In today's Weekend Press: The story of an incorrect autism diagnosis. Meet the ‘chief MAHA officer’ of Steak ‘n Shake. Is it okay to ditch your friend for doing weight-loss jabs? Kat Rosenfield on the sickness of Lena Dunham. And more!
Apart from Jeb Rubenfeld's softcore take on the outrageous SPLC horror, can I please see another more realistic view of this? To say that just because this nationally renowned bastion of "anti-racism" paid actual hoary KKK racists to do their thing so the MSM could have ammunition to take down a president doesn't mean what they did was -- illegal? What?? It's world-shaking! What on earth is this lawyer thinking?? BESIDES the fact that is, in fact, ILLEGAL?! Unbelievable...
That's not the best shot from Blue Velvet. The best is the one of Rossellini's face filling the screen upside down smiling with her chipped front tooth and the dark blue crescents of her eye shadow below the whites of her eyes and below the bright red of her lips. One of the best ever..
"High functioning autism" is extreme introversion. I was unable to form casual ad hoc conversations in my mind until I was around 60. When I was in my early 30s, I could speak before conventions of seasoned corporation managers with conviction and appreciation because I'd write the speeches out and rehearse them days ahead of time, conveying information that was useful and not widely known. But I could not speak socially. For example, I would not engage in conversations about sports. I was as fanatic about my favorite teams as anybody, but thought sports was for watching, not talking. I wasn't interested in banal conversations about what the home team MIGHT do in the next game, just wait until it is played and watch what they did or didn't do.
I wasn't interested in the gossip-fests or office politics extravaganzas and didn't participate in them. I could not read facial expressions to know when to enter a conversation, and I do not parse spoken words well, so I would not hear what people were saying, and often misinterpreted it. When I tried to say something, I was usually called, "The weird guy," and thus conditioned not to say anything, in a negative feedback loop tending toward perpetual silence. My family upbringing was not the best, so I knew better than to say anything at home, knowing it would be ridiculed. Since I didn't learn to talk well in the home, I had a hard time learning it in the "real world."
I finally figured out that 99% of ad hoc conversations is just social lubrication BS that people talk about while they're bonding together --- letting each other know they belong to the same "tribe" without trying to convey anything meaningful. They'll like you just as well is you say a couple words every now and then and nod your head to let them know you heard and generally agree with what they said, without your having to say anything. In fact, they'll like you better if you just listen to them and don't talk about yourself. I learned to read facial expressions, to know when people are about to stop talking, and you can enter the conversation if you want to. Or, just go do something else if you're not all that interested in hear people you've known a long time rehash stories you've heard a hundred times before. They won't care if you excuse yourself politely. Not everybody needs to be a social butterfly.
I enjoyed Christina Buttons' article about autism, and would like to underscore that there is a legitimate debate about whether being "on the spectrum" is a medical condition -- i.e., a sickness or disability -- or simply a way in which some peoples' neurologic systems are put together.
Incidentally, I am autistic, though in my old age I am pretty "high-functioning."
It seems that the autism spectrum can be, to varying degrees, either a disability or a set of personality characteristics. Or maybe both. If autism contributes to serious social ma!functioning, it should be addressed professionally. But if not, then the decent thing to do is for all of us -- whether non-autistic or weirdos like me -- to be kind and respectful, and to try to get along.
I rarely mention my autism, but once someone responded by saying, "But you don't really seem autistic." To which I replied, while bugging my eyes out a little, "We have learned to walk among you undetected."
There was some truth in that. Autism does not imply low intelligence. For many of us, it just means that we need more time and guidance to learn the thousands of social cues that others seem to grasp almost effortlessly. No need to get all dramatic or obsessive about it.
How are you allowed to say that one of Andrew Wyeth’s most famous paintings, Christina’s World, is an animation by the free press? I am genuinely curious and not trying to incite drama by asking.
The parts about sickness are something I’m going to have to consume slowly. I was diagnosed with OCD in about 2019….but many of my ruminations are traceable to things I would do to compensate for very-real physical problems. (I have multiple sclerosis. It’s difficult for an untrained person to see on the MRI outputs, but a neurologist can see therm immediately. The CT scans of my optic nerves are something most people get quickly; see that divot?)
RE: the Arthur Brooks column. I was reading Nancy Mitford's VOLTAIRE IN LOVE and there was a line that the Pope back then had issued a statement about the way the Natives were treated in the New World. He wasn't happy about it.
As you age, I’m 73, your body cannot process alcohol as well as it used to. Sitting by the pool on a warm afternoon with 2 or 3 high grav beers will bust my head whereas the lighter gravs work much better. (Your personal mileage may vary.)
Since Lydia opened the door on American exceptionalism lets get to it
I am not here to defend trump or his many outlandish statements
Obama as a big believer in American exceptionalism? Give me a break. No matter how many times he try to use his orator skills he is the modern day godfather of globalism ( hence his references to international law on so many occasions).
Lydia mentions JFK in terms of religious references. Yet no mention of his most famous line on not asking what your country can do for you( what would Democratic socialists who sing wheels on the bus with their comrade (see above) say about that notion.
Maybe Lydia can follow up on the denigration of religion today and how important religion was to rhe city on the hill. Or the Founding Fathers views in these matters and the Bill of Rights protection of individual freedom like speech that have been under attack as has the constitution itself. And while on this subject expound upon the 1619 Project and if Obama is on board with all therein
Bottom line: a nicely written ( style wise as little substance)biased piece with a clear agenda . No doubt a warm up for whats coming from so many others as July 4 approaches
Obama had good speechwriters, and did an excellent job reading his teleprompter or from prepared notes. Especially compared to Biden and Harris, he looked like a genius. But when Obama was cornered into speaking without prompts, he stuttered and stammered with the best of them.
You're right. I recently watched an Obama interview on C-Span. I forget the subject (most likely Trump and the fall of democracy) but was literally amazed at his incoherence, rambling and failure to answer any of the questions put forth. I then came to the same truth you state.
His long, beautiful fingers, do continue to fascinate me, however. :-)
Yes he needed those promoters but he persuaded millions with his BS and camouflaged his true feelings about America ( his wife of course was more clear). The key point is thd substance of thd man not his style. And that substance was predominantly about global elitism. His disastrous mishandling of foreign policy matters has been and continues to be whitewashed by his posse that oversaw matters involving Syria, Russia and of course Iran and now they are trying to pretend he was a geopolitical genius . A joke given how many thousands or perhaps millions have died because of his policies, actions and inactions.
Judea Pearl's article is a great reminder of the history related to the founding of Israel, a history that so many in.media and politics and academia want to either forget or lie about.
And whenever I see his name my first thought is of his son Daniel, who was viciously murdered by the same types who committed the atrocities of Oct 7, atrocities that also are either denied or justified by todays media, politicians and academics. Note the common theme and pattern for it repeats itself so often throughout history. History must be taught and not bastardized
For the atheist -a series of historical coincidences that happened to line up just right for the modern iteration of the Jewish state to come into being
For the Believer -the precision with which all these remarkable historical events aligned -is Yad Hashem-God’s Hand -a “ hidden miracle “
The era of Open revealed miracles and prophecy ( where God chose to break His own laws of nature to in front of masses to reveal Himself ) closed during the 150 yr period between Purim and Chanukah
Hidden miracles abound if one looks carefully
The establishment the United Nations-a monumental accomplishment -just after the horror of WWII and the Holocaust -but just before the Cold War set in -when The 2 Superpowers Russia and America were allies is itself miraculous. There was plenty of opposition to a jewish state internally in both countries that had little in common with one another . And yet their respective leaders Stalin and Truman each persuaded their oppositions domestically and internationally to vote yea that day in 1947!!!
FDR was long opposed to recognizing Israel-His death only months after his last win ( a natural occurrence) ushered in VP Harry Truman in April of 1945 turned the diplomatic tide in favor of The Jewish State-coincidence ? or Hidden miracle ?
The history of israel’s wars are no less extraordinary starting with the one described by Judea Pearl today
just look at the map to remind yourself of the odds
The arc of Jewish History is long
We are blessed to be witnessing many hidden miracles unfolding
It is easy to miss them when living in the day to day news cycle
But step back and see the bigger picture
Many Jews have woken up since the awful day of savagery 10/7/23 -that to be a jew is more than coincidence -much more -the obsession with Israel, the Jew hatred in the west all part of our story -is part of our story as God reminds us …
Sadly many Jews have not woken up
The Jewish story is both particular and Universal
As Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks ( of blessed memory ) said so well
““The conclusion I have drawn from a lifetime lived in the public square is that non-Jews respect Jews who respect Judaism, and they are embarrassed by Jews who are embarrassed by Judaism”
And you say to yourself, 'My own power and the might of my hand have won this wealth for me'".
Moses warns the Israelites against becoming arrogant after settling the Land of Israel and achieving economic prosperity. Moses cautions them not to attribute their success to their own efforts
the next verse
Remember that it is the Lord your God who gives you the power to get wealth...".
Moses’ warning is as applicable today as it was thousands of years ago
Apart from Jeb Rubenfeld's softcore take on the outrageous SPLC horror, can I please see another more realistic view of this? To say that just because this nationally renowned bastion of "anti-racism" paid actual hoary KKK racists to do their thing so the MSM could have ammunition to take down a president doesn't mean what they did was -- illegal? What?? It's world-shaking! What on earth is this lawyer thinking?? BESIDES the fact that is, in fact, ILLEGAL?! Unbelievable...
That's not the best shot from Blue Velvet. The best is the one of Rossellini's face filling the screen upside down smiling with her chipped front tooth and the dark blue crescents of her eye shadow below the whites of her eyes and below the bright red of her lips. One of the best ever..
ANY shot of Isabella's face, or her mother's(!), is worth a thousand words...
David Lynch was a notorious perfectionist. Isabella's neck must have been a MESS after the shoot!
I recall this movie well, even though I watched it decades ago. I liked David Lynch but this movie made me feel dirty after watching it.
Yeah, Dennis Hopper's behavior was virtually unwatchable for me..
Re the article on diseases, aspirational, romantic or otherwise: Recall the Lenny Bruce routine.
😂 Euphonious cholera...
"I got tb baby." "Bronchitis is so poor and Jewish."
"High functioning autism" is extreme introversion. I was unable to form casual ad hoc conversations in my mind until I was around 60. When I was in my early 30s, I could speak before conventions of seasoned corporation managers with conviction and appreciation because I'd write the speeches out and rehearse them days ahead of time, conveying information that was useful and not widely known. But I could not speak socially. For example, I would not engage in conversations about sports. I was as fanatic about my favorite teams as anybody, but thought sports was for watching, not talking. I wasn't interested in banal conversations about what the home team MIGHT do in the next game, just wait until it is played and watch what they did or didn't do.
I wasn't interested in the gossip-fests or office politics extravaganzas and didn't participate in them. I could not read facial expressions to know when to enter a conversation, and I do not parse spoken words well, so I would not hear what people were saying, and often misinterpreted it. When I tried to say something, I was usually called, "The weird guy," and thus conditioned not to say anything, in a negative feedback loop tending toward perpetual silence. My family upbringing was not the best, so I knew better than to say anything at home, knowing it would be ridiculed. Since I didn't learn to talk well in the home, I had a hard time learning it in the "real world."
I finally figured out that 99% of ad hoc conversations is just social lubrication BS that people talk about while they're bonding together --- letting each other know they belong to the same "tribe" without trying to convey anything meaningful. They'll like you just as well is you say a couple words every now and then and nod your head to let them know you heard and generally agree with what they said, without your having to say anything. In fact, they'll like you better if you just listen to them and don't talk about yourself. I learned to read facial expressions, to know when people are about to stop talking, and you can enter the conversation if you want to. Or, just go do something else if you're not all that interested in hear people you've known a long time rehash stories you've heard a hundred times before. They won't care if you excuse yourself politely. Not everybody needs to be a social butterfly.
I do not enjoy social events at all. However, I learned very early, ask people about themselves and pretend to listen and you are just fine.
You might enjoy "Why Can't I Just Enjoy Things?" By Pierre Novellie. It's an accurate -- and very funny -- book about what it's like to be autistic.
Thank you, I just downloaded the Amazon Kindle eBook and will read it today.
I enjoyed Christina Buttons' article about autism, and would like to underscore that there is a legitimate debate about whether being "on the spectrum" is a medical condition -- i.e., a sickness or disability -- or simply a way in which some peoples' neurologic systems are put together.
Incidentally, I am autistic, though in my old age I am pretty "high-functioning."
It seems that the autism spectrum can be, to varying degrees, either a disability or a set of personality characteristics. Or maybe both. If autism contributes to serious social ma!functioning, it should be addressed professionally. But if not, then the decent thing to do is for all of us -- whether non-autistic or weirdos like me -- to be kind and respectful, and to try to get along.
I rarely mention my autism, but once someone responded by saying, "But you don't really seem autistic." To which I replied, while bugging my eyes out a little, "We have learned to walk among you undetected."
There was some truth in that. Autism does not imply low intelligence. For many of us, it just means that we need more time and guidance to learn the thousands of social cues that others seem to grasp almost effortlessly. No need to get all dramatic or obsessive about it.
How are you allowed to say that one of Andrew Wyeth’s most famous paintings, Christina’s World, is an animation by the free press? I am genuinely curious and not trying to incite drama by asking.
It’s a gif that goes through multiple images with some animation. It works in my email but is frozen on that image for me too when I go to the app.
Ah, that makes sense! I’ve just been viewing it in the app.
Not a bad image to be frozen on. I wish mine would stop...
The parts about sickness are something I’m going to have to consume slowly. I was diagnosed with OCD in about 2019….but many of my ruminations are traceable to things I would do to compensate for very-real physical problems. (I have multiple sclerosis. It’s difficult for an untrained person to see on the MRI outputs, but a neurologist can see therm immediately. The CT scans of my optic nerves are something most people get quickly; see that divot?)
What could be more natural than posting nude photos on Instagram to mark the anniversary of one's hysterectomy? I know I do that all the time.
RE: the Arthur Brooks column. I was reading Nancy Mitford's VOLTAIRE IN LOVE and there was a line that the Pope back then had issued a statement about the way the Natives were treated in the New World. He wasn't happy about it.
Intriguing title. Looked up the synopsis. Is it a good read?
The first half was slow and then all of a sudden it was good.
Light beer! Sweet Jeezus!
As you age, I’m 73, your body cannot process alcohol as well as it used to. Sitting by the pool on a warm afternoon with 2 or 3 high grav beers will bust my head whereas the lighter gravs work much better. (Your personal mileage may vary.)
Since Lydia opened the door on American exceptionalism lets get to it
I am not here to defend trump or his many outlandish statements
Obama as a big believer in American exceptionalism? Give me a break. No matter how many times he try to use his orator skills he is the modern day godfather of globalism ( hence his references to international law on so many occasions).
Lydia mentions JFK in terms of religious references. Yet no mention of his most famous line on not asking what your country can do for you( what would Democratic socialists who sing wheels on the bus with their comrade (see above) say about that notion.
Maybe Lydia can follow up on the denigration of religion today and how important religion was to rhe city on the hill. Or the Founding Fathers views in these matters and the Bill of Rights protection of individual freedom like speech that have been under attack as has the constitution itself. And while on this subject expound upon the 1619 Project and if Obama is on board with all therein
Bottom line: a nicely written ( style wise as little substance)biased piece with a clear agenda . No doubt a warm up for whats coming from so many others as July 4 approaches
Obama's orator skills? Really?
Obama had good speechwriters, and did an excellent job reading his teleprompter or from prepared notes. Especially compared to Biden and Harris, he looked like a genius. But when Obama was cornered into speaking without prompts, he stuttered and stammered with the best of them.
You're right. I recently watched an Obama interview on C-Span. I forget the subject (most likely Trump and the fall of democracy) but was literally amazed at his incoherence, rambling and failure to answer any of the questions put forth. I then came to the same truth you state.
His long, beautiful fingers, do continue to fascinate me, however. :-)
Yes he needed those promoters but he persuaded millions with his BS and camouflaged his true feelings about America ( his wife of course was more clear). The key point is thd substance of thd man not his style. And that substance was predominantly about global elitism. His disastrous mishandling of foreign policy matters has been and continues to be whitewashed by his posse that oversaw matters involving Syria, Russia and of course Iran and now they are trying to pretend he was a geopolitical genius . A joke given how many thousands or perhaps millions have died because of his policies, actions and inactions.
Reminder to watch Obama’s Cairo speech , mere months after taking office in 2009
https://youtu.be/B_889oBKkNU?si=Kx_39I_53XtidspM
As Maurice Chevalier sang in Gigi: I remember it well. Setting the tone for the next eight years
“I say Goddamn America”
Here’s the rest of what Obama’s spiritual advisor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, had to say about America.
https://www.politico.com/story/2008/03/wrights-controversial-comments-009089
And lets not forget his photo w farrakhan they buried very cutely
Judea Pearl's article is a great reminder of the history related to the founding of Israel, a history that so many in.media and politics and academia want to either forget or lie about.
And whenever I see his name my first thought is of his son Daniel, who was viciously murdered by the same types who committed the atrocities of Oct 7, atrocities that also are either denied or justified by todays media, politicians and academics. Note the common theme and pattern for it repeats itself so often throughout history. History must be taught and not bastardized
I love this essay
For the atheist -a series of historical coincidences that happened to line up just right for the modern iteration of the Jewish state to come into being
For the Believer -the precision with which all these remarkable historical events aligned -is Yad Hashem-God’s Hand -a “ hidden miracle “
The era of Open revealed miracles and prophecy ( where God chose to break His own laws of nature to in front of masses to reveal Himself ) closed during the 150 yr period between Purim and Chanukah
Hidden miracles abound if one looks carefully
The establishment the United Nations-a monumental accomplishment -just after the horror of WWII and the Holocaust -but just before the Cold War set in -when The 2 Superpowers Russia and America were allies is itself miraculous. There was plenty of opposition to a jewish state internally in both countries that had little in common with one another . And yet their respective leaders Stalin and Truman each persuaded their oppositions domestically and internationally to vote yea that day in 1947!!!
FDR was long opposed to recognizing Israel-His death only months after his last win ( a natural occurrence) ushered in VP Harry Truman in April of 1945 turned the diplomatic tide in favor of The Jewish State-coincidence ? or Hidden miracle ?
The history of israel’s wars are no less extraordinary starting with the one described by Judea Pearl today
just look at the map to remind yourself of the odds
The arc of Jewish History is long
We are blessed to be witnessing many hidden miracles unfolding
It is easy to miss them when living in the day to day news cycle
But step back and see the bigger picture
Many Jews have woken up since the awful day of savagery 10/7/23 -that to be a jew is more than coincidence -much more -the obsession with Israel, the Jew hatred in the west all part of our story -is part of our story as God reminds us …
Sadly many Jews have not woken up
The Jewish story is both particular and Universal
As Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks ( of blessed memory ) said so well
““The conclusion I have drawn from a lifetime lived in the public square is that non-Jews respect Jews who respect Judaism, and they are embarrassed by Jews who are embarrassed by Judaism”
Shabbat Shalom to all
Deuteronomy 8:17
וְאָמַרְתָּ֖ בִּלְבָבֶ֑ךָ כֹּחִ֣י וְעֹצֶ֣ם יָדִ֔י עָשָׂ֥ה לִ֖י אֶת־הַחַ֥יִל הַזֶּֽה׃"
And you say to yourself, 'My own power and the might of my hand have won this wealth for me'".
Moses warns the Israelites against becoming arrogant after settling the Land of Israel and achieving economic prosperity. Moses cautions them not to attribute their success to their own efforts
the next verse
Remember that it is the Lord your God who gives you the power to get wealth...".
Moses’ warning is as applicable today as it was thousands of years ago