Why do we use the little word "like" so much?

Sometimes, when I'm riding the bus or subway, I play a little game.  I listen to young high school students speaking to each other, but not for the purpose of invading their privacy.  In fact, I barely follow their conversations.  I just listen to determine whether they can utter more than one sentence without using the word "like."  I don't mean as a verb as in "I like chocolates." or as a comparative as in "She looks like her mother."  I mean as a meaningless filler.  Many seem incapable of putting together a coherent sentence without using "like" as a filler .  I call it "likeitis."  "Likeitis" is not only common among young people, it has spread like wildfire among the  entire population.

This is not a blanket condemnation of the millennial generation.  I truly do not want to sound condescending.  I'm an ESL tutor and an observer of speech patterns and language development.  I have always been curious about the way people express themselves verbally, and fascinated with the vocabulary they use.  Having said that, I must admit that I find the constant use of "like" annoying.  It grates at my ears, like the scratching of a chalkboard.

Like does have its, defenders, such as Alexandra D'Arcy, a Canadian linguist at the University of Victoria in British Columbia. Professor D'Arcy, the author of a book subtitled Eight Hundred Years of  Like, has devoted much of her research to recognizing the numerous uses of like.  She argues that it's not just "Valley Girl" talk.  In a description of her work for the university's YouTube channel, she states the following: "Like is a little word that we really, really don't like at all - and we want to blame young girls, who we think are destroying the language and sounding dumb and inarticulate."  She points out that "We can find speakers in their 70s, 80s and 90s around little villages in the United Kingdom, for example, who use like in many of the same ways that young girls today are using it."

In D'Arcy's view, the verb "to like" isn't complicated, but its other uses are unfairly criticized and maligned.  I certainly won't dispute the research of the good professor.  After all, she is a professional linguist and I am not.  There is no doubt that "like" has been part of the English language for centuries and that males are also prone to using the word often.  It's also true that teens and millennials do not make up the only age group who like to say "like."  However, I will say, and I think Alexandra D'Arcy would agree, that the use of "like" is more pervasive and ubiquitous than ever before, especially in North America.

Some uses of like were born in the 20th century.  For example, the expression "Like, Wow!" was popular among the beatniks of the 1950s, and according to Professor D'Arcy, baby boomers are responsible for using like to quote something.  In a 2017 CBC article, D'Arcy cites a man born in 1959 who said, "Imagine being told buy your parents, like, 'We know you have it in you.'"  She says "That's one of the only ones (uses of "like") we can say is truly new.  Its speakers who were born in the 1950s and early 1960ss were really the first ones to use it."

This is not just a lazy way to quote," contends Dr. D'Arcy..  She believes that this usage of "like" "actually opened new doors in communication., allowing a storyteller to reference thoughts and sounds and gestures, rather than just what was said."  She says, "That's why I respect these forms.  We started quoting our inner states more and more.  They let us do things we couldn't do before."

Still, I can't shake my aversion to the constant and relentless use of that little l-word.  All you have to do is watch old movies or television shows and you will notice how "like" has steadily infiltrated the language.  In those films and TV shows, the word "like" is seldom used in the same manner it is used today, and it is not used with the same frequency.  Leave it to Beaver's Wally Cleaver never says, "I'm, like, going over to Eddie Haskell's house this afternoon."  "

Likeitis" has even spread to television and radio broadcasters.  Everyone from talk show hosts to sportscasters has caught the disease.  They used to say, "As I said."  Now they say, "Like I said."  Back in the days when smoking was much more acceptable, there was a very well-known advertising slogan for a brand of cigarettes.  From 1954 until 1972, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco used the slogan "Winston tastes good like a cigarette should" in its print ads.  RJR's advertising committee held a meeting with its agency, William Esty Co., at which the grammatically questionable slogan was agreed upon.  RJR decided to use"like" rather than "an" in its print advertising slogan.  In 1956, the slogan was put to music for radio and television.

Grammar purists complained and scholars even debated the issue in the the media.  John Mason Brown, a prominent American drama critic and author, declared  that the slogan caused him physical pain.  Then, after taking a pack of Winston from his pocket, lit one, and said, "But I think the cigarette is great."  When some teachers expressed their opposition to the slogan, RJR added this tagline to its ads: "What do you want?  Good grammar or good taste."  The controversy actually helped RJR increase sales for Winston.

Unlike John Mason Brown, I don't become physically ill when someone misuses the work "like" or uses the word incessantly as a filler.  However, I do care about the integrity of the language and it disappoints me to hear people speak so incoherently.  I become, like, very, dismayed.  Yes, I realize that language is fluid and ever-changing.  I also realize that the overuse of "like" as not the worst thing in the world.  To me, it's not an unforgivable sin.  It's just rather sad.


SOURCES: Time magazine, "Why saying 'Like' a Lot Is Like, Actually a Good Thing," by Amanda Montell, May 23, 2019; AdAge (adage.com); Bad Grammar in Good Taste: Forget About Teachers' Dirty Looks: Bad Grammar Helped Launch this Brand into Fame and Profit," by Robyn Griggs, March 29, 1999; CBC, "Like, don't blame the kids these days, says sociolinguist," February 22, 1017


- Joanne

Meditations at Home During the Pandemic #4

This is the fourth in a series of reflections while I am at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hello to readers from around the world.  Greetings from Toronto, Canada.  It is May 26, 2020 and I have been at home for about ten weeks  now.  Some days are better than others.  Sometimes I feel as if I am in the twilight zone.  Is this really happening or is it a nightmare?  I am trying to keep the faith that better days will come.

I and many others were unable to see our mothers on Mother's Day.  We miss live gatherings with families and friends.  At the moment we have to make do with virtual get-togethers.  We don't have a choice.  Still, there is nothing like a real life hug.  There is no substitute for it online.  A virtual hug doesn't measure up.  Nevertheless, I consider myself fortunate because I have a roof over my head, enough food to eat and I haven't tested positive for the virus.

I freely admit, however, that with every fibre of my being, I long to be free of COVID-19 restrictions.  I yearn to come and go as I please.  I wish I could discard my masks.  I wish I didn't have to see other people wearing masks.  I want to travel or go to a movie theatre.  Yet, I know that this virus is not going to magically disappear.  A reliable vaccine may be on the horizon, but we don't have it yet.  Around the globe, doctors and scientists are working tirelessly re working around If we don't sacrifice now, we will pay later.  Some restrictions have been lifted here in Ontario, but most responsible people know that we have to proceed with caution and prudence.

In the United States, the death toll from the virus is nearing 100,000.  The estimated U.S. population is 331 million people.  Here in Canada, the death toll is 6,637.  The estimated population of Canada is 37.8 million.  The numbers and the facts don't lie. It is a tragedy that the United States of America has the world's worst record on COVID-19 deaths per capita.  It's purported "leader," Donald Trump is leading his country astray and Americans are paying a steep price for Trump's folly.

Trump refuses to accept responsibility for America's poor showing in dealing with the pandemic.  He brags that everything he does is perfect.  He will never admit to a mistake and he will never apologize.  He has referred to himself as a "stable genius."  Well, that "stable genius" has led his country into a state chaos and confusion.  His reckless ramblings have only served to make the situation worse.  He has ridiculously advised people to inject themselves with bleach and to take an unproven and potentially dangerous anti-malaria drug.  Unfortunately, some of his sheep-like followers have heeded his misbegotten recommendations.

There is a great deal of false and misleading information.on the internet and social media.  Some people don't know what to believe and how to separate fact from fiction.  The best way to do that is to listen to the doctors and scientists, not debunked conspiracy theories.

According to a study conducted to the School of Journalism at Carleton University in Ottawa, nearly half of Canadians (46 per cent) subscribe to conspiracy theories including false miracle cures, the idea of a 5G cover-up (5G stands for the fifth generation technology standard for cellular networks which phone companies began employing in 2019) or that the virus was engineered in a lab in China.  They believe in at least one of four myths circulating on the internet.  The co-author of the study, Carleton professor Sarah Everts considers the high rate of belief in conspiracy theories alarming because of the "risk of overwhelming an already overwhelming health system."

I urge you all to keep your guard up and don't pay any heed to internet conspiracy theories or to Donald Trump's blather.  He doesn't know what he's talking about and he doesn't want to be seen wearing a mask.  In fact, he discourages people from protecting themselves with masks.  He has even criticized Joe Biden, his prospective opponent in the impending 2020 election, for being responsible enough to wear a mask.  Trump has stated that American will not be locked down if there is another wave of the virus, as respected doctors have predicted there will be.

Donald Trump is more concerned about his political and financial fortunes than the welfare of Americans and others around the world.  He is willing to sacrifice human lives for his personal own gain.  He doesn't treat all human life as sacred.  The man lacks empathy and he has no idea how to deal with this unprecedented crisis.  He doesn't understand that it is a health crisis, not an economic crisis.  The economic problems will not be solved until the human and health challenges are dealt with first.  He is reluctant to use government assistance to help needy citizens during this terrible time.  What is the alternative to government aid when people are sick and suffering, when they are losing their jobs?  He just doesn't know what it's like to be unemployed with a family to feed and bills to pay.  He doesn't understand how it feels to lose your job and your company health insurance.

I know it isn't easy, but the only way out of this mess is to exercise patience, vigilance and discipline.  It is the only way to deal with a second wave of the virus, which scientists say is inevitable.  Take care everyone.

- Joanne

Should you name your child Junior?

Names have always fascinated me.  They are one my favourite topics of conversation. To me, one's moniker is profoundly important.  It defines you to a certain extent.  It is part of your identity.  That's why I enjoy hearing stories of how and why people were given their names.

Back in 2017, there were rumours that Beyoncé and Jay-Z were planning to name their twins Bea and Shawn Jr., after themselves (Jay-Z's real name is Shawn Corey Carter.).  This did not meet with very much approval on the Internet.  Why?  To some it was a sign of narcissism.  To others, it showed a lack of imagination.or creativity.

As it turned out, Beyoncé and Jay-Z named their daughter Rumi and their son Sir.  Sir?  Well, I have to admit those aren't names I would have chosen.  By the way, the couple called their first child,. a daughter, Blue Ivy., who was born in New York City in 2012.

I am not a fan of naming a child "Junior,"  although it means a great deal to some people.  To them, naming after a parent (usually a first son) is a symbol of family pride, family fealty and continuity.  I understand that, but I still maintain a personal dislike of the tradition.

Here's why I wouldn't name a child " "Junior."

1.  A child needs to develop his or her own identity.  Calling a child "Junior," invites comparisons to a parent, which must be very difficult for children of celebrities, politicians and great achievers.  Think of Frank Sinatra Jr. (1944-2016) and John F. Kennedy Jr. (1960-1999).

Frank Sinatra Jr.

John F. Kennedy Jr.

2.  Having two people in the same household with the same name can cause confusion.  Sometimes, in order to distinguish between father and son, the son is given a nickname.  For example, JFK Jr. was called John-John.

3.  It does show a lack of imagination and it doesn't require a great deal of thought.

4.  In many cases, it is egotistical and narcissistic.  That's why it's no surprise that Donald Trump's first born son is Donald Jr.

 This practice of naming after a parent, in most cases a father or paternal ancestor, has always been popular among the upper classes.  Having a name such as John W.. Williams IV is often regarded as a status symbol, a sign of wealth and privilege.

In some cultures, the firstborn son is traditionally named after his paternal grandfather and the first daughter after the paternal grandmother.  (I am the firstborn female in my family and I was named after my paternal grandmother).  When that happens, the family is stuck with the same name for generations and many cousins find themselves sharing the same name.  Fewer fresh names are introduced into the family.

Choosing a baby's name is, of course, a highly personal matter.  It is very subjective and it's definitely a matter of taste.  What appeals to some, may not appeal to others.  Some people prefer classic names.  To others, such names are boring and stodgy.  Some do not want their child to have a really popular name.  They prefer names that are less conventional, which they consider more colourful and exciting.

In the end, I think naming should  be left to the parents.  It's not a good idea for grandparents, other relatives or friends to interfere with the selection of a baby's name.  It can cause a family rift.  That's why It should be strongly avoided unless it is plainly evident that the name that the parents have chosen will subject the child to extreme ridicule and bullying.  In that case, grandparents or other worried relatives and friends should diplomatically express their concern to the parents.  This should be done for the welfare of the child.


Here  are my suggestions for naming a child.

* Make sure you pick a name that goes well with the child's last name.

*  Call the child by the name that appears first on his or her birth certificate.  Don't call the child by a middle name or some other name.  The name that appears on the birth certificate is the one that will appear on the child's passport, driver's licence and other government information.  That's a consequence of the 9/11 terrorist attacks that we have to live with.

* Don't pick a name that is trendy.  It will date the child when he or she becomes older.

*  If you strongly dislike the shortened version of a name, avoid choosing that name.  Although it's common courtesy to ask someone permission before shortening their name, not everyone does so.


NOTE TO READERS:

I'd like to know what you think.  If you are a "Junior," how has it affected you?  Send me an email and will post your responses.

- Joanne

Meditations at Home During the Pandemic #3

This is the third in a series of reflections while I am at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It's early May and we're still in lockup here in Toronto. I am getting antsy and I would really like my life to return to normal.  Unfortunately, we're not out of the woods yet here in Canada and specifically in Ontario, where I live.  As much as I would like to eat at a restaurant or get together with friends, it can't be done yet.  I definitely would not enjoy dining out if the servers were all wearing masks.  There has to be some measure of confidence that the virus has truly subsided before restrictions are lifted, and they have to be lifted in careful phases.  As has been pointed out, you can reopen a business, but you can't make people dine or shop there if they are fearful of contracting COVID-19.

I will have to continue to be patient because if we relax restrictions too soon, we will inevitably pay the price.  I truly understand that people have been laid off and they are facing unemployment.  That's where government comes in.  The lesson we can learn from this awful pandemic is that government can sometimes be the solution, especially in dire circumstances like these.  If not government, who is going to help people devastated by COVID-19?

Health care workers, especially Personal Support Workers (PSWs), have always been overworked and underpaid.  Why has it taken a pandemic for them to receive some of the appreciation and respect they so richly deserve.  They are truly putting their lives on the line for us.  Sadly, one of the reasons the virus has spread so quickly in nursing homes is that many PSWs have had to work in more than one place in order to make ends meet.  If health workers had been paid more, there would not have been such suffering and death in those homes.

As I sit here and reflect on the nightmare that has befallen the world, I am saddened by how the pandemic has been handled in the United States of America.  I can honestly say I am glad that I am in Canada.  I don't mean to be smug and condescending, but the facts and figures bear me out.  The United States' response to this crisis has been worse than anywhere in the world, as far as the number of deaths per capita.  That would not be the case if it were not for Donald Trump and some prominent Republicans.

Here are the facts  Per capita, the United States is currently seeing about twice as many confirmed cases of COVID-19 as Canada and about 30 per cent more deaths.  If you look at the per capita cases and deaths throughout the course of this pandemic outbreak, the United States has over two times as many confirmed coronavirus cases as Canada and roughly twice as many deaths.  It is also interesting to note that in mid-March, the Canadian testing rate was an estimated five times higher than its southern neighbour.

I have never hidden my disdain for Donald Trump's policies.  I really don't want to dwell on him, but there is no avoiding it.  He is the worst possible leader for America at the worst possible time.  He has completely taken over the Republican Party and he and his toadies (Hello Mike Pence, Mitch McConnell and Lindsey Graham!) are totally inept at dealing with this crisis.  They only spread confusion and misinformation.

Why wouldn't any reasonable person believe the word of Dr. Anthony Fauci, a respected American physician and immunologist over the word of Donald Trump and his sycophants?  Fauci has served as the director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases since 1984.  Wouldn't you say the good doctor knows a thing or too about viruses?
   
Trump thinks the American people should trust him more than medical experts and scientists.  The president is horribly inconsistent.  He constantly contradicts himself and lies outright.  He has more confidence in his so-called gut instinct than in the facts.  He is more concerned with the performance of the economy than with alleviating the suffering of the American people.  His reelection is his foremost consideration and he can't wait to speak to his herd of cult-like followers at his rallies again.  Has there ever been a president of the United States so lacking in empathy?

The tragedy for America is that the nation so strongly divided along partisan lines.  All fifty states seem to be on different pages and many of the governors cannot work with the Trump administration.  Trump and the Republican-controlled Senate, led by McConnell, are reluctant to give the states the resources they need to combat the pandemic.  McConnell is content to let the states go bankrupt.  Republican governors are eager to open business, the consequences be damned.  Someday historians will review America's response to this unprecedented crisis.  There will be a stunning indictment of the Trump administration's actions and its failures.  History will not look kindly on the 45th president of the United States.

Yesterday world leaders launched an international fundraising campaign for a COVID-19 vaccine.  The organizing countries of the Coronavirus Global Response fundraising efforts include Canada, the European Union, Britain, Norway, Saudi Arabia and Japan.  Sadly, Donald Trump's America, with all its wealth and technological know-how, was missing in action.  The United States did not participate in the conference because Trump has stopped funding for the World Health Organization (WHO).  Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pledge $850 million to the fund.

Here in Canada, our response to the pandemic has not been perfect.  However, the provinces and territories are trying to work together with the federal government.  Even the most right-wing conservative premiers, such as Ontario's Doug Ford and Alberta's Jason Kenney, have made an effort.  Prime Minister Trudeau has been warning over and over again that we can't let down our guard.  There is too much at stake and we don't want to squander the progress we've made.

Time passes and I wait this out, dreaming and hoping for a better day.


- Joanne

Vocabulary Quiz #7 (Ten words beginning with the letter "Q")

Number 16 Vocabulary Quiz #7
Ten words beginning with the letter "Q"

Number 16 presents a multiple choice vocabulary quiz.  Choose the correct definition of each word listed.  There are ten words for you to define and they all begin with the letter "Q."  Ready, set, go!


1.  quixotic (adjective)
'
A.  Silly and immature

B.  Lacking in intelligence

C.  Foolishly impractical especially in pursuit of ideals.

D. Having a pleasant and personable manner

E.  Stubborn and uncompromising



2.  quell (verb)
'
A.   To thoroughly overwhelm and reduce to submission or passivity; to quiet or pacify

B.  To shake with terror; to be extremely fearful

C.  To ask someone many questions

D.  To hibernate or hide for a long time, to isolate oneself

E.  To warm up after feeling chilled




3.  quotidian (adjective)
'
A.   More than necessary, surplus

B.  Everyday, ordinary, commonplace

C.  Relating to the middle ages, medieval.

D.  Wordy, verbose, talkative

E.  Careful and cautious



4.  quota (noun)
'
A.  An overdrawn bank account

B.  The amount necessary to break even financially

C.  A proportional part or share; the number or amount constituting a proportional share

D.  A retirement savings fund, especially for small business owners

E.  The number of soldiers in an army battalion



5.  quorum (noun)
'
A.  In real estate, the difference in price between two homes of the same size but in different locations.

B.  The name for a group of Muslims on a religious pilgrimage to Mecca.

C.  The number of votes necessary to pass legislation in the British House of Commons.

D.  A certain kind of Egyptian pyramid

E.  A select group.  The number of (such as a majority) of officers of a body that when duly assembled is legally competent to conduct business,



6.  quisling (noun)
'
A.  A baby goose

B.  A mysterious stranger

C.  A beginner or novice tennis player

D.  A traitor, a collaborator

E.   A miniature puppet



7.  quintessential (adjective)
'
A.  Very necessary

B.  Perfectly typical or representative of a particular kind of person or thing

C.  Unrecognized and unappreciated

D.  Ancient

E.  Noticeable in an unwelcome way, obtrusive in manner



8.  quinoa (noun)
'
A.  A 16th fortress used to protect Spanish cities from attack

B.   A type of dog breed originating in South America

C.  An annual herb of the goosefoot family

D.  A type of Spanish ship

E.  A kind of Mexican bread eaten on special occasions



9.  quiescent (adjective)
'
A.  A description for one who doesn't speak much

B.  Having very little light

C.  Marked by extreme weariness

D.  Marked by inactivity or repose

E.  One who chooses words very carefully as  not to offend



10.  quagmire (noun)
'
A.  Quicksand or unsteady ground

B.  A very difficult crossword puzzle

C.  A riddle that is very difficult to solve

D.  A mysterious dream

E.  A difficult, puzzling, or embarrassing situation

ANSWERS 
(Note:  The definitions for the correct answers have been taken from the Merriam-Webster dictionary or thesaurus)

1.  C
quixotic (adjective):  Foolishly impractical in pursuit of ideals especially: marked by rash lofty romantic ideals or extravagantly chivalrous action

The word "quixotic" is derived from the name "Don Quixote," the idealistic hero of the 17th century Spanish novel El Ingenioso Don Quijote de la Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes.  Quixote tilted at windmills, imagining himself to be a shining knight on a gallant steed.


2.  A
quell (verb): To thoroughly overwhelm and reduce to submission or passivity as in quell a riot; to quiet or pacify as in quell fears


3.  B
quotidian (adjective):  Everyday, ordinary, commonplace; examples - Not content with the quotidian quarrels that other couples had, they had arguments that shook the entire neighbourhood.  He was plagued by a quotidian coughing fit, the result of years of smoking.



4.  C
quota (noun):  A proportional part or share; the number or amount constituting a proportional share, especially the share of proportion assigned to each in a division or to each member of a body
Examples: The agency imposes strict fishing quotas.
                  The company has imposed quotas as on hiring.


5.  E.
quorum (noun):  A select group; the number of (such as a majority) of officers of a body that when duly assembled is legally competent to conduct business.
Example: We need five people to make a quorum.


6.  D
quisling (noun): A traitor, a collaborator
Vidkun Quisling was a Norwegian army officer and founder of Norway's fascist party.  In 1933, he met with Adolf Hitler and encouraged him to occupy Norway.  His name became used in English to refer to any traitor.


7.  B
quintessential (adjective): Perfectly typical or representative of a particular kind of person or thing
Example: He's your quintessential streetwise New Yorker.


8.  C
quinoa (noun): An annual herb of the goosefoot family that is native to the South American Andean highlands and is cultivated for its starchy seeds which are used as food and ground into flour.


9.  D
quiescent (adjective): Marked by inactivity or repose; tranquility at rest (as in a group of quiescent loungers recovering from the Thanksgiving feast); causing no trouble or symptoms (as in quiescent gallstones)


10.  E
quagmire (noun): A difficult, puzzling, or embarrassing situation from which there is no easy escape; a dilemma, a Catch-22, a predicament
Example: The job seeker was facing the usual quagmire of not having full time experience and the inability to gain full time experience without being hired.


- Joanne

Meditations at Home During the Pandemic #2

This is the second in a series of meditations while I am at home during the COVID-19 crisis.  

These are dark times and many people are physically and mentally exhausted from worry and pain.  I've been at home for about five weeks now.  I've been keeping busy but the five weeks have gone by at a snail's pace..  Sometimes I feel like I've been in isolation for five years.  Sometimes life before the virus seems so distant, as if it's a dreamy past life that feels further and further away.  Everything is surreal.  There is so much human suffering and so many lives have been disrupted.  We have seen humanity at its worst and humanity at its best.  Thank goodness for our health care workers who are underpaid and overworked.  They are the salt of the earth and they continue to put their lives on the line every day.

Unfortunately, there is a dearth of strong leadership in the world, with some notable exceptions such  Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany and Prime Minister Jacinda Adern of New Zealand.  If only there was a Franklin Roosevelt or a Winston Churchill to help us get through these tough times.  Alas, the United States has Donald Trump and the United Kingdom has Boris Johnson.  Sadly, some selfish and irresponsible politicians, such as Trump and President Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil, are encouraging people to relax social distancing measures.  They want to reopen businesses again, no matter the consequences and the risk to human lives.   For them, it's all about money.  The sick and elderly are not as important as the economy.  They are not as important as getting Trump re-elected.

This mentality is reflected in the words of disgraced former Fox News host Bill O'Reilly who said, "Many people are dying, both here and around the world were on their last legs anyway, and I don't want to sound callous about that."  Really, Mr. O'Reilly?  Well, you could have fooled me.

Fortunately, the words of great leaders live on, as do comforting quotations during this terrible pandemic of 2020.  Here are some words that I hope with help to get you through this extremely challenging time.  As difficult as this is, we must carry on.  We must endure. We must triumph.


"So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is...fear itself — nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance."

- Franklin Delano Roosevelt
First Inaugural Address"
March 4, 1933



"We must accept finite disappointments but we must never lose infinite hope."

- Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968), American civil rights leader
From Strength to Love, published in 1963



"I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness for it shows me the stars."

- Augustine "Og" Mandino (1923-1996), American author
From The Greatest Salesman in the World, Chapter 9, "The Scroll Marked II,"published in 1968


- Joanne

Meditations at Home During the Pandemic #1

This is the first in a series of meditations while I am at home during the COVID-19 crisis.  

One of my favourite compositions is "No Man Is an Island," written by the great English scholar and poet John Donne.(1572-1631).  "No Man Is an  Island" is an  extract from a work of prose entitled Devotions upon Emergent Occasions, and several steps in my sickness.  Devotions was written while Donne was suffering from a life-threatening illness.  In 1623, according to Encyclopaedia Britannica, he came down with what was believed to be "relapsing fever or typhus."

During the time of his illness, Donne was isolated at home, just as we are today.  He did some deep soul searching.  He reflected on the similarities between his physical and spiritual afflictions, resulting in the publication of Devotions upon Emergent Occasions in 1624.   Devotions is divided into 23 parts, each containing three subsections, namely the "mediation" "the expostulation" and a prayer.  Each of the 23 parts reflects Donne's thoughts and feelings on a single day of his sickness.  The 17th Devotion or "Meditation XVII" includes the oft-quoted phrases "No man is an island" and " . . . for whom the bells toll."  Inspired by Donne's words, American writer Ernest Hemingway titled  his classic 1940 novel For Whom the Bell Tolls.

Below is a painting of John Donne by Isaac Oliver, an English portrait miniature painter.

John Donne's words couldn't be more appropriate during this chaotic time in human history.  Although Donne wrote "No man is an island," in the 17th century, his words are just as meaningful in the turbulent 21st century.  Our world is too divided and our politics are too partisan.  Ultra-nationalism is a moral disease.  Slogans such as "America First" are but the stepping stones to disaster.

There is nothing wrong with self-reliance and individual responsibility per se.  In fact, those are laudable traits.  However, unless those traits are accompanied by a sense of community and a connection to others, there will be severe social inequality, selfishness, unfettered capitalism, Trumpism and greed.  That's why I believe that far-right leaders and their followers are leading us down a very perilous path.  There is only one world and countries are unwise to try to fence themselves in.

Here are John Donne's immortal words:


No Man Is an Island

No man is an island,

Entire of itself;

Every man is a piece of the continent, 

A part of the main.

If a clod be washed away by the sea,

Europe is the less,

As well as if a promontory were:

As well as if a manor of thy friend's

Or of thine own were.

Any man's death diminishes me,

Because I am involved in mankind.

And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls;
It tolls for thee.

- John Donne


The world would be a better place if more people took those words more seriously.

- Joanne

Easter in a time of global darkness and despair

"Do not abandon yourselves to despair.  We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song."

Pope John Paul II


Last Easter I wrote about the fire at the venerable Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.  Nearly a year after
that terrible inferno, Notre Dame opened for a a small Good Friday Service in the midst of a pandemic lockdown.

USA Today reported that a small group of seven worshipers gathered inside the historic Gothic structure (which is closed to the public) for 40 minutes of prayer, music and readings. The group presumably remained far apart and took every precaution to protect themselves from COVID-19.

 In a video news conference, Paris Archbishop Michel Aupetit stated, "This message of hope is especially important in these days where we are particularly affected by coronavirus, which is sowing anguish, death and paralysis in our country and the world."

This Easter, I find myself trying to find hope in a time of global chaos and suffering.  This is the first Easter that I and countless others around the world are unable to spend with family members.  It is the first Easter that I have had to attend church online.  Still, I know I am more blessed than millions of people in the world.  I have food and a roof over my head.  I have not contracted the virus and I am not in physical pain.  Yes, it is a stressful and worrisome time.  In fact, to be absolutely honest, it is a global nightmare.  People are suffering and dying and it's difficult to stay positive when the news is filled with so much doom and gloom. 

Yes, we can use our time at home to take stock of our lives, to figure out what is really important to us.  Yes, we can lend a hand to those who are alone and vulnerable.  Still, I will not sugarcoat this disaster.  This is not easy.  Our lives are not normal and there is so much sickness and death.  We can not come and go as we please.  So many events in our lives have had to be cancelled or delayed.  However, as Queen Elizabeth II, stated in her Easter message," Easter has not been cancelled."  It can't be cancelled and it will go on forever.

This pandemic cannot last forever, so I wait for a better day.  Next year I hope to celebrate with family and friends.  We will stand together.


"This too shall pass"

- Persian proverb expressing the temporary nature or ephemerality of the human or earthly condition.


"And not only this, but we also exalt in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance proven character, and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

- Romans 5:3-5


- Joanne

Amazing and rare historical photos #4

Here are some more rare, historical photos to entertain you as you isolate yourself at home during this horrific pandemic.  I hope they will provide a distraction for you so that you can get your mind off all the sad news.  I found these photos fascinating and I hope you do too.

This is the fourth and final installment of four sets of rare historical photos on Number 16.  

- Joanne


MORE RARE AND HISTORIC PHOTOS

Back when airlines served a full meal, in flight, 1958

Motorola remote control TV, 1962

President John F. Kennedy, moments before being assassinated in Dallas, Texas on November 22, 1963

"Earthrise" over the moon, taken by members of Apollo 8 crew in 1968

Niagara Falls without water, 1969

Opening ceremony at the Woodstock music festival, August 1969

The Jackson family, 1970

McDonald's menu in the early 1970s

Said to be the last known photo of John Lennon and Paul McCartney, 1974

President Gerald R. Ford and Pelé, 1975

Opening day of Star Wars, 1977



DISCLAIMER - Please Note: If I have mistakenly posted a photo that is not in the public domain or have violated a copyright, please notify me and I will remove the photo immediately.

Amazing and rare historical photos #3

Here are some more rare, historical photos to entertain you as you isolate yourself at home during this horrific pandemic.  I hope they will provide a distraction for you so that you can get your mind off all the sad news.  I found these photos fascinating and I hope you do too.

This is the third of four sets of rare historical photos on Number 16.  I will be posting  the fourth and final installment of photos tomorrow.

- Joanne


MORE RARE HISTORICAL PHOTOS

Women demonstrating against Prohibition, 1932

The rarely seen back of the Hoover Dam before if filled with water 1936

Golden Gate Bridge construction, San Francisco, 1937

When the Hindenburg exploded, May 6, 1937

Children wearing gas masks while playing, 1941

Unwanted babies for sale in Italy, 1940a

Oranges for 1 cent, 1942

The famous Hollywood sign, which originally said "Hollywoodland."  The last four letters were removed in 1949.

Martin Luther King Jr, arrested outside a courtroom, 1958

Singer Freddie Mercury of Queen, 1958




DISCLAIMER - Please Note: If I have mistakenly posted a photo that is not in the public domain or have violated a copyright, please notify me and I will remove the photo immediately.

Amazing and rare historical photos #2

Here are some more rare, historical photos to entertain you as you isolate yourself at home during this horrific pandemic.  I hope they will provide a distraction for you so that you can get your mind off all the sad news.  I found these photos fascinating and I hope you do too.

This is the second of four sets of rare historical photos on Number 16.  I will be posting some more photos tomorrow.

- Joanne


MORE RARE HISTORICAL PHOTOS

The day after the Titanic disaster, London, April 16, 1915

Grand Canyon, 1914

William Harley and Arthur Davidson, 1914

Gaudi's Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, Spain, 1915

1922 Beach police - No swimsuit was allowed to be six inches (15.2 centimetres) above the knee

This is how people took selfies in 1920






The unbroken seal on Tutankhamun's (King Tut's) tomb, 1922

London bus, 1928

View from the top on the opening day of the Empire Stare Building, New York City, 1931

Al Capone's free soup kitchen, Chicago, 1931


DISCLAIMER - Please Note: If I have mistakenly posted a photo that is not in the public domain or have violated a copyright, please notify me and I will remove the photo immediately.

Amazing and rare historical photos #1

Here are some rare, historical photos to entertain you as you isolate yourself at home during this horrific pandemic.  I hope they will provide a distraction for you so that you can get your mind off all the sad news.  I found these photos fascinating and I hope you do too.

This is the first of four sets of rare historical photos on Number 16.  I will be posting some more photos tomorrow and in the coming days.

- Joanne


RARE HISTORICAL PHOTOS

Construction of Eiffel Tower 1880