From the archives. This week's contestant is Jim Weeg of Cedar Falls, Iowa. In an odd way, I almost got the full puzzle. I did get the composer style, which is not as often the case. And my guess for the hidden song (which I thought was likely wrong) was the same as the contestant’s – and we were indeed both wrong. Even on a second listening, where composer Bruce Adolphe slowed things down and pulled the song out more, neither I or the contestant still had a clue. Amazingly and impressively, host Fred Childe was able to hear it on second play (though it even took him that slowed-down version). It’s beautifully done, but really tough.
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The guest on this week’s Al Franken podcast is investigative journalist Ari Berman of The Nation. As Al writes, “The GOP is undermining democracy all over the country. The will of the people is being subverted for a loud and active minority. In his new book, guest Ari Berman explains how and where this is happening in America. And, more importantly, what we can do to fight back.”
Well, I made it to Chicago. Finally. After no traveling for five years. That's bad enough, but not getting to Chicago in that long? Ack.
It's a fine art, getting back into the swing of things. I almost blew my taxi ride to the airport. There's a small mom-and-pop company I think, and I made my reservation about 10 days ahead of time. About four days later, I was checking a note I'd left for myself about the trip that didn't concern the cab ride at all -- but in reading the note, I saw my flight time...and realized that I'd been considering two times, and gave the cab company the wrong time for my pickup, using the other flight that'd decided not to take! Fortunately, I caught it, and was able to switch the taxi time. There's a lot of construction at LAX, so we left with plenty of time to deal with it. But when we got there, the driver suggested dropping me at "Arrivals" which would save at least a half-hour, since the construction was on the "Departures" level. Very smart, and I said absolutely. (I also thought, why didn't you suggest that when I made the taxi reservation? -- since he's the one I spoke with. Not a problem at all, just a bit surprising.) And a good thing ultimately, since the logistics at the airport were a bit flummoxed. I was dropped off at the American terminal, got my gate number (151) and when I eventually started walking to it, I noticed that the gates were starting at #48. Well, that doesn't seem right, I thought. What happened is that gate #151 was not only not in that terminal -- or even the next terminal...but in the International terminal! So, it was a looooong walk. But happily, I didn't have to go through check-in again (which was easy anyway, since I have a "Known Travel Number" pass, and the terminals connect without having to go outside. And also...I had two hours to get there. I took my time, and all was well. The flight was crowded, but it left on time, was fine and arrived 20 minutes early. And now I've finally made it back to Chicago and...huzzah! The elves taking care of my place say everything is good, nothing is broken, and for now I have to take their word for it... More to come. Yes, it's true. After five years, for the first time since the pandemic, I am actually going out of town on a vacation. (I did go on a trip that I wrote about four years ago, in the early days of COVID, but that was only spending the night in another room of my home which I set up like a trip away, so it doesn't really count as "out of town.") The main reason for the delay is a wariness of traveling during COVID. And while I know a great many people have been traveling for a long time, I just haven't felt comfortable doing so. And still don't completely. But enough that I made the reservations and head off today. It turns out that traveling is somewhat like a muscle. You have to use it to keep in shape. I'm out of shape with traveling, and all the little things you have to do to get ready, but I think I'm all set. I did have one screw-up, though -- I made a taxi reservation with a mom-and-pop company I like a lot that happily are still around. A few days later, I was checking my notes about something else entirely...when I saw I'm made a stupid mistake, and ordered my taxi for another time I had considered leaving, later than the flight I settled on. Oh-so fortunately, I caught this, called the cab company the next morning, and they were able to move up my ride. So, all's well. I'll be going to Chicago, which I always love, but all the more since I have always gone there once (or sometimes twice) a year, and five years away is much, much too long. I'll be visiting some favorite locales, like the Arti Institute and Chicago Botanic Garden, visiting with family and friends I haven't seen in too many years (though have stayed in touch with, of course), a Cubs game needless-to-say, and eating at some of my favorite restaurants that I dearly miss. I can't wait. Happily, the elves will be able to come here and take over the place while I'm gone. (One had been nagging me for a couple years about when in the world I'd be going somewhere, so they could move in. Temporarily, of course. Oh, yes, he said, though I think I caught a laugh and knowing wink to his friend.) I won't likely be writing as much here while I'm away -- and the timing of posts will likely be different, considering the time zones. But I'll do my best to check in every day. If you have any problems, take it up with the elves. The other day, I decided to correct the latest MAGOP talking point, that Democrats are the real fascists, not Republicans. Putting aside that it seems obvious from this that they have no more idea what fascism is than they know what communism or socialism are (despite trying to pain Democrats with that for the past 70 years), what they most are completely unaware of is that fascism is specifically a conservative political philosophy. So, calling a liberal a fascist is a contradiction in terms.
It turned out that MAGOPs don’t like hearing this. The vitriol came pouring down. Unrelentingly. I responded to many, continuing to explain politely that, no, they were incorrect, though for the most invective-laced it was clear why the “Block” button was invented. Occasionally, though, I did even reply to a few of those that cried out for an answer. For instance, I would reply, “Just so you know, starting a note to a total stranger with “Dumbass” is generally not going to start a meaningful exchange.” Or to those who would send a graphic meme that said something like, “You are a stupid idiot idiot idiot idot. You make me sick,” they would get the response, “That is not a compelling argument.” I particularly liked the person who explained back that fascism was actually just an offshoot of communism. It was near-impossible to let that fly past, so I’d just point out that that would be a neat trick that could not be found anywhere in reality. I didn’t engage anyone of these in conversation and debate – clearly, there was no point in that. Minds were certain, locked in. But to be clear, the reason I did reply at all was for other people reading the wildly off-base comments who didn’t know the truth, and I felt it was important to correct the disinformation so they didn’t go away believing it all. And yes, I understood full well that it was like playing whack-a-mole in a cornfield of whack-a-mole that spread as far as the weary eye could see. That’s all well and good. I was okay with the responses, since I eventually realized it was easy to ignore them. Replies on Twitter go to your Notifications folder, so all one has to do is not read your Notification folder for a couple days, when the vitriol usually dies down. It does mean you want see the “Likes” and “Reposts” and any comments from people you know who you might want to reply to. But it’s a minor downside to the beatific comfort of silence. What I didn’t count on was the magical world of algorithms, especially those set up by Elon Musk. Those are the computer codes that identify content and match it up with like-minded content it thinks you might enjoy. That’s one of the nefarious results that allows hate-filled posters to find one another and reinforce their anger and echo chamber. And it turns out that by answering many of these corrosive slams and lies and disinformation, my algorithm buddy seemed to think, “Hey, this guy is responding to these people, he must want to continue doing so! Okay, here, let me dump all this garbage on your timeline…” There is good news/ bad news to all this – The bad news is…well, obvious. It’s pretty hideous what solid MAGOP writes. Not to me, but just in general, and mostly to themselves. And they write a whole lot of it, too. It’s hateful, ignorant, often filled with lies and actual “fake news” (whimsical for people who claim they supposedly detest it so much) that they believe, and believe all the more so because it gets reinforced. And I have to wade through this tripe to get to the actual news and exchanges I’m there for. (To be clear, I’ve always gotten a mix of political tweets on my timeline. Mostly liberal, yes, but enough that’s conservative and MAGOP -- some of which I’ll reply to, most of which I’ll at least be aware of. And that’s fine, and as it should be. But this kind of empty, angst-ridden venality is just a detestable bubble.) The good news is that it’s important to see how desolate that unsubstantiated fury is. It’s disturbing, to say the least, but it’s important to know what the sane world is dealing with. And yes, the bad news part in this dynamic overwhelms the good news. But I’m glad for that perspective. What I don’t know is if I’m stuck with this algorithm from now on when rummaging through Twitter – especially since occasionally there will be something SO profoundly inaccurate or a hurtful lie about something that demands being corrected, or if it will fade back to normal, as long as I keep my replies to such things to a minimum. Time will tell. If it doesn’t, it might render Twitter useless, or at least as only a platform to post on and not bother reading. Or perhaps greatly limit what accounts can get sent to my timeline. I’m hoping for a return to normal. I’ll accept semi-normal. But I do mean it – I’m glad to see how insane and angry and utterly misinformed the core MAGOP world is. And no, that's not bias. It’s an accurate description of the equivalence of people saying “2 plus 3 equals ‘French toast,’ and I hate you, and all libs are scum, minorities should be deported, and Trump is God.” And just to cleanse the palate and end on a refreshing note -- the correct answer is 5. In our continuing, albeit periodic series on Nichols & May, this may be one of the more famous of Mike Nichols and Elaine May’s most famous early sketches. And being early, it might not be as well-known as some of the later one's. It’s a couple of teenagers parked on a date, as the raging, but nervous hormones of the boy battle with the equally nervous rectitude, but interest of the girl. It’s worth noting one joke in the piece that Nichols later used when directing The Graduate, when an uncertain Benjamin has his first tryst with Mrs. Robinson, and tries anxiously to figure out when to make his move. He finally dives in, and you'll see where that joke came from here. |
AuthorRobert J. Elisberg is a political commentator, screenwriter, novelist, tech writer and also some other things that I just tend to keep forgetting. Feedspot Badge of Honor
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