Ennyman's Territory

Friday Musings: A Curated Collection from the Quote Vault

2026-05-15T09:08:34.325-05:00

In a world of rapid change and enduring questions, here are some quotes to roll around in your mind when you take a break from your screens. From Subroto Roy’s vision of a flourishing society, to voices as varied as Hannah Arendt, Martin Luther King Jr., Edward Snowden, and Graham Greene, quotes that illuminate the human condition dealing with justice and bureaucracy, creativity and resilience, perception and courage.

I personally enjoy mashups of unrelated observations because the unplanned juxtapositions can give birth to new and unexpected ideas.

* * *

"A flourishing society would be one which grows along the three planes of science, religion and art under conditions of freedom."
—Subroto Roy

"There is not enough darkness in all the world to put out the light of even one small candle."

—Rober Alden

"Writing is a form of therapy; sometimes I wonder how all those who do not write, compose, or paint can manage to escape the madness, melancholia, the panic and fear which is inherent in a human situation."

—Graham Greene

"More is more. Less is a bore."
—Robert Venturi

"Think twice before burdening a friend with a secret."

—Marlene Dietrich

"Men are not hanged for stealing horses, but that the horses may not be stolen."
-- The Marquis of Halifax

"Bureaucracies are far better at removing fingerprints from snafus than dusting for them."
—Mark Thompson

“The most radical revolutionary will become a conservative the day after the revolution.”

—Hannah Arendt

"Almost all our misfortunes in life come from the wrong notions we have about the things that happen to us."

—Stendhal journal entry (10 December 1801)

"Never measure the height of a mountain, until you have reached the top. Then you will see how low it was."
--Dag Hammarskjold

"Nothing is more common than the wish to be remarkable."

—Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.

"When exposing a crime is treated as committing a crime, you are ruled by criminals."

—Edward Snowden

“Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be.”

-–John Wooden

"I lived on books. Books taught me how to think."

--Sy Hersh

"A short saying often contains much wisdom."

—Sophocles

“Recommend virtue to your children, that alone—not wealth—can give happiness.”
— Ludwig van Beethoven

"A hot dog at the ballgame beats roast beef at the Ritz."
—Humphrey Bogart

"A day of bad writing is always better than a day of no writing."

--Don Roff

“If you can’t fly, then run, if you can’t run, then walk, if you can’t walk, then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.”

—Martin Luther King, Jr.

——————

Almost Wordless Wednesday: A Glimpse of Duluth Culture Revealed in 7 Posters of Coming Events

2026-05-13T03:21:04.621-05:00

A random batch of current posters on the library bulletin board.

Roy Orbison was truly one of the greats. Check this out:
Seven Anecdotes from the Roy Orbison/Beatles Tour

Proof positive that we're not just flyover country.

This weekend Duluth Dylan Fest will commence. Be there or be square.

I saw them my freshman year in college... a fun memory way back when.

First class shows for those who love live theater.

It's becoming a Northland tradition.

Looks interesting. Should we come with an appetite?

It's safer than snake-handling in Kentucky.

"Words Can’t Reshape Physical Reality" – A Blunt Conversation with Energy Writer Irina Slav

2026-05-12T08:48:00.002-05:00

Irina Slav

I can't recall when I first discovered the Bulgarian freelance energy journalist Irina Slav, but from the start I was captured, not simply by her years of experience writing about oil, gas, mining and geopolitics, but also by her wit and her courage to put it all out there regarding the realities of our current energy issues. Her writing is never dry, and routinely downright fun; a contrarian grounded in facts that force you to confront what is really going on.

In short, she seems to enjoy telling truths many seem unable to see because they've been swept away in a fifty year flood of media mischief and misinformation.

So without further adieu, I am pleased to introduce you to Irina Slav.

EN: I admire your courage and the "let the chips fall where they may" attitude you write with. How long have you been writing and how did you "find your voice" as a writer?

IS: If we’re talking professional writing, that started about 15 years ago, but I’d been writing fiction since my teens. I think that helped train my writing “muscles” for any topic, fictional or factual.

As for finding my voice, that happened gradually, as I gained experience and realized there was no point in being polite and worrying about what people would think. I honestly no longer care about offending anyone with hard facts. They are there, whether anyone likes them or not.

EN: Have you always written about energy issues? What was your background and what drew you to write about this important topic?

IS: My academic background is in English literature and linguistics. My professional life began with translations, while I was still at university. After graduating, I spent a couple of years at a daily newspaper where I mostly translated articles but once got so excited about the topic of peak oil (yes, I believed it was coming) that I volunteered to produce my very own feature article. I think we still have the paper edition with that article.

After I left the paper (because the owner, who was a politician, asked me if I wanted to run for the European Parliament as a party candidate and I said “Hell, no”) I started work at a news agency where I was assigned coverage of Russia’s and Central Asia’s energy and mining industries. I discovered oil and gas are a fascinating topic and started reading up on it, on extraction, pipelines, refineries, the lot.

Following my decision to go freelance I had a major stroke of luck when an editor for Oilprice contacted me and offered me a daily engagement. The rest, excuse the cliché, is history. I still find oil and gas production fascinating and hugely underappreciated as the most essential industry for modern civilization. This doesn’t mean I love Big Oil or some such nonsense but I do have a deep appreciation for the people who extract hydrocarbons from the ground.

EN: You’ve spent nearly two decades covering Russian and Central Asian oil and gas before broadening out to global energy markets. Looking back, what’s the biggest misconception you’ve seen policymakers or investors hold about energy security—and how has the last few years of conflict and market chaos either validated or upended that view?

IS: The most destructive, delayed-action, misconception was the belief that globalizing supply chains would work swimmingly and it’s perfectly okay to outsource all the heavy industries to Asia to focus on the “post-industrial” economy. We’ve all seen how well that’s worked.

More generally, the assumption that words can shape physical reality has wrought havoc in the West, whether it’s about energy or geopolitics. We are now reaping what the reality shapers sowed.

EN: In your writing, you’ve highlighted “stranded transition assets” and grid integration failures for renewables, even as banks like Barclays now acknowledge the risks. Do you see the current energy crunch—driven by geopolitics, AI demand, and defense needs—as the moment when the renewables-heavy transition narrative finally cracks, or is the political momentum still too strong to reverse course?

Click to Enlarge

IS: The narrative has been cracking for a while now but the net-zero fan lobby is still very strong and loud, especially in political circles. I think the momentum is too strong for politicians to admit they were wrong about it. The current energy crisis is not helping – it just made wind and solar make sense because they are – and how I hate the word – “homegrown”. They aren’t really but nobody cares about that. I fear we’ll have to witness an actual collapse before we come to our collective senses.

EN: You’ve been blunt about EU policies like the ETS, the 2035 ICE car ban (and its green steel workaround), and methane rule “flexibilities.” From your perspective in Bulgaria, what’s the single biggest disconnect between Brussels’ decarbonization targets and the day-to-day reality of energy supply and industrial competitiveness in Europe?

IS: The biggest disconnect is in priorities. Brussels keeps harping on about “clean” energy while everyone else wants mostly cheap and reliable energy.

EN: Your recent posts have touched on blackouts, demand destruction, negative electricity prices, and the quiet return of gas-fired power in places like Spain. What practical lessons from these real-world failures do you think the energy industry and governments still refuse to learn—especially when it comes to baseload power versus intermittent sources?

IS: What governments appear incapable of comprehending is the fact that it is not okay to have a grid dominated by intermittents. Having some is fine, no problem with rooftop solar and some bigger installations in factory yards but having solar and wind make up a substantial, let alone, larger than half, portion of the energy mix is a bit risky.

EN: You’ve written about parallel realities in energy—one physical and one fabricated by analysts and financiers. With oil prices swinging on tweets, record U.S. exports, and surging Chinese “clean energy component” shipments to Europe, do you see the biggest risks (or opportunities) in the next 12–24 months for both traditional hydrocarbons and the so-called transition technologies?

IS: I think it’s pretty clear by now that hydrocarbons will be in short supply in the coming months. Just how long these shortages will last depends on when the war in the Middle East ends and the outlook doesn’t seem very good right now. So, the risk is shortage, which, I guess, would be an opportunity for those who can source oil and gas and sell them to energy-thirsty countries.

As for transition technologies, the fans will double and triple down, claiming they are safer than oil and gas imports. The problem is those technologies are also largely imported and they will become more expensive, too – energy inflation touches everything. So I think there will be some more rude awakening in the “clean energy” space.

EN: After covering this beat for 15–20 years and living through events like the recent Bulgarian blackout, what’s one piece of advice you’d give to younger journalists, investors, or even ordinary citizens trying to cut through the noise on energy and geopolitics—especially when official narratives keep colliding with physics and economics?

IS: The one advice I would give is “Check if two plus two makes four. If the news says it doesn’t, then the news is false.” It’s a simple thing to do but not easy. A lot of people would rather stick with the false news for comfort, even if they end up paying dearly for that comfort down the line. Those who are not satisfied with “the noise” ask questions. They also buy generators for backup.

Check out her Substack, Irina Slav on energy

Lessons for Leaders from Napoleon and the Battle of Austerlitz

2026-05-11T10:38:00.001-05:00

My interest in Napoleon Bonaparte was triggered by an observation made in the introduction to Grant Wins the War, James R. Arnold's account of how General U.S. Grant captured the City of Vicksburg, cutting off supplies from the West and sealing the doom of the rebel South in our American Civil War. The author stated, "Of the twenty most brilliant campaigns in military history, more than half were by Napoleon. Only two were conceived and executed by generals in the U.S. Civil War. The first was General Stonewall Jackson’s Shenandoah Campaign. The second, Grant’s victory at Vicksburg."

That simple statement made me seriously interested in learning more about this man. One of the first things I learned was that there were more books written about Napoleon than any other person in the 19th century. After a little research I purchased Chandler's 1200-page The Campaigns of Napoleon, the first hundred pages serving as an outstanding overview of his life, career, philosophy, achievements and more.

* * *

The Battle of Austerlitz—often called “The Battle of the Three Emperors”—was Napoleon’s greatest battlefield triumph. Fought near the town of Austerlitz in what is now the Czech Republic, it pitted Napoleon Bonaparte against the combined armies of Austria and Russia, led by Emperor Francis II and Tsar Alexander I.

Napoleon’s Objective

Napoleon’s central objective was not merely to defeat the Allied army, but to destroy it decisively enough to break the coalition against France and secure French dominance in Europe. He understood that France could not survive endless coalitions forming against her. He needed a victory so overwhelming that it would psychologically and politically shatter his enemies.

And that is precisely what happened. After Austerlitz, the Austrian Empire sued for peace, and the old Holy Roman Empire effectively collapsed soon afterward.

Napoleon’s Strategy

Understanding the map is not important
to getting the point.

Napoleon’s brilliance at Austerlitz lay in deception. He intentionally appeared weak. He thinned his right flank and even abandoned the strategically important Pratzen Heights—high ground in the center of the battlefield. To the Allies, this looked like hesitation or vulnerability. They believed Napoleon was retreating and vulnerable to encirclement.

But this appearance of weakness was bait. Napoleon predicted the Allies would overcommit against his deliberately weakened right side. Once they did, their own center on the Pratzen Heights became dangerously exposed. That was the trap.

At the decisive moment, Napoleon launched Marshal Soult’s corps directly into the weakened center, splitting the Allied army in two. Fog lifted as the French attacked, and the sudden appearance of disciplined French columns emerging into sunlight became legendary, later romanticized as “the Sun of Austerlitz.”

As I read this battle description, I was reminded of Napoleon's 1805 naval defeat at the hands of Britain's Admiral Horatio Nelson, whose bust Napoleon had on his desk out of respect for this master strategist. The Battle of Trafalgar took place only two months earlier so it must have been fresh in Napoleon's mind. You can read here the strategy Lord Nelson used to rout his opponents in Trafalgar, dissecting the combined French and Spanish navies to create mass confusion.

Once the center collapsed, the Allied flanks became isolated and disorganized. Thousands drowned retreating across frozen lakes and marshes, though later accounts may exaggerate the scale of this catastrophe.

Napoleon had achieved what military theorists call the destruction of enemy cohesion.

Famous Quotes Associated with Austerlitz

Napoleon was extraordinarily conscious of morale, symbolism, and memory. Before the battle, he reportedly told his troops: “Soldiers, I shall end this campaign with a thunderbolt.”

And after the victory: “One sharp blow and the war is over.”

Another famous line associated with his philosophy of war: “Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.”

That sentence almost perfectly summarizes Austerlitz. He allowed the Allies to execute the very maneuver he wanted them to attempt.

Another relevant Napoleon quote: “The moral is to the physical as three is to one.”

Napoleon understood that wars are fought not only with weapons and numbers, but with confidence, fear, perception, momentum, and belief.

Lessons for Today

Austerlitz still fascinates military strategists, business leaders, and political thinkers because its lessons extend far beyond warfare.

1. The Power of Controlled Weakness

Napoleon demonstrated that appearing weak can lure opponents into overconfidence. (Is this currently what has been happening in Iran?) Strategic patience and misdirection can be more effective than raw force. Modern parallels appear in diplomacy, politics, media, and business competition.

2. Concentration at the Decisive Point

Napoleon did not try to be strong everywhere. He identified the decisive moment and concentrated force precisely there. This principle still governs successful strategy today: Focus resources, identify leverage points and avoid dispersion.

3. Information and Perception Matter

Napoleon manipulated what the Allies believed about him. In many ways, Austerlitz was an information war before it became a shooting war. Modern conflicts—political and military alike—are often battles over narrative, confidence, morale, and interpretation.

4. Overconfidence Destroys Judgment

The Allies believed Napoleon was retreating because they wanted to believe it. Their assumptions blinded them. Austerlitz remains a warning about confirmation bias: leaders often see what flatters their expectations.

5. Leadership Under Pressure

Napoleon projected confidence even when circumstances were risky. His calmness transmitted itself to the army.

Whether in war, politics, or business, morale frequently flows downward from leadership.

The enduring fascination of Austerlitz is that it was not merely a victory of force, but a victory of psychology, timing, deception, and clarity of vision. Napoleon made his enemies participate in their own defeat.

Related Trivia

Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major, Op. 55, known as the Eroica ("Heroic"), is a monumental 1804 work that redefined symphonic form, marking the transition from Classical to Romantic music. Originally dedicated to Napoleon Bonaparte, it is a revolutionary, large-scale composition characterized by its intense emotion, long duration, and dramatic use of dissonance

Related Link

Goethe on Napoleon
https://pioneerproductions.blogspot.com/2010/04/goethe-on-napoleon.html

Air Quality Keeps Getting Better, But Wind Turbines Do Have Drawbacks

2026-05-10T13:14:00.004-05:00

Remember how smelly diesel trucks used to be and how loudly their engines clattered? Remember those photos of the Pittsburg skyline with smokestacks belching black smoke from the steel mills and the dense black clouds that hovered over the hills of the city? Do you recall the firehouses on the Cuyahoga River that runs though Cleveland, firehouses built because the river was in the habit of catching fire four times a year?

These were a few of the memories that came to mind as I read yesterday's Energy Bad Boys' column titled Harvard Study Finds Wind Turbines Will Cause More Warming Than Emissions Reductions Would Avert. And the clever subhead: Hot air from the wind indusry.

The column begins, "A few weeks ago, we wrote about how Gallup polling found 66 percent of Americans think the environment is getting worse despite the fact that air quality in the United States has improved dramatically since the 1970’s. This improvement was due in large part to the Clean Air Act and its subsequent amendments, as a reader noted."

The authors argue that if the goal is to avoid harmful warming, why build something that causes immediate, noticeable local warming for people, animals, and plants living near the turbines today — especially when the climate benefit is small and far in the future?

They estimate the extra warming from all those turbines could cost the U.S. economy $72–75 billion per year in damages (based on earlier studies of warming costs).

Here's another consideration when discussing wind and solar. The size of their physical "footprint" compared to the energy they produce.

Click chart to enlarge

Bottom Line

Wind (and solar) are often hyped as planet-saving technologies, but they come with their own real, immediate temperature impacts. Instead of spending trillions on wind, the authors strongly suggest we should choose nuclear power instead, because it produces reliable electricity with almost no emissions and no local air-mixing warming effect.

I mention these things because our current Minnesota energy policies include a moratorium on nuclear (based on fear driven by misinformation) and a mandate to be "Net Zero" by 2040. [Fwiw, "Net Zero" in environmental law and policy refers to a state where the amount of greenhouse gases (GHGs) emitted into the atmosphere by human activities is balanced by an equivalent amount removed from the atmosphere over a specified period.]

And however you slice it, wind and solar still have that major issue of intermittency so that it may not be there in the moments you need it most.

Groups align to lift Minnesota's nuclear energy ban

Is Our Energy Grid at Risk?

Wind farms pictured: Northern Iowa, Southern California, West Texas, San Gorgonia Pass

Bob Dylan's Hibbing Childhood Home: A Northland Landmark Preserved for Pilgrims and Fans

2026-05-09T19:30:00.002-05:00

If you've ever made the pilgrimage to Hibbing, Minnesota, you already know the pull. This Iron Range town isn't just where Robert Zimmerman graduated high school in 1959 or played his first public concert at the Memorial Building—it's where the future Bob Dylan spent the heart of his boyhood after the family left Duluth. The Zimmerman home here isn't a museum with velvet ropes. It's a lived-in piece of history, now stewarded by one of the world's great Dylan collectors, Bill Pagel, and a stop that keeps drawing fans from around the globe.

Collector/Archivest Bill Pagel

The house sits on what fans now know as part of Bob Dylan Drive (or at least the area tied to that spirit). In artist Daniel Botkin's striking 2016 painting Busy Being Born, the Zimmerman home appears front and center in a rearranged Hibbing landscape. Botkin placed it in the lower center, with Milton Glaser's iconic Dylan poster visible in an upstairs bedroom window. To the left, just above the green "Hibbing" sign, is the synagogue the Zimmerman family attended. Behind it looms the Androy Hotel, site of Bob's bar mitzvah. Across the street once stood Zimmy's, the legendary Dylan-themed restaurant and unofficial museum (sadly closed now, but forever part of the lore). The painting captures the whole scene—mining operations in the distance, the Greyhound bus nod to Hibbing's bus-line origins, and even a playful "BobYear" blimp overhead. It's a prenatal portrait of baby Bobby wrapped in a prayer shawl, umbilical cord turning into a shofar, floating above the town that helped shape him. As Botkin explained, he rearranged streets and buildings in the spirit of Dylan's own line from "Desolation Row" about rearranging faces and names.

That home is where young Bob and his brother David grew up. It's the place he left behind when he set out on the road that led to Greenwich Village, Newport, and beyond. Today, both of Dylan's Minnesota childhood homes—the early duplex in Duluth at 519 N. 3rd Ave. East (where he spent his first six years) and the Hibbing house—are owned by Bill Pagel. Pagel, the archivist featured in The Dylanologists and owner of thousands of photos, posters, manuscripts, and even little Bobby's highchair, didn't just acquire them by accident. He once lived next door to the Hibbing house and "pounced" the moment it became available (at a reasonable price). He's been thoughtfully restoring both properties toward their original forms, filling rooms with period furniture based on vintage photos. As Jon Bream noted in the Minneapolis Star Tribune piece that highlighted Pagel's collection, these aren't just addresses—they're tangible links to Dylan's Minnesota roots.

The Hibbing home has hosted its share of modern celebrations, too. In 2021, for Dylan's 80th birthday, the Hibbing Project held a groundbreaking for a memorial in front of Hibbing High School. About 80 people gathered—one for each year of his life. Afterward, the festivities spilled down the street to the former Zimmerman home, now Pagel's. The city even painted a creative crosswalk out front. Nelson French (Duluth Armory board member at the time) orignally shared that his brother lived in the Hibbing house—another reminder that this is still a real home, not a frozen shrine.

Hibbing itself embraces the legacy in quiet but meaningful ways. The Hibbing Library put together an excellent Bob Dylan Walking Tour with 14 points of interest. Fans stop at the high school, the old theaters, and yes, the former Zimmerman home for photos. One Swedish visitor I escorted years ago lit up when we stood there—he'd seen Dylan multiple times back home and in Barcelona, but this was the real deal.

Despite the closure of Zimmy's and Howard Street Books, the community spirit endures. Local efforts like Dylan Days, temporary murals, and ongoing gatherings show the town hasn't forgotten its native son. As one fan commented after his own visit, "All the people were real friendly... you get a true feel of how Bob grew up."

In the end, the Hibbing home isn't just a building—it's part of the thread that runs through Dylan's songs about time, memory, roots, and rambling. Whether you're walking the library tour, or examining Pagel's collection of unique memorabilia, pondering French artist Claude Angele Boni's paintngs, or simply standing out front imagining a young Bob heading off to wherever the music called, it's a place that reminds us: he not busy being born is busy dying. Preserve the memories. They're all that's left you.

A classmates yearbook, signed by Bob
when they attended Hibbing High together.

What about you? Have you visited the Hibbing home or the Duluth porch? Drop a comment or photo below. And if you're planning a trip, check the Duluth Dylan Fest or Hibbing library resources—they keep the spirit alive every year.

And here's a message from the curator of all these memories himself sent to me: If you do a blog post, please include that I (Bill Pagel) am looking for early photographs of Bob taken both in Hibbing and Duluth and early handwritten writings and drawings done by Bob when he was living in here.

THE REASON all this is relevant today is because Jay Gabler of the Duluth News Tribune did a very nice story about Bill and the Hibbing this weekend, with lots of juicy details and photos. Here's the link, with some very memorable photos: A rare look inside Bob Dylan's Hibbing childhood home

REMINDER: DULUTH DYLAN FEST

will open with events in Hibbing, May 17.

Be sure to review the

FULL SCHEDULE FOR

DULUTH DYLAN FEST 2026

CLICK HERE

Noteworthy
Susan Beasy Latto, a classmate and friend of Bob's when growing up in Hibbing, passed away a few weeks ago. A close friend of many in our Duluth Dylan Fest circles as well as a Historic Duluth Armory supporter, where young Bobby saw Buddy Holly perform a few days before his tragic plane crash in an Iowa cornfield. Dylan’s mother Beatty Zimmerman was close friends with Susan’s mother Esther, and years later Beatty threw a bridal shower for Susan, who will be surely missed by many of us.
You can learn more about Susan here: https://www.doughertyfuneralduluth.com/obituaries/susan-latto

Meantime, life goes on all around you.

Don't take it for granted or let it go to waste.

Flashback Friday: Astonishing and Creative Ways of Marking or Keeping Time

2026-05-08T09:01:00.000-05:00

Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

Time it was, and what a time it was, it was
A time of innocence,
A time of confidences
Long ago, it must be,
I have a photograph
Preserve your memories;
They're all that's left you
--Bookends Theme, Paul Simon

Based on how often I've played it over the years, Tell Tale Signs must be one of my favorite Dylan albums. And one of my favorite songs on that double CD is Born In Time which I wrote about here in 2018:
"Born In Time" and Other Dylan Songs About Being Born

You can find the lyrics to "Born In Time" here.

Time is a concept that philosophers and thinking people have mulled over since the beginning time. Or at least since humans first appeared here. Poets and songwriters have been inspired by it, fascinated by the various ways we experience it, as too short, too long, too little and too much.

Eve: Any idea what time it is?
Adam: Good question. Based on the angle of the sun I'd say it was after noon.

Or...

Gork: I killed another one of these things. After we skin it and build a fire it will be dinner time.
Glam: Oh good. I was getting tired of leftovers.

As life became more organized and sophisticated, so did our means of keeping time. When I took piano lessons as a boy I was given a metronome, which one can set to various speeds. It helps keep you from speeding up your pace when playing, something we often do when nervous.

If you go to see a live orchestra performance -- nowadays you can watch them on YouTube -- you'll notice how the conductor uses his baton to set the tempo.

During my years in advertising I wrote quite a few scripts for radio advertising. I would utilize an Online Stopwatch to time these scripts so that they fit the radio station's time constraints. Today, I use that same Online Stopwatch to time my speeches for Toastmasters.

Photo courtesy @aronvisuals on Unsplash

The film Back to the Future had much to do with time. Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) figures out a solution to being stuck in the past when he realizes that the Hill Valley clock tower will be struck by lightning on a specific moment in time...

Back to the Future is just one of many films that had time travel as a central theme. Others include 12 Monkeys, the Terminator films and Peggy Sue Got Married.

When I was a little tyke we used to watch a cartoon called Mr. Peabody's Improbable History that was on the Rocky & Bullwinkle Show. Mr. Peabody was the smartest being on earth and one of his inventions was the WABAC (Way-Back) machine. A central feature of the cartoon series was going back in time to teach Sherman about various people throughout history, from Napoleon and Lord Nelson to Jesse James and Sir Isaac Newton.

When I was in college I had a philosophy professor who introduced us to Husserl's On the Phenomenology of the Consciousness of Internal Time. The book is a foundational phenomenological investigation into how we experience time not as objective clock-time, but as it appears within consciousness itself.

The central insight is that time-consciousness is not a mere succession of isolated “now” moments. Instead, every present moment of awareness has a thick, structured “living present” composed of three inseparable elements: primal impression (the immediate now), retention (the immediate just-past, which we still hold onto directly much like the eye briefly retains an after-image), and protention (the anticipation of the immediate future). Of this idea, much more could be said, if I had more time.

All these thoughts about time were stimulated by this fascinating web page titled Astonishing and Creative Ways of Marking Time, Keeping Time. I found it so interesting I wanted to. share it... and if you have time to explore, you will enjoy it, too.

Meantime, whatever is on your agenda for the weekend, have a good time.

Originally published in May 2020 when many of us had a lot of time because of the lockdowns.

The Sinking of the Lusitania Has Lessons for Today

2026-05-07T09:01:00.004-05:00

At a "book exchage" several weeks ago I obtained a copy of Colin Simpson’s The Lusitania (1972), a provocative examination of the 1915 sinking of the RMS Lusitania, which killed 1,198 people — including 94 children — and helped tilt America toward entering World War I.

Simpson’s book peels back the official narrative to reveal a more complex and disturbing picture. Far from a simple case of unprovoked German aggression against a civilian liner, the Lusitania was carrying significant quantities of munitions and other contraband destined for the British war effort. British authorities, Simpson argues, were aware of the risks yet failed to provide adequate protection, while the ship’s rapid sinking was accelerated by both its unstable design and explosive cargo. The result was a human catastrophe which was then exploited with ruthless efficiency by Allied propaganda.

Lifejacket from Lusitania

The parallels to events in our own era--Gaza, Ukraine, Iran--are striking. In 1915, as today, ordinary people struggled to discern truth amid conflicting government statements and sensational media coverage. British and American newspapers amplified heartbreaking images of drowned children and grieving families, framing the disaster as proof of German barbarity. German sources, meanwhile, insisted the ship was a legitimate target. Public trust in institutions eroded as citizens sensed they were being fed selective facts to serve larger geopolitical aims.

Sound familiar?

The emotional focus on innocent victims — especially children — proved devastatingly effective. Posters showing mothers and babies sinking beneath the waves stirred outrage far more powerfully than dry debates over maritime law or secret cargo manifests. Simpson shows how tragedy was transformed into a potent propaganda weapon, much as civilian casualties and graphic imagery dominate today’s information wars.

In an age of contested narratives and weaponized empathy, Simpson’s account reminds us that the Lusitania was not merely a maritime disaster — it was a masterclass in how governments, media, and public emotion intersect during crisis. Nearly 110 years later, its lessons about skepticism, hidden agendas, and the strategic use of innocent suffering remain painfully relevant.

What especially sad (or disturbing) is how the truth is buried beneath a sea of noise, and facts about what's really happened don't come to light till decades later.

After the latest attempt on the president's life someone said to me, "I don't know what to believe any more." I knew what he was referring to. Every action now has a groundswell of conspiracy theories in its wake, propelled by unrestrained social media. Charlie Kirk, Butler, October 7, JFK--and the beat goes on.

Great Lakes Atelier of Fine Art’s 2026 Student/Instructor Exhibition: What You Missed Last Weekend

2026-05-06T09:18:00.000-05:00

It started with an idea. It became a world class art school attracting dedicated students from across the country to Duluth. This past weekend the school hosted its ninth annual Student/Instructor exhibition.

The church, St. Peter’s, was on its way to demolition before the Larsons purchased it and turned it into a fine arts academy. It’s a staple of traditional training in Classical Realism and it’s the only place like it in the Northland, and among only a handful of its caliber in the nation. The four-year program is modeled after the traditional European Atelier system of training. The focus of the Atelier is to train individuals in Classical Impressionism. On day one, the student starts with pencil in hand, and over the course of the apprenticeship will systematically work their way through the program at their own pace, eight hours a day, five days a week.

There were examples of full-time student work, part time student work, instructor work, and children’s class student work on display. Here are some things we saw:

Patrick Glander, one of the school's first grads, is now an instructor.

Rewarding Insights About "Seeing" from a Dialogue at the Great Lakes Academy of Fine Art

Weekend Open House Shows Why the Great Lakes Academy of Fine Art Is a Gift to Our Community

More on Jeffrey T. Larson here: http://jeffreytlarson.com/

The Atelier’s website: http://greatlakesatelieroffineart.com

Background on Jeffrey T. Larson: Jeffrey T. Larson was born in 1962 in Two Harbors, MN and grew up in the Twin Cities. Jeffrey has been trained in the manner of the Old Masters at the prestigious Atelier Lack, a studio/school whose traditions and training methods reach back through impressionism and the 19th century French Academies. He followed his four-year formal training with museum study in the US and Europe and has been painting full time for over 30 years. Jeff recently won the Draper Grand Prize honored by the Portrait Society of America, the country’s most prestigious portrait painting competition.

Cinco de Mayo--How the Celebration Got Started

2026-05-05T10:50:00.002-05:00

El General Zaragoza

Uno, dos, tres, quattro, cinco, seis.... Even if you don't understand Spansh, you're likely familiar. with these numerals from one to six. Cinco is the word for number 5.

The significance of the day, May 5, hearkens back to 1862.

Cinco de May celebrates the 1862 Battle of Puebla, where Mexican forces defeated a superior French army. While a significant morale boost, it was not the end of the French intervention in the affairs of Mexico.

It's surprising how few Americans remember that during the U.S. Civil War, France invaded Mexico, overthrew the Mexican government and installed Austrian Archduke Maximillian as Emperor of Mexico. Maximilian's rise to the throne of Mexico was a complex and controversial chapter in Mexican history, which I learned about years ago through an insightful book titled Maximillian and Carlotta. By means of this book I learned much about the interwoven monarchies of Europe and why World War I became as devastating as it was.

It's interesting how the Monroe Doctrine, an 1823 foreign policy declaration issued by our fifth president, continues to have the force that it does here in the 21st century two hundred years later. The doctrine states that any intervention in American affairs by European powers would be viewed as a hostile act.

Nevertheless, France ignored that cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy because in 1862 Americans were engaged in a full-scale civil war.

The story of how France, under Napoleon III, conquered Mexico began on a beach near Vera Cruz. The French had come to Mexico to collect debts that France was owed by the Mexican government. For reasons I do not recall, there was an incident on the beach in which seven French soldiers were killed. (Probably initiated by Mexican who said, "You're not welcome here." In response, France decided to invade Mexico. "We'll teach them a lesson they'll never forget. We'll just take 'em over."

Landing their army on the shores of Vera Cruz was easy, but having driven that route I can tell you it presents a pretty rugged terrain from the Gulf of Mexico up through the mountains to Mexico City, uphill all the way.

The French army must have been exhausted when the reached the crest of Puebla. Though they were better-trained, a poorly equipped Mexican army led by Ignacio Zaragoza defeated the French, thereby buying time for the army and peoples in Mexico City to prepare for the upcoming attack.

Ultimately, the French achieved their ambitions, but Cinco de Mayo marked this battle as a demonstration of Mexican courage and valor that deserved to be remembered.

The Battle of Puebla did not, however, alter the final outcome of this French invasion. It only delayed it. Mexico was itself in political disarray, but as the saying goes, when you take over you own it. NOW what is the plan?

Well, the European royalty chatted it up, weighing out who was available and willing to fill an Emperor role across the pond. It was decided hat Austrian Archduke Maximillian's older brother Franz Joseph had been placed on the throne there and young Max, with nothing better to do, just might enjoy wearing a crown as Emperor of Mexico.

Things ultimately didn't work out as planned, and in 1867 Maximillian was executed by firing squad in Querétaro along with two of his generals. Carlotta, the queen, had fortunately fled back to Europe before things fell apart.

Related Links

The Hero Of Cinco De Mayo Was A Texan

The story of Maximillian and Carlotta

Trivia: The population of Puebla today is near seven million.

Trivia: In 1967, it Volkswagen founded a vehicle manufacturing plant which is now one of its largest in the world, producing models like the Jetta, Tiguan, and Taos.

Vaclav Smil on Nuclear Power Micro Reactors

2026-05-03T17:18:00.000-05:00

I can't recall whether it was Doomberg or Robert Bryce who first drew my attention to Vaclav Smil.

Vaclav Smil educates the reader by explaining how interwoven the use of fossil fuels is with the functioning of modern society. He adeptly discusses the challenges with replacing fossil energy with the current generation of renewables (such as PV, wind, the out-of-favor nuclear, and nearly tapped out hydro) due to the scope of the existing infrastructure. This infrastructure cannot be replaced in a decade or two.
--C. Haynam

This author gives in his book what are the four pillars of our civilisation: concrete, steel, ammonia and plastic. It explains in concrete terms the reasons for that. Also, it demonstrate these four pillars depend heavily on fossil fuel.
--MathEnthusiast

Václav Smil is a prominent Canadian scientist and policy analyst who has written extensively on various topics, including energy, environment, and technological change. His views on nuclear energy are nuanced and reflect a balanced perspective on its potential and challenges. Here are some of the key points he makes on this important topic.

Potential for Clean Energy

Smil acknowledges that nuclear energy has the potential to provide a significant amount of low-carbon energy, which is crucial for mitigating climate change. He notes that nuclear power generates electricity with minimal direct emissions of greenhouse gases compared to fossil fuels.

Technological and Economic Challenges

Smil points out the substantial challenges associated with nuclear energy, including the high costs of building and maintaining nuclear power plants. He emphasizes the economic difficulties, such as cost overruns and long construction times, which have plagued the industry.

Role in the Energy Transition

Smil sees nuclear energy as part of a broader mix of solutions needed for a sustainable energy future. He argues that while nuclear power alone cannot solve the global energy challenge, it can complement other renewable energy sources like wind and solar to provide a more stable and reliable energy supply.

Here is Professor Smil's website. vaclavsmil.com

He's someone with something to say, and he's saying it. 51 books, 500 papers and more.

Things People Don't Realize About Wind Energy and Why We Can't Shut Down Oil Production

Small Reactors, Big Potential Impact: NANO Nuclear Microreactors Shaping the Future of Energy Infrastructure

The "300 Wins" Club and Other Miscellaneous Baseball Notes

2026-05-02T21:37:00.007-05:00

For some reason baseball has been on my mind this weekend. I suspect that something caused me to think about Nolan Ryan, the Astros hurler whose fastball was clocked at 108 miles per hour. That's little more than the blink of an eye when you're in the batter's box.

One of the amazing things about Nolan Ryan was his longevity. He was still throwing overpowering fastballs in his forties, retiring at age 46. In addition to being a Hall of Famer with 5714 strikeouts, he was also a member of the "300-win club," a distinction reached by only 24 pitchers in Major League Baseball history. (Ryan retired with 324 wins.)

Reading that stat brought to mind memories of a couple other members of that elite club whom I actually saw pitch, Early Wynn and Tom Seaver. I saw Wynn in Cleveland in 1963 as he was chasing his 300th win. I was 10 going on 11. We had box seats a stone's throw from the Cleveland dugout. It was a sunny afternoon, the stadium packed in hopes of witnessing hisory and the grass was very green. I remember thinking he looked old and a bit stocky, not like the lean younger players I'd seen. The Indians lost that day but Wynn captured he's 300th in Kansas City within weeks and hung up his cleats. He'd achieved his milestone.

Tom Seaver of the New York Mets was another member of the 300-win club whom I saw. The Mets were one of the new expansion teams created in the Sixties, notoriously inept in their first years, but loved by their fans. I remember painting a banner for one of their many Banner Days. Their transformation from a comic opera to World Series Champions by the end of the decade was quite stunning. Tom Seaver was a major factor in the Mets' success with 25 wins and a 2.21 ERA, which is pretty much golden.

The game I saw him pitch was a double-header against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates were a favorite team of mine due to the fact that their rightfielder, Roberto Clemente, was my favorite player. The Puerto Rican Clemente was an exceptional man as well as an exceptional ballplayer, and the tickets we purchased for the game were intentionally down the right field line so Clemente could be in my direct line of sight. But since we're talking about pitchers, I seem to have digressed.

Tom Seaver pitched the first game, going head-to-head with Bob Veale of the Pirates, who was himself a formidable pitcher. Standing 6'6" Veale was one of the National League's strikeout leaders in the 60s, and top dog in strikeouts in 1964. Needless to say it was a boring game as far as action goes, and the home team won one to nothing. No problem with that. It was a double-header and the second game was full of action. Final score: 11-9.

Other pitching greats coming to mind now include Cy Young, Sam McDowell and Catfish Hunter. Cy Young's stats defy comprehension. Each year the Baseball Writers' Association of America select one pitcher from each league (American and National) to receive the Cy Young Award in honor of Young, who pitched from 1890 to 1911 and racked up an insurmountable pile of winning games during his 21 year career, 511 in all.

Today, starting pitchers seldom go beyond the 7th inning. Decisions are made by pitch counts. In baseball's early years hurlers would keep pitching till the game was over, which might take 15 or 20 innings. In 1920, Joe Oeschger of the Braves and Leon Cadre of Brooklyn pitched 26 innings before leaving a 1-1 tie on the scoreboard. They didn't have lights light today, so when it was too dark to see they had to call it. It was the longest game ever.

The Cleveland Indians were a team with many pitching greats, among them Hall of Famers Bob Lemon and Bob Feller. When "Sudden Sam" McDowell joined the Indians in 1961 expectations ran high. He was a 6'5" fireballer who in high school pitched 9 no-hitters and once struck out all 27 batters he faced in a single game. He was precisely what the bumbling Indians needed to recover a measure of dignity and hope for fans. Unfortunately it was too weighty of a load for the young "potential" star. As we all know, when expectations run high, not everyone can handle the pressure, and in McDowell's case he succumbed to alcoholism. An unfortunate injury also contributed to his failure to live up to expectations. On one occasion he was pitching a fastball so hard that he cracked three ribs. (You have to know a little about the mechanics of pitching to understand how that could happen.) At the time of his retirement, his strikeout rate of 8.86 per nine innings was bested by only two pitchers: Nolan Ryan and Sandy Koufax.

Jim "Catfish" Hunter will be the last pitcher in my spotlight today. A Hall of Famer, and Cy Young Award winner with a stellar career, he was the only pitcher since 1915 to win 200 games by age 31. He has the distinction of being baseball's first "big money" free agent. At 33 his career was shortened by arm troubles. In 1987, after being diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS) he died within a year. Bob Dylan wrote a tribute song to Catfish that still lives on.

The Individual and the Crowd: Nietzsche's Take

2026-05-01T08:26:00.000-05:00

When I was in college studying philosophy, I purchased a copy of Friedrich Nietzsche's Beyond Good and Evil. When I got home I noticed something unusual about the book. It began on page 16, then went to pages 15, 14, 13 etc to the Title Page. It was a most unusual way to read a book, I thought.

Several years later I worked briefly in a printshop that published books and discovered how that error occurred. The way books are assembled involves printing sheets of paper with 12, 16, 24 or 32 pages on a sheet (with printing on both sides) which is then folded into what are called signatures. These are then collated so that they can be assembled in their proper order by another machine which stitches them together after which they are trimmed and boxed.

For whatever reason, the publishing house somehow got the first signature backward, thereby creating a "memorable moment" with regards to Nietzsche.

I am in no way going to agree with everything Nietzsche wrote, or what has been attributed to him, but he's certainly been an acute observer of human nature. He also wrote with a keen wit and pointed pen. I say this as a preface to a few comments he made on individuals and crowds.

There is a tension that runs through human history, one that never quite goes away. It is the tension between the individual and the crowd. Because we live in social relationships with others, what happens when our private beliefs are out of sync with the dominant belief systems?

Nietzsche saw it clearly. In Beyond Good and Evil, he wrote, “The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe.” It is a simple observation, but one that carries more truth than we might like to admit.

As social creatures, we long to belong. The pull of the group—whether it be political, cultural, or ideological—is powerful. It offers identity, approval, and a ready-made way of seeing the world. To stand apart can be costly, especially today.

Nietzsche presses the point further: “Madness is rare in individuals—but in groups, parties, nations, and ages it is the rule.” Fifty years later the world experienced global tremors as a result of the national madness of the Third Reich.

Crowds do not merely amplify ideas; they intensify them. They simplify, reduce, and often distort. What might seem unreasonable to a lone person can, in the momentum of a group, begin to feel not only acceptable, but necessary.

This is where the work of Gustave Le Bon comes into play which I wrote about earlier this past month. In that particular blog post I was addressing crowd behavior, especially mobs. But there is a subtler aspect to crowd pressures on individuals. That is, the expectations of peers. In high school you may have been expected to go to college. As a result, many go who really aren't ready or aren't even college material. Their reward is not career success but rather the handicap of college debt.

And today, peer pressure can come from people we've never met other than through their handles on social media.

Expectations driven by peer pressure can cloud one's thinking. When we make life decisions based on what others expect of us, we can spend a lot of time kicking ourselves afterwards.

Nietzsche makes another observation that can be unsettling: “He who cannot obey himself will be commanded.” Self-mastery is not a popular idea. It requires discipline, reflection, and a willingness to stand alone when necessary. And a willingness to be misunderstood.

Without a sense of calling or purpose, we become susceptible—open to being shaped by whatever voice speaks the loudest or the most persuasively. Hint: God speaks in a still, small voice.*

The crowd isn't always wrong, but it is rarely careful. To live thoughtfully requires a kind of resistance—not rebellion for its own sake, but the quiet work of examining what we believe and why. It means holding fast to conscience, even when it is inconvenient.

In the end, the question is not whether we will be influenced. We all are. The question is whether we will be governed from within… or from without.

*1 Kings 19:11-13

All the Pretty Horses, Revisited

2026-04-30T10:06:00.001-05:00

THROWBACK THURSDAY

In 2009 I watched All the Pretty Horses after having read Cormac McCarthy’s superb book the previous year. I picked up the film when I stumbled upon it at Blockbuster. (Remember Blockbuster? Seems like a lifetime ago.) Billy Bob Thornton directed the film starring Matt Damon and Penelope Cruz and released in Y2K. Whether it was short lived in theaters because of bad reviews or poor marketing, it sure seems like a good “big screen” film with its Mexican vistas and panoramic camera work.

It’s a coming of age story with two teens from San Antonio heading south o’ the border to find work and, perhaps, adventure. John Grady Cole is the central character (Damon) in this story of innocence lost. The film remains faithful to the the book for the most part. And maybe that is what carries the film because it is a powerful story.

Some aspects of the movie were formulaic. The usual Hollywood plot twist occurs at 25-27 minutes.

If you watch any film on DVD, check out the elapsed time when the plot turns, and you will find, nine times out of ten, that this is so. It’s called writing by the book. The book, by the way, is Syd Field's Screenplay. This is the book 1990's Disney producer Robert Schwartz sent to me when I wrote my first of three Hollywood screenplays... none reaching the silver screen. Producers, decision makers, will turn to pages 25-27 to see “what happens” with the assumption that any screen writer who knows what he’s doing will make this part of the movie into a plot twist. Instead of reading a whole screenplay, the length being one page per minute of screen time, they take a short cut. Once you see this skeletal frame, you may have difficulty closing the curtain again for a while.) Anyways, Thornton’s film follows the formula. And if you wish to take an original approach to writing screen plays, you'll discover this is why the best creative screenwriters have had to go outside the system.

Damon’s performance drew sharp criticism from reviewers. but I didn't expect a lot so I ended up surprised. The romance between Cole (Damon) and Cruz had a suppressed steaminess that was believable.

The film did a good job of portraying the collision of cultures in their relationship. Like the book, his heart is cut out and filleted by the series of events that proceed naturally from the opening decision to go south.

McCarthy’s characters are always superbly crafted in his books and the settings so vivid you are easily and longingly transported. In the film, the scenes and settings are honest replicas of reality, and one is not distracted by any false notes anywhere in the film, other than the fact that Damon and his friend Lacy Rawlings look a bit older than the 16-year-olds they were purportedly portraying.

After years of writing darker, more brutal works (like Blood Meridian, 1985), McCarthy turned toward something more accessible—without abandoning his depth. In 1992 this novel became the opening of his Border Trilogy, widening his audience while keeping his philosophical concerns intact.

As regards the book, here’s a paragraph from a reviewer at amazon.com that summarizes my impressions of the All the Pretty Horses:

“Many people compare, fairly or no, Cormac McCarthy's "All the Pretty Horses" to William Faulkner's literary work. What is neglected is the strain of Flannery O'Connor that runs throughout the novel as well. At any rate, "Horses" more than stands on its own as a startling achievement. It's prose is more accessible than Faulkner, and its themes less esoteric than O'Connor. "Horses" is an immaculate novel, dealing with the extreme facets of the everyday and the ways in which people become who they are.” ~ Melvin Pena

Of the images on this page, ChatGPT created the top illustration based on a horse head I'd painted the year before, acrylic on paper. The photo below was taken in Kodak Ektachrome near a river west of Cuernavaca, Mexico, in the spring of 1981. It was a beautiful horse. (As always, click to enlarge.)

Lucy's Encounter with "The Magician's Book" in Voyage of the Dawn Treader

2026-04-29T22:23:00.007-05:00

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is probably my favorite of the seven volumes of C.S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia. One reason this volume is so popular is because of Reepicheep, the courageous, swashbuckling leader of The Talking Mice of Narnia. This blog post, however, is about an incident involving Lucy on the Island of the Dufflepuds.

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1952) is the fifth book in the series (by publication order). The chapter involving Lucy and the magical book is one of my favorite episodes, both pivotal and richly symbolic. It occurs in Chapter 10, which is aptly titled “The Magician’s Book,” when Lucy, Edmund, and Caspian, aboard the ship Dawn Treader, visit the Island of the Dufflepuds (also called the Monopods or Duffers) and encounter the magician Coriakin’s house.

All readers of this series understand that nearly everything in these stories is o be taken allegorically. In this chapter Lucy, Edmund, and Caspian, along with their crew, land on this island inhabited by the comically inept Dufflepuds, invisible creatures who were made so by their master, the magician Coriakin, as a punishment for their disobedience. (For the record, Lucy and Edmund are children from our world and Caspian is a prince from the world of Narnia.)

The Dufflepuds, believing Lucy is brave enough to face the magician, demand she enter his house to reverse the spell of invisibility by reading from the magician's magical book. Lucy, somewhat apprehensive, agrees to undertake the task alone, as the others are wary of the magician’s power.

When Lucy enters Coriakin’s grand, mysterious house, she ascends to a room filled with books, artifacts, and an atmosphere of enchantment. In the center of the room is a large, ancient book—the Magician’s Book—bound in leather, and filled with spells written in beautiful, clear script. The pages are alive with magic, and Lucy must find the spell to make the Dufflepuds visible again.

As she turns the pages, she encounters a variety of spells, including one to “know what other people think of you,” one to make someone beautiful “beyond the lot of mortals,” and another to cure warts. The book’s pages seem to turn on their own at times, adding to its mystical aura.

As she leafs through the pages Lucy is tempted by the spell to hear what others think of her. She casts it and overhears a conversation between her schoolmate Marjorie Preston and another girl, revealing Marjorie’s insincere flattery and mild betrayal. This devastates Lucy, sowing seeds of insecurity and resentment, though she later reflects on the harm of such knowledge.

When she comes to the "Spell of Beauty" Lucy nearly casts a spell to make herself irresistibly beautiful, motivated by envy of her sister Susan’s beauty. She sees a vision of herself transformed, outshining Susan and causing strife, but Aslan’s face appears in the book, growling softly, stopping her. This moment underscores her struggle with vanity and pride. (For the record, Aslan is a lion, fearful and wonderful, powerful and wise, who is central throughout the Chronicles.)

Lucy finally finds the spell to make “things visible which are not to be seen.” She reads it aloud, and the Dufflepuds’ invisibility is undone, revealing their comical, one-footed forms. As she reads, Aslan appears beside her, unnoticed at first, guiding her through the process.

After casting the spell, Lucy meets Aslan, who gently rebukes her for eavesdropping via the spell, explaining that the conversation she overheard was distorted and incomplete, teaching her the dangers of seeking forbidden knowledge--and teaching young readers the danger of listening in to others' conversations.) He also reveals that he was with her all along, guiding her through the book’s temptations.

Coriakin, the magician, then appears, a kind, wise figure—a retired star sent to govern the island as a form of divine service. He hosts the group for a meal, explaining the Dufflepuds’ quirks and his role in their reformation.

The spell successfully makes the Dufflepuds visible, and they rejoice, though their bumbling nature persists. Lucy’s experience with the book leaves her wiser, having confronted her own flaws—curiosity, envy, and pride—while learning to trust Aslan’s guidance. The chapter ends with the crew preparing to leave the island, enriched by the encounter.

The lessons in this chapter alone are many, dealing with temptation and moral growth, the power of knowledge, warnings about curiosity driven by pride, and Aslan (as a Christ figure) as a divine presence. Regarding the Magician's Book, this has layers of meaning, too. We live in a world that is beyond our comprehension. C.S. Lewis addresses this in his space trilogy as well, most vividly in That Hideous Strength. The very existence of Narnia implies worlds beyond our comprehension.

Coriakin, a star tasked by Aslan to govern the island, represents a steward of divine power, contrasting with the corrupting magic of figures like the White Witch in earlier books. The book’s spells are neutral tools, their morality depending on the user’s intent.

Some people has suggested The Magician’s Book could be seen as a metaphor for the Bible or spiritual knowledge, containing truths and powers that require discernment to wield rightly. Lucy’s journey through its pages mirrors a spiritual pilgrimage, testing her virtues and exposing her weaknesses.

Overall this chapter serves as a standalone adventure within the broader voyage of the Dawn Treader’s quest toward Aslan’s country. It entertains by balancing humor (the Dufflepuds are hilarious) with profound moral questions, making it accessible to younger readers while offering depth for adults. Lucy’s experience prepares her for later challenges, reinforcing her faith and resilience.

It's interesting that C.S. Lewis took a lot of heat from his peers for publishing The Chronicles of Narnia. He was a professor at Oxford and gaining fame by writing children's books was frowned upon. It was out of character for a dignified Oxford professor. The novel’s message, that true wisdom lies in aligning one’s will with the divine, was in alignment with Lewis's own quest. And the world has been made richer for it.

Lakes 10 Movie Theater in Hermantown has Closed, But We Still Have Great Theaters in Duluth

2026-04-27T22:31:00.008-05:00

This is the beginning of a recent story from the Duluth News-Tribune:

HERMANTOWN — The Lakes Cinema will close after showtimes on Sunday, April 19, according to a statement on the theater's website.

Marcus Theatres, which operates the cinema at 4351 Stebner Road in Hermantown, did not immediately respond to an inquiry from the News Tribune as to why the theater was closing. In an email to loyalty members, the company wrote, "Thank you for your support over the years — we have enjoyed being part of this community."

Though no reasons were spelled out, I was aware that the theater was having trouble. The large parking lots on three sides of the theater had no more than a dozen cars one Sunday afternoon as I drove by last month. What a change from when we boomers were kids. Even drive-ins were full in those days.

I've known for some time that Covid played a role in breaking people out of their movie routines. Netflix, Disney+ and Amazon Prime stepped up their game at the same time that giant flat-panel TVs come significantly down in price. As a result, going out to catch a matinee or evening flick was no longer the default way to see movies. Covid was a gut-punch from which theaters never recovered.

There were other things that happened though as well. Studios have been making fewer mid-budget films and more big "event" films (superheroes, franchises), perhaps in an effort to capitalize on add-on sales from memorabilia and other gimmicks (which I find nauseating). The blockbusters did fill seats, though even there it has been hit and miss much of the time. Small to mid-sized towns can't survive long dry spells between the big time stuff.

Which compounds the problem of rising costs, from heating to taxes to maintaining projection equipment and sound systems.

Then there's the economics of Hollywood itself. Studios make money from streaming, from global releases and the merchandising I mentioned above. Ticket sales at the theaters are no longer as important as they once were.

On the other hand...

Many theaters have adjusted. What Bob Boone has done in restoring the West Theatre and its sibling The Alhambra is nothing short of wonderful. Whereas movie theater economics has threatened many, these asymmetrical twins were ahead of their time by creating a social hub like theaters once had been in the past. In addition to two theaters, the front half of the Alhambra has captured the historic Speakeasy atmosphere of a century ago, a time almost forgotten with live music and atmosphere.

The West is more than a movie house. Since opening it's been a stellar venue for top drawer acts from Peter Yarrow and Judy Collins to Jorma Kaukonen and John McCutcheon... and so many others--Benny Goodman's Big Band, Gospel Bluegrass, Paula Poundstone the DTAs -- 52 weeks a year, and more!

Opened in 1913, and now it's back

It's not just music. We've also been wowed by magicians, and other acts that have added a little magic to our corner of the world.

If you feel like the world today is driving you a little close to the edge, grab a Reader, see who's coming to town in the weeks ahead and drop in for a bit of sanity.

*.* *

For the record we still have the Zeitgeist downtown, an alternative venue that's got its own cool factor, and the Marcus Theaters by the DECC across from the William S. Irving ore boat.

I just heard a story recently about how the Irving ended up where it is today. A group of community business leaders brought the ship into the slip where it sits, to contribute to our soon to be flourishing tourist trade. It was all part of a grand vision for Canal Park, and it came to pass!

The Lincoln Park area has been the center of attention these past ten years, but it's my personal hope that the Spirit Valley neighborhood gets a similar about of love. And I know a lot of people who are eager to see Downtown thrive again.

Darkness and Light

2026-04-26T17:50:00.003-05:00

Yesterday I began a new short story in response to a disturbing event that occurred this past week. A couple tentative titles await the completion of this tale: "An Ethical Adjustment" or "The Cupboards Were Bare."

In the meantime, his morning I woke thinking about a different theme that has been wriggling around in my brain: Darkness and Light.

Darkness is one of those simple words that opens into deeper territory the longer you sit with it. At the most basic level, darkness is just the absence of light. When no photons reach your eyes, your brain has nothing to interpret, and you perceive black. In that sense, darkness isn’t a “thing” at all—it’s what we experience when something else is missing.

But we rarely use the word that way in ordinary life. We talk about darkness as if it has weight and presence. A room can feel dark even when there’s a lamp on. A story can turn dark without the sun setting. A mood can turn dark when we allow a dark thought to make its home in our thoughts. What’s happening there is psychological: darkness becomes a shorthand for uncertainty, danger, or the unknown. Our minds fill in what we cannot see, often with fear, and we all know how fear combined with unrestrained imagination can really twist our heads. (A couple of comical stories come to mind here about runaway paranoia that fortunately had a happy ending. Maybe you have such a memory.)

There’s also a moral dimension. Across cultures, darkness has been linked with ignorance, secrecy, or wrongdoing—“things done in the dark.” Not because darkness itself is evil, but because it conceals. When actions are hidden, accountability disappears. This is why a "free press" is an essential plank in our U.S. Constitution. (See: A Free Press Is Fundamental to Free Nation)

Darkness has another dimension as well. Seeds germinate in darkness underground. Sleep restores the body in the dark. The night sky reveals stars you’ll never see at noon. And I've never met anyone who's seen the breathtaking, shimmering wonder of Northern Lights during the day either. In short, darkness is not always a bad thing.

By way of contrast light is the counterpart to darkness—but it’s more than just its opposite. At the physical level, light is energy. If I've got my physics right, it travels as electromagnetic waves—tiny packets called photons—moving incredibly fast (an amazing 186,000 miles per second). It’s what allows us to see: objects don’t “have” color on their own; they reflect light into our eyes, and our brains interpret those reflections as shapes, colors, and motion.

It's a strange thought to consider that without light the world is still there but it's hidden.

Light also conveys information. It reveals distance, texture, movement. It lets you recognize a face, read this blog, notice danger, or find your way home. When you look at yourself in a mirror, you see nothing until the lights are turned on. In that sense, light is not just illumination—it’s understanding made visible.

That’s why we use the word metaphorically so often. We speak of “shedding light” on a problem, of a “lightbulb moment,” of someone being “in the dark.” Light becomes a symbol for clarity, truth, awareness. Where light enters, confusion tends to retreat.

But like darkness, light isn’t always gentle. It can expose things we’d rather not see. It can be harsh, even blinding. A floodlight reveals, but it can also overwhelm.

So light is both physical and symbolic. Physically, it’s the energy that makes sight possible. Mentally, it’s the process of making sense of what’s there. Spiritually or morally, it often stands for truth, insight, or revelation.

It's this last dimension that I find especially profound when I consider what Jesus once said: "I am the light of the world." This is a statement with so many layers I can't begin to express it.

My first thought pertains to the opening lines of the Book of Genesis, and God's first words, "Let there be light."

Here's the context: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

What Jesus said, though, has an even more startling suggestion. "I AM the light of the world." This phrase “I AM” comes from one of the most striking moments in the Old Testament, when God speaks to Moses from the burning bush in Book of Exodus (Exodus 3:14). Moses asks for God’s name, something concrete he can tell the Israelites. The answer he receives is most unusual: “I AM WHO I AM.”

Pursuing those ideas can be a long diversion, so I will simply call it another seed for your mind farm. How seeds germinate is a whole other post, and when they do they reach for the sun.

"Let there be light!"

Liz Mills, A Short Story

2026-04-24T22:26:00.002-05:00

Liz Mills
"We cannot afford to forget any experience, not even the most painful."
~~Dag Hammaskjold

"Will you remember me when you're famous? I know you won't."

"How could I forget you? I can't even imagine it." Steve Lawrence had been showing Liz his sketchbooks when she said this. She saw an unusual strength in his work, and a unique style that transcended what was trendy and fashionable. For a young art student, he had been incredibly prolific.

"Someday you'll be famous and I'll be just one more girl who foolishly threw herself at your feet," she said.

He laughed. He had enjoyed her immensely. She was delightful, funny, thoughtful, profound, and incomparably sensual. He affirmed it repeatedly. He would never forget Liz.

The following semester, when Liz dropped out of the university and went to Mexico, Steve became involved with Stephanie Bond with whom he remained involved for two years until he met Gloria, which wrecked things with Stephanie, but that was O.K., until Gloria went off with his friend Chuck. For a while, after graduating he dated several girls at once until he moved in with Marianne, whom he later married.

Over the years his career path was equally circuitous. Political activist, social worker, kitchen help, janitorial work and a cabinet manufacturing position all helped pay his bills until he got plugged in at the ad agency. He had no idea how much those disjointed experiences would so profoundly contribute to shaping his worldview and contribute to his future success.

From time to time during those curious career twsts he'd recall to mind something Liz had said. “Art doesn’t change the world by force—it changes the people who eventually do.” Throughout his various paths he never stopped exploring the possibilities of line art, how to evoke emotion and connect with human hearts.

Timing played a role as well. Minneapolis agencies had just begun to get the attention they deserved and his was spotlighted frequently as a national trendsetter. Awards followed, along with much success, including a Clio for his inspirational health care campaign,

At this time, again, something Liz said had risen up from some dormant place in his sub-conscience. “The most enduring impact is not made by those who accumulate wealth, but by those who reshape how others see.” It was a defining element in his career. He'd never pursued success for the money or fame, but rather as a vehicle for opening minds. She had nailed it before he ever realized it.

In his twilight years he received numerous lifetime achievement awards for his creative work and accolades from around the globe for his "World Peace Through the Arts" initiative. Two presidents entertained him in the White House and as an ultimate grace he was nominated for, and received, the Nobel Peace Prize.

Success in art, business and global statesmanship... what more could any man want? Yet there was something else he wished for. He wished.... he wished somehow, that he could find Liz Mills and tell her that, indeed, he had never forgotten her.

In his Nobel Prize acceptance speech he famously said, “Art whispers truths that success alone cannot afford to say out loud.”

There were chuckles when he told the little anecdote about Liz Mills, and several reporters included the story in their account of the speech. Newswire services picked it up as well. On social media people debated the merits of the story, whether there really had been a Liz Mills, or whether it was simply a metaphor for youthful aspirations and long lost dreams.

A search was undertaken, initiated by several friends, as a surprise for his eightieth birthday. They scoured every database conceivable. There was a difficulty in that she may have married and had someone else's name. Nevertheless... in hope, the search was undertaken.

Liz Mills, the bold, vivacious Liz Mills of his youth, the real flesh and blood Liz Mills, now living in a nursing home -- having been placed there by her family -- was blankly watching television the evening Steve Lawrence and the Nobel Peace Prize were being discussed. Celebrities and scholars debated the merits of Steve's achievements, two endorsing and two assaulting. A brief snippet of Lawrence's acceptance speech was also aired, including the anecdote about Liz Mills.

Liz smiled and turned to a nurse who, standing nearby, was also listening. "Isn't that funny? My name is Liz Mills, too.”

"Did you know him?" the nurse asked.

"No, I never knew anyone by that name," Liz said. "I'm sure I'd remember someone like that."

* * *

What Are Some of the Most Commonly Asked Questions at OpenAI?

2026-04-24T09:22:00.001-05:00

I wonder if AI bots can get a big ego. A couple years ago I asked OpenAI's ChatGPT what the most commonly asked questions that people were asking. Would it be questions about life, meaning, happiness or God? Would it be questions about television or media? Questions about science or the universe?

ChatGPT is full of surprises, which is one reason it can be so thoroughly entertaining, almost as surprising and entertaining as Twitter.

Based on the opening sentence to this blog post, you might be able to guess what the most commonly asked questions have been at OpenAI and the ChatGPT family of bots. Yes, the ten most frequently asked questions have to do with OpenAI and ChatGPT itself. How does it work? What does OpenAI do? Questions about ethics, drawbacks and the future are on the list as well, but here's the full answer, straight from the horsebot's mouth.

What's funny to me is that I've not asked ChatGPT any of these kinds of questions, except the one about AI art and ethics, which I wrote about in my March column for Business North.

What are some of the most commonly asked questions at OpenAI?

As an AI language model, I don't have access to data regarding the most commonly asked questions at OpenAI, but based on my interactions with users, here are some of the frequently asked questions:

What is OpenAI, and what do you do?
What is GPT-3, and how does it work?
How can I access GPT-3, and what are the pricing options?
Can I use OpenAI's APIs for commercial purposes?
What are some of the applications of OpenAI's technology?
What are the ethical considerations around AI and OpenAI's work?
How can I get involved with OpenAI and contribute to the community?
What are some of the limitations and potential drawbacks of OpenAI's technology?
What is the difference between OpenAI and other AI companies or research institutions?
What are some of the future plans and directions for OpenAI?

* * *

AI version of my pen & ink art above.

You can tell how much further along ChatGPT has evolved by the manner in which it answered this same question today. The earlier version simply listed the questions people ask. Today's version parses the questions into categories, and added icons for each category.

🧠 1. Basic “What is this?” Questions

These are the entry-level questions most new users ask:

What is ChatGPT?
How does it work?
What can I use it for?
Is it free?
What’s the difference between versions (GPT-4, etc.)?

These show up prominently in official FAQs and guides.

🛠️ 2. “How do I use it?” (Practical Use)

Once people understand the tool, they ask how to apply it:

Can it help me write or edit something?
Can it summarize documents?
Can it help with coding or math?
How do I upload files or images?

This reflects how ChatGPT is used for everyday tasks like writing, planning, and analysis.

💼 3. Developer / API Questions

More technical users tend to ask:

How do I get an API key?
How much does it cost?
What are rate limits?
Why am I getting errors (like 429)?

These are among the most common questions in OpenAI’s developer help docs.

🔐 4. Privacy, Safety, and Trust

A big category—especially as AI becomes mainstream:

Is my data safe?
Does OpenAI store conversations?
Can ChatGPT be wrong?
What are the risks of using AI?

These concerns show up repeatedly as usage scales and becomes more personal.

💰 5. Cost & Access

Very common practical questions:

Is ChatGPT free or paid?
What do I get with Plus / Pro?
How is pricing calculated?

🧑‍💻 6. Job & Interview Questions (About OpenAI as a Company)

For people interested in working there:

Why do you want to work at OpenAI?
How do you ensure AI safety?
Explain machine learning concepts
Design an AI system

These show up frequently in interview prep materials.

🌍 7. What People Actually Ask ChatGPT (Behavior Patterns)

Studies and reporting show the real-world usage is broader:

Personal advice (career, relationships, health)
Writing help (emails, essays, blog posts)
Learning (explanations, summaries)
Everyday curiosity (“How does X work?”)

One summary: people most often ask about personal development, relationships, health, career, and technology.

📊 Big Picture Insight

Roughly speaking, questions cluster into three layers:

Understanding the tool → “What is this?”
Using the tool → “Can you help me do X?”
Trusting the tool → “Can I rely on this?”

And interestingly, nearly half of interactions are simply people asking questions—basic curiosity at scale.

✍️ A Useful Line for Your Writing

If you’re working this into an article, you might say:

“The most common questions people ask OpenAI aren’t technical—they’re human: What can you do for me? Can I trust you? And how can this make my life easier?”

THIS LAST COMMENT comes as a result of an ongoing relationship that we have. ChatGPT knows I am a writer/blogger. He/she/it is here suggesting an angle for this blog post.

* * *

ChatGPT isn't the only game in town. In fact, the number of AI LLMs seems to be multiplying exponentially as people and bots think up new applications or improve existing ones. Buzz Lightyear comes to mind: "From Here to Infinity... and Beyond!"

"Oh Brave New World!"

Berlinski and The Devil's Delusion

2026-04-23T10:45:00.002-05:00

Having recently discovered mathematician and polymath David Berlinski, I ordered a pair of his books and am currently reading The Devil's Delusion: Atheism and its Scientific Pretensions. The introductory blurb at Amazon.com describing the book:

AMAZON: Militant atheism is on the rise. Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Daniel Dennett, and Christopher Hitchens have dominated bestseller lists with books denigrating religious belief as dangerous foolishness. And these authors are merely the leading edge of a far larger movement–one that now includes much of the scientific community.

In response, mathematician David Berlinski, himself a secular Jew, delivers a biting defense of religious thought. The Devil's Delusion is a brilliant, incisive, and funny book that explores the limits of science and the pretensions of those who insist it is the ultimate touchstone for understanding our world.

Berlinski's writing packs a punch. “The attack on traditional religious thought,” he writes, “marks the consolidation in our time of science as the single system of belief in which rational men and women might place their faith, and if not their faith, then certainly their devotion.”

* * *

I've been hearing a lot of talk lately about how the Church is dying and Atheism is growing in popularity. As we all know, what's popular isn't always right. Yes, it's easy to cite plenty ot examples of abuse--even horrors--committed in the name of religion, but to hold up Atheism (or secular humanism) as a paragon of virtue is hilarious. Here's how Berlinski dismantles that notion.

In 2007, a number of scientists gathered in a conference entitled "Beyond Belief: Science, Religion, Reason, and Survival" in order to attack religious thought and congratulate one another on their fearlessness in so doing. The physicist Steven Weinberg delivered an address. As one of the authors of the theory of electroweak unification, the work for which he was awarded a Nobel Prize, he is a figure of great stature. "Religion," he affirmed, "is an insult to human dignity. With or without it you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion" (italics added).

In speaking thus, Weinberg was warmly applauded, not one member of his audience asking the question one might have thought pertinent: Just who has imposed on the suffering human race poison gas, barbed wire, high explosives, experiments in eugenics, the formula for Zyklon B, heavy artillery, pseudo-scientific justifications for mass murder, cluster bombs, attack submarines, napalm, intercontinental ballistic missiles, military space platforms, and nuclear weapons?

If memory serves, it was not the Vatican.

* * *

The book has its critics, and as with most books I suggest that the best way to enjoy a writer is to chew on the meat and spit out the bones. This applies to Nietzsche or Russell, Orwell or Rand. And me, too.

Wordless Wednesday: AI Collaborations Using Ennyman Originals as Foundational Prompts

2026-04-22T08:09:00.001-05:00

Eleven illustrations from 2023

showing various manifestations from original art.

Trauma 45

Trauma 21

Scales 12

Sorrow

Man with a Tangled Mind

Woman with a Tangled Mind

Tangled Mind 17

My colorful palette, reconfigured

Grace Face 2

Grace Face 14

Meantime, life goes on all around you. Open your eyes.

The Fossil Fuel Reality Check: Here's Why “Eliminate Oil Companies” Is Easier Said Than Done

2026-04-21T09:18:00.000-05:00

We hear it constantly: oil companies are the enemy, and the fastest path to a green future is to shut them down yesterday. Yet most of the loudest voices seem unaware of how deeply fossil fuels are woven into everyday materials and processes that even “green” technologies depend on. The uncomfortable truth, laid out clearly by energy scholar Vaclav Smil in Numbers Don’t Lie, is that while solar and wind have matured and can now be added quickly to decarbonize electricity, several massive economic sectors have no realistic non-carbon alternatives that can replace fossil fuels rapidly and at the required global scale.

Consider long-distance transportation. Jetliners run on aviation kerosene; container ships, bulk carriers, and tankers burn diesel, bunker fuel, or liquefied natural gas. There are no batteries or hydrogen systems ready to power these vessels across oceans at the scale of today’s fleet. The same fossil fuels fire the massive rotating kilns that produce more than four billion tons of cement every year and provide the coke needed to smelt more than a billion tons of primary iron in blast furnaces—the very steel used to build wind-turbine towers and monopiles.

Then there’s agriculture and manufacturing. Nearly 200 million tons of ammonia (the backbone of synthetic fertilizer that feeds roughly half the world) and about 300 million tons of plastics start with compounds derived from natural gas and crude oil. Even space heating in much of the world still runs on natural gas. These are not niche uses. They are foundational.

Smil puts the scale in perspective: displacing roughly 10 billion tons of fossil carbon annually is fundamentally different from scaling up smartphones or electric cars. The latter happened in years; the former is a multi-decade challenge. Wishful thinking can't change chemistry or physics. Pretending we can simply “ban” oil companies ignores that the steel in wind turbines, the fuel in cargo ships, the fertilizer in our fields, and the plastics in our hospitals. They all trace back to the same hydrocarbons activists want to eliminate overnight.

Energy transitions are inevitable, but they must be guided by numbers, not slogans. Understanding the full scope of fossil fuels’ roles isn’t climate denial—it’s honesty. Until we acknowledge these dependencies, we’re not solving the problem; we’re just shouting at it.

Related Links

What Are the Primary Uses of Plastic?

Where Does Plastic Come From?

Punch-Drunk and Forgotten: Boxing's Dark Side

2026-04-20T09:18:00.001-05:00

Many years ago I picked up a hitchhiker in need of a lift over the bridge from Superior into Duluth. (Fwiw, it was not the Lift. Bridge that cross over to Park Point but rather the High Bridge, officially named as the Blatnik.) We struck up a conversation and I quickly learned he was a pro boxer and he looked the part. He had a compact build and a distinctive, somewhat cloudy way of talking that indicated he had taken quite a few blows to the head in his career. I asked for a few more details and learned that his record at that point was 8 wins, 11 losses, or something along those lines.

It seemed to me that he had some hard decisions to make. It's always hard to know when to quit something you have been passionate about. Still, there's no point in ignoring the obvious. He was never going to be a Cinderella Man, and to continue this route would only leave his brain more addled than it already was.

* * *

On 6 June 2021 the Wall Street Journal published a review about Tris Dixon's powerful assessment of the sport of boxing titled Damage. The title of the piece succinctly sums it up: Damage Review: Boxing's Moral Quandary. Its subhead reads, "To remain a fan of the sport--to cheer on the punishment and ignore its consequences--constitutes a cruel form of enabling."

The book's subtitle is "The Untold Story of Brain Trauma in Boxing."

I grew up watching the career of Muhammed Ali from his first knockout of Sonny Liston as Cassius Clay. Audacious, fast and slippery he could indeed fly like a bird and sting like a bee. But time took its toll. They said it was Parkinsons Disease that made him so feeble later, but we were never told that Parkinsons is just one of the side effects of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

For decades the NFL prided itself on its hard hits and "action" on the field, turning a blind eye on the data that revealed how detrimental the sport was to the health of its players. Broken bones and torn ligaments are one thing, but CTE is a wholly different animal.

Dixon's book goes back to early medical studies (e.g., Dr. Harrison Martland's 1928 paper on "punch drunk" fighters). It compiles neurological research linking repeated head trauma in boxing to CTE, cognitive decline, Parkinson's-like symptoms, and other irreversible damage. Every boxer sustains some level of brain injury, with effects that can appear years or decades later.

Dixon includes firsthand accounts from affected fighters and their families, such as the well-documented deterioration of Muhammad Ali and interviews with others like Micky Ward. It portrays former champions and journeymen alike as "scrapyard" figures—once-vibrant athletes reduced by cumulative trauma.

One notable element is how the introduction of padded gloves (intended to reduce cuts and acute injuries) paradoxically enabled longer fights, more head punches, and greater rotational force on the brain, potentially worsening long-term damage compared to bare-knuckle eras, which must have been brutal in their own way.

What's tragic is the sport's unwillingness or inability to seriously confront these issues—through better medical oversight, rule changes, or honest education for fighters. This is the book's most damning critique. It notes a culture of denial among some insiders who fear it harms the sport's image.

* * *

Here are some additional links pertaining to boxing and ethics.

Dylan's "Who Killed Davey Moore?" Triggers Thoughts About Football Violence

Who Killed Davey Browne? Widow Amy Lavelle's Story Brings to Mind Early Dylan Song

‘Damage’ Review: Boxing’s Moral Quandary (Paywall)

What Does Math Teach Us About Deep Reality

2026-04-19T16:34:00.001-05:00

"2 plus 2 equals 4. In all places and for all time, 2 plus 2 equals 4. But why? What does math tell us about the nature of reality? "

So begins a pretty juicy hour-long discussion about mathematics by three very smart men. Is math something humans invented—or something we discovered? And why does it describe the universe so uncannily well?

In this episode of Uncommon Knowledge, Peter Robinson has assembled a panel comprised of mathematicians David Berlinski, Sergiu Klainerman, and Stephen Meyer to explore one of the deepest mysteries in science and philosophy: the reality of mathematics.

* * *

You can find Uncommon Knowledge on the Hoover Institution channel on YouTube. If you enjoy grappling with life's biggest mysteries, or having your foundational belief structures challenged (or affirmed), you'll likely find a home here. The ideas discussed are often decidedly contrarian if you've blindly wallowed in mainstream narratives.

The program features a profound discussion on the nature of mathematics and its role in understanding reality, hosted by Peter Robinson and featuring guests David Berlinski, Sergio Klainerman, and Stephen Meyer in Salzburg, Austria. The central theme revolves around the objective nature of mathematics and its implications for comprehending the universe, exploring whether mathematical truths are inventions or discoveries.

Something I gleaned from my physicist uncle, which is re-asserted in these discussions, is that science is not a settled matter. True science is an ongoing exploration that finds answers that always end with "this is what we know for now." True science must be coupled with humility, willing to be proven wrong.

The great tragedy of science this past century is how much it has been infected by politics. As a result, massive rivers of financial support go to science projects that support political narratives. I've written before about how free speech has been squashed or discouraged. I'd not considered the degree to which free inquiry suffered in the sciences.

The purpose of this blog post is to recommend and encourage you to listen to this episode of Uncommon Knowledge titled Why Does 2 + 2 = 4. Here's what you'd be digging into.

Mathematician David Berlinski emphasizes the inherent stability and objective nature of mathematical truths such as numbers, suggesting they cannot be reduced to more fundamental entities. He asserts that mathematics has a consistent reality independent of human thought, challenging purely materialistic interpretations of the universe.

Sergio Klainerman, a mathematician known for his contributions to the study of hyperbolic differential equations, argues for the objectivity of mathematics, comparing it to physical reality. He illustrates this with the example of black holes, whose existence, while not directly observable, is predicted by consistent mathematical theories, thereby underscoring the non-empirical nature of mathematical knowledge.

Author Stephen Meyer, a philosopher of science and a leading proponent of the intelligent design movement, explores the philosophical implications of mathematical certainty, contrasting it with the empirical uncertainty of scientific hypotheses. He suggests that the high degree of certainty in mathematical proofs points towards a conceptual reality that transcends material existence, potentially indicating a divine or intelligent design.

The key concepts in this video include:

Mathematical Objectivity and Reality: The speakers explore how mathematical truths reflect an objective reality, questioning whether they are discovered or invented. This discussion intersects with philosophical notions concerning the existence of a conceptual realm.

Mathematics and Transcendence: Stephen Meyer and others discuss whether the objectivity of mathematics infers a transcendent reality, possibly residing in the mind of a divine being, challenging materialistic views of the universe.

Historical and Practical Impact: The panel examines the historical trajectory of mathematical ideas, such as the imaginary unit 'i' (square root of -1) and its significance in quantum mechanics, illustrating how abstract mathematical developments can profoundly influence scientific understanding.

Philosophical and Aesthetic Considerations: The conversation delves into philosophical mysteries around the existence of mathematical concepts, with reflections on whether beauty in mathematical theories serves as a guiding rule of thumb in scientific discovery.

Materialism and Interpretations of Reality: The limitations of materialism are discussed, with the panel considering non-material explanations for mathematical realities, echoing Newton's views on divine order.

One thing I like is how host Peter Robinson acknowledges that hs is standing in the shallow end of the pool when discussing these subjects with these others. Whether it's your field of interest or not I think you'll find the rewards of following along to be worth the work.

* * *

Quite recently my interest in mathematics has been re-ignited by reading James Nickel's "Math Circles" on his Biblical Christian World View website. But what really captured my attention in this video was the title and its connection to Orwell's 1984. When Winston has been broken down inside the Ministry of Love, the phrase “2 + 2 = 5” is one of the most powerful symbols of totalitarian control. The Party isn’t satisfied with controlling actions—it wants to control reality. If it can make you accept that 2 + 2 = 5, then truth is no longer objective and reality becomes whatever authority says it is.

The goal isn’t just obedience—it’s belief. Winston isn’t “reformed” until he doesn’t just say 2 + 2 = 5 but when he actually accepts it and believes it as true.

We're not there yet, but there are certainly signs of that freedom of thought has been under attack these past 100 years. C.S. Lewis pointed out the erosion taking place in his Abolition of Man. If those in power can redefine the most basic truth, they can control everything else.

Because 2 + 2 = 4 seems so obvious, we can fail to grasp the implications that accompany this reality. It's only a starting point, but this episode of Uncommon Knowledge can open your mind to think more deeply about the amazing universe we find ourselves in.

Why Does 2 + 2 = 4? What Math Teaches Us About Deep Reality

Where the Songs Began: Reflecting on Dylan from a Seat at Hibbing High

2026-04-18T11:02:00.006-05:00

For years Dylan fans in Hibbing were trying to figure out how to honor the Nobel Laureate who came of age there in the heart of the Iron Range. It's well-known here in Dylan circles that Bob didn't want a statue. With that in mind many alternative ideas were floated, and a monument concept was conceived. In 2021 that monument was unveiled on the front apron of the Hibbing High School he attended.

On the street side of the "wall" is a replica of the Nobel Prize. On the front side are lines from his catalog of 600+ songs In front of that sits a chair where one is obliged to sit and to imagine. What was going through Robert Zimmerman's mind as he sat in school there during his teen years? If you sit here, you can try to imagine how this swirl of words drifted through his mind and flowed out from his pen.

I don't really know how the lyrics were selected, nor do I know how many people were tapped to share their thoughts or make those decisions, but it was a privilege for me to be privately invited to contribute, and later to help whittle down the lengthy list of suggestions.

That experience came to mind this week when I ran across the Word document I believe I'd submitted initially. I prefaced my seven-page submission with an acknowledgment that I knew some were unsuitable due to length, "but in sifting through the Dylan catalog I was once more reminded of how astonishing he is as a writer. The first page here is my 'top of the mountain' list. Feel free to select from the rest which are all exceptionally good."

I won't share all. We'll just call this an appetizer.

“There must be some way out of here,” said the Joker to the Thief.
--All Along the Watchtower

Anything I can sing, I call a song. Anything I can't sing, I call a poem.
--liner notes, The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan

Art is the perpetual motion of illusion. The highest purpose of art is to inspire.

--Rolling Stone interview, 1978

You want to write songs that are bigger than life.

--Chronicles, Vol. 1

If someone had ever told me that I had the slightest chance of winning the Nobel Prize, I would have to think that I'd have about the same odds as standing on the moon.
--Nobel Lecture

How many roads must a man walk down before they call him a man?

--Blowing in the Wind

I’ll know my song well before I start singing.
It’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall.

--Hard Rain

Through the mad mystic hammering of the wild ripping hail,
The sky cracked its poems in naked wonder.

--Chimes of Freedom

But for the sky there are no fences facin’

--Mr. Tambourine Man

He not busy being born is busy dying

--It’s Alright, Ma (I’m Only Bleeding)

Inside the museums, Infinity goes up on trial
--Visions of Johanna

In the fury of the moment I can see the Master’s hand
In every leaf that trembles, in every grain of sand

--Every Grain of Sand

You don’t need a weatherman
To know which way the wind blows

--Subterranean Homesick Blues

My love she laughs like the flowers
Valentines can’t buy her

--Love Minus Zero/No Limit

I’m ready to go anywhere, I’m ready for to fade
Into my own parade, cast your dancing spell my way
I promise to go under it

--Mr. Tambourine Man

The ghost of ’lectricity howls in the bones of her face
Where these visions of Johanna have now taken my place

--Visions of Johanna

Oh, Mama, can this really be the end
To be stuck inside of Mobile
With the Memphis blues again

--Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again

Dear landlord
Please don’t put a price on my soul
My burden is heavy
My dreams are beyond control

--Dear Landlord

I pity the poor immigrant
Who wishes he would’ve stayed home

--I Pity the Poor Immigrant

To see him obviously framed
Couldn’t help but make me feel ashamed to live in a land
Where justice is a game

--Hurricane

Señor, señor, do you know where we’re headin’?
Lincoln County Road or Armageddon?
Seems like I been down this way before
Is there any truth in that, señor?

--Señor (Tales of Yankee Power)

Precious angel, under the sun
How was I to know you’d be the one
To show me I was blinded, to show me I was gone
How weak was the foundation I was standing upon?

--Precious Angel

The enemy is subtle, how be it we are so deceived
When the truth’s in our hearts and we still don’t believe?

--Precious Angel

Now he worships at an altar of a stagnant pool
And when he sees his reflection, he’s fulfilled

--License To Kill

What good am I if I’m like all the rest
If I just turn away, when I see how you’re dressed
If I shut myself off so I can’t hear you cry
What good am I?

--What Good Am I?

Well, my sense of humanity has gone down the drain
Behind every beautiful thing there’s been some kind of pain

--Not Dark Yet

I got my back to the sun ’cause the light is too intense
I can see what everybody in the world is up against

--Sugar Baby

Lot of things can get in the way when you’re tryin’ to do what’s right

--Honest With Me

As I walked out tonight in the mystic garden
The wounded flowers were dangling from the vines

--Ain’t Talkin’

In Scarlet Town where I was born
There’s ivy leaf and silver thorn

--Scarlet Town

Another day that don't end
Another ship goin' out
Another day of anger, bitterness, and doubt
I know how it happened
I saw it begin
I opened my heart to the world and the world came in
--False Prophet

This year's Duluth Dylan Fest will kick off with a Hibbing Day, May 17. This year's Fest will run through to the following Sunday, May 24, when Bob Dylan turns 85. Details of Hibbing Day: Front Lawn (Early) Birthday Party

Bob Dylan’s 85th Birthday Celebration
Live music by Gene Lafond & Amy Grillo
outside of Bob Dylan’s boyhood home
2425 7th Avenue East, Hibbing
10:30 AM-11:30 AM | Free

FULL SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK CAN BE FOUND
HERE

https://duluthdylanfest.com/duluth-dylan-fest-2026/

Related Links

Ennyman's Territory

Friday Musings: A Curated Collection from the Quote Vault

Almost Wordless Wednesday: A Glimpse of Duluth Culture Revealed in 7 Posters of Coming Events

"Words Can’t Reshape Physical Reality" – A Blunt Conversation with Energy Writer Irina Slav

Lessons for Leaders from Napoleon and the Battle of Austerlitz

Air Quality Keeps Getting Better, But Wind Turbines Do Have Drawbacks

Bob Dylan's Hibbing Childhood Home: A Northland Landmark Preserved for Pilgrims and Fans

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The "300 Wins" Club and Other Miscellaneous Baseball Notes

The Individual and the Crowd: Nietzsche's Take

All the Pretty Horses, Revisited

Lucy's Encounter with "The Magician's Book" in Voyage of the Dawn Treader

Lakes 10 Movie Theater in Hermantown has Closed, But We Still Have Great Theaters in Duluth

Darkness and Light

Liz Mills, A Short Story

What Are Some of the Most Commonly Asked Questions at OpenAI?

Berlinski and The Devil's Delusion

Wordless Wednesday: AI Collaborations Using Ennyman Originals as Foundational Prompts

The Fossil Fuel Reality Check: Here's Why “Eliminate Oil Companies” Is Easier Said Than Done

Punch-Drunk and Forgotten: Boxing's Dark Side

Dylan's "Who Killed Davey Moore?" Triggers Thoughts About Football Violence

What Does Math Teach Us About Deep Reality

Where the Songs Began: Reflecting on Dylan from a Seat at Hibbing High

This Day In History: Concert #1031 of the Never Ending Tour and the Unveiling of the Hibbing Dylan Project

Dedication of the Rock Opens Big Day of Dylan Celebrations in Hibbing