THINKING
"Words do not seem to play any role in my
mechanism of thought. I seem to use more or
less clear images of a visual type, combined
with some muscular feeling. These vaguely play
together, combining with each other, without
any logical construction in words and signs
which could be communicated to others."
ALBERT EINSTEIN
**
Men don’t care what’s on TV. They only care
what else is on TV.
Jerry Seinfeld
That is how the mind of a top-flight comedian
works. My mind when, at odd moments, it
thinks does not think like that. Most of the
time my thoughts are in free fall, the larger
parachute called ideas rarely opens. For
example, when I was in college I enjoyed
thinking about naked women. I still do, but
now I wonder how different my life would be
if the Philosophy Department had changed its
name to THINKING ABOUT NAKED PEOPLE just how
successful that Major would have been. I cannot
think of any Student I knew not signing up for
it. The Chair of the Department would soon be
paid more than the football coaches. Philosophy
teachers would be needed by the dozens. Final
exams would be fun to take, and our nation’s
low opinion about critical thinking would
change overnight.
LJP
**
MOVIE WISDOM
"When a man is wrestling a leopard in the middle
of a pond, he is in no position to run."
Cary Grant's character in the classic screwball
comedy directed by Howard Hawks --"Bringing Up Baby”
**
I recall going to the Roxy when the Duke Ellington
band was there, and when the film ended and the
orchestra rose out of the pit playing “Take the
A Train," the top of my head blew off. From then
on, any movie set in New York had me.
Woody Allen. Apropos of Nothing.
--
**
SCI-FI
Bruce Weber of The New York Times (December 6,
2008) began the obituary of this man with the
following:
It’s a common claim that someone is the world’s
biggest fan of such-and such. Elizabeth Taylor’s
biggest fan . The biggest fan of the New York’s Jets.
The world’s Biggest country music fan. Hardly anyone
takes such a designation seriously, except perhaps
when it comes to _________ ________, whose
obsessive devotion to science fiction and horror
stories was so fierce that he helped propel their
popularity. Indeed, he was widely credited with
coining the term sci-fi.
Can you identify the man who coined the term sci-fi?
Forrest J Ackerman. According to Bruce Weber:
“Mr. Ackerman said he came up with ‘sci-fi’ in
1954. He was driving in a car with his wife
when he heard a radio announcer say ‘Hi-fi.’
he term, sci-fi just came reflexively and
unbidden out of his mouth.
**
THE POLITICAL SCIENCE FINAL EXAMPlease answer the essay question in the blue book provided.
In October 2020, Televangelist Pat Robertson
announced that God told him that Donald Trump
would win the Presidential election. Why did
God lie to Pat Robertson?
**
Dear Editors:
I beg to differ with the New York Times headline
that refers to Marjorie Taylor Greene's destructive fantasies as "remarks". Gertrude Stein remarked
that "Remarks are not literature," but hate speech
is not a casual remark. Free speech is one issue
so many Trump-driven supporters do not understand.
calling for Nancy Pelosi to be killed or accusing
Jewish persons of starting forest fires with lasers
from a distant planet is the equivalent to yelling
"fire" in a crowded theater. Using "free speech"
as a catch-all to spread false narratives and to
express disdain for truth and scientific fact
creates a poisonous environment that kills freedom,
drains the oxygen from the air that true speech
needs to thrive in. Not all speech is equal,
nor is all speech free. Words can kill.
Sincerely,
Louis Phillips
**
AS IF ONE COULD LIVE ON LIGHT ALONE
The moon with its bad eye
Is a midnight feast.
Why are so many of us
Dining at the wrong table?
**
On Fri, Feb 5, 2021 at 10:21 PM PhillipsMiscellany wrote:
> louisprofphillips posted: ” THINKING “Words do not seem to play any role > in my mechanism of thought. I seem to use more or less clear images of a > visual type, combined with some muscular feeling. These vaguely play > together, combining with each other, without” >
I savor the bits & pieces you serve your guests &, therefore, most assuredly believe I’m dining at the right table.
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Good Thanx Lou!
On Fri, Feb 5, 2021 at 10:21 PM PhillipsMiscellany wrote:
> louisprofphillips posted: ” THINKING “Words do not seem to play any role > in my mechanism of thought. I seem to use more or less clear images of a > visual type, combined with some muscular feeling. These vaguely play > together, combining with each other, without” >
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As always, a fine mix of funny and wise!
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Maybe Pat Robertson misheard. Maybe God said, “Donald Trump will SPIN the election.”
Keep ’em coming, Lou!
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Thank you . I hope your writing is going well.
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