P.S. A Column On Things

Start of Jan. 20 Column. More or Less Continuous News Service since 1998

Dept. of Navel Gazing: Return of Creativity

I continue with my ceaseless search for the roots of creativity.

There are times in our lives that represent a clear break between past and present. For me, 1977 was one of those times. Leaving out the details, let me simply say that 1977 Paul went missing for a few decades. Then, with the help of a few women in my life, I was able to reintegrate him. There followed a burst of creativity. Tough year, great results.

YMMV, of course, but I found getting in touch with an earlier me, and viewing past mistakes as learning opportunities, improved an already fantastically wonderful life, so I recommend it.

Whenever I use the word department, (as in the title) I am always reminded of Firesign Theater’s Department of Redundancy Department.

Neal Vitale Reviews: The Substance *

[Ed. Note: I said it was 16 years since Neal’s last appearance; turns out it was 15] This 141-minute film starts well, with an interesting premise - a mysterious product can create a second, younger version of yourself, but it demands that both parties follow a rigorous protocol in order to avoid disastrous consequences. The appeal of eternal youth is not new, nor is this type of Faustian bargain and how it inevitably goes wrong. What elevates The Substance in the early going is vibrant cinematography and production design -- enlivened by an 80s Flashdance vibe -- and strong performances by Demi Moore and a bonkers Dennis Quaid. But things quickly devolve into a hard-to-watch, over-the-top, gross-out horror film. Not for the faint of heart!

Strategic Bombing 1: Feh

I asked naval historian (and my former managing editor) Bill Roberts if Strategic Bombing had ever been effective. He recommended these two documents: Foundation Bias and Air Power and the Battle of the Atlantic (the latter semi pay-walled).

After years of allowing for the possibility that strategic either worked or might have worked in WWII or successive wars, these articles make it pretty clear that the idea lacks any basis in fact or experience.

Among other things, it seems to be impossible to carry out; precision seems to be an illusion, Norden bombsights to the contrary not withstanding.

 It’s too late for me to influence the civilian debate on the subject, but I hope there is consensus in military circles that non-nuclear strategic bombing is a failure, and should not be attempted again. I guess it was used in Iraq, because I remember one military officer saying “no use in further bombing; all we are doing now is making the rubble jump.”

Meme O’ The Week: Member of the Resistance

Feel free to geek out over Steven Vaughan-Nichols' LinkedIn post. An ancient, color-banded resistor (the new ones just have the resistance printed on them).
tance written on them).

This and That

My Educational Songs
During my decade of teaching history, I wrote several songs to help students remember facts. The three educational songs I have left, surrounded by copious detail about these songs and the relationship of songs and memory.
…
Kids Doing Music
A friend of mine collects and forwards videos showing children doing amazing musical things. I have not bothered to check if they’re real, but if not, they should be. He’s Hispanic, so you can usually just bask in the wonder, here and here.
…
Fifteen Minutes of Fame
S.M. Oliva, creator of The Computer Chronicles podcast spotted me on the YouTube channel LGR. My first Christmas Buyers Guide (12:02), and my appearance on the Portable Computers episode (23:57). You an tell it’s a commentary: I am standing outside, wearing a sweater.
…
Quote: Teach Your Children Well
“While we teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about.”
--Angela Schwind

Humor: Religious Truths

You’ve probably seen the poster. Here is the longer text version.

• TAOISM: Shit happens
• ZEN BUDDHISM: What is the sound of shit happening?
• BUDDHISM: If shit happens, it really isn’t shit.
• PROTESTANTISM: Let shit happen to someone else
• ATHEISTS: Shit happens for no apparent reason
• ATHEISTS: I can’t believe this shit
• HARE KRISHNA: Shit happens/ Shit happens/ Happens, happens/ Shit happens
• CONFUCIANISM: Confucius says: "Shit happens"
• HINDUISM: This shit happened before
• CATHOLICISM: If shit happens you deserve it
• AGNOSTICS: Facts happen
• EVANGELISTS: Send me £8 million or shit will happen to you
• BUDDHISM: If shit happens, it isn't really shit
• ISLAM: If shit happens it is the will of Allah
• JUDAISM: Why does shit always happen to us?
• CHRISTIAN SCIENTISTS: Only good shit happens
• JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES: Let us in and we will tell you why shit happens
• RASTAFARIANISM: Let's smoke this shit
• MATERIALIST: Whoever dies with the most shit, wins!
• MILITANT AGNOSTIC: I don’t know shit, and neither do you.

End of Jan. 20 Column (No. 964)

Start of Jan. 13 Column. More or Less Continuous News Service since 1998

Grandchildren: Running a Restaurant

My grandchildren certainly get taken to restaurants more than I was at their age. They are generally reasonably well behaved. And they have picked up on some aspects of running the business, including at least one bad one.

They built a restaurant kitchen that is a long narrow structure of pillows and blankets. It is pretty precarious. My grandson insists on crawling in and being the chef, and insists his sister stay out of the kitchen. On the face of it, that supports two discredited ideas: only women can cook, and women can’t be chefs.

At the same time, she only gets to serve as the waitress. She takes a small book from her extensive library and pretends it is a menu. She then reports the orders to him.

To poke a little fun at them, I ordered a plate of blither with some blather sauce. She delivered it post-haste. When Vicki ordered a salad, they cooked it in the “oven.” Tres Chic.

As mentioned previously, my 5-year-old grandson is an avid cook, and learning to bake. His sister, at two, is young for that… yet.

Heart Chakra Opening Day

My heart chakra opened on Saturday January 18, 2020. This is what I wrote in my journal that day: “Wow! I woke up this morning to another amazing moment. Treatment and prayer work! There was love in my heart, for those who I once felt “wronged” me. We are all children of God, and share one soul; I forget at my peril that we’re not going to Heaven because we never left it, and that this physical life is an illusion.”

 

This and That

Quote: Teach Your Children Well
While we teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about.
--Angela Schwind
…
Quote: Question Headlines
The answer to all question headlines is no.
-- Ian Betteridge…
…
Quote: Choice
“Every choice you make makes you.”
--John C. Maxwell

Neal Vitale Reviews: The Brutalist ****

[after only 16 years, I welcome my former editor and long-time friend Neal Vitale back to PSACOT]

I've found myself going less often to see films in theaters, preferring the pause and rewind buttons on my video equipment at home over a half-hour of on-screen commercials and trailers. I made an exception, though, for The Brutalist, and I'm glad I did. This is a 220-minute cinematic experience that calls out for theatrical presentation. 

The Brutalist presents thirty years in the life of Hungarian-Jewish architect László Tóth, He has survived the Holocaust but was forcibly separated from his wife, Erzsébet, and niece, Zsófia. He emigrated to America to live with relatives and to strive for the American Dream. Stunningly-produced on a budget of less than $10 million, the film tells an epic story weaving power, money, jealousy, abuse, desire, addiction, bigotry, sacrifice, and pain.

The key players -- Adrien Brody as Tóth, Guy Pearce as his pompous and mercurial benefactor Harrison Lee Van Buren, and Felicity Jones as Erzsébet -- are riveting to watch on screen. A thundering score is paired with gorgeous cinematography. It is fascinating to watch the construction of a massive piece of Tóth's brutalist architecture and witness the beauty of the finished structure.

If there is a shortcoming with The Brutalist, it is the lack of empathy developed for most of the characters in the film - these are not likeable individuals. But the rich narrative development, echoing - dare I say - Citizen Kane, makes for a gratifying theatrical experience well worth the investment of time.

End of Jan. 13 Column (No. 963)

Start of Jan. 6 Column. More or Less Continuous News Service since 1998