Opus 2025-445: Thank You Very Much

I listened to two different presentations this past week and I noticed something in both of them that seemed to be consistent with my opinion about the speakers.  They kept saying, “Thank you very much for that answer.”

I’m sure they thought they sounded very sincere, but to me it was pretty obvious that they were like a Southerner saying, “Well, bless your heart.”  If you don’t get out much you need to realize that when a Southerner says that to you, what is really being said is, “How can anybody be that stupid?”  As these speakers would say, “Thank you very much,” anyone with a bit of discernment could tell that they were saying, “How can anybody be that stupid?”   They were also doing a vicarious eye roll.

One of my favorite jokes was a tale that had no point.  You would tell it to see who would laugh at anything.  We might also set up an algorithm that noted how often some people tap on click bait using the words “extreme”, “destroys” and “ultimate”.  That is not a complete list.  I would imagine that such a list already exists and the info is forwarded to people trying to sell you an extension on your car’s warrantee and Nigerian princes.

A simple litmus test for us today would be to see who still functions on the principle “Orange Man Bad” or repeats that Rush Limbaugh was mean spirited.  If that is the level of their discernment then you might not even want to hire them to mow your lawn.

homo unius libri

Opus 2025-197: Family Feud

I was watching an interview with Neil Ferguson and Konstantin Kisin where the statement was made that generation Z is not able to match up and have families because of the cost of housing.  It sounds good.  It sounded good when my children bought homes and provided grandchildren.  It sounded good when I was young and the first born arrived.  I think it sounded good when my parents were young.

By sounding good I don’t mean it is true.  It means it is a good excuse.

Investigate this a little bit.  Houses are expensive but I don’t think the problem is the cost of housing.  Children are a lot of work but they are also a lot of reward.  I don’t think it is an economic problem.  It is a moral and cultural problem where a narcissistic group wants everything and wants it perfect so they’re not willing to risk mortgages, relationships and the pregnancies.  They are not willing to make the sacrifices.  They are not willing to lower their sights on the number of bedrooms and the logos on their cars.

Fifty years ago I heard how a family could not survive on one salary.  I have heard it on a regular basis ever since.  Somehow, in spite of that common wisdom we did it.  How?  Can you spell “used cars”, “yard sales”, “thrift stores”, “hand me downs” and “stifled pride”?  Today it is working for my children.

I am humble enough to admit it might not work out for everyone.  I am discerning enough to know that most people won’t try.

homo unius libri

Opus 2025-061: Old and Unimproved

Advertisers and people who make products like to find ways to get attention and increase sales.  I always get amused at lemon drops saying that they are a fat free food.  Or how about oatmeal being gluten-free.  These are part of the definitions of what those foods contain.  I don’t need a special advertising for it.

Another technique they like is to announce that something is “New and Improved”.  Now the newness and the improved aspect is always questionable.  I would venture to guess that sometimes if they put 11 ounces of cereal in a box that used to contain 12 ounces they could say that this is new and improved because you will gain less weight by eating it.  Deception is deception.  Naïve is naïve.  Gullible is gullible.

There are many things that I don’t need to hear “new and improved” about.  I have done my due diligence.  I am ready to accept the judgment of my decisions.  One of those things is oatmeal.  I’ve gone through a long process of arriving at how I like to have oatmeal in the morning.  I’ve tried instant, quick, old-fashioned, older-fashioned, and steal cut.  I have followed directions.  I have been a maverick.  I have come to the conclusion that old fashion, basic as it is, cooked for six minutes instead of five, and not stirred after the initial dumping of the oats produces what I want for breakfast.

It doesn’t mean I’m against trying something new if it comes along.  Just don’t try to advertise it as being biodegradable or organic or Vegan or any of the other nonsense.  Also, you need to put it in a smaller package that it doesn’t cost me the down payment on a house just to try it out.

As a senior citizen, I’m a big endorser of old and not improved.

homo unius libri

Opus 2015-379: Modern Mantras: Patience

One of the truths about cooking is that “a watched pot never boils”.  If you have ever been in a hurry you know how that works.  On the other hand, if you walk out of the kitchen it always seem to suddenly boil over. 

Blame the cooking gods.

How would this be restated in modern society.  I thought about substituting “microwave” for “pot” but that didn’t seem too catchy.  So instead I reached down into the culture of the school for a common reference point.

“A watched student never texts” or “a watched student never chews”.  I know because I have tried to catch them.  They may never get any work done but that is because they are focused on watching you to see if you are watching them.

Once I took a phone from a student and they had left it accessible.  While I was standing looking at the screen I received about eight text messages from other students in the class.  I didn’t see a thing.  If we could hire these kids as spies for the CIA we would be forever secure.  Or maybe we would never be secure.

homo unius libri