Jimmy Pappas's Blog, page 3
March 2, 2022
Poetry Lit! reading on March 4, 2022, at 2:00 PM ET
Reading for Poetry Lit! this Friday, March 4, 2022
I will be a presenter for the Poetry Lit! online reading series on Friday, March 4, at 2:00 PM ET. This group is located in the Netherlands.
Here is the link to register. Would love to see you there also:
https://www.eventbrite.nl/e/poetry-li...
I will be a presenter for the Poetry Lit! online reading series on Friday, March 4, at 2:00 PM ET. This group is located in the Netherlands.
Here is the link to register. Would love to see you there also:
https://www.eventbrite.nl/e/poetry-li...
February 28, 2022
Reading on March 2, 2022, at 7:00 PM ET
Poetry Reading
I will be doing a poetry reading on Wednesday, March 2, 2022, at 7:00 PM ET on Zoom. That means anyone can sign up. It will be presented by the Portsmouth NH Poet Laureate Program. I will read and discuss some poems for the first half hour. Another poet will read for the second half hour. There is an open mic to sign up for as well. I hope some of you can make it.
You can register here if you want to attend. I would love to see you there:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regis...
Jimmy
I will be doing a poetry reading on Wednesday, March 2, 2022, at 7:00 PM ET on Zoom. That means anyone can sign up. It will be presented by the Portsmouth NH Poet Laureate Program. I will read and discuss some poems for the first half hour. Another poet will read for the second half hour. There is an open mic to sign up for as well. I hope some of you can make it.
You can register here if you want to attend. I would love to see you there:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regis...
Jimmy
February 20, 2022
White Water Rafting
White Water Rafting
This story comes from my review of Nausea:
The first forty pages of Sartre's Nausea brought to mind an incident in my life when I went white water rafting on the Rouge River in Canada. It was springtime and the river was raging from melted snow. We reached a spot in the river known as the Draino. The river narrowed through high cliff walls. The leaders told the boats to pull to shore because it was too rough. My boat didn't make it, and all twelve of us tipped over into the water. The river tossed me through the rapids like a rag doll. I thought I was going to die. I realized later that was unlikely with my helmet and life jacket, but in the water I was sure I was going to die. I told myself not to scream but to face death with courage.
Then I made it through the Draino to a calm wider area of the river where kayakers were waiting to pick us up out of the water. I grabbed the rope on a kayak and the man rowed me to shore where I lay on the ground. While catching my breath, I stared at an ant crawling. I had never looked at an ant in such a way before. I studied it completely. I didn't want to get up. I told the rescuers I was just resting, but the truth was I was studying an ant. I can't explain clearly why I was studying that ant. It seemed like I had never quite appreciated such a simple thing as an ant before.
The next day, we all went up to the top of the cliffs to look down at the river. What an incredible sight. I saw the massive indifference of the universe on that day. That river raged before I was on it, and it would rage after I was gone, whether I died or not.
This may not be the same thing Roquentin feels when he holds the stone near the ocean. But perhaps it is similar.
This story comes from my review of Nausea:
The first forty pages of Sartre's Nausea brought to mind an incident in my life when I went white water rafting on the Rouge River in Canada. It was springtime and the river was raging from melted snow. We reached a spot in the river known as the Draino. The river narrowed through high cliff walls. The leaders told the boats to pull to shore because it was too rough. My boat didn't make it, and all twelve of us tipped over into the water. The river tossed me through the rapids like a rag doll. I thought I was going to die. I realized later that was unlikely with my helmet and life jacket, but in the water I was sure I was going to die. I told myself not to scream but to face death with courage.
Then I made it through the Draino to a calm wider area of the river where kayakers were waiting to pick us up out of the water. I grabbed the rope on a kayak and the man rowed me to shore where I lay on the ground. While catching my breath, I stared at an ant crawling. I had never looked at an ant in such a way before. I studied it completely. I didn't want to get up. I told the rescuers I was just resting, but the truth was I was studying an ant. I can't explain clearly why I was studying that ant. It seemed like I had never quite appreciated such a simple thing as an ant before.
The next day, we all went up to the top of the cliffs to look down at the river. What an incredible sight. I saw the massive indifference of the universe on that day. That river raged before I was on it, and it would rage after I was gone, whether I died or not.
This may not be the same thing Roquentin feels when he holds the stone near the ocean. But perhaps it is similar.
January 7, 2022
Edward O. Wilson
Edward O. Wilson
Edward O.Wilson died on December 26, 2021, at the age of 92. He has been called "Darwin's natural heir." He was also a lover of ants. I find it amazing that he learned so much about humans and other animals by studying those tiny insects. I hope you get a chance to look at the links I have posted below.
Here is a five-minute YouTube video of Wilson:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uY8m6...
One of my favorite ideas from Wilson is his belief we should set aside 50% of the Earth, both land and sea, for the wild. In that way, we all survive. Here is a link to the Half-Earth Project:
https://www.half-earthproject.org/
Wilson was the founder of sociobiology, which he defined as "the systematic study of the biological basis of all social behavior." Here is an article from Evolution News on the topic:
https://evolutionnews.org/2022/01/rem...
Edward O.Wilson died on December 26, 2021, at the age of 92. He has been called "Darwin's natural heir." He was also a lover of ants. I find it amazing that he learned so much about humans and other animals by studying those tiny insects. I hope you get a chance to look at the links I have posted below.
Here is a five-minute YouTube video of Wilson:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uY8m6...
One of my favorite ideas from Wilson is his belief we should set aside 50% of the Earth, both land and sea, for the wild. In that way, we all survive. Here is a link to the Half-Earth Project:
https://www.half-earthproject.org/
Wilson was the founder of sociobiology, which he defined as "the systematic study of the biological basis of all social behavior." Here is an article from Evolution News on the topic:
https://evolutionnews.org/2022/01/rem...
October 21, 2021
The Story of Cy
The Story of Cy
"Cy" was the nickname for a baseball and basketball coach I had as a young boy in junior and senior high school. He was everyone's friend. He was a popular coach who invited us into his home where he lived with his mother. He often gave us a ride home rather than let us walk. By the time I grew up and started coaching, I knew better than to do any of those things. As a boy though, I just thought he was a nice guy. That is, until things started unraveling.
I wrote a poem about Cy and what happened, which you can read in this journal link:
http://twinenterprises.com/the_fear_o...
"Cy" was the nickname for a baseball and basketball coach I had as a young boy in junior and senior high school. He was everyone's friend. He was a popular coach who invited us into his home where he lived with his mother. He often gave us a ride home rather than let us walk. By the time I grew up and started coaching, I knew better than to do any of those things. As a boy though, I just thought he was a nice guy. That is, until things started unraveling.
I wrote a poem about Cy and what happened, which you can read in this journal link:
http://twinenterprises.com/the_fear_o...
October 9, 2021
The Family of Cardinals
The Family of Cardinals
Each spring I have a family of northern cardinals nesting in my back yard. I keep it wild just for those special types of nature events. I have stonewalls, brush piles, trees, wild lawns. I love it that way. Each year I have one nesting pair. I don't know if they are related to past pairs in any way.
This year I set out seeds and mealworms on a small table on my back porch. When the two cardinal children were old enough, they came to eat there with their parents. The mother and father would feed the two young birds some of the worms. Gradually, the parents pulled back. A youngster would approach the worms. Finally, it peered over the bowl. Gradually it grabbed a worm and backed off. All the time, one of the parents stood watch until the children could eat on their own.
Sometimes humans are accused of anthropomorphism if they attribute human qualities to other animals. You notice I said "other" animals. It's like we think we are not animals. Why do we think we are so much different than those birds? Perhaps it is the opposite of anthropomorphism. We are unable to find our connections to the natural world. We behave around children just like they do.
Each spring I have a family of northern cardinals nesting in my back yard. I keep it wild just for those special types of nature events. I have stonewalls, brush piles, trees, wild lawns. I love it that way. Each year I have one nesting pair. I don't know if they are related to past pairs in any way.
This year I set out seeds and mealworms on a small table on my back porch. When the two cardinal children were old enough, they came to eat there with their parents. The mother and father would feed the two young birds some of the worms. Gradually, the parents pulled back. A youngster would approach the worms. Finally, it peered over the bowl. Gradually it grabbed a worm and backed off. All the time, one of the parents stood watch until the children could eat on their own.
Sometimes humans are accused of anthropomorphism if they attribute human qualities to other animals. You notice I said "other" animals. It's like we think we are not animals. Why do we think we are so much different than those birds? Perhaps it is the opposite of anthropomorphism. We are unable to find our connections to the natural world. We behave around children just like they do.
July 4, 2021
Buridan's Ass
Buridan's Ass
The medieval French philosopher Jean Buridan (1295?-1356) developed a story that illustrates how human beings can make free choices, but those choices are delayed often extensively as our reason tries to figure out which choice is actually the best one.
In his story an ass approaches two piles of hay that appear to be equal in amount and quality. While trying to figure out which pile of hay to eat from, the ass slowly dies of starvation. A person who is undecided between two equal courses of action is said to be like "Buridan's ass between bundles of hay."
In another version, the ass is equally hungry and thirsty as it approaches a pile of hay and a pail of water. Since he must die of hunger or thirst, he has no way of determining which way to go.
According to tradition, Buridan was killed when the King of France put him in a sack and threw him into the Seine River after learning that Buridan was having an affair with the Queen.
The story has an earlier precedent in Aristotle (384 to 322 BCE). In that one, it is a dog starving between two portions of food that are equally appealing.
There is another version in the Arabic philosopher Al-Ghazali (1058-1111). In this case a man is trying to choose between two dates that appear equally ripe and delicious. Ghazali refers to the absurdity of differentiating between two things that are equally appealing to the human mind.
I had my high school philosophy students come up with some possible American choices, and here is a sample of their list over the years:
Choosing one cookie out of a bag
Choosing the cookie with the most chocolate chips
Choosing the correct hair dye
Picking one apple out of a bowl
Choosing the Final Four in the NCAA Basketball Tournament
Deciding between two movies to rent
Pizza Hut vs. Dominoes
WalMart vs. Target
GAP vs. Banana Republic
Oprah vs. Doctor Phil
Store brand vs. name brand
Market Basket vs. Shaws
Olympia vs. Philbricks
Simpsons vs. That 70s Show
Coke vs. Pepsi
McDonalds vs. Burger King vs. Wendy's
M&Ms vs. Reese's Pieces
Mr. T vs. Chuck Norris
Bill Gates vs. Steve Jobs
my way vs. the highway
Pokemon vs. Digimon
burning vs. jumping from a building
Cabela's vs. Kittery Trading Post
Rite Aid vs. Walgreens
money vs. recreation
Irving vs. Cumberland Farms
Subway vs. Quizno's
UNH vs. Plymouth State College
Dunkin Donuts vs. Starbucks
Chevy vs. Ford
Red Sox vs. Yankees
vampires vs. werewolves
pirates vs. ninjas
evolution vs. creation
religion vs. science
man vs. nature
environment vs. economy
Democrat vs. Republican
salt vs. pepper
Kenny Chesney vs. Tim McGraw
Paris Hilton vs. Britney Spears
The medieval French philosopher Jean Buridan (1295?-1356) developed a story that illustrates how human beings can make free choices, but those choices are delayed often extensively as our reason tries to figure out which choice is actually the best one.
In his story an ass approaches two piles of hay that appear to be equal in amount and quality. While trying to figure out which pile of hay to eat from, the ass slowly dies of starvation. A person who is undecided between two equal courses of action is said to be like "Buridan's ass between bundles of hay."
In another version, the ass is equally hungry and thirsty as it approaches a pile of hay and a pail of water. Since he must die of hunger or thirst, he has no way of determining which way to go.
According to tradition, Buridan was killed when the King of France put him in a sack and threw him into the Seine River after learning that Buridan was having an affair with the Queen.
The story has an earlier precedent in Aristotle (384 to 322 BCE). In that one, it is a dog starving between two portions of food that are equally appealing.
There is another version in the Arabic philosopher Al-Ghazali (1058-1111). In this case a man is trying to choose between two dates that appear equally ripe and delicious. Ghazali refers to the absurdity of differentiating between two things that are equally appealing to the human mind.
I had my high school philosophy students come up with some possible American choices, and here is a sample of their list over the years:
Choosing one cookie out of a bag
Choosing the cookie with the most chocolate chips
Choosing the correct hair dye
Picking one apple out of a bowl
Choosing the Final Four in the NCAA Basketball Tournament
Deciding between two movies to rent
Pizza Hut vs. Dominoes
WalMart vs. Target
GAP vs. Banana Republic
Oprah vs. Doctor Phil
Store brand vs. name brand
Market Basket vs. Shaws
Olympia vs. Philbricks
Simpsons vs. That 70s Show
Coke vs. Pepsi
McDonalds vs. Burger King vs. Wendy's
M&Ms vs. Reese's Pieces
Mr. T vs. Chuck Norris
Bill Gates vs. Steve Jobs
my way vs. the highway
Pokemon vs. Digimon
burning vs. jumping from a building
Cabela's vs. Kittery Trading Post
Rite Aid vs. Walgreens
money vs. recreation
Irving vs. Cumberland Farms
Subway vs. Quizno's
UNH vs. Plymouth State College
Dunkin Donuts vs. Starbucks
Chevy vs. Ford
Red Sox vs. Yankees
vampires vs. werewolves
pirates vs. ninjas
evolution vs. creation
religion vs. science
man vs. nature
environment vs. economy
Democrat vs. Republican
salt vs. pepper
Kenny Chesney vs. Tim McGraw
Paris Hilton vs. Britney Spears
April 1, 2021
Stephen Hawking's Desert Island Playlist (Christmas Day 1992)
Stephen Hawking's Desert Island Playlist (Christmas Day 1992)
1. Gloria by Poulenc. He first heard it at a physics gathering in Aspen, Colorado.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReqsE...
2. The Brahms Violin Concerto. It was the first LP he bought in 1957. He played it on a record player he built with parts he was able to buy cheap.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXo8K...
3. Beethoven's String Quartet, Opus 132. He chose that one based on the book Point Counterpoint by Alduous Huxley. He did not like the book, but there is a scene where a character kills the leader of the British fascist and then he is killed by fascists with this music playing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyDs0...
4. The Valkyrie, Act One. After he was diagnosed with motor neuron disease, he turned to Wagner as someone who "suited the dark and apocalyptic mood" he was in.
Here is the finale: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOJmq...
5. "Please Please Me" by The Beatles. He would "need some light relief."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3NTV...
6. Requiem by Mozart. For his 50th birthday, Stephen received the complete works on CD, over 200 hours.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dp2SJ...
7. Turandot by Puccini. He loved opera but decided he should only pick two.
Luciano Pavarotti sings "Nessun dorma" from Turandot (The Three Tenors in Concert 1994)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWc7v...
8. "Je ne regrette rien" by Edith Piaf. He picked it because it "just about sums up his life."
This is my favorite choice of his, and one of my favorite songs of all time:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3Kvu...
1. Gloria by Poulenc. He first heard it at a physics gathering in Aspen, Colorado.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReqsE...
2. The Brahms Violin Concerto. It was the first LP he bought in 1957. He played it on a record player he built with parts he was able to buy cheap.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXo8K...
3. Beethoven's String Quartet, Opus 132. He chose that one based on the book Point Counterpoint by Alduous Huxley. He did not like the book, but there is a scene where a character kills the leader of the British fascist and then he is killed by fascists with this music playing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyDs0...
4. The Valkyrie, Act One. After he was diagnosed with motor neuron disease, he turned to Wagner as someone who "suited the dark and apocalyptic mood" he was in.
Here is the finale: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOJmq...
5. "Please Please Me" by The Beatles. He would "need some light relief."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3NTV...
6. Requiem by Mozart. For his 50th birthday, Stephen received the complete works on CD, over 200 hours.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dp2SJ...
7. Turandot by Puccini. He loved opera but decided he should only pick two.
Luciano Pavarotti sings "Nessun dorma" from Turandot (The Three Tenors in Concert 1994)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWc7v...
8. "Je ne regrette rien" by Edith Piaf. He picked it because it "just about sums up his life."
This is my favorite choice of his, and one of my favorite songs of all time:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3Kvu...
March 29, 2021
George Floyd Trial: The Snitch
George Floyd Trial: The Snitch
Listening to some of the George Floyd trial today, I managed to catch testimony from the 911 dispatcher. She had been watching a city security camera from her post and became concerned at the length of time three cops were sitting on Mr. Floyd's back and neck. She even thought the video froze because of the lack of movement. She decided to call a police sergeant to tell him that she was troubled by watch she saw. In her call she says, "You can call me a snitch if you want. . . . " A snitch? A squealer? A rat? She is so afraid of reporting her concerns that she has to apologize first? This is one of the problems with law enforcement around the world. It is very difficult for police officers to report their fellow officers. No one should be afraid to voice their concerns. Most other professions don't have such reticence.
For an excellent 1973 classic film about the topic watch the great Al Pacino playing the title character in Serpico. The director was the great Sidney Lumet from the book by Peter Maas. That is one of my all time favorite movies. You watch Pacino slowly deteriorating as he becomes a "snitch" to report on corruption in the New York City police force.
Listening to some of the George Floyd trial today, I managed to catch testimony from the 911 dispatcher. She had been watching a city security camera from her post and became concerned at the length of time three cops were sitting on Mr. Floyd's back and neck. She even thought the video froze because of the lack of movement. She decided to call a police sergeant to tell him that she was troubled by watch she saw. In her call she says, "You can call me a snitch if you want. . . . " A snitch? A squealer? A rat? She is so afraid of reporting her concerns that she has to apologize first? This is one of the problems with law enforcement around the world. It is very difficult for police officers to report their fellow officers. No one should be afraid to voice their concerns. Most other professions don't have such reticence.
For an excellent 1973 classic film about the topic watch the great Al Pacino playing the title character in Serpico. The director was the great Sidney Lumet from the book by Peter Maas. That is one of my all time favorite movies. You watch Pacino slowly deteriorating as he becomes a "snitch" to report on corruption in the New York City police force.
One Night in Miami, Part 1: Jim Brown
One Night in Miami, Part 1: Jim Brown
One Night in Miami is a work of fiction with Cassius Clay, Malcolm X, Jim Brown, and Sam Cooke all meeting together in a motel after Cassius fights with Sonny Liston for the first time on February 25, 1964. It is based on the stage play by Kemp Powers, who also wrote the screenplay. It was nominated for three Oscars: 1. Leslie Odom Jr for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Sam Cooke; 2. Best Adapted Screenplay, and 3. Best Original Song. Regina King was nominated for Best Director at the Golden Globes but did not receive an Oscar nod. It is an excellent film if you don't mind it being a play because that reduces some of the spectacle of most movies.
All four of those Black men had an influence on my life, but they all had flaws that are only glanced over in the movie. I wanted to talk a bit about the real Jim Brown in this post. When I was young and Jim Brown was on television, all of my friends made a special effort to watch him. He was a great runner. His off field activities were a bit sordid however. I won't get into those here, but you can Google his name and read about the rape and assault allegations. Here is a YouTube video of his 5 greatest runs. I think watching these videos shows that a lot of the players just don't seem to have the same skill level as modern football players do: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cqsI....
One Night in Miami is a work of fiction with Cassius Clay, Malcolm X, Jim Brown, and Sam Cooke all meeting together in a motel after Cassius fights with Sonny Liston for the first time on February 25, 1964. It is based on the stage play by Kemp Powers, who also wrote the screenplay. It was nominated for three Oscars: 1. Leslie Odom Jr for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Sam Cooke; 2. Best Adapted Screenplay, and 3. Best Original Song. Regina King was nominated for Best Director at the Golden Globes but did not receive an Oscar nod. It is an excellent film if you don't mind it being a play because that reduces some of the spectacle of most movies.
All four of those Black men had an influence on my life, but they all had flaws that are only glanced over in the movie. I wanted to talk a bit about the real Jim Brown in this post. When I was young and Jim Brown was on television, all of my friends made a special effort to watch him. He was a great runner. His off field activities were a bit sordid however. I won't get into those here, but you can Google his name and read about the rape and assault allegations. Here is a YouTube video of his 5 greatest runs. I think watching these videos shows that a lot of the players just don't seem to have the same skill level as modern football players do: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cqsI....
