Previous William Thomas Sherman Info Page postings, quotes, observations, etc.
"Evidence Of Revision - JFK Assassination Rarities"*
"Evidence Of Revision - Part 1 - 1" [the full program -- episode one]
In passing let me first state, I believe the Ricky White story is wrong, but 1) he is not himself lying, and 2) his father may well have been tied in with some of the assassination's most conspicuously involved figures, but White Sr. as a direct accomplice or suspect seems an extremely remote and unlikely possiblity. Of more interest to me personally was the story of Dorothy Kilgallen -- who I did not know of previously. It was odd because some weeks ago I was viewing the "Land of the Giants" episode "Deadly Dart" (1970), and in it is a woman newsreporter character depicted rather as quasi-villain and demagogue, and I was wondering who on earth could she have been based on? Well, as it turns out, so far and at present Kilgallen is far and away the closest I have ever come to hearing of such a character in real life. Also, check out under her name at YouTube, and you will or may be amazed, just incidentally, at the wide range and array of stars that appeared on "What's My Line?" Another one of those, for me at least, thought provoking things that makes today's culture look like it's a whole world away from back then.
* The Frank Sinatra series of clips are taken from the 1954 film "Suddenly."
Later. See also "RADIO INTERVIEW WITH JOSIAH THOMPSON (DECEMBER 29, 1967)"
["Suzanne Vega: In Liverpool - Budapest, 2009"]
Don't worry -- it's only Glen Campbell wearing it, but could anyone possibly tell me what they called those kinds of neck ties? "Indian ties?" (I recollect wearing them myself in the day.)
["Glen Campbell - Galveston [Very Good(+) quality]" -- Goodtime Hour?]
Later. Someone correctly informed me they are "Apache" ties.
An 80's flashback -- about the one Madonna song I especially remember taking a shine to.
["Madonna - Like A Prayer" -- orig. video]
For those who don't already have or are still looking for a dependable and comprehensive PC English Language Dictionary, I strongly suggest the Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary and Thesaurus, and that I have myself been using now for some years; based as it is on the bound volume versions of those titles, and which last (at least as far as the dictionary) have been with me since my post-elementary school years (or a long time otherwise.)
Below is another (albeit far briefer) excerpt from The Cambridge History of American Literature; in this instance from the chapter "Later [1850-1920] Philosophy" by Morris R. Cohen. The italics and bracketed notes are mine:
"In the history of philosophy naturalism has been associated with the study of physics
(generally atomic), with emphasis on the way our thoughts are controlled by our bodies or by
the physical environment. Dewey has no physical theories. He is a psychologist, primarily
interested in how and why men think and how their thoughts modify their experience. He is a
professed realist in his belief that our thoughts alone do not constitute the nature of things
but that there is a pre-existing world of which thought is an outgrowth and on which it reacts.
But the continual emphasis on thought as efficient in transforming our world gives him the
appearance of having remained an idealist in spite of his conversion. Like the Hegelian
idealists, he distrusts abstractions and prefers the 'organic' point of view to that which
views things as composed of distinct elements. He differs from the Hegelians in this respect
only in his contention that everything acquires its meaning by reference to a changing
'situation' instead of by reference to an all inclusive totality. [A changing situation in relation to what?] Like the ethical idealists,
also, Dewey insists with Puritanic austerity on the serious responsibility of philosophy. It
must not be a merely aesthetic contemplation of the world, nor a satisfaction of idle curiosity
or wonder. It must be a means for reforming or improving. Just what constitutes an improvement
of man's estate we are not clearly told. In his theory of education which forms the chief
impetus and application of his theoretic views the plasticity of human nature is fully
recognized; and he argues that intelligence not only makes us more efficient in attaining given
ends, but liberalizes our ends. In the main, however, he emphasizes improved control over
external nature rather than improved control over our own passions and desires.
"Judged by the ever-increasing number and contagious zeal of his disciples, Dewey has proved to
be the most influential philosopher that America has as yet produced. This is all the more
remarkable when we remember that all his writings are fragmentary, highly technical, and
without any extraneous graces of style to relieve the close-knitting of the arguments. Clearly
this triumph is due not only to rare personal qualities as a teacher but also to the extent
that his thought corresponds to the prevailing American temper of the time. Dewey appeals
powerfully to the prevailing distrust of other-worldliness, a distrust which permeates even our
theology with its emphasis on the social mission of the Church. The doctrine that all ideas are
and ought to be instruments for reforming the world and making it a better place to live in,
appeals at once to popular utilitarianism, to the worship of immediate practical results of
which Theodore Roosevelt was such a conspicuous representative. In a country where so many
great deeds in the conquest of nature are still to be performed, the practical man's contempt
for the contemplative and the visionary is re-enforced by the Puritanic horror of idle play and
of things which are purely ornamental. A philosophy which views nature as material to be transformed by our intelligence appeals to the prevailing light-hearted optimism
which sees success [????] as the constant reward of intelligent effort and finds no inherent obstacles
to the establishment of a heaven on earth. Certainly Dewey nowhere calls to our attention the
existence of incurable evil— the evil against which our only remedy is some form of wisely
cultivated resignation.
"In his zeal for making philosophy useful and responsible, a good deal of the traditional glory
of philosophy is ignored, if not denied. The intellectual activity which we call theoretic
science is subordinated to its practical application. In eliminating the personal consolations
of philosophy, he also eliminates the great saving experience which it affords us in making us
spectators of a great cosmic drama in which solar systems are born and destroyed, a drama in
which our part as actors is of infinitesimal significance. Yet historically the most
significant feature of Dewey's thought is undoubtedly the fact that in an age of waning faith
in human reason—witness the rapid spread of the romantic mysticism of Bergson—he has rallied
those who still believe in the cause of liberalism based on faith in the value of intellectual
enlightenment."
Now where are all those sincere, disinterested, objective scientific investigators willing to examine into my currently decade old claims respecting spirit people? (At least the latter will have proven themselves of pragmatic help to "somebody" -- inasmuch as such beneficiaries, as a result, do not either have to do his job or compete against rivals.)
Under the circumstances, their cheating and robbing me I can stand. But that they can, will, or are in a position to compensate or justify themselves to me (short of their being hanged or deported irrevocably?) At this, Lord have mercy, my rage exceeeds no bounds.
If I may, let me try to explain to you the fundamental flaw of the demonistic position. Basically, the demonistic idea centers around the notion that you murder your rival, and then collect and take home what he possess for purposes of your own enrichment; while in the process revealing how clever you are to act so. Leaving aside obvious moral reservations one might harbor toward such an overtly criminal approach, in practice (otherwise) it doesn't work, and for a number of reasons. For one thing, an individual who adopts such a method invariably becomes a vassal to the king of all murderers; whose province they invade by taking up his ways. Secondly, people who think little of murder make poor lovers (regardless of what sort of loving you care to speak of.) And yet it is most typical of such who seek to aggrandize themselves in order to secure love in one form of another -- not fear; despite their highly prizing the power intimidation, as they do or might, otherwise. I was reading on someone's web postings how very moved they were by the surprise "sad" ending to "Toy Story 3." Curious, I went to have a look at what this was about; assuming also as I do that some of the worst and most flagrant murderers in the world today can be found among those running Hollywood. Here's what I saw. In fairness, you need to understand that the toy characters, who the viewer will have followed up to this point, are intended to be seen as old chums you (are supposed to) have spent memorable and loving times with -- hence the sad farewell. The clip speaks for itself, and as far as I m concerned proves exactly my point (namely, the futility of attempting to profit from murder) -- though as with all Pixar and such films viewer discretion (for purposes of avoiding headaches and nausea) is advised.
["*TOY STORY 3 RAW FOOTAGE* SAD ENDING"]