Welcome to Pizzaonia! Reflections from a different perspective --- Diverti Mento, John Frank Giovanni, Frank John Franco, Vera V. Veronica and all of the Pizza digogo DiVinci family invite you to join us - We discuss and share ideas that are relevant to our new emerging world. http://giovanniandfranco.com A division of the Pizzaonian Newsertainment Network
Conjectures of a Recovering Dilettante -- The nature of being a recovering dilettante
I was asked recently what is a recovering dilettante. My answer was we are all recovering dilettantes and as such; we need to recognize the condition.
Simply, in our digital age of transformation, information is now so ubiquitous and comprehensive it is no longer possible to be an expert in most areas. Certainly, in some fields of law, medicine, science and philosophy there will be the few extraordinary individuals who are experts, but they are the few, not the many.
For the rest of us, we are journeymen and women in our fields and unfortunately, we are all on the treadmill of obsolescence. The digital machine can do most of what we do.
I know this is extreme and controversial, but that does not make it any less true. The sooner we all come to grips with this, the faster we can move on to the new life that awaits us – and that life may not be as bad as some think.
My recent move back to Pizzaonia was partially motivated by the realization of the innovative life that is emerging for recovering dilettantes. I believe this emerging future is waiting for us to embrace it and when we do wondrous things will happen.
I will continue to explore this in future writings and invite your comments and participation. Thank you.
In every story or play the last act is always the hardest to write. At least, that’s the way it seems to me. Why, because nothing happens the way you plan it, not even make believe.
It is amazing how virtually everything has a life of its own. You have heard the saying: “You want to make God laugh,tell him your plans.” As we enter the last years of a long life, how true this is.
Trying to write a “last act’ to life is a fun exercise, especially when you realize how serendipitous life really is. How many times have very important events occurred in your life, simply because you turned left instead of right?
In my life, so many of the most important events were accidents of being in the right place at the right time
However, since nothing is written, let’s see if we can give some shape to the last act. How do you wrap up a long life? How do you have the last chapter make any sense? Maybe you don’t, but it is our nature to try.
Even though we know that we control nothing (This is the most humbling realization about life that becomes your reality in your last years.) it is our arrogant nature to try – to do any less would not be human.
For one, you have to believe you have a destiny. I have said this many times before. I know this appears to be presumptuous, but I am convinced this is one of the most important personal beliefs each of us must have. Please note: I said must have – that is how vital to our well-being this is.
I am often surprised when I see so many of our fellow human beings that don’t consider this at all. Perhaps they are not conceited enough to believe they have a “destiny.”
So maybe trying to write a “last act to your life” is an act of pure ego, Even so, I am sure going to have some fun trying. And when it is all said and done: What do I have to lose? After all it is the “last act.”
Image by Mikali - Courtesy of the Pizzaonian Art Institute, Abe Straction, Curator - Reality -Where the ocean kisses the land
Today trying to figure out what people mean by the term “spirituality” is difficult
We can no longer assume what a person is when they are described as spiritual. It can mean anything from a belief in their inner self to a self-described sense of personal transcendence – none of these descriptions necessarily mean they believe in a Divinity.
As for me, since I no longer know what the term means, what do I do about it? And, do I really care?
Perhaps I should care since this description carries several implied meanings not the least of which is “integrity.” Does this mean that when I meet a spiritual person that I would be more inclined to trust them automatically? I suspect for me it does.
For me when I hear the word spirituality being used to describe someone, I assume they believe in some sort of transcendence beyond themselves. I also assume that to some degree they are less worldly and inclined to put spiritual matters first. I am aware that I am making assumptions
And that is the point of this short musing. How many times do I base decisions on pure assumption and little else? Obviously, I do - many times.
Does this mean I should be less trusting and not be inclined to make snap judgements? Perhaps it should. But it does come at a cost. For one I will be more cautious in our relationships. Is that good? I will leave the answer to you.
As for me I would rather be trusting. I don’t want to be considered naïve, but I will take my chances on most people being trustworthy. Will I get hurt from time to time? Obviously the answer is yes. Even so, having thought it out, I will take my chances.
Contact: Publicio Relationio at the PNS office of Public Relations at PIZZAONIAN@YAHOO.COM
SUBJECT: United States political parties seek common ground
In a surprising show of solidarity the Democrats and Republicans pledged to find common ground and unlock the gridlock that suffocates American politics today.
Only one roadblock remains. In a joint statement each party announced the one item still remaining is the uncommon ground each party claims the other side still believes is essential to their pocketbooks, opps, we meant to say their principles.
Other than that both sides remain hopeful an agreement is imminent. More later as it develops……
As I listen to radio talk shows in the United States now that I am back in Pizzaonia, I spend more time reflecting on their worth as an information medium. Granted they are entertaining, but what purpose do they serve?
No doubt, they make money for the stations that broadcast them. The people who run the networks are experts on how to feed their respective markets. This is the problem. Since they understand their markets so well, each talk-show host knows which buttons to push to keep their listeners frothing at the mouth.
Nothing promotes ignorance faster than restricting your listening to those shows that reaffirm your established bias. Moreover, since these shows are editorial in nature, they use the “truth” very selectively to reinforce their particular editorial slant. Since this is only entertainment, you might ask what is the big deal?
If the surveys we read have merit, we are asked to believe that most folks get their information from the various radio and television talk shows they listen to and watch. Wow, how is that for a democratically informed electorate?
We live in a transformational time. The world is changing all around us. During times of transformational change, fear is always a by-product. Fear can be alleviated by accurate and intelligently presented points of view that help us shape our opinions. Alternatively, this fear can be used to create larger audiences by using demagoguery to feed the flames.
Profit trumps(Trump?) truth again. This fear mongering creates larger constituencies, and this creates larger audiences and bigger profits. Unfortunately, it also makes winning elections easier.
Pablum rules the day. Chicken or the egg? Do we get what we deserve or is what we are getting the best we have?
America needs a reality check if it is to have a meaningful presidential election that can reestablish the American democracy as the model for the world. The American people will decide if they have the necessary will and courage to demand leadership instead of patronization. Or, have they already decided, only time will tell.
Brother Giovanni, observations from Pizzaonia
"...what really counts is not the immediate act of courage or of valor, but those who bear the struggle day in and day out - not the sunshine patriots but those who are willing to stand for a long period of time." John F. Kennedy
If you are going to comment on what is happening in the United States today you have to be careful as to the style of writing you choose.
Events here have become bizarre enough to make you wonder if you are witnessing reality or some weird form of satire that has replaced real life experiences. The line between satire and life has become so blurred it is hard to know which is which.
All of this would be funny if it were not so serious. It is absurd to contemplate, but I am told that one way people here get their information about world events is by watching comedians comment on today’s news. If this is true imagine the consequences in a democracy where some semblance of fact is necessary to make an informed decision. And I would ask you: Are the political debates you are now experiencing any different?
What has caused this? And why do people here feel the way they do about politicians and political events? That will be for scholars of another generation to determine. As for now we can only speculate.
Some time ago a funny thing happened in the United States on the way to the polling place. Voters stopped taking their political leaders seriously. To some extent they still try to pay attention to their elections and keep up with what’s happening in the political arena, but for the most part they no longer believe what they see or here. While information is king, facts are no longer relevant.Today prospective voters want to be entertained.
What replaced their need for facts is a nebulous, intuitive feeling on how the events they are witnessing affects them. If they are agitated enough, they vote on this feeling, if not, they can wait for another day. If you think this is the way it always was, you might be right.
However, what makes this time more alarming is the degree to which this phenomenon is now unfolding and shaping present and future events. Information overload has taken its toll.
All of this is not lost on the opinion makers. Today they are able to get information out to millions of people in minutes. That information does not have to be accurate. What it does have to be is good enough to create the negative or positive impression they are trying to place in the public’s mind about a candidate or an idea - and above all - entertain.
No longer do you see serious attempts to bring reform and positive change. Now what you get is tacit acceptance of the system as it is while the manipulators without restraint use new, ingenious methods that exploit the situation to further their self-serving point of view.
Unfortunately, exploitation of public opinion has become the true art form in the United Sates. This includes the constant manipulating and bombarding of public opinion by innuendo, half-truths and lies all packaged to be made palatable to a mass audience.
This is now endemic to the culture here and has become so pervasive, cynicism is considered normal. Will they change this? - Only when it stops working – and I can see nothing in the immediate future that suggests that is going to happen.