Written Whizdom

Writing is tough. I am not a professional although I have made a few bucks writing for companies and candidates. I have not relied on writing for my livelihood and do not consider myself a pro. Writing lacks the full-throated context of speech wherein one can through inflection, volume and tone convey additional meaning to the stark words. It is difficult to share irony or satire with the written word when one lacks the talent for doing so. I am also a cynic and a skeptic which compounds the task of clear communication….a cynically satirical piece can create confusion among the readers. All I want for Christmas is to be a Word Wizard….in total command of the nuance and shading of every word in the Universe….in all languages for all time.

In the simplest models communication is a four-part process involving the source, message, the channel and the receiver. Those would be you, your idea, your voice or your keyboard, and your listener or reader. Generally communication is not that simple and precise communication is even more complicated. There are numerous intervening variables that impact a communication attempt. The state of mind of the listener or reader can have a huge impact on any communication effort. For example have you ever uttered some innocuous comment only to have a listener (intended or eavesdropping) take offense? That may have happened because the listener had a preconceived notion that your message seemed to confirm or reject. Or it could be something as perplexing that they are having a bad day and are immersed in paranoia and defensiveness so any statement from you is viewed as potentially offensive.

Given all the clinkers that invade the communication process, I am amazed that our species continues to exist. We take offense when none was intended or we inadvertently offend because we use the wrong word, phrase, reference or timing. Dogs have it so much easier. A well-placed sniff identifies the invading critter as “friend or foe” and measures are taken accordingly. If we went around butt sniffing one another, I might have a more hopeful expectation for the future of the human race. But I digress….there are so many factors that inhibit perfect communication and understanding, that I am amazed that we do not have even more interpersonal and international conflicts than we have now.

If you or someone you love has been married for a significant length of time, you’re aware of the potential for misunderstanding and conflict. A marriage is a simple one-to-one (usually….well, generally) communication context wherein the sender/receiver relationship alternates between parties and is expected to have a high degree of familiarity and cohesion. Yet….conflict occurs…..sometimes for serious reasons and other times for head-scratching ones. So…extend this picture to the writer/audience relationship. It seems obvious that there will be misunderstanding and friction. They are inevitable and likely. Given that in most cases the writer and the reader have never met, have no personal knowledge of one another (unless the writer shares that information) and are operating in different environments. It is truly amazing that disagreements are not more frequent or more fierce.

Sometimes a writer has a difficult time expanding a concept. She or he has a vague sense of what must be said or written to clearly present the idea but the exact words to project the precise meanings will not be found. This is a form of the devastating nightmare called writer’s block. It is painful……………………………………………………………………………………………..

Comment: cearlwriting@hotmail.com

www.littlestuff-minoosha.blogspot.com

       

Littlestuff Weekender-6-12-2011

What a week it has been since our last Weekender. Anthony Weiner continues to fight for his political survival. His defenders state that he must stay in office because he has never done anything else. Yes, Anthony the narcissistic exhibitionist is a “CAREER POLITICIAN” and is not equipped for any other line of work. Aren’t we and his brain-dead constituents the lucky ones? His twisted little arrogant mind has been solely dedicated to “public service” and texting graphic pictures of his intimate body parts to barely-known female acquaintances while his wife works in another government job. Weiner should be the poster boy for cultural depravity, career politics, big government, elitist tyrants. As a resident of Brooklyn, I’m certain there’s a 7-11 there somewhere where he could work the night shift. Go, little man, go. Get outta my sight. Your whining, your arrogance, your sick mind, your smug belief that you know more than the people … make me ill. Just go, and the lunk-heads of New York will find your clone to represent them.

Had a terrific vacation in the Outer Banks…lots of writing and reading although my progress with each was less than I had hoped. It’s good to be home. Frosty was thrilled to see his “treat master” again. Thanks to PJ, Heather, Sully and Oliver for watching my faithful canine companion for the past week or so. He doesn’t look as if he missed any meals.

One of the greatest benefits from a week of vacation is the opportunity for thinking. I’ve returned with loads of topics for future columns plus some exploratory threads for the book (books). Now comes the research and development into 700-word bites. While in North Carolina, I wrote 4 columns and attempted to use my location or situation thematically. Day one featured the Wright Brothers (Kitty Hawk), day two was a metaphorical discussion of the tides, the third day reviewed the importance of birthdays (I had my 65^th on Monday), and the fourth column revolved around returning home. Some of the “Write-for-the-moment” exercises worked better than others, but it was an enjoyable challenge.

The newscasts informed me that the GOP House was yielding some ground on the budget cut/debt ceiling ratio. I was neither surprised nor dismayed. I expected it. Despite the label or letter behind the politician’s name, they are all CAREER POLITICIANS who will not hesitate to spend your money and compromise your freedom away. An email thread contained an impressive list of GOP proposed budget cuts…proposals and lists mean nothing, legislation and passage mean something, bureaucratic interpretation means everything.

So Newtie’s third wife, Calista, has driven off 15 professional political staffers from his campaign. One, we should ban all “professional political types” (Just kidding, I’m a libertarian, after all), Newt should get a clue about his prospects, the bond between spouses should always supersede other relationships even if it is professionally harmful.

Mitt thinks we are responsible for warming the planet. No problem, his Massachusetts version of socialized medicine can treat us all for sunburn. Broadcaster Mike Church calls him “Mitt for brains….” graphic and appropriate.

We’ll be on WSPD this week on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday…6:00pm to 7:00pm, 1370 AM.  www.wspd.com

Our column is now being distributed in California as our daily ruminations are slowly spreading across the fruited plain. Hope that I don’t run out of ideas before the spread has ended. I’ve been engaged in political column writing for about 18 months with the daily version for about 5 months. I feel like the Grandma Moses of political-philosophical punditry. It’s fun, it’s exhausting, it’s exhilarating and it’s frustrating at times. This is a very selfish undertaking as I attempt to make some sense of the goings-on in our world. Thank you for sharing it with me.

Monday’s column is “Howdy Duty.” Enjoy your Sunday, hug your family and always work for liberty.

Comment:   cearlwriting@hotmail.com     or    www.littlestuff-minoosha.blogspot.com

Littlestuff Weekender-6-5-2011

Littlestuff Weekender-6-4-2011

Today we move into our 9 bedroom house in Duck, NC. Serious reading, eating, occasional imbibing, a few cigars and some terrific fellowship will mark the week ahead. Getting here posed some challenges. The first occurred when we had been on the road for a mere 7 minutes. We were driving north on I-75 to make our connection to the Ohio Turnpike (I-80) when we saw a massive traffic jam ahead (seems the White House entourage had chosen that moment to leave the Toledo Jeep plant).  After several detours and delays, we managed to get on the turnpike 35 minutes behind schedule. Oh well, the clown didn’t have my vote to begin with so my inconvenience didn’t cost him anything.

We arrived in Duck, NC around 11:30am on Saturday and proceeded to unload the vehicles to set up our housekeeping for the next week or so. Counting the time on Friday to drive to pick up Shaun, my grandson, I spent 16 hours on the road in that day and a half. I discovered that I can still do it with minimal deterioration of driving skills and alertness. As I write this early Sunday morning, I realize that the recovery is taking longer. It’s good to be here, however, even if it will take the remainder of the week to recover enough to go home….an intriguing cost/benefit ratio.

Frosty is spending his/our vacation with P.J., Heather, Sully and Oliver so his separation anxiety should be minimal. When we arrived, I enjoyed my first Cohiba of the week thanks to Ron who pulled them out right after the unloading was completed. As of Sunday morning, no adult beverages have passed these tender lips…maybe Wednesday.

If you are like me and try to make some sense out of the array of economic data, then the warning lights should be flashing, the sirens blaring and the sky darkening. Some of it is optimistically “OK,” and some of it is alarming, but the amazing inconsistency of the various data should cause one to pause. No one knows the truth, and none of them tells the truth. It leads to a “Ruh, Roh,” awakening. Don’t be caught asleep.

We have fascinating subjects for columns in the days ahead. As with all things of this nature, we have to do some research to verify information and justify our conclusions. (Doesn’t always work that way) Following the data verification comes the writing in a way that hopefully adds to the conversation.  We’ll see how it works out.

Progress for Part III of our book hit a snag, but is now back on track. It’s an enjoyable but agonizing process that has become a phenomenal learning experience for me. In addition to the mechanics involved in publishing I have added to my understanding about history and economics. Win, lose or draw, this book effort has been a valuable one for me.

The schedule for Littlestuff in the coming week is rather unsettled at this moment. I’ll attempt to write every day, but I’m certain that my writing routine will be somewhat disturbed. Time will tell.

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