As a teen, I frequently expressed my opinion without reservation, often throwing caution to the wind. That mighty mouth cost me when it came time for silly little things like induction into the National Honor Society. My high school’s power structure made sure I was “punished” for daring to speak my mind. Humiliating an “overachiever”Continue reading “Do Better”
Category Archives: Observations
Growing Beyond
Growing Beyond In Star Wars, Episode VIII, the force ghost of Yoda tells Luke, “We are what they grow beyond. That is the true burden of all masters.”1 Although the Disney trilogy of Star Wars films has been frequently pilloried by diehard Star Wars fans of the “George raped my childhood” variety, it, like allContinue reading “Growing Beyond”
Redeeming Time
“I know you all, and will awhile uphold The unyoked humor of your idleness. Yet herein will I imitate the sun, Who doth permit the base contagious clouds To smother up his beauty from the world, That, when he please again to be himself, Being wanted, he may be more wondered at By breaking through the foul and ugly mists Of vapors that did seem to strangle him. If all the year were playing holidays, To sport would be as tedious as to work, But when they seldom come, they wished-for come, And nothing pleaseth but rare accidents. So when this loose behavior I throw off And pay the debt I never promisèd, By how much better than my word I am, By so much shall I falsify men’s hopes; And, like bright metal on a sullen ground, My reformation, glitt’ring o’er my fault, Shall show more goodly and attract more eyes Than that which hath no foil to set it off. I’ll so offend to make offense a skill, Redeeming time when men think least I will.”1. What would it mean to redeem time? I suppose theoretical physicists could posit an idea or two, but in practical terms, there doesn’t appear to be any way to actually redeem time.Continue reading “Redeeming Time”
Not Ideas About the Thing But the Thing Itself (1)
Recently, I found myself in the middle of an online social media battle royale between anonymous posters generally aligned to the q-drop phenomenon (anons) and the lead singer of a rock band. In this instance, the trouble came, as many things often do, from miscommunication, just as Missing Persons highlighted in their classic tune, “Words.”Continue reading “Not Ideas About the Thing But the Thing Itself (1)”
Authority
Years ago, when I was an obnoxious and in-your-face teen, I attempted to write poetry. I had some of it published in my school’s literary magazine, but on later reflection, I realized it was pretty awful. Sometime in my 20’s, I purged all of it, so as not to embarrass future generations with my whiny-assContinue reading “Authority”
Choice Point
In Robert Frost’s seminal poem, “The Road Not Taken,” we are treated to a beautiful lesson about choice points. By using the metaphor of a fork in the road, Frost invites us to see ourselves as travelers journeying along a road. When we come upon an intersection, we must decide which path suits us better.Continue reading “Choice Point”
Gen X Calling 