Coffee Klatch

Well, I finally did it. I broke down and went to the dentist. I haven’t actually been to the dentist since I lived in Bloomington, which was in 1994! Can you believe it? THIRTEEN YEARS!

And after 13 years I had a bit of tartar buildup, but nothing too extreme, and, best of all, NO CAVITIES!!

That ROCKS! I got full mouth x-rays (which involved about a dozen or so different shots) and they said my teeth look “strong and healthy.” They DID recommend, of course, that I keep up a regular regimen of professional dental cleaning rather than waiting another ten years to go back.

Oh, and part of the reason I finally went, besides having good coverage with Delta Dental, was that I had a spot by a back molar where the gums were really sore. I just started a few days ago, but was getting worse rather than better. In the process of cleaning, they found a popcorn hull that my flossing had missed. Within minutes it was already starting to feel better. Now I’ve just got the general gum soreness from getting a thorough teeth-cleaning for the first time in years.

You know, I always wanted to design an eschatological version of this game and call it “Where in the Hell is Carmen Sandiego?”. Think it would sell?

Last week I found out about one of the coolest library technologies that’s come down the pike. It’s a Web 2.0 application designed for “Library 2.0.” It’s called LibGuides and it’s worth getting excited about. In a nutshell, it’s an online publishing system that’s very easy to use and has a Web 2.0 look and feel. LibGuides is a system for providing information and resources to library patrons in an engaging and organized way, but without the information providers (mainly librarians) needing to learn code or some complicated system.

The coolest part is that LibGuides interfaces with Facebook, allowing your students/patrons to browse your Guides, search your library catalog, and link to various resources that you provide on your library website, all from within Facebook. Librarians who use Facebook can even add the Guides that they’ve created right into their Facebook profiles!

I’ve done a longer writeup on my other blog, BiblioTech Web, so please click and go over there if you want to find out more about LibGuides. Thanks.

Almost exactly one year ago I blogged about shaving my head. I’d actually been doing it for a couple of months before that, but didn’t blog about it right away. Recently I received a comment on one of the posts I’ve made in the last year about this topic. The commenter recommended the HeadBlade above all other razors, including the MachIII and Fusion razors. I, too, have preferred the MachIII and have used that almost exclusively for the last year.

I decided to give the HeadBlade a try after visiting their website and looking around a bit. Last week I received my very own HeadBlade and, after a few days of getting used to it, I have to agree that it’s the best. And also that it’s RADICALLY DIFFERENT from other blades! Here are some of differences:

• It’s built totally different, kinda like a snowmobile with a hook on top for your middle finger. The front end has its own suspension and pivots well.
• You use long, smooth strokes instead of multiple short strokes.
• You don’t apply ANY pressure.
• The blades LEAD the razor, rather than follow, so it’s like you’re pushing it rather than pulling it.

If you’re one of those fortunate, handsome guys that has opted to shave his head for whatever reason, I encourage you to try the HeadBlade. It’s a bit cheaper than standard blades, takes Atra blade refills (although I recommend you get the triple-blade kits directly from HeadBlade online), and gets your head smoother more quickly and easily. Although it takes 2-3 uses to adjust to the different way of shaving, the results are great.

They also sell various other headcare products, like some excellent moisturizing lotion (both in original High Gloss and new Matte) and an oil-free HeadShade sunscreen.

Oh, and according to their website, you can buy HeadBlades not only online, but at Walgreens, CVS, RiteAid, WalMart, Meijer, and other places.

And if you’re curious or have some questions about HeadBlade, they’ve got some great HeadBlade 101 videos! (about using the HeadBlade and also about shaving your head in general–GREAT stuff!)

Although it doesn’t feel like it yet, it’s just a couple days until it’s officially Fall. At 4:51 am EDT this Sunday, 23 Sept., we’ll see the Sun crossing the equator (declination of 0°) and begin our descent into the cooler and darker half of the year. (My personal favorite half.)

There is a great deal of information, including a chart with dates and times at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equinox

Current music: Realms of Grace: An Angelic Experience, by Aeoliah

The chupacabra is a legendary creature that has spawned numerous movies. Fox News reported that a real one may have been found in Texas. Another version of the news story is here.

Google News brings us several stories about this, some of which say it’s really just a breed of dog. That’s probably why some stories have been pulled from websites. You be the judge!

Arthur Schopenhauer lived from 1788 to 1860. He was a philosopher and writer who wrote books like The World as Will and Idea and Studies in Pessimism. He is one of those writers that everyone should read, because as you read his style of writing, you almost cannot help becoming more eloquent. Of particular interest is one of his essays, called Counsels and Maxims, which can be found at Project Gutenberg. You can also read it as an etext from the University of Adelaide (Australia) Library at http://etext.library.adelaide.edu.au/s/schopenhauer/arthur/counsels/

What I find interesting is that he lived 150+ years ago and yet his observations are still true today. And all the more interesting is Chapter 3 of his Counsels, “Our Relation to Others,” when read with a view of today’s society and culture in mind. Below are some excerpts that I found particularly compelling.

It is astonishing how easily and how quickly similarity, or difference of mind and disposition, makes itself felt between one man and another as soon as they begin to talk: every little trifle shows it. When two people of totally different natures are conversing, almost everything said by the one will, in a greater or less degree, displease the other, and in many cases produce positive annoyance; even though the conversation turn upon the most out-of-the-way subject, or one in which neither of the parties has any real interest. People of similar nature, on the other hand, immediately come to feel a kind of general agreement; and if they are cast very much in the same mould, complete harmony or even unison will flow from their intercourse.

This explain two circumstances. First of all, it shows why it is that common, ordinary people are so sociable and find good company wherever they go. Ah! those good, dear, brave people. It is just the contrary with those who are not of the common run; and the less they are so, the more unsociable they become; so that if, in their isolation, they chance to come across some one in whose nature they can find even a single sympathetic chord, be it never so minute, they show extraordinary pleasure in his society. For one man can be to another only so much as the other is to him. Great minds are like eagles, and build their nest in some lofty solitude.

Secondly, we are enabled to understand how it is that people of like disposition so quickly get on with one another, as though they were drawn together by magnetic force—kindred souls greeting each other from afar. Of course the most frequent opportunity of observing this is afforded by people of vulgar tastes and inferior intellect, but only because their name is legion; while those who are better off in this respect and of a rarer nature, are not often to be met with: they are called rare because you can seldom find them.

You cannot see in another man any more than you have in yourself; and your own intelligence strictly determines the extent to which he comes within its grasp. If your intelligence is of a very low order, mental qualities in another, even though they be of the highest kind, will have no effect at all upon you; you will see nothing in their possessor except the meanest side of his individuality—in other words, just those parts of his character and disposition which are weak and defective. Your whole estimate of the man will be confined to his defects, and his higher mental qualities will no more exist for you than colors exist for those who cannot see.

Intellect is invisible to the man who has none. In any attempt to criticise another’s work, the range of knowledge possessed by the critic is as essential a part of his verdict as the claims of the work itself.

Hence intercourse with others involves a process of leveling down. The qualities which are present in one man, and absent in another, cannot come into play when they meet; and the self-sacrifice which this entails upon one of the parties, calls forth no recognition from the other.

I feel respect for the man—and he is one in a hundred—who, when he is waiting or sitting unoccupied, refrains from rattling or beating time with anything that happens to be handy,—his stick, or knife and fork, or whatever else it may be. The probability is that he is thinking of something.

With a large number of people, it is quite evident that their power of sight completely dominates over their power of thought; they seem to be conscious of existence only when they are making a noise; unless indeed they happen to be smoking, for this serves a similar end. It is for the same reason that they never fail to be all eyes and ears for what is going on around them.

Most men are so thoroughly subjective that nothing really interests them but themselves. They always think of their own case as soon as ever any remark is made, and their whole attention is engrossed and absorbed by the merest chance reference to anything which affects them personally, be it never so remote: with the result that they have no power left for forming an objective view of things, should the conversation take that turn; neither can they admit any validity in arguments which tell against their interest or their vanity. Hence their attention is easily distracted. They are so readily offended, insulted or annoyed, that in discussing any impersonal matter with them, no care is too great to avoid letting your remarks bear the slightest possible reference to the very worthy and sensitive individuals whom you have before you; for anything you may say will perhaps hurt their feelings. People really care about nothing that does not affect them personally. True and striking observations, fine, subtle and witty things are lost upon them: they cannot understand or feel them. But anything that disturbs their petty vanity in the most remote and indirect way, or reflects prejudicially upon their exceedingly precious selves—to that, they are most tenderly sensitive.

Distance and long absence are always prejudicial to friendship, however disinclined a man may be to admit. Our regard for people whom we do not see—even though they be our dearest friends—gradually dries up in the course of years, and they become abstract notions; so that our interest in them grows to be more and more intellectual,—nay, it is kept up only as a kind of tradition; whilst we retain a lively and deep interest in those who are constantly before our eyes, even if they be only pet animals. This shows how much men are limited by their senses.

A man must be still a greenhorn in the ways of the world, if he imagines that he can make himself popular in society by exhibiting intelligence and discernment. With the immense majority of people, such qualities excite hatred and resentment, which are rendered all the harder to bear by the fact that people are obliged to suppress—even from themselves—the real reason of their anger.

What actually takes place is this. A man feels and perceives that the person with whom he is conversing is intellectually very much his superior. He thereupon secretly and half unconsciously concludes that his interlocutor must form a proportionately low and limited estimate of his abilities. That is a method of reasoning—an enthymeme—which rouses the bitterest feelings of sullen and rancorous hatred. And so Gracian is quite right in saying that the only way to win affection from people is to show the most animal-like simplicity of demeanor—para ser bien quisto, el unico medio vestirse la piel del mas simple de los brutos.

To show your intelligence and discernment is only an indirect way of reproaching other people for being dull and incapable. And besides, it is natural for a vulgar man to be violently agitated by the sight of opposition in any form; and in this case envy comes in as the secret cause of his hostility. For it is a matter of daily observation that people take the greatest pleasure in that which satisfies their vanity; and vanity cannot be satisfied without comparison with others. Now, there is nothing of which a man is prouder than of intellectual ability, for it is this that gives him his commanding place in the animal world. It is an exceedingly rash thing to let any one see that you are decidedly superior to him in this respect, and to let other people see it too; because he will then thirst for vengeance, and generally look about for an opportunity of taking it by means of insult, because this is to pass from the sphere of intellect to that of will—and there, all are on an equal footing as regards the feeling of hostility. Hence, while rank and riches may always reckon upon deferential treatment in society, that is something which intellectual ability can never expect; to be ignored is the greatest favor shown to it; and if people notice it at all, it is because they regard it as a piece of impertinence, or else as something to which its possessor has no legitimate right, and upon which he dares to pride himself; and in retaliation and revenge for his conduct, people secretly try and humiliate him in some other way; and if they wait to do this, it is only for a fitting opportunity. A man may be as humble as possible in his demeanor, and yet hardly ever get people to overlook his crime in standing intellectually above them. In the Garden of Roses, Sadi makes the remark:—You should know that foolish people are a hundredfold more averse to meeting the wise than the wise are indisposed for the company of the foolish.

Here are some quotes about politeness. I read the first one in an article in the Chronicle of Higher Education and that prompted me to share it and to look up some others.

Politeness is “a tacit agreement that people’s miserable defects, whether moral or intellectual, shall on either side be ignored and not made the subject of reproach.” – Arthur Schopenhauer

“Politeness makes one appear outwardly as they should be within.” – Jean de la Bruyere

“Whoever one is, and wherever one is, one is always in the wrong if one is rude.” – Maurice Baring

“Politeness is like a counter—an avowedly false coin, with which it is foolish to be stingy. A sensible man will be generous in the use of it.” – Arthur Schopenhauer

“Politeness is half good manners and half good lying.” – Mary Wilson Little

“In truth, politeness is artificial good humor, it covers the natural want of it, and ends by rendering habitual a substitute nearly equivalent to the real virtue.” – Thomas Jefferson

“Politeness is the art of choosing among your thoughts.” – Madame de Stael

“The test of good manners is to be patient with bad ones.” – Gabirol (Solomon ben Yehuda ibn Gabirol)

“One of the greatest victories you can gain over someone is to beat him at politeness.” – Josh Billings

“Politeness is to human nature what warmth is to wax.” – Arthur Schopenhauer

“I don’t think you want too much sincerity in society. It would be like an iron girder in a house of cards.” – W. Somerset Maugham

“Politeness is the most acceptable hypocrisy” – Ambrose Bierce

I end with an extended quote from chapter 3 of Schopenhauer’s Counsels and Maxims, a very interesting collection of observations and suggestions on living with your fellow man:

So if you have to live amongst men, you must allow everyone the right to exist in accordance with the character he has, whatever it turns out to be: and all you should strive to do is to make use of this character in such a way as its kind and nature permit, rather than to hope for any alteration in it, or to condemn it off-hand for what it is. This is the true sense of the maxim—Live and let live. That, however, is a task which is difficult in proportion as it is right; and he is a happy man who can once for all avoid having to do with a great many of his fellow creatures.

The art of putting up with people may be learned by practicing patience on inanimate objects, which, in virtue of some mechanical or general physical necessity, oppose a stubborn resistance to our freedom of action—a form of patience which is required every day. The patience thus gained may be applied to our dealings with men, by accustoming ourselves to regard their opposition, wherever we encounter it, as the inevitable outcome of their nature, which sets itself up against us in virtue of the same rigid law of necessity as governs the resistance of inanimate objects. To become indignant at their conduct is as foolish as to be angry with a stone because it rolls into your path. And with many people the wisest thing you can do, is to resolve to make use of those whom you cannot alter.

So, it’s Talk Like A Pirate Day and you’re at work wondering how you can get “into it” a little more. Many workplaces won’t allow costumes and I’ve found through personal experience that many coworkers tire of hearing Piratespeak after a few hours.

So what you need is a little ambience for your computer. Visit http://www.2kgames.com/pirates/pirates/Masthead_lang1.swf and let that screen stay up in the background. It’s a kind of splash screen for the Sid Meier’s Pirates game and it has accompanying background sounds like waves, thunder, creaking ships, and the calling out of distant helmsmen as they acknowledge each other (and keep from running into each other).  Just set your volume appropriately and you can feel like you’re in the Caribbean, sailing through wind and weather. Only without the peg-leg captain breathing down your neck with his cutlass prodding you to work harder. (I hope!)

Yup! September 19th is that special day! No, not the birthday of Adam West (1928), Jeremy Irons (1948), or Twiggy (1949). Well, it IS their birthday. And, no, not the anniversary of the deaths of Red Foley (1968), Orville Redenbacher (1995), or Rich Mullins (1997), although it is. It’s International Talk Like A Pirate Day!

You can find the original Talk Like A Pirate Day website at http://www.talklikeapirate.com/, where there are all kinds of links, piratey sayings, fun & games ideas, and tips for talking like a pirate.

So get prepared to shiver your timbers, matey, and celebrate this most special of days tomorrow!