The great stoic Marcus Aurelius says,

“When force of circumstance upsets your balance, lose no time in recovering your self-control, and do not remain out of tune longer than you can help. Habitual recurrence to harmony will increase your mastery of it.”

Originally heard on Reflections from the keyboard on June 27, 2007, 10 p.m. on 96.3fm WQXR, and wqxr.com

Do you need a worthwhile vacation? Then read about my Polish-Chopin trip.

You may want to take part in it. There will be sightseeing and music, plus Chopin and Chopin Vodka. I’ve heard that everything is well done, and among others Jung Lin will give a recital.

Let me know if you are interested, it’s the first week of August. I heard Cracow is beautiful, it will be lots of pleasure.

D.Dubal

I am one to use obscenity occasionally when I am frustrated, these primitive words strike a tone and a mood, and one may feel relieved for a micro second. But to hear these words in public is ugly. A couple of days ago, going to teach a class, I rode up the elevator, with a student, talking to another student; using the famous F word over and over in his grunting conversation with his pal. Sometimes he’d say “f—ing bastart” or “f—ing sh– head.” Years ago, no decent person would say such words over and over with ten others trapped in the elevator hearing them. But it was so natural and common to him. While listening to his conversation, I could not actually understand what he was really trying to say. The swear words were used instead of any thinking. And such words are always manifestations of anger and rage. Swearing has historically been a “male” thing, (watch the Sopranos, the show wouldn’t exist without the F word.) But recently I’ve been listening to lots of females swearing. Women coming down to the level of men — please don’t!

My violence is the world’s violence.

David

I just saw on CUNY TV the great Bill Moyers gave a speech in Memphis, which is most important and I wish you would look at — It’s the most impassioned speech this warrior for democracy ever made. One of my fears is the scourges taking over the internet.

Bless you,

DD

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Happy and healthy new year to one and all — Let the world thrill to great piano music.

This is my first blog entry — if you enjoy it I’ll do another. Tell me…

Going to Philadelphia to give a lecture, on the train, I asked for the quiet car. But there was none — I so fear the cell phone — that number one public nuisance.

Of course, the moment the train had started the cell phones began, with their insipid tunes. I glared without effect. So I decided to listen to see what were the three most used words. Without a doubt — between the sickening junk talk, were heard three words over and over — they were in this order: OK, alright, and yea.

In 1962, Erich Fromm said the human being is becoming homo mechanicus, or gadget man. How right he was!