Comments for Brain Clouds: The Listening Post Blog

Comment on Bloomsday by Pete Klein

Pete Klein — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 23:45:14 +0000

I don't think I ever had a mentor. I don't believe I ever wanted one. So I don't feel it would be appropriate for me to comment on mentors.
I would like to talk about Joyce.
I started to read Ulysses when I was about 19 or 20. After awhile, I put it down without completing it. Then when 21, I decided to try it again but change my approach. Rather than diving into a great work of art/ literature, I began reading it as though it were pulp fiction and rather enjoyed it.
That said, I much preferred Joyce's Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man.
Call me what you want but I really don't like novels to be too long. Some of my favorite books have been novellas such as Old Man and the Sea, and Death in Venice to name but two.

Comment on Bloomsday by Paul R. Sheppard

Paul R. Sheppard — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 23:24:00 +0000

Powerfully expressed, Dale. As well as "let us re-Joyce day", June 16 means for me among other things my last day in the business world before I switched to English teaching (1967), and the birth of our first grandchild (1996). Your poem illustrates an archetypal relationship: the tribute from a more "cautious" (your term) partner who pays posthumous tribute to a more flamboyant friend and role-model, who is ultimately tragic because unlike the rest of us he will not, cannot, compromise with the age in which he lives and conform to its demands. In an American classic novel, one sees an outstanding example in Nick Carraway's death-lament for Jay Gatsby. A 1942 Canadian poem "David", by Earle Birney, makes a similar point with terrible physical and moral force.
Thanks for the chance to comment. I always appreciate your columns. Keep'em coming.

Comment on Bloomsday by Ronnie

Ronnie — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 21:55:50 +0000

Love the poem. Thank you.

Comment on Bloomsday by Claudia MacDonald

Claudia MacDonald — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 20:45:13 +0000

Nice. Thank you. I am moved, thinking, considering, pondering…

Comment on Bloomsday by charlotte miller

charlotte miller — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 20:36:17 +0000

"… inner outlaw…" I love that… Thank you for this and every one of your thoughtful weekly columns… Makes me miss my NNY home more and more!

Comment on Bloomsday by velma

velma — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 20:30:24 +0000

i like your poem.

Comment on Bloomsday by john

john — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 20:14:27 +0000

Thanks for this Dale. I think of Allen more than I would have ever imagined I would. I had the great joy of reconnecting with the nearly fully evolved Allen the last year of his life through chats and posts on Facebook.

Comment on Bloomsday by Mark Holland

Mark Holland — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 20:13:57 +0000

Well writ sir. I'll toast his memory over poetry and cigars tonight, but I like your tribute better.

Comment on Angel invasion by Sue Grimm

Sue Grimm — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 04:22:16 +0000

A story from further away than our dear north country — of senior citizens in Japan, showing up at the Fukushima plant to don suits and masks, and volunteer on the clean-up crews. Apparently they said something along the lines of "we're old, and have lived good, long lives — let us do this — keep the younger folks at as great a distance as possible." Brought tears, when a friend emailed the link to that news story …

Comment on Angel invasion by Cindy

Cindy — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 17:25:57 +0000

These stories don't really surprpse me. Maybe because I grew up with parents who always did them.

Vehicle problems car..18 wheeler no matter my dad was out in all kinds of weather to see if he could help. my mom loaned a new tire just bought a few days before to young lady on her way to a doctors appoitment, she was expecting. Even a Minister who stopped to see what was going on told my mom she had lost her tire, mom said so be it she had no way of getting the girl to the doctors (dad was at work and had not got the tire on yet) even the Minister didn't offer her a ride, Two days later not only did mom get her tire back but a lovely flower to add to her garden.

They both would take a hitchhiker just a little further to be sure they were where more traffic ran ,more of a chance to find another ride.

They would never take pay for what they did, they would tell the person the next person they saw who needed it help them, that was payment enough.

Because I saw this growing up I to do what I can when I'm on the road, in a building, holding a door/elevator open for someone does not take that much out of my day.

NO we are not like NYC, but then some of us have better examples to follow.