1. First off, my latest piece is up on The Everyman, where I talk about how the world doesn't change (and slip in a little plug for Gentleman Instructed): Again and again, it was the same pattern, and rarely did I find a point that had been genuinely left behind since the 18th century (e.g. … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Everyman, Top Gun, Bofuri, and Sabaton
Depression
Friday Flotsam: Half-Heartedly Talking of a Good Book and Couple Charming Films.
1. Happy Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, and I'm afraid I have nothing much to say about it. Besides the obvious: "Behold the Lamb of God. Behold Him Who taketh away the sins of the world." 2. I've been oddly out of it this week, to the point that I forgot I even … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Half-Heartedly Talking of a Good Book and Couple Charming Films.
Friday Flotsam: Grumpy Talk Mostly of Manners and Values
1. I've been oddly tired this week; it's been hard for me to make myself do any work or focus on anything. I don't know whether it's depression, low blood-sugar (I'm fasting for Advent), adverse spiritual influence, or some combo. Probably a combo. 2. There are ways to reach superficially similar effects through morally opposite … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Grumpy Talk Mostly of Manners and Values
Friday Flotsam: Vita Nuova, Psych Matters, Rule of Life, and Killer Shrews
1. So incipit vita nuova. Of course it hasn't really begun; I don't start until Monday. But one phase is definitely over. 2. Today was mostly spent finishing up the transfer of files from my old computer to the new one. I'm trying to clear as many old projects or 'things that need to be … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Vita Nuova, Psych Matters, Rule of Life, and Killer Shrews
Friday Flotsam: Depression, Introspection, and History
1. Last weekend I had one of, if not the worst depressive episode I’ve every experienced, amounting to a full breakdown. I was pretty much riding on the aftershocks for most of the week, hence the lack of postings. 2. My depression doesn’t usually amount to feeling bad about myself; it’s more of feeling intense … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Depression, Introspection, and History
An Inspiring (?) Song
Sometimes, when you're feeling down, a rollicking, inspirational musical number can give you a much needed injection of spirit, telling you that you can do anything. And sometimes...well, sometimes you just want to push as hard as you can in the opposite direction. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29Z9Zr2RC8U Or maybe that's just me, but I think the song is … Continue reading An Inspiring (?) Song
Suicide and the Corporate World
I was looking up the American Federation for Suicide Prevention the other day (no, nothing personal; just curiosity). At the top of the page it urges “Demand More for Mental Health!” You know, I've often wondered: since mental health became a wide-spread industry back in the early-mid twentieth century, have suicide rates increased or decreased? … Continue reading Suicide and the Corporate World
Friday Flotsam: Another Odd Fact, Villains, and Agatha Christie Quotes
1. An odd rollercoaster of a week; I had some days of great consolation and happy productivity, and others of intense depression and extreme lethargy, where I simply could not seem to get anything done. At the moment I’m mostly okay, but yeesh, I really feel the need of a change. 2. Got into an … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Another Odd Fact, Villains, and Agatha Christie Quotes
Friday Flotsam: Crashes, Consolations, and Memorial Day
1. Had a car accident last weekend. No one hurt, thank God, and really not more than a fender-bender. Only, my fenders ended up much less bent than the other guy’s (he hit me, but no one really at fault; just a bad situation involving merging and unexpectedly stopped traffic), so I felt bad about … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Crashes, Consolations, and Memorial Day
Friday Flotsam: Psych Days, Recreation, ‘The Living Shadow’, and an Interesting Fact
1. One thing I would recommend to any fellow sufferers from depression or related problems is not to be ashamed to occasionally take off ‘psych days’ to try to recoup yourself, especially if your job is a source of strain and unhappiness (which, I may be cynical, but I think most jobs these days are). … Continue reading Friday Flotsam: Psych Days, Recreation, ‘The Living Shadow’, and an Interesting Fact
Serpent's Den 