Who knew that one of the richest ahs on earth was so needy!? I wonder what his relationship with his mother was like? No self reflection like maybe I’m the problem? You’ll never find a diary or journal in his private papers when he’s gone from the world! Musk is a shallow husk! Thought provoking as always Greg! ❤️
Greg, Thank you. Another fine analysis of movers-shakers of the planet. But as for Musk and Twitter, take heart. Musk needs Europe for Twitter, and Europe isn't budging. They have new mostly superb new rules and regulations WHICH MUSK MUST OBEY, or close shop in the EU.
This article in the Guardian is pretty clear:
"Twitter takeover: EU and UK warn Elon Musk must comply or face sanctions"
After more than five decades thinking and writing, I have my buttons pushed again by you and Eliot. I’ve been a teacher, a professor, an editor, a newspaper publisher, and a novelist, but I still go back to my sunny days as a high school senior in Hawaii before all that when I read The Hollow Men the first time. In the rag and bone shop of our hearts we may feel like anonymous claws in an isolated sea, but the remedy is simple: dignity, honor, truthfulness, and honesty. Without those qualities, we are all hollow. Like you, I cannot see Musk exhibiting those qualities. At $250 billion or more in net worth, he can afford to be at least honorable.// I can tell you, with regard to Twitter, that lack of content moderation (editing) reduces discussion to meaningless babble. I hope its users recognize how totally unreliable it will become as a source of information and ignore the rants of meaningless men.
Hmm Twittering Muskisms. Sounds rather wokish. I like this column but I have no fear about Musk buying Twitter. Americans generally could care less as long as the can spout silly shit. The UK is a toothless tiger. Actually I think Elon will abandon it taking a 40 billion dollar loss and merely shrug his shoulders. Possibly women and investments appear the same to Musk. But I like the names X and Y.
In the 1950’s Twittering was something young giggling girls did while standing around in a circle peering at young boys flexing their muscles. I lost my Flex T-shirt in the sixties. Currently here in the arid Sonoran desert the birds are twittering outside my tin can home as they devour the crumbs I threw them.
So since I don’t Twatter, Facehook, Snipchot and all dat other silly stuff I am addicted to reading news on my phone and I do have email.
And while I liked this column I don’t think Donald Trump and Elon Musk deserve to be mentioned in relation to T.S Elliot or Richard Shelton. Men who were not Hollow.
You really know how to spice up the conversation re Twitter. I met a young man when I worked at jr high who I am still acquainted with as an adult. I had described him several times as the most damaged kid I had run across in my 20 years in public schools. He had the same problem, used almost the same words, was/is smart but has so much trouble navigating the world. His emotional damage was done very early, damage that has affected most aspects of his life. The pattern is one of hard work, self-inflicted wounds and personal vulnerability in relationships. Maybe II should go ahead and diagnose him now, but things are scary enough…
Excellent selection and loved the connection to the “super-charged boringness” of these vapid, broken men.
I’ve not read this poem in long while…but you know Eliot does implicate us all as the Hollow Men… choosing “We” vs “They” as opening pronoun. He evokes imagery of scarecrows for me, and I suppose I always think of them as figuratively empty-headed, but on this reading I’m realizing how much Eliot emphasizes the “stuffing” … and reflecting on how we are collectively stuffed full with information, misinformation, disinformation … and how that can be worse than empty heads. Which of course all links back to TFG and Musk and Twitter and what a hot mess this all is….
Thanks for always fully engaging my brain Greg! Great piece.
I like the way you slid in there the reference to Thornton Wilder's play -- so apropos. Will we manage to make it, this time too?
Sure do enjoy your work.
My personal favorite modern poem, this
For even drier and, frequently, bleaker, check out Arizona poet Richard Shelton. Collected Poems is a good place to start.
Who knew that one of the richest ahs on earth was so needy!? I wonder what his relationship with his mother was like? No self reflection like maybe I’m the problem? You’ll never find a diary or journal in his private papers when he’s gone from the world! Musk is a shallow husk! Thought provoking as always Greg! ❤️
Greg, Thank you. Another fine analysis of movers-shakers of the planet. But as for Musk and Twitter, take heart. Musk needs Europe for Twitter, and Europe isn't budging. They have new mostly superb new rules and regulations WHICH MUSK MUST OBEY, or close shop in the EU.
This article in the Guardian is pretty clear:
"Twitter takeover: EU and UK warn Elon Musk must comply or face sanctions"
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/apr/26/twitter-takeover-jack-dorsey-elon-musk
After more than five decades thinking and writing, I have my buttons pushed again by you and Eliot. I’ve been a teacher, a professor, an editor, a newspaper publisher, and a novelist, but I still go back to my sunny days as a high school senior in Hawaii before all that when I read The Hollow Men the first time. In the rag and bone shop of our hearts we may feel like anonymous claws in an isolated sea, but the remedy is simple: dignity, honor, truthfulness, and honesty. Without those qualities, we are all hollow. Like you, I cannot see Musk exhibiting those qualities. At $250 billion or more in net worth, he can afford to be at least honorable.// I can tell you, with regard to Twitter, that lack of content moderation (editing) reduces discussion to meaningless babble. I hope its users recognize how totally unreliable it will become as a source of information and ignore the rants of meaningless men.
Greg…no one but you could have drawn a better portrait of the charisma-challenged pasty one!🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Hmm Twittering Muskisms. Sounds rather wokish. I like this column but I have no fear about Musk buying Twitter. Americans generally could care less as long as the can spout silly shit. The UK is a toothless tiger. Actually I think Elon will abandon it taking a 40 billion dollar loss and merely shrug his shoulders. Possibly women and investments appear the same to Musk. But I like the names X and Y.
In the 1950’s Twittering was something young giggling girls did while standing around in a circle peering at young boys flexing their muscles. I lost my Flex T-shirt in the sixties. Currently here in the arid Sonoran desert the birds are twittering outside my tin can home as they devour the crumbs I threw them.
So since I don’t Twatter, Facehook, Snipchot and all dat other silly stuff I am addicted to reading news on my phone and I do have email.
And while I liked this column I don’t think Donald Trump and Elon Musk deserve to be mentioned in relation to T.S Elliot or Richard Shelton. Men who were not Hollow.
Bess says Elon is Evil
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/04/elon-musk-twitter-terrible-things-hes-said-and-done?utm_source=nl&utm_brand=vf&utm_mailing=VF_CH_050122&utm_medium=email&bxid=5bd67d4224c17c104802a222&cndid=48614199&hasha=0523227b7149c0b82cb49b2af58cfdec&hashb=b4d894932a65b44ae2bcace91ea577e9c3a69cdc&hashc=27b2e1888dfb7e258ae5036789675e58bea59212aedaefc767cca4308ce0a752&esrc=AUTO_PRINT&source=EDT_VYF_NEWSLETTER_0_COCKTAIL_HOUR_ZZ&utm_campaign=VF_CH_050122&utm_term=VYF_Cocktail_Hour
Straw Men? Free speech?
Choose your hero.
https://consortiumnews.com/2022/04/28/who-is-the-hero-albright-vs-assange/
Greg and I will likely disagree on this,
as I think Albright Murdered a lot more people than Assange.
You really know how to spice up the conversation re Twitter. I met a young man when I worked at jr high who I am still acquainted with as an adult. I had described him several times as the most damaged kid I had run across in my 20 years in public schools. He had the same problem, used almost the same words, was/is smart but has so much trouble navigating the world. His emotional damage was done very early, damage that has affected most aspects of his life. The pattern is one of hard work, self-inflicted wounds and personal vulnerability in relationships. Maybe II should go ahead and diagnose him now, but things are scary enough…
The National Whistleblowers Center has a good article on Musk.
Ocas
Ocasio and Elon verbal battling on
The Hill news site.
Musk gives Aspergers Syndrome a bad name. I really resent that. So many great, wonderful people with this genius gift.
free speech: a comment on Banning.
https://www.azmirror.com/2022/04/20/legendary-author-rudolfo-anaya-on-banning-books/
Excellent selection and loved the connection to the “super-charged boringness” of these vapid, broken men.
I’ve not read this poem in long while…but you know Eliot does implicate us all as the Hollow Men… choosing “We” vs “They” as opening pronoun. He evokes imagery of scarecrows for me, and I suppose I always think of them as figuratively empty-headed, but on this reading I’m realizing how much Eliot emphasizes the “stuffing” … and reflecting on how we are collectively stuffed full with information, misinformation, disinformation … and how that can be worse than empty heads. Which of course all links back to TFG and Musk and Twitter and what a hot mess this all is….
Thanks for always fully engaging my brain Greg! Great piece.