Pitty Patter

New Year's table a few years ago

I spent what seemed like most of every day and evening last week gazing at my computer-cum-television, reading posts from the major news outlets—Washington Post, New York Times, Politico, Business Insider , MSNBC, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette—and scrolling through Facebook.

Oh, I did manage to get most of the Christmas stuff taken down, boxed and moved back to the attic for another year. I also spent an hour most days, reading Barack Obama’s memoir. At this writing, I’ve passed the two-thirds mark of the huge volume.

Two journals I write in daily—one on the dining room table, and one by my desk—hold completely different writings these days. At the table, where I read the local editorials, work the cryptoquote and the crossword, are these pithy New Year’s sayings:

“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.”—Ralph Waldo Emerson, and “Life’s not about expecting, hoping and wishing, it’s about doing, being and becoming.” –Mike Dooley.

“We are at once the beneficiaries and the victims of our great technology. What man makes remakes man.” –James Feiblean.

A cryptoquote puzzle was by Origen of Alexandria (c.184 – c. 253). I looked him up. “ . . . an early Christian scholar, ascetic and theologian.” His saying was “The power of choosing good and evil is within the reach of all.”

The journal by my computer is full of comments, arguments and opinions since the January 6 riot at the Capitol. “Trump’s great virtue as a public figure, is his literalism. . . he is honest about who he is and what he intends. There was no subterfuge from Trump. He called his shots over and over again, and then he took it.”—from Ezra Klein’s debut column for New York Times.

Words that I once knew the meaning of, or had never heard of, or that kept reappearing in various articles I wrote down and looked up the meaning. “Ersatz” = adjective, of a product made or used as a substitute, typically an inferior one, for something else. As in “. . . ersatz cloak of larger purpose” by George Will, WaPo.

“Pusillanimity = noun form of pusillanimous, adj = showing a lack of courage or determination; timid.” “Profiles in pusillanimity, more like.” – Nicholas Goldberg, LA Times.

“Putsch” = a violent attempt to overthrow the government. I read this word in several articles.

“Ghillie suit” = a type of camouflage resembling background environment such as foliage, snow or sand.” I’ve never before read of such, have you?

The phrase, “bystanderism” as in “ . . . the disease of bystanderism.” –Virginia senator, Tim Kaine on a Facebook friend’s feed.

And some new-to-me information: “Only 15 senators have been expelled from the chamber since 1789. Of that number, 14 were expelled for supporting the Confederacy during the Civil War.” –Sarah Polus, The Hill.

Finally, a short Found poem in memoriam: (first 2 lines attributed to White House spokesman, Judd Deere)

running toward danger/ to maintain peace’/ Officer Sicknick –PL

Let's hope this coming week will be without violence.