After Trump, Making Connections

Thelonious Monk, Newport in New York concert, 1975.

There is no way to ignore Trump, but you can work around him. This seems to be what the world is finding. A personal answer might be: rediscovering connections to the significant people and circumstances that were part of one’s life history, reaffirming your values. For me this meant recognizing how I sustained myself for 91 years in this strange world. I tried various roads to avoid the sinkholes. Continue reading “After Trump, Making Connections”

The Child King

Today they put the King on his high chair behind the Resolute Desk. They told him to look resolute and concerned. They also forgot to change his diapers and he smelled awful. This morning they gave him the measles vaccine, and he screamed bloody murder. In his need for constant attention, he has made himself King. Later he said, “We’re taking all the dog and cat turds out of the sandbox. Musk is in charge of that.” Continue reading “The Child King”

Boredom and Its Variations

Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) said, “All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.”

Boredom is beautiful, a necessary component of human existence. Like good food, too much can be harmful. Like marijuana, take your boredom in small doses. Being bored for a whole day is way too much. Boredom teaches us what’s important. Seen reflectively, it can inspire us. Albert Einstein said, “Creativity is the residue of time wasted.” Continue reading “Boredom and Its Variations”

The Trials and Tricks of Memory

Short-term memory loss can be a horrendous pain in the ass that most of us, young and old, have endured. It gets worse as you age. I’ve written about this before, but it’s usually been in a partial, piecemeal way. I’ll give it another shot, while using some of my more brilliant former insights into how memory works―or breaks down for old people, as it did for Joe Biden. Continue reading “The Trials and Tricks of Memory”

Trump Has Become Boring

moment of silence for 9/11 victims

Despite the furor about his recent appointments, Trump hasn’t changed all that much. He still executes the same performance at rallies, peddling the same bullshit but more so. He feels invincible, I think, but many of us feel outrage fatigue. We are tired of his unpredictability and bored with his schtick.

Continue reading “Trump Has Become Boring”