Friday, the end of the week! An ending involves a beginning. Opposite meanings, each defines the other. You cannot have one without the other. Both terms are symbols, linguistic markers used to make sense of time. Making sense is something we humans cannot do without. Primitive and mammalian, the reflex to cry out, soon become symbols, then chained like beads, one after another, a child mimics syntax and grammar to learn to speak.

A reflex develops into speaking, thinking, collaborating. And when “worlds collide,” when we contend with one other, salvos of edged words herald the lethal violence that words portend.

Aptitude at using language, I mean to say language in every form: your mother tongue, mathematics, methodology of the research lab, a recipe for banana bread, or sufficient skill to migrate files from one hosting service to another. All are examples of “language”, techniques for manipulating external experience toward a particular end result. Is a vaccine needed? Well, “this,” – the processes understood by Eli Lilly and other big pharma companies are necessary to that outcome. Do I desire a memorable photo of a snow covered leaf? Then I must entertain certain well established procedures to that end.

Do I desire to be more fully human? One way or another, I must avail myself of more education.

The ways in which external reality becomes defined, is something I received when I learned, by trial and error the vocabulary and the grammar of my English mother tongue. I sense with my body now stressful and exciting that project must have been. How hard I tried I no longer remember. The felt need persists, learning is practice, so that, so to speak I might be able to “dance with a pen.”

If you want to learn, prepare to work. Learning cannot be fun. Interesting perhaps and sometimes exciting, – but always work.

Appropriation and practice with the contents of the tool bag of communication, the methodologies inscribed within our institutions is a “labor of love.” It is a joint effort, as we give and receive mutual encouragement to one another. It is so, – I stand on the shoulders of giants. And I will spend my best effort in pursuit of a goal which has no end.

–*–

Oh yes. This was top of “the News” yesterday. Our President in company with his recently appointed Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon a former World Wrestling Entertainment promoter, signed another executive order. This order directs McMahon to disband, to dissolve the Department of Education. Half the civil servants employed by the Federal Department of Education have already been “let go”.

The signing spectacle was Kafkaesque, – the President behind a desk, sharpie in hand, flanked by school-aged child props, seated at school-room desks.

And so it goes…

I could say no more. Simply leave it up to the reader to mull over how language marks us as human mammals. Should your curiosity dispose you to wonder what I made of the “show” I will tell you.

This man (Trump) is a charlatan, one practiced at deception.  A rule-of-thumb, we ought assume the obverse, 180 degree opposite of whatever he says — is actually the truth.

Barbarians are inside the gates.

Make no mistake words are almost always the first salvo that publicizes blood-red violence to follow.

I think Friday, week’s end, and the coming weekend ought to be celebrated with a song. This one is familiar. Music often tells the rock-hard-truth. You Can’t Always Get What You Want by The Rolling Stones. Blues always cause me to feel better.

You Can’t Always Get What You Want

You Can’t Always Get What You Want
I saw her today at the reception
A glass of wine in her hand
I knew she would meet her connection
At her feet was a footloose man

No, you can’t always get what you want
You can’t always get what you want
You can’t always get what you want
But if you try sometime you find
You get what you need

I saw her today at the reception
A glass of wine in her hand
I knew she was gonna meet her connection
At her feet was a footloose man

You can’t always get what you want
You can’t always get what you want
You can’t always get what you want
But if you try sometimes, well, you might find
You get what you need

And I went down to the demonstration
To get my fair share of abuse
Singing, “We’re gonna vent our frustration
If we don’t we’re gonna blow a 50-amp fuse”

Sing it to me, honey

You can’t always get what you want
You can’t always get what you want
You can’t always get what you want
But if you try sometimes, well, you just might find
You get what you need

Oh baby, yeah

I went down to the Chelsea drugstore
To get your prescription filled
I was standing in line with Mr. Jimmy
And man, did he look pretty ill

We decided that we would have a soda
My favorite flavor, cherry red
I sung my song to Mr. Jimmy
Yeah, and he said one word to me, and that was “dead”

I said to him

You can’t always get what you want
Well no
You can’t always get what you want
I tell you, baby
You can’t always get what you want
No
But if you try sometimes you just might find
You get what you need

Oh, yeah, woo

You get what you need
Yeah, oh baby

I saw her today at the reception
In her glass was a bleeding man
She was practiced at the art of deception
Well I could tell by her blood-stained hands

Sing it

You can’t always get what you want
You can’t always get what you want, ooh yeah, child
You can’t always get what you want
But if you try sometimes you just might find
You just might find
You get what you need

Ah yeah
Ah yeah, woo!

Ah, you can’t always get what you want
(No no, baby)
You can’t always get what you want
(You can’t now now)
You can’t always get what you want
But if you try sometime you just might find
You just might find
That you get what you need

Ah yeah!
Ah yeah! Do that