A friend left a comment on a recent post observing that one becomes emotionally exhausted by a deluge of bad news. The reflex is to “cocoon,” to contract inwardly in order to reduce exposure to continued erosion of the self, to further loss of sanity. I knew what he meant by his insight. I…
Tao te Ching By Lao Tsu Translation by Stephen Mitchell 8 The supreme good is like water, which nourishes all things without trying to. It is content with the low places that people disdain. Thus it is like the Tao. In dwelling, live close to the ground. In thinking, keep to the simple. In…
Admittedly, the irony of community is missing here, as is the playfulness of social life. The charm to be found in social graces and in the theatre of social relations is all transferred outwards into the advertising of life and lifestyles. This is a society that is endlessly concerned to vindicate itself, perpetually seeking…
Just listened to a NYT podcast, The Argument for the first time. The presentation ran for about 20 minutes. The subjects were the prospects for DJ Trump in the election in November, “Is Donald Trump Toast?” and the problems, issues having to do with opening schools in the midst of an uncontrolled pandemic. Three…
Another abnormally hot summer day? How is one to know? What is the good in knowing? What would I do if I knew? The thermometer gauge in the morning sun on the patio is already showing 120 degrees at 7AM. According to my cell phone news feed report the tundra in Siberia is burning,…
Born In The U.S.A. By Bruce Springsteen Born down in a dead man’s town The first kick I took was when I hit the ground You end up like a dog that’s been beat too much Till you spend half your life just covering up Born in the U.S.A. I was born in the…
Friday! A sense of accomplishment to reach the final day of the workweek with my sense of self intact, given all the events swirling around. It goes without saying it is my choice to be aware of events, political, economic, and social that happen. Dumb and happy is a live option. There is the…
What time is it? Why, its time for another song! The video is worth the eight minutes of viewing. It’ll change your life! Sweet Jane By Cowboy Junkies Anyone who’s ever had a heartWouldn’t turn around and break itAnd anyone who’s ever played a partWouldn’t turn around and hate itSweet Jane, sweet JaneSweet, sweet…
I wanted to take a break, if possible, from writing about the virus, and about the current edition of social disenfranchisement/murder of Black citizens, which is mirrored in the response by the President and Attorney General to the demonstrations rising from the murder of George Floyd. This song by Guns N’ Roses seduced me…
Saturday, Memorial Day weekend. This is a strange beginning to summer, a season feeling “out of time,” something unlike any beginning of summer that I’ve experienced. This is the aftermath of the self quarantine-social-distancing for the past two months or so that has been necessary to slow the advance of the covid-19 virus. The…
