PROMPT: Advice

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

Use free writing to break through writer’s block.

PROMPT: Album

What’s your all-time favorite album?

I couldn’t even begin. I have favorite albums of some particular acts (e.g. “Let it Bleed” Rolling Stones; “Born to Run” Springsteen; “Rumours” Fleetwood Mac; “Sgt. Pepper’s…” The Beatles; “Toys in the Attic” Aerosmith; etc.) but not overall.

I think MIPSO’s “Dark Holler Pop” is pretty much a perfect album, and I’m quite fond of Ben Sollee’s “Learning to Bend.”

But I have no favorite album.

PROMPT: Topics

Which topics would you like to be more informed about?

I’d love to know why the fundamental equations and constants that govern the universe appear to be tailor-made to generating life?

I’d love to know whether there is other intelligent life in the universe, and – if not – why not? (And, if so, have they visited, are they visiting, do they intend to visit, and – if none of the above – why not?)

I’d love to know whether there is meaning to life other than moving energy to higher states of entropy in a Sisyphean fashion (and any other meaning that one independently chooses for one’s self?)

But I’m doubtful any of that will be clarified in my lifetime, so I guess I’ll have to stick to more down to earth topics, such as: “Is ‘a good life’ a meaningful statement, and – if yes – how does one go about pursuing one.”

PROMPT: Music

Daily writing prompt
What would your life be like without music?

I would not like it. Music is a fastpass to bliss.

PROMPT: Lesson

Share a lesson you wish you had learned earlier in life.

The world as experienced through my mind is not a true reflection of the world. The mentally-experienced world is malleable and can be painted beautiful.

All things are impermanent, so nothing is worth great angst.

There are two ways to live life: take everything seriously or take nothing seriously.

PROMPT: Favorite Foods

What are your favorite types of foods?

Vegetables & fruits, also nuts.

PROMPT: Walk or Run

How often do you walk or run?

Every day. And sometimes I crawl, and – if there are monkey bars – I swing.

PROMPT: Leader

Do you see yourself as a leader?

That’s a strange question, at it seems to be one of the few traits for which one’s self assessment is meaningless. i.e. if one sees oneself as a leader, but no one will follow one… “Teacher” is similar. One may see oneself as a teacher and might even have all manner of certifications and credentials, but if no one wants to learn from one, it’s not clear that it’s a meaningful title.

That said, I don’t see myself as a leader… but I’m even less of a follower.

PROMPT: Favorite Word

What’s your favorite word?

I like the German word “Schadenfreude,” meaning to take joy in another’s misfortune.

I like the idea that a person can be so in touch with their dark side that they can express that bit of pettiness in a single word. So much of language is obfuscation and deceit. Southerners use four words (i.e. “God bless his soul”) to say a person is an idiot, and – even then – the meaning is masked.

Schadenfreude is authentic, and we need more authenticity in language.