It's true! Or a David Foster Wallace's Infinite Jest 100 years 'prior to'. I was introduced to Shaw's play Pygmalion (1914) sixty some years ago. When my mother took me by the hand and made me accompany her to My Fair Lady, a modern version of the theater performance, staring Julie Andrews and Rex Harrison. I can't recall … Continue reading George Bernard Shaw: “a Tolstoy with jokes”
Category: Books
Screwed without A Kiss
was a rough thing to accept twenty years ago; and is no easier today. Or maybe it is? After all, I'm older and more accepting and grateful - to still be here. Or is it something else? complacency? burn out? hopelessness? Here's the story My favorite intellectual, Robert Wright, just posted a reflection and look … Continue reading Screwed without A Kiss
Father’s Day: five years later
Does it get any easier - the loss of the father? Short answer: no. Father's Day is a commercial ploy to make money. These days, what isn't? Nevertheless, the father is important. Because without him none of us would be here. My father was both a complicated and simple man. Simple because he was basically what a … Continue reading Father’s Day: five years later
The Impractical Cabinetmaker, and ‘those people’
The Impractical Cabinetmaker (1979) was a book written by James Krenov, a Russian born, famous, fine-woodworker and philosopher. He has a lot to say about life and work, love and passion. Not unlike Sigmund Freud who intimated life was about nothing more than love and work. From Krenov's book: Not long ago I was asked: "What … Continue reading The Impractical Cabinetmaker, and ‘those people’
Set Yourself Free: Twelve Books to Read on Human Nature
If you've a mind to understand human nature? non-fiction may not be the best way to understand it. Or, for that matter, human behavior in general. Fiction might be more accurate. However, there is some value in science and history; and reading. Non-fiction books just might be (in some cases) more fiction, fantasy, or delusion … Continue reading Set Yourself Free: Twelve Books to Read on Human Nature
The Perfect Storm Hypothesis
is an idea I agree with. In essence it is: What happened could not have have happened in any other way than it did. I first encountered it in a personality theory class. Raymond B. Cattell, an English/American Psychologist (1905-1998)) devised a theory, a formula, for why individuals do what they do. He was a … Continue reading The Perfect Storm Hypothesis
Reasonable Objective Therapy
has come to this - drinking and making a wish. So it seems to me that the more things change - the more they stay the same. I've written a lot about writing and thinking, drinking, and therapy in this space. However, as far as I can tell to no avail. The collective psychosis continues. … Continue reading Reasonable Objective Therapy
Crisis Intervention: Why George Floyd Died?
is the ultimate question the trial of Derek Chauvin is attempting to answer. However, the trial won't even come close. I've been watching (via CSPAN 2, i.e.sans commentary). He Was Murdered is the State's argument. In essence that case is: We (= the Minneapolis Police Department) are good, and the individual (= Officer Derek Chauvin) … Continue reading Crisis Intervention: Why George Floyd Died?
Derek Chauvin / George Floyd Murder Trial: Who wins?
is a fascinating question. I have a prediction. My prediction is based upon what I learned from reading Jerry Spence's book Win Your Case. The Backstory I first read the book when it was published and remember I really liked it. I became aware of Spence during the OJ Trial (1995); when he would often comment … Continue reading Derek Chauvin / George Floyd Murder Trial: Who wins?
The Indie Bookstore. Part IV
Bookstore Adventure is what an Independent Bookstore really is. Now, I'm not talking about those huge, famous ones like The Tattered Cover in Denver, Powell's in Portland, or Politics and Prose in DC. Because they are almost like the corporate Barnes and Noble. But even those pale in comparison to what Amazon can offer. Recall … Continue reading The Indie Bookstore. Part IV