HOLDEN CAULFIELD IS ALIVE AND WELL...

I'm almost hesitant to jump into the massive collection of stories about J.D. Salinger's death last week. So many good articles have been written about the literary genius whose last days were spent in isolation in New Hampshire...away from the probing eyes of the public. Most of those articles were by people who either knew him, knew a lot about him, or did a pile of research over the past week to learn more about him. I am none of the above.

I'm just one of those aging alums of a college program that included The Catcher in the Rye on its reading list. I was captured and held hostage by Holden Caulfield, the 16-year-old who dared to do things about which I could only fantasize. In an art class (Painting Watercolors 101) I created my only watercolor worth saving. It was a scene depicting Holden and his less-than-successful experiment with a prostitute. My instructor said the painting was less than mediocre, but it revealed my deep respect for the person of Holden Caulfield.

As I have aged, the memory of Holden has faded to the point that I have decided to read the book again with new, but less than 20/20 eyes. I wonder if I will reconnect with Holden in the same way? Highly unlikely!

A young cleric friend of mine was smitten with Holden Caulfield to the point of establishing a branding of his theological and pastoral ministry around him. People my age thought he was "off a little" but soon realized that he had tapped into the hearts and minds of the young people with whom he was working in a brilliant way that none of them could even come close. When I heard about Salinger's death the other day the first thing I did was to research the email address of that no-longer-fresh-out-of-seminary cleric and express my condolences. He and Holden are inextricably tied together in my memory. Wasn't that a Holden Caulfield kind of thing to do?

Physical death has brought an end to the life and career of Salinger, but I am one of those who wonders if the past few decades of isolation in New Hampshire have been a desert of writing for him. Or...is there a chance that a body of hidden literature will find its way out of New Hampshire to capture our hearts and minds again the way it did when a younger Salinger presented the world with a library of unique fiction? I love to think so.

Another product of the same era which touched me in a special way was the soundtrack of the off-Broadway production Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris. The title was as captivating as the great music. I thought of it when I sat down to write this post and chose to capture its title to memorialize the death of Holden Caulfield's creator. Maybe, just maybe, there is more of this story to come.



Graphic Credit: http://thethingsyousaid.wordpress.com/2009/10/12/quarter-life-crisis-a-study-part-two/

AHA! MOMENT: exclamation of surprise or delighted discovery, c.1386, from ah + ha.

In spite of the fact that she has popularized the idea lately, Oprah Winfrey did not invent the term "AHA! MOMENT." It is a term with which I have been familiar throughout my life. But I have to admit that I was shocked to discover that it dates all the way back to the 14th Century! Dictionary.com reports that it was recorded in 1387 by Chaucer:

"They crieden out! ... A ha the fox! and after him thay ran."

I loved Chaucer's writing, so it pleases me to know that the recorded term can be attributed to him.

It's an amazing moment when "A Ha!" strikes me. I have been struggling with an idea, a concept, a problem and suddenly, out of nowhere, a solution pops into my mind and all is right with the world!

I had such a moment yesterday when I was talking with my friend, Bill, about the Tween novel I just finished. I'm ready to go to a publisher with it, and have been dreading the process. Getting a book...even a good one like this...into print is a draining, humiliating, and discouraging process.

Drawers full of rejection notices from agents and publishers are testimony to weeks, months, and sometimes years of pitching my work to people who seem to have consumed too much caffeinated coffee. It is a myth in the publishing world that writers are also good marketers. Believe me, the two things do not come in the same package. I told Bill that I dreaded the thought of tiptoeing into the process. He, also a writer, knew exactly what I was saying.

Then it happened. A HA! I can't remember who thought of it first...probably Bill.

* This is a Tween novel aimed at boys and girls between the ages of 8 and 14.

* This is the 21st Century.

* More than likely, these kids are going to read my book in electronic mode rather than in hard copy.

Now let me be clear: I have already said in a previous post that I have very romantic thoughts about kids reading my books in hard copy, smelling the ink, feeling the texture of the pages, placing a bookmark between the pages to mark the spot when it's time to turn out the light and go to bed. That's my image of reading, and it means a lot to me.

But reality can trump nostalgia, and this is one of those moments. If I truly expect to sell my "book" to kids I have to be realistic that they, unlike me, will be drawn to the electronic method of reading. Hopefully, there will be some who will want to purchase a hard copy; libraries (if they continue to exist) will stock hard copies; parents and grandparents will want to give the book as a gift. But, let's face it, the great bulk of sales will be online. It's time for me to be honest about it if I'm going to realize any income from this book.

There is some pain in recognizing this A HA! Moment. I hate to give in and admit when I'm wrong. But if I don't have to jump through all of those publishing hoops and cower before the agents and publishers, a little humility is worth it.

I don't have the foggiest idea how somebody puts a book for sale online. But I know who can lead me through that, and she will get a phone call or email today. Then someday, down the line, I'll contact the right people to see about getting the book in print. Maybe I'll self-publish just to accomplish that nostalgic task.

I just read this post to myself and realized that it sounds like I'm talking outloud, having a conversation with myself. But you are not eavesdropping (see yesterday's post below)...I invited you into this moment.



Dictionary Credits and Chaucer Quote: Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Photo Credit: uslaw.com

EAVESDROPPING: listening in on a neighbor's conversation.

When I took a writing course at Brown University two years ago we learned the techniques of eavesdropping in normal, everyday experiences. It was a good exercise in listening carefully to the ACTUAL way conversations emerge...not necessarily the way writers frequently like to depict them. Actual conversations between people aren't on point much of the time. People skip around like waterbugs, stimulated by a word spoken in the last exchange. Sometimes the speakers fail to return to the original point. It has become too confusing.

I had such an experience this afternoon. I was having lunch in a nice little restaurant with Bill, my writing friend. I began to tell him about my blog and the blogs I have begun to read on a regular basis.

I described to him a phenomenal written conversation in which I became involved the other day when reading and responding to the author of "You Don't Say." John McIntyre, the author and former editor for the Baltimore Sun, wrote a piece about split infinitives and ending a sentence with a preposition. I had been taught throughout my public school education and multiple university settings that the practice was verboten.

The point of the blog was to clarify that there is no such rule. I, like others, had been fed incorrect information by my teachers and professors. But, to cut to the bottom line, I spent almost the entire day on the computer commenting, reading, and then commenting again on the blog. Dozens of people became involved in the day-long conversation. Most were linguists or copy editors. But there were a few of us linguistic novices who entered in. It was great fun. In the end I conceded that they were right, and I had been duped by my teachers and professors.

I was describing this experience to my friend, Bill, when we realized that the young woman next to us was eavesdropping on our conversation. Amidst some laughter on all of our parts, she pointed out that she was, of all things, a graduate of Yale and Stamford, with Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in linguistics. Our conversation with her took a new turn, and I ended up having her agree to pull up John's blog and mine. She isn't employed in her field of study, so I think she was thrilled to have been a part of such an interesting discussion...which must have sounded bizarre to anyone else listening in on our conversation.

CONFIRMATION without CONFORMATION

CONFIRMATION: Something that confirms, as a corroborative statement or piece of evidence

CONFORMATION: The structure or outline of an item or entity, determined by the arrangement of its parts.




Well, as I somewhat expected, there has been speedy and ample response to the President's State of the Union Address by Members of Congress. Yesterday there were lots of stories about personal reactions, mostly from people like you and me. But by today the mutterings of Members of Congress are beginnning to slip out...and it's not all positive.

I perused the press pretty thoroughly yesterday and found a general nodding of the head and affirming of the thought that the President did a pretty good job of affirming his brand and establishing some goals for the leadership of our country in this difficult time. Most people weren't ecstatic, because there was nothing to be ecstatic about. The issues facing us are sobering, and the road to resolving those issues requires a lot of hard work, collaboration with those with whom one might disagree, and no certainty that a specific action will work. I don't think the President made it sound like a cake-walk. As expected, there was posturing and strong negative talk among most Republicans and Tea Party types.

But some Senators and Congress Members on both sides of the proverbial aisle are grousing today that they are slighted by the President having singled them out as part of the problem. Just like Justice Alito, who was seen smarting from having been identified as a member of a group who messed up in the President's eyes, some legislators are bristling at the suggestion that they need to adjust their methods of governance.

The Washington Post reported this morning, for instance, that feelings were damaged among Democrats.

Democrats left town early Thursday weighing their next steps on everything from the stalled health-care bill to competing job-creation packages. Before they departed, some criticized Obama for casting blame on the Senate, where moderates felt singled out for ridicule. Others sought to shift the burden to the GOP, latching on to Obama's call for Republicans to share responsibility for governing after a devastating special-election loss left Democrats a vote shy of a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate. Still others said the president's calls for bipartisanship were wishful thinking and suggested that daring Republicans to block their ambitious agenda would set up a "liberating" contrast for November's midterm elections.

I've been there...and probably you have been there also. It's hard to be on the sharp end of a "truth telling." I suspect that President Obama will feel a little bit of that this morning as well. It's not fun to be recognized by someone else...or by one's self...as being a part of the problem. Defensiveness arises in one's gullet before confirmation of reality takes over.

It takes even longer for conformation to kick it. Affirmation of the need to acknowledge one's culpability is required before a person or a group can join the process of fixing the situation. As children we experienced it as part of the learning process. Somehow, it was easier as a child to move on. Adults who are in the limelight as legislators, judges, and presidents might take longer.

The issues before us are urgent and require an adult affirmation of complicity fairly quickly so we can move on to doing something about the issues identified by The President on Wednesday night. Maybe a weekend away from the turmoil of Washington will help. I hope so.


Photo Credit: kunaljanu.wordpress.com
Definition Credits: Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.

ASIDE FROM THE WORDS

There is an abundance of opportunity for you to read the words of President Obama's State of the Union Address on the web, in the papers, and elsewhere today. I won't duplicate those opportunities here.

Rather, I thought I'd share a few "asides" which caught my attention. Please bear with me.

+ It always bothers me to have to watch the VP and the Speaker reacting. Very distracting.

+ Just once I'd love to hear a President say something like: "Look, folks, this annual event has become a circus. Let's hold the applause until after the speech and can the standing and sitting for the sake of the cameras. It makes this into a political ping pong match, and this stuff is too serious for that."

+ I know the rules don't allow the Supreme Court to react to the words of the President, but if that's the case, move them away from the front row and can the robes. Incidentally, I don't remember hearing a President take a jab at the SC before. They deserved his comment.

+ Bill Livingood,Sergeant-at-Arms of the House, who announces the presence of the President and then acts as his guide through the crowd, is a friend of mine. He never seems to age.

+ Humor (sometimes cutting as it was) found a home in the speech last night. At times it was more like a fireside chat than a State of the Union Address. That's not all bad.

+ I have never appreciated the "Response" from the other party after the Address. It signals a partisan flavor which I feel is over the top. Having said that, I thought Gov. McDonnell did a decent job of it.

+ We are getting much better at reading lips these days. Side comments by those attending aren't nearly as private as the whisperer thinks.

+ Watching last night made me wonder if maybe more progress would be made in the Congress if Members and Senators were seated by seniority instead of by party. Maybe the days of the other side of the aisle should be relegated to history. Wouldn't it be better if elected people had to talk on a daily basis with those from the other party rather than constantly reinforcing their opinions with colleagues from the same party? Chumminess can go only so far before it becomes a distraction and an excuse for stubbornness.

+ What's with the autograph session at the end? Aren't these people who see the President all the time? Don't they have plenty of opportunity to ask for his signature away from the State of the Union Address?

+ Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg is looking particularly frail these days. I suspect her recent illnesses have taken more of a toll than we have been told.

+ Wouldn't it be strange to have an unmarried President? To whom would the cameras point at those staged moments in a speech when everyone stands and turns (awkwardly) toward the First Lady?

+ Last night I rushed home from a basketball game (where Providence College drubbed Connecticut) to watch the Address. It helped my mood. I was anxious throughout the day anticipating the speech. My basketball euphoria gave the speech a lighter finish.


So...that's my semi-serious take on it for the day after the 2010 State of the Union Address by President Obama. Overall, I think he scored well in a troubled year. I'm curious to see how his expressed plans, hopes, and commitments will fly away from the television extravaganza.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS:

Alcoholics Anonymous® is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for AA membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions. AA is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution; does not wish to engage in any controversy, neither endorses nor opposes any causes. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety.

I had a dream tonight. It seems like the dream went on all night long, although I'm told that's unlikely. It seemed as if I was supposed to make my dream the topic of today's posting, but I've spent the past hour trying hard to reject it. There are lots of political issues swirling around out there, needing to be written about. Ultimately, I lost. Here is my dream.

An AA meeting is taking place in an Episcopal Church in a snowy Connecticut village. It's a pretty little church, and...it's a pretty large AA gathering. A man stands and says, "Hi, I'm Jim, and I'm an alcoholic." He then proceeds to tell the group that 14 years ago he was travelling through this town on his way to Boston. It, too, was a snowy night. He found himself in front of this church and realized that there was a crowd of people headed into the parish house. He followed them in and settled into a chair, only then discovering that he was in an AA meeting. He never had been to one before.

After listening to the testimonies for a few minutes he found himself on his feet facing the group. He began to speak. "Hi, my name is Jim. I have never said this before...but I'm an alcoholic." In the current meeting, Jim goes on to describe the response he had from the group that night 14 years ago and how it became the springboard for his sobriety. That was 14 years ago today. He now lives in Phoenix, Arizona. He wanted to come back to the meeting in this town to say 'thank you' for being there for him 14 years ago. It had been the best 14 years of his life.

My dream then takes a twist. A second man stands up and walks to the front of the hall. He looks at the crowd for a few moments and then says, "Hi, my name is Herm. It's strange, but I, too, came to this meeting 14 years ago on that same snowy night. I, too, never had attended an AA meeting, mainly because I don't drink. But that night, 14 years ago I stumbled into this meeting, not having anything to do in a small, snowy village in Connecticut where I was stranded.

I was a sales representative for a computerized personal sewing machine company, and I couldn't bear the thought of spending the evening alone. When I saw a crowd gathering here at St. Michael's Church, I followed them in. I'm Jewish, but for some reason I felt compelled to be here. It was a transforming experience.

I heard people talking about drinking and how it was ruining their lives. They couldn't beat it alone, so they came here to get help. As I said, I didn't drink...never had. But I was a compulsive, difficult person who made life miserable for people around me. My wife and children left me because I was so intolerant of them. As I listened, I saw myself in the stories being told. I started attending AA meetings that night, and have continued to do so for 14 years. I regained my family and eventually became the President of my company.

For several weeks now I have had the urge to come back here tonight to say 'Thank You' for being here 14 years ago. I'm grateful for your hospitality and your grace. As I started to say, 'My name is Herm, and I'm a compulsive person.'"

And then, in my dream, a third person stood and moved to the front of the meeting. She stood awkwardly at the podium, and then, in a shaky voice said, "Hello, my name is Margaret. I'm addicted to prescription drugs. I'm an addict."

Margaret then went on to say that it was weird, but that she, too, was in this meeting 14 years ago tonight. She was in town visiting her niece and went out for a walk in the beautiful snow. She walked by St. Michael's Church and saw a crowd of people inside the warm parish house. She was cold, so she opened the door and stepped in just to get warm before continuing her walk.

But as she listened to the testimonies of the people attending the meeting, she began to weep. She knew that her addiction to prescription drugs was killing her, and that she had lost her "real self" more than a year previously. Now she had become a person who couldn't function without her drugs. The addiction had stolen her humor, her creativity, and her zest for life. She didn't stand up in front of the group that night 14 years earlier, but she did make a promise to herself to overcome her addiction. She has been attending AA and Narcotics Anonymous meetings regularly for the past 14 years. This past year she was elected State Senator in her home state and knew that it would have been impossible without her having become a recovering addict. She wanted to come back these 14 years later to say "Thank You" and to assure the people there that AA had saved her life.

That was my dream. It didn't go anyplace. I'm not an alcoholic. I'm somewhat compulsive about some things, but they are more irritating and humorous than debilitating. And I'm not addicted to prescription drugs. The dream wasn't about me...specifically. But in a sense it was. It was a mirror being held up in front of me. I'm going to spend some time processing this dream...maybe even talk to someone who's good at that. I think there's a message in it for me.

Graphic Credit: Copyright © by The A.A. Grapevine, Inc

THE STATE OF THE UNION: more than an address

We are just one day away from President Obama's first official State of the Union Address, and I am anxious. Oh, he will present it with great oratory skill, and there will be the usual applause, standing, sitting, and ceremony to which I have referred before. It's not the presentation which gives me anxiety...it is the plan which begins a minute after the speech which makes me nervous.

This President who was elected by a massive, trusting electorate, is struggling to be effective just one year later. Not only are his polls down, but even among supportive people like myself, there is a growing sense of impotence in the job. It has taken less than a year for the hope of a new democracy to fade to a disappointment level which frightens me.

A disclaimer: I have not given up on Barack Obama's ability to govern this nation. I continue to believe in him and to support him. But I would be less than honest if I didn't express a concern about his governance quotient. We're not getting where we want to be and the credentials required to get there are fading into the mist.

I want to be perfectly candid and say that I believe this is a direct result of the betrayal of Democrats. I was tempted to lengthen that sentence to add softer qualifiers, but I won't. I think it stands by itself. The Party which selected Obama, groomed him, encouraged him, fought for him, and spent an enormous amount of time and money getting him elected ran for cover at the first signs of faltering. I believe he has received bad advice from administration leaders and party leaders who then avoided blame and scurried into the mist, leaving him standing alone at difficult times. I am shocked at the intimidation I have sensed in men and women who should be strong.

There is no question that the President has pursued causes which have brought about doubt...and even anger. It is the kind of anger that has rallied his opponents and strengthened the Independents and cross-over Republicans who took a risk and supported him for election. The Massachusetts senatorial election was a barometer of that emotion.

The Health Care debacle has been poorly managed and is now almost an embarrassment. Making it the hallmark of his young presidency may have been too much, too soon. The crisis in the economy deserves greater attention, and the Health Care battle, important as it is, sticks out as a denial of urgent priorities.

There was a time in October and November when a bipartisan bill was attainable; Democratic party leaders rejected it to fight for personal agendas...and it is those personal agendas which have eaten away at the cause bringing it to a place where the whole thing could fail. Ideological footstomping and mudslinging (on both sides of the aisle) destroyed what could have been a historic victory for this President. Should he have played a different role in the debate? Probably. He trusted his leadership and they were not trustworthy.

Now I see Democratic leadership abandoning ship at a time when they are most needed. Their eyes are on their own political ambitions and not on the promise of a new way of governing which they promised a year ago. It is clear that the electorate is charged up with anger and the November elections will be difficult and risky. Those who place themselves in positions of leadership for this country should be willing to bulk up and restore faith in a new democracy instead of cowering in the mist watching Obama's credibility fade.

President Obama is not immune from criticism. This has been a year of learning for him. But the experienced leadership surrounding him has not been effective in assisting him through a difficult time.

It is not too late for President Obama to regain momentum. This is only the first of four years of his term as President. Our expectations and hopes need not disappear. But this is not a time to exercise denial and a puffy "stand fast" with the existing agenda. The State of the Union address he delivers tomorrow night and the plan he articulates must be about restoring faith in his ability to govern. In order for that to happen the people who believe in him and have agreed to serve with him must stand up and cheer...not at the speech...but at the revised agenda which is necessary and attainable.

Someone in last night's news used the phrase that President Obama needs to "lead with his heart and not his brain." I don't want him to abandon his intelligence in favor of his emotions. But a healthy combination of them would be a welcome sight at The State of the Union address.

Photo Credit:AP Photo/Gerald Herbert

ETHNICITY:

Identity with or membership in a particular racial, national, or cultural group and observance of that group's customs, beliefs, and language.

Watching the horror and chaos in Haiti over the past week has given me pause to think about the rich ethnicity which exists in our own country. It is often a source of negativity by some, but for me it is a richness which we too easily deny. It would appear that in places like Haiti there is a monochromatic population for the most part. In the U.S. we would be hard pressed to identify the singularity of ethnic background of even a tiny community.

At one point we lived just a few miles from Hamtramck, a tiny city which was known as a Polish city right smack in the middle of metropolitan Detroit. There was some truth to its origin and its ethnic purpose in carving itself out from the larger city. But the reality was that it, too, was a multi-ethnic city, in spite of its attempt to isolate itself as being "Polish." I was a part of a group placing immigrants from a variety of origins in Hamtramck, partly because they would find there a population familiar to them in their homelands. The myth of monochromatic ethnicity was just that...a myth.

My wife has a staff of forty people in the facility where she is the Director. Those forty people represent fifteen different countries of birth, ranging from Korea to the Dominican Republic. Six of those people are native to Haiti, incidentally. Her staff is a mosaic of language, skin color and tradition. In that sense, it is a microcosm of the United States.

I like to use the word mosaic to describe our country. It is an art form which utilizes different sizes, shapes, colors and hues of colors, placed side by side to form a beautiful, larger art image. Many people use the words melting pot to describe America. But have you ever thought about the color of molten metal in a melting pot? It is gray...and that isn't the most beautiful color I can imagine.

I love it when we can celebrate our multiple ethnicities in our country. But it bothers me deeply when I hear complaints and rants against people who are supposedly "different from us." Who the heck is "us?" Even in the earliest days of our nation's settlement by people of foreign nations we were never monochromatic...it just happened to be that northern Europeans were the ones writing the history books, and their selfish bias dominated the project.

Photo Credit: © Hsandler | Dreamstime.com
Definition Source:The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved

BOO: an exclamation of contempt or disapproval

We went to a basketball game last night that should have been a resounding victory for the home team. Throughout the game the home team led by a serious margin and played like champions. In the closing minutes of the game the style of play evaporated and the visiting team took advantage of it. Regulation time ended in a tie, and in overtime the visiting team prevailed.

The large, otherwise supportive and festive crowd booed.

It was a surprise to hear the sound coming from the previously ecstatic crowd. I saw the coach of the home team stare into the crowd several times, as shocked by the sound as we were. It occurred to me that boo is a word that describes a sound of disapproval from a gathering of people who wish to remain anonymous and ambiguous.

I’m not sure which message the booing sound was supposed to convey.

*Did the crowd want the home team to know that they didn’t like them anymore, having been let down by the loss?
*Was the crowd booing the coach, the team members, the officials, or the other team for having embarrassed the home team?
* Was the boo an intentional sound, thought out and chosen as a means of expressing displeasure, or was it spontaneous, coming from the depths of disappointment and unable to be contained?

It doesn’t really matter. The booing was effective. It sent a negative message to the team and the coaches. “This was not a good outcome.” I’m sure that the post-game comments from the coach made sure that the team members knew that they had let the crowd down. That may not be the only object of the game, but it counts for something. Several thousand people gave up an evening, spent good money, and came to the game expecting a quality performance. They got it for most of the game, but then had it snatched away in the last few minutes as the home team became overconfident/sloppy/unresponsive…you choose the right word.

I’m not sure why I’m writing about this on this somber Sunday morning, except to note that while I was not one of the persons who booed I felt the same disappointment and discouragement with the outcome.

However, I think booing is cruel; it pierces the already deflated hearts of the players. I suppose some people think it might rally them the next time. I’m not sure that it works that way. But while I slept peacefully this past night, I’ll bet the coach and at least some of the players on the home team tossed and turned, hearing that awful sound in their heads.

On a scale of importance in the larger scheme of things, I might rate this issue a 2 out of 10. But, as I have said before in other blog postings, the smaller issues matter. They may be vaporous, lasting only for the season of one day, but they can be long-lasting in the memories of those on the receiving end of the issue. I'm not judging those who booed. In my heart I was one of them.

Definition: Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Photo Credit: Copyright © 2009 CBS Interactive Inc.

A BOOK, A SUNNY DAY, AND A GOOD FEELING

Yesterday was one of those days when I didn't feel like doing much. No particular reason...I just wanted to crash. Consequently, I picked up a James Patterson paperback novel, Pop Goes the Weasel, and spent part of the day in our sun room remembering Alex Cross and his morally-laced detective escapades. It's an old one, 1999, but I can't keep up with Patterson, so I pick and choose and try hard to keep them in order. It was a good read.

When I had finished it was one of those melancholy moments when I hated to read the last page and close the book. Patterson has a style of writing which brings out the character of Alex Cross in such a way that I know him. He's a good friend. I hated to see him get on the plane and leave after a too-short visit.

Books do that to me. It's not only about fantasy and tapping that part of my brain that relishes a good chase or a testy courtroom scene. It's also about becoming re-acquainted with good friends, visiting a new place, learning a new technique, or just plain enjoying release from the current mode. I relish good writing...the kind of writing that, when finished with a book, I lean back and say to myself, "Damn, that was good!"

I can't do that with an electronic book or a computerized article. There are different forms of appreciation which accompany electronically-processed literature and material, and some of them are really positive. But it's not the same as the page-turning, coffee-spilled-on-a page, move-the-bookmark reading of a real book.

About once a year I feel the need to rant about this topic. It's my chance to report the good feeling that comes from having seen a young girl pouring over a copy of a Harry Potter book. She and I both know that there are movies about the same story out there, and, in all probability, the kid will have seen it or is planning to see it. But the reading of the book is an experience that excites another part of that kid's brain.

The other night I was at a meeting where the woman behind me loaned me a pen to sign a form. She also loaned me the book she was reading to use as a hard surface to write on, and she beamed as she told me about the book she was reading. It was a very sweet moment in the midst of a contentious meeting.

On New Year's eve one of my best friends handed me a book to read in a genre I would never have chosen myself. It is a book of short pieces written by a fly fisherman, a sport I've never tried. He encouraged me to put my prejudices about fly fishing aside and read the stories. They are wonderful little vignettes which transport me to a place I've never been...kind of like going to Montana for the first time.

The same thing happened a month ago when an old friend loaned me a book about sailing...an activity that makes me sea sick. Same experience...it doesn't matter what the venue is, the writing is good and the stories are worth remembering.

My point...a pretty transparent one...is that the value of reading is enhanced many-fold by holding a book in one's hand. Reading is an intellectual activity involving some pretty sophisticated brain functions. But it is also tactile, involving the feel of the page between one's fingers. It also involves an olfactory sense. The smell of a good book is unlike any other scent I know. I promise, I won't go through all the senses...you get the point.

I've just finished writing a Tween novel, and the enticements to publish it online are great. It is easier than searching for an agent or a publisher. It takes a lot less time. It is much less expensive than paper publishing. But I don't want to deprive those kids of the opportunity to hold my book in their hands, to place it on their reading shelf when they have finished it, or to stuff it into their knapsack to lug around to read whenever the spirit moves them. Maybe, just maybe, I'll walk into my favorite coffee place and see a kid reading it. Wouldn't that be the best?

Photo Credit: booksonthenightstand.com

INFORMATION IMPERIALISM

"[T]he creation and maintenance of an unequal economic, cultural and territorial relationship, usually between states and often in the form of an empire, based on domination and subordination."

That is the definition Wikipedia gives to the word imperialism. It implies a forceful, aggressive tactic, specifically aimed at "taking over" a country for expansion of a nation's influence. In history it is represented by such events as the creation of the British Commonwealth by expansion into colonies all over the world. The United States also has been identified as imperialistic, demonstrated, for example, by occupation of The Philippines until its independence in 1946.

An interesting perspective was offered by Mark Twain on the occupation of the Philippines:

"I have read carefully the treaty of Paris, and I have seen that we do not intend to free, but to subjugate the people of the Philippines. We have gone there to conquer, not to redeem. It should, it seems to me, be our pleasure and duty to make those people free, and let them deal with their own domestic questions in their own way. And so I am an anti-imperialist. I am opposed to having the eagle put its talons on any other land."

Today the Associated Press published that the Chinese government has objected to an online appearance by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton being seen in China, calling it Information Imperialism. I suppose it is dangerous to focus on an article that is barely hours old, but the term is fascinating, even apart from the article.

The Chinese government is accusing the U.S. of using the Internet as a weapon to "dominate and subordinate" the Chinese people with words. It is too early to either reject or support the accusation, but the concept deserves attention.

There are other examples of intentional interjection of ideology over the air waves,such as Radio Free Europe. But the Chinese accusation takes the concept to a new level, charging that the US is interfering with the stability of China and exercising imperialistic intent.

I doubt that anyone could believe that the US would have visions of taking over the nation of China. However, the concept of influencing the thinking of Chinese people is credible. In the past few weeks China has instituted a practice of intercepting the use of Google in the nation, causing Google to threaten to withdraw its company's product from Chinese Internet.

My interest in this debate is focused on the power of words. I'm fascinated with the realization that the two major powers in the world have identified the ability of words to do what military aggression cannot do: take over the thinking of an entire nation. That's awesome when you think about it.

Maybe we take the power of words too casually because we, in the U.S., are bombarded with words constantly. It is second nature to us to be on the receiving end of advertising, political rhetoric, commentary, and the millions of other ways spoken and written words invade our minds. But I suppose in a place like China, where the spread of information is measured and restricted, the leaders of the nation can see more clearly the potential danger of words.

It will be interesting to see how this U.S./China/Google episode plays out. But it is clear to me that at this point a new phrase with huge implications has entered our lexicon. A phrase which should not be taken lightly.

Photo Credit: "The Power of Words" http://www.lostateminor.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/rom-words.jpg

MALWARE:Malicious computer software that interferes with normal computer functions or sends personal data... to unauthorized parties over the Internet

My laptop took a dive on me last week. Right in the middle of writing an important piece everything froze, including my heartbeats. I'm not very good at computer repair and depend a lot on my friend Joe, whose business, Geek Network, responds at a moment's notice. He is amazing.

I called Joe and within five minutes he had identified the problem and had me back at work on my writing. He told me that I had a malware problem. We downloaded a new piece of software and off I went on my piece.

Malware, I am told is a malicious entity. That really ticks me off. It means that someone, someplace in the world, has introduced a disabling mechanism into my computer just for the fun of it. That person gets nothing out of it other than the pleasure of knowing that I have been disabled by his/her invasion of my private laptop. That is sick.

I've been thinking about malware all week. I can't begin to understand the technology of it, but the concept is clear. Obviously, some people get pleasure out of disrupting things. Get where I'm going?

You're right. I'm thinking about political malware. I don't know if there is such a term, but I'll risk that for the sake of this blog posting. Political malware is material introduced into the political process for no other purpose than to disrupt the flow of governance. It can take numerous forms:

* Gossip about a person in government which is untrue, but juicy.
* Frivolous amendments to serious legislation.
* Filibustering over a minor disagreement with legislation.
* Inappropriate ideological objections.

This isn't a complete list, but you get the point. Political malware may be introduced by a nasty legislator, but it is encouraged and promoted by talk radio and TV which incites the public and promotes ignorance at the expense of progress. Add to that the expansive use of personal communication tools like Facebook and Twitter and you have a combination that potentially can do serious damage. The legislator or talk show commentator can claim that the source is anonymous, out there in the public, unable to be identified, thus protecting his/her back.

As with computer malware I have to wonder what motivates the use of political malware. I suspect it is a striving for power, in this case the power to destroy. As I said earlier...that is sick.



Definition:The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

IT'S TIME FOR AN OVERVIEW: my list of one-liner thoughts for today

* It has been one year since Barack Obama became President; the polls are shaky but I'm still optimistic.

* I'm okay with Tiger Woods returning to the tournaments; his personal life will take years to mend, but he shouldn't let his talents get rusty.

* I like Mark Murray, Deputy Political Director for NBC; his balanced blog today at First Read is worth reading.

* Hillary Clinton has done a commendable job as Secretary of State; her quiet, firm hand has helped rebuild confidence in the U.S. internationally.

* It's time for NBC-TV, Conan O'Brien, and Jay Leno to stop getting so much press; it's only a TV show.

* My favorite NCAA basketball team, the Syracuse Orange,is inspiring; I refuse to jinx them by speculating on such things as Final Four or NCAA Championship.

* I'm ready for Spring.

* Regarding the loss of the Senate Seat in Massachusetts: when pointing fingers how about those really good, qualified, potential Democratic candidates who wouldn't step up to allow themselves to be nominated?

* Yesterday it was announced that the Boston Red Sox pitchers and catchers are headed to Florida for early Spring Training; can a season be far behind?

* Vincent "Buddy" Cianci in public office again? You have to be kidding.

* The original Tea Party patriots dressed as Native Americans when dumping tea into Boston Harbor; I'm trying to picture Rush Limbaugh in a loincloth.

* I was pleased that Meryl Streep won a Golden Globe award; she is amazing.

* Chris Dodd (D-CT) did the right thing; it's a model for some other Democrats: secure a good successor and then get out.

* The Governor of North Dakota is the longest-serving Governor right now, having been elected in 2001; can you believe that Arnold Schwarzenegger has served in California only since 2003?

* I just finished John Grisham's book of short stories, Ford Country; I liked it.

* This getting up before dawn to write this blog has got to stop; I keep falling asleep over lunch; it's embarrassing in a restaurant!

POPULISM:any of various, often antiestablishment or anti-intellectual political movements or philosophies that offer unorthodox solutions or policies

Populism is rampant in this country right now. It's not the first time that populism has emerged in political seasons, but it is particularly strong right now as a reaction to an administration which has challenged the status quo in a serious manner.

The economic crisis which affected the United States and the entire world this past 18 months brought with it massive unemployment, business failures, loss of housing, and near-Depression statistics. The Bush and Obama administrations both instituted huge, costly stop-guards which prevented the economy from slipping over the edge into a replication of the Great Depression. The populists jumped on this as unnecessary, big government, socialist behavior and began to utilize fear and anger as responses to a difficult situation.

The Obama administration's push for health care reform at the same time only further incensed the populists, and the Republican conspiracy to undermine President Obama at every turn fueled the fires of populism. The so-called "Tea Party" demonstrations this past summer encouraged the anti-government, anti-incumbent mindset that is showing itself in the lead-up to the 2010 mid-term elections.

Today the preliminary bout of that boxing match takes place in Massachusetts, where a lively, well-organized populist,Republican candidate Scott Brown, is waging a battle against Democratic candidate Martha Coakley, whose campaign has been rusty. Last minute infusions of energy from President Obama and Vicki Kennedy, the late Senator's wife, may be too much too late for Coakley, who has missed signals and failed to connect with the voters.

A victory by Brown, who has sworn that if elected he will be the 41st, crippling vote against the proposed Health Care legislation, would be a new blow to the Obama administration. Republican victories in Virginia and New Jersey have signaled a political distrust of the current administration. It also signals an anti-incumbency threat for the 2010 elections.

There is no question that the Coakley campaign left much to be desired. And the Obama administration has tripped over the rug a number of times recently in missing political signals. But a Brown victory would re-inforce the anti-intellectual populist movement and jeopardize a progressive, important agenda which is necessary to meet current domestic and international demands. The focus would shift from the "long term" to the "short term," a shift that so frequently brings immediate relief to the public but fails to reinforce the foundation that will be required down the road.

Seldom has a 24 hour period in mid-year carried such a significant political impact.

Dictionary Credit: Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Photo Credit: crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/right-wing-p...

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

“A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus.”

Photo Credit: blackpast.org

SUPPLANTER: a person who steals or undermines someone else's rightful possession.

Ghiberti's depiction of The Blessing of Jacob illustrates the biblical story of Jacob who pretends to be his brother, Esau, and steals his blind father's blessing. (Genesis 25) It is a complicated story, involving the unscrupulous maneuvering of Rebekah, Jacob's mother. You have to read the reference to get the full story.

But this biblical story has led to the meaning of the name, Jacob. All of us who have received the name Jacob or other derivatives of that name have inherited the dark tradition of supplanter, one who steals a birthright. The term supplanter is not restricted to people with names like Jacob or James, however. Anyone who undermines or steals recognition from someone is known as a supplanter.

It's not a bad time to add this word to your lexicon. We have just entered a political season when the issue becomes common. It seems that one of the political methods receiving the "Most Effective" award is that of destroying the reputation or discrediting the accomplishments of one's opponent.

I have quoted Shakespeare's words from Othello here before, but it is worth repeating:

Who steals my purse steals trash; but he who from me filches my good name takes not that which enriches him, but leaves me a poor man indeed."

I wonder what a political campaign would look like if the candidate seriously refused to engage in the kinds of character assassination and smear tactic which dominate our American method of campaigning. It isn't as easy as one might think.

The public demands a response to a charge. If one's political opponent publishes an allegation and the one who is charged does not respond, he or she is labelled as "weak" or "unresponsive." Negative political points accumulate and can defeat the candidate. American voters have seen too much television and drool at the thought of a battle, in spite of the fact that its major accomplishment is to mask the real issues. If I'm a candidate and want to avoid discussion of my voting record on a specific topic, I can charge my opponent with some frivolous or even false offense and the media and the public will chew on that for weeks. The juicier the charge, the more credibility it gains. I have effectively supplanted my opponent's credentials and good name.

An industry which has arisen from this devious practice is that of Truth Checking. Entrepreneurial types have opened whole offices of investigators who check the truthfulness of a candidate's comments. But, like any rumor or false charge, once it has been made, the ability to pull it back 100% is almost negligible.

The onus for overcoming a candidate's supplanting technique may be upon the shoulders of the voter. Checking allegations, discussing them with other voters, and directly challenging the candidate who has made the charges may be the best way to diminish the effectiveness of a supplanting technique. The candidate who has been charged wrongly may be the least successful person to refute the charges, instead signalling defensiveness and potential guilt. (That's why candidates need a staff person to speak for them.)

Campaigns have become nasty, frequently focused on matters that have nothing to do with the issues facing a constituency. Shame on us for letting that happen and for perpetuating the practice.

PRAGMATIST: a person who is oriented toward the success or failure of a particular line of action, thought, etc

As his popularity ratings have slipped to lower levels, President Obama has been portrayed more and more as a pragmatist. Those two factors reflect each other better than one might think at first glance.

If The President were interested primarily in being popular, he would undertake a path of activity which would not rile the emotions of people. He would avoid difficult decisions and do only those things which made people feel good. There is precedent for this kind of presidency, and I'm sure it has been pointed out to President Obama numerous times by nervous party leaders. It clearly is an easier way to go, and the results...on a short-time basis...can be affirming.

But that is not the course the President Obama has chosen. Consequently, the pragmatist label has emerged. He is someone who wants to "get things done." Pragmatically, it is clear that there is a small window for a President to act within. In this case, the window is defined by the ability to garner 60 Democratic votes in the Senate. Most political commentators indicate that the likelihood of there being that block of Democratic voters in the Senate after the 2010 elections is minimal.

As a result, there is a pragmatic rush to achieve specific platform issues while the possibility of passage still exists. There have been lots of critical comments directed toward President Obama for his timetables on Health Care legislation, for instance. Some depict this as a personal trait of impatience on his part. To the contrary, President Obama can be a very patient person...sometimes to a fault. But the legislative clock is ticking and if he wants Health Care reform to take place in his administration it has to be accomplished prior to the 2010 elections. That is a practical...pragmatic...act on his part.

The emotional quotient to be assessed in this pragmatic climate is the degree to which pragmatism about transformational legislation can be tolerated by the public. It requires a prioritization of his agenda...and clearly Health Care Reform is high on that list.

There was no question that economic stability ranked even higher on that agenda, and The President acted quickly and forcefully in bringing about huge financial support for a rapidly-failing economy. There is almost no debate among credible economists that the activity he undertook was necessary...vital...to preventing a repeat of the Great Depression. The larger elements of his economic plan...undertaken within days of his inauguration...seem to have been successful in preventing that disaster.

Some of the related issues, such as job creation, have been too slow in recovering, leading many to criticism about "big government" as the solution to our problems. I think that this is a process depending heavily upon industry's taking the same kind of bold steps toward recovery, risking at the same level as he has required the government to risk. So far, I haven't seen that activity emerging from an overly-cautious private sector. Evidently pragmatism is not as forth-coming when the money has to come directly from one's own corporate pockets.

I am confident that Health Care Reform of one kind or another will be enacted soon. It still is difficult to predict what its final form will look like. And it is clear that the government will continue to be fully engaged in working to bring about economic stability.

The question before President Obama is how far his pragmatic approach to governance can go. The shuffling of his agenda may require a very pragmatic response: regain the confidence of his Party and the American people. It would appear to me that it is time for some smaller, emotionally-satisfying successes by this Administration to which they can point in the 2012 elections. That, from my perspective, is a very pragmatic plan.


Photo Credit: blackvoices.com

VINEYARD: a sphere of activity, esp. on a high spiritual plane.

This morning I awoke on Martha's Vineyard, one of our favorite get-aways. It's only an hour and a half from our house, so it's not the chore getting here that you might imagine if you live at a distance. Having a daughter living here makes it possible to get here with some frequency. The ride on the ferry both ways is an experience in itself.

I suspect there are one or two actual grape-growing vineyards on this oddly-shaped island off the coast of Massachusetts. But the definition I chose for this word is much more appropriate. It is a frequent biblical reference, with people speaking about "toiling in the vineyard." It means that they are "about doing God's work." There was a time when Martha's Vineyard was dominated (to some extent) by a huge Methodist enclave in Oak Bluffs, one of the larger communities on the island. But today the Island is much more New Age and secular. There are lots of deeply religious people who are prominent here, but there are also lots of people who pride themselves on being agnostic or atheistic. That,too, is a topic of another posting at another time.

What makes "the Vineyard" appealing to me is the huge population of writers, artists, musicians, and interestingly-outspoken people. You can't enter a bookstore, gallery, or coffee shop without the possibility of rubbing elbows with them. There is an unwritten rule on the Vineyard that you don't smother famous people. They are here to live their lives normally or to spend a few days relaxing. Good hospitality requires respect for privacy...and people on the Vineyard do that really well.

For someone like me it is a treat to take advantage of the writing resources on the Vineyard. I participated in the Chilmark Writing Workshop last summer. I'm in regular contact with a blogging expert, Julie Roads, whose blog, Writing Roads, is a must for me on a daily basis. (She is assisting me in upgrading this blog, so stay tuned in...in a short period of time you'll see a new face on The Penultimate Word.) One evening I was the guest of a famous author and her writing group as they sorted through the five soon-to-be-famous novels they were writing. Talk about being in Heaven!

But this morning, as I look out the window and see the ocean I'm not wallowing in working matters. I'm just awed by the beauty and the peacefulness of this island paradise. Probably there are people who would not be taken with Martha's Vineyard, but I haven't met them yet.

I have to run. Time for breakfast at the ArtCliff...one of the best breakfast places I have frequented...ever. See you tomorrow back home.

Photo Credit: © 1998-2010 HowStuffWorks, Inc.

Definition Credit: Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 16 Jan. 2010. .

Éminence grise: A person who wields power behind the scenes

An eminence grise exists because there is a gap in leadership. During the George W. Bush administration, for instance, it is understood by many that Vice-President Richard Cheney was the source of policy in the absence of strong leadership by President Bush. Whether that was as true as his critics claim or not, the perception was clear. It would be difficult to eliminate that understanding.

Just thinking about this brought me to the current administration. It would be a natural thing to ask 'Who is the eminence grise, the power behind the throne of President Obama?' I don’t get the sense that anyone speaks for Barack Obama.

The President has surrounded himself with such people as Hillary Clinton, Rahm Emanuel, Nancy Pelosi, and Timothy Geitner. Just let those names roll off your tongue. They, and dozens of others like them, have huge amounts of power in the specific environments where they function. But the operative question is, does any one of these people have the ability to speak for the President or unduly influence him in the creation of policy? I think not. He is a strong, intelligent man with more than a sufficient quantity of self-determination.

That is not to say that The President cannot be influenced. I am convinced that Timothy Geitner and his finance gurus have done a huge amount of teaching and lobbying for decisions over the past year. It would be ludicrous to think that Secretary of State Clinton has not exercised some pressure on the President to develop a perspective on foreign policy which reflects her opinions. Is there anyone who believes that Rahm Emmanuel has not made known to the President some thoughts about governance of the country? And clearly, Nancy Pelosi has run the legislative process with a limited amount of restraint from the White House. But that is not the same thing as being “the power behind the throne.” Those people, whether we like them or agree with them or not, are doing what they were asked to do. And they do it well.

I suspect we might be surprised to know how much influence Vice-President Biden has on the President. He is cast by the media as a bungling, cartoonish character. But he is a wise and knowledgeable diplomat in the area of foreign policy. I suspect his influence is much greater than we might think.

I will risk a little and say that I think Michelle Obama has a significant influence on the decision-making of the President. He respects her intelligence and she certainly has access to him. Pillow talk can be powerful, and I would not begin to imagine that her engagement in pillow talk about issues facing the President has not been influential.

Overall, however, I am confident that the President of the United States, Barack Obama, is a man who establishes the bottom line. I think that is why he is not prone to quick, knee-jerk reactions. He is criticized for taking time to bring forth decisions. Not by me. I suspect that this “lag time” is the opportunity for him to talk in depth with his advisors, weigh their input, and develop a decision that is clear, and that he can promote without hesitation.

I suspect also that at the present time there is no one “behind the throne” who fills the definition of eminence grise.

ENOUGH SAID ! !

The need is too great to trivialize it by comment. Donate to Red Cross, Salvation Army, or whatever legitimate cause works for you.

CONNECT THE DOTS: a metaphor to illustrate a person's ability (or inability) to associate one idea with another

There is a puzzle game called “Connect the Dots.” Sometimes it was called “Follow the Dots.” I used to play it when I was a kid. It wasn’t the most imaginative puzzle. There would be a page with lots and lots of numbers spread all over it. The idea was to begin with 1 and then draw a line to 2, then 3, and so on until all the dots had been connected. When I was finished the lines I had drawn would have created a drawing of a dog, elephant, or some other figure of interest to children.

Who would have thought that decades later the connect the dot theme would be prominent in serious media? Let me just ask you: "How many times since Christmas Day have you heard the term “connect the dots?” I’ll bet it’s in the dozens and dozens…maybe even hundreds. Politicians, commentators and journalists have embraced the term to describe what they believe to have been the failure to stop the “underwear bomber” (Farouk Abdulmutallab) from getting on an airplane in Amsterdam and flying to Detroit. Thankfully, the explosives he had concealed in his briefs failed to explode. The usual comment is “The government failed to connect the dots in order to prevent this near-tragedy.”

It’s true. There were all kinds of pieces of information about the terrorist that emerged right in front of the experts. They all recognized these bits of information as important…important enough to make note of them and add them to a file. But nobody put the information together in any kind of merge document to prevent him from trying to kill hundreds of people over Detroit.

To press the metaphor further, it would be as if some of the dots on the page were missing or numbered incorrectly. The gaps between them prevented the person drawing to complete a picture that made sense to anyone. Some would say that the puzzle was complete but there was no one playing it.

You can see how the metaphor gets stretched. But the bottom line is that the good thing coming out of this near-tragedy is that the anger of the President, his strong direction to the Intelligence Community, and the promise on the part of the Intelligence community to increase vigilance have diminished the likelihood of this happening again.

One point being made following this episode is that the intelligence operations worked to the point of gathering the vital information. What failed was the next step…connecting the information to identify a potential crisis. That’s the same thing that happened prior to the 9/11 crisis. There was intelligence that a plot was in process. The terrorists’ activities fit the criteria of suspicion. Nobody connected the dots to realize that a crisis was happening. Incidentally, in spite of Rudolph Guliani's attempt to re-write history, that crisis did happen during the Bush administration.

In this age of super-communication that shouldn’t happen. Several hours ago my computer notified me that a virus was attempting to invade my computer. It stimulated a process to detect the virus, identify it, and eliminate it. Within 4 minutes the computer crisis was over and I was safe to continue working on my computer. If that can happen on my relatively inexpensive laptop, a potential terrorist plot should be able to be stopped.

I don’t believe this is a political issue relative to a specific administration. It is an issue within the intelligence community and its need to get the point and do something about it. I sure hope so. This is not a child’s game on a piece of paper. It is a matter of life and death.

Photo Credit: forteachersonly.com

COMEDY: Popular entertainment composed of jokes, satire, or humorous performance.

My first thought when someone mentions the word comedy is a play with a happy ending. In literary circles it is the antonym of tragedy, a play concluding with a serious, sometimes sad ending.

But a more current definition of comedy is the one listed in the title of today's blog posting. And, to be honest, I suspect it is the more popular definition of the word, even though dictionaries tend to put it further down on the list of acceptable definitions.

All of this is brought to mind, of course, by the conflict between NBC-TV and comedian Conan O'Brien. In brief, NBC-TV wants to return Jay Leno to the golden hour of 11:35 p.m. and bump O'Brien to post-midnight. O'Brien has said "no" and the conflict is about to head toward legal negotiations. That's the thumbnail sketch. There is a lot more involved, but that's for another posting on somebody else's blog.

What this has done for me is to highlight the differences between my taste in humor and that of the current "younger" generations. I'm not drawn to humor for humor's sake as taste unto itself. I never lusted after Seinfeld, although what I saw of it made it clear that it was ground-breaking and incorporated very talented actors.

In a discussion with my daughter about comedy I suggested that my generation was born into families which had experience the Great Depression, World War II, and The Korean War in rapid succession. Life was serious and didn't come with easy routes. My own generation experienced Vietnam, the JFK assassination and the Nixon era at a time when TV served a different purpose. The humorous escape we found included Milton Berle, Lucille Ball, and Carol Burnett. It was situational in a world that didn't provide for total escape. The writing seemed more serious.

Even when the Late Show was emerging with Steve Allen, Jack Paar and Johnny Carson the show format seemed to be laced to a greater degree by serious interviews and less frivolous catering to Hollywood. Maybe that's revisionary, but it seems that way to me. I have the same feeling about The Today Show which seems to spend too much time (for my taste) focusing on Hollywood and the entertainment industry. It used to be a far more constant source of good news and commentary.

TV is driven by ratings and advertising. My desires and nostalgic drifting is of less concern to them than the purchasing power of people under the age of 50. Their tastes in programming differ from mine. They can't wait for the Friday programs to see rock bands in the Plaza. I just want the news at that hour.

Speaking of drifting, I've drifted from the theme of comedy. I think you get my point. I won't be staying awake at night worrying about Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien. Probably I won't be watching whatever combination of solutions NBC-TV ends up scheduling. I don't mean to be an old fart on this topic. At times I think I need to lighten up and smell the roses.

Photo: Reuters

ONE LEVEL TEASPOON:

I hate to admit it, but I have forgotten the place where I read a note the other day about the issue of using the measurement: one level teaspoon. The article was making the point that teaspoons differ in size, so the assumption is flawed that when cooking one can dip into the silver drawer, pull out a teaspoon, fill it, level it, and drop its contents into the recipe confidently . It might not be a big deal, except that when referring to high-flavor items such as salts, hot pepper, or wasabi it could be a serious game changer. In any case, the writer of the article suggested that to be safe, always use a measuring spoon and leave the silver spoon in the drawer, or in the baby's mouth.

The little article caught my attention as a cook, but also as a metaphor-conscious writer. In a recipe for disaster, for instance, casual decisions about what is included may be a matter of life or death. A level teaspoon of caution in mixing the ingredients of the concrete to be used in the construction of a highly-trafficked bridge could spell the difference between safety and deadly collapse.

Similarly, a cavalier approach to foreign diplomacy may determine whether an international agreement is reached or rejected. A simple flaw, like crossing one's leg in a Middle East meeting may signal offense to a participant and sour the deal. One's presence, good manners and due respect go out the window because the negotiator doesn't know that it is offensive in Middle Eastern culture to show the bottom of one's foot to someone. It is a signal of rejection.

Mis-reading one's personal relationship and crossing the line in intimate conversation can end a budding romance. Flowers, champagne, and tickets to a Broadway show can be wasted money if the inaccurate measurement of one's words leads to personal offense.

Risk-taking in political speeches is showing itself to be poor judgment when commenting on race. A badly-measured level teaspoon of intended humor or caustic commentary including such words as "Negro" can undermine a whole career in the U.S. Senate, despite years of good work on social legislation.

Best to stick to legitimate measuring devices and good editing.



Photo Credit: www.onlinetitanicmuseum.com/teaspoon.html

WAITING FOR THE OTHER SHOE TO DROP

This phrase usually has an ominous, dark meaning to it. Medical symptoms have piled up and the physicians are meeting to assess the situation. Your attorney calls to say she'd like to have a meeting with you. The boss calls you into the office unexpectedly. You get it...something very, very bad is about to happen.

But I'm not convinced that dropping shoes should always mean that a disaster is pending. It's just a statement that there are signs that an announcement of something is about to take place. Maybe it's a disaster pending...or maybe something serendipitous is about to take place. The key to this phrase is that you know something is about to happen, and you don't know what it is.

When searching for an on-line photo to accompany this post I saw one of a decorated cake which said "Congratulations on your diabetes diagnosis." I almost selected it, but looking at it gave me a nasty feeling in my gut. Too close to home. I decided to leave that graphic for someone else. But it does symbolize the usual feeling of this phrase, Waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Today, up before dawn, looking out darkened windows and seeing nothing, there is a sense of that waiting. There have been a lot of events over the past several weeks that have jolted me. Tiger Woods/ the Christmas Day near-disaster over Detroit/ Chris Dodd's announcement that he is retiring from the Senate/ the Patriots loss on Sunday/ and the announcement that former Mayor of Providence, Vincent (Buddy) Cianci is considering running against Congressman Patrick Kennedy. Each of them (and more) came out of nowhere and caused me to shudder a little...or a lot.

At the same time, the weather report indicates several days in a row of sunshine, with temperatures "soaring" into the 40's! My daughter received a very promising message about a project she's pursuing. The Dow Jones Industrial Average has kept up a steady climb over the past days. The car wash returned my car looking like it did the day we bought it after being buried in winter grime. We have an invitation to a Syracuse game at the Dome. And, there is confidence that a Health Care bill will pass before the State of the Union address. (Probably not the one I would like, but nevertheless an historic step forward for the Administration.) Former Rep. Harold Ford seems ready to enter the NYS Senate race.(I like him.) Less than a month to the opening of the Olympics.

And...best of all...each day gets a few minutes longer...a sign that Spring is on its way.

So what will the shoe drop signal? Who knows? Will it be a Nike or a Prada? I'm putting my money on the Prada.


Photo Credit: http://danoday.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/ShoeDropping.jpg

CURMUDGEON: An ill-tempered person full of resentment and stubborn notions

I take issue (a little bit) with this definition of curmudgeon. For the most part, it captures the idea that a curmudgeon is a person who expresses strong, critical thoughts. But I sense that the word curmudgeon has come to include a slightly humorous, maybe even lovable, meaning to it. If that's not true for the general populace, I claim it as the way I use the word. Am I allowed to do that?

I once hosted a group of men to study the Bible. They were older, for the most part, and had strong opinions, some of which were critical of current biblical methodology. I advertised the group as The Curmudgeons and attracted a good number of lovable, humorous, and strongly-opinionated men who enjoyed jousting with me on biblical methods and understandings. That is what I mean when I use the word.

The person I most associate with the word curmudgeon is Andy Rooney, the writer and commentator who occupies the last ten minutes of the TV show, 60 Minutes. I don't know about others, but one of the primary reasons I watch the show is to hear Andy Rooney speak out about things which might otherwise escape the public's attention. Ordinarily, Rooney rants about things ordinary, like cell phones, junk mail, and shoes that don't fit.

But regularly, Andy Rooney also takes on issues in contemporary government that are timely, poignant, and notable. He has been known to step over the line at times and include comment that is lacking in sensitivity to race, ethnicity, and women. Each time he is roundly criticized by the public and has been removed by the producers of the show for periods of punishment. He is old enough and financially secure enough not to be devastated by these punishments.

I think most people who listen to him recognize that he does not feel obligated to temper his words to be politically correct. I wince at some of his comments...but the next week I'm right back there waiting impatiently for the last ten minutes so I can see what Andy is upset about this week. His raspy voice, aging posture, and well-written script make for a few minutes of pleasure for me.

I may be playing with words to promote Andy Rooney as my favorite curmudgeon. He might resent my use of that word in referring to him. Linguists and other word scholars may complain that I don't have the right to shape the definition of curmudgeon to fit a meaning that works for me. But I stand by my use of the word. I don't think most people hate Andy Rooney because he is outspoken and occasionally negative. If that was the case, I think his ratings would not be a high as they are. I have a feeling that there are others...maybe many others...who would agree with me that Andy is a curmudgeon and that is what makes him enjoyable.



The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

BAKERY: a place where Bran Muffins, Coffee, and the New York Times blend.

Some people very, very close to me tell me that they think I'm become a little compulsive in my life. I reject that characterization. I've been known to leave a soiled pair of jeans over the back of my chair for several days at a time before putting them into the laundry basket. It has been several weeks now since I last washed our car. Does that sound like a compulsive disorder? Would a person afflicted with an obsessive, compulsive disorder allow that to happen?

I have to admit that there are some things about which I have a routine. (Doesn't everyone?) Probably the most visible routine I have has to do with the Bakery. Every morning I take my copy of the New York Times in hand and head for LaSalle Bakery, my daily morning haunt. It's just a few blocks from where we live, and...in good weather...it's a good walk both ways.

I've been going there nearly every day for over two years now. I always order the same thing: a bran muffin and a medium cup of decaf coffee. (Is that such a crime? Is that what makes me compulsive?) My routine is such that I no longer have to order. When I walk up to the counter my muffin is waiting, having been put aside by the employees early so that they don't run out before I get there. It always costs me the same thing: $3.46. It took them a few weeks at the beginning to recognize me, but now they know my name and, like Norm on Cheers my name rings out from behind the counter, or even from the kitchen when I'm spotted.

I try to sit at the same table every day. Sometimes it's crowded and I have to sit elsewhere...even at the window counter...but usually you can find me at the table next to the festively-decorated Birthday Cakes. (So, what's so bad about wanting a table away from the hustle and bustle of the cash registers?)

This is where the routine stuff really kicks in, though. I arrange the table so that the coffee (needing to cool) is at the back where my newspaper won't tip it over. I unwrap the muffin, cut it in half with a little plastic knife, and place half of it back in the wrapper next to the coffee. Then I proceed to cut the selected half in half again, and then in quarters. (So what!?! It's just easier to eat those tinier portions than chomping into a full muffin! What's the big deal?)

I'm there a good hour to an hour-and-a-half. Being retired has its advantages. During the course of that time I greet and am greeted by a mixture of great people who also frequent the LaSalle nearly every day. We talk sports, politics, weather...you name it. I'm a little bit more liberal in the political sphere than they are...but that doesn't keep us from having civil conversations. I know some of their names. Others are yet to come.

One tiny, elderly lady comes in to read the local paper. I took a liking to her a long time ago, and I get the feeling that maybe she doesn't have a large group of friends in her life any more. Dave, my new friend, has spinal stenosis, and walks with great difficulty. I admire him greatly...he forces himself to get out of the house and to the bakery every day. Everyone knows him. He is almost never without a conversation. One older lady has a caretaker who brings her in nearly every day. Obviously, her life has seen better days, but her stately presence at the Bakery is a reminder of those days when independence was more attainable.

Another couple come every day and have even greater routines than I do. They talk over each other, partly because their hearing isn't all that great. The wife once told me, "He loves you. He talks about you all the time." Not many people talk to him, it turns out. He does a lot of complaining. I kind of like him.

I do manage to get the Times read every day. I read every page in every section. (Oh, come on. What's so compulsive about that?) I just love the writing, and I've learned a lot about politics, finance, real estate, health, travel, cooking, dance and sports from the Times writers.I love the little quips on the back of the Science section. My favorite is Monday's column, Metropolitan Diary. It feeds my Manhattan-phile condition.

When I'm finished I reorganize the paper and place it on the window counter for someone else to read. One man told me he times his bakery run by my presence so he can read the Times. Then I brush the crumbs onto the plate, stuff the muffin wrapper into the empty cup, push it down with the knife and insert the knife next to the wrapper, and fold the paper plate into thirds, capturing the crumbs and dropping them into the cup. (Okay, I'll concede that part. That's pretty compulsive!)


There are days, like today, when I don't get to the Bakery. Somehow, my day is a little off-kilter. But it makes the next day even better when I hear, "We didn't see you yesterday. Everything okay?" I was missed! Isn't that great?

Photo Credit:<;em>www.flickr.com/photos/nicisme/2447245080/

FISCALAMITY:Dire financial or economic distress created by fiscal mismanagement.

Fiscalamity is one of those new words I speak about occasionally. It comes from Word Spy, one of my favorite blogs where there is no cover charge for new words. They are welcome and greeted with hospitality by the blogger, Paul McFedries. If you haven't checked it out, this is a good time.

I chose to use fiscalamity today because it represents the dilemma in which I find myself when trying to sort out the fiscal mess we in the USA are experiencing. The word expresses well my situation: I don't have a clue what is going on in the financial crisis. I expressed to you earlier, in another post, that I don't have credible math skills. But this goes beyond.

I consider myself someone who pays pretty good attention to what's happening in the news. I read the NY Times faithfully on a daily basis. I watch credible reporting on cable news. I read voraciously, and it's not all fiction. But I have to admit that this fiscal crisis escapes me. I hear all the words, and I understand most of them. But it's not about the words...it's about the drama of investment and its mistakes that confuse me.

That doesn't even begin to tap the confusion I feel about the proposed solutions. The government's solution of dropping all this money into a struggling banking system seemed like a good idea to me, kind of like priming the old hand pump that stood on the counter next to the sink in my grandmother's kitchen. Occasionally, the pump was "dry" and unable to pull water from the well. By priming it with a pitcher of water, the pump began to function.

I thought I had it. But someplace along the line the process of "priming the pump" fell apart. That's where my understanding began to fall apart, also. If I get the simple explanation, the banks took the money from the government with the understanding that they would begin to act like banks again. But they didn't. Instead, they seem to have gone back to their previously flawed practices, including paying huge salaries and bonuses to their executives. Clearly, that was not the intent of the priming.

So what's happening? Is there any activity to begin offering low-cost loans? Have the big banks begun to distribute money to smaller banks in middle America? We tried to reduce our mortgage payments and were told that it wasn't going to be possible. Why not? I thought that was part of the plan.

My dilemma in this matter qualifies for fiscalamity. It's partly a calamity because of the problems leading up to the crisis. But it seems like it's a calamity because the solution presented is flawed. Has the money from the government been lost? Is it stolen? Can it be found and used?

Am I the only one who is confused, or is there a true fiscalamity in understanding as well as a fiscalamity in finance?


Photo by Mary Altaffer/Associated Press
Definition: http://wordspy.com/words/fiscalamity.asp