* EXCERPT *

This excerpt was published in The Wilson Quarterly, winter 2010 (www.wilsonquarterly.com).  It is a beautiful 100 + page, black and white magazine that I happened to come across.  It's title is derived from the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.  It's catchprase is "Surveying the World of Ideas."  I don't profess to be a scholar, whatever that term means to you, but I do enjoy reading about thoughts of others that still appear in print format.  Enjoy the mobility and nobility of the printed word.  And you can even spill coffee on it and still read it.

Sage Advice
In terms of the history of an idea, it is a remarkable fact that most modern thinkers (in the West at least) have not been much concerned with the virtue of wisdom.  Their dominant concerns have been elsewhere, as new concepts captured the imagination : Reason, Natural Law, Science, Wissenschaft, Technology.  But the last 30 years have seen something of a renewal of academic interest in  the idea of wisdom, with many calls for a "scientific study of wisdom".... Fear is once again the beginning of wisdom, but now it is the fear of war, famine, pestilence, flood, and other man-made apocalypses.  For many, the global challenges of the 21st century require a combination of many qualities : an integrated theoretical knowledge; intelligent judgment or phronesis in applying theory to particular needs; reflection of what our needs really are; openness to new possibilities; humility before the complexities of nature and the human soul; calm; and perhaps most of all intuition to what is good, that immediate "knowledge of good and evil" that is the kernel of wisdom.

 - William Desmond,  lecturer at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, in In Character (Fall 2009)
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
There were a couple of words I did not know, not that that is peculiar.  So I looked them up.
     - Wissenschaft :  German language term for any study or science that involves systematic research and teaching
                                 
      - Phronesis :  in Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics is the virtue of practical thought, usually translated "practical wisdom", sometimes as "prudence".

This meant something to me because we as a society/world have gotten away from practical ideas and the significance of wisdom and intuition.  The old addages of  " trusting your gut feeling" and a " woman's intuition" are both viewpoints that we should never overlook as turmoil and strife try to take us over.

As for Mr. Desmond, he is a full professor at the Centre for Metaphysics and Modern Philosophy.

*** LAST WEEK ***

 Top 3 Things That Irked Me : 

1. Denver Nuggets Beat Down
2. Last Glass of Milk Sour
3. Sneezing

 Top 3 Things That Did Not Irk Me :

1. Detroit Red Wings Beat Down
2. Seeing Avatar Again
3. The Sun

It's A Kid's World

Tuesday night, May 11, 2010

The Village East Community Elementary School in Aurora, Colorado held a choir and percussion showcase for all the parents. This consisted roughly of 30-40 sugared-up kids of varying age groups. They were led stiffly to their positions onto some rickety bleachers (where is that safety brigade when you need it?) as if they weren't going to get chocolate ever again. Not an easy job for the harried teachers. Kind of like herding bees away from the hive with a toothpick. Our future, miniature Beverly Sills, Ren, was trying to spot us in the crowd. This is quite the challenge for her as she is a whisper over four feet tall. We could see her scanning the crowd as cameras and video gizmos were thrust above our heads. Laura and I were waving as if we were trying to put out a fire or signal a helicopter that there is indeed a fire. As the first song kicked in, Ren sheepishly acknowledged us and we could sit down, thus avoiding being part of other parents' videos.

Of the six-song set, maybe two were tolerable. A Bob Marley song, "Three Little Birds", was sung with such gusto I could swear there was a skunk nearby. Shifting and giggling, almost falling from the Lego stands, the kids concluded the set. Finally. My mind felt clear.

Then came the "Big Bang!" This was not a science experiment. My mind was ready for another assault but I was pleasantly surprised. Percussive instruments such as marimbas, congas, shakers and chimes were integrated into smooth and unique vibrations. Kind of like 15 Mike Oldfields performing "Tubular Bells". I swear I could smell that skunk again. The highlight was a drum solo by a fifth-grader that completely rocked the gymnasium and was all teeth after a well-deserved standing ovation.

Laura turned to me and asked what I thought of the showcase. I saw her lips moving as I pulled out my earplugs and asked "What"?

Manning the Home by Unhandy Man

Now, as a guy, I've got pride. Oodles of it. In fact, the last time I checked I had as much of it as I could stand. And I think as much as you out there. That does include the ladies. Even though, I don't think female pride is the same as male pride. We might have to discuss that at a later date. But pride took a hit when I had to become a handyman around our huge, 15 year-old, slowly crumbling, gated-community house.

I know, I know. Wah, wah, weep, weep. Everybody's got it tough these days. But this handiness doesn't come natural for a guy like me. Growing up, my Dad, bless his heart, told me the only way to get things done around the house, besides asking Mom, was to do it right the first time: hire a professional. So I grew up with the ideal of, other than changing light bulbs (I'll get to that later), call in the pros.

Living in my 700 square foot townhome for 10 years, I was able to put projects on the back burner. Probably because the front burner didn't work. Avoiding problems like leaking dishwasher (wash by hand!), broken garbage disposal (don't need it!), warped front door (use the back door!) and faded paint ( big murals and low lighting!), well, it was a full-time job. I still have to sit down with a cold lemonade when I think of all the home improvements I didn't improve.

I usually had a few fellow prideful guys over for a meaty BBQ, adequate amounts of liquor and tool-talk. Not that tool, perv, but the tools that one would use to fix things. You know, hammers, screwdrivers, nail-guns, etc. The things that I don't possess. Well I have a few laying around. Kind of rusty, though. I would see who had the most illustrious tool-set and decided he would be my best pal if he "could only help me this once." That worked for awhile. Until I nearly went broke feeding and partying with my "best pals." I used them for fix-ups, they used me for food and booze.

So, I got married instead. And boy, moving into a home that was only a few years old I figured things would take care of themselves. My wife is a fixer-upper and my new stepson looked more mechanically inclined than, well, a mechanic. I was finally able to relax, enjoy and avoid. Avoid the hassles of overflowing toilets (low water consumption), chintzy metal blinds (plantation shades) and keeping the yard green (well, I still get to do that, but not many tools to use).

However, the dream bubble burst and stuff started to bubble and burst. Getting back to that manly pride that took a hit, I had to absorb the punishment and try to become a handy-dandy or a fixxy-uppy or whatever. Hopefully all my how-to-nots and what-fors will amount to a more harmonious home and hearth. Or fire escape. And by the way: pass the lemonade. With vodka.


Here are a few subjects to enlighten the unenlightened:

* How to Improvise (the proper use of duct tape)
* How to Turn a Small Job into a Huge Job
* How to Complete a Job. On Your Terms.
* How to Keep Injuries to a Minimum
* How to Shop at a Home Repair Store and Not Get Lost

Keep in mind that this is a work in progress and the outline is still under construction. My team that I have assembled is busily scratching its collective head and trying to come up with something clever. This will be an ongoing feature here and only here. Please remember:
don't try this at your home. Visit your neighbor and bring some tools.

A New Cat in the Home

Like all animal lovers, I am willing to take in additional pets as the need arises. Sometimes other factors take over. For example : my 17 year-old stepdaughter has claimed a black kitten from an apartment that was left vacant recently. The need to house another cat, in addition to our Siamese, Siucra ( pronounced Shoo-kra ), was not what I considered a need. However, after my initial rant about how many cats are in the world, whose responsibility she will be and the reaction from our other inhabitants, I sort of agreed. Sort of, as in, how the kitten will fit in. Fitting in with the rest of the house might prove to be tricky. Here's the rundown of our household :

• Me
• My wife, Laura (age withheld)
  
• Stepson, Forrest, 18
• Stepdaughter, Blake, 17
• Stepdaughter, Ren, 10
• Chow mix, Boo, 12
  
• Siamese, Siucra, 6
  
• Cockatiels, Bandolier and Chico (ages unknown)
• Parakeets, Blue and Precious (ages unknown)

So, there you have it. The Altobelli Clan. Plenty of beating hearts under the roof and all are, presumably, well-fed. And somewhat happy. Adding another soul to our contingent might be a challenge but here we go.
Seeing that Blake rescued her, she named her. No complaints there, but having a name assures you that she is embedded into The Clan. The name chosen was Nyx (Neex). I believe it is the Latin word for night. She is black as coal with a little white on the chest. She is long and sleek, smart, athletic with a penchant for hissing and hunts down flies till they are consumed. Will she be a mouser? A mother ( moth-er, as in moth hunter)? Or just a pain in the a**?
So far, after three days, she has been lap-friendly, kind of shy and getting acclimated to us. And The Clan to her. Siucra looks at her as if to say " Who the heck are you and what are you doing here?" Boo, as a good herding dog will do, moves her along the furniture and cabinets. Nyx has visited all surfaces that will hold her minimal weight. And the birds? What birds?
Stay tuned for further exploits of The Clan.

Welcome

Welcome to malto's musings. I will be picking my own brainpan for material of some significance for anybody that cares to read and interact. I would appreciate any and all viewpoints, as I am apt to write about subjects like music, home maintenance, teenagers, dreams, mindless meanderings, worldly observations, blah blah blah. I hope you will enjoy my spewing as much as I enjoy spewing it.