David > Recent Status Updates

This may have progressed from a book that I just liked a lot to one I think has more important things to discuss when it covered cancer diagnoses and wartime strategy.

Nothing short of amazing to see the stats on the cost to provide free housing to homeless people vs. the cost to pay for legal and social services to take care of them. Even with the stats it has to be pretty hard to get politicians to buy it. It seems like people will have decided a 'right' solution and the facts won't change their minds.

Really interesting essays on the pill and wall street Quans (black swan) and the dog whisperer. Oh, and clairol and l'oreal, too -- does she or doesn't she?

The first chapter on Ron Popeil bodes well for the book. Lots of interesting anecdotes about him and the products he's sold. Sad story about his non- relationship with his parents, and yet he claims to be inspired by his father. And then on to ketchup's single type compared to mustard's many.

Lots of studies show that guaranteed income saves money in the end, but it's a politically charged topic. Interesting that it was touted by Nixon but the Senate killed it several times.

'The hope that brings people together is often the same hope that tears them apart. Hope is, therefore destructive. Hope depends on the rejection of _what currently is_.'
And then:
'[Amor fati] basically meant: hope for nothing. Hope for what _already_ is--because hope is basically empty.'

Recent sections talked about the role of strong accepted norms in Democracies, how the actual rules/laws can be followed in such a way that cripples progress. Of course many examples from other countries and times seem similar to events now in the US, such as the refusal to consider Garland for the supremes. Never happened before, a rejection of well-established norms.

So many ways that democracies can be subverted, and the potential parallels with our present day America are concerning to say the least.

Ominous intro. Are they making the parallels between current US situations and previously toppled democracies a little too easily? Will wait and see.

Oh poor, brave Evan. He wanted to do the right thing from the start but could never get himself to disappoint Connor's family, so the lies built & built till it finally got SO uncomfortable that he blurted the truth and brought down the charade. And now in the epilog we'll see how the chips fell.

Lots to say in part 2 about Kant re: how to live without hope, treating others as ends and not means.

Evan is so awkward in so many endearing ways. This whole thing with the group to memorialize Connor seems over-the-top, and yet the speech that he thinks was terrible was (of course?) very touching. It's another one of those stories where I'm not sure why, but it's reaching me in some way. Don't we all want to be noticed and liked for being who we are? That seems to be the message.

Now moving on to how to get through people's filters when trying to convey your message. Hint: you won't believe this one simple trick! :-)

Oh-oh, Evan, now what are you going to do???

Appreciating this book so far! Always interesting how inability to convey the truth leads to complications.

Finished the last chapter tonight (evidently missed some updates on this one!). This last chapter sort of brought together much of the book, reiterating points made previously and recalling previous illustrations while adding more new ones to help cement the learning.
I appreciate that the ideas in this chapter are presented from different angles-student, teacher, consultant, etc.-with lessons and examples for all.

First day of listening while commuting. Reminds me of 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime' and I'm finding it compelling to listen to.
Just got to the point of Evan being called to the principal's office to meet with Connor and Zoe's parents, for reasons he doesn't yet know, but he has gotten his letter back that Connor took.

Somewhat amusing chapter on the use of English in France, with some comparison to Quebec where use of French is more strictly required, probably because more people in Quebec are likely to use English!