Blog number 335 **** 08 November 2009
I'm reading, "The Age of Empathy" by Frans De Waal.
Talking about the difference of opinion about social bonding amongst social biologists "recalls that famous dinner conversation between a Russian literary critic and the writer Ivan Turgenev: ' We haven't yet solved the problem of God,' the critic yelled, 'and you want to eat!' "
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
CAN WE GET AN AMEN FOR REASONABLE LEADERS?
Blog number 334 **** 03 November 2009
I'm reading a history of The Simpsons. One story contains a remark by the first President Bush's Drug Czar, William Bennett.
Willie admitted that he had never seen [an episode of The Simpsons] adding, "I'll sit down with the little spike head [Bart Simpson], we'll straighten this out ...there's nothing that a Catholic school, a paper route and a couple soap sandwiches wouldn't straighten out."
The Simpson writers responded, "If our Drug Czar thinks he can sit down and talk this over with a cartoon character, he must be on something."
I'm reading a history of The Simpsons. One story contains a remark by the first President Bush's Drug Czar, William Bennett.
Willie admitted that he had never seen [an episode of The Simpsons] adding, "I'll sit down with the little spike head [Bart Simpson], we'll straighten this out ...there's nothing that a Catholic school, a paper route and a couple soap sandwiches wouldn't straighten out."
The Simpson writers responded, "If our Drug Czar thinks he can sit down and talk this over with a cartoon character, he must be on something."
Sunday, November 1, 2009
WISH I COULD WRITE LIKE THAT
Blog number 333 **** 01 November 2009
I'm reading a kind of a biography by James Lipton - the "Inside the Actor's Studio" guy?
James was an actor when he met Harold Curman - the name's not important. Harold was a greatly respected acting teacher. Harold would talk with the students after classes, telling stories, One night James asked him, "Weren't you a play reader for the Theatre Guild in the Twenties?"
When he said that he was, one of the other students asked him what were the greatest plays he ever read.
He said the best was one that he never went beyond the title page because nothing could equal it.
"It said, Act one, Scene one; Ten million years before the first living creature crept out of the primordial ooze.
Act one Scene two; Two weeks later. "
Hah! Delicious!
I'm reading a kind of a biography by James Lipton - the "Inside the Actor's Studio" guy?
James was an actor when he met Harold Curman - the name's not important. Harold was a greatly respected acting teacher. Harold would talk with the students after classes, telling stories, One night James asked him, "Weren't you a play reader for the Theatre Guild in the Twenties?"
When he said that he was, one of the other students asked him what were the greatest plays he ever read.
He said the best was one that he never went beyond the title page because nothing could equal it.
"It said, Act one, Scene one; Ten million years before the first living creature crept out of the primordial ooze.
Act one Scene two; Two weeks later. "
Hah! Delicious!
Friday, October 30, 2009
I'M PRETTIER NOW
Blog number 332 **** 30 October 2009
Back in the seventies and early eighties, I could ask a mother if I could hold their babies and they were always pleased with the request. Then danger started increasing in the Good Old United States - going to a high of slightly over 32%, and suddenly I could no longer touch the little dears out of the fear held by the mothers.
I used to only stare at babies because I couldn't touch them and they would usually look at me with a blank face. It took me awhile before I realized that the blank stare they gave me was not interest, it was usually fear. I found that out as soon as they started crying. I guess to them I looked like a predator looking over a menu. At least that's what Teresa told me.
I went to slightly more than twenty years without holding a baby. Then I got a buzz cut haircut, and the first day with it, babies started smiling at me right away, and I was approached and hugged by two babies. Last week I was hugged by still another.
So the mothers might be afraid of me, but it looks like the babies love me. And all because of a different haircut. Beauty may be only skin deep, but that's deep enough for me.
Back in the seventies and early eighties, I could ask a mother if I could hold their babies and they were always pleased with the request. Then danger started increasing in the Good Old United States - going to a high of slightly over 32%, and suddenly I could no longer touch the little dears out of the fear held by the mothers.
I used to only stare at babies because I couldn't touch them and they would usually look at me with a blank face. It took me awhile before I realized that the blank stare they gave me was not interest, it was usually fear. I found that out as soon as they started crying. I guess to them I looked like a predator looking over a menu. At least that's what Teresa told me.
I went to slightly more than twenty years without holding a baby. Then I got a buzz cut haircut, and the first day with it, babies started smiling at me right away, and I was approached and hugged by two babies. Last week I was hugged by still another.
So the mothers might be afraid of me, but it looks like the babies love me. And all because of a different haircut. Beauty may be only skin deep, but that's deep enough for me.
NO WONDER HE LOOKED LIKE AN ALIEN
Blog number 331 **** 30 October 2009
This morning we went to see "This Is It" at the movies, and he was.
We saw the Michelangelo of sound. Amazingly amazing, brilliantly brilliant.
What a guy.
This morning we went to see "This Is It" at the movies, and he was.
We saw the Michelangelo of sound. Amazingly amazing, brilliantly brilliant.
What a guy.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
GIMMIE AN EL
Blog number 330 **** 28 October 2009
Yesterday the lovely Teresa and I were sitting in Barnes and Nobles and this Black lady with three adorable children came by and we started talking. At one point we got to talking about Halloween decorations at houses - she thought some of them rather gross. Then she mentioned that she knows a family that has a cat that is named after the Devil. I guess we looked blank because she said, "You know. The Devil's name. I don't want to say it. It starts with an el."
I was stumped, so I got to thinking. "The Devil's name is..Beelzebub...no, doesn't start with an el...Lucifer!"And just as I thought that, she says, "You know. It rhymes with useifer"
Ah, yes. I smile at her. But I don't say that obscene name.
People are so funny!
I hypothesize she was of the Pentecostal religion because those people have a thing about the Devil's power. I think they wish he didn't exist. But then why would we need God? I dunno.
I don't think she didn't want to say the devil's name for the same reason some religious people don't want to say God's name - out of a sense of awe, but more likely something like, "If I say his name, he might think I am calling him and come to me." I know some cultures don't like you making a fuss over their children in fear of attracting Satan's attention to the children.
If I get to know her better, I'm gonna ask, you betchum.
Yesterday the lovely Teresa and I were sitting in Barnes and Nobles and this Black lady with three adorable children came by and we started talking. At one point we got to talking about Halloween decorations at houses - she thought some of them rather gross. Then she mentioned that she knows a family that has a cat that is named after the Devil. I guess we looked blank because she said, "You know. The Devil's name. I don't want to say it. It starts with an el."
I was stumped, so I got to thinking. "The Devil's name is..Beelzebub...no, doesn't start with an el...Lucifer!"And just as I thought that, she says, "You know. It rhymes with useifer"
Ah, yes. I smile at her. But I don't say that obscene name.
People are so funny!
I hypothesize she was of the Pentecostal religion because those people have a thing about the Devil's power. I think they wish he didn't exist. But then why would we need God? I dunno.
I don't think she didn't want to say the devil's name for the same reason some religious people don't want to say God's name - out of a sense of awe, but more likely something like, "If I say his name, he might think I am calling him and come to me." I know some cultures don't like you making a fuss over their children in fear of attracting Satan's attention to the children.
If I get to know her better, I'm gonna ask, you betchum.
Row, row, row your boat
Blog number 329 **** 28 October 2009
I have several "triggers" to remind me that I am dreaming so that I can "wake-up" in my dreams; so I can dream a lucid dream, so I can know I am dreaming while I am dreaming.
If I dream I am naked in public places, if I see houses, cows, or any unusual thing floating in the sky, or if I find myself flying, those are supposed to be triggers to wake me up to the fact that I am in a dream.
Last night I dreamed that a large branch was floating in the sky, as if the wind was holding it up. I watched as if plummeted to the ground, barely missing a car, hitting the highway with a thunderous crash, bouncing across the road, raising a maelstrom of dust.
I also dreamed that same night that I was in a room and I started floating up to the ceiling in a circular pattern. I thought at first I might be dead, and then thought I might be dying, then I woke up. Two triggering dreams in the same sleep, neither of which worked.
What we normally call "being awake" is also a dream, but with different "laws." In this dream, I am trying to always be kind. I am also trying to never speak if I am angry, to always think of others as sacred beings. I guess you could call these rules, "triggers" for the "awake" dream.
Being in these states consciously, being awake to them, like being awake to one of my night dream triggers, would create a more aware and informative and enjoyable environment than if I slept unconscious through them. Today, two of these rules were broken. I was not kind and I spoke in anger. And I was totally unaware that I was supposed to be working to do neither. Just like I was totally unaware that I was dreaming triggers in my dreams last night.
Is there a connection between the failure of the triggers in the two "dreams" happening so close together? Is that concidence a trigger for a third type of dream? Inquiring minds want to know.
I have several "triggers" to remind me that I am dreaming so that I can "wake-up" in my dreams; so I can dream a lucid dream, so I can know I am dreaming while I am dreaming.
If I dream I am naked in public places, if I see houses, cows, or any unusual thing floating in the sky, or if I find myself flying, those are supposed to be triggers to wake me up to the fact that I am in a dream.
Last night I dreamed that a large branch was floating in the sky, as if the wind was holding it up. I watched as if plummeted to the ground, barely missing a car, hitting the highway with a thunderous crash, bouncing across the road, raising a maelstrom of dust.
I also dreamed that same night that I was in a room and I started floating up to the ceiling in a circular pattern. I thought at first I might be dead, and then thought I might be dying, then I woke up. Two triggering dreams in the same sleep, neither of which worked.
What we normally call "being awake" is also a dream, but with different "laws." In this dream, I am trying to always be kind. I am also trying to never speak if I am angry, to always think of others as sacred beings. I guess you could call these rules, "triggers" for the "awake" dream.
Being in these states consciously, being awake to them, like being awake to one of my night dream triggers, would create a more aware and informative and enjoyable environment than if I slept unconscious through them. Today, two of these rules were broken. I was not kind and I spoke in anger. And I was totally unaware that I was supposed to be working to do neither. Just like I was totally unaware that I was dreaming triggers in my dreams last night.
Is there a connection between the failure of the triggers in the two "dreams" happening so close together? Is that concidence a trigger for a third type of dream? Inquiring minds want to know.
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