Neutral Gear?

An anagram for "coasting" is "agnostic."  Does that mean spiritual drifting? ;)

Departures

If you've not seen this fabulous Japanese film, run to your nearest video shop and buy it!


As an appetizer, here's one tidbit that left me guffawing:  the protagonist and a secretary are standing by some caskets, discussing embalming.  The secretary says, "This is a niche market."  (No, the film is not slapstick, though especially in the first part, there's a lot of humor.)

What's In A Name?

Consider the first name of Russian composer Mussorgsky:  "Modest."  {gasp}  Did his parents hate him?  Isn't that choice of name a form of child abuse?  Can you imagine what a guy with a name like that would go through as a teen or in the service?  I mean, sure, I'm all for not saddling your kid with insipid names like Bill, Bob or Tom, but..."Modest"?  Surely you jest!  

(Yeah, I know, in Russian, "Modest" probably doesn't have the same meaning/ring.)

Delicate Balance

One dog barks at something, and a hundred bark at the bark.  ~Chinese Proverb


Back in the 70's and early 80's, you'd often see a bumper sticker reading "Question Authority!"  It's of course true that the herd mentality (aka "group think") is lethal, but at the same time, on whose authority can anybody tell me to question authority?  If we question in a constructive way, then fine (i.e. to avoid having a society as symbolized in Shirley Jackson's story "The Lottery"), but if we are advocating sheer nihilism or anarchy, then we're cutting off our nose to spite our face.

Couldn't Have Found A Better Term For Them! :)

Just encountered a dandy description of the majority of our "leaders."

snol·ly·gos·ter    n. Slang   One, especially a politician, who is guided by personal advantage rather than by consistent, respectable principles.

Like An Ocean

I swim in words.  I bathe in them. 
They mesmerize me.