Category Archives: random musings

Tap Dance & the Snow Job

Posted on June 29, 2022 by midiguru

In search of a little light reading, I grabbed Rupert Sheldrake’s book Science Set Free from my shelf. Evidently I bought it ten years ago, and also evidently I never read it, as it’s not marked up. I think I … Continue reading →

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The God Problem

Posted on June 20, 2022 by midiguru

Why does religion even exist? Lots of people are happy to offer answers to this question, but as Scott Atran points out in his book In Gods We Trust, those answers are really no better than just-so stories. They have … Continue reading →

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Are There Alternatives?

Posted on May 24, 2022 by midiguru

If you’re having serious problems due to your drinking and have a sincere desire to get sober, Alcoholics Anonymous can offer a fairly effective method. It’s not perfect, but it has worked for probably a few million people. (It’s an … Continue reading →

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Spin

Posted on April 19, 2022 by midiguru

I have no background in science, but I try to keep up on a few subjects because they interest me. Physics and cosmology, for instance. (Just don’t ask me to do the math.) I’m aware that there are problems in … Continue reading →

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Unholy Rollers

Posted on April 10, 2022 by midiguru

People who are religious typically take their religion quite seriously. Some of them simply bask in the glow of their beliefs, whatever those happen to be. I have no problem with that. People who are secure in their beliefs can … Continue reading →

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Flash in the Pan

Posted on April 8, 2022 by midiguru

Scanning the shelves for something to read while I ate supper, I pulled out Psychology and the Human Dilemma by Rollo May. Insights are to be gleaned — May’s brief critique of both Skinner and Rogers is viable — but … Continue reading →

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Victims R Us

Posted on March 17, 2022 by midiguru

Terminology is important. I went off on a rant yesterday about a Facebook post that used the word “stories,” and I’m going to share the rant with you, because this is my blog, and that’s what I use it for. … Continue reading →

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Freedom vs. the Common Good

Posted on January 19, 2022 by midiguru

There is always, inevitably, a tension between individual freedom and the need to work together for the common good. Neither idea can ever vanquish the other, and in extreme forms both are evil. When individual freedom is elevated as the … Continue reading →

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The Politics of Naughty

Posted on January 18, 2022 by midiguru

Recently I read an article about how some museums and galleries are removing from their walls the work of R. Crumb. Crumb got started in the Sixties, and by today’s standards — or by any standard — some of his … Continue reading →

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Music and Senescence

Posted on January 17, 2022 by midiguru

There are two ways to make music. First, you can physically play an instrument. (For simplicity we’ll lump your throat and mouth in with the other instruments.) Instead, you can record it, most likely using a computer. What you’re recording … Continue reading →

Posted in music, random musings, synthesizers | Tagged , , | 2 Comments