Noam Chomsky

Recently the great public intellectual, Noam Chomsky, died. He had an amazing intellect and a great amount of humility. He seemed to have the ability to see deeper into issues affecting the US, partly, no doubt, because of the massive storehouse of knowledge of history and politics.

I have been trying to listen to some of the interviews of him that are online. 

I particularly agree with a point he seems to drive home a lot. That wherever there is power and money, that's where the decisions affecting a society will be made. In the time of Trump, that seems even more incontrovertible.

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Quotes

Here's a few quotes that I like:

--"There is no good reason why we should not develop and change until the last day we live."

                                                                                                                    Karen Horney

--"The conception of what is normal varies not only with the culture but also within the same culture, in the course of time."                                                                                     Karen Horney

--"Being entirely honest with oneself is a good exercise."                  Sigmund Freud

--"All fanaticism is repressed doubt."                  Carl Jung

--"The opposite of courage in our society is not cowardice, it is conformity."      Rollo May

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Learning

As of late--the last month--I've been trying to refresh my knowledge of Spanish. It's been fun. I think it's been fun because I've just spent a small amount of time each day doing it, without hewing to a rigorous schedule.

I will try to write more about my progress as the weeks go by.

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Words

In the past I've written about phrases and sentences that I thought were beautifully written. Today, just off the top of my head, I wanted to list words that are not used too much in writing. I find those words interesting.

--bruit (about)

--feckless

--bromide

--caustic

--egregious

--mollify

--ardor

--emblazon

--dolt

--dollop

--clandestine

--prurient

--ossify

--draconian

--best v.

--dessicated

--favonian

--jovial

--allay

--talismanic

--surly

--unseemly

--cloistered

--restive

--truculent

--jostle

--ecru

--tousled

--vortex

--raiment

--sloth

--xenophobic

--lance v.

--candor

--duped

--lollygag

--dregs

--fungible

--boosterism

--cant

--riled up

--lackey

--dingy

--foist

--underwhelm

--enmity

--effigy

--wraith

--abscond

--curio

--toggle

--rejigger

--percolate

--pummel

--stanch

--gorgonize

--petrify

--pox

--penury

--teeming

--quisling

--cagey

--capacious

--crony

--pounce

--inane

--brouhaha

--Beelzebub

--finagel

--cryogenic

--razed

--rankled

--rom-com

--nosh

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Some Interesting Quotes

--The opposite of courage in our society is not cowardice, it is conformity.   Rollo May

--One does not become fully human painlessly.    Rollo May

--What is done to children, they will do to society.   Karl Menninger

--Creativity requires the courage to let go of certainties.   Erich Fromm

--Problems are the outward signs of unused possibilities.   Rollo May

--The ability to be in the present moment is a major component of mental wellness.   Abraham Maslow

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Watching

I have been keeping an eye on the trial of former president Trump. I sense that the walls are closing in on him. (Yet, I know I have said similar things in the past.)

I say that because he has had to change his style. He has had to sit in quietly and not revert to his usual shenanigans. Maybe this is why he has been caught sleeping; because he is in sort a hibernation mode that he is not used to.

I think what is happening will prove beneficial to democracy.

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About Drumming

Have enjoyed a new website related to drumming. It's called the The Drum Professor. The teacher is excellent and teaches the material is an incremental fashion.

I bought his introductory video and found it well done. And he seems to have many YouTube videos online where he goes through key parts of popular songs.

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Feeling Better

I have been feeling more energetic and better. It does seem the probiotics are helping. At least I hope so, but the placebo effect is still welcomed.

It is interesting to think about all the things that go into how one feels. Sleep, exercise, the weather, hormones, the amount of leisure, meaning in one's life, etc.

Interesting.

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Frazzled

Feeling rather harried. It seems I am not good (I knew this already) with sundry paperwork and administrative minutiae. 

It doesn't seem to get much easier as I get's older. Luckily I have less of it as I get older.

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Solar Eclipse

There was not much to see concerning the solar eclipse in Greater New Orleans. The sky was cloudy, but it did get a bit darker.

Though, the build-up to the solar eclipse was exciting. Maybe next time around.

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Something

I just wanted to write something today on my blog. I saw it was about two weeks since I wrote anything.

I'm not sure what to say beyond what I've said. More will come to me in time.

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About Pi

I was just reading about the designation of yesterday, 3/14/24, as Pi Day. I do find pi interesting. But I did notice one thing--if pi is an irrational number, why are we paying any attention to it? 

Doesn't it make more sense to pay attention to rational numbers and not irrational numbers? Just saying.

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If You Want to Write

I'm reading again the encouraging book If You Want to Write: A Book About Art, Independence and Spirit, by Brenda Ueland. 

It is a bracing, refreshing read about writing and artistic creation.

Her writing has a way of sticking with you. She definitely brings herself into the book and you feel like you have met a genuine person.

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Interesting Study

I just read about a study that shows dancing is the best form of exercise for depression. I briefly skimmed the article, but it seemed like they were talking about formalized dance over a moderate period of time (about three to six months).

I found that surprising. But I didn't read the details, so the devil may be in the details.

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Trump

Mr. Trump appears to be getting his comeuppance. He is owing more and more money to more people. This does not make Mr. Trump happy.

In fact, as he might say, he is "very unhappy, and sad, very sad, about the whole affair." 

He will have to have his followers and billionaire friends to help him out of this quagmire.

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Mardi Gras Day

I am staying away from Mardi Gras today. I'm glad to. I have gone out on Mardi Gras day most of the last 50 years and I will gladly take a rest.

I have paid my dues.

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Nice Phrases

I just wanted to go back to what I always like to do, which is listing phrases that have euphony. Here are some of them.

--"one of these almost feral creatures had bitten a cultural semiotician" (Elif Batuman)

--"Pathology breeds preoccupation."  (John Gamel)

--"assorted saints and scoundrels" (Jane Kramer)

--"swelled him up like a sweating, smirking sausage" (Matt Labash)

--"combative, wry, and resilient"  (Phillip Lopate)

--"these low-lying eddies of silver" (David Sedaris)

--a "period of cultural effervescence" (S. Frederick Starr)

--"and the titration of disgust" (James Wood)

Thanks.

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An Article

I am reading an article by Scott Russell Sanders where he talks about inequality in America. The essay actually covers more than inequality but that seems to be at the heart of the essay.

It seems like society suffers from ills that most people see, or would see, if they took the time.

I do realize one's presuppositions play a big part, but I do thing most Americans see that something is wrong with a society that allows a handful to be enormously wealthy, a bigger handful to live very well, and the balance to just get by.

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