In this era where millennials think everything they do needs to be captured for posterity, where the proliferation of fake news seems to crowd out legitimate reporting, we need to celebrate those people and organizations that systemically, diligently, studiously (there are probably 20 more “ly” relevant adverbs) apply themselves to their profession and turn out world-class content. In the world of academic editing, I can think of no other organization than the Mark Twain Project Online (www.marktwainproject.org). Led for years by Robert Hirst, they are singularly focused on the writings, letters, and life of Mark Twain (IMHO America’s greatest writer).
Self-Improvement Podcasts
I ran across an article in the Wall Street Journal entitled “The best podcasts for self-improvement.”
I find it (frankly) a bit fascinating that our culture continues this quest for self-improvement when a fair part of the planet still doesn’t have clean water or food.
Do the people of well-off European and Asian countries have this level of anxiety such that these self-help podcasts or books are in equal demand? That would probably take some real research, which would take me from casual observer to social scientist.
But I wonder if the planet’s push toward meeting everyone’s physical needs (food, water, shelter) will simply push us to worrying about mental/spiritual needs as opposed to physical needs? Maybe we will always need to worry about something?
Trump versus Hillary 2016
Like most rationale Americans, I can’t figure out how the 2016 election has come down to the Clown versus the Political Operative. Here’s all you need to know about this election: A June 29 Quinnipiac University poll showed voters found Trump more trustworthy than Hillary by 45 to 37 percent.
Donald Trump, this modern-day PT Barnum with less business acumen; this reality TV mountebank who looks like an Oompa Loompa with a bad haircut; this waste of space is MORE trustworthy than Hillary Clinton. The sad fact is that the entire Clinton clan are a bunch of disingenuous, megalomaniac, lying Arkansas backwater slugs. The only thing more disturbing than Trump’s hair are Hillary’s pantsuits.
EB-5 Visa – Citizenship for Sale
As Donald Trump and other jingoistic morons clamor for a clamp down on immigration (hey, we’re here, screw the rest of the world), the WSJ runs another story of the ridiculous, fraudulent Visa scam, the EB-5 Visa program: http://on.wsj.com/28Niqlw.
Thomas à Kempis
“As long as you live, you will be subject to change, whether you will it or not – now glad, now sorrowful; now pleased, now displeased; now devout, now undevout; now vigorous, now slothful; now gloomy, now merry. But a wise man who is well taught in spiritual labor stands unshaken in all such things, and heeds little what he feels, or from what side the wind of instability blows.”
― Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ
Millennials and Tech Jobs
April 4, 2016: Interesting article in the NY Post today – yes, the NY Post. The headline for the article is “Millennials are being dot-conned by cult-like tech companies.”
Trump Amends Fence Policy
In the wake of yesterday’s terrorist bombings in Brussels, Presidential candidate Donald Trump has revised his controversial fence policy. He sat down with editors of the New York Herald Tribune for an interview.
Trump’s Leaked Medical Records
The New York Herald Tribune reported today that it had reviewed the leaked medical records of Donald Trump. It appears his personal physician, Juan Diego de Hernandez, inadvertently left these records on Seat 9c of Aeromexico flight 93 from JFK to Mexico City. According to the Herald Tribune these records indicate the following:
WSJ Book Club – Twain’s Life on the Mississippi
Today’s Wall Street Journal has an interesting Q&A with author Adam Hochschild, who they tagged to make the first selection in their Book Club. His selection: Life on the Mississippi. Mr. Hochschild makes the point that Twain’s writings were sometimes erratic and that readers can (and should) skip many of the chapters of the book. Of course he’s read this book five times, so perhaps he came to that conclusion after read #3. For the rest of us it’s we simply take the good with the bad. Clearly much of Twain’s writings was meant to fill up pages (for many of his magazine articles he was in fact paid by the word; his novels were usually illustrated also) but I’ll wager this: even his filler content is superior to what passes for literature these days. Read the article here: WSJ
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Orlando and the 8th Circle of Hell
I ascribe to the alleged Tennessee Williams’ dictum:
There are only three great cities in the United States: New York, San Francisco, and New Orleans. All the rest are Cleveland.
Alleged because it’s not clear that he actually said it or who did. But the sentiment is right on. Yes, call me bigoted. I was born in NYC, went to college in NYC and lived in the area for 25 years and now reside in San Francisco. New Orleans: yep, been there a couple of times: it’s gritty, authentic, decadent; it’s got great food, great music, great history. It’s where adults and derelicts go for fun.
Thomas E. Doyle - Personal Blog 