Monthly Archives: January 2016

14 years since I

retired from teaching. Never a day of regret about regaining full control of my life and days. In the end, despite whatever sacrifices and losses, Freedom remains the best value of all. Calling one’s own shots, making one’s own personal … Continue reading

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Give us this day our daily Edmo

skin hacks. (Polysporin under a band-aid overnight or use of O’Keefe’s Working Hands hand cream usually keep the hacks at bay during January, the worst month.)

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Something Different for Wilde Fans: “Happy (150th) Birthday, Oscar Wilde”

(Another recommended, rare, interesting Kultur DVD) This 2004 ‘talking heads’ video directed by Bill Hughes for Amnesty International is a collection of Wilde quotes and excerpts read by over 150 well-known media personalities, musicians (Philip Glass, Annie Lennox, Bono) and actors … Continue reading

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Education’s Best Days and Maximal Learning Are Long Gone, Folks

What is left is a shell of surfaces with virtually no meaningful subject matter, ideas, critical thinking, or significant learning that increases or maximizes the possibilities and dimensions of a student’s life. The remaining political correct application and delivery system is devoid … Continue reading

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The best times in a person’s life are when

the person has all 3 of pleasure, engagement, and meaning. At this point in my life, I have a veritable surfeit of all three. In answer to the question, “Can one actually be happier in retirement or past 60?”, I … Continue reading

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Two Rather Interesting Books by Wilde’s Only Grandson

(Fourth Estate, London: 1997; this contains more rare Wilde photos than any previous collection) (Fourth Estate: 2004–a complete uncensored transcript of the trial with comments by Merlin; Merlin was the son of Vyvyan–the youngest Wilde son who advised on the … Continue reading

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The Trials of Oscar Wilde (1960) DVD

Finally released on widescreen, starring Peter Finch as a reasonable facsimile of Wilde, John Fraser as a believable Lord Alfred Douglas, James Mason as a sneaky prosecutor, and Nigel Patrick as the loyal defence lawyer. The movie advisors included Lord … Continue reading

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Obit: The Mighty Pimm

(Don’s incredible mixed media collage, inspired by William Carlos Williams’ “The Red Wheelbarrow”, which hangs in our front hall. In my daughter’s front hall is another mixed media collage based on E.E. Cummings’ poem “In just springtime”. We bought these … Continue reading

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2 Basic Gender Responses

I was watching the Frame channel on cable, which was featuring Elk Island National Park and the bison there, in particular. Thought of how many women would respond to the young bison in an instinctive, automatic oxytocin way: “Aw, cute”. Conversely, … Continue reading

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Revisiting the Spanish Civil War: “The Spanish Earth” (1937 documentary)

This is a different movie about the war that was a prelude for WWII and is essential viewing on ‘the people’s army’/Republican side. George Eastman House has released a nice b & w print just screened on TCM. The movie … Continue reading

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