out of life. A good life includes those that make us feel good, and those people can come from any where at any time.

In the past I have never been a big fan of listening to books on tape. Most of the companies put out Stephen King books and other similar trashy fare. None of that could really hold my attention. On the other hand, I didn’t really want to listen to Jane Austen Pride and Prejudice on tape either. Audio books make it difficult to go back and reread a word that you missed, and I am not a very good auditory learner. The Terry Pratchett audio books, however, struck just the right balance between highbrow and lowbrow. A terry pratchett audio book is very easy to understand, but some of the ideas are surprisingly interesting and sophisticated.

Most of the Terry Pratchett books, with a couple exceptions, take place in an imaginary location known as Diskworld. It is basically the world as people have often imagined it – it is shaped like a disk and balanced on top of a giant turtle who is swimming through space. The humor is lighthearted satire, making allusions to various people and events throughout human history. Listening to Terry Pratchett audio books simultaneously relaxes you and makes you feel intelligent. That is one thing that is great about Terry Pratchett audio books. I love easy reading that still doesn’t insult your intelligence.

Just because something is light and fluffy doesn’t mean it has to be completely moronic. Terry Pratchett seems to know this as well as anyone else. He is a true master of his craft. Terry Pratchett audio books are very difficult to put down, but also very easy to pick up again. There is always enough going on to capture your interest, but not so much that you need to be deeply involved. In short, they are the perfect listening for my situation.