Words to live by

In addition to "The Blind Men and the Elephant," the following anecdotes have shaped my approach to life:

The phone began ringing during a visit to a friend's basement workshop. Since the owner didn't seem inclined to answer it, a question seemed in order. "Aren't you going to answer that?"
"Nope. I had it installed for my convenience and it ain't convenient for me to answer it right now."

AND

During the preacher's visit, talk turned to favorite Bible passages. The old man finally agreed to give his. It wasn't a whole verse but it's found several times in The Book. "It came to pass . . . "
When the preacher appeared confused the old fella explained. "Don't ya see, it didn't come to stay. It came to pass. Surrounded by bad times? Don't worry they didn't come to stay. Enjoying good times? Don't get too comfortable, they're temporary, too."

It's over. Cancelled. Not gonna happen.

The beauty contest for Catholic nuns proposed by Antonio Rungi, an Italian priest, has been cancelled. The contest had been scheduled to begin in September with nun's photos posted on Rungi's blog and reader's casting votes for "Sister Italian 2008." But Rungi's email disuaded him and so the Esther 2008 Pageant is over – at least for the time being. Surely this idea will be revived, if not by Rungi, then by someone else.

I loved Rungi's comment to the Associated Press: "Being ugly is not a requirement for becoming a nun. External beauty is gift from God, and we mustn't hide it." USA Today reports that "many" nuns had asked to participate but this contest has been cancelled.

Another bookstore visit. Something else to share

I like books about business because they're really books about people and groups of people. Last week, I glanced through Hot Button Marketing by Barry Feig. He lists 16 "hot buttons" and reminds us that most decisions are not based on need and logic. Most decisions are more visceral or at least a lot less thought-y than want-y.

Consider these thoughts:

"People don't buy products and services.They buy the satisfaction of unmet needs." (p. vii)

George Eastman, who built Kodak, told his people: "We are selling memories. Memories of good times. Memories of family. We are creating memories." Personal question for ya, which family member took the photos? I remember doing a funeral or two where family members would say, "She was the picture taker in our family. I don't know who'll take the pictures at our next reunion."

"Making friends is our business" -- Anheiser Busch. (And you thought he sold beer)

What??? You were expecting a list of the 16 hot buttons? Well . . . I suppose listing a few wouldn't hurt.

* Sex, love and romance (interesting observations on male/female perceptions here)

* Poverty of time (with the observation that in the USA poverty of money has lost to poverty of time).

* The desire to belong.

But you knew all those didn't you? Check out what he as to say about "Revaluing." It might be the hot button of the future. Most of us make a choice and then find ways to position that choice as the "rational" one. The Vulcans among us are the exemplars of this approach.

Not wearing a tie

"A professor I had in college used to tell me that if someone won't listen to what you have to say because you're not wearing a tie, then put on a tie, 'cause what you have to say is more important than not wearing a tie." Joe McNally – The Moment It Clicks.

"If you want to be a better photographer, stand in front of more interesting stuff." Jim Richardson, photographer for National Geographic – as quoted in The Moment It Clicks.


While perusing at the bookstore, I came across these gems and wanted to share them. Do you realize how much self control it takes just to leave those things here without any embellishment?

The evil that men do . . .

For years I've been troubled by Shakespeare's assertion: "The evil that men do lives after them; the good is oft interred with their bones. . ."1 My own experience is that we are so loathe to “speak ill of the dead” that only the nice parts survive. However, for those who have been HURT by the departed, it will probably be the evil that lingers. We tend to view the departed through polarized lenses. This is most pronounced in the days immediately following a death. Time tends to restore perspective.

Author Rick Bragg demonstrates this restoration of perspective in his memoirs. His 1997 memoir, All Over But the Shoutin', chronicles his father's alcohol abuse and abandoning the family. In The Prince of Frogtown, Bragg revisits his father's earlier life in order to flesh out his portrait.

I discovered Bragg's work through an interview for BookPage magazine. The phrase that earned my respect was: "I didn't try to recreate some daddy for myself in this book."2 Most of us are tempted to do what Bragg resisted. Often we try to whitewash our histories. And while I certainly appreciate the sentiment, such dishonesty actually cripples us. A crutch is a good thing until it becomes a hindrance.



1 Julius Caesar, Act III, Scene 2, lines 80 & 81. After checking the context, I’d say that these comments are probably no more sincere than Anthony’s assertion that “Brutus is an honorable man.”
2 Bain, Rebecca. "Paternal Instincts." BookPage. June 2008. p. 5.

A PUNdaMental Poem

My understanding of society has been shaped in LARGE measure by this poem.



The Blindmen and the Elephant

by John Godfrey Saxe (1816–1887)


It was six men of Hindustan
to learning much inclined,
Who went to see the Elephant
(Though all of them were blind)
That each by observation
Might satisfy the mind.

The first approached the Elephant
And happening to fall
Against his broad and sturdy side
At once began to bawl:
"Bless me, it seems the Elephant
Is very like a wall".

The second, feeling of his tusk,
Cried, "Ho! What have we here
So very round and smooth and sharp?
To me 'tis mighty clear
This wonder of an Elephant
Is very like a spear".

The third approached the animal,
And happening to take
The squirming trunk within his hands,
Then boldly up and spake:
"I see," quoth he, "the Elephant
Is very like a snake."

The Fourth reached out an eager hand,
And felt about the knee.
"What most this wondrous beast is like
Is mighty plain," quoth he:
"'Tis clear enough the Elephant
Is very like a tree!"

The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear,
Said: "E'en the blindest man
Can tell what this resembles most;
Deny the fact who can,
This marvel of an Elephant
Is very like a fan!"

The Sixth no sooner had begun
About the beast to grope,
Than, seizing on the swinging tail
That fell within his scope,
"I see," quoth he, "the Elephant
Is very like a rope!"

And so these men of Hindustan
Disputed loud and long,
Each in his own opinion
Exceeding stiff and strong,
Though each was partly in the right
And all were in the wrong.

So oft in theologic wars,
The disputants, I ween,
Rail on in utter ignorance
Of what each other mean,
And prate about an Elephant
Not one of them has seen!

Retrieved from "http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Blindmen_and_the_Elephant"

The comment about rightness and wrongness reminds me of another bit of doggerel:

"A skunk sat on a stump.
The skunk thunk the stump stunk.
And the stump thunk the skunk stunk
But they was both wrong
Because they BOTH stunk."

Which leads to the truism from Paul Faulkner:

"Never get in a puking contest with a buzzard."

Punny Slideshow

I've just posted some photos from Abilene, Texas on u-lo-g.com. Several feature puns.
http://u-lo-g.com/abilene.aspx