Trying not to dwell on the state of the world is well nigh impossible, but limiting contemplation seems to me to be essential for sanity, not least because the growing list of conundrums covers the gamut from naïve, through shameful to ridiculous.… Read the rest
The trajectory being pretty much set and relentlessly shortening, it seems to me that we who are aging ought to be granted freedom from an excess of choices. Instead, we get a seemingly inexhaustible wellspring of advice on how to have a longer and healthier, and ergo, happier life. So far, all I’ve learned from it is summed up by screenwriter William Goldman’s description of the movie business: “Nobody knows anything…Every time out it’s a guess and, if you’re lucky, an educated one.”… Read the rest
The ancient Greek philosopher Plato (427–347 BC) wrote: “One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.” For those whose participation includes choosing from the bloating melange of mediocrity being offered for the upcoming effort to preserve American democracy, it might help to apply the Latin word, “colligere , the origin of the word “cull”.… Read the rest
Darwin’s theory of evolution applies as much to humans and technology as it does to animals and Nature. But some things are so rooted in cultures, minds and memories that their passing seems to border on travesty, irrational though that may be. The demise of the BBC radio’s “Focus on Africa” represents that for me.… Read the rest
In any list of qualities that ideally ought to define people, especially those who aspire to, or hold positions of authority, I doubt there is much argument that it should include courtesy, personal integrity, concern for the common good and dignity.
Yet it has come to pass that these virtues, along with perhaps less important, but still valid ones, have not just fallen by the wayside, they are as good as scorned.… Read the rest
Clichés are widely denigrated in writing guides as indicative of laziness and a lack of original thinking. An ironic exception is applying the Russian proverb “Doveryai, no proveryai”….“Trust, but verify” when considering the merits or otherwise of AI chatbots.… Read the rest
The metaphorical beating of breasts and rending of garments over CNNs’ “town hall” with Donald Trump is a salient lesson that providing live air time for proven liars and dissemblers, noted for a proclivity to control the narrative, is the equivalent of allowing them to write the script, and there’s enough of that done by flaks and sycophants without adding to the pool.… Read the rest
The outpouring of punditry, comments and editorial cartoons in the U.S. media and on social networks, expressing everything from bemusement to criticism and derision over the coronation of King Charles III, has led me to ponder what it is about the American psyche, or at least that of a significant portion of the population, that I don’t understand.… Read the rest
Apart from the inevitable aches and pains, one of the drawbacks to aging is that you think the singers who were your soundtrack are forever the age they were when you first heard them, and only really accept that they’re not when they die. And so it was this week with Gordon Lightfoot.… Read the rest
The line between setting high standards and bullying is nigh on impossible to discern in today’s hyper-sensitive world. Since stepping over it costs jobs and reputations, I suggest those who would pass judgement consider this thought from the 1908 novel “The Magician” by W. Somerset Maugham: “It’s a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it.”… Read the rest