Can You Feel What I Feel?

This was interesting. I have been researching and writing about affordable housing in the Northland. After I had finished a two-thirds of a draft  I decided to ask ChatGPT the following question: Can you feel what I am feeling through the way that I write?

ChatGPT replied:

I can’t feel emotions the way you do, but I can sense the tone, energy, and underlying intent in your writing. Based on the way you describe the housing crisis and its impact, I pick up on your concern for these communities and the weight of the challenges they face. Your writing conveys a mix of empathy, urgency, and a desire to bring attention to a pressing issue that deeply affects people's lives.

If I’m reading your tone correctly, you seem driven not just by an interest in the topic but by a strong sense of care for the people and businesses involved. Your words carry a kind of responsibility—almost a call to action—making it clear that this isn’t just an abstract problem to you but one that deserves a real, human response. Does that resonate with how you’re feeling?

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I thought this was intriguing. 

The Mouse That Roared: Vanatua Vs. the World

"The best laid plans of mice and men do often go awry."
--To A Mouse
Robert Burns

"My idea was sound. Only an idiot could have won this war, and he did."
--Prime Minister Count Rupert of Mountjoy, The Mouse That Roared

Do you remember The Mouse That Roared? The 1959 film classic was a satirical comedy about an event that takes place during the cold war. In the film an impoverished backward nation declares war on the United States of America, hoping to lose so that the U.S will help stabilize its economy. Unfortunately things don't go according to plan.

The spoof features Peter Sellers playing three different roles: the Grand Duchess Gloriana XII, Prime Minister Count Rupert of Mountjoy and the inept Tully Bascombe who's been appointed to lead the armies of Grand Fenwick. 

The trigger event for this conflict between the most powerful and least significant nations in the world has  to do with the wine business. A U.S. winery is producing a knockoff of Grand Fenwick's primary export, and undercutting their price. As a result, Grand Fenwick is on the brink of bankruptcy.

The government of Grand Fenwick conceives a scheme--declare war, be defeated and have their economy subsidized by the U.S. Regrettably, the bumbling Tully Bascombe successfully brings the U.S. to it knees by acquiring the world's most powerful new weapon, the Q-Bomb. This unanticipated tactical disaster throws a monkey wrench into the mix. 

This film is what came to mind when I read that a group of students at Fiji’s University of the South Pacific rolled up their sleeves to dream up some bold new climate policies. Among them was a determined law student named Solomon Yeo, who rallied a core group to do more than just imagine—they set out to carve a legal path for every nation, big or small, to step up and face the global beast that is climate change.

What started as a class project quickly grew into a worldwide push, led by these young folks from the Pacific Islands. Their mission? To spell out, in no uncertain terms, what the world's biggest polluters owe to the countries bearing the brunt of the climate crisis.

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Is environmentalism the new Q-Bomb?

RELATED LINKS
Vanuatas Youth Go To Court 
Landmark Climate Change Case

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The Mouse That Roared isn't the only film in which Peter Sellers played multiple characters. In the film Dr Strangelove Sellers played three roles: Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake, President Merkin Muffley, and Dr. Strangelove himself.

Of Mice and Men
John Steinbeck takes the title of his little novel or novella from the poem "To a Mouse (on turning her up in her nest with the plough)." It was written by Scottish poet Robert Burns in 1785. The idea of the poem (and the book) is that despite all our crazy plans, men and all animals (yes mice included) are subject to the harsh realities of life, including death. Although we make plans, the universe is chaotic and things go awry.

WARNING: This blog post may reflect the author’s opinion.

Superman in the Bones: A Tale of Trauma, Crisis, Resolution and Meaning

College is a period of life in which a vast horizon of experience is set before us to explore. From philosophy, psychology, history and the arts to mathematics, physics and cosmology, we're given the opportunity to discover new ways of thinking, new experiences and new paths to explore. In literature, I discovered Herman Hesse and Kurt Vonnegut. In theater I discovered Ionesco's Rhinoceros and a relatively unknown play called Superman in the Bones. The latter especially made an impression on me.

The upheavals in philosophy during the twentieth century produced unanticipated disruptions that influenced all the disciplines. Superman in the Bones is an evocative response to this, exploring resilience, grief, and the lasting impact of historical trauma on individuals and communities. 

For decades I searched for the play so I could read it and understand its impact on me personally. Today, upon finding a summary of the play and its themes, I recognized why it made such an impression on me. The arc of Superman in the Bones follows a journey of reckoning with grief, trauma, and resilience. For me that trauma was the death of a very close friend.

What follows is pulled from a summary of the play and its themes.

The play opens with a vivid sense of history's weight on the characters—personal, familial, or communal. The metaphor of "Superman in the bones" is introduced, symbolizing hidden strength within fragility. An inciting event—a death, discovery, or confrontation—shakes the status quo, compelling the characters to face their pain and search for meaning. 

Through memories, dialogues, or symbolic scenes, the play explores the characters’ inner worlds. The weight of the past impacts the characters' relationships, creating tension between isolation and the need for connection. The characters begin to grapple with the idea of resilience, questioning societal expectations of heroism and whether they can live up to these ideals.

The turning point is a moment of crisis which forces the characters to confront their deepest fears, vulnerabilities, or unresolved losses. The crisis results in an emotional catharsis in which the characters either break under the weight of their grief or begin to transform it. (Is this what Adam Driver is experiencing midway through Francis Ford Coppola's Megalopolis?)

In the aftermath, the characters begin to integrate their grief and trauma into their lives, finding a sense of balance. The strength implied by the "Superman in the bones" metaphor begins to manifest—not as invulnerability but as a nuanced, hard-won form of resilience.

The play concludes with a sense of hope, not in forgetting the past but in learning to live with its legacy. The story closes with a moment that affirms connection, hope, or the enduring spirit of humanity despite the weight of tragedy. Essentially it is a story about moving from despair to a hard-earned sense of meaning.

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My Life in Pictures

 

Front page news. Winner of the Grotto Circus Contest.

Jester.

Deep sea fishing in Miami, where boys become men.

First day of college, Ohio U

Performing with brother Ron at Greenfield Nursing Home.

At the coffee house in Pluckemin

Wedding bells.

Mexico 1981

It's electric.

Covid interlude.

Parma, Italy 

The Farnese Theatre, Parma

Italy is a dream.

Reflecting: What a long strange trip it's been.

A Janus motif.
Remembering the past, still looking toward the future.

The Crack-Up: Nietzsche's Breakdown In Turin

Friedrich Nietzsche's nervous breakdown in Turin, Italy, on January 3, 1889 was as dramatic as its outcome. One morning he witnessed a cab driver mercilessly flogging his horse. Nietzsche's nerves unraveled as he ran across the road and threw his arms over the horse to protect it from the blows. Totally distraught, he broke into tears and fell to the ground. The next eleven years he would be kept in a mental institution, never to write again.

The story is well known, though its causes lesser known. What happened? 

According to historians the event was the climax of years of physical and mental strain. It didn't "just happen" out of thin air. 

When I was young, perhaps in my twenties or so, the words "nervous breakdown" were scary to me. Was a breakdown something like being struck by lightning? Something that happens to you that you have no control over? I don't think so.

First, Nietzsche had physical health problems that included chronic migraines, severe digestive issues and deteriorating eyesight. It's been suggested that he had also contracted syphilis in his youth, a condition that can produce neurological complications later. His immersion in his philosophical work also left him exhausted as he pushed himself beyond his physical limits.  

In the realm of mental health, he alienated friends and suffered from isolation and loneliness. His ideas were often misunderstood and dismissed. Add to this the pain caused by unfulfilled romantic desires. 

Nietzsche with his sister Therese Elisabeth

The breakdown took place after recent personal turmoil that included his break-up with Lou Andreas-Salomé, whose diverse intellectual interests led to friendships with a broad array of distinguished thinkers, including Nietzsche, Freud and Rilke. Nietzche's estrangment from his sister and the lack of acclaim for his works, like Thus Spoke Zarathustra, were likely contributing factors as well. In that last year he was working feverishly on The Case of Wagner and Ecce Homo, among other things. Did he feel inward pressure from an awareness that he was in a race against time?  His letters to friends were becoming increasingly delusional. Did he understand what was happening to him?

The incident in Turin was a trigger.  Overwrought, he began weeping uncontrollably while throwing his arms around the horse. He was never the same. 

Related Links

A Writing Lesson: Fitzgerald's The Crack-Up
I Think, Therefore I Am… Or Am I? Nietzsche Strikes Again

Norman Finkelstein's I’ll Burn That Bridge When I Get to It: A Book Review

SHOCK AND AWE DEPT.

Norman Finkelstein’s I’ll Burn That Bridge When I Get to It: Heretical Thoughts on Identity Politics, Cancel Culture, and Academic Freedom is a provocative critique of modern leftist movements, identity politics, and the concept of "cancel culture." It challenges--no, skewers--widely accepted norms and influential figures within these realms, offering scathing critiques of both individuals and broader societal trends.

Had I not received it as a Christmas present last year I may have not been aware of it. Depending on your frame of mind it will either be a breath of fresh air or anathema as Finkelstein knocks over the sacred cows of identity politics and cancel culture. I found it a thought-provoking, liberating breath of fresh air. 

The book is structured in two distinct parts. In part one (400 pages) Finkelstein--himself an unabashed liberal--takes aim at what he views as the betrayal of class-based politics by identity politics, which he believes diverts attention from systemic economic inequality. He critiques notable figures, including Ibram X. Kendi and Barack Obama, arguing that their approaches ultimately serve elite interests rather than fostering meaningful societal change. Finkelstein juxtaposes these figures with historical advocates of universalism, such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Frederick Douglass, emphasizing a focus on universal human rights rather than fragmented identity-based advocacy.

When I saw that part two begins by addressing the matter of holocaust denial, I was most curious on how Finkelsten, whose parents both died at the hands of the Nazis, would approach this. It was brilliant.

This second part addresses academic freedom, suggesting that even objectionable ideas should be openly debated to foster critical thinking. He explores the broader implications of censorship in academia, particularly its impact on intellectual rigor and free discourse. This section reflects his personal experiences, including his denial of tenure at DePaul University, which he presents as a microcosm of the challenges posed by cancel culture in academic spaces.

Finkelstein’s critiques are grounded in his belief in the pursuit of universal truths, influenced by the philosophies of John Stuart Mill and Immanuel Kant. The book has benn praised for its fearless approach, though some readers may find its tone confrontational. He doesn't pull punches, and most are right on the mark.

Here are three reviews to sink your teeth into if you can't find the book itself. (It's not too late to ask for it for Christmas 2024.) 

The Inspiring Outrage of Norman Finkelstein

by Chris Wright, Common Dreams

This review is an excellent overview of the book and worth reading.

A Wake-Up Call to the Left

by Deborah Maccoby, Jewish Voice for Labor, Amazon

    "Norman Finkelstein knows something about being cancelled. For someone who has spent his writing career exposing as frauds books revered by corporate culture – starting with Joan Peters’s widely-acclaimed From Time Immemorial – cancellation has gone with the territory. Mainstream reviewers viciously denounced his exposé, in The Holocaust Industry, of exploitation of the Holocaust in the service of protecting Israel from opprobrium. His attack, in Beyond Chutzpah, on Alan Dershowitz’s book The Case for Israel led to Finkelstein’s denial of tenure at De Paul University."

Heretical Thoughts on Identity Politics, Cancel Culture, and Academic Freedom

by Gabriel Carlyle

You do not have to agree with everything any writer says or believes in older to gain insights from it. That includes Finkelstein. Wherever your political feet are planted, this book will give you food for thought.

Flashback Friday: Will A.I. Finally Solve the JFK Assassination?

"From Dallas, Texas, the flash apparently official, President Kennedy died at 1 p.m. Central Standard Time, 2 o'clock Eastern Standard Time, some 38 minutes ago." 
--Walter Cronkite, excerpt from his broadcast, Nov. 22, 1963

More than a week before the 2016 presidential election an A.I. supercomputer predicted, despite what all the polls were predicting, that Donald Trump would be our next president. I read the story on TechCrunch or some other tech eNewsletter, but you can read it here in this U.S. News & World Report story. The article stated, 'If Trump loses, it will defy the data trend for the first time in the last 12 years,' the AI's developer says.

Well, with the JFK assassination anniversary today I couldn't help but wonder if one of our A.I. supercomputers could help us out a little bit on this unsolved mystery.

Sunday's NYTimes published a story about Microsoft's latest foray into quantum computing. Artificial Intelligence and quantum computing have been big stories this year, in part as a result of Big Blue's victory in Jeopardy and the DeepMind A.I. that defeated the world champion Go player. The Times article stated, There is a growing optimism in the tech world that quantum computers, superpowerful devices that were once the stuff of science fiction, are possible — and may even be practical. If these machines work, they will have an impact on work in areas such as drug design and artificial intelligence, as well as offer a better understanding of the foundations of modern physics.

And maybe useful in helping solve one of the biggest mysteries of our lives...

The New York Post just published this twist on the JFK assassination, that a Cuban double agent led the plot. The evidence comes from secret diaries and the details are contained in a new book that tells all.

Another book has just come out that tells how a famous journalist who was hot on the trail of the killers was herself "taken out" before she could break her story.

Her name was Dorothy Kilgallen and after 18 months of research she was nearing the completion of a book on the JFK shooting that debunked the "Oswald acted alone" theory. Random House never received the manuscript and her findings remained buried now for more than 50 years.

That's the essence of criminal defense lawyer Mark Shaw's book titled, The Reporter Who Knew Too Much. The title hearkens back to the Hitchcock thriller starring Jimmy Stewart and Doris Day, which was a re-make itself of Hitchcock's earlier version of a story by the same title. The pre-release publicity for this book indicated that Kilgallen's the one reporter who was getting it right while the others pushed theories with "cherry-picked" facts designed to confirm their own notions of what happened at Dealey Plaza shortly after noon 53 years ago today.

For additional reading check out this article published yesterday on the failed investigations of JFK's murder. Public sentiment leans away from blindfolded acceptance of the Warren Commission's conclusion that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. What I'd like one of our contemporary supercomputers to do is sift through all that has been written and draw for us a conclusion that is totally convincing. Big Blue? DeepMind? ChatGPT? Are you ready?

Originally published November 22, 2016