Ataraxia

  Europe’s Decline and Fall by Richard Youngs   This is a book that I have received as a gift: once in a while, The Economist sends me an invitation to participate in a 15’-20’ survey, for which the gift is a book like this one. I am a fan of The Economist, which I have started reading about 30 years ago and never missed an issue, except for very few. Being such a loyal reader and subscriber, it is to be expected that I enjoy the books recommended, or written by present or former staff. I do not resume myself to reading The Economist every single week, but access their site to listen to and watch the rather likeable editors, discussing various issues on videos posted at  www.economist.com . Today, Babbage posted a very interesting video on eBooks…   Europe’s Decline and Fall presented me with familiar issues, as mentioned above, found in the issues of The Economist over the past decades. The rise of Asia and in particular China have made Obama change his defense prio...

  Class Clown by George Carlin – ‘known for his dark comedy and reflections on politics, English, psychology, religion, and taboo subjects…’ – I have enjoyed this rather short act, especially since I think I may identify with the Class Clown – or others will, at World Class, the club where we meet – this is where I promote my own ‘gig’: you have more than five (they may be more than six by now) thousand reviews of magnum opera from The Greatest books of All Time site and others, plus notes on films from The New York Times’ Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made and other pages on my blog and YouTube channel https://realinibarzoi.blogspot.com/2025/09/do-you-have-any-feedback.html     9 out of 10   Humor is one of the ten ingredients of positivity, as identified by one of the best experts, Barbara Fredrickson, in her psychology classic Positivity https://realinibarzoi.blogspot.com/2025/01/positivity-by-barbara-fredrickson-life.html the others would be awe, interest,...

  Bad Day at Black Rock, based on a story by Howard Breslin A different version of this note and thoughts on other books are available at: -               https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEVa4_CsRStSBBDo4uJWT8BSWtTTn0N1E   and    http://realini.blogspot.ro/ This is one of the best suspense stories that I know. The cast of the film is exceptional: -            Spencer Tracy, Robert Ryan, Ernest Borgnine, Lee Marvin At the beginning of the movie, the train stops in Black Rock. And this is already the first unusual event. This train has not stopped in the station in four years. A stranger descends and we are witnessing an astonishing occasion. Black Rock is not the place to stop or visit and this man will soon find how welcome he is. Spencer Tracy is perfect in the role of John Macreedy. He is a war veteran that has lost an arm. And to...

  Clerks, starring, written and directed by Kevin Smith 8.4 out of 10 Kevin Smith is a talented, versatile, creative, original writer, director and actor. However, he can also behave in a rather bizarre, outre manner, as others have pointed out. Bill Maher has spoken recently about the adult who still dresses like a child, referring to this Silent Bob. Having said that, Clerks is a refreshing, innovative, highly entertaining comedy. It's satire manages to score quite a few serious points. Take the fine of $ 500 that an authority imposes on one of the Clerks, because a minor, one who is just four furthermore, has been sold cigarettes. The intention is laudable, but the pain is inflicted on the wrong man. We could consider serious the discussion surrounding sex, when one could consider that it happens and when not. The girl in this particular dialogue feels that oral sex with someone does not mean he must be considered a sex partner and when she starts counting, she is soon over the ...

  Topper Takes a Trip by Thorne Smith Eight out of 10 We can find Topper Takes a Trip on the 1,000 Books Everyone Must Read list  https://www.theguardian.com/books/2009/jan/23/bestbooks-fiction  though to try perhaps the same passé jocularity that pervades the book it would be difficult to see why, especially if one has not managed to finish the damn book, except by just turning the pages to see The END written all over and place it on the shelf…well, given its electronic format, it was not really physically moved anywhere. The problem with comedy books might be that if the reader does not find them particularly funny, does not go for the kind of humor that is peddled by the writer, perhaps – maybe more likely in this instance – the man or woman taking up the narrative does not have the sense of humor that is so vital for the wellbeing of humans in that it is one of the preconditions of happiness, and is even listed as one of the components of Transcendence as a Signature...