Inappropriate Conversations

Poetry takes something we know, or almost know, and makes it strange and wonderful, often transforming words heard before into a language we are hearing for the first time.  Such moments of insight can provide a new perspective for anything: politics, religion, relationships, sexuality, anything.  References include: "Old Man Bickford" from William S. Burroughs, and "Words Per Minute" and "Stop The Bleeding" from me. Different Drummer: Joyce Peseroff Poet Reads "The Hardness Scale"

The door is only as open as the mind inside the office.  For the success of both supervisor and employee, collaboration is crucial.  I have been most successful when I understood how my supervisor's performance was being assessed.  Likewise, I have been least successful when that type of information was withheld, making it impossible for me to make even small decisions to enable that success. Different Drummer: Toshiro Mifune

Consider this an echo of sorts for the current episode of Dan Carlin's Common Sense podcast.  Frustrated with the feeling that complaining is all we seem to be capable of contributing to the political process, as it is now, Carlin has made a call to action.  I share his frustration.  So-called evangelical Christian pastors calling for the internment or extermination of all non-heterosexuals?  Proudly "radical" atheists suggesting that all faithful Christians are, in fact, mentally ill and may need to be institutionalized?  Clearly, our society is on the verge of breaking down completely, and our methods of communicating with each other must change before it's too late. Different Drummer: Statler & Waldorf Dan Carlin's blog: "A Concentration Of Forces"

As a storyteller, I did something I prefer to avoid in Inappropriate Conversations #79 by not finishing a story.  That was partly about running short of time.  Mainly, though, it was because the story took an abrupt turn as I realized something that stopped me in my tracks.  I've heard this called "epiphany" in literary criticism, where the short stories of James Joyce provide excellent examples.  It also happens in real life.  I'm often amazed at how even a small and simple piece of information can change not only perspectives but the very direction of our life-stories. Different Drummer: Paul McCrane

Everything a child learns comes from information that is beyond their understanding.  It's true for their first words, even from what we call "baby talk."  It's certainly true for concepts related to diplomacy, economics, and music theory.  I never talked down to my kids.  Maybe that was good, effective parenting, and maybe it presented problems for everyone else in the family.  Hard to say.  It did raise questions, though, and anything that leads children to ask clarifying questions is probably great for their intellectual development. Different Drummer: Holly Cole

I was not a man when I first encountered "men's magazines" and I obtained beer and alcohol long before the legal drinking age, now or then.  Were these mistakes, or just typical parts of growing up?  The answers have a lot to do with age and perspective.  As a parent, I have worked to provide a different experience for my children.  On the other hand, it's possible that a childhood without any "mistakes" is the biggest mistake of all. Different Drummer: The Residents

A complete system of commerce must include a final destination point for "clearance" that serves both the needs of industry and the bottom-feeder (plecostomus). I do not use that term as an insult because it describes me quite well as a loyal customer of used record stores and bookstores. Some of my most beloved rock bands and musicians were first discovered in the dollar bins or cutout racks. It is good that others' cast-offs have found a happy home. Without such a method of filtering out the unwanted production, any retail system is incomplete or under-developed. Different Drummer: Mark E. Smith