"The difference is that now, at last, I'm OK with it."
I learned early on that I wasn't willing to invest the time or money to become good. But that's not why I'm there. I'm there to spend a few hours with friends. That to me is the treasure of it. I don't keep score and I really don't care. I hit a ball. If it sucks, I throw down another ball.
For several weeks you’ve been criticized about the poor “tweets of the week”. I must say this week’s batch were almost all excellent. Even the weaker ones were still worth a vote. Nice job!
Your discussion of golfing brought up a famous family situation. My mother and I were golf duffers that played for fun. My mother’s brother and my uncle was a legit golfer who played on the PGA tour.
He made his living playing golf.
He said he would play with us and offer tips along the way.
Well by the third hole he was incensed by our lack of focus. When by mother hit a shot that went over the green by about 100 yards with both me and my Mom shaking our heads and smiling - he went ballistic and walked off the course and drove home.
We had to call my Dad to drive us home.
He did not talk to us for about a year. He played on the tour for another 10 years and then became a golf pro for a country club.
We did reconcile but never played golf with him again.
EZ also left off the end of this story from 100 years after the death of Cnut. After the sea drenched the king's feet and shins he said: "the power of kings is empty and worthless, and there is no king worthy of the name save Him by whose will heaven, earth, and sea obey eternal laws". The book "King Cnut and the Viking Conquest of England" by W.B. Bartlett is a terrific read.
Hey Eric - I chuckled at a very creatively funny poke at President Biden in the political cartoon on the editorial page of the Chicago Tribune today. I know that you personally will disagree with the message of this cartoon, but wondered if it would strike you as fair or foul, and would be interested in your reaction it.
There was also a great political cartoon by Scott Adams that was published in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and I'm going to paste a link to it in hopes it may work for you and others to take a look at it. https://www.startribune.com/mike-thompson-name-calling/600282699/
It humorously harpoons both ends of the political spectrum for their tendency to demonize the opposing side while believing they are beyond fault of their own. If you are able to see it, I would also be interested in your reaction to it.
In closing, June 15th is National Smile Power Day (by whomever designates these things) - let's all keep smiling at each other! 🙂
The only connection between the two is that they are both political cartoonists. I thought the Scott Adams cartoon was very relevant as it highlighted the proclivity of both ends of the political spectrum for name-calling and demonizing, while at the same time insisting that only the other side does this.
That cartoon was by Mike Thompson, but yeah. The Trib cartoon Thursday by Kelley was tolerable -- saying Biden must not have "wisdom" teeth because he is not wise due to "inflation, border crisis, crime, bribes, gaffes" -- but not very clever.
Thanks for the nudge about the Tribune rates again. I finally called and what was $34/month is now $6.50 for 6 months. In 6 months I'll call and attempt to cancel again and we'll see what they offer.
Media response to AI issues is getting a little crazy. Right now there are news stories everywhere about a "lost" Beatles song that will be released using AI to pull out John Lennon's part from an old recording. I'm picturing a sound engineer in the 60's being able to do the same thing...
It started in the 1840s as a Rappite (German protestants) community, then was carried on by a community founded by the Welsh utopian reformer Robert Owen.
Re settling in as a happily mediocre golfer, I'm reminded of the line that appears in Lawrence of Arabia and All the President's Men in reference to the "trick" whereby one puts finger or hand to flame without flinching. "The trick," the line goes, "is not minding."
Even though the line is attributed to the eccentric T.E. Lawrence and the eccentricer G. Gordon Liddy, I gotta say, I think there's a lot to it! I've made it a bit of a mantra, only half-jokingly. When I open myself to the possibility, it can seem almost magical how I can change my mood or response to annoyances through force of will -- I say as one prone to irritability.
BTW, you know this comment was not produced with AI because of my use of a non-existent word; "eccentricer" is my AI captcha. Also, AI would not have written that last line, or this one. Or would it? Mwahahaha!
Speaking of non-existent words, I'm pretty fine with sticking with dictionary definitions for words like "enormity" and encouraging students to do so as well. I'm likewise in favor of dictionaries that maintain their prescriptive authority over those that, on the descriptivist principle, easily cave to rampant error. And I certainly support a prescriptive approach in education. If school is not the place to tell kids that "Me and him went to the concert" is wrong, for example, where is?
To which the response from many a linguist is, oh, come now, language changes, it evolves, as evidenced by such usage histories as the one discussed in Merriam Webster's enormity entry. That's all fine. In fact, it's more than fine. It's fascinating! How about I help you get that giant stick out of your ass, shall I?
Fair enough, and yet I look at it a little differently. Whatever your time and place, there are usages that some significant number of people will think is simply wrong. And they will judge you -- or your kids or students or whomever -- for making them. They'll judge you harshly! They won't say anything, because they're nice, and they know, intellectually, that your error is no big deal. But there will be other brain operations going on in those people, operations that basically scream, "What an idiot!"
Perhaps you, reader, are not such a person and can't imagine being one. Well, imagine your reaction to a cringey joke, or horrible breath, or some other offense against social norms (also evolving) that does put you off. I mean, when I hear "ex-etera" -- as I do ever more frequently, I mean, constantly -- to my ear, you basically did a giant fart in the elevator. Even worse. For a moment, all the respect I had for you and your ideas flies out the window. Unfair, I know, but I have to make an effort to get past it. (The trick is not minding. The trick is not minding. The trick is not minding....)
Motivated by your comments on Trib subscription price gouging I checked my bank statement and found increase in Sept. 2022 from $15.96 for 4 weeks to $19.96, then another increase April 2023 to $27.91. I immediately called to complain and they gave me a promotional rate of $6.50 for six months. When I asked for information about what rate would be after 6 months I got script response about rates being subject to change . When pressed they admitted it would be at least $29.91. So I put reminder in my calendar to tilt at that windmill again in six months. Savings are a good return on the (very reasonable and transparent) cost of the Picayune Sentinel.
I think that naming a military base for a traitor is absurd. And renaming it is long overdue. The officials and military people who swore to uphold the Constitution of the United States and then waged war on the United States should remain in infamy, not be feted by having military bases named for them.
EZ - re 'crummy golfer' - we are peas in a pod. i play at about the level i played 10/20/30 yrs ago - many rounds, many range balls and several lessons later. but unlike back then, i don't get upset at bad rounds. i enjoy the camaraderie playing with friends [or former strangers, who become acquaintances], enjoy walking the course whenever allowed, enjoy the weather [most of the time]. i'm blessed to be alive and playing golf - don't need a score to confirm or reject that thesis.
"The difference is that now, at last, I'm OK with it."
I learned early on that I wasn't willing to invest the time or money to become good. But that's not why I'm there. I'm there to spend a few hours with friends. That to me is the treasure of it. I don't keep score and I really don't care. I hit a ball. If it sucks, I throw down another ball.
When Bette Davis learned that Joan Crawford had died, she said "Of the dead, speak nothing but good. Joan Crawford is dead. Good."
My sentiments exactly on learning of the deaths of Ted Kaczynski, Pat Robertson, Silvio Berlusconi , and Robert Hanssen.
For several weeks you’ve been criticized about the poor “tweets of the week”. I must say this week’s batch were almost all excellent. Even the weaker ones were still worth a vote. Nice job!
Your discussion of golfing brought up a famous family situation. My mother and I were golf duffers that played for fun. My mother’s brother and my uncle was a legit golfer who played on the PGA tour.
He made his living playing golf.
He said he would play with us and offer tips along the way.
Well by the third hole he was incensed by our lack of focus. When by mother hit a shot that went over the green by about 100 yards with both me and my Mom shaking our heads and smiling - he went ballistic and walked off the course and drove home.
We had to call my Dad to drive us home.
He did not talk to us for about a year. He played on the tour for another 10 years and then became a golf pro for a country club.
We did reconcile but never played golf with him again.
King Knut was not an idiot. The general consensus among historians is, if the story is true, he was sarcastically giving a lesson to sycophants.
EZ also left off the end of this story from 100 years after the death of Cnut. After the sea drenched the king's feet and shins he said: "the power of kings is empty and worthless, and there is no king worthy of the name save Him by whose will heaven, earth, and sea obey eternal laws". The book "King Cnut and the Viking Conquest of England" by W.B. Bartlett is a terrific read.
Hey Eric - I chuckled at a very creatively funny poke at President Biden in the political cartoon on the editorial page of the Chicago Tribune today. I know that you personally will disagree with the message of this cartoon, but wondered if it would strike you as fair or foul, and would be interested in your reaction it.
There was also a great political cartoon by Scott Adams that was published in the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and I'm going to paste a link to it in hopes it may work for you and others to take a look at it. https://www.startribune.com/mike-thompson-name-calling/600282699/
It humorously harpoons both ends of the political spectrum for their tendency to demonize the opposing side while believing they are beyond fault of their own. If you are able to see it, I would also be interested in your reaction to it.
In closing, June 15th is National Smile Power Day (by whomever designates these things) - let's all keep smiling at each other! 🙂
Where does Scott Adams come into play? Or is Mike Thompson an assumed name for Scott Adams?
The only connection between the two is that they are both political cartoonists. I thought the Scott Adams cartoon was very relevant as it highlighted the proclivity of both ends of the political spectrum for name-calling and demonizing, while at the same time insisting that only the other side does this.
I only see the Thompson cartoon in the link. Is there another link for the Adams cartoon? Thanks!
Oops, I just misspoke myself as I meant to reference the Mike Thompson cartoon in my last reply to you, not the Scott Adams cartoon.
That cartoon was by Mike Thompson, but yeah. The Trib cartoon Thursday by Kelley was tolerable -- saying Biden must not have "wisdom" teeth because he is not wise due to "inflation, border crisis, crime, bribes, gaffes" -- but not very clever.
Thanks for the nudge about the Tribune rates again. I finally called and what was $34/month is now $6.50 for 6 months. In 6 months I'll call and attempt to cancel again and we'll see what they offer.
Media response to AI issues is getting a little crazy. Right now there are news stories everywhere about a "lost" Beatles song that will be released using AI to pull out John Lennon's part from an old recording. I'm picturing a sound engineer in the 60's being able to do the same thing...
Regarding your thoughts about remembering the dead, isn’t that what the Mexican holiday Day of the Dead is about?
Yes. A little celebration, photos, and sharing memories to keep loved ones and ancestors alive in our hearts.
It's not just a Mexican holiday. American Christians call it "All Saints Day" - same thing, less fun
Didn’t New Harmony start out as a utopian community?
It started in the 1840s as a Rappite (German protestants) community, then was carried on by a community founded by the Welsh utopian reformer Robert Owen.
Re settling in as a happily mediocre golfer, I'm reminded of the line that appears in Lawrence of Arabia and All the President's Men in reference to the "trick" whereby one puts finger or hand to flame without flinching. "The trick," the line goes, "is not minding."
Even though the line is attributed to the eccentric T.E. Lawrence and the eccentricer G. Gordon Liddy, I gotta say, I think there's a lot to it! I've made it a bit of a mantra, only half-jokingly. When I open myself to the possibility, it can seem almost magical how I can change my mood or response to annoyances through force of will -- I say as one prone to irritability.
BTW, you know this comment was not produced with AI because of my use of a non-existent word; "eccentricer" is my AI captcha. Also, AI would not have written that last line, or this one. Or would it? Mwahahaha!
Speaking of non-existent words, I'm pretty fine with sticking with dictionary definitions for words like "enormity" and encouraging students to do so as well. I'm likewise in favor of dictionaries that maintain their prescriptive authority over those that, on the descriptivist principle, easily cave to rampant error. And I certainly support a prescriptive approach in education. If school is not the place to tell kids that "Me and him went to the concert" is wrong, for example, where is?
To which the response from many a linguist is, oh, come now, language changes, it evolves, as evidenced by such usage histories as the one discussed in Merriam Webster's enormity entry. That's all fine. In fact, it's more than fine. It's fascinating! How about I help you get that giant stick out of your ass, shall I?
Fair enough, and yet I look at it a little differently. Whatever your time and place, there are usages that some significant number of people will think is simply wrong. And they will judge you -- or your kids or students or whomever -- for making them. They'll judge you harshly! They won't say anything, because they're nice, and they know, intellectually, that your error is no big deal. But there will be other brain operations going on in those people, operations that basically scream, "What an idiot!"
Perhaps you, reader, are not such a person and can't imagine being one. Well, imagine your reaction to a cringey joke, or horrible breath, or some other offense against social norms (also evolving) that does put you off. I mean, when I hear "ex-etera" -- as I do ever more frequently, I mean, constantly -- to my ear, you basically did a giant fart in the elevator. Even worse. For a moment, all the respect I had for you and your ideas flies out the window. Unfair, I know, but I have to make an effort to get past it. (The trick is not minding. The trick is not minding. The trick is not minding....)
Motivated by your comments on Trib subscription price gouging I checked my bank statement and found increase in Sept. 2022 from $15.96 for 4 weeks to $19.96, then another increase April 2023 to $27.91. I immediately called to complain and they gave me a promotional rate of $6.50 for six months. When I asked for information about what rate would be after 6 months I got script response about rates being subject to change . When pressed they admitted it would be at least $29.91. So I put reminder in my calendar to tilt at that windmill again in six months. Savings are a good return on the (very reasonable and transparent) cost of the Picayune Sentinel.
Defending the renaming of military bases originally named for Confederate soldiers or politicians is disgusting and unprincipled pandering.
I think that naming a military base for a traitor is absurd. And renaming it is long overdue. The officials and military people who swore to uphold the Constitution of the United States and then waged war on the United States should remain in infamy, not be feted by having military bases named for them.
EZ - re 'crummy golfer' - we are peas in a pod. i play at about the level i played 10/20/30 yrs ago - many rounds, many range balls and several lessons later. but unlike back then, i don't get upset at bad rounds. i enjoy the camaraderie playing with friends [or former strangers, who become acquaintances], enjoy walking the course whenever allowed, enjoy the weather [most of the time]. i'm blessed to be alive and playing golf - don't need a score to confirm or reject that thesis.