GK Thank you for your word smithing! As an older boomer I appreciate the harmonious stroll with your pen. I often am wary of what I wish for because it may come true. Mr. Lama (as in Dalai), put it this way … Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stoke of luck
I disagree about your eligibility for the President post. Presidents are only mouth pieces for the Executive branch of the Federal government. You certainly have that ability. You would be the oldest sitting president but one the most liked one. Surround yourself with intelligent, capable like minded people for policy making and policy enforcement. Your first State of the Nation Address could be run like a PHC show. Singing patriotic anthems with the assembled as you enter the proceedings. Some music accompaniment pieces, some comedy pieces and then the News from the Nation, followed more patriotic anthems. This would be a "Glorious" nation were we all could agree to "Make America a Happier, Better Place". I know that I'd vote for you.
I appreciate your support but as we both know, an 82-year-old's chances of election to the White House are slimmer than the chance of the White House becoming a White Castle drive-in and the West Wing a motel. We need a 42-year-old, one with a good grip on reality.
Where you say "meekness has been my salvation" and you keep your mouth shut, how can that be true given all the angry letters you recieve for being critical of Donald Trump at times?
if you got multiple like notifications just now, i was just trying to make sure all the people liked this comment who already liked it, not to simulate a heartbeat.
Armadillos, yes! They have tough skins, wander around mostly in the dark, and don't have the common sense not to cross a road when a pair of bright lights is headed straight toward them. (that could also be said of the prior President's ability to "read" Putin's intentions!) As for egrets "Full of sound and fury -great hairstyle - signifying nothing."
As for Trumpers - it seems to me they must have flunked their American History classes, or didn't get that far in school in the first place. The idea of a democracy is to treat all members with fairness, to understand needs and pass laws that make the different portions of our society blend well together.
The "Populace" understood that when the popular vote went to Hillary Clinton. Unfortunately, she didn't understand the effect of Constitutional thumbs on the scales. She should have campaigned more in the states with lower populations. Maybe future candidates will learn from her error - but what an error it was! We could end up attempting to correct for Trump's flamboyant egotism for a century to come! With the present situation in the Ukraine, thanks to that New York realtor's cozying up with Putin, we could end up in World War III. Augh!
My friend doesn't/didn't like Hilary because she says she's a typical Scorpio, full of ambition and driven by power. Not sure how she could have fixed that impression of her in those low population areas.
Hey Lynne! So far I’m two for two (comments). The rule seems to be the comment has to be something of substance. So far I asked him why he keeps writing critical things about DJT if as he said recently in his newsletter, “meekness has always been my salvation”. He replied with a dutiful criticism of DT (who I privately call “Ronald Rump”); I think GK has toned it down a bit lately regarding him though. Then I told him I too was a little disappointed in his angry anti-DT Xmas cards last year, because it transgressed against the season, and he seemed to like that. But you have to keep responding to other people’s comments too in your thread & not just his. Good luck!
Perfect! The older I get the more I appreciate my own simplicity. No more deep, deep diving for the true meaning of every written word. I get up everyday grateful that I’m alive for another sunrise, and a hot cup of coffee. Religion has never made much sense to me and now I’m happy to admit it. I’m off to play with an adorable grandchild, life is beautiful in my own reality.
I wonder why you do not view the current president as an idiot. His predecessor, though obnoxious, seemed to have a more sane way of governing. He also left the nation in better shape than it is now.
Constantly lying about everything, vilifying half the country and pitting Americans against each other is absolutely not a sane way of governing. This stuff is dangerous, and it shouldn't be written off as mere obnoxiousness. One way out of our current predicament is for voters of both political parties to reject candidates who do it, even if this means supporting the other side sometimes.
I got a little further in Moby Dick than page 20, but I didn't finish it either. There's a lengthy section in which Melville goes into great detail about how the whale goes from being a carcass to how it ends up as barrels of oil. That probably was interesting to folks of the day, but not many of us rely on whale oil lamps for our evening reading any more.
I think it's a sign of intelligence to know when to quit! Once in California, while on my quest to drive on every paved road, I got on "The Rim of the World" highway. It seemed to go on forever, (it's actually 117 miles long!) and, more worrisome was the fact that I was driving the only vehicle on the road. I got to Our Consummate Host's point, wondering what the Heck I was doing there, when I saw a green Forest Service Ranger's vehicle coming toward me. I got their attention, and we rolled down our windows. "Does this road go anywhere? Will I end up in a dead end?" I queried. "It does connect, but it's a two hour drive," they told me. It wasn't only the length of the drive, but the concept of being there, all alone, with no help in case a deer tried to jump in front of me and we crashed together. ( That almost happened to me on another mountain road - I missed her flank by less than a yard!) I decided that "some quests just aren't worth it."
It seems as if the quest of conquering a "Classic" like Moby Dick wasn't worth it to some of us latter-day readers.
It's good to know what fits into your personal life style, and what "goals" just aren't that significant! I just googled the quote "Know Yourself" and they came up with almost a trillion variations! I guess that says something about "peer pressure", and the need to set limits!
I wonder, among GK and Friends, if there are others who also admit to opting out of The Hunt For The Great White Whale? More Power to Us!
I was supposed to read it for English 101 in my first attempt at college. I bought the book and I tried. I resorted to Cliff Notes, my one and only reading failure, and I don't even have a social life to blame it on. Luckily there weren't test questions on the foggy details, and the overall mystic search for perfection (only to be disappointed) still eludes me.
English 101! Ouch! For me, it was a mandatory class, and most of the instructors were grad students. My particular instructor was on an ego trip. I came from a high school environment in which the best grades went to those who challenged the "facile opinion." This technique had me nearly failing with this particular teacher. If I failed English, I'd be out of school. So I "groveled." I went through all my notes and set up a fantasy situation, in which I fed her back her own words, "Charlie McCarthy-like!"
On the day before winter break, I got a call to the phone on my dorm corridor. "I called to tell you that you got a 100% on your final paper. Your final course grade will be 80%." That was the minimum to stay in my major. Of course, I was relieved. But at the same time, it made me leery of English course grad school students who went by the practice of "My Way or No Way at All!"
How about you folks out there in GK and Friends land? Any horror stories?
I am related to a whole slew of McNeills except they spell it with one L, and they're the cream of the crop. Uncle Duncan and Aunt Ruby were two of my favorites.
Oh my late husband would have loved to know this! He was an avid fan of yours. He met you once when you spoke at Wake Forest in Winston-Salem. I think it was an NPR giving drive. He volunteered to read to the blind at that facility. He stood in line to shake your hand and have you sign your latest book at the time. When he got to you, he told me he couldn't even speak! You see, he was a shy person and related to your personality all the way (except that alas he was a Republican).
I'll bet he was a Scots Republican, which is the right kind to be, cautious, skeptical of big talkers, unwilling to be pushed around by the aristocrats or the socialists.
Dear Garrison, I understand why you did not want to read all of Moby-Dick. It is Melville's masterpiece, but for many it is too drawn-out. The Pequod, by the way, is a ship, not a boat. One summer many years ago I read only two novels: Moby-Dick and War and Peace. I'm sorry to hear that TWA will soon be gone. I start my day listening to it, and, back in 1999, I had the great privilege of having two of my own poems read by you. In October 2009 we saw you at the Arlington Theatre in Santa Barbara, a little after your stroke. Thank you & stay safe.
Hey something we agree on. Love ML Mencken. Close thing to Twain this country has ever produced. As for your hero Biden, let's just be politically correct and say competency challenged. Good grief...
I'm sorry you missed the speech. And I believe he's H.L. not M.L. but never mind. He also was sympathetic to Hitler and there are passages of Mencken that don' appear in Great Quotations.
I saw the speech. Words are words and deeds are deeds. My bad on the misspelling, need to remember to edit myself more closely. Twain said some outrageous stuff as well. Interesting people usually do. We have the luxury of hindsight.
I'm stunned. I agree with everything you say. This is historic. And thanks for watching the speech. It's fascinating, isn't it? All the mingling. I could do without the "analysis" and just want to watch to see who Mitch shakes hands with.
I am disappointed to learn that after a disastrous four political years from which we are still reeling, thankfully ended, you now allude to Mencken's quip, “the men the American people admire the most are the most daring liars…on some … glorious day…the White house will be adorned by a downright moron”, and you proclaim “that day arrived”. This is the morning after an articulate and on-point State of the Union address that was surprisingly well received on both sides of the aisle.
Without further comment on your position, I frankly do not get your meaning.
Good morning, GK! You are sunshine after rain, the voice of a reason, calm and humor in all the turmoil. Thank you!
GK Thank you for your word smithing! As an older boomer I appreciate the harmonious stroll with your pen. I often am wary of what I wish for because it may come true. Mr. Lama (as in Dalai), put it this way … Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stoke of luck
Blessings on your head Mr Keillor. Multiple showers thereof.
Orthopedic pants!!
Careful, you’ll start a trend!
I disagree about your eligibility for the President post. Presidents are only mouth pieces for the Executive branch of the Federal government. You certainly have that ability. You would be the oldest sitting president but one the most liked one. Surround yourself with intelligent, capable like minded people for policy making and policy enforcement. Your first State of the Nation Address could be run like a PHC show. Singing patriotic anthems with the assembled as you enter the proceedings. Some music accompaniment pieces, some comedy pieces and then the News from the Nation, followed more patriotic anthems. This would be a "Glorious" nation were we all could agree to "Make America a Happier, Better Place". I know that I'd vote for you.
I appreciate your support but as we both know, an 82-year-old's chances of election to the White House are slimmer than the chance of the White House becoming a White Castle drive-in and the West Wing a motel. We need a 42-year-old, one with a good grip on reality.
Not to mention, you seem pretty happy now so why blow it?
Where you say "meekness has been my salvation" and you keep your mouth shut, how can that be true given all the angry letters you recieve for being critical of Donald Trump at times?
I wasn't into your Christmas cards last year either, but in general am on the same page.
I'm grateful for the Trumpers, they are a natural wonder and worthy of preservation. Like the armadillo or the egret.
if you got multiple like notifications just now, i was just trying to make sure all the people liked this comment who already liked it, not to simulate a heartbeat.
Armadillos, yes! They have tough skins, wander around mostly in the dark, and don't have the common sense not to cross a road when a pair of bright lights is headed straight toward them. (that could also be said of the prior President's ability to "read" Putin's intentions!) As for egrets "Full of sound and fury -great hairstyle - signifying nothing."
As for Trumpers - it seems to me they must have flunked their American History classes, or didn't get that far in school in the first place. The idea of a democracy is to treat all members with fairness, to understand needs and pass laws that make the different portions of our society blend well together.
The "Populace" understood that when the popular vote went to Hillary Clinton. Unfortunately, she didn't understand the effect of Constitutional thumbs on the scales. She should have campaigned more in the states with lower populations. Maybe future candidates will learn from her error - but what an error it was! We could end up attempting to correct for Trump's flamboyant egotism for a century to come! With the present situation in the Ukraine, thanks to that New York realtor's cozying up with Putin, we could end up in World War III. Augh!
My friend doesn't/didn't like Hilary because she says she's a typical Scorpio, full of ambition and driven by power. Not sure how she could have fixed that impression of her in those low population areas.
Point taken!
Bravo to fairness and the meeting of needs. Amen.
Hey Lynne! So far I’m two for two (comments). The rule seems to be the comment has to be something of substance. So far I asked him why he keeps writing critical things about DJT if as he said recently in his newsletter, “meekness has always been my salvation”. He replied with a dutiful criticism of DT (who I privately call “Ronald Rump”); I think GK has toned it down a bit lately regarding him though. Then I told him I too was a little disappointed in his angry anti-DT Xmas cards last year, because it transgressed against the season, and he seemed to like that. But you have to keep responding to other people’s comments too in your thread & not just his. Good luck!
ps i'm just going to email her the link to this page because you're a big commenter no matter what people do! she's your biggest fan...
Perfect! The older I get the more I appreciate my own simplicity. No more deep, deep diving for the true meaning of every written word. I get up everyday grateful that I’m alive for another sunrise, and a hot cup of coffee. Religion has never made much sense to me and now I’m happy to admit it. I’m off to play with an adorable grandchild, life is beautiful in my own reality.
Beautiful. Enjoy your day.
Religion doesn't make sense to me either but the mystery of the Christian faith is just like that sunrise.
beautifully put, naturally from a writer of your caliber
Haha, you can be pretty bold :)
I wonder why you do not view the current president as an idiot. His predecessor, though obnoxious, seemed to have a more sane way of governing. He also left the nation in better shape than it is now.
Constantly lying about everything, vilifying half the country and pitting Americans against each other is absolutely not a sane way of governing. This stuff is dangerous, and it shouldn't be written off as mere obnoxiousness. One way out of our current predicament is for voters of both political parties to reject candidates who do it, even if this means supporting the other side sometimes.
You are asking a great deal. You need modifiers, like "maybe a few voters".
For the same reason I don't think you're illiterate. Because I can see you are writing sentences.
I got a little further in Moby Dick than page 20, but I didn't finish it either. There's a lengthy section in which Melville goes into great detail about how the whale goes from being a carcass to how it ends up as barrels of oil. That probably was interesting to folks of the day, but not many of us rely on whale oil lamps for our evening reading any more.
I think it's a sign of intelligence to know when to quit! Once in California, while on my quest to drive on every paved road, I got on "The Rim of the World" highway. It seemed to go on forever, (it's actually 117 miles long!) and, more worrisome was the fact that I was driving the only vehicle on the road. I got to Our Consummate Host's point, wondering what the Heck I was doing there, when I saw a green Forest Service Ranger's vehicle coming toward me. I got their attention, and we rolled down our windows. "Does this road go anywhere? Will I end up in a dead end?" I queried. "It does connect, but it's a two hour drive," they told me. It wasn't only the length of the drive, but the concept of being there, all alone, with no help in case a deer tried to jump in front of me and we crashed together. ( That almost happened to me on another mountain road - I missed her flank by less than a yard!) I decided that "some quests just aren't worth it."
It seems as if the quest of conquering a "Classic" like Moby Dick wasn't worth it to some of us latter-day readers.
It's good to know what fits into your personal life style, and what "goals" just aren't that significant! I just googled the quote "Know Yourself" and they came up with almost a trillion variations! I guess that says something about "peer pressure", and the need to set limits!
I wonder, among GK and Friends, if there are others who also admit to opting out of The Hunt For The Great White Whale? More Power to Us!
I was supposed to read it for English 101 in my first attempt at college. I bought the book and I tried. I resorted to Cliff Notes, my one and only reading failure, and I don't even have a social life to blame it on. Luckily there weren't test questions on the foggy details, and the overall mystic search for perfection (only to be disappointed) still eludes me.
English 101! Ouch! For me, it was a mandatory class, and most of the instructors were grad students. My particular instructor was on an ego trip. I came from a high school environment in which the best grades went to those who challenged the "facile opinion." This technique had me nearly failing with this particular teacher. If I failed English, I'd be out of school. So I "groveled." I went through all my notes and set up a fantasy situation, in which I fed her back her own words, "Charlie McCarthy-like!"
On the day before winter break, I got a call to the phone on my dorm corridor. "I called to tell you that you got a 100% on your final paper. Your final course grade will be 80%." That was the minimum to stay in my major. Of course, I was relieved. But at the same time, it made me leery of English course grad school students who went by the practice of "My Way or No Way at All!"
How about you folks out there in GK and Friends land? Any horror stories?
I loved this article. Yesterday I broke one of the cardinal rules. I didn't keep my mouth shut and I was persecuted. I will know better from now on.
I am related to a whole slew of McNeills except they spell it with one L, and they're the cream of the crop. Uncle Duncan and Aunt Ruby were two of my favorites.
Oh my late husband would have loved to know this! He was an avid fan of yours. He met you once when you spoke at Wake Forest in Winston-Salem. I think it was an NPR giving drive. He volunteered to read to the blind at that facility. He stood in line to shake your hand and have you sign your latest book at the time. When he got to you, he told me he couldn't even speak! You see, he was a shy person and related to your personality all the way (except that alas he was a Republican).
I'll bet he was a Scots Republican, which is the right kind to be, cautious, skeptical of big talkers, unwilling to be pushed around by the aristocrats or the socialists.
Exactly!
Dear Garrison, I understand why you did not want to read all of Moby-Dick. It is Melville's masterpiece, but for many it is too drawn-out. The Pequod, by the way, is a ship, not a boat. One summer many years ago I read only two novels: Moby-Dick and War and Peace. I'm sorry to hear that TWA will soon be gone. I start my day listening to it, and, back in 1999, I had the great privilege of having two of my own poems read by you. In October 2009 we saw you at the Arlington Theatre in Santa Barbara, a little after your stroke. Thank you & stay safe.
Richard Carlander
Camarillo, CA
I read War and Peace, Richard, and loved it. As for Melville, his guys got in a boat to row out to the ship. So I believe and I am sticking to it.
I do. I know them and glad to learn that you do, too. Calm attentiveness helps me with inevitable realities. Try it; you'll like it!
Hey something we agree on. Love ML Mencken. Close thing to Twain this country has ever produced. As for your hero Biden, let's just be politically correct and say competency challenged. Good grief...
I'm sorry you missed the speech. And I believe he's H.L. not M.L. but never mind. He also was sympathetic to Hitler and there are passages of Mencken that don' appear in Great Quotations.
I saw the speech. Words are words and deeds are deeds. My bad on the misspelling, need to remember to edit myself more closely. Twain said some outrageous stuff as well. Interesting people usually do. We have the luxury of hindsight.
I'm stunned. I agree with everything you say. This is historic. And thanks for watching the speech. It's fascinating, isn't it? All the mingling. I could do without the "analysis" and just want to watch to see who Mitch shakes hands with.
There is first for everything. As long as you keep doing The Writer's Almanac, I will always be a big fan!
I'm quitting in May. Sorry. Goodbye.
Dear Mr. Keillor,
I am disappointed to learn that after a disastrous four political years from which we are still reeling, thankfully ended, you now allude to Mencken's quip, “the men the American people admire the most are the most daring liars…on some … glorious day…the White house will be adorned by a downright moron”, and you proclaim “that day arrived”. This is the morning after an articulate and on-point State of the Union address that was surprisingly well received on both sides of the aisle.
Without further comment on your position, I frankly do not get your meaning.
Respectfully,
I was referring to 2016 when I started writing for the opinion page and the daring liar was elected that November despite a shortage of votes.
Thanks,well written.