July 31, 2020

In this issue:

A Death of Spirit: Shudder at the thought

Deacon’s Diner: Food for a restless mind More »

My Thoughts

First up for a final Friday, my confession: I am neither a zoologist, biologist, epidemiologist, pathologist, virologist, physiologist, psychologist, psychiatrist, scientist nor much of any other expertologist, for the little what matters. In point of fact, neither have I ever pretended to be one on television, radio, or anti-social media. But I know a pretender—or a politician pretending—when I see one; I can spot one a gazillion miles away and I warrant most with an ounce of common sense have the same quick eye for professional affectation and humbuggery.

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My Thoughts

Received a parcel on Tuesday; a much-anticipated care package, a delightful gift from myself to myself. Unwrapping the box felt like Christmas morning even though I knew perfectly well what was inside. Nine books; it should have been ten, but one was a late arrival; each by the inestimable “Prince of Paradox”, G.K. Chesterton. I must confess to having previously read four of ten in digital format, a poor experience to my analog mind.

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My Thoughts

The necessity to distill all of what ails the world to five-second or fewer than five word snippets in order to garner the inattention of a guttersnipe would appear to be an utter waste of breath, and yet, there is an app for that. Call them what you will, “social” media apps, profligate in baloney and balderdash, are clearly frequented by every guttersnipe and Bandersnatch with a bankrupt brain. It is difficult, if nigh impossible, and certainly not at all practical to attempt to elevate the common guttersnipe from the gutter, but, those of us who know one when we see one still are wont to try.

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My Thoughts

Someone reminded me of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, a wonderful wonderland, indeed. The particular point of interest was Alice’s odd encounter with Humpty Dumpty and one portion of her conversation in particular. When Humpty Dumpty proclaims that he received his cravat as an un-birthday present, Alice asks “what is an un-birthday present?” “A present given when it isn’t your birthday, of course.”

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My Thoughts

Rational argument, honest debate, logic and reason have gone extinct! As gone as the dinosaur, the dodo, and some sightless bug you never knew nor cared existed. Irrational rant, mockery, and insult appear to be the only games in town, enjoyed by the tidal swamp of moral morons and intellectual cowards safely barricaded behind their thumbs on Facebook, Twitter, and whatever else falls under the category of anti-social media.

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July 24, 2020

In this issue:

Life as You Know It: Merely a matter of matter
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My Thoughts

The hypocrisy of some people—more noticeably, politicians, bureaucrats, and their media shills—should be cause for embarrassment, but it is not; like cringeworthy sunburn embarrassing or a mortifying case of heat rash, but it is not. Their overweening hubris denies any dis-ease or discomfiture over their sanctimonious dissembling for they are fully protected, having slathered themselves with a copious plaster of SPF-100 (Shame Protection Factor 100%.)

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My Thoughts

Have you ever tried to have a serious conversation with a know nothing true believer? You know, those who know what they know without knowing whether what they know to be true is even a distant relative to reality, or worst case, not knowing what they do not know but believing it, nevertheless. For the ones who so ardently believe they know the truth, no disprove is possible even though they have no proof to dislodge what they believe they know from the rocks in their heads.  The odds of changing such minds are as likely as asking a mountain to move a bit to the right so you can have a better view of a sunset.

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My Thoughts

Received a link to a video from a friend the other day, a real head-shaker, illustrative of the narcissistic madness infecting much of the country. This was one of Judge Judy’s many amazing cases from 1989 (youtube.com/watch?v=o2WH1bFLJmE). The plaintiff was a young black woman and the defendant was a young 16-year old black man who had knocked the plaintiff to the ground, grabbed her car keys, then drove off in her car. He was subsequently caught, indicted and convicted of the charges against him and placed on five years’ probation. The plaintiff was seeking compensation for damages caused by the defendant crashing her car while attempting to escape the police.

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