The Sunday New York Times posted an article about the prospects for the US Senate in this year's November elections, but I missed the clear prose of Nate Silver whose blend of facts, polls and predictions made his Times column a must-read during the last election, particularly with so many others predicting results wildly at odds with both his projections and reality (in essence, the two became one).
I know he is still assembling his staff for the latest reboot for ESPN/ABC (and it looks like a stellar group indeed), but I hope he will begin posting again soon...for "junkies" like me, there was more to his efforts than just numbers or context; there was a connection to a larger, broader canvas that is too often missing from political analysis these days, especially those done by major media outlets. It isn't enough to find out the results of an isolated race here or there; what's more important is seeing if there are trends being set in a regional or national context, and what it may portend for the next two years.
And for those who wonder what good the Senate is these days (other than a foil for the House), don't forget that there are four members of the Supreme Court over 75 years of age (Scalia, Kennedy, Breyer and Ginsburg) and all nominees must go through the senate for confirmation. The first two are longtime bastions of the conservative wing and their retirement/passing would mark a real change in the court's direction if replaced by more moderate justices...but that possibility diminishes if the Senate achieves a GOP majority, and at the moment, that is too close to call; hence the need for Mr. Silver.
In other news, Secretary of State Kerry's trip to Kiev is a welcome sign that the US might not go down the same path with Ukraine that it did with Georgia. Kicking Russia out of the G8 would also go a long way towards convincing the Kremlin that its plans for annexing the Crimea might not be worth the economic isolation and impact on imports that an organized international response could impose. Whatever happens this coming week will depend in large part on what develops by Wednesday or Thursday: if Kerry is followed by other EU officials and some kind of effort by NATO, then all bets are off...but if the SOS visit is followed up by...nothing, then expect some kind of renewed Russian push into the eastern part of Ukraine by next weekend.
And just to show that I do sometimes watch TV, I thought Ellen's selfie was awesome and the pizza gambit was funny at first but kinda fizzled out, though it was interesting to learn which celebrities (a) brought money with them, and (b) what they thought was a reasonable amount to chip in towards the take out order.
And after ten hours and almost 200 updates, my old 2005 PC desktop now runs on Windows 7 Professional, which means I won't have to worry about Microsoft's April deadline for removing support from XP. There is of course the small problem that after reinstalling iTunes, I ran a duplicate check and found slightly over 10,000 tracks with more than more entry in the library. How to remove the duplicates without accidentally deleting anything that should be in the library: now THAT is a challenge.
Sunday, March 2, 2014
On Kindles and E. B. White
Although anyone who's ever visited my home can attest to the fact that I am an ardent reader and collector of books, I still purchase a number of ebooks destined for use on one of my digital devices primarily through the Kindle app. The reason for this is totally consistent (at least I think it is) with the bookshelf content that greets me every morning when I head downstairs for coffee and the latest news...and while the ability to pick up a book and leaf through pages, whether in search of a particular passage or just for pleasure's sake, is a gift best learned early and cultivated throughout life, to be able to have the content of whole books accompany oneself, whether on a short drive across town or a longer journey of several nights' duration away from home, can be a comfort beyond description.
I remember those not-so-long-ago days when I headed to college across the continent, and one of the things that kept me from being even more depressed and homesick was a precious box shipped out in advance of my arrival and waiting for me as I entered that bare dorm room, holding a handful of my favorite books. Many years later but before the advent of the Internet, when work kept me out of town for the better part of the week in little towns or states many hours away from home, I considered the added bulk and weight of 2-3 books worthwhile just for their reminder of my life elsewhere.
I wonder how E. B. White, that wondrous writer whose name for me will always be synonymous with The New Yorker, would feel if he could see his Essays and New Yorker Writings uploaded onto my Kindle this evening. That hardcover book of essays was bought in New Haven in 1977 (an event notable enough for me to write inside the book itself) for the grand sum of $12.95, and while I knew his name from (of course!) Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little, I had not yet discovered the breadth and depth of what he had wrote for that magazine whose covers drew me to the news stand without exception every Tuesday or Thursday (the days when deliveries from the east coast appeared, weather permitting).
Through those essays I learned something about a sense of rhythm and cadence that comes from a writing style crafted in the manner of an easy, comfortable conversation. When done right, the flow of ideas can seem so naturally spontaneous, with grammar, spelling and punctuation all falling into place naturally...as befits the person who helped popularize William Strunk's The Elements of Style!
Of course, I dutifully did my share of exercises and writing papers that taught me how and why sentences and paragraphs needed to be structured just so...but as I read his essays, I began to understand how I could use all that to make my own writing seem less stilted and formal, and more the way I wanted to come across: as someone sharing not just memories or thoughts but instilling them with that intangible quality that comes from wanting to share something meaningful with the reader.
Writing letters as I did in those pre-eMail days with a fine point fountain pen and youthful eyesight, the effect on me was profound: I could write easily and quickly...in most cases I would think of something and have it written out almost immediately without being aware of any cogent thought process, and I stopped only to replace the paper or refill the ink (something in the scraping of the pen nib across the paper seemed more personal and involved than a ballpoint; I had my own set of 'snobbisms' to take care of as the years passed). In discovering the same sort of creative individual 'voice' in E. B. White's writing style that I wanted to convey in my own writings, I consider him still to be one of my 'muses' that helped shaped my own writing personality.
And what an unusual collection of influences! E. B. White...Edwin Denby...Anne Morrow Lindbergh...more on these as we continue this journey.
JOHN F. KENNEDY 11/ 30/ 63
WHEN WE THINK OF HIM, he is without a hat, standing in the wind and the weather . He was impatient of topcoats and hats, preferring to be exposed, and he was young enough and tough enough to confront and to enjoy the cold and the wind of these times, whether the winds of nature or the winds of political circumstance and national danger. He died of exposure, but in a way that he would have settled for—in the line of duty, and with his friends and enemies all around, supporting him and shooting at him. It can be said of him, as of few men in a like position, that he did not fear the weather, and did not trim his sails, but instead challenged the wind itself, to improve its direction and to cause it to blow more softly and more kindly over the world and its people.
White, E. B. (2014-02-18). Writings from The New Yorker 1925-1976 (Kindle Locations 3082-3089). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.
Springtime in the heyday of the Model T was a delirious season. Owning a car was still a major excitement, roads were still wonderful and bad. The Fords were obviously conceived in madness: any car which was capable of going from forward into reverse without any perceptible mechanical hiatus was bound to be a mighty challenging thing to the human imagination. Boys used to veer them off the highway into a level pasture and run wild with them, as though they were cutting up with a girl. Most everybody used the reverse pedal quite as much as the regular foot brake — it distributed the wear over the bands and wore them all down evenly. That was the big trick, to wear all the bands down evenly, so that the final chattering would be total and the whole unit scream for renewal.
The days were golden, the nights were dim and strange. I still recall with trembling those loud, nocturnal crises when you drew up to a signpost and raced the engine so the lights would be bright enough to read destinations by. I have never been really planetary since. I suppose it’s time to say good-bye. Farewell, my lovely!
White, E. B. (2014-02-25). Essays of E. B. White (Kindle Locations 2977-2984). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.
I remember those not-so-long-ago days when I headed to college across the continent, and one of the things that kept me from being even more depressed and homesick was a precious box shipped out in advance of my arrival and waiting for me as I entered that bare dorm room, holding a handful of my favorite books. Many years later but before the advent of the Internet, when work kept me out of town for the better part of the week in little towns or states many hours away from home, I considered the added bulk and weight of 2-3 books worthwhile just for their reminder of my life elsewhere.
I wonder how E. B. White, that wondrous writer whose name for me will always be synonymous with The New Yorker, would feel if he could see his Essays and New Yorker Writings uploaded onto my Kindle this evening. That hardcover book of essays was bought in New Haven in 1977 (an event notable enough for me to write inside the book itself) for the grand sum of $12.95, and while I knew his name from (of course!) Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little, I had not yet discovered the breadth and depth of what he had wrote for that magazine whose covers drew me to the news stand without exception every Tuesday or Thursday (the days when deliveries from the east coast appeared, weather permitting).
Through those essays I learned something about a sense of rhythm and cadence that comes from a writing style crafted in the manner of an easy, comfortable conversation. When done right, the flow of ideas can seem so naturally spontaneous, with grammar, spelling and punctuation all falling into place naturally...as befits the person who helped popularize William Strunk's The Elements of Style!
Of course, I dutifully did my share of exercises and writing papers that taught me how and why sentences and paragraphs needed to be structured just so...but as I read his essays, I began to understand how I could use all that to make my own writing seem less stilted and formal, and more the way I wanted to come across: as someone sharing not just memories or thoughts but instilling them with that intangible quality that comes from wanting to share something meaningful with the reader.
Writing letters as I did in those pre-eMail days with a fine point fountain pen and youthful eyesight, the effect on me was profound: I could write easily and quickly...in most cases I would think of something and have it written out almost immediately without being aware of any cogent thought process, and I stopped only to replace the paper or refill the ink (something in the scraping of the pen nib across the paper seemed more personal and involved than a ballpoint; I had my own set of 'snobbisms' to take care of as the years passed). In discovering the same sort of creative individual 'voice' in E. B. White's writing style that I wanted to convey in my own writings, I consider him still to be one of my 'muses' that helped shaped my own writing personality.
And what an unusual collection of influences! E. B. White...Edwin Denby...Anne Morrow Lindbergh...more on these as we continue this journey.
JOHN F. KENNEDY 11/ 30/ 63
WHEN WE THINK OF HIM, he is without a hat, standing in the wind and the weather . He was impatient of topcoats and hats, preferring to be exposed, and he was young enough and tough enough to confront and to enjoy the cold and the wind of these times, whether the winds of nature or the winds of political circumstance and national danger. He died of exposure, but in a way that he would have settled for—in the line of duty, and with his friends and enemies all around, supporting him and shooting at him. It can be said of him, as of few men in a like position, that he did not fear the weather, and did not trim his sails, but instead challenged the wind itself, to improve its direction and to cause it to blow more softly and more kindly over the world and its people.
White, E. B. (2014-02-18). Writings from The New Yorker 1925-1976 (Kindle Locations 3082-3089). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.
Springtime in the heyday of the Model T was a delirious season. Owning a car was still a major excitement, roads were still wonderful and bad. The Fords were obviously conceived in madness: any car which was capable of going from forward into reverse without any perceptible mechanical hiatus was bound to be a mighty challenging thing to the human imagination. Boys used to veer them off the highway into a level pasture and run wild with them, as though they were cutting up with a girl. Most everybody used the reverse pedal quite as much as the regular foot brake — it distributed the wear over the bands and wore them all down evenly. That was the big trick, to wear all the bands down evenly, so that the final chattering would be total and the whole unit scream for renewal.
The days were golden, the nights were dim and strange. I still recall with trembling those loud, nocturnal crises when you drew up to a signpost and raced the engine so the lights would be bright enough to read destinations by. I have never been really planetary since. I suppose it’s time to say good-bye. Farewell, my lovely!
White, E. B. (2014-02-25). Essays of E. B. White (Kindle Locations 2977-2984). HarperCollins. Kindle Edition.
Saturday, March 1, 2014
Some Additional Reading Worth Your Time
As I get started into the rhythm of regular entries, I recommend to anyone reading along the following blogs, which I find not only enlightening and well written, but also informative:
http://www.theatlantic.com/james-fallows/
(James Fallows is a longtime China/far east observer whose recent postings have included stories of rebirth and renewal in communities across the United States)
http://annekaneko.blogspot.com/
(The blogger lives close to Fukushima and presents an interesting counterpoint to the official news regarding the "cleanup" being undertaken at the site of the nuclear reactors affected by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami)
In a vein not so heavily emphasizing current news, the following are worth checking in on a semi-regular basis for either sheer entertainment, imagination or if the latest news prove too discouraging or aggravating:
http://www.improvisedlife.com/
http://www.brainpickings.org/
http://www.theatlantic.com/james-fallows/
(James Fallows is a longtime China/far east observer whose recent postings have included stories of rebirth and renewal in communities across the United States)
http://annekaneko.blogspot.com/
(The blogger lives close to Fukushima and presents an interesting counterpoint to the official news regarding the "cleanup" being undertaken at the site of the nuclear reactors affected by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami)
In a vein not so heavily emphasizing current news, the following are worth checking in on a semi-regular basis for either sheer entertainment, imagination or if the latest news prove too discouraging or aggravating:
http://www.improvisedlife.com/
http://www.brainpickings.org/
Dismay, Sadness and Disgust
When I had heard that American intelligence officials were unofficially downplaying the chances of a Russian intervention in Ukraine (specifically the Crimea) several days ago...a point also advanced on the front page of the Council on Foreign Affairs website as recently as this morning, I had that sinking feeling that once again the West (in particular the US and EU) is going to find themselves on the outside looking in as an opposing force (Russia in this case; in the past, China, Syria, Al Qaeda, Taliban) gains the upper hand through unilateral force that may have been forbidden under international treaty but then who's to stop them? Can this be the tipping point that throws the world into another version of the cold war that led to so much economic ruin and worldwide paranoia?
In this situation, I find less fault with this country than I do the EU or NATO, whose own self interests once again made it possible for someone like Russia to claim justified action under the excuse of nationalism or terrorism. The US cannot and should not have to be the one defining force opposing this kind of naked aggression everywhere, particularly in the EU's backyard or worse yet, southeastern border.
Adding to this sense of dread has been the total lack of updated news anywhere...blogs or tweets from correspondents for the New York Times and BBC are about it...nothing of substance on CNN or even NPR. To be sure, it is a weekend and most sources are filled with either sports or escapism, but it should not have to be so difficult to find current information on such an important topic as this.
Then I came across an article on NPR that struck closer to home:
http://www.npr.org/2014/03/01/284178406/a-picket-line-at-the-oscars-visual-effects-artists-to-protest
My son works in LA and has had to contend with this issue firsthand. The attitude of the studios is understandable but despicable: in order to maximize profits, one goes where the most tax breaks are; and if you have to uproot people to do so or fire them, oh well....We're not talking about exorbitant compensation here: people with first class education credentials are paid little or nothing, with no benefits or job security. That kind of attitude is pervasive throughout many professions but is most apparent whenever the arts are involved...fortunately, at least some fields have union organization/protection (musicians, stage crews, actors), but that was accomplished during recent history when the very concept of unionizing wasn't as viewed with as much derision as it is now. I truly doubt if the general public will ever care very much about restoring a sense of balance to a genre where multi-BILLION dollar ventures are dependent on technicians being collectively paid a fraction of what ONE star or secondary personality receives, but at least it's worth a try.
In this situation, I find less fault with this country than I do the EU or NATO, whose own self interests once again made it possible for someone like Russia to claim justified action under the excuse of nationalism or terrorism. The US cannot and should not have to be the one defining force opposing this kind of naked aggression everywhere, particularly in the EU's backyard or worse yet, southeastern border.
Adding to this sense of dread has been the total lack of updated news anywhere...blogs or tweets from correspondents for the New York Times and BBC are about it...nothing of substance on CNN or even NPR. To be sure, it is a weekend and most sources are filled with either sports or escapism, but it should not have to be so difficult to find current information on such an important topic as this.
Then I came across an article on NPR that struck closer to home:
http://www.npr.org/2014/03/01/284178406/a-picket-line-at-the-oscars-visual-effects-artists-to-protest
My son works in LA and has had to contend with this issue firsthand. The attitude of the studios is understandable but despicable: in order to maximize profits, one goes where the most tax breaks are; and if you have to uproot people to do so or fire them, oh well....We're not talking about exorbitant compensation here: people with first class education credentials are paid little or nothing, with no benefits or job security. That kind of attitude is pervasive throughout many professions but is most apparent whenever the arts are involved...fortunately, at least some fields have union organization/protection (musicians, stage crews, actors), but that was accomplished during recent history when the very concept of unionizing wasn't as viewed with as much derision as it is now. I truly doubt if the general public will ever care very much about restoring a sense of balance to a genre where multi-BILLION dollar ventures are dependent on technicians being collectively paid a fraction of what ONE star or secondary personality receives, but at least it's worth a try.
Thursday, February 27, 2014
At long last...starting out
Many years ago my best friend and I envisioned a virtual place that would do justice to the many different interests I had at that time (and still do, to large extent). I have this memory of a sunlit store space with a place to thumb through records, bookshelves, ideas...anything that occupied my thoughts. How it would be stocked and what it would be stocked with was not the challenge; it would be when.
To a great extent that still is the situation now, all these many years later. What kept me from trying...even piecemeal...was fear. Fear of doing something halfheartedly, of not doing something right and have it prove disappointing; even embarrassing.
This is why I'm determined to see what can be done through this forum, now.
So what changed? Certainly age has been a factor...you glimpse your mortality so much more readily at 60 than 50 or 40. I've also come to realize that the impression I will leave behind at this point is so sketchy and incomplete that instead of being enigmatic or mysterious, I may simply prove to be...forgettable. After all, when no one truly knows the who, what, where, when, why and why of a person's life, sooner or later curiosity will cease and one more life will end up being forgotten.
I'm prepared to face my fears: of rejection, of embarrassment, of failure...because I'm tired of wondering what if? all the time. There are times in every life when moments like that occur, but I've been guilty of making almost everything I encounter into one of those dilemmas when in truth only a small fraction need to be seen in that light. I'm looking for the finality and closure that comes from knowing for sure that's why and I don't need to look at --- in that way.
I do not intend to delve into deeply personal issues here, at least not initially. For that I have my Evernote journal, dutifully carried about with me and accessible at all times and hours through my iPod Touch, iPad Mini, desktop or laptop, filled with the highlights of each day including rants, raves, musings and reflections. But there is still ample reason for using this space in order to mull over things that are important to me in a different light than the simply personal: causes, news, issues...for example:
I've just completed the preliminary work on a website where the focus has not been on 'me' in any way, shape or form, save for the way information is being presented (visual, text, drawing). It's been almost like a commission (except I haven't been paid for it, and don't expect to; it's been entirely altruistic), and the only person I've sought to appease or satisfy is myself (the owner of the site is grateful for the time spent and for the end result...I've come to understand that whatever his intentions, he isn't..at least initially...as anal or demanding as I've been!). That sense of challenge, of calling forth the best of what I'm capable of doing or seeing...and boy did it feel good to realize that again, especially the part when you're setting the bar high because you want to see if you can make it.
One last thing to talk about in this introduction. So far this year, I am doing more things that I want to do, and while none of them may provide me any additional financial resources for the time being, at least the satisfaction and involvement they do offer is a special kind of balm for my spirit: just this afternoon, I've received word that I've been accepted as an 'elder' in an outreach counseling group. I've always wanted to be considered someone 'wise' (elder will do :) )...now the challenge will be to live up to that and not fall prey to jealousy or envy as I have so often in the past.
Along with the Good Judgment Project, I feel as if some long dormant parts of me are finally coming to life once again; the parts that are essential to feeling more aware and expanding my vision.
To a great extent that still is the situation now, all these many years later. What kept me from trying...even piecemeal...was fear. Fear of doing something halfheartedly, of not doing something right and have it prove disappointing; even embarrassing.
This is why I'm determined to see what can be done through this forum, now.
So what changed? Certainly age has been a factor...you glimpse your mortality so much more readily at 60 than 50 or 40. I've also come to realize that the impression I will leave behind at this point is so sketchy and incomplete that instead of being enigmatic or mysterious, I may simply prove to be...forgettable. After all, when no one truly knows the who, what, where, when, why and why of a person's life, sooner or later curiosity will cease and one more life will end up being forgotten.
I'm prepared to face my fears: of rejection, of embarrassment, of failure...because I'm tired of wondering what if? all the time. There are times in every life when moments like that occur, but I've been guilty of making almost everything I encounter into one of those dilemmas when in truth only a small fraction need to be seen in that light. I'm looking for the finality and closure that comes from knowing for sure that's why and I don't need to look at --- in that way.
I do not intend to delve into deeply personal issues here, at least not initially. For that I have my Evernote journal, dutifully carried about with me and accessible at all times and hours through my iPod Touch, iPad Mini, desktop or laptop, filled with the highlights of each day including rants, raves, musings and reflections. But there is still ample reason for using this space in order to mull over things that are important to me in a different light than the simply personal: causes, news, issues...for example:
I've just completed the preliminary work on a website where the focus has not been on 'me' in any way, shape or form, save for the way information is being presented (visual, text, drawing). It's been almost like a commission (except I haven't been paid for it, and don't expect to; it's been entirely altruistic), and the only person I've sought to appease or satisfy is myself (the owner of the site is grateful for the time spent and for the end result...I've come to understand that whatever his intentions, he isn't..at least initially...as anal or demanding as I've been!). That sense of challenge, of calling forth the best of what I'm capable of doing or seeing...and boy did it feel good to realize that again, especially the part when you're setting the bar high because you want to see if you can make it.
One last thing to talk about in this introduction. So far this year, I am doing more things that I want to do, and while none of them may provide me any additional financial resources for the time being, at least the satisfaction and involvement they do offer is a special kind of balm for my spirit: just this afternoon, I've received word that I've been accepted as an 'elder' in an outreach counseling group. I've always wanted to be considered someone 'wise' (elder will do :) )...now the challenge will be to live up to that and not fall prey to jealousy or envy as I have so often in the past.
Along with the Good Judgment Project, I feel as if some long dormant parts of me are finally coming to life once again; the parts that are essential to feeling more aware and expanding my vision.
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