Reveling in Irreverence

Why do we celebrate irreverence? It's enjoyed across all ages, maturity levels, social strata, cultures, professions.

It seems as though it has some intrinsic value immune to judgment, like a political cartoon, a vote, or a religious affiliation.[1]

I understand it's become popular to steal a consecrated host from a Catholic church and video its desecration, but I won't go looking for it to find out.

Who does something like that?

The same sort I suppose that tells potty jokes and writes on bathroom stalls.

I'm not suggesting we control unpopular opinions, but it would be nice to see more common decency.

A lot of what passes for original thinking is just poor manners.

[2013-01-13]

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[1]
Western culture values the ability to make fun of one's self. Not taking yourself too seriously is a virtue. This may be related.

The only bad thing about bologna...

The only bad thing about bologna is that if you make a sandwich with it on a toasted bagel with mayo, as you chomp, you squeeze the bologna out the other side and you end up needing to trim the newly extruded crescent after each bite.

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This Week's Ho-Hums

A handsome, popular bicyclist used drugs ->
 

A handsome, popular quarterback invented a girlfriend or believed he had one when he didn't –>

 

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Queen - Bicycle Race
I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride it where I like.

 

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[2013-01-16]

Ch-ch-ch-changes

Most changes we make to how we organize human activities (laws, elections, social hierarchies, even art) are solely for the sake of variety and serve no practical purpose. Ie, they don't usually solve a problem, make money, or feed or cloth or house anyone.

Changes of this sort are characterized by novelty rather than innovation. We make no real attempt to measure success, and dismiss failure as a benign diversion (eg, gambling) or learning opportunity (eg, Beer Summit).

We feel good because we are doing the same thing a little differently, and if we do that enough, maybe we'll make a difference.

And sometimes we do.

Everyone likes to feel good about themselves. There's nothing wrong with that. It runs governments, museums, lodges, businesses, even churches. But looking for a deeper meaning is fruitless, if not a little dispiriting.


David Bowie - Changes
 

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I wanted to buy David Bowie's Young Americans LP when I was a kid (for the song Fame), but when Mom saw the cover of Diamond Dogs, this Bowie guy was out of the question. I bought the 45 instead at another time.

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Started: 2013-01-16

There are no bad words, only words that hurt people.

A good friend sent me this:

I have since made pretty good progress toward cleaning up my language, but when the music is so beautiful, it's sometimes hard not to sing.

(FWIW, something I've always taught my children is there are no bad words, only words that hurt people, and those can be any words. When a child realizes that "fat," "dumb," "lazy" etc. can be far more damaging than any traditional 4-letter word, they discover their true power; it is also an essential step to becoming a considerate person.)

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[2012-06-27]

My Time Is Limited

I have lots of thoughts scattered across text files, a USB drive, the backs of receipts. I will do something with them as time (and Mimi) permits.

Bits and pieces of a new life are collecting on the desk at my home office - a social security card, vaccination records, doctors appointments, old hospital wrist bands.

Strange.

These are the sorts of things one also leaves behind.

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Say something else in that ear.

"A crying baby is regarded by adults as among the most upsetting sounds in the world. Isn't it amazing that this sound has no affect on other children, who go about their business as if they hear nothing at all?"
--Clarence 0ddbody

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Among the most pleasant sounds: A baby laughing.

Source >

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Started: 2013-01-10