Comments for Brulog http://boakley59.wordpress.com Words of occasional wisdom from Bruce Oakley Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:05:37 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on An age of wonder by Jessica http://boakley59.wordpress.com/2009/11/09/an-age-of-wonder/#comment-111 Jessica Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:05:37 +0000 http://boakley59.wordpress.com/?p=123#comment-111 Music...i connect with it too. It's almost natural. And so soothing...i desperately want to learn how to play guitar. Music…i connect with it too. It’s almost natural. And so soothing…i desperately want to learn how to play guitar.

]]> Comment on Simply not good enough by Ben http://boakley59.wordpress.com/2009/10/13/simply-not-good-enough/#comment-109 Ben Sat, 17 Oct 2009 06:28:24 +0000 http://boakley59.wordpress.com/?p=117#comment-109 This is an important essay. The muscular opponents of health care reform -- and they're not all conservatives or Republicans -- as you know care not a whit about solid statistics, logic or compassion so you wisely do not use those as a weapon. You use yourself. You recognize that foes and fence-sitters should see themselves in you, college-educated and middle class and not afraid to work or to take care of yourself even when healthy. But we all get real sick eventually, you sooner than most. You did right, did great, with the sandwiches. The guy may have craved a drink or dope money, but he must have been hungry. You gave him a day. Columnist Steve Lopez ("The Soloist" about homelessness in LA) hands beggars cards with the addresses of effective shelters (with rehab and job training, not just meals and prayer). This is an important essay. The muscular opponents of health care reform — and they’re not all conservatives or Republicans — as you know care not a whit about solid statistics, logic or compassion so you wisely do not use those as a weapon. You use yourself.

You recognize that foes and fence-sitters should see themselves in you, college-educated and middle class and not afraid to work or to take care of yourself even when healthy. But we all get real sick eventually, you sooner than most.

You did right, did great, with the sandwiches. The guy may have craved a drink or dope money, but he must have been hungry. You gave him a day. Columnist Steve Lopez (“The Soloist” about homelessness in LA) hands beggars cards with the addresses of effective shelters (with rehab and job training, not just meals and prayer).

]]> Comment on Simply not good enough by sarabethjones http://boakley59.wordpress.com/2009/10/13/simply-not-good-enough/#comment-108 sarabethjones Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:54:55 +0000 http://boakley59.wordpress.com/?p=117#comment-108 Bruce - thank you so much for writing this - I tend to support reform in this area for the very general reason that it feels like the right thing to do, to make this system work better for people who are not being helped by it. I readily admit, however, that I am not interested in politics, and so I tend not to pay much attention - or really even try to learn about the situation. I so appreciate you putting this into a framework that I can understand and relate to. Thank you. Bruce – thank you so much for writing this – I tend to support reform in this area for the very general reason that it feels like the right thing to do, to make this system work better for people who are not being helped by it. I readily admit, however, that I am not interested in politics, and so I tend not to pay much attention – or really even try to learn about the situation. I so appreciate you putting this into a framework that I can understand and relate to. Thank you.

]]> Comment on About Bruce by Tom MacLennan http://boakley59.wordpress.com/about/#comment-105 Tom MacLennan Sun, 11 Oct 2009 17:09:34 +0000 #comment-105 Hi Bru! How do? Little Tommy. <blockquote>Bruce sez: Hi thee! Happy be, hearing from you. Write do. News thing.</blockquote> Hi Bru! How do?

Little Tommy.

Bruce sez: Hi thee! Happy be, hearing from you. Write do. News thing.

]]> Comment on Knotted strings and nose prints by sandrar http://boakley59.wordpress.com/2008/02/16/knottedstrings/#comment-102 sandrar Thu, 10 Sep 2009 22:20:29 +0000 http://boakley59.wordpress.com/?p=24#comment-102 Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post... nice! I love your blog. :) Cheers! Sandra. R. Hi! I was surfing and found your blog post… nice! I love your blog. :) Cheers! Sandra. R.

]]> Comment on Mixed signals by Stacy http://boakley59.wordpress.com/2009/07/10/mixed-signals/#comment-99 Stacy Wed, 22 Jul 2009 21:46:35 +0000 http://boakley59.wordpress.com/?p=105#comment-99 Hey Bruce, it's nice to hear that you and Suzy are doing better and that the struggles have eased a little. If there is ever anything that I can help with, around the house or making a meal for you all here and there, let me know. <blockquote>Bruce sez: Thanks. We have some new things to look at with this latest infection and maybe we can wrestle the last lingering symptoms into submission and get back to a more nearly normal life. We appreciate the overwhelming support we have had throughout this all from all of our friends. And congratulations to you and your darling on your wedding. We wish you all the best always.</blockquote> Hey Bruce, it’s nice to hear that you and Suzy are doing better and that the struggles have eased a little. If there is ever anything that I can help with, around the house or making a meal for you all here and there, let me know.

Bruce sez: Thanks. We have some new things to look at with this latest infection and maybe we can wrestle the last lingering symptoms into submission and get back to a more nearly normal life. We appreciate the overwhelming support we have had throughout this all from all of our friends.

And congratulations to you and your darling on your wedding. We wish you all the best always.

]]> Comment on Mixed signals by boakley59 http://boakley59.wordpress.com/2009/07/10/mixed-signals/#comment-98 boakley59 Wed, 15 Jul 2009 19:20:36 +0000 http://boakley59.wordpress.com/?p=105#comment-98 I'm getting over my reluctance slowly. The main thing is I find myself getting worked up and being more like the problem than the solution -- I hear echoes of bigotry in attacking bigots, say, or I'm whining about whiny people. You may remember the old days when my motto for a stretch was "People are stupid." Well, mostly they are, but it's not something you can continually point out without being a certain kind of stupid yourself. I used not to mind being stupid or angry or just plain mean once in a while, as long as it didn't become a habit. I've gone a little timid. It's partly because "being right" destroyed my first marriage and now most of the time I would rather just "be quiet." Anyway, thanks for the continuing encouragement. I'm heading in the direction you point. Oh, and congratulations on your honorable mention for online column writing. I’m getting over my reluctance slowly. The main thing is I find myself getting worked up and being more like the problem than the solution — I hear echoes of bigotry in attacking bigots, say, or I’m whining about whiny people. You may remember the old days when my motto for a stretch was “People are stupid.” Well, mostly they are, but it’s not something you can continually point out without being a certain kind of stupid yourself.

I used not to mind being stupid or angry or just plain mean once in a while, as long as it didn’t become a habit. I’ve gone a little timid. It’s partly because “being right” destroyed my first marriage and now most of the time I would rather just “be quiet.”

Anyway, thanks for the continuing encouragement. I’m heading in the direction you point. Oh, and congratulations on your honorable mention for online column writing.

]]> Comment on Mixed signals by Ben http://boakley59.wordpress.com/2009/07/10/mixed-signals/#comment-97 Ben Wed, 15 Jul 2009 06:57:44 +0000 http://boakley59.wordpress.com/?p=105#comment-97 A quote from San Francisco Chronicle columnist Jon Carroll: “Always give somebody else the good lines. Otherwise, you look like a jerk. … Maybe something didn’t happen exactly the way you write it. But only you and the other person [in the story] know that.” I want to read what you're reluctant to write, Bruce. Well, maybe I don't if it's too hurtful. But if you draft then revise to make it a better story by reversing roles or changing names to protect the guilty? Combine anecdotes so a real bad one is in the background while the pretty one appears dominant? Yet, I refuse to be deliberately cutting, myself. When I do it, accidentally, I feel terrible and I write timidly for quite some time. Very well, I contradict myself. You're literally not a journalist anymore so you can give yourself freedom if you like. (That's hard for me even though I tell myself Brick can soar.) Memoirists take liberties, even if they don't they they are. Did they take notes every hour from 10 years ago or back in school? Nope. If they did, by the time they reviewed the journals they'd be old if not dead! (I have tried to review my college journals. I really thought they'd have more good stuff in them, profound events I still recall.) I've been reading Roy Reed's book on the Gazette. Edited versions of so-called oral histories. Transcripts of which are available, unedited, http://libinfo.uark.edu/SpecialCollections/pryorcenter/projects/ArkansasGazette/default.asp . We know a lot of these people. Some are trying to remember accurately, others are terrific storytellers, and others are "spinning," the jerks. But the book presents all of it as what-really-happened. Write it, color it up if that'll get the copy out and, heck, if some recriminations come, delete that post -- after you save it on your hard drive for some other use! Just my opinion. -- Your friend, Ben A quote from San Francisco Chronicle columnist Jon Carroll: “Always give somebody else the good lines. Otherwise, you look like a jerk. … Maybe something didn’t happen exactly the way you write it. But only you and the other person [in the story] know that.” I want to read what you’re reluctant to write, Bruce. Well, maybe I don’t if it’s too hurtful. But if you draft then revise to make it a better story by reversing roles or changing names to protect the guilty? Combine anecdotes so a real bad one is in the background while the pretty one appears dominant?

Yet, I refuse to be deliberately cutting, myself. When I do it, accidentally, I feel terrible and I write timidly for quite some time. Very well, I contradict myself.

You’re literally not a journalist anymore so you can give yourself freedom if you like. (That’s hard for me even though I tell myself Brick can soar.) Memoirists take liberties, even if they don’t they they are. Did they take notes every hour from 10 years ago or back in school? Nope. If they did, by the time they reviewed the journals they’d be old if not dead! (I have tried to review my college journals. I really thought they’d have more good stuff in them, profound events I still recall.)

I’ve been reading Roy Reed’s book on the Gazette. Edited versions of so-called oral histories. Transcripts of which are available, unedited, http://libinfo.uark.edu/SpecialCollections/pryorcenter/projects/ArkansasGazette/default.asp . We know a lot of these people. Some are trying to remember accurately, others are terrific storytellers, and others are “spinning,” the jerks. But the book presents all of it as what-really-happened.

Write it, color it up if that’ll get the copy out and, heck, if some recriminations come, delete that post — after you save it on your hard drive for some other use!

Just my opinion. — Your friend, Ben

]]> Comment on And now the news by dj http://boakley59.wordpress.com/2009/05/15/and-now-the-news/#comment-94 dj Mon, 25 May 2009 10:16:50 +0000 http://boakley59.wordpress.com/?p=100#comment-94 Once again Bruce your hammer was dead on in hitting the nail. Too bad other hammers are nailing down the coffins of newspapers nationwide. I take over full responsibility as editor come June 1 and have the chance to put into practice of which you write, if not the breath of experience to pull it off yet. But, I intend to do my best for my readers to remove as much of the paper's "stenographer" style of writing as I can. This little weekly has done a good job in covering the governmental meetings in the five towns it covers (not easy with two people), but not to the depth I hope to instill on the staff writer. It will take time to get him to think like a reader more, to realize that the writing isn't done if the graphs written present more questions than answers. I had great mentors who gave me some insight and they hover over my shoulder now to nudge me towards giving the best coverage time and training permit. With luck, you will continue nudging me along with your writing---thanks. dj Once again Bruce your hammer was dead on in hitting the nail. Too bad other hammers are nailing down the coffins of newspapers nationwide. I take over full responsibility as editor come June 1 and have the chance to put into practice of which you write, if not the breath of experience to pull it off yet.

But, I intend to do my best for my readers to remove as much of the paper’s “stenographer” style of writing as I can. This little weekly has done a good job in covering the governmental meetings in the five towns it covers (not easy with two people), but not to the depth I hope to instill on the staff writer.

It will take time to get him to think like a reader more, to realize that the writing isn’t done if the graphs written present more questions than answers. I had great mentors who gave me some insight and they hover over my shoulder now to nudge me towards giving the best coverage time and training permit.

With luck, you will continue nudging me along with your writing—thanks.

dj

]]> Comment on A study in contradictions by And now the news « Brulog http://boakley59.wordpress.com/2009/03/23/a-study-in-contradictions/#comment-93 And now the news « Brulog Fri, 15 May 2009 21:04:36 +0000 http://boakley59.wordpress.com/?p=97#comment-93 [...] A study in contradictions [...] [...] A study in contradictions [...]

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