This statue entitled Self-Made Man by sculptor Bobbie Carlyle is installed in front of Bar Evolution here in Batavia. I have occasion to walk by the statue often. The work prompts the sardonic thought that there is nothing that is self-made in this world. Homo Sapiens, humans are among the most complex and fragile…
I finished the essay by Maxwell Hyett of Western University. The essay is entitled Amateur Mortality. It was forwarded to me by a friend. Hyett treats Franco ‘Bifo’ Berardi’s three short meditations on the meanings, the possible outcomes of the covid pandemic, the quarantine, the masking up in public places, the social isolation which…
Tuesday, and friends are coming over late in the morning. Friends of many years become scarce with the passage of time. Life becomes more complex, or worse, we are uprooted and forced to begin all over again. The latter is often the case as demands of employment mandate a move to a new town…
It is a great feeling to return home. A “get-a-way” is a luxury, and I have memories that I will cherish for quite some time. When visiting the shore of Lake Michigan I am aware that my presence is limited. I fantasize about making time stand still. A fantasy. Time, a feature of the…
It is paradoxical that I spend yet another day of enjoyment by the lake, knowing that Germany is slammed by flooding, with great loss of life, and devastation. The corona virus, the latest, hyper contagious variant is exponentially increasing infections by the day, with more deaths to follow. The obvious question comes to mind…
Last night I participated in a wide ranging discussion about language. How language, words and a manner of speaking, those informal “rules” that channel our conversations in predictable ways — make up our minds. When I look at the assertion which I just wrote I feel an inner disquiet, dismay. It appears that language,…
The dreamworld, the visions of the subconscious in the early morning hours are said to come from the id, the primal dimension of the psyche which is concealed from the ego, the conscious self. No matter how blessed, how felicitous circumstances may be, there are always monsters just outside the gates. I had such…
Friday and the counter at Starbucks is busy. But it is worth the wait in line to say hello to the welcoming barista behind the register who takes your order with a smile. The smile is priceless and the coffee is always hot, a perfect balance of astringent bean flavor, and just a touch…
I remember Jiffy Pop a product of my childhood. Popcorn kernels are contained in a lightweight, disposable aluminum pan, a wire handle, with a slightly twisted piece of aluminum foil serving as a cover. The pan-container is placed upon a stove burner. As the kernels begin to pop, — the attached aluminum foil cover…
A lively discussion last night, about “rules,” the many uses of rules, the origin of all rules, and considerations upon breaking rules. The discussion was wide ranging and sometimes passionate. Passion is natural, rising from a variety of motivations. Let’s be honest that fear often motivates many an impassioned soliloquy. When I suspect that…
