Indeed, Mike. You might as well. We all might as well just get real, finally. Tell the truth about the fear and the confusion and the horrible grief and sense of total destabilization. We're already in the black hole... let's have an honest conversation and maybe we'll come up with some insights about how we can love our way through to the other side. What do you think?
You have a great style of writing. It’s not the boring, overly intellectual kind of writing that makes the reader work hard or fall asleep. You have a very conversational style that takes us along with your thought process. That’s why we’re here listening to you!
I came across you by accident, and I stayed by design. I will return for another pleasant ride around the universe, if you so desire. Alternatively, I'll meet up with you again on terra firma for your next equally inspirational read. Thank you.
We all must be ourselves, at all times, true to who we are, true to our dear country, to what it was and what it must remain. Don't ever stop using the big words, describing the intellectually challenging thoughts and ideas. We all are more than we know. You can help us to see that, to understand that, and, therefore, to move forward in the commitment to hold on to and empower our constitutional republic. I will never stop working to secure the blessings of liberty for our posterity. I am grateful to you, Mike, that you will not stop, either. Blessings to us all.
I love your writing style! Admittedly, some words I look up. Lol! That said, I love to learn so here I am and here I'll stay. And thank you for allowing folks, like me, to share their comments in a non "very intellectual style".
I recently read The Guardian article entitled "There are many ways Trump could trigger a global collapse. Here’s how to survive if that happens" by George Monbiot. For me, the "here's how to survive it" portion was light. If you ever care to give some thought on this topic and share your viewpoints, I would certainly appreciate it.
Its funny seeing people ask you to dumb down your writing for mass appeal, because what ironically has drawn me to it is how clearly you get powerful points across. I initially found you in a comment section of another substacker, and while I don’t exactly remember what made me click your profile, your writings have awakened me in a time where the American public is being subjected to a psychological shock and awe of the Trump and Musk co-presidency. While Ive flirted with the right of center for some years, nothing has done more to remind me of my true core values as an American amidst this cesspool of terrible cultural discourse than to read your wise words. I am proud to be your ally in resisting the tyranny before us!
There is a difference between intellectual and academic. Intellectual refers to someone who loves to think, to use the mind, and that may include loving words, their plenitude and the richness of the varieties/subtleties of meaning. Academic uses complicated, sometimes obscure ideas and language to assert their credibility in a field. In this sense it feels like busy work for the writer and reader.
I like it when writers use words, ideas or references that are unfamiliar to me because these are leads to different vistas of our world.
Thanks for the words on black holes and their event horizons (what a fabulous concept). I am doing research on holes of all kinds, so I especially enjoy this.
Mike, don't dumb it down. The nuance and complexity of your ideas are seeds for them to continue to grow. I have always been made fun of because, being a reader from a young age, I have a large vocabulary. I learned to brush it off. I have never understood the arc toward stupid over the last 30 years.
I do like your reference to the unknown events and potential, even for good, over the event horizon.
All of the noise in the world today is a result of unrest. Or "Unruhe" in German. Now the Unruh effect causes Hawking radiation, which in turn can cause smaller black holes to evaporate and go away. May our contemporary black hole evaporate.
Thank you very kindly for taking the time and making the effort to be your "most authentic self" right here, right now, with, and for, us. I would feel worse if I were not able to come here and read what you are writing.
Did you watch "Inside Job," 2010, by Charles Ferguson?
I mention it because I feel that there is great resonance between the destruction wrought then and the destruction being wrought now, for very similar reasons:
Indeed, Mike. You might as well. We all might as well just get real, finally. Tell the truth about the fear and the confusion and the horrible grief and sense of total destabilization. We're already in the black hole... let's have an honest conversation and maybe we'll come up with some insights about how we can love our way through to the other side. What do you think?
this made me cry....thank you for putting it into words
It made me cry to say it, too. But the tears were healing tears. They broke through the heavy blanket of grief.
You have a great style of writing. It’s not the boring, overly intellectual kind of writing that makes the reader work hard or fall asleep. You have a very conversational style that takes us along with your thought process. That’s why we’re here listening to you!
I came across you by accident, and I stayed by design. I will return for another pleasant ride around the universe, if you so desire. Alternatively, I'll meet up with you again on terra firma for your next equally inspirational read. Thank you.
We all must be ourselves, at all times, true to who we are, true to our dear country, to what it was and what it must remain. Don't ever stop using the big words, describing the intellectually challenging thoughts and ideas. We all are more than we know. You can help us to see that, to understand that, and, therefore, to move forward in the commitment to hold on to and empower our constitutional republic. I will never stop working to secure the blessings of liberty for our posterity. I am grateful to you, Mike, that you will not stop, either. Blessings to us all.
I enjoy your writing—keep being who you are!
I love this...please keep writing...it is clear, accessible-no academic mumbo jumbo...
:D
I love your writing style! Admittedly, some words I look up. Lol! That said, I love to learn so here I am and here I'll stay. And thank you for allowing folks, like me, to share their comments in a non "very intellectual style".
I recently read The Guardian article entitled "There are many ways Trump could trigger a global collapse. Here’s how to survive if that happens" by George Monbiot. For me, the "here's how to survive it" portion was light. If you ever care to give some thought on this topic and share your viewpoints, I would certainly appreciate it.
Again, thank you for your articles!
Its funny seeing people ask you to dumb down your writing for mass appeal, because what ironically has drawn me to it is how clearly you get powerful points across. I initially found you in a comment section of another substacker, and while I don’t exactly remember what made me click your profile, your writings have awakened me in a time where the American public is being subjected to a psychological shock and awe of the Trump and Musk co-presidency. While Ive flirted with the right of center for some years, nothing has done more to remind me of my true core values as an American amidst this cesspool of terrible cultural discourse than to read your wise words. I am proud to be your ally in resisting the tyranny before us!
Hear, hear. Event Horizon is also a fantastic sci-fi horror film: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119081/
Such an underrated masterpiece.
There is a difference between intellectual and academic. Intellectual refers to someone who loves to think, to use the mind, and that may include loving words, their plenitude and the richness of the varieties/subtleties of meaning. Academic uses complicated, sometimes obscure ideas and language to assert their credibility in a field. In this sense it feels like busy work for the writer and reader.
I like it when writers use words, ideas or references that are unfamiliar to me because these are leads to different vistas of our world.
Thanks for the words on black holes and their event horizons (what a fabulous concept). I am doing research on holes of all kinds, so I especially enjoy this.
Exactly.
As a fellow creative, this feels like a poignant, call-to-action wrapped in a big juicy metaphor. Thanks for sharing!
Mike, don't dumb it down. The nuance and complexity of your ideas are seeds for them to continue to grow. I have always been made fun of because, being a reader from a young age, I have a large vocabulary. I learned to brush it off. I have never understood the arc toward stupid over the last 30 years.
I do like your reference to the unknown events and potential, even for good, over the event horizon.
All of the noise in the world today is a result of unrest. Or "Unruhe" in German. Now the Unruh effect causes Hawking radiation, which in turn can cause smaller black holes to evaporate and go away. May our contemporary black hole evaporate.
I look forward to reading your column everyday. You have depth and insight and interesting ideas. Please continue
Thank you very kindly for taking the time and making the effort to be your "most authentic self" right here, right now, with, and for, us. I would feel worse if I were not able to come here and read what you are writing.
Did you watch "Inside Job," 2010, by Charles Ferguson?
I mention it because I feel that there is great resonance between the destruction wrought then and the destruction being wrought now, for very similar reasons:
https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_money_changes_the_way_you_think_and_feel