Dr. B's Notes

339 Artificial Intelligence?

7/8/2026

Artificial Intelligence seems to be very much on the minds of a great many people these days. Financial-minded people seem to think it’s going to make more people (especially THEM) what used to be called “filthy” rich. Manufacturers seem to think that they won’t need to waste time (and/or MONEY) on fallible human employees, who make too many mistakes and/or get sick, and/or need time off to care for children or parents, etc. It seems widely believed that AI is going to replace the need for humans altogether (except, perhaps) for a VERY few who may be needed to supervise entire manufacturing plants, etc.). Then, everyone will be rich & famous, and there will be NO problems in the world!

I’m sorry, but I don’t see the likelihood of this actually happening. Even if we don’t consider the tremendous upheaval & great suffering such unemployment would, in fact, bring. And, even IF we did achieve this late 40’s/early 50’s, “B” grade Sci-Fi movie utopian nightmare, I have grave doubts that anything towards achieving greater overall joy and happiness would be likely for anyone. And, since there would be no need for education, science, learning, etc., the odds seem high that the limited number of people who remained would just be bored to death be unable to actually SOLVE problems which hadn’t been conceived of before, and would probably die out fairly quickly, leaving the Earth to whatever animals MIGHT survive, IF the machines that people had invented didn’t manage to kill them off as “unnecessary.”

Now, I’m not really as pessimistic as this may sound. I DO use technology to an extent (I wrote this on my Mac mini M2 Pro computer). I DO tend to use my iPad to assist me in managing my life, and I DO use my iPhone for some things which I find useful. I, obviously, use the Internet, cable tv, and even dabble with “streaming” services, and I have found them to be of some use. However, I remember with affection the days when we had fewer Radio & TV stations, but they were required by law to meet the “Equal Time” standards in ALL political (News) coverage, regulations which vanished with the decline of the use of the “Public” airwaves which justified them. Their abandonment allowed the splintering of the total audience into separate groups among multiple “channels” which tend to provide only that information which is “selected” by “survey watchers” (AI?) that IT has “decided” is their “target audience” wants to hear (and to which they will assign a “truthfulness” rating which may well not have much, if any, relationship to actual facts).

I was raised, and trained, to examine the best information available, consider how it relates to the situation, then reach decisions based on as well-reasoned judgements as I am capable of making, based on that process! Does that mean I don’t ever make mistakes? No, but at least I haven’t just relied on some algorithm (created by some (possibly/probably prejudiced PERSON [or computer code] to decide what information I will be allowed to consult by including only that information/opinion which has been designated as the most desirable (by someone else) for me to have access to as the “CORRECT” info.

The reasoning which led me to this position (aside from my traditional, academic education) is my own experience. For example, how many people have had experiences, as I have, which are understandable only by accepting the following statement?

It helps if you imagine
auto correct as a tiny
little elf in your phone
ho’s trying so hard to
be helpful but is in fact
quite drunk.

The problem here, of course, is that YOU still have to know what is actually correct in order to decide if the AI (autocorrect) process is, in fact, making a good choice. One only has to watch the news for a few days to encounter situations where either the “reporter” doesn’t know the most accurate word to use, or the script she/he has been given has been “auto-corrected” into a stupid mistake, so the teleprompter (and/or the written script) provides poor (even incorrect) word choices for the news reader to report on the air. I rather liked this Shoe cartoon which seems to suggest that we might now need to wish for self-correcting printers to cross-check the “auto-correct” word processing systems.

Now, It isn’t really fair to say that I am completely opposed to what is referred to as AI. I just am aware (as, I think most people are at this point, if they are honest) that AI is really not yet (and may well NEVER be) a good substitute for human knowledge and judgement. People are capable of many strange, often wonderful, thoughts, ideas, artistic objects, etc. I don’t see that much has been yet achieved by AI except for faster access to what “the algorithm” (which someone decided should make your decisions for you) has selected. What I think this actually means is that, at THIS time, more often than not, what we call AI gives us entirely too much of what is suggested in this Non Sequitur (which, logically, leads to the reaction expressed out of the frame).

I would suggest that far too much of what is referred to as AI is, in fact, created primarily for the purpose of marketing or building our dependence on our “devices” to an even greater extent at the expense of our just paying attention to the world around us and/or using our own brains. Here are some (in my opinion) somewhat amusing examples to consider.

This sign was, undoubtably, created long before anything one might even consider the existence of anything approaching AI became a meaningful concept, let alone a part of our lives, but I think it still provides a worthwhile warning, even though some people would like to think that it’s a bit outdated:

In spite of this observation, I am willing to accept that AI, even in its current state, MIGHT have some practical uses, as suggested by this cartoon from Zits:

On the other hand, Aunty Acid suggests that the current forms of AI MAY not provide a complete solution to anything like all of the problems which one may encounter in life.

After all, we have yet to even approach having AI systems which can actually DO very much., So, while they MIGHT provide reasonably good information some, even MUCH, of the time, they do not (at least yet) seem to be able to actually SOLVE many of the difficulties and challenges which one encounters in life.

I guess that this is what concerns me the most about what they insist on calling “Artificial Intelligence.” It seems to me that AI is, mostly, a system for speeding up access to and sorting through whatever set of information it consults. And, as far as I can tell, “Large language models” DO NOT & (probably) CAN NOT include access to the complete range of unbiased and scientifically authenticated sources! (Also known as “the best, accurate information.”)

Nor are they ever likely to be able to make “judgements” based on values, preferences, emotions, etc. After all, they ARE NOT / WILL NOT / CAN NOT be actual human beings! They CAN be programed to find solutions to complex problems based on the data they are able to consult. They may even do this quickly. But there is NO guarantee that their result is (or can be) based on provably unprejudiced, unbiased information, nor that they can, actually, make actual value judgements. My belief is that what this means is that they will NEVER be able to replace the need for decision-making based on personal/social values, beliefs or judgements, as human beings can. I would prefer that NO “machines” be entrusted with (for example) the ability to launch nuclear weapons. Humans CAN go nuts (See the movie: Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb), but at least human beings can understand that such decisions should be based on the absolutely best information available, be thoroughly thought-out, and that safeguards can (and should) be installed throughout the process, as they actually were in real Minuteman missile sites, for example (or, see the movie: War Games).

However, at this moment of time I strongly support the feelings expressed by Harry Bliss in the drawing below:

I may well do another post (possibly more than one) related to the topic of AI at some point(s) in the future. It DOES seem to be a topic of considerable controversy and discussion these days. But, I won’t do it right away. However, I do plan to be back in a couple of weeks to talk about something.

Perhaps you’ll join me to see what I come up with then, or, you might want to comment on this post by clicking on the blue “Comments” word at the end of it. I can’t believe that some others do not have thoughts about these matters.

🖖🏼 LLAP,

Dr. B

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338A Special Edition for July 4, 2026

7/2/2026

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Let me point out that I DID NOT CREATE THE DISCUSSION BELOW! It was written, as it says, about 10 years ago by Timothy Snyder, who was at that time the Housum Professor of History at Yale University. I have heard him speak and be interviewed numerous times on the general subject of how democracies die. I feel quite strongly that he has good advice for citizens of the United States. There ARE other views, but I do not, generally, support them, which is why I VERY rarely use the modest platform of my blog to venture into the political arena. But, this IS our nation’s 250th birthday, and (even though I have posted this before) I wish to pass along his advice as I consider it just as relevant (perhaps more so today) as it was when Professor Snyder wrote it in December of 2016. Please note that in a "PS" to this piece, Professor Snyder has given permission for it to be copied and passed around, so I have not committed plagiarism in reproducing it.

I plan to return to my more normal sort of post in a few days on my regular schedule. I hope you’ll be back!

🖖🏻 LLAP,

Dr. B

Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent. It is the only resort by
which incompetent men can thrive. The bully, the brute, the dictator.
                       Isaac Asimov

Revenge is always the weak pleasure of a little and narrow mind.
                       Juvenal (from Satires)

The whole idea of revenge and punishment is a childish day-dream.
Properly speaking there is no such thing as revenge. Revenge is an
act which you want to commit when you are powerless and because
you are powerless: as soon as the sense of impotence is removed,
the desire evaporates also.
                       George Orwell

Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy
people, but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am the LORD.
                       Leviticus 19:18

20 Lessons from the 20th Century by Timothy Snyder

Americans are no wiser than the Europeans who saw democracy yield to fascism, Nazism, or communism. Our one advantage is that we might learn from their experience. Now is a good time to do so. Here are twenty lessons from the twentieth century, adapted to the circumstances of today.

1. Do not obey in advance. Much of the power of authoritarianism is freely given. In times like these, individuals think ahead about what a more repressive government will want, and then start to do it without being asked. You've already done this, haven't you? Stop. Anticipatory obedience teaches authorities what is possible and accelerates unfreedom.

2. Defend an institution. Follow the courts or the media, or a court or a newspaper. Do not speak of "our institutions" unless you are making them yours by acting on their behalf. Institutions don't protect themselves. They go down like dominoes unless each is defended from the beginning.

3. Recall professional ethics. When the leaders of state set a negative example, professional commitments to just practice become much more important. It is hard to break a rule-of-law state without lawyers, and it is hard to have show trials without judges.

4. When listening to politicians, distinguish certain words. Look out for the expansive use of “terrorism" and "extremism." Be alive to the fatal notions of "exception" and "emergency." Be angry about the treacherous use of patriotic vocabulary.

5. Be calm when the unthinkable arrives. When the terrorist attack comes, remember that all authoritarians at all times either await or plan such events in order to consolidate power. Think of the Reichstag fire. The sudden disaster that requires the end of the balance of power, the end of opposition parties, and so on, is the oldest trick in the Hitlerian book. Don't fall for it.

6. Be kind to our language. Avoid pronouncing the phrases everyone else does. Think up your own way of speaking, even if only to convey that thing you think everyone is saying. (Don't use the internet before bed. Charge your gadgets away from your bedroom, and read.) What to read? Perhaps The Power of the Powerless by Václav Havel, 1984 by George Orwell, The Captive Mind by Czesław Milosz, The Rebel by Albert Camus, The Origins of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt, or Nothing is True and Everything is Possible by Peter Pomerantsev.

7. Stand out. Someone has to. It is easy, in words and deeds, to follow along. It can feel strange to do or say something different. But without that unease, there is no freedom. And the moment you set an example, the spell of the status quo is broken, and others will follow.

8. Believe in truth. To abandon facts is to abandon freedom. If nothing is true, then no one can criticize power, because there is no basis upon which to do so. If nothing is true, then all is spectacle. The biggest wallet pays for the most blinding lights.

9. Investigate. Figure things out for yourself. Spend more time with long articles. Subsidize investigative journalism by subscribing to print media. Realize that some of what is on your screen is there to harm you. Learn about sites that investigate foreign propaganda pushes.

10. Practice corporeal politics. Power wants your body softening in your chair and your emotions dissipating on the screen. Get outside. Put your body in unfamiliar places with unfamiliar people. Make new friends and march with them.

11. Make eye contact and small talk. This is not just polite. It is a way to stay in touch with your surroundings, break down unnecessary social barriers, and come to understand whom you should and should not trust. If we enter a culture of denunciation, you will want to know the psychological landscape of your daily life.

12. Take responsibility for the face of the world. Notice the swastikas and the other signs of hate. Do not look away and do not get used to them. Remove them yourself and set an example for others to do so.

13. Hinder the one-party state. The parties that took over states were once something else. They exploited a historical moment to make political life impossible for their rivals. Vote in local and state elections while you can.

14. Give regularly to good causes, if you can. Pick a charity and set up autopay. Then you will know that you have made a free choice that is supporting civil society helping others doing something good.

15. Establish a private life. Nastier rulers will use what they know about you to push you around. Scrub your computer of malware. Remember that email is skywriting. Consider using alternative forms of the internet, or simply using it less. Have personal exchanges in person. For the same reason, resolve any legal trouble. Authoritarianism works as a blackmail state, looking for the hook on which to hang you. Try not to have too many hooks.

16. Learn from others in other countries. Keep up your friendships abroad, or make new friends abroad. The present difficulties here are an element of a general trend. And no country is going to find a solution by itself. Make sure you and your family have passports.

17. Watch out for the paramilitaries. When the men with guns who have always claimed to be against the system start wearing uniforms and marching around with torches and pictures of a Leader, the end is nigh. When the pro-Leader paramilitary and the official police and military intermingle, the game is over.

18. Be reflective if you must be armed. If you carry a weapon in public service, God bless you and keep you. But know that evils of the past involved policemen and soldiers finding themselves, one day, doing irregular things. Be ready to say no. (If you do not know what this means, contact the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and ask about training in professional ethics.)

19. Be as courageous as you can. If none of us is prepared to die for freedom, then all of us will die in unfreedom.

20. Be a patriot. The incoming president is not. Set a good example of what America means for the generations to come. They will need it.

-Timothy Snyder, Housum Professor of History, Yale University, 15 November 2016.

-- (PS from the author: If this is useful to you, please print it out and pass it around! 1 December 2016)
https://www.facebook.com/timothy.david.snyder/posts/1206636702716110

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338 The Big Day Approaches!

6/24/2026

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Well, in about 10 days, or so, the United States is celebrating a rather remarkable anniversary. We, the United States, are going to be 250 years old. Well, actually it’s going to be 250 years since we announced to the world that we were a new, separate, and different, country of our own. The reality is, of course, that it took somewhere in the neighborhood of 40 years before England was actually convinced that its rebellious North American colonies actually meant what they had said in 1776 and that it was willing to accept (at least on paper) that they weren’t going to get those “colonials” back under their rule.

That, in and of itself, is rather remarkable. Rather few democracies have survived for 250 years, although I think some HAVE lasted longer, but most have not. Look it up for yourself, if you can figure out how to do it. I found that the brief research I attempted quickly became rather confusing, but I think I am correct. Still, the common “life expectancy” of democracies seems to be substantially shorter than that of ours at this point.

Of course, it also depends on what you mean by “democracy.” When some of my rather distant ancestors signed The Mayflower Compact in 1620, they said: that they intended to:

To me, this sounds very much like a more democratic governing system than was generally available in Europe. Of course, they did acknowledge the English king as their supreme ruler, under God, of course. But, since the colony was dominated by folks who didn’t support the established and “official” Church of England, religious differences DID create some challenges, and, obviously, only men had any say in governing. Then, as the number of colonies increased, there were significant variations among them (especially regarding the “proper” religious beliefs), which would be major difficulties (among many) when the idea of establishing a common set of laws for the nation those colonies were trying to form was desired.

In my opinion, what was ultimately achieved (with the Constitution in 1789 and the Bill of Rights in 1791) was quite surprising in that acceptable compromises were ultimately reached, accepted, and adopted In those documents, among other things, religious matters were completely set to one side (exempted from consideration by the national government) as it was clear that the colony/states included such a wide variation of sects, denominations, etc, and that a “state” religion (pretty much standard in Europe) was simply NEVER going to be acceptable here.

Of course, the idea of Caucasian, males being the only ones allowed to have any real say in governance was widely accepted, although ALL white women AND children were counted in the population. All people of color were originally completely excluded since many (but not all) of them were, in fact, considered to be property and, therefore, not really “people.” However, when the Founders got around to writing the Constitution and Bill of Rights (because the original 1781 Articles of Confederation were so totally ineffective as to be essentially useless), ALL Caucasians were included, but slaves were counted as 3/5s of a person each for purposes of establishing representation in the House of Representatives, etc. This is said to have been a compromise to avoid counting non-voting slaves as full members of the population as the “slave” states desired). Native Americans were not subject to taxation and were, generally, treated as outside the American body politic. They were not citizens, and were not governed by ordinary federal and state legislation. Tribal laws, treaties with the United States, and special federal Indian legislation governed their affairs. Hence, Native Americans were largely excluded from any of this.

I believe that I should also point out that slaves were not exclusively held in the Southern states, but were to be founds in ALL of the colonies, although the “plantation” economies of the South did lead to significantly greater numbers of slaves there. It’s also worth noting that many of the earliest slaves were, in fact, Native Americans, although African slaves did quickly became the dominant identity.

While it’s become rather common to advance the notion that “AMERICANS” quickly created the world’s greatest democratic government, the fact is that it’s taken us quite a while to get as far as we have, and we are still arguing about a number of provisions. At this point in time: women are actually supposed to be able to be full, equal citizens;” ex-slaves (and their descendants) are said to enjoy full citizenship; “foreigners” are supposed to be subject to our laws and have rights under them (including the right to become citizens); religious factions aren’t supposed to have undue influence on the legal system; etc. But, recently those ideas seem to be under attack by some (seemingly mostly led by members of the most privileged members of American society). Somehow, the words of Emma Lazarus in her poem, The New Colossus (which is on the Statue of Liberty) that say “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free….” seem to have been replaced by an attitude which supports the notion that this country was intended to exist for the privileged, the wealthy, the powerful and that anyone who doesn’t fit into that groups really doesn’t belong here and shouldn’t have full access to the rights which our founding documents suggested were promised to what they SAID was all by the mutual pledge of their “Lives, Fortunes, and sacred Honor.”

I think that what is happening is sad. I also think it’s a betrayal of our founders’ intentions. History demonstrates that we are a nation built by folks who came here from other places, with many different backgrounds, beliefs, and ethnicities; who have said that we wanted to make a UNITED country based on the idea that accommodating these differences should make us a better, stronger nation; that compromise and tolerance of such differences are of value in creating a better society, not weaknesses to be avoided.

Have we been perfect in moving toward these goals? No. We have failed many times. But we have always come back to acknowledge our failures and to attempt to move to correct them, not to pretend that they never happened and that we’ve always been “the greatest.” Recent attempts to rewrite (or hide the historical facts) to suggest otherwise will, at least eventually, as always, be failures, or they will mark the beginning of America’s decline into irrelevancy. Growth is only possible by acknowledging mistakes, attempting to correct them, and moving forward, while trying to do better.

But enough political philosophy. The Fourth of July isn’t just a day to deal with solving the unsolved problems of our history, it’s also a day for self-congratulation, picnics, too much drinking, eating, parades, various celebrations, and FIREWORKS!

I’ve touched on such celebrations in earlier posts, so I won’t get into fussing about the noise, scared pets and other annoyances of such things in this one. All things considered, I’m proud to be a citizen of the U.S.A., although I have reservations as to the direction we have been headed recently, which seems decidedly away from the democratic (NOTE: “Democratic” is a PHILOSOPHICAL term, not, necessarily, the name of a political party.) I DO, however, think that we should not ignore the fact that our nation (the product, after all, of fallible humans) is not and NEVER HAS BEEN perfect, and I believe that good citizens should acknowledge that fact and strive to continue the progress which has been made towards forming “…a more perfect Union….”

That means that we need to teach our children (and ourselves, perhaps) that Dolly has made an, understandable, but incorrect assumption in this Family Circus cartoon:

The fact is that the Declaration of Independence underwent some considerable revision in the Continental Congress, although I don’t think there was a version quite like the one discussed in this from The Argyle Sweater:

It does seem at least remotely POSSIBLE, however unlikely, though, that there just MIGHT have been a draft discussed which wasn’t too far from the one suggested by Frank and Ernest as having been a contribution of Ben Franklin in this cartoon:

Still, I do support celebrating our “National Birthday.” As I have gotten older, however, I am rather less enthusiastic about all of the noise, etc., which fireworks make. After all the “rockets red glare,” etc., was from the War of 1812 and had nothing to do with the Fourth, but I’m letting my “historian” show again. I guess I may just be getting to be a bit like Henry, the Wizard of Id’s pet dragon.

Actually, I rather enjoy fireworks when used properly, as in a show. I guess that the pyrotechnics which I dealt with as a theatre TD made me cautious enough to not be comfortable watching the neighbors setting rockets, etc. off from the street in front of their houses located just up the street from mine. I also agree with the character (I can’t tell who it is) from the B.C. strip below that the Fourth MIGHT NOT be a good day for parasailing.

On the other hand, I think it’s likely that there will be warm weather for the Fourth. That’s probably as it should be in the middle of the summer in North America, although I certainly hope that it won’t be TOO HOT! There have been times (having lived a fair amount of my life in the Middle West of the U.S) when the Fourth has been what I would call exhaustingly hot! I do enjoy corn in many variations, but this cartoon (Which appears to have come from Germany?) suggests that even the “corniest” of us can only stand SO much heat happily. (Note: there’s a LOT of corn grown in this part pf the world.)

I’ll go away on that note. I DO expect to be back in a couple of weeks, and I will TRY to make a bit less political on that occasion. However, the Fourth IS, after all, a political celebration, so it doesn’t seem unreasonable for this post to be more political than usual. In any case, have an enjoyable Fourth of July with family and friends and I hope you’ll be back for my next post in a couple of weeks.

🖖🏼 LLAP,

Dr. B

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337 What Ever Happened to English?

6/10/2026

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First, let me be quick to make it perfectly clear that I am not going to suggest that it would be a “good thing” to create a “standardized American English” which would be the only acceptable version of our language. NO, never! I happen to think that the regional variations of our language are not a bad thing (although they CAN make communication more complicated at times). For example, I’m reasonably sure that in differing parts of the country the words; “coke,” “pop," and “soda” are commonly used in reference to the same thing, and that thing is NOT restricted to Coca-Cola©, the trademarked name for a specific product made by a specific company. They are just used generically to refer to soft drinks! That, and many other variations of regional dialect have been around a good while, and I enjoy them. Unlike Henry Higgins, I am fond of our regional dialects and am perfectly happy to encourage them. I consider them not only within the reasonable rights of our various heritages, but entertaining and enjoyable.

HOWEVER, it has come to my attention that there seem to be a good many people who seem to believe that it is (or should be) perfectly acceptable for them to pepper their language with what “back in the day” was considered “inappropriate,” or even downright VULGAR language. I think that this trend is unfortunate and, actually, suggests (at least to me) that the speaker is, at best, somewhat childish, and, perhaps more probably, foolish enough to actually believe that such language somehow makes him/her (NOTE: This behavior does seem to occur more often among males, but women do engage in it, too.) a more powerful, stronger leader, or that it somehow enhances their self-gratifying image of themselves.

If I am being too subtle to be clear, let me put it this way: I’M TIRED OF HAVING TO LISTEN TO SO MANY PEOPLE USING WHAT IS, IN FACT, PROPERLY CALLED VULGAR LANGUAGE SO FREQUENTLY, ESPECIALLY IN PUBLIC SETTINGS! I get little pleasure from politicians, “comedians”, or anyone else, writing and/or speaking to the public using language like s***, f***, son of a *****, a******, etc. Yes, I am fully aware of these (and a good many more) “inappropriate” words) and I will admit that, mostly in occasional times of extreme anger, frustration, or pain, I have even used at least some of them, but I don’t think they enhance my image as a “stronger, better” person.

I would go so far as to suggest that, while I believe such language is inappropriate in most polite conversation, there may be times when (Since most people, are, in fact, aware of its existence.) it might have a useful place in our language. I would suggest, for example, that it would be difficult to present a scene in a play, movie, or work of literature set in certain locales (like one taking place in a military barracks, or a “locker” room, or among the illiterate and uneducated, for example) without at least the occasional use of such language, in order to create a degree of “proper” authenticity. Yes, I am aware that there are locales where such language is fairly commonly used. However, I do not think that it’s particularly necessary to use this sort of language, especially in PUBLIC (mixed-company) settings, just because one thinks that the “old-fashioned rules of “polite” society don’t apply to them, to suggest a level of strong feelings, or in an attempt to create humor.
So, it bothers me a fair amount when I hear this sort of language becoming common in public settings. It really does NOT seem necessary, nor desirable, for example, to speak about the F***ing this, or that, at the family dinner table, or when chatting among friends and family. It certainly doesn’t seem necessary for this to have become the “go-to” modifier for almost everything, for virtually everyone; private citizens, talk show hosts, politicians, you name it. At times, it even appears on “news” broadcasts.

I find this a rather sad development. Like Henry Higgins, the character in My Fair Lady and Pygmalion, I believe that one’s use of language says something about how they think of themselves and, perhaps more importantly, how that behavior affects others opinion of them. To put it as Higgins does in describing Eliza’s use of language: “If you spoke as she does, sir, instead of the way you do — Why, you might be selling flowers, too.” Perhaps our “leaders,” “influencers,” and wannabes should keep that in mind today, as they, generally used to do.

As far as comedians are concerned, to my way of thinking, if they can’t find humor without resorting to vulgarity, perhaps they should go into a different business, or at least confine themselves to “adult" markets. After all, the often outrageous characters of Ralph Kramden, Archie Bunker (and their controversial spin-off colleagues) didn’t actually use obscenities, although one could argue that they were sometimes implied. Still, I think there’s a lot of humor available without obscenity. So, I wish to offer a few examples in this post.

Some words have a variety of meanings, which complicates the issue, however. For example, do you know where the term “Butt” (and its variations) came from? It has NOTHING to do with anatomy, although few people seem to know that. See below:

On a different tack, I confess that I enjoy puns, that use of a word to get humor from the fact that it can have more than one meaning. Many people seem to think that “a pun is the lowest form of humor,” but I disagree. I find many (not ALL) puns amusing, as do some others. According to 1 and Done, the Deity might actually be on MY side….

Language humor does NOT require pictures, of course. For example, here’s some purely verbal examples which I found amusing:

English, if you stop to consider it, IS a strange language, even its “rules” are filled with exceptions, or are they “mistakes?” And, sometimes, these oddities show up in strange places, like on the coffee mug shown below:

One could even suggest that English history can be used to create language humor. For example, take this from Frank and Ernest:

Sometimes we take English for granted but, if we examine it, we may wonder about a number of things. Some further examples of this might include:

Since I have TWO degrees from Indiana University, I can’t wrap this up without including THIS bit of language humor from Shoe:

This has been fun. I may have to touch on some more “Language Humor” sometime, but probably not NEXT time…. By the way, I’d love to hear some of your favorite examples of this sort of language humor. You can send them to me by sending a "comment" to this post. I WILL get back to you, but it might take a while. I AM lazy (retired), but I do get around to such things, eventually.

I wish you a pleasant “So long.” See you in a couple of weeks, Meathead.

🖖🏻 LLAP,

Dr. B

Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent. It is the only resort by
which incompetent men can thrive. The bully, the brute, the dictator.
                       Isaac Asimov

Revenge is always the weak pleasure of a little and narrow mind.
                       Juvenal (from Satires)

The whole idea of revenge and punishment is a childish day-dream.
Properly speaking there is no such thing as revenge. Revenge is an
act which you want to commit when you are powerless and because
you are powerless: as soon as the sense of impotence is removed,
the desire evaporates also.
                       George Orwell

Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy
people, but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I am the LORD.
                       Leviticus 19:18

0 Comments

336 Thinking About Staying Married

5/27/2026

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NO! I am NOT even CONTEMPLATING NOT staying married! I merely noticed that it’s almost June, which seems to be an extremely popular time for people to engage (have engaged) in getting married, so I figured that a few thoughts related to keeping a marriage functional AFTER the “honeymoon” might be appropriate. After all, Bonnie and I, who didn’t have a June Wedding (nor a “honeymoon”), as we got married right after Christmas while I was starting Grad school) have had what I consider to be a pretty good marriage since 1966. So, since we’re gettin’ on to near 60 years, I figure that I (we) MIGHT be qualified to provide a few pointers which could be of some value to newlyerweds.

Of course, most of these comments will be based around cartoons, etc. which I’ve collected off the internet, but I have tried to “curate” them to suit the things I believed might be worth some thought. In any event, here are some things to think about on what appears to be a non-political, but timely, topic. I hope they will be worth your time and attention. Since I am male, I must admit that I probably am best (only?) qualified to speak, primarily, to/about men. And, since I am straight, my experience has only been with heterosexual marriage. That probably limits any expertise I could try to lay claim to, but it IS what it is. Perhaps my thoughts on this topic will at least entertain. Who knows, they might be of some assistance. In any case, here goes

It may be that the most important thing about getting married is to understand that you will NEVER actually completely understand your partner 100%. Just when you think you’ve got her/him figured out, something will happen which will force you to accept the fact that you’ve been fooling yourself. As the story goes:

The Young Son inquires of his Father: "Is it true, Dad? I heard that in
some parts of the world a man doesn’t know his wife until he marries her?”

To which the intelligent Father says: That happens in every country, son.

I would suggest that there is more than a small bit of truth in that statement!

I would hasten to add to that the idea that it seems likely that many of the important conversations between marriage partners are likely to take the form of what is commonly referred to as “pillow talk.” I would also suggest that the most important of such conversations often have nothing whatever to do with sex, but they can have lots to do with establishing & maintaining the (hopefully happy) relationship which marriage really is. And many, perhaps most, of these conversations may well not occur in, or even near, a bed, although I believe that some may do so.

Here are some examples of what I mean --

The General in Beetle Bailey is not always portrayed as the most brilliant person in the world, but he DOES seem to want to preserve his marriage, as indicated below.

He understands that, while it is “socially acceptable” for his wife to say such a thing about her upcoming birthday, it is probably NOT particularly wise for him to accept and follow her stated opinion as if it were fact, at least if he wants to maintain a happy home life. Marriage partners (and not just female ones) may say these sorts of things, but following such suggestions may NOT be the wisest choice in the long run.

At least the General was aware of the approach of his wife’s birthday. Things COULD be worse, as Ed, the husband/father in Dustin, thought might be the case below.

On the other hand, Ed is, at times, more astute than many spouses, which might be explained by the fact that Dustin (the lead character in the strip) is Ed and Helen’s fully grown (although living at home) child. That suggests that they have stayed married for a good while, which could explain why Ed may be more accomplished at staying married than some.

Case in point:

Lest people think that I am overly-enamored of Dustin, let me include a cartoon from the cartoon strip, Zits, which also deals with a somewhat older couple who have a teenaged son. I think that this strip makes it clear that REAL communication between the couple is of considerable importance. Exactly WHAT is said may, on occasion, even be less important than what is, in fact, communicated.

Actually, clear communication may become even MORE important as the marriage progresses. One should learn to watch what one says, however, as, sometimes, compromise may be necessary for the good of the relationship.

Unfortunately, we don’t all have the abilities of The Wizard of ID to assist us when it comes to dealing with the foibles of our partner. Still, his talents suggest (again) that a lasting relationship may involve figuring out a way to make everyone as happy as possible, without being too annoying to their partner.

I see that I haven’t yet even touched on the challenges which having children can create in a marriage. For example, this Baby Blues strip suggests that children CAN provide challenges to a relationship.

On the other hand, this strip from Thatababy suggests that children CAN lead to marriage partners discovering new insights into even a well-established relationship.

That comment was mostly for the Dr. Who fans among us. (I confess that I am really not such a fan, but I have a daughter who is, so I do know a bit about such things.)

Perhaps one of the biggest keys to establishing and maintaining a marriage can be summed up by simply suggesting that it’s highly desirable to learn how to recognize and acknowledge the moments that really matter in the relationship. After all, a relationship should NOT be about what one partner gives up, but should be about how two people can both be more and better together. That CAN take some work, but it can certainly be worth it, especially as any children get older!

To close THIS post off (I may return to this topic at some point in the future), it may be worth pointing out that a good relationship is a bit magical. It can develop beyond simple accommodation and “getting along,” to the point where it, is simply beyond easy explanation and understanding, even for our children, as is suggested in this strip from Pickles.

If there’s anyone out there contemplating starting a marriage, or who knows someone who is, I hope you will share this. I don’t pretend that it’s especially profound, but it is sincere. I think Bonnie and I have had what I would call a “good” marriage, and I hope it continues for a while yet.

I’ll return in a couple of weeks with something else that I‘m thinking about. I hope you’ll came back, too.

🖖🏼 LLAP,

Dr. B

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335 It's I Hate Monday Time, AGAIN!

5/13/2026

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I have mentioned before in these ramblings that I am not particularly fond of Mondays. I’ve even written a post, or two, on the topic before . I guess I may be starting to repeat topics a bit, but some of them are especially repeatable (and amusing to me) so I MAY do it again, sometime. Of course, the most profound “Monday Hater” is probably Garfield the cat, of whom, being something of a “cat person,” I am quite fond. But Monday hating is NOT limited to cats, even in cartoons, so I thought that I’d take a look through my “Mondays Is a Hard Time” folder and see what I would find without relying exclusively on Jim Davis as a source. I discovered that it’s harder than I thought it might be, but I did find some (I think) useful stuff, so I thought I’d see if I could write a post using some of it. I hope that it helps relieve the upcoming Monday Blahs for at least some people. I have hopes that it may because almost anything is better than the news, which I tend to watch too much of. In any case, here are some “Monday Hating Thoughts.”

In spite of what I said above, I guess that I have to start off with a comment from Garfield. That cat IS, after all, the first, last, and ultimate source of comments relating to what’s wrong about Mondays, so he deserves to get the first lick in. (see below)

He, however, is not alone in his dislike of Mondays. For example, here is an example from Pearls Before Swine. As I seem to remember, it was published last St. Patrick’s Day, which probably explains the “pseudo-Irish” comment from Pig. But, it may be worth noting that I don’t appear to be the only one to have noticed that Garfield seems to be well recognized as a “Monday Hater.”

Of course, it IS possible to do some things to minimize the awfulness of Mondays. One of them (which might not be particularly effective for many folks, but which might be worth a try) is suggested in this strip from Never Been Deader.

All things considered, however, Mondays ARE quite difficult to consider as even approaching the greatest day of the week, and they don’t seem to improve over time, as Garfield points out below:

In fact, while I would be quick to point out that while Aunty Acid (in her cartoons published under that name) may not always (or even occasionally) exude any sort of great joy and happiness, has offered this strip which provides some potentially good advice for “The Monday problem.” Could it be that she’s been consulting with Garfield?

All things considered, I should admit my fondness for Garfield’s method of Monday avoidance as demonstrated in THIS strip.

The sad thing is that this option really isn’t particularly accessible for many of us very often. I suppose that I should point out that, while it IS more readily available for those of us who are retired, even in those cases, it’s not always an especially viable choice.

Now, some of you, particularly those who number among the “unretired” of my readers, are well aware that Monday marks the beginning of the “Work Week” and so they are probably are among those (like Garfield and Yours Truly) who are not especially fond of that day, even though we don’t have to face “WORK.” Of course, Mondays don’t HAVE to be intolerable, but there are those who seem to take delight in trying to make them so. AND, unfortunately, SOMETHING ALWAYS seems to attract at least one of those “Misery Makers” to make sure the day is made miserable for the rest of us, as Garfield points out in this strip:

In spite of the annoyance of such folks, however, it does seem that Mondays do (at LONG last) seem to get over. Unfortunately, of course, there’s still the rest of the week to get through, as this cartoon from Blondie makes clear.

Garfield seems to have much the same sort of challenge in THIS strip because Jon can’t seem to keep his mouth shut.

(Note to self: Is JON one of those sick people who LIKE Mondays? If he is, there’s probably nothing one can do about it, but it would explain a few things.)

AND, it MAY be at least a bit helpful to follow Garfield’s advice and remember his comment below:

Since there is absolutely nothing any of us can do to change the fact of Mondays, I suppose that we just have to put up with them (or whatever day actually starts your work week). And I have to point out that there were many weeks while I was actively teaching and doing production work that, for all practical purposes, there really wasn’t an actual Monday for a couple of weeks. After all, we often needed the last Saturday before Opening to start Tech rehearsals, while (often) still finishing chores like: set construction, cleaning up hang & focus, and writing rough light & sound cues, so everything else could be “finished” before 1st Dress on Sunday and “final” touches on Monday before Final Dress that evening. THEN, we’d Open the show on Tuesday and run it through Saturday night (followed by strike). During this, of course, we all had classes, etc. on Monday through Friday. We were busy! Still, somehow we, survived (probably due to the influence of Dionysus).

Well, I figure to be back in a couple of weeks, with something else to ramble on about. It does help to pass my retired time to do these posts. I hope some others find them of at least occasional interest.

🖖🏻 LLAP,

Dr. B

Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent. It is the only resort by
which incompetent men can thrive. The bully, the brute, the dictator.
Isaac Asimov
Revenge is always the weak pleasure of a little and narrow mind.
Juvenal (from Satires)
The whole idea of revenge and punishment is a childish day-dream.
Properly speaking there is no such thing as revenge. Revenge is an
act which you want to commit when you are powerless and because
you are powerless: as soon as the sense of impotence is removed,
the desire evaporates also.
George Orwell
Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy
people, but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: Iam the LORD.
Leviticus 19:18

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339 Artificial Intelligence?

338A Special Edition for July 4, 2026

338 The Big Day Approaches!

337 What Ever Happened to English?

336 Thinking About Staying Married

335 It's I Hate Monday Time, AGAIN!

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