I walked over to the Paris theater on West 58th to see "Maestro," the movie about Leonard Bernstein, and if you'd caught us afterward walking to catch the C train at Columbus Circle, you could've heard a great argument: she thought it was fantastic, I thought it was dreadful. Arguments about movies are so much better than any other sort, but there's a terrific marital argument in the movie.
Read this somewhat in disbelief of modern academia and the thought that ocurred appropos me was just " You are old Father William". I guess times change and it is sometimes difficult to change with them.
“If you could see that I’m the one who understands you,
Been here all along, so why can’t you see?
You belong with me, you belong with me.”
And so it goes with all who can sing of heartfelt thoughts and bring us under their wings. Being able to tell encompassing stories gathers us too. It was Walter
Winchell who closed his fluent reports to the world with: "And that's the way it was." And so it was.....Knowledge can surely be filled with love and truth.
I thought you were joking, but then I googled it - not only Harvard, but Stanford are going to be offering courses on Taylor Swift's work. My mind is boggled. I guess the old saying, "You can't make this stuff up," is true. 🙄
Agreed. Life is full of stressors, kids have to learn to deal with it someday. If someone is smart enough to get into Harvard, they should be used to taking exams.
Oh yeah, stress. At the Univ. of Minnesota, '58-'62, on the quarter system, final exams were typically 3 hours ling. Since we were on the quarter system (ideal), when we were done with Fall quarter finals on about Dec. 10 or 11, we were free as birds until Winter quarter started Jan. 2. That's what I reminded a HS classmate of, he was on the semester system (before J terms) who was moaning before Christmas that he had finals in January.
Oh, and I had a jam-packed schedule of 4-5 courses per quarter.
It’s funny how two people from the same hometown might jump for joy when meeting thousands of miles away, but won’t merit a glance at home. When I was in my 20’s, traveling through northern Greece, I ran into a girl who lived just a block away from my parent’s home in Forest Hills NY. I didn’t know her at all, but she acted as if I was a long lost friend. Why is that?
Taylor Swift...another currently popular super duper megastar I haven’t kept up with, just like Madonna back when and Beyoncé and the Kardashians (were they a group?) I’m kind of famous, in my own mind, for not keeping up with pop artists or even hearing them until they’re out of fashion or, sadly, deceased. I do know enough, though, to think it’s interesting that the girl singers these days all look good in swim suits and get around like caffeinated cheer persons. Ella Fitzgerald wouldn’t have cut it, and that would have been a real loss for the ears.
Video clips of Ms Swift's concerts show an audience which is ? 90%? female. I suppose it may be sort of an immense support group. That's probably quite useful.
I never watched their TV show, but based on what's leaked out into the news, it sounds like it fits more into the alternative reality rather than reality genre. Or a bad comedy, perhaps?
“...but I don’t care if English professors teach pop songs or the backs of cereal boxes and produce Artificial Intellectuals with a doctorate in self-realization. I am minding my own business.”
I get the opposite sense from you. I think you care.
For homeschooling my 8th grade son (who is now 41) we read together The Complete Works of Shakespeare. Each play has 5 acts, one per day M-F. Saturday see it in film if available, discuss as we went along. I'm only a few years behind you, GK. You share these initials with another great writer: GK Chesterton. Onward anyway, even though the culture is crumbling around us.
Reminds me of the time I was a "guest lecturer" on the Civil War in a junior high school. I tried to convey to the students the importance of words to the people of that time, when the "media" was only in printed form (words, music, and images) and needed to be read or performed, sometimes in speeches or sermons lasting hours. As an example, I compared the lyrics of the song "Lorena" to the lyrics of a song one of the kids said was his favorite. As one can see from the first verse below, it was not a fair comparison. (I am not sure the young people got my point.)
Garrison, what's with "a couple writers"? Are you joining the trend to leave out small words that make a difference? I can't even diagram that phrase.
Harvard should do a course on the Collected Poetry and Limericks of Garrison Keillor.
In college in the early 60s, we could study Symbolism in Shakespeare (the best English course ever) during the day, play Elvis after class, and occasionally find some of the same meaning.
To the best of my knowledge, I have never heard a Taylor Swift song, from the ceiling or anywhere else. Give Taylor her due: she is smart, knows her audience, and doesn't act like the billionaire she is. In a recent article, Peggy Noonan offered these thoughts:
• Nine years ago, in an interview with CBS’s Gayle King, Ms. Swift cooly self-assessed. “My life doesn’t gravitate towards being edgy, sexy, or cool. I just naturally am not any of those things.” Pressed for what she is, she said: “I’m imaginative, I’m smart and I’m hardworking.” She was only 24 but all that seems perfectly correct. She’s focused, ambitious, loves to perform, loves to be cheered, loves to strut.
• She has said she sees herself primarily as a storyteller. They’re her stories and those of her audience—breakups, small triumphs, betrayals, mistakes. Her special bond with her audience is that for 17 years, more than a generation, they’ve been going through life together, experiencing it and talking it through. It’s a relationship.
• When her recent tour became a bona fide record-breaker Ms. Swift gave everyone in her crew—everyone, the dressers, the guys who move the sets, the sound techs and backup dancers—a combined $55 million in bonuses. The truck drivers received a reported $100,000 each.
Several commentators have suggested TS for President. Given the current choices, I'd vote for her. But she would have to promise to sing her State of the Union address.
I hafta tell you Garrison, I like that song too, driving around in the car, and I didn't know it was Ms. Swift till now. It's a story song, with characters and a plot. But I hear you, I do. I always figure I'll be gettin' out just in time.
Not to mention making an heroic couplet resemblant to that other Swift, Jonathan:
"For true wisdom and authentic feeling
Don’t listen to songs that come out of a ceiling."
Good morning, Garrison. What we wouldn't do to cross paths with you on the sidewalks of New York, that is the question my dears.
I walked over to the Paris theater on West 58th to see "Maestro," the movie about Leonard Bernstein, and if you'd caught us afterward walking to catch the C train at Columbus Circle, you could've heard a great argument: she thought it was fantastic, I thought it was dreadful. Arguments about movies are so much better than any other sort, but there's a terrific marital argument in the movie.
I guess Harvard is had pressed.
Make that hahd pressed.
As in a Boston accent?
Yes, of course.
It was actually a typo. During the pandemic there was a sign at the post office that said, “WHEN YOAH IN LINE STAY SIX WICKED FEET APAHT”.
Read this somewhat in disbelief of modern academia and the thought that ocurred appropos me was just " You are old Father William". I guess times change and it is sometimes difficult to change with them.
“If you could see that I’m the one who understands you,
Been here all along, so why can’t you see?
You belong with me, you belong with me.”
And so it goes with all who can sing of heartfelt thoughts and bring us under their wings. Being able to tell encompassing stories gathers us too. It was Walter
Winchell who closed his fluent reports to the world with: "And that's the way it was." And so it was.....Knowledge can surely be filled with love and truth.
It comes from the hearts of you both, sung or told.
“But the old man walks down the street and is aware......”. For my money, you’ve got a hit there. In that I trust.
Thanks Garrison.
When do you suppose there will be a class about Garrison Keillor at Harvard?
Briefly, in 1985 maybe, but it was not admiring.
Taylor Swift is Time Magazine's 2023 person of the year. Think about that.
I thought you were joking, but then I googled it - not only Harvard, but Stanford are going to be offering courses on Taylor Swift's work. My mind is boggled. I guess the old saying, "You can't make this stuff up," is true. 🙄
True. But the line that really caught my attention was the Professor’s
“I have such mixed feelings about final exams because they stress people out.”
Agreed. Life is full of stressors, kids have to learn to deal with it someday. If someone is smart enough to get into Harvard, they should be used to taking exams.
It's *grading* the final exams that is stressful. Especially if there is a literary judgment involved on the teacher's part.
Let's not forget, they're icky in other ways, as well!
Oh yeah, stress. At the Univ. of Minnesota, '58-'62, on the quarter system, final exams were typically 3 hours ling. Since we were on the quarter system (ideal), when we were done with Fall quarter finals on about Dec. 10 or 11, we were free as birds until Winter quarter started Jan. 2. That's what I reminded a HS classmate of, he was on the semester system (before J terms) who was moaning before Christmas that he had finals in January.
Oh, and I had a jam-packed schedule of 4-5 courses per quarter.
As if being stressed from time to time is a bad thing…tsk, tsk.
It’s funny how two people from the same hometown might jump for joy when meeting thousands of miles away, but won’t merit a glance at home. When I was in my 20’s, traveling through northern Greece, I ran into a girl who lived just a block away from my parent’s home in Forest Hills NY. I didn’t know her at all, but she acted as if I was a long lost friend. Why is that?
The homesick blues.
Because suddenly you are. But only briefly.
Are New Yorkers stuck up? Minnesotans tend not to be.
Taylor Swift...another currently popular super duper megastar I haven’t kept up with, just like Madonna back when and Beyoncé and the Kardashians (were they a group?) I’m kind of famous, in my own mind, for not keeping up with pop artists or even hearing them until they’re out of fashion or, sadly, deceased. I do know enough, though, to think it’s interesting that the girl singers these days all look good in swim suits and get around like caffeinated cheer persons. Ella Fitzgerald wouldn’t have cut it, and that would have been a real loss for the ears.
Video clips of Ms Swift's concerts show an audience which is ? 90%? female. I suppose it may be sort of an immense support group. That's probably quite useful.
The Khardashians are only megastars because they say they are.
I never watched their TV show, but based on what's leaked out into the news, it sounds like it fits more into the alternative reality rather than reality genre. Or a bad comedy, perhaps?
“...but I don’t care if English professors teach pop songs or the backs of cereal boxes and produce Artificial Intellectuals with a doctorate in self-realization. I am minding my own business.”
I get the opposite sense from you. I think you care.
For homeschooling my 8th grade son (who is now 41) we read together The Complete Works of Shakespeare. Each play has 5 acts, one per day M-F. Saturday see it in film if available, discuss as we went along. I'm only a few years behind you, GK. You share these initials with another great writer: GK Chesterton. Onward anyway, even though the culture is crumbling around us.
You are an awesome mother!
Amen.
Reminds me of the time I was a "guest lecturer" on the Civil War in a junior high school. I tried to convey to the students the importance of words to the people of that time, when the "media" was only in printed form (words, music, and images) and needed to be read or performed, sometimes in speeches or sermons lasting hours. As an example, I compared the lyrics of the song "Lorena" to the lyrics of a song one of the kids said was his favorite. As one can see from the first verse below, it was not a fair comparison. (I am not sure the young people got my point.)
Oh, the years creep slowly by, Lorena,
The snow is on the ground again.
The sun's low down the sky, Lorena,
The frost gleams where the flow'rs have been.
But the heart beats on as warmly now,
As when the summer days were nigh.
Oh, the sun can never dip so low
A-down affection's cloudless sky.
Garrison, what's with "a couple writers"? Are you joining the trend to leave out small words that make a difference? I can't even diagram that phrase.
Harvard should do a course on the Collected Poetry and Limericks of Garrison Keillor.
In college in the early 60s, we could study Symbolism in Shakespeare (the best English course ever) during the day, play Elvis after class, and occasionally find some of the same meaning.
To the best of my knowledge, I have never heard a Taylor Swift song, from the ceiling or anywhere else. Give Taylor her due: she is smart, knows her audience, and doesn't act like the billionaire she is. In a recent article, Peggy Noonan offered these thoughts:
• Nine years ago, in an interview with CBS’s Gayle King, Ms. Swift cooly self-assessed. “My life doesn’t gravitate towards being edgy, sexy, or cool. I just naturally am not any of those things.” Pressed for what she is, she said: “I’m imaginative, I’m smart and I’m hardworking.” She was only 24 but all that seems perfectly correct. She’s focused, ambitious, loves to perform, loves to be cheered, loves to strut.
• She has said she sees herself primarily as a storyteller. They’re her stories and those of her audience—breakups, small triumphs, betrayals, mistakes. Her special bond with her audience is that for 17 years, more than a generation, they’ve been going through life together, experiencing it and talking it through. It’s a relationship.
• When her recent tour became a bona fide record-breaker Ms. Swift gave everyone in her crew—everyone, the dressers, the guys who move the sets, the sound techs and backup dancers—a combined $55 million in bonuses. The truck drivers received a reported $100,000 each.
Several commentators have suggested TS for President. Given the current choices, I'd vote for her. But she would have to promise to sing her State of the Union address.
I didn't know about the bonuses. I am truly impressed.
I hafta tell you Garrison, I like that song too, driving around in the car, and I didn't know it was Ms. Swift till now. It's a story song, with characters and a plot. But I hear you, I do. I always figure I'll be gettin' out just in time.