plinyblogdotcom

Caution, dear reader, brace yourself. In a few days, the perennial tsunami, appearing every February 14, will predictably reassert itself, in all its traditional force. The sole fans of the feared flooding are the usual suspects, the greeting card companies, the chocolate manufacturers, the florists, the retail jewelry businesses, the pajama industry and the novelty sales folk. The expected high tide of the Valentine’s Day inundation, judging by previous experience, will submerge all land masses, human population and baffle all reason. Among other phenomena, the advertising industry will publish a stage 4 hurricane of notices, featuring photo-shopped, seemingly amorous couples, in intimate proximity, to their highlighted sales merchandise.

Since (mercifully) this holiday has only a short half-life, one day, the need for effective, sales propaganda becomes urgent. Unaccountably huge profits are earned by companies who, presumptuously, maintain that there is a realistic (and commercial) need to supplement the interaction of couples, who love one another, with their manufactured paraphernalia. Greeting card companies are especially guilty of this self-serving assumption and hire distinguished “poets” to create trite doggerel, consisting of inane expressions of love and fidelity, for the thousands of presumably, aphasic, anonymous consumers.

The most objectionable of the various Valentine’s Day symbols is the trite, red valentine “heart,” an outmoded and retro- configuration, broadcast without relief; on all holiday products, greeting cards, gift wrapping paper, stuffed toys, pillows and candy boxes. This stale symbol is glaringly imprinted on all items for sale on Valentine’s Day, as well as on the consumer’s mind, by some Manchurian Candidate type, propaganda.

Various research people [ who apparently have no more pressing fields of inquiry for the employment of their Ph.D. acumen] have uniformly reported that the classic red symbol is derived from an early, incorrect understanding, by [no less than] Galen and Aristotle, who believed that the heart contained only three chambers. [It may be noted, that Dr. Galen and Mr. Aristotle were, innovatively, accurate on many other subjects]

The valentine depiction of the human heart, maintains the very same proportionate degree of accuracy, as a wood duck, in appearance, bears to a moose. Nevertheless, it has, over the ages, been foisted upon, and willingly accepted, by the consuming public.

In truth, the human heart is shaped like a pear and is the approximate size of a man’s fist. This life-or-death chest muscle is taxed with the existential job of circulating blood and oxygen throughout the body. It has no time, or noticeable inclination, for holiday Hallmark sales propaganda, as the purported source of love, courage, strength or kindness. The statement, “He has a good heart” should be reserved, solely to a positive determination by a cardiologist, and not a comment on such traits as a person’s, love, generosity or empathy. We are only concerned with cardiologists and not “cardeologists.” How would you value a positive comment on generosity, like, “He has good kidneys.”

It is certainly inarguable that all human thought and emotion are exclusively functions of the brain and, empirically, not the traditionally romanticized heart muscle. Admittedly, however, it would be impractical to artistically create a brain-shaped cartoon figure to serve as a symbol of the holiday.

The senseless valentine “heart” is best replaced by a preferable love symbol, the unique and marvelous tulip bulb. Certainly, the outline of the traditional bulb is simple to replicate, artistically. More important, the bulb has always been a reliable symbol of future growth and predictable beauty. Relative to the modern conception of true and healthy love, the tulip bulb is independent and self-sustaining, having within its inner self a sufficient systemic source of future nourishment as well as the natural ability and inclination for growth and the achievement of its innate potential.

The tulip bulb, in the Middle Ages, was thought to be magical and priceless. There are historical records of its individual sale for the modern equivalent of several thousand dollars. If you should offer one to him/her and it is refused, we earnestly suggest that you look elsewhere.

ADDENDUM:

Why should it be necessary to dedicate a one-day holiday in recognition and expression of love; and, further, to do so by trite gifts of holiday nonsense? Love, where it is genuine, is experienced on a regular basis, and expressed in tender interaction and caring, personal acts. This one-day holiday is sadly comparable to gifts of free turkey dinners on Thanksgiving to the needy. Hunger exists year-round and the poor and unfortunate need more than a gratuitous symbol.

* perennial message

-p.

We are candidly, obliged to confess that, despite our lifetime of deliberation, we have not been, even minimally successful, in our attempts to comprehend the arcane nature and parameters of the human persona or psyche. Such analysis, if such were, indeed, possible, would enable the useful comprehension of human dynamics and its predictable, responses to the varieties of experience. We, inconsistently, observe the best in Man, by his demonstrated, laudable behavior, as well as his contrary, pernicious inclinations. Such inability to rationally, describe a stereotypic human psyche, is disappointing and unsettling since the same prevents the establishment of an empirical, guidepost, appropriate to the establishment of relevant, empirical policy.

The above conundrum may be adequately, demonstrated, by a few, representative, examples of such fundamental, contextual, human inconsistency.  In keeping with the theme of this essay, we see, as a  conceivable, possibility, that the ancient scribes who composed the Biblical chapter, “Genesis,” were, albeit, in that early era, empirically, aware of Man’s duality, by their symbolic creation of Adam’s sons, Abel (goodness) and Cain (evil). In the modern era, the literary provenance for such duality, is illustrated in such novels as, Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” and Herman Hesse’s “Siddhartha.”

On a recent occasion, we viewed, two television, videos, respectively, concerning the rise of Adolph Hitler and the Third Reich and on the Auschwitz Death Camp. To, narrowly judge the population of Germany, by these historically atrocious events would be to irretrievably, condemn that Nation, as barbarous, cruel and psychopathic. A country of highly educated, cultured and aesthetic people, including Beethoven, Brahms, Rilke, Goethe, and Hesse, somehow, perversely celebrated, with passionate love and loyalty, the destruction of the democratic, Weimar Republic and the ascendency of a demagogic tyrant and the factory style, programmatic, murderer of six million European. Jews. The World saw the ugly morphing of a National Abel to a Cain of monstrous and inconceivable proportion.

Today’s German Republic, by observable, contrast, is, and has been for decades,  an inarguably, free, democratic and admirable Nation, a strategic partner to the United States, a  member of N.A.T.O, and a signer to the Paris environmental Accords. Its official, public, programs of remembrance and apology for the Holocaust, exceed in number and effectiveness, any and all other National programs on the subject. Anti-Semitism has long been declared, illegal in Germany, and in contrast with the United States, there exists in that country, adequate and enforceable, gun control regulations.

In our own Nation, we are able to see the contextual, dichotomy, as between the belief in rational, democratic and inclusive, rule, simultaneously, with misguided and immoral efforts to destroy the democratic republic, in favor of (a suicidal slide to) autocracy. We would, demonstrably, make reference, to the reprehensible, anti-democratic, existence of Christian White Militias, Trump his MAGA, reprobates, the horrendous, occurrence of the Washington D.C. insurrection and the persistence of racial and religious bias.

On the positive side, we can, happily, cite major U.S. governmental and mainstream citizen efforts, to achieve universal equality, America’s continued, support for the United Nations, and for peace, its efforts to improve the environment, including the existential effort to ameliorate global warming, by the development of, non-polluting, natural sources of energy, governmental and mainstream citizen, recognition of equal, citizen rights, as stated, in the First Amendment to the Constitution, scientific efforts to prevent and cure disease,  governmental, concern and assistance to needy citizens, citizen volunteer services in  National and International, National disasters and, markedly, a contextually revealing, empathic concern, for the Nation’s domestic animals, (ASPCA).

We will candidly, admit our inability to explain said themed, material dichotomy of the human spirit. Nevertheless, we have made the emotionally, ameliorative decision, to eternally, maintain, the recognition of Man’s, creditably, moral and humanistic qualities, in our attempts to mitigate the angst caused by Man’s inclination to travel the “Cain” route.

Nevertheless, in addition to the singular nightmare, of Hitler’s Germany, we are unable to assuage, our profound, stomach-churning, disgust, regarding two distinct, uncomfortably, memorable, matters: (1) Donald Trump’s televised, comedic and heartless, confrontational, mimicking of a reporter with observable symptoms of cerebral palsy, and, (2) in light of the plethora of mortal shootings of young children, at schools, parks and other places of assembly, the perverse, election, of certain Members of Congress, to wear on their lapel, decorative pins, representative of the automatic weapons, employed in effecting such lifelong, heartache and loss. Some characterological behaviors should neither, be forgotten nor forgiven.

-p.

*[Apologies for the title to Herman Wouk, author of “The Caine Mutiny.”]

In January, the United States intelligence services spied a large, white-colored balloon, hovering over the territory of the U.S., apparently, having entered by way of the Aleutian Islands, Canada, and then Idaho. The high altitude, guided, object, was identified and, as will be described, below, timely, dispatched over the Atlantic Ocean, off the Coast of South Carolina.

This writing is not intended to concern itself, as much, with China’s inarguably, improper incursion over, and trespass on. the airspace of the United States, nor the presumably, ongoing, mutual programs of spying between the two involved Nations (and others) as it does, with the telling right-wing, Republican, perception and response to the event.

It has been universally, noted, that the contemporaneous, iteration of the Republican Party, has not, as is appropriate, in a constitutional, two-party political system, engaged in the duty to responsibly, champion political and social policy, deemed preferable, to the tenets of the other party. In fact, it has been empirically, observed that the members of said party have refrained from the establishment of any proffered policies at all. The sole preoccupation has appeared to be, the respective, perpetuation of their respective political office, by the censure of  Democratic opponents, most particularly, President Biden, by any means, conceivable, ranging from subjectively, created perception to paranoid conspiracy ideation. In the dystopian, political MAGA (Trump) world, “facts” are not respected for their informing, and useful, accuracy, but, conversely, for their political, utility.

House and Senate Republicans, catering to their large, submissive, population of irresponsible, MAGA adherents, expended little time, or personal concern, regarding the serious, National implications of the recent, dangerously, aggressive, incursion into the United States air space, by Communist China. Instead, they reflexively sought to excoriate the Democrats particularly President Joe Biden, for his allegedly, prolonged inaction, in informing the American population and asserted delay in shooting down the Chinese spy balloon. It may be recalled that Biden was reflexively, blamed for America’s high price of gasoline and for the Nation’s general inflation. The army of, uninformed, and/ or cynical Republican critics, expended little thought, on the concomitant existence, of the state of general inflation on a worldwide nature, inclusive of the (worldwide) increase in the price of fuel. It is also, a matter of unfathomable, mystery as to the purported, attributed influence, of the American Presidency, upon the elements of cost, refinement and delivery of Middle East oil.

Senator Marco Rubio, for example, was among the partisan, outspoken Republican critics, who, in their pious, devotion to the imperial, NRA, and demonstrated, fraternity with America’s shameful, inventory of devoted, gun-toting, sycophants, complained that the offending balloon should have been shot down, immediately, and not, as, irresponsibly, maintained, delayed.

The well-worn, process of blaming President Biden for matters, over which he has, as President, little or no control, was memorably experienced in the Nation’s long overdue, withdrawal from Afghanistan, the brainchild of Republican, President, George W. Bush. Such withdrawal was promised by several U.S. Presidents, but, finally and dutifully, accomplished by Biden, who, was blamed for the ungraceful withdrawal; the latter, an, assured and inevitable result for any of the previous Presidents, had they kept their promise to withdraw from that problematic Nation, historically, termed, “The graveyard of Empires.”

The objective facts, of the relevant matter, indisputably, indicate that President Biden, being, seasonably, apprised of the offending spy balloon, immediately, consulted with his military and other relevant experts. The elected decision was,  in the interest of prudence and compassion, to wait until the same floated over the Atlantic Ocean, toward which it was steadily heading, before shooting it down, to avoid injury to American citizens, from the thousands of pounds of fallen debris. Biden’s critics should find no error in such a wise and humanistic decision. Nonetheless, Republican partisan politics, in recent years, appear not to be constrained by the existence of inconvenient, facts, nor considerations of citizen empathy.

-p.             

The soil curates small slips of man
His life, his work, his resume
The petit detritus of his life
A library of tales, again retold.
No need to search with system code
Items are best secured by chance
With lucky use of spade and rake
Close searched where man did live and die
A rusty nail, a piece of tool
Both witnesses to man’s resolve
To raise a shelter for repose.
A fragment of a printed page,
Reveals a ken that there’s yet more.
Old cans and jars and rusty spoons,
Betoken, victory over want,
And man’s resolve to live out life.
The grassy fields perforce are doors,
Enclosing bits of lives past lived—
Far warmer than some research “App.”
With cold results in digit code!

Leonard N. Shapiro, N.Y. 9/1/16

-p.

It seems that when we reach our later years and are obliged to finally confess, that we are well into that stage of life, commonly termed, “growing old,” that we are, at times, confronted with the return of long-term memories, concerning singularly meaningful experiences in our past life; perhaps, a spontaneous projection of the stage- setting of a period of residence, in our very early life, the sound of a forgotten voice, or perhaps, a remembered scent (like ocean air, or a cooked food) suddenly recalled, after a veritable lifetime of subsequent experiences.

Such a sudden, recent memory visitation, was apparently triggered in us, by the mere encountering of the mundane verb, “crochet,” which appeared on the page of a novel we were reading. The word was not, in truth, used in any complex, metaphoric, meaningful or especially artistic sense; just the normal, unexciting and mundane word. At first, our lowering of the book and looking away felt unusual; then, a sudden eclat, “Mom!”

Our mother knew how to crochet and managed to be rather accomplished at her often practiced skill, despite the lack of a right index finger (amputated in the “dark ages” of medical ignorance of the White Russia of her childhood, in primitive manner, to prevent the spread of infection.) Crocheting was a common pastime when she was not cleaning house, cooking meals, tending to sick children or food shopping.

Historically, she may, perhaps, be entitled to be numbered among the world’s original recyclers; but truthfully, only did so, as a matter of necessity.  In the impoverished life, endured, together with her hard working, immigrant husband, and children, seldom was anything actually discarded, if it could be seen to have some other function, or some future possible utility.

Among our earliest memories, was of mother, actively tearing long, thin strips of cloth, from clothing and other fabrics, the latter, finally consigned to the dire functional diagnosis as no longer repairable, and, consequently, and at long last, falling into the rarified scientific category of “schmattas.” There was no limit to the wide provenance of these residual schmattas, old washclothes, towels, pants, undergarments, very torn sweaters, ancient shirts, blouses, dresses and whatever deserving fabric which, at long last, had fairly earned the right to meet its maker.

We would see her, in any break from housecleaning, cooking meals, nursing sick children, and the like, crocheting these substantial, multi- colored, multi-textured, accumulations of ancient family utility. Her recognized artisinal canon was area rugs, which  multi-splendored, objets d’art, kept our bare (or stockinged) feet warm, despite a cold flat and cold floor.

Then, a second lightening bolt (“eclat”)  struck; this time, a truly inventive, exciting and more scholarly eclat; as distinguished from the emotional jolt, set forth, above.

These cloth strips, torn from fabrics, used during the time of her family history, starting with her emigration to America, represent a witness, going back to the time of her escape from pogrom country and the Russian dark ages, though an American period, from Herbert Hoover and Franklin D. Roosevelt to John Kennedy, and encompassing events which occurred during such era, including, World War II, the Korean and Vietnamese Wars,  the exponential changes in technology and medicine, social upheavals and developments, indeed, all of the intervening domestic and World history of the era.

May not these historic strips, albeit arranged and conglomerated into somewhat different form, be of significant academic use to historians, economists and sociologists, studying the life and events of the approximately,  one Century of American existence represented, find a veritable treasure trove of desired information therein? Devoted and capable scientists obtain needed enlightenment from radioactive carbon, from fossils and geological strata, from the study and computation of tree rings, why not schmattas? Mom would be very pleased to know that they have yet another use.

-p.

Recently, we were the intended victims of an unsuccessful attempt in one of the crudest, but, arguably, boldest, species of the many-faceted deceitful iterations, of what we have contextually, termed, “The Grandma Grift.” In simple terms, our general concept describes the pernicious act of preying upon the elderly, with false and deceitful representations, presumably, upon the arrogant and immoral assumption that, being elderly and presumably, infirm, they are easy marks for deception. In our case, the landline phone rang and following our customarily, reserved, response of “Hello,” the young grifter stated, “Hello Grandpa.” Had we responded in presumably, predictable fashion, with something like, “Hi, is this Jordy?” the errant caller would have thereby, obtained his desired and malicious, entre to a false, communicative, intimacy; predictably, followed by a scripted conversation, the concluding, and intended, portion of which would be a request for monetary help. In this case, the wary, old fish did not bite. We, shortly thereafter, were surprised to read in an AARP pamphlet, that this primitive swindle, is widespread and, often successful. In the interest of literary propriety, we will refrain from comment on our perceived persona of these young grifters.

 We are especially outraged, by the more sophisticated, and deceitful, offers of “beneficial” transactions, touted to senior citizens, in the areas of finance, life insurance, and real estate. These misleading, and essentially false, representations, broadcast on television by well-known, attractive, show business celebrities, pseudo-doctors and “experts.” Unlike the miscreant defrauders who perpetrate their crude swindles by telephone, the sophisticated, televised offers of “snake oil” panaceas and monetary enrichment, purport to intimately, disclose to the (presumed vulnerable) elders, the inside, (actually, “insidious”) wisdom, in the context of a faux pretention of a dedicated and informed desire to be of empathic service. Some of the most egregious targeted, deceit, perpetrated on public television, occurs in the areas of life insurance, and real estate ownership.

[Life Insurance] The offer, on the part of insurance companies, to repurchase, long- existing, policies of life insurance, from the insured senior citizen, is touted as a pragmatically, facile mode, for the latter, to obtain needed finances. The solicitation, itself, is tactically, scripted, in positive, convincing, language, delivered by a convincing, well-known show business, or talk show celebrity, in a neighborly and intimate context. The consumer is emphatically, “reminded” that he is “sitting on an unused, pot of gold,” and thereby, can free himself of the oppression of current financial concerns, too often the worrisome, plight of the senior citizen.

It is known that insurance companies calculate their premiums actuarially, i.e., based upon the statistical life expectancy of the prospective insured; moneys, not dedicated to its contractual payment are, profitably, invested in mortgages, real estate and other “legal,”  investments. With regard to the individual insured, as stated, the amount of his respective, premium, is calculated upon various personal factors, the most salient, being age. The younger the applicant, the less probable, his imminent death, and, the longer (and greater) the anticipated period (amount) of premium payments. It is empirically, obvious that older, long-time policyholders, having, over the years, paid substantial sums in premiums, and being further along in age, are actuarially (predictably), nearer to their date of decease;, the event obligating the insurer’s payment of the face amount of the policy to the designated, beneficiary. The return to the insured, of, a calculated, formulaic, portion of the substantial total of the insured’s paid, premiums and the cancellation of the, imminently due, death benefit (to the beneficiary) is, at the same time an unjustified, bonanza for the insurance company, and a relatively, modest financial benefit to the needy, policyholder.

For the purposes of clarity, and emphasis, we choose to restate the inequitable fact, that the insurer, after having received many years of premium payment, calculated upon the actuarial date of death (the older the insured, the greater the premium payment) and, having earned profits, from the investment of such cost-free source of investment capital (premiums), can thus, profitably, avoid its contracted obligation to pay the face amount of the policy to the hapless, beneficiary, for whom the policy proceeds, were intended. The offer of this avenue of financing is, wisely, avoided, except in cases of ultimate desperation.

[Insurance] Another, misleading, elder- grift, in the context of life insurance, which we would descriptively, term, deceitful, solicitation, (by partial and misleading information), is as follows: The stereotypic, handsome, smiling presenter, affably, offers “life insurance” at the identical, non-cancellable, relatively, modest premium, “regardless of age or state of health;” but deceitfully, omits to reveal the relevant amount(s) of insurance coverage, to the insured, available for such uniform and modest premium. We would, doubt that the amount of insurance, respectively, purchased by a prospective insured, is not, by sheer business and arithmetic necessity, in some fashion, calculated upon the nuances of age and state of health. The solicitation is an obvious, elder-grift, known as a “come on.”  Misleading, “loss leaders,” deemed, permissible, in the sale of foods at supermarkets, are not acceptable in the sales of insurance.

[Real Estate] Lately, there seems to be a bit of a lull, in the advertisement and solicitation to elder homeowners, of the  purported financial benefits of the “Reverse Mortgage;” qualitatively, termed by us, as the “Perverse Mortgage,” due to the policies of general non-disclosure, by lending institutions and the consequential misunderstanding, of its compliant responsibilities by the prospective, borrower,

The ownership of residential real estate, the “home,” exists, for many people, as the most substantial financial asset, in their lifetime portfolio. Conceivably, as significant, is the fact that, nostalgically, it has been the mise-en-scene, for their lifetime, family drama. 

The lure of the reverse mortgage is the empirical, discomfort of modest, periodic income, following retirement, which makes the life of the elderly (retiree) worrisome and difficult, and, correspondingly, the advertised, lure of the reverse mortgage attractive and compelling.

This alternately, dynamic vehicle of financing is labeled, “reverse mortgage,” since the loan is granted by the financial institution against the calculated equity (the value of the realty, after subtracting the value, as applicable, of its recorded mortgage obligation. It is available to individuals over the age of 62 and its perceived virtue consists of the ability of the cash-strapped owner(s) to remain in the home, without the obligation to make monthly remissions of mortgage payments. Naturally, the amount of monetary, cost, charged against their assigned equity, grows larger, as time passes. Nevertheless, the salient, feature is the ability to continue living in the house, without the financial obligation to make monthly, mortgage payments.

However, there exist mandatory, financial and personal responsibilities and inflexible, limitations, concomitant with this avenue of financing, to be aware of, and carefully considered, prior to application. An unfortunate matter, related to us by an old friend, demonstrates that proper diligence and attention to detail is, essential. A surviving spouse, invited her emotionally challenged, sister- in law to live with her in her home, for reasons of compassion and personal company. The two lived together, until the owner of the home, who was the surviving, mortgagee under a reverse mortgage, suddenly took ill and died. The emotionally. handicapped sister-in-law was thereafter, rendered homeless since reverse mortgages provide for cancellation and sale when the mortgagee (owner) sells the premises or dies.

Additional points for consideration are the age requirement, 62, unusually high closing fees, and, notably, the continuing obligation of the mortgagee-owner to pay for the real estate taxes, insurance, repair, and upkeep. When the title owner dies or moves, the mortgage is terminated and the balance of the unused, pledged equity, if any, paid to the mortgagee less the selling and closing costs.

Should an owner of real estate, fully aware of the above requirements, nevertheless, find it acceptable, to apply for an equity reverse mortgage, we would recommend, as an initially, prudent matter, that he obtain an independent appraisal from an independent and trustworthy broker.

We intend, in the near future, to write on the subject of “snake oil” medicine, similarly, designed to scam older citizens, but, simply, could not defer comment on the pharmaceutical products, touted as a panacea for memory loss, due to aging. Some of the advertisements make a point of boasting (?) that their product is derived, from jellyfish. We have taken the time to investigate the subject with various doctors from N.Y. Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, who have, advised, that, there seems to be no proof, whatever, of the media representations. We are obliged, under the circumstances, to assume that the advertised, effective, result, was attained, by scientifically, deduced conclusion, based, upon the total inability of medical researchers to locate any medically, recorded cases of senile dementia, in jellyfish.

-p.

Following Russia’s explosion of its first atomic bomb (1949), America, under President Harry Truman, implemented certain programs, relative to the public’s protection in the event of a nuclear bombing. Readers of sufficient age may nostalgically, remember the randomly, transmitted, school alarms, responded to, by the teacher’s solemn cue to her previously, drilled students, to duck under their school desks for cover, (“duck and cover”). As we recall, the desktop was to serve as a shield from flying debris caused by the theoretical, bombing; however, it is inarguable, that in the event of an actual, nuclear bombing such compliant, protective action, would not be ultimate.

Among the contemporaneous, “external,” threats to the American Nation, would appear to be, pandemics, escalating climate crises, cyber and digital threats, and, conceivably, international economic disruption. Fortunately, however, no external threat, to our Nation presently exists, comparable to that of a terrifying, nuclear attack.  

Kudos, are certainly, due, to the white-wigged, prescient and creative 19^th Century, Founders of our Nation, for the sagacious, architectural design of their conceived, radically, experimental, Democratic Republic. Their foresight was posthumously, rewarded with a political structure, whose foundational integrity has successfully survived many major, external threats, including, two World Wars, as well as many, singular, internal challenges. Such internal challenges, historically, have included, no less than a Civil War, the subsequent, Reconstruction Period, a Great Depression, and, memorably, the rancorous and divisive, strife, attendant upon America’s conduct of the Viet Nam War.

It is disappointing and profoundly, troubling to be obliged to note, that, contemporaneously, our Nation and its democratic form of government, face, what appears to be, its historically, greatest existential peril, said dire threat posed by perilous, internal sources.

Thomas Jefferson’s admonition, often quoted by us, that, for a democracy to be successful, it is necessary to have an educated and well-informed citizenry, has proven to be as prescient as it was wise. The contemporary, Nation, unfortunately, evinces a large number of, useless, inadequately, educated and poorly, informed citizens, which negative condition, per se, poses a life and death challenge to the continuance of a democratic republic (one, “by and for the people”). Further, it appears that such vast hordes of misguided and inadequately, schooled citizens evince a general discontent with their lives, which, by the defensive dynamics of subjective projection, maintain angry anti-government (program) sentiments, and bigoted delusions.

Said population is perforce, vulnerable to tactically, false, “pie-in-the-sky,” populist, dogma. Recent history recounts the unfortunate events in which the foolhardy and perverse, authoritarian-populist, inclination of the Nation’s said, “underbelly,” was demagogically, catalyzed, and invigorated, by our failed, aberrant, and despicable, past President, Donald J. Trump; with whose, reductive ignorance, demonstrated bias, and autocratic, repudiation of “truth,” they could, effortlessly, identify. A potentially, disastrous peril to democracy, was created by the consequent, conglomerate-like fusing together of the heterogeneous and amorphous, denizens of the Nation’s malcontented underbelly. Unfortunately, the latter class consists of a sufficiently, large number of voters to intimidate many elected legislators and officials, whose political ambitions seem to outweigh their constitutional oath of office. Like hapless lemmings, the latter support Trump and his cultish sycophants, rather than act on behalf of their constituency and the Nation.

The foundational American promises of justice and truth, have been denigrated by Trump and his “MAGA,” “supporters, and replaced, by them, with bigoted ideations and subjectively, preferable, (Trump –style) “alternate facts.” A new, freakish and subjectively, malleable “truth,” flexibly, and tactically, suitable for undemocratic and, autocratic, memes, was thus, Presidentially, enfranchised, resulting in an unproductive, factual morass and a fertile source of inane and delusional, conspiratorial, ( ethnic and political) ideations.

The latter, anti-intellectual, anti-government, horde, or population, are, in addition, tactically, encouraged and financially supported, by better informed, but irresponsibly overriding, financial interests, whose sociopathic preference for profits, far outweigh any concern for the health of humankind, by the salutary government regulation of air pollution, opposed by the anti-government populist.

As known, Trump’s resounding and unsurprising, loss, in his attempt at election, for a second, ( another disastrously, incapable) term, as President, was, neurotically, denied by him, and responded to, in true autocratic fashion, by his classic reprise of the stereotypic, autocratic, “Big Lie,” viz., the tactically false, denial of the validity of the election, (albeit, certified as valid, by all official audit agencies); with which deceit, Trump’s, newly congealed, cult of ignorant, underbelly, supporters, and those others, whose financial or political interests were benefited, thereby, were, and continue to be, in congruence.

The historical aspiration and efforts toward universal, egalitarian and democratic unity of the Nation, have, accordingly, descended to an antagonistic stage, bizarrely, segregated between the Trump, sycophantic, “alternate facts,” cult, and mainstream Americans, who continue to support the determinative nature of the democratic voting franchise and are accepting of empirical and demonstrative truth.  Their oppositional, right-wing cults, have, also included various military-style Christian White Supremacy organizations whose character, motivation, and aspirations, vary from the Hitler Brown Shirts, only by the color of their official uniform. These fascistic organizations and their misled, acolytes, have aspired, by sundry, illegal and unconstitutional means, to literally, deconstruct American democracy.                                                                                                                             

The Nation, on January 6, 2022, was shocked and aghast, at the occurrence of a violent and lethal insurrection, against the Capitol Building in  Washington, D.C., initiated and encouraged by President Trump, himself, seeking reversal of the election, and the delivery of the Presidency, unjustly, to the neurotic, autocratic loser. The violent, unprecedented event was led by such American Nazi militias, as the “Proud Boys”, and the “Oath Keepers,” and seditiously and violently participated in, by many hundreds of right-wing “patriots,” in a populist-authoritarian attempt to reverse the valid outcome of the Presidential election and thereby, deconstruct democracy.  Happily, the Insurrection failed, despite regrettable mortalities incurred by Capital Police and others, in the failed insurrection. The matter is presently, in the prosecutorial hands of the U.S. Justice Department.

Many other anti-democratic, phenomena have, concomitantly, been put in play, by politicians, and legislators, irresponsibly and self-interestedly, pandering to the large horde of populist authoritarian voters, the latter including, voter suppression, gerrymandering, antagonism to intellectualism, undemocratic book banning and censorship, curriculum banning, such as CRT and cultural bias. The ever-increasing number of tragic gun incidents, the politicization of SCOTUS, growth of unconstitutional and improper religious influence, notably, the overturn of a half-century of legalization of abortion, increase in anti-Semitism and bigotry in general, opposition to refugee immigration, opposition to the established government assistance, comprise existential threats to the acceptable, American way of life.

Mainstream America is alarmed, but armed, solely, with considered voting, and occasional opportunities to write or speak in the interest of democracy. We urgently, need some more, albeit, ultimately, effective “duck and cover.”

-p.

 After many years of considered, experience we have confidently arrived at the empirical, conclusion that the conception and practice of moral censorship is nothing short of delusional, pathology.

As often appears to be the case with other maladies, the basic etiology of the subject infirmity has its own mutated variants. The associated scourge of political censorship, i.e., the tactical rejection or alteration of objective truth, in aid of the substitution of official mendacity for purposes of strategic, political mind control, is one example. The latter, variant, while, indisputably, perverse and immoral, can, at minimum, be rationally, apprehended, as a stereotypical tactic for Nazi-style, controlled societies.

By comparison, it seems to be beyond the scope of humankind’s, developed, capacity for reason, to comprehend any individual’s delusion as to the personal assumption of a self-anointed, evangelical mission and the presumption of requisite, bona fide capability, to cleanse humanity from subjectively, perceived “immoral” or “impure” thoughts.

The metaphysical designation, or the foundational understanding, of the ubiquitously, relative terms, “immoral” and “impure,” would present a challenging and comprehensive subject, and one, pragmatically, reserved for a future writing. For the specifically, limited, purposes of this essay, we would merely, observe that the definitional or applied, standards, of such judgmental adverbs, do, in fact, tend, to be subjectively, or temporally, variable.

The historic, foundational right to free speech, deeply embedded, in the American psyche, is assured by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and nurtured by American, juridical precedent. The reductively, ignorant delusion of the stereotypic censor, seems, nevertheless, to perseverate, upon his own, neurotically fueled, fantasies of guilt and rectitude, rather than upon man’s liberty, artistic sensitivity and aesthetic creation. The latter is existentially requisite to Man’s development, in his search for ultimate understanding, and the satisfaction of his humanistic, desire for intellectual and artistic, expression.

While censors seem to have their nuanced, individual predilections, presumably, based upon their, respective, individual or neurotic mindset, the most common attack on the established right of free speech, is in the delicate context of human sexuality. Belief, that early exposure to language and to action of a prurient or lewd nature in literature, or, the bizarrely, ignorant belief in the “grooming” of transsexuality (rather than the chance, natural, distribution of hormones and chromosomes) raises the  hackles of the ignorantly, reductive censor. It may further, be historically, and instructively, noted, that this area of criticism far outweighs his moral outrage against societal or ethnic violence.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice, John Marshal Harlan, stated, “One man’s vulgarity, is another man’s lyric.” Nevertheless, upon the theoretical assumption, that it were possible, to construe a universally, confirmed standard of improper sexual depiction in literature, it is inarguably, clear that the same, might more, appropriately, be addressed to the young in the course of their school curricula, where the appropriate, factual information can be, beneficially, illuminated, as a rational and salutory, alternative rather than to completely, eliminate the transcribed subject, only, to thereby, relegate its inaccurate elucidation to, readily, available, misleading, vulgar influences.

The irrationality and dangerous acts of Nazi-style, book banning and the autocratic suppression of school curricula, by self-appointed, bigoted, inquisitors, are patently, presumptuous and clearly undemocratic. Such misperceived, pedantic, policies, if officially, condoned, would clear a dangerous and unpredictable, path, to the anarchical, determination of the acceptability of National speech and art, by America’s feckless, horde of self-appointed, reductively, ignorant and despicable, bush- league, moralists. 

-p. 

[PREFACE] For the contextual purpose of this writing, we would choose to differentiate the word, “eating,” from, “dining.” The verb, “Eating,” essentially, is the existential activity of humankind (and other living organisms) by which food is regularly, ingested, to assuage the organism’s eternal need for nutrition. Dining, as we intend its meaning in this writing, is eating, (usually, the evening dinner meal) socially, with family or others, on special occasions, usually, at a selected, restaurant. Collateral, but, socially, significant, functions of dining, are communication and the confirmation of relationships (with friends, family or business representatives.)

[“Dining out”- a/k/a “eating out”]

The practice of eating, or dining, “out,” customarily, takes place at a restaurant, selected by the host, or by one of the attendant parties. The selection of the restaurant, normally, is made by the host, or one or more, of the participating, parties; the customary criteria for such selection include, location, ambiance and the perceived quality of one’s previous dining experience.

All restaurants, big and small, ethnic or American-style food, have similar, “balletic” rituals. Upon arrival, if seasonally, relevant, there is the disposition of outerwear, to a “hat-check” clerk. Although the restaurant may be, empty all experienced diners understand that they are expected, to wait, compliantly, at an indicated and appropriately designated space, until they are cued, for “seating” at a table.  An attractive shaped bottle of water is then, supplied by a “busboy,” followed by the graceful and ritualistic distribution of menus and solo recitation, if applicable, of the evening’s “special” selections. The server, then, invitingly, makes inquiries, as to desired, wine or alcoholic beverages. The dance ritual continues with the server disappearing for about three minutes, only to return and gracefully, reply to questions and note (“take”) the parties’ orders.

Following the end of the dramatic, action-packed second act, consisting of the parties’ actual eating experience and social discourse, the server, who, throughout the performance, had been waiting in the wings, for questions and requests, gracefully, clears the table, and solicits requests, for dessert or coffee, following which, he, as a finale, delivers the bill. The latter, is customarily, augmented the diners, with what is known, as a “tip,” frequently, 15% to 20%.

Such final coda, to the restaurant’s symphony, is a ritualistic ceremony, with which we have always willingly, complied, albeit, never, truly, understood. An experienced restaurant patron, once, pedantically, explained, in an arrogant and condescending, manner: “I’m surprised that you don’t know that the word “TIP,” is an obvious, abbreviation for the phrase “To insure Proper Service!” We, politely, refrained, in the interest of civility, to furnish the empirically, logical reply that pedantic declaration made little, temporal sense since its dynamics were empirically, ex post facto; the tip is given after the service, and logically, could not serve to expedite or improve it. N.B.:  It is our view, that adequate remuneration is the legal and moral responsibility of the restaurant proprietor, as it is for any other entrepreneur.

[“Dining In”, a/k/a “eating in”]

Dining at home, is unquestionably, the most uncomplicated, comfortable and simplest mode of socially, ingesting food, and is universally, enjoyed for its routine and convenient, simplicity. Our declared, standard for the category of “dining,” is, not satisfied, with the exception of special occasions, viz., an honored guest, holidays, and celebratory occasions. However, the virtues of communication and ratification of relationships are, certainly, relevant.

Among the salient, virtues of eating at home, (“en famille”), is the existence of “home cooking,” with its accommodating, facility to cater to nuanced tastes. Also relevant is the relaxed, familiar and comfortable intimacy and, of course, the relatively modest cost. It may be noted, that there are a substantial number of nutritional studies and media articles, to the effect that home-cooked, cuisine eliminates certain unhealthy, ingredients, employed by restaurant chefs, such as excessive salt, sugar, oils and fats, and, accordingly, is nutritionally healthier, furnishing especial, critical emphasis on, “fast food” purveyors. All the foregoing, benefits exist, in addition to the societal and psychological benefits derived from familial, reaffirmation of shared, personal relationship.

[“Dining out,” ”eating in”- a gustatory, hybrid]

On occasion, there is a mixed desire to “eat in,” and, simultaneously, a yen to have a variation from the (admittedly, good but, predictable) home-cooked cuisine. Such impetus may arise for various reasons, unexpected guests,  the empathic desire to afford a respite to the hard-working cooker, a desire for a momentary change in home cuisine, or, a yen for a specific style of ethnic food.

A  call, telephonic, or by smartphone, is made to the relevant restaurant, the order taken down and shortly, thereafter, delivered to and enjoyed by the home diners. This is a hybrid instance of “eating out,” since the meal, as requested by the diners, was prepared by an outside-the-home, chef, and delivered by a (bicycle-driven) server; the latter, similarly, receiving a tip for his services. Other than the dynamics of ordering, service and tip, the diners have the dual benefit of the comfort and intimacy as with the comforting ambiance of a home-cooked meal, combined with the elective, experience of partaking of a professionally, prepared meal, personally, selected from a menu, albeit, despite the absence of the restaurant balletic.

It would appear, that, universally, we have the ubiquitous benefit of a dual “menu;” one regarding the choice of venue and the logistics of a meal, as well as another, listing the available choices for dinner.

Bon Appetit!

-p.     

Our readings of the erudite essays of the classical philosophers, on the subject of “free will,” reveal them, in general, to be the context of the concern for political liberty from a King or from Church dogma. In the contemporary, post-Freud era, it has become relevant and meaningfully, useful, to consider such conceit in the context of the nature and extent of the individual’s realistic, motivational freedom of action.

The subject of Man’s freedom of choice, is contemporaneously, perceived in the nature of an unfolding, dynamic scenario, commencing at the earliest stage of childhood  (perhaps, even earlier) based, upon the nuanced confluence of many individualized, factors, sociological, psychological, environmental, medical, economic and situational. The Individual’s choices, aspirations, fears, and general mindset, if not quite, ordained, by his life circumstances, are certainly guided, or affected, thereby. It might, empirically, and reasonably, be declared that no choices in life are, in themselves, entirely spontaneous or haphazard.

An individual’s expressed views, overt actions, chosen affiliations and friendships, are empirically based upon established, criteria, developed in the situational and contextual setting of his life, most especially, experiences at the early stages of childhood. However, The attitudes and innate inclinations of the mature individual may be altered, due to significant experience warranting such change, or perhaps, by educative persuasion; notwithstanding, he will, predictably, in some residual way, eternally, demonstrate a trace of his nuanced persona, and make choices, to some degree, affected by his earlier, impactful, perceptions.

Our basic apprehension as to the subject of individual motivation and free will (choices), fundamentally, commences with our often-cited and lauded, John Locke. Locke famously, declared, that Man is born with a clean slate (“tabula rasa”) and that his knowledge is (exclusively), acquired by experience. One’s signature and nuanced, frame of reference, aspirations and fears, accordingly, are dependent upon personal, situational and experiential, factors.

Included, among the latter formative, factors, are: the nature of his parental personalities and their level of education, the family’s state of finances, his race, religion, personal and family health, both physical and mental, his level of intelligence, inherited genes, acquired ethnos, existence of siblings, nature of his community, and his national and ethnic affiliation.

A virtual universe of accepted, familial views, relating to spiritual, matters (religious or secular), morality and justice, aspirational propriety, political affiliation and lifestyle, even food preferences, are among the impacting, factors in the home environment of the developing individual; which have enduring, if not, lifetime, influences on his “free,” choices of lifestyle and outlook.

His interactive experiences in society will be salient factors in the resultant development of his self-image and perceptional reality, which will affect the nature and extent of his aspirational choices (“free will”) and their possible effectuation. In the sober apprehension of his situational reality, factors such as race, economic situation, physical and emotional health, degree of education and innate, experiential, aptitude, will pragmatically, color his perceptions, and, accordingly, his “voluntary,” choices.

Nevertheless, it can, empirically, and positively, be said that “free will,” and aspirational choices, are, factually, attainable, or, else, unattainable, to the extent that the individual, albeit, fully, cognizant of the above phenomena, perceives them as impassable roadblocks or, to the contrary, more admirably, and constructively, as a personal challenge.

-p.