Turning to other things for the moment
I just published one of those mammoth posts that ended up being about three times as wordy as I thought it would be, and taking five times as much time to write.
That happens sometimes.
I had originally planned a couple of additional posts for today, but I’ve decided to postpone them till tomorrow. Of course, other events might intervene tomorrow, as they often do. For example, you may wonder whatever happened to my long and long-promised Uvalde testimony and report post (which I still plan to write – I do have some draft notes – but as time passes it gets less and less urgent). Or maybe by now you’re forgotten Uvalde and are uninterested in the details as I see them. I could understand that, because so many events have transpired since then. That post I wrote previously today, for example, is on a subject that I consider to be of vital importance.
It’s also on a subject that’s remarkably depressing. That’s one of the reasons I need a short break from this today. Blogging is a voluntary labor of love, but immersing myself in the news can really be exhausting and it’s good not to overload.
This probably is as good a place as any to mention that I had finally had some success in fixing the redirect problem that was keeping posts from my old URL from redirecting properly to the new one. The people I hired to help me have so far been stumped by it, but fortunately late on Saturday night I had one of those “aha!” moments – plus a little bit of luck – and sure enough, my idea worked. Now I just have to do a few other things to spruce up the blog and make it function better. Maybe in a week or two that will have been accomplished.
In the meantime – to take my mind off things – what do I do? Here’s my non-exhaustive list:
(1) Take a fast walk outside.
(2) Listen to the Bee Gees. And then listen to the Bee Gees some more.
(3) Listen to any sort of music and dance around the room or sing along.
(4) Watch ballet videos.
(5) Talk to or visit a friend.
(6) Look at photos or videos of my grandkids. I have a large collection – of photos, not of grandkids.
(7) Watch videos on YouTube about (a) cosmology (b) ancient geology (c) hominid history (d) language (e) funny things animals do (f) fashion for older women; makeup for older women
(8) Cook. Eat.
(9) Shop for things I don’t need.
(10) Get rid of all the old scraps of paper on which I’ve written ideas, and which litter my workspace.
(11) Look online at real estate I don’t have the money to buy.
(12) Play Wordle.
Getting offline is the number one way I take my mind off things. Not just social media but the entire internet. Doing almost anything else is a better alternative.
I find on days when I am so busy that I don’t have time to wander the internet I am almost always happier and when I do eventually see stuff from the day it doesn’t affect me the same way.
Online life is the absolute worst.
You sometimes post ballet companies doing what I assume is folk dances.
Do you think the American equivalent are film musicals?
Here’s a tremendous sequence from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, but the same could be said for any of the musicals over the decades. While I’ve been a part of several stage musicals, but the quality of the dance sequences depends heavily on the choreographer and the limitations of the stage.
Their film versions avoid some of these limitations.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbzJtP75NqM
I am very grateful for all you do to resist tyranny. From my limited perspective, this blog is very unique in how you blend deep and timely research and analysis with your more frivolous but very informed interests. Today, I am more worried than ever about the future of our republic. I just donated $250 to reward and encourage you.
Brian E:
Professional folk dance companies usually base their pieces on actual folk dances and then add many virtuoso elements. I think for the most part American musicals are not based on folk dances at all but are entirely choreographed. I could be wrong about that though.
I for one have not lost interest in the Uvalde slaughter.
“The people I hired to help me have so far been stumped by it, but fortunately late on Saturday night I had one of those “aha!” moments – plus a little bit of luck – and sure enough, my idea worked.”
Have the people you hired refunded any money you’ve already paid them? You didn’t pay for their time, you paid them to fix the problem.
Good for you! Your time only has value if you treat it as if it’s valuable.
I have never been bitten by the Wordle bug, but I confess an addiction to Worldle.
I for one would look forward to a concluding article on the Uvalde incident.
I am interested in Uvalde. But I hesitate to seem to oblige you. Your call.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BS0SwRoYAW0
Just for fun.
Brian E, My Word, that was impressive!
You are a national treasure. And I mean that quite literally.
(11) Brad Pitt’s recently purchased “pad.”
https://www.siliconvalley.com/2022/08/09/pitt-says-hes-been-in-love-with-new-carmel-home-since-the-1990s/
Meantime, back in Uvalde:
https://news.yahoo.com/uvalde-families-file-27-billion-191700920.html
Chicken soup for the musical soul:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTbKhkceR00
neo,
Although frustrating it is so rewarding to solve a puzzle, especially a technical one. Good for you! I’m sure it was a very good feeling to puzzle out your hunch, test it and learn you were correct!
My Wife and I are headed to France on Thur, for two short one week Canal Barge Trips. Little if any news. Morning Coffee and Croissants, French Dinners at night, Wine, Scotch, maybe a walk along the Canals or a Bike Ride.
Brian E.,
I like a lot of scenes from a lot of American musicals but that is one of my all time favorites. Thanks for giving me an excuse to watch it again. It’s simply amazing. It’s also incredible to watch how difficult the women’s dancing is, having to keep pace with both styles of dance the two groups of men throw at them. And one of those women is Stupefyin’ Jones!
I ran across this ABC special from 1978 Olivia!, featuring ABBA, Andy Gibb and of course Olivia Newton John.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8mQ9nt5WAY
Brian E; Rufus T. Firefly:
I’ve written about the dancing in “Seven Brides” here as well as here, the latter post a tribute to the great great Tommy Rall.
Rufus T. Firefly:
Yes, in the wee hours of the morning I was high-fiving myself. But I still don’t understand why no one was able to figure it out prior to that.
Your time only has value if you treat it as if it’s valuable.
–Aggie
Bingo-bango!
When the internet took off big-time, I had the thought that it meant that every person’s time became invaluable.
There’s a ton of everything every which-way on the internet (as well as libraries, but who bothers anymore?).
Who can add another hour, another minute, to his/her life?
Your time is valuable. The trick is figuring how to value it.
______________________
Time can tear down a building or destroy a woman’s face
Hours are like diamonds, don’t let them waste
Time waits for no one, no favors has he
Time waits for no one, and it won’t wait for me
–Rolling Stones, “Time Waits For No One (Remastered)”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsH2In5r2sM
I had cataract surgery done on my left eye this afternoon. The actual procedure took only a few minutes, but gave me a great kaleidoscopic light show while it was going on. Of course, I must have been high as a kite. It has in common with the colonoscopy that the prep is much worse than the procedure itself. The staff took great pains to make sure they worked on the correct eye, never saying the left one was the right one, while the right one should be left alone. This didn’t seem to be a problem with their Spanish speaking clientele.
Anyway, the surgeon pronounced it a success and now I await the blur to go away, which is mainly an artifact of the dilation.
On the $27B Uvalde suit, I bet Ben Crump is really jealous that he did not think of it first. But who knows, he may be a legal partner behind the scenes.
trcrosse,
Best of luck on your recovery!
I vote for No. 9.
trcrosse:
Best wishes on your recovery, don’t skip any eyedrops!
Seen on FB page of a woman who writes for a living — her house is never cleaner than when she is facing a deadline.
Neo,
Have you tried Wordle6? https://wordle6.com/
and Quordle? https://www.quordle.com/#/
om and Rufus:
Thanks for your good wishes, which I was able to read without my glasses.
Your #2 made me think of THIS video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fFE4lJdOGQ
( I smoke two joints before I smoke two joints.
And then I smoke two more.)
As well as 4 Non-Blonde’s “What’s Up?” (What’s goin’ on?)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAp1XF7Lwm0
But … “Don’t get me wrong” (Pretenders)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07_kaLOq7v0
“It might just be fantastic”
When I saw the Pretenders in early 80s, their opening act was Bow Wow Wow, whose best song for me was (the Greeks had a word for it) “Chihuahua”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E12kuz-GaMg
I’m a bit sad that, whenever I want to hear a particular song, YouTube remains the place where it’s most easy to find it.
I’m glad so many have the lyrics now, too.
And the karaoke tech is much much better.
tcrosse… enjoy your new sight : ) Since having it done, I’ve been wondering… can they replace deficient lens prior to onset of cataracts? A lifetime of wearing glasses, now aged and perfect vision. Not that I’m not grateful.
I still like the easy listening music from the 70’s and always turn to that.
Work out every weekday.
Read an actual physical book.
Daydream.
Here’s a video on the ancient geology of Colorado. Recently stumbled on to it. Put together by some folks at the University of Colorado.
https://youtu.be/i5QeyztIIT8
Comments on Cosmology: I am a well-informed citizen-scientist on the subjects of theoretical physics and cosmology, so I looked forward to reading Harvard prof Avi Loeb’s book “extraterrestrial”, on the recently observed interstellar object ‘Oumuamua.
I have watched Loeb on YouTube several times, and found his presentation style and subject matter engaging. Unfortunately his writing style is not as appealing to me, and I am about halfway through the book and struggling to maintain interest. Perhaps the problem is that I already know a lot about the subject.
But if you DON’T already know a lot about ‘Oumuamua, I recommend you pick up the book and explore Loeb’s ideas on “interstellar archeology”. They are quite unlike anything I have encountered before, and definitely way beyond the “ancient aliens” or run-of-the-mill SETI stuff.
Neo – your list and mine match up so well. Especially #2! Fewer ballet videos and no Wordle for me. Substitute 4 kitties and a husband (maybe not in that order). Thanks for the thought and energy you bring to us every day. I quote you so much that my husband refers to you as my “friend.” The other day he asked, “How’s your friend doing with her eyesight?” I knew what he meant and was happy to tell him, “She’s pretty pleased…holding steady.”
tcrosse:
Congratulations. Since you say you can read without glasses now, I’m curious whether you had one of those three-focus lenses put in. I wasn’t allowed to choose that type because of my extra problems, but I’m curious whether that’s why you can read without glasses.
I can still read without glasses only because I still have a cataract in my right (unoperated on) eye, and although that eye has very poor distance vision it has pretty good close vision.
Had the standard distance lens put in each eye over two cataract surgeries, first 8 weeks ago and final one 6 weeks ago. My vision is perfect after initially being fuzzy, and my reading glasses still work perfectly. The surgical team was super helpful and professional – no pain whatsoever. My only downside is I have sensitivity to full sunlight and have to wear sunglasses outside.
Ray Van Dune:
That’s great!
I still have to wear sunglasses, but I had to wear them before the surgery too. I think it’s maybe gotten a little better. My reading glasses work great when I have to read for a longer time, and they hardly worked at all before.
I just got back from mailing a package at the post office and was marveling that I could read all the signs there (that’s distance vision and intermediate vision). I can’t remember the last time I was able to do that prior to surgery.
neo:
I had signed up for the very basic lens which comes at no out-of-pocket cost from Medicare. Ostensibly it provides good sight at a distance but would require glasses for close work. Lo and behold, this morning I woke up with the opposite: I can read fine print without my glasses, but not so well at a distance. Luckily, the other eye was fitted with the far-sight lens. Mustn’t grumble. in fact, I couldn’t be more pleased.
P.S.
Mirabile dictu! As the day wears on, the far sight through my brand-new lens improves.