Quotes

I thought I would today pass on some quotes from the great William James. 

--Action may not always bring happiness, but there is no happiness without action.

--The art of being wise is knowing what to overlook. 

--Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an uncompleted task.

--The deepest principle in human nature is the craving to be appreciated.

--Age is a very high price to pay for maturity.

--The strenuous life tastes better.

--The mind is made up by what it feeds upon.

--Once a decision is reached, stop worrying and start working.

--Give your dreams all you've got, and you'll be amazed at the energy that comes out of you.

Thanks.

Mark

About Sleep

I read about an interesting study recently. It stated that our breathing while sleeping controls the consolidating of memories of recent events. It made me think, if this is true, about how sleep apnea can therefore play a big part in learning new material.

And besides the problem with learning new material is of course the lethargy one has when having sleep apnea. I do think sleep apnea affects more people than most of us realize.

Mark

Cool Words

Just thought I would again list some definitions I find interesting.

1. brabble n. (BRAB-uhl) Noisy, quarrelsome chatter.

2. tonsorial adj. (ton-SAWR-ee-uhl) Related to a barber or barbering.

3. lexical adj. (LEK-si-kuhl) Related to words.

4. tight-laced adj. (TYT-laysd) Excessively proper, strict, or old-fashioned.

5. petulant adj. (PECH-uh-luhnt) Easily irritated.

6. chicanery n. (shi-KEY-nuh-ree) Trickery.

Thanks.

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Elliot Aronson

I thought today I would pass on some quotes from the renown social psychologist, Elliot Aronson.

--The first step to success is taking responsibility for your own actions.

--We are social animals, and our interactions shape our thoughts and behavior.

--The key to happiness is not acquiring things, but in building meaningful connections with others.

--The fear of rejection can hold us back from forming authentic connections with others.

--We often underestimate the impact of situational factors on our behavior.

Mark

Weather

Like in my last post, I am thankful for the cooler, refreshing weather. It has helped me take my mind off the recent, calamitous things in politics.

No doubt for some of us, it's been hard to be hopeful about things. Yet, in life, sometimes things have to get really bad before they turn really good.

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Weather

I'm thankful for the slightly cooler weather here in the New Orleans area. It is a nice respite. Hopefully a cold blast will come in soon.

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Trump Wins

Well, I guess I should be eating crow right now. I predicted that Trump would lose and I was relatively sure. It looks like I was totally wrong.

Trump won handily. I am shocked and deeply saddened. Making another prediction, I think America will rue the day they put Trump back in office. And I am surprised by some of his supporters that they see no danger whatsoever in him being in that position.

I have been wrong before, but I am more sure of this prediction than my last one.

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The Election

I predict, in somewhat a Nostradamas-like manner, that Harris will win this presidential election. Why? Because I believe Trump is unraveling. He desperately wants to break out the hemmed-in feeling he is in, but, if he wants to win, he must abide by this structure.

He has not been able to abide by this structure and he is, as the colloquial saying has it, "losing it."

I could be wrong, but I don't think so.

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Mr. Trump, Again

It seems like Mr. Trump is getting more nervous as voting day approaches. His comments and his rallies are now becoming more racist and xenophobic. He's trying to pull anything he can out of his bag of tricks, and those tricks tend to be more of the same--America used to be a great place, but non-WASPs have made it a hellscape.

With a number of major trials breathing down his neck, he doubly needs to be back in political office. 

Though, I think he won't end up in the Oval Office. It will be more like a rectangular cell.

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Micro Stories

I have been writing very short flash fiction as of late and trying to get it published. Hopefully I will get some into some magazines.

I have continued to enjoy the flash fiction/microfiction stories of Lydia Davis. I like her style and my writing follows closely upon hers. Some of the experimental flash fiction I have read has not resonated with me because it starts getting into poetry and it doesn't have much semblance of a story for me (even what I would call, and accept, as a "meaningless" story).

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Mr. Trump

It appears, as of late, former President Trump is escalating his rhetoric against immigrants. In other words, former Pres. Trump is fearing that he will lose the upcoming presidential election.

His personality appears to be breaking down even further than it has and he continues to do what he's always done--separate groups of people and benefit off that separation.

I think he's never gotten over Pres. Biden dropping out the race and now he, Mr. Trump, has to face a younger, more formidable foe.

Things are not boding well for Mr. Trump's mental health.

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Words

Today I just wanted to list some words and definitions that I've been looking at:

--zenith n. the pinnacle; acme.

--coulrophobia n. the fear of clowns.

--clement adj. 1. lenient. 2. mild.

--intemperance n. self-indulgence.

--JOMO n. Joy of missing out.

--self-possessed adj. composed; poised.

--popinjay n. a person given to pretentious displays and empty chatter.

--proselyte n. a convert.

--Delphic adj. ambiguous; obscure.

--stellate adj. start-shaped.

--persiflage n. light, bantering talk or writing.

--derogate v. to put down or belittle.

--shadchan n. a matchmaker.

--heimish adj. homey; unpretentious.

--Lorelei n. a dangerously seductive woman.

--mumpish adj. sullen; silent; depressed.

--duck soup n. something that is very easy to do.

Mark

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Weather

I have been enjoying the nicer weather in the New Orleans area. It is a nice reprieve from the oppressive heat. 

It does make it easier to get through the day when the heat index is not 115 degrees.

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Nothing

There's not much on my mind, but I did want to post something (so I keep up with my semi-weekly schedule).

I can always say something about former President Trump. At present, I must say, I am shocked that he is about even with Kamala Harris in the presidential race.

In a way, maybe it is good, because it shows many people want a deeper change in politics than is normal. On the other hand, putting Trump in the White House is playing with fire that the U.S. may never recover from.

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Hurricane Cometh

Hurricane Francine came to our neighborhood and it was exciting to watch. Cleaning up the water in the back part of our house, well...that wasn't as exciting.

It was a reminder of the power of nature and the peril of climate change. No doubt we will see more of this in our perilous future.

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Solitude

I'm thinking about reading a good book again. The name of the book is Solitude: A Return to the Self by Anthony Storr.

It talks about the benefits of solitude for creativity. Since there is so much information out there on the benefits of social interaction, Storr attempts to show that there are good things for those who use solitude in a healthy way.

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Recent School Shooting

The recent shooting at the high school in Georgia was saddening. But JD Vance's comment that school shootings are just a fact of life is maddening, and just plain wrong.

They don't have to be a fact of life. The reason they have become so common in the the US is because of the political power of the National Rifle Assoc. (NRA). They give lots of money to lots of Republican politicians and the cash helps the politicians to say things like--"school shootings are just a fact of life."

Or, "the only thing that will help stop these shootings are more money for mental health services." Or, "they'll always be nut cases out there looking to harm others, so there's nothing we can do."

Most people know better than this.

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About Writing

It's weird, but after all the reading I've done related to writing, it's finally hitting me that a big part of the secret of writing is to be specific and descriptive. I guess the many years of reading philosophy, theology, and psychology blinded me to this.

The scales are dropping from my eyes.

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On Writing

I have been struggling trying to write lately. That is, struggling to put pen to paper and then make adjustments and get the final product, well, final.

I've battled this demon for years, though I've had a few things published. It's puzzling, but I'm working on it.

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Feeling Revived

I am feeling better knowing that former president Trump is slightly behind in the polls. It is amazing to witness. It was highly unexpected, but once Pres. Biden stepped aside, and VP Harris took his place, changes came fast and delightfully furious.

I am now at peace with the universe. Though, of course, anything can happen in the interim. Yet, I am enjoying the great dollop of dopamine.

I needed it.

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Climate Change

I'm fond of reading about climate change and what that change will be. I guess it makes me think all the bad things coming out about our present and future climate will motivate all of us to move in the right direction.

I may be kidding myself. Yet, it seems if we keep on having hot days like we've had in New Orleans, people will have to stop and reckon with the situation.

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A Change

An interesting change has happened in politics. Joe Biden has stepped down from his presidential run and Kamala Harris has taken his place.

This is a wonderful move for the Democratic Party, Democrats, and for the country. I do think this will be enough to make sure Trump doesn't get anywhere near the Oval Office. 

It is too early to celebrate. Yet, it is stunning and wonderful news.

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About Trump

It is amazing to see Donald Trump still making headway to being our next president. I guess the good and right don't always win out--at least not in the short term.

In the long term it may be different. It will be interesting to see how the assassination attempt on Trump's life will play out. Will it change him? Will it change most of his supporters?

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More Words

Here are some more interesting words I've come across:

--octet n. 

--keen n. A wailing lament for the dead.

--snatched adj.

--apace adv.

--rakehell n.

--glabrous adj.

--feinschmecker n.

--horndog n.

--mochalla n.

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Some Interesting Words

Here's another segment of me sharing words that aren't seen a lot in writing:

--comity

--amity

--fatuity

--undead

--malign adj.

--trippingly adv.

--hue and cry

--cracker-barrel adj.

--lentitude n.

--balsam n.

--padawan n.

--Luddite adj.

--Erewhonian adj.

--spawn n.

--eustress n.

--unputdownable adj.

--asinine adj.

--edgelord n.

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Nice Writing

Today I'll just do like I've done in the past--to write some phrases and sentences that I particularly like:

--"the renowned caviar expert Shaoching Bishop" (Rachel Cormack)

--"Your first big bite of obsolescence." (John Updike)

--"the sun still comes up without them" (John Updike)

--"Yep! Mandibles of death." (Calvin & Hobbes)

--"witty yet poignant repartee" (Maddie Dai)

--"Then everyone broke protocol" (Todd Levin)

--"to attain great extended states of bliss and tranquility on demand" (Cynthia Bougeault)

--"a voice so majestic that it eclipsed his ideas" (Irvin Yalom)

--"I can't take anymore of the 'Gilmore Girls.'" (Me)

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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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