Writting for personal Therapy

 I admit that I have the tendancy of using this blog as in part personal Therapy.  I write things that are on my mind.  I often confess things that seem fantastical, however a very close friend of mine told me a long time ago that it is easier to express the truth through fantasy and fiction.  He believes as I do that todays readers are capable of gleening the truth from a written page if written well regardless of how fantastic it may read.  He reminded me that some of the worlds greatest works of fiction are indeed records of historical fact.  when we had this conversation many years ago if i remember right he actually used the phrase hysterical fact.  Which being a student of history myself as some of you are I've discovered that hstorical fact can be written into some of the funniest nonsense put to pen.  To prove my point just look at most of the history of American politics which seems to be regurgitating itself in front of our very eyes these very days. It all makes me very grateful I am not a politician.  Thank God.

Peace and Balance John

We Don't Learn That Anymore.

 The past couple of blogs deal with artificial intelligence and the possibility that it may or may not run away with society.  The exploration that I started writing them lead me to look into the education practices of our elementary schools.  I've discovered some troubling practices, and country wide changes in curriculum for students between the years of 1st thru 6th grade. 

About 7 to 10 years ago our students ceased to learn cursive hand writing in class rooms all over the country.  It used to start at about 3rd grade and was generally mastered by our students somewhere between 5th and 6th grade depending on the student.  However, cursive is no longer taught as a regular part of our curriculum in elementary school.  So, by the time these students arrive at their 9th grade classroom and are asked to hand write an introduction letter about themselves to each other and the teachers, we receive some poorly printed material that is harder to read than it would have been if we would have taken the time to teach them how to write in cursive in the first place.   Today in just about ever class, with just a few acceptations, translating hand writing to grade papers has become something akin to a contact sport.  

Along with hand writing, we've apparently stopped teaching our students how to read and tell time from a standard clock with a big and little hand.  Pointing at a clock and asking a student to tell you the time is followed by blank stares and what appears to be panic.  The sweat builds up on the brow followed by a stammer in the voice and the students eyes start sifting back and forth like they are looking for the nearest escape path.  Give them a digital equivalent or have them look at a computer screen and there's no problem.  Make them think outside the box just a little bit and the brain visually starts shutting down.  This is a sad state of affairs for children that are supposed to be in the processes of learning how to do something important, like think. 

I blame the growth of computers and like technologies for the downfall of certain teaching processes.  Today most of what our children are learning has already been regurgitated in one form or another on the screen in front of them.  There is so much time spent on electronic devises that the children of today aren't learning what could be the most important lessons that they need for personal development, those would be the social skills learned through interactions and communications with other living thinking beings.  The computer is a poor, poor substitute.  

It is this author's opinion that if this problem isn't corrected within our education system, that in a few generations we will have a whole group or possibly society of citizens that will not have the advanced skills needed for rational decision making, and when these folk get to be adults the concrete thinking processes will stop developing and we will have a society of computer dependent people that will not be able to think without asking Google for an opinion.  Forget international trade, we won't have the ability to communicate with anyone from another country because you know the rest of the world is still teaching their students the old values and we will become the victims of our own folly.  

Peace and Balance,

John

Self Admonishment

 I admit it.  One of the main reasons I began writing this blog is because it is a good forum to practice my writing.  I write and submit, and write some more.  It's kind of like writing for a major metropolitan news paper.  I can dream, right?

Some of the stuff I write, you'll have to agree, is complete and total crap.  If reading a blog could give you an odor-effent experience, some of this stuff would smell bad enough to make you stop reading, rise from your table, chair, couch, and or reading position, and throw your computer, laptop, and all in the nearest refuse container.  It would smell that bad.

On the other hand occasionally there is a rare gem hidden within the pages of this periodical, and upon reading it you rise from your position having gained a minor amount of enlightenment because of it.  These are the moments I cherish within the realms of my own writing, when you the reader actually read.  I might even gain some insight by reading your remarks.  Negative or positive, I always learn from your input and am grateful for your service.  I apologize to any of you who have suffered an amount of PTSD from reading my blog, the pain and anguish is not intended.  

I also admit that in spite of myself, my writing is improving.  I've traveled back into the history of, "Now And Zen", shall we say doing some minor time travel, and I have noticed an upcurve in the writing technique, it's content, and the verbiage used to express it.  I am darn proud of myself If I don't say so myself, and I do.

So, I will continue to write to entertain  and amuse you.  In hopes that I can share just a tad bit of my experience and knowledge, maybe even a little something new and cool, to make your day just swell.  And I promise to keep the crap to a minimum to keep the integrity of self published journalism to a high standard.  

To you the reader who may also have noticed such a learning curve in your own excursions of journalistic adventure, I write my pros, my views, and a taste of my "sanity" to enjoy or scrutinize in which ever way catches your fancy, and I thank you for being here.  

Peace and Balance,

John 

  

Ideas

 Ideas are fleeting.  They come, they go and when one reaches a certain age holding on to an idea can become a competitive event.  Some ideas have grown to become some of the neater stuff that we have in our world such as the telephone, electric lights, stereophonic sound, one of my personal favorites, and the roasted chicken.  

Chicken is Gods proof that she loves us.  Chickens are relatively easy to catch, they don't know what's about to happen, and they are naturally the tastiest morsel on two boney legs.  This is an example of a perfect cosmic idea.  See how that works?

However, God in her infinite wisdom didn't create the Multiverse without a sense of humor.  So, when we get to that certain age, let the games begin.  If you've forgotten what I'm writing about you possibly have come to that point in your life so I refer you to the top of the page.  Read as many times as it take to retain the information then go beyond this paragraph.

To hold onto fleeting ideas it may be a good idea to carry a small hand held recording device to keep a record as they come into your fold for later consumption.  This recorded information has the benefit of staying in original context and gives the thinker the opportunity to relook at such craziness in order to re-imagine the idea or to trash it altogether.  Either choice may be a goodly one. 

Sometimes you might have an idea so impressive that forgetting it to age or some other genetic abnormality is virtually impossible.  These are the ideas that can potentially change the world.  It's at these points when humankind may be at the cusp of evolution, and  gain the attention and favor of our ever present Goddess, the creator of our existence.  If she grants the idea maker an audience, the non dying type, then the world may have some cool stuff to play with for a period of time.  I mention Steve Jobs as an example.  His ideas are still growing and giving humanity the happies years after his Personal meeting with the Goddess.  She must have liked him a lot as she hasn't given him back.  

So, my advise to you the reader, the thinker, and possibly idea maker.  Record, protect, and try stuff out because you never know just how rich it might make you.

Peace and Balance,

John

The Blank Page

 

Sometimes you sit in front of your laptop, and or typewriter, I'm old enough to remember those things, and stare at a blank page for what seems to be an eternity.  No words come, no thoughts formed, nothing happens that gives you that first jolt of inspiration to complete a sentence.  The page remains blank and mocks you as if it were a self important know it all that has your number.

For a brief moment your mind goes into disrepair and a mild panic sets in.  "Is this it, is that all there is?" You think, "Have I wrote my last quip, am I tapped out?"  All these thoughts for a writer are terrifying.  The blank page represents a beginning, it's not supposed to be an ending, yet there it is staring back at you with that smugness that is so, so repulsive.

I will rise from my chair at this point and retreat to my personal council, the coffee maker.  I will plop in a pod, yes I've graduated to the great Keurig gods in the sky for my holy bean, convenience and accessibility are the name of that game, and I will ponder the holy drink and smell it's aroma, and taste the bitter taste of the adult.  Clear headed I will return to the page.

Nothing happens, it is still blank.  The coffee gods have failed me.  Time for the greater inspiration of the Outdoor excursion, a walk in the yard is always good for inspirational fuel.  

Nothing, Damn.  So I stare, and stare, and stare, and...snore.  It seems looking at a blank page long enough causes the brain to go into shut down mode and sleep.  I reanimate and take a sip of my now cold coffee.  Not as satisfying, but still holy.  

I look at the clock, my brain says, "Look man, you've got to get up in the morning to do the "work thing", maybe you should go to bed and think about this in the morning."  I complied.  Hence no blog yesterday.

In the AM, after I do my morning stuff, which includes more of the holy bean, I eventually find myself sitting behind the tapping keys of my laptop.  Suddenly out of the myst comes my inspiration and I laugh out loud at the absurdity of my surrendering and begin typing, "Sometimes you sit in front of your laptop and or typewriter...and stare at a blank page for an eternity..."

Peace and Balance,

John