We've Been Treating Concussions Wrong, Dumbest Rule in Swimming, The "Road House" Remake Is Better, Worst Movie Trailer of the Year, Creedence Clearwater Revival Sings
Recently I heard, “When old people die, it’s like a library closing, due to the history they know.” None of us know why some of us live longer than others, but at some point, with longevity, it does-kind of-become a waiting game. A childhood friend of mine, always called to deliver the dire news of the loss of another hometown person. I teased him once, as being the bearer of death news. He declared, “One day, somebody is going to call to tell you about me.” Ten years ago, I got that call. So, Kareem, I don’t awake, preparing to grieve-I’m just happy I awoke, at all.
Owen Lloyd getting penalized for exuberance just stupid and wrong. Guess it’s back to playing my platters backwards so I can hear the devil’s music. The only people going backwards are Christian Nationalists.
As usual, a potpourri of purposeful provocation, Kareem. Like you, I am watching more and more family and friends pass. Most quite old, some not. An excess of grief can numb. My church has a beautiful memorial service often said at the end of our liturgy, commemorating anniversaries of the passing of congregants or those they wish to remember. Its refrain, “May their memory be eternal” always lifts my spirits. When I pass, an event to which I actually look forward thanks to a panoply of health issues, I will take comfort in all of that.
Which brings me to what, for me, was the real star of your contribution this time—your musing on happiness. A Navy brat, I grew up embracing the old Roman virtues of dignity, duty, honor, integrity. That a well-lived life is one of “gravitas”. I have been a sleepwalker through life, doing mostly what I thought was expected of me. I did much of it very well, and would be viewed as very successful in the traditional view—stellar in school and my profession, blessed in my second marriage and family. But I did not seek, nor did I comprehend, what happiness was until, at age 76 and looking back, I realized what it had been for me: the times, and there were plenty, it seems, when I helped other people with no benefit to me, nor any expectation of one. In other words, my happiness was helping other people. That remains true, but supercharged the past few years as I have co-parented our adorable, impish grandson, who worships me as much as I love him. I will depart this world happy that I have made some small, positive difference in the lives of a goodly number of people. None of the rest—awards, honors, professional accomplishments, money, houses, vacations, possessions, sexual relationships—have meant much to me.
Which is why I pity the plutocrats of this world, and the envious, bigoted haters. The only god they have is the one they see in the mirror, and they would have the rest of us worship that god. I pray, come November, that their poster boy goes down in flames. Would only that they might be real, but I trust in the true God to, as Christ promises in the Gospel, “reward” him “according to his merits”.
Excellent CCR and Billie tie-in there, Kareem! John Fogerty was a wonderful songwriter and singer...decent guitarist as well. Same can't be said for Saul Zaentz, the band's manager, who ripped them off big time... "Zaentz can't dance, but he'll steal your money".
Wonderful video break...still smiling.
Kareem wrote: "Bottom line: Teachers, if you want to teach critical thinking in your classroom, just show the video and have the students make a list of every logical fallacy..." Kareem, I did this using George W. Bush as my example, and was almost fired from teaching. I decided to teach critical thinking using the examples in the text books as many public school history text books are either flawed or tell half-truths...or both. It was the path of least resistance, and I got my point across. Not to brag, but my students were usually the most demanding students in terms of questioning logic. Just because it "says so in the Bible" or "because I said so" are terms that don't fly in my world. My greatest "victories" in life have come via my questioning logic by using critical thinking. The best is when you can beat them with their own logic...make them eat their words. I'm a total bastard in that respect. I will force your words back down your throat until you puke on them. Made many enemies that way, but I have a clear conscience. Seeing isn't believing any longer, and listening to someone else's line of BS without doing any background research is usually suspect. I always try to discern the person's motives behind what they say. Chances are that if it doesn't "sound right", it's not right.
Keep on, keepin' on. Just promise no Eric Clapton mentions as far as music goes please! He was and is a racist! I admired him as a young guitar player, but looked beyond his facade - he's also a womanizer and anti-COVID 19 vaccine. As talented as the man was (key word: was), he ended up being a douche (and still is).
Your quote about death and grief reminded me of the poem "Taking Care" by Callista Buchen, and the lovely illustration of it by Matthew Inman, of all people.
Your break video today bespeaks of incarnation. Madeline L’Engle wrote about a similar inexplicable bond between her dog and a bird who would delight in each other’s company. TY for the CCR tune! I grew up in a rural area, and their music made long trips by car such a pleasure listening to “Up Around the Bend,” among others. We so need to revive happiness. Whoever thinks up some fun, competitive games for managing climate change going forward will be tomorrow’s hero.
Really love your words on aging and grieving. The closing song on Kenny Chesney's newly released cd "Born," called "Wherever You Are Tonight" was written by two Nashville Songwriting Hall of Famers, Gary Burr and Mike Reid (both in their 70's) and so beautifully puts into words how to process grief:
Really good one today, Kareem, thanks. I suspect that part of the reason for the younger generation's malaise is that they don't see adverse consequences for bad behavior. We lived through a lot of what can only be described as s***, but we also saw Nixon booted out of the White House, 'Plumbers' put away for significant jail terms, and it all happened quickly. Today we have Steve Bannon out on "appeal" more than two years after he was convicted and, the peak of the pyramid, the failed insurrectionist is still running around, getting undeserved benefits from the court system (see Aileen Cannon and the NY Appeals Court), and the Crazy Caucus ensuring that Congress only takes needed action after extensive, performative game playing. It's enough to make anyone feel bad and, without the perspective of years, depression, clinical or otherwise, is almost inevitable.
The NCAA should review and overrule the official's decision in the swim meet, right before they remove the official who made it from ever participating in an event again.
Your video was outstanding, proof again that corvids are among the most intelligent of birds, maybe of all species. Creedence remains one of the outstanding bands of all time.
My doctor just recommended that I get grief counseling. Not because people around me are dying - although they are. She recognized other losses that can trickle or tsunami into this stage of life. Medical problems have taken away my large and cherished life, replacing it with chronic pain and severely limited mobility. A life partner left me for a younger woman. I had to retire from a job focused on improving life for people facing poverty, homelessness and disability. I can no longer travel - one of my deepest joys. And my dog died.
None of these things is unusual, but all are profound losses. Grief is cumulative, happiness fleeting. And the news doesn’t help.
I was good at gratitude for the small things in life, but those things are becoming smaller and harder to find. I know I have been a “fortunate son” - daughter. But looking backwards isn’t a strategy for happiness.
I was in Vietnam in 1969-1970 when CCR recorded Fortunate Son, Run Through the jungle, Bad moon rising, and Who’ll stop the rain—songs that will forever resonate as part of that life changing experience. Full disclosure: I was a civilian librarian employed by the Army to manage recreational libraries in base camps for the soldiers—morale and recreation. I was not running through the jungle, only running for the bunker. In 1991, Lewis Puller Jr., ( WWII General Chesty Puller’s son) wrote a memoir he titled Fortunate Son. Read it. The irony is obvious.
Thanks for the section about happiness and the way different generations define it. There is an expression "Comparison is the death of joy" that I think encapsulates some of what you said. The piece made me wonder how the different generations actually define the concept of joy. As always, thanks for a great read with my morning coffee...that's a bit of joy right there!
Once again Kareem! Our thoughts on happiness align. Life is too brief to have one’s perception manipulated to the point of diminishing the worth of one’s experience of it. Kareem said it much better.
Recently I heard, “When old people die, it’s like a library closing, due to the history they know.” None of us know why some of us live longer than others, but at some point, with longevity, it does-kind of-become a waiting game. A childhood friend of mine, always called to deliver the dire news of the loss of another hometown person. I teased him once, as being the bearer of death news. He declared, “One day, somebody is going to call to tell you about me.” Ten years ago, I got that call. So, Kareem, I don’t awake, preparing to grieve-I’m just happy I awoke, at all.
Owen Lloyd getting penalized for exuberance just stupid and wrong. Guess it’s back to playing my platters backwards so I can hear the devil’s music. The only people going backwards are Christian Nationalists.
As usual, a potpourri of purposeful provocation, Kareem. Like you, I am watching more and more family and friends pass. Most quite old, some not. An excess of grief can numb. My church has a beautiful memorial service often said at the end of our liturgy, commemorating anniversaries of the passing of congregants or those they wish to remember. Its refrain, “May their memory be eternal” always lifts my spirits. When I pass, an event to which I actually look forward thanks to a panoply of health issues, I will take comfort in all of that.
Which brings me to what, for me, was the real star of your contribution this time—your musing on happiness. A Navy brat, I grew up embracing the old Roman virtues of dignity, duty, honor, integrity. That a well-lived life is one of “gravitas”. I have been a sleepwalker through life, doing mostly what I thought was expected of me. I did much of it very well, and would be viewed as very successful in the traditional view—stellar in school and my profession, blessed in my second marriage and family. But I did not seek, nor did I comprehend, what happiness was until, at age 76 and looking back, I realized what it had been for me: the times, and there were plenty, it seems, when I helped other people with no benefit to me, nor any expectation of one. In other words, my happiness was helping other people. That remains true, but supercharged the past few years as I have co-parented our adorable, impish grandson, who worships me as much as I love him. I will depart this world happy that I have made some small, positive difference in the lives of a goodly number of people. None of the rest—awards, honors, professional accomplishments, money, houses, vacations, possessions, sexual relationships—have meant much to me.
Which is why I pity the plutocrats of this world, and the envious, bigoted haters. The only god they have is the one they see in the mirror, and they would have the rest of us worship that god. I pray, come November, that their poster boy goes down in flames. Would only that they might be real, but I trust in the true God to, as Christ promises in the Gospel, “reward” him “according to his merits”.
Kareem, it feels like my IQ rises 20 points every time I get to enjoy one of your Substacks. Thank you, thank you for your incredible insights!
I enjoyed your entire newsletter today, but especially your quote and post about aging and death. Sad and beautiful at the same time.
Your description of Candace Owen’s attempt at debate with Destiney illustrates the pervasive, arrogant illogic of the Far Right.
Excellent CCR and Billie tie-in there, Kareem! John Fogerty was a wonderful songwriter and singer...decent guitarist as well. Same can't be said for Saul Zaentz, the band's manager, who ripped them off big time... "Zaentz can't dance, but he'll steal your money".
Wonderful video break...still smiling.
Kareem wrote: "Bottom line: Teachers, if you want to teach critical thinking in your classroom, just show the video and have the students make a list of every logical fallacy..." Kareem, I did this using George W. Bush as my example, and was almost fired from teaching. I decided to teach critical thinking using the examples in the text books as many public school history text books are either flawed or tell half-truths...or both. It was the path of least resistance, and I got my point across. Not to brag, but my students were usually the most demanding students in terms of questioning logic. Just because it "says so in the Bible" or "because I said so" are terms that don't fly in my world. My greatest "victories" in life have come via my questioning logic by using critical thinking. The best is when you can beat them with their own logic...make them eat their words. I'm a total bastard in that respect. I will force your words back down your throat until you puke on them. Made many enemies that way, but I have a clear conscience. Seeing isn't believing any longer, and listening to someone else's line of BS without doing any background research is usually suspect. I always try to discern the person's motives behind what they say. Chances are that if it doesn't "sound right", it's not right.
Keep on, keepin' on. Just promise no Eric Clapton mentions as far as music goes please! He was and is a racist! I admired him as a young guitar player, but looked beyond his facade - he's also a womanizer and anti-COVID 19 vaccine. As talented as the man was (key word: was), he ended up being a douche (and still is).
Your quote about death and grief reminded me of the poem "Taking Care" by Callista Buchen, and the lovely illustration of it by Matthew Inman, of all people.
https://theoatmeal.com/comics/taking_care
Your break video today bespeaks of incarnation. Madeline L’Engle wrote about a similar inexplicable bond between her dog and a bird who would delight in each other’s company. TY for the CCR tune! I grew up in a rural area, and their music made long trips by car such a pleasure listening to “Up Around the Bend,” among others. We so need to revive happiness. Whoever thinks up some fun, competitive games for managing climate change going forward will be tomorrow’s hero.
"Acceptance" is half the way to "happiness".
Finding things in our lives to "Be Gratefull" for on a daily basis is a great tool to practice.
Really love your words on aging and grieving. The closing song on Kenny Chesney's newly released cd "Born," called "Wherever You Are Tonight" was written by two Nashville Songwriting Hall of Famers, Gary Burr and Mike Reid (both in their 70's) and so beautifully puts into words how to process grief:
"Hearts will break, we cry, we grieve
We die, we go but never leave
We linger in the lives of those we love
We're flesh and bone, then beams of light
A body breaks, a soul takes flight
And faith is left to heal what tears can't touch
You're not gone, just out of sight
You're here with me, wherever you are tonight"
Here is Kenny Chesney's version on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJTuCCygjOo
Really good one today, Kareem, thanks. I suspect that part of the reason for the younger generation's malaise is that they don't see adverse consequences for bad behavior. We lived through a lot of what can only be described as s***, but we also saw Nixon booted out of the White House, 'Plumbers' put away for significant jail terms, and it all happened quickly. Today we have Steve Bannon out on "appeal" more than two years after he was convicted and, the peak of the pyramid, the failed insurrectionist is still running around, getting undeserved benefits from the court system (see Aileen Cannon and the NY Appeals Court), and the Crazy Caucus ensuring that Congress only takes needed action after extensive, performative game playing. It's enough to make anyone feel bad and, without the perspective of years, depression, clinical or otherwise, is almost inevitable.
The NCAA should review and overrule the official's decision in the swim meet, right before they remove the official who made it from ever participating in an event again.
Your video was outstanding, proof again that corvids are among the most intelligent of birds, maybe of all species. Creedence remains one of the outstanding bands of all time.
My doctor just recommended that I get grief counseling. Not because people around me are dying - although they are. She recognized other losses that can trickle or tsunami into this stage of life. Medical problems have taken away my large and cherished life, replacing it with chronic pain and severely limited mobility. A life partner left me for a younger woman. I had to retire from a job focused on improving life for people facing poverty, homelessness and disability. I can no longer travel - one of my deepest joys. And my dog died.
None of these things is unusual, but all are profound losses. Grief is cumulative, happiness fleeting. And the news doesn’t help.
I was good at gratitude for the small things in life, but those things are becoming smaller and harder to find. I know I have been a “fortunate son” - daughter. But looking backwards isn’t a strategy for happiness.
I was in Vietnam in 1969-1970 when CCR recorded Fortunate Son, Run Through the jungle, Bad moon rising, and Who’ll stop the rain—songs that will forever resonate as part of that life changing experience. Full disclosure: I was a civilian librarian employed by the Army to manage recreational libraries in base camps for the soldiers—morale and recreation. I was not running through the jungle, only running for the bunker. In 1991, Lewis Puller Jr., ( WWII General Chesty Puller’s son) wrote a memoir he titled Fortunate Son. Read it. The irony is obvious.
Thanks for the section about happiness and the way different generations define it. There is an expression "Comparison is the death of joy" that I think encapsulates some of what you said. The piece made me wonder how the different generations actually define the concept of joy. As always, thanks for a great read with my morning coffee...that's a bit of joy right there!
Once again Kareem! Our thoughts on happiness align. Life is too brief to have one’s perception manipulated to the point of diminishing the worth of one’s experience of it. Kareem said it much better.