Language in culture

[Précis. Language is embedded in culture also. Serious students of a language need to dig deeper to get it, or have the benefit of some help.]

I have taught English as a foreign language for over twenty years. This has been both a secondary occupation and sometimes a first. In any event there are two teaching/learning opportunities I do not practice, which in fact weakens my effectiveness. I don't play games and I don't (often) listen to music. Thus, my efforts to help students learn are reduced, for both of these ways of learning a language are proven techniques.

Recently I asked a student who is passionate about music about the song "Knockin' on Heaven's Door." He said, "Oh, we all know that. It is the first song I learned to play on the guitar." I then asked him what the song was about. He said he didn't know, but that it was something about being dead. I asked dead or dying. He didn't know. I repeated this exercise with other Italian students of English and then a few Czech students. (I travel in these two cultures.) The results were the same.

I puzzled over this situation and immediately saw the problem. Well, I say the problem; whereas, I should say one problem. The one problem is that the key words of badge and momma eluded immediate recognition. For the native speaker, I mean specifically the American English speaker or one who is familiar with the cultural contexts for some of that language. Here is the email conversation around this matter. It begins with my correspondent's question (>>) and my reply.

>>Badge – I wonder what it feels like for you as a native speaker when listening to this song. Do you get the connection between the badge and Slim's [Slim Pickins] job immediately?
Connection was immediate. The only people who wear badges in the public consciousness in the US are officials of the law. Of course, other people wear badges (e.g., military, scouts, etc.). But what the song-speaker's job is is obvious. The immediate association is marshal or sheriff in the Olde West. For fun look up the expression, "We don't need no stinkin' badges." Place this word with guns that are no longer needed--to bury them in the ground--well, that seals the deal. Context is the frontier and the law and outlaws and gun fights . . . and he is dying. He has been shot, probably.
>>Momma – how come it is used even for a wife? Sounds like mommy or red-hot momma or lady of the night to me.
I can't say exactly, but this native speaker immediately associates this expression with rural folks, maybe farmers or at least ordinary and traditional American family people, perhaps central and southern US. The father of the family and kids call the mother of the children momma (or moma, mama, etc.). Then there is also black English, Ebonics, where young dudes call their girlfriends momma. But this doesn't work with the Olde West context.
Now if you try to look this one up, you will have difficulty finding this usage. But if you go to say, Hays, Kansas and have "supper" (evening meal) with a family that has lived there for several generations, you might encounter this expression--used by the father to address his wife. I suspect this is regional American English, although this comes close (see http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/mama).
Someone needs to write an article about this usage . . . long story short, you just have to know the language very, very well, or have met lots of different American English speakers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjR7_U2u3sM

So, the first lesson is that a song such as "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" needs to be seen in context, its cultural context. Second and most important lesson, the student of language needs to dig deeper and not just accept melody over sense.

The final illustration of these points came up in an email to the same correspondent.

Language and culture. Yes, we need to have cultural knowledge and locational usage conventions in order to understand something like this,
We got some John getting off a limo.
Dumped her in the Alphabets.
Why did he have to cut me so bad? - They get him? - No.
Be on the lookout for Vincent Van Gogh in a Zegna fuckin' suit.
But in terms of what a Central European needs who uses English as a second language for travel and just getting along in the world, the cultural baggage is generally not necessary. Thus, my argument again for not teaching idioms and the uses of the definite article (in hospital (B-EN) vs. in the hospital (A-EN)).
Now if one really wants to dive into sitcoms or read literature or talk with a people from a specific native speaking place, then there is an argument for learning more and more cultural stuff, as well as looking stuff up almost constantly.

Now, what was all that about John? You know your homework.

A more detailed lesson

[Précis. Knowing how to use the verbs borrow and lend is sometimes difficult. Here are some reasons and examples for advanced students to consider and practice.]

"Ah," you say. "I understand. But I still can't use these words correctly when I want to say something."

"What seems to be the problem?"

What seems to be the problem? The second speaker must mean what are some of the problems. So your difficulty is not your fault. The explanation in the image above is good as far as it goes; however, it does not go far enough.

First things first, here are the principal parts of the verbs most often used plus a few other key words that may confuse you when you are speaking with a more proficient user of the language of requests-to-have and promises-to-return.

Verbs (infinitive, past, past participle, 3rd person singular present, present participle/gerund)

to lend, lent, lent, lends, lending

to loan, loaned, loaned, loans, loaning

to borrow, borrowed, borrowed, borrows, borrowing

Nouns (a partial list)

loan, noun, what is given to be returned

loaner, noun, informal, same as the noun loan, the thing loaned

borrower, noun, recipient of loan

lender, noun, giver of loan

Now do two things. First compare the verbs with the image above. Yes, loan is also a word used in the borrow-lend situation. Two, memorize the above nouns and verb forms.

Here is your short study guide.

borrow = take

lend or loan = give

These verbs can be used in the active and passive voices as well as in their participial forms.

The car was borrowed by his daughter.
The money, loaned by my father, he gave reluctantly.

Don't let word order confuse you, or a change in verbs, or the use of words meaning the same thing.

You might have done your own web search and found the standard definitions, explanations and examples given for the uses of these important words. They go something like this.

We use borrow to say that we take something temporarily with the intention of returning it.
Can I borrow your car? She borrowed $100 from her father.
We use lend to say that we give something temporarily with the intention of having it returned.
Can you lend me your car? Her father lent her $100. Her father lent $100 to his daughter.

Or

borrow: to take and use sth. that belongs to sb. else I'd like to borrow your umbrella.
lend: to give sth. to sb. that belongs to you I can lend you my umbrella.

Now here is where using these words correctly gets confusing. Imagine I am the one you are talking with, and I am asking if I understand you correctly by asking a question or by re-stating what you have said.

YOU: Can I borrow your car?
ME: You're asking me if I will lend you my car? 

YOU: She borrowed 100 euros from her father.
ME: Her father gave his daughter a 100 euro loan.

YOU: Can you loan me your car?
ME: Could you borrow my car?

YOU: Her father lent her 100 euros.
ME: Her father let her borrow 100 euros.

Sometimes the listener will avoid the anticipated verbs of lend or loan and borrow.

YOU: Her father lent 100 euros to his daughter.
ME: Her father gave his daughter 100 euros as a loan.

Sometimes the listener will change verbs.

YOU: He lent her the car.
ME: He loaned her his car?

Sometimes the listener will use a common expression to convey the idea.

YOU: Can I have your umbrella.
ME: Here you go. Don't get wet.

Or

Here take my umbrella. It's a loaner.

And don't forget the imperative.

YOU: Borrow my umbrella.
ME: Great. That's nice of you. I'll return it tomorrow.

These do not exhaust the possibilities, but the above is a larger sample of language than the usual textbook or dictionary discussions.

 It is no wonder people get twiddled up with borrow and lend and loan. Any variations from what is expected in a speaking situation is a challenge for the second language speaker to manage. Why is all this not simpler? Easy answer. The language and users and words are flexible and varied.

Here is a short video which can get you started if all this reading isn't your style. You can start with this and then come back here to review and expand your knowledge of

http://youtu.be/uTSmX6YI1FU

Once you have all the above in your head and you have practiced the variations, test yourself by decoding this and giving me your answer.

ME: Can you spot me a fiver? 

Will you spot me? I warn you. I'm a notorious deadbeat.

Taboo mistake no. 1

[Précis. The word _informations_ does not exist in English. This is a rule you can count on unless you are facing criminal proceedings.]

I apologize to all those students I defenestrated because they made one of two taboo mistakes when speaking English in my presence. A quick tour today through Czech web sites shows that this error is finally being made at low and remote levels. That is banks, government offices, large businesses--they have all rooted out and destroyed the blight. Only a site from Humpolec, or the Czech American Akita (dog breed) Club, or an obscure pension somewhere near the Polish border keep the virus alive. I hope the illness won't rise again and infect the admirable Czech accomplishments in multilingualism. So the medicine I and others have tried to apply to the infection seems to have worked, mostly.

What is that mistake? that blight, virus, illness, infection? Why, I am surprised you are asking. One word: _informations_. Yes, it drove me to distraction, and for some students they suffered a fall from my grace, if not the second floor window. _Information_ is non-count. You can't have an information and you can't have informations. Not even the Brits with their collective nouns with plural form verbs make this mistake.

"The team play well" does not mean you can say "The information are enlightening" and be counted correct. (In British and American English "The team play well" is correct. In the case of American English, you must mean by saying this that the team is a number of individuals considered as such, not a singular group. In American English the almost universal form is, "The team plays well.")

The clever and ever-skeptical Czech will object with the touchstone sentence in answer to a direct or authoritative statement: "It depends." Okay, _informations_ does exist. I confess it does. But no one except lawyers and judges might use this form of the word "for issuing indictments for certain types of crimes or for certain types of anti-corruption investigations". (See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Information_%28formal_criminal_charge.) By no means is _informations_ in common use. I dare say you should and I will never use this form.

All clear? We are still on the correct path? No more use of the word _information_ in the (almost) non-existent plural. I still threaten defenestration if I hear it.

Oh, am I not going to tell you the second taboo to avoid my wrath? No, I have done with preaching and teaching . . . unless, of course, I hear you say . . .

Have a nice time.

[Précis. "Mijte se hezky!" does not translate into English as "Have a nice/good time," but you can use this sentence in your leave-taking if you know what the other person will be doing. "Have a nice time" always has a reference to something specific you know about the other person's plans because s/he told you. The English equivalent of "Mijte se hezky!" is probably something like "Enjoy life."]

Two people meet on the street. They know each other. They chat about nothing for a few minutes--small talk, you know. They part and one says to the other, "Have a nice time." What does the person who says this know about the other person?

A. Something specific about what the other person will do next or sometime later.
B. Nothing, just saying goodbye and wishing the other person well.

The correct answer is A, Something. The one who says "Have a nice time" knows what the other person will do next, or where s/he is going, or what his or her plans are. In other words, "Have a nice time" has a reference to something known by both people. Always.

So when you want to say goodbye to someone, do not say "Have a nice time" unless you know something specific about what will happen with the other person. "Have a nice time" is not a substitute for "Have a nice day" or "See you later," etc. It is a substitute for goodbye only if you both know something about what's next for one person.

Can one say "You too!" in reply? Sure, if the other person knows something specific about your near-future activity.

The misuse of this farewell is so common in the Czech Republic that foreigners who have lived here for some time probably just ignore its misuse, which doesn't make it correct.

How can one learn this fine point of English usage? First, the Internet will not help you except that you will not find "Have a nice day" as a farewell or leave-taking expression. Examples of different expressions of this type appear here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parting_phrase#Generic_ways_to_say_goodbye

And here.

http://www.fluentu.com/english/blog/say-goodbye-english/

If you do find "Have a nice day" as a recommended way of saying goodbye, you are probably looking at a web site or forum where non-native speakers are giving other non-native speakers advice, or their guesses as to what is proper English usage and what is not. (Example, https://dewisudjia.wordpress.com/2010/12/22/expressions-of-leave-taking/.)

But, you object, even Radio Prague (http://old.radio.cz/en/html/living_pozdravy.html), a trusted source for cultural and linguistic bits, says "many Czechs say 'Mijte se!', or its informal equivalent 'Mij se!', which means 'take care'. An nicer way of saying this is 'Mijte se hezky!', which means 'have a good time!'" And the resident interpreter in my house says there is no referent, just a general "enjoy whatever."

So here is the answer for the prevalence of the misuse of "Have a nice time." It is likely a matter of translating a language and culture directly into English without knowing how English speakers would say the same thing Czechs want to when using Czech.

Now you know your homework: Find a way in English to say the same thing you do in Czech. Have a nice time (doing that!).

Postscript. Here is a two-word scramble answer, one of many possible answers.

Eefijlnoy

Best seller a tough sell

How am I to understand these lines from the Quran, especially in light of events today reported round the world? For example, from the beginning.

1. Surah Al-Fatihah
1. In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.  
2. All the praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists).   3. The Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.  
4. The Only Owner (and the Only Ruling Judge) of the Day of Recompense (i.e. the Day of Resurrection)  
5. You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything).  
6. Guide us to the Straight Way 
7. The Way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace, not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger (such as the Jews), nor of those who went astray (such as the Christians).

This is from Interpretation of the Meanings of The Noble Quran published by Dar-us-Salam Publications (http://www.noblequran.com/translation/).

I get stuck on verses 1, 3, 6, and 7. The world is divided into

A. Those to whom an all grace-giving and merciful (compassionate?) Allah would show the Straight Way and
B. All others, those not graced or chosen, whose way is not straight.

If one believes, he (and she?) is shown the Straight Way. But belief is given (by Allah). There are only those that believe and all others. Kind of an exclusive club with arbitrary membership based on a god who gets offended if you make a mistake or for some reason irritates you.

On to the next section.

2. Surah Al-Baqarah (The Cow)
1. Alif-Lam-Mim. [These letters are one of the miracles of the Qur'an and none but Allah (Alone) knows their meanings].
2. This is the Book (the Qur'an), whereof there is no doubt, a guidance to those who are Al-Muttaqun [the pious and righteous persons who fear Allah much (abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden) and love Allah much (perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained)].
3. Who believe in the Ghaib and perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), and spend out of what we have provided for them [i.e. give Zakat , spend on themselves, their parents, their children, their wives, etc., and also give charity to the poor and also in Allah's Cause - Jihad, etc.].
4. And who believe in (the Qur'an and the Sunnah) which has been sent down (revealed) to you (Muhammad Peace be upon him ) and in [the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel), etc.] which were sent down before you and they believe with certainty in the Hereafter. (Resurrection, recompense of their good and bad deeds, Paradise and Hell, etc.).
5. They are on (true) guidance from their Lord, and they are the successful.
6. Verily, those who disbelieve, it is the same to them whether you (O Muhammad Peace be upon him ) warn them or do not warn them, they will not believe.
7. Allah has set a seal on their hearts and on their hearings, (i.e. they are closed from accepting Allah's Guidance), and on their eyes there is a covering. Theirs will be a great torment.
8. And of mankind, there are some (hypocrites) who say: "We believe in Allah and the Last Day" while in fact they believe not.
9. They (think to) deceive Allah and those who believe, while they only deceive themselves, and perceive (it) not!
10. In their hearts is a disease (of doubt and hypocrisy) and Allah has increased their disease. A painful torment is theirs because they used to tell lies.
11. And when it is said to them: "Make not mischief on the earth," they say: "We are only peacemakers."
12. Verily! They are the ones who make mischief, but they perceive not.
13. And when it is said to them (hypocrites): "Believe as the people (followers of Muhammad Peace be upon him , Al-Ansar and Al-Muhajirun) have believed," they say: "Shall we believe as the fools have believed?" Verily, they are the fools, but they know not.
14. And when they meet those who believe, they say: "We believe," but when they are alone with their Shayatin (devils - polytheists, hypocrites, etc.), they say: "Truly, we are with you; verily, we were but mocking."
15. Allah mocks at them and gives them increase in their wrong-doings to wander blindly.
16. These are they who have purchased error for guidance, so their commerce was profitless. And they were not guided.
17. Their likeness is as the likeness of one who kindled a fire; then, when it lighted all around him, Allah took away their light and left them in darkness. (So) they could not see.
18. They are deaf, dumb, and blind, so they return not (to the Right Path).
19. Or like a rainstorm from the sky, wherein is darkness, thunder, and lightning. They thrust their fingers in their ears to keep out the stunning thunderclap for fear of death. But Allah ever encompasses the disbelievers (i.e. Allah will gather them all together).
20. The lightning almost snatches away their sight, whenever it flashes for them, they walk therein, and when darkness covers them, they stand still. And if Allah willed, He could have taken away their hearing and their sight. Certainly, Allah has power over all things.
21. O mankind! Worship your Lord (Allah), Who created you and those who were before you so that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious - see V.2:2).
22. Who has made the earth a resting place for you, and the sky as a canopy, and sent down water (rain) from the sky and brought forth therewith fruits as a provision for you. Then do not set up rivals unto Allah (in worship) while you know (that He Alone has the right to be worshipped).
23. And if you (Arab pagans, Jews, and Christians) are in doubt concerning that which We have sent down (i.e. the Qur'an) to Our slave (Muhammad Peace be upon him ), then produce a Surah (chapter) of the like thereof and call your witnesses (supporters and helpers) besides Allah, if you are truthful.
24. But if you do it not, and you can never do it, then fear the Fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones, prepared for the disbelievers.
25. And give glad tidings to those who believe and do righteous good deeds, that for them will be Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise). Every time they will be provided with a fruit therefrom, they will say: "This is what we were provided with before," and they will be given things in resemblance (i.e. in the same form but different in taste) and they shall have therein Azwajun Mutahharatun (purified mates or wives), (having no menses, stools, urine, etc.) and they will abide therein forever.
26. Verily, Allah is not ashamed to set forth a parable even of a mosquito or so much more when it is bigger (or less when it is smaller) than it. And as for those who believe, they know that it is the Truth from their Lord, but as for those who disbelieve, they say: "What did Allah intend by this parable?" By it He misleads many, and many He guides thereby. And He misleads thereby only those who are Al-Fasiqun (the rebellious, disobedient to Allah).

There are several parts in the above I find enlightening. One is that "Allah mocks at them and gives them increase in their wrong-doings to wander blindly." So the grace-giving, and merciful, Allah withholds from some, insults them, and increases their ignorance. Again we have believers and non-believers, the difference being "an Allah who has set a seal on the non-believers' hearts and hearings."

According to verse 26, if anyone interprets, as I am doing, we are misled. Is the whole of this interpreted Quran, the above, the artifact of a de facto non-believer or apostate? Isn't this authoritative translation--with interpretation--in error?

Yet the text (Quran/revelation) is clear enough without interpretation: grace is not guaranteed, mercy is not mercy, belief is belief, non-belief is non-belief, and Allah decides all.

If someone of this faith wishes to clarify to me where I err in my understanding here without using other words than are in the text itself, well, they jeopardize their own status, I guess.

All this we-they rhetoric is familiar to us: Christian and non-Christian, Jew and Gentile, those for and those against.

The following verses from the above are also enlightening.

23. And if you (Arab pagans, Jews, and Christians) are in doubt concerning that which We have sent down (i.e. the Qur'an) to Our slave (Muhammad Peace be upon him ), then produce a Surah (chapter) of the like thereof and call your witnesses (supporters and helpers) besides Allah, if you are truthful.
24. But if you do it not, and you can never do it, then fear the Fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones, prepared for the disbelievers.

Those not Arab, Jew, or Christian seem to have been excluded from the injunction against coming up with an alternative to Islam, or the Quran. I think it rather easy, contrary to the assertion of impossibility expressed in verse 24, to produce a chapter with an alternate or no-belief system, and witnesses are aplenty in a world where Allah is lord of all that exists. And by the way, why would Allah create or rule over such a divided world? Sorry. Not supposed to ask.

I give all due respect to the contributions of Islam as well as the sincerity and goodness of its followers; however, Allah's book, without going into other problematic matters, is difficult to reconcile with itself. How then could it possibly resolve the dilemmas faced by humankind in human much less eternal affairs?

The evidence again from the events of the day reveal it can't and it doesn't. No wonder Islam is being attacked from outside. Attackers from the inside--presumably because of different interpretations, interpretations forbidden by the holy book--also don't give the faith a clear example or recommendation for belief and adherence.

A small example of this discord both within and between the they and the we, consider this question: Does the Quran really promise Islamic martyrs 72 virgins? This site (http://www.justislam.co.uk/product.php?products_id=216) says,

The simple answer is NO! There is no promise of 72 virgins for martyrs, terrorists or suicide bombers anywhere in the Quran.
The section many people claim promises this is Chapter (78) surat l-naba (The Great News). The controversy is due to the poor translation of ONE verse from verses 29 to 34.

Other than cited examples of mistranslation on this page, we also have from http://www.clearquran.com/: "And full-breasted [companions] of equal age," as well as "And young full-breasted (mature) maidens of equal age" (http://www.noblequran.com/translation/).

Gosh, and I do mean Gosh, the non-believer and would-be believer and believer and no-beliefer must get confused as to what the good book is trying to tell . . . me.

In the face not of the events of the day but from primary sources both raw and translated and interpreted, Islam is a tough sell. I wonder what the attraction is. Certainty, but based on these words of (a capricious) Allah?

Life is short for Advanced Conversation

TODAY'S MESSAGE

Dear Language school director,

Please forward the document to the [software development company] participants. It contains the language and content I am prepared to discuss. They can look it over before meeting with me. Maximum 5 minutes required. Longer if they choose.

Or, they can come with their own topics for conversation. This means they will be prepared to talk about those.

Either way, I'm good.

Background--when I did this last, I was the tambourine man. I had to come with something prepared--always--and if [named participant] didn't feel like talking about that, I would have to come up with something else on the spot. (Sometimes he said he didn't want to talk about something without explanation. So I was shooting in the dark.)

[software development company] is paying for these lessons. To get something out of them, the participants have to have an investment in the deal. Their preparation and/or suggestions are the preparation. Otherwise, we are just winging it and shooting the breeze, something I am not interested in.

When I suggested if [young student] or [named participant] wanted just to meet for water or tea for a conversation, that would show their interest (investment) in the deal. They would have their own motivation for the meeting, not that anyone was paying or they had to be there.

Specific examples. You came with the subject of "my dream girl" and [former student] recently came with language questions based on a text. Good times for all. I hope. And if not, well, there would be no second meeting.

In the case of [software development company], they pay and show up, and because I am "the teacher," they are guaranteed to get something back if they follow my simple rule. If I again see that there is little to no impact or importance to what I do, well, my first lesson will be the last. This is what I was referring to when I said something like they would have to impress me.

Sorry to be so direct, but I think you and they can appreciate the focused, business-like approach.

Sincerely,
Teacher

---

PREVIOUS MESSAGE

Dear Teacher,

I wasn't successful reaching the guys at [software development company] on Thursday and Friday, so I'll arrange the lesson tomorrow. I'm sure it will be OK, one hour in early afternoon. The guys don't expect anythnig complex, they just want to talk to a native speaker, because they don't have much opportunity to do so. It's not usual to ask corporate clients to prepare for lessons in advance, so I suggest that you let them read the text at the beginning of the lesson.
I'll let you know what date they choose.

Best,
Language school director,

---

Dear Language school director,

If they, [software development company], just want to talk, they will have to work to keep my interest. I can have a conversation anytime I want . . . but to engage a good topic, now that might interest me and keep me coming back for more.

An interesting life is more important to me than getting paid just because I speak my language. ...So, I am not that interested in money these days, unless it is BIG money.

Sincerely,
Teacher

---

FIRST MESSAGE

Dear Language school director,

As I mentioned before, I am unsure how much [named participant] got from our conversations more than five years ago. Thus, anchoring them now in a text or subject which might challenge [named participant] could lead to observable progress. The attached is the basis for next week's experiment. If it is difficult for any others taking this experimental lesson, they can decode and discuss before meeting with me. In other words, [named participant] can act as guide/tutor for those that find the text somewhat difficult.

I don't want to waste my time or theirs . . . you can forward the attached to those planning on meeting with me at [software development company].

Sincerely,
Teacher

You can't be civilized or serious

With great interest, I read and hear about "what good are the humanities," and by extension my little corner of that world, the human sciences. I am amused, because in the main, the rationale for cutting back on studies in humanities has to do with this--They don't prepare you for the world of work and making money, you know, supporting yourself and your consumption. Must prepare for a job, and the next job. (Yes, I am teetering on the edge, but I intend to write no full-fledged rant.)

Also with great interest, I read and hear about this star, that black hole, those exoplanets, water on Mars? And so forth. Not a week goes by that news aggregators do not host a story on an astronomy-related topic. Yesterday it was how a comet smelled like rotten eggs (probably). Now how the hell do they know that? And how would even that technology that tells astro-scientists this have any practical value? like does it have something to do with the world of work, other than for astronomers and news aggregators? Unfortunately, the news aggregator does not help make that connection, if there is any, but we still love this stuff. So let's examine that connection from an expert.

The work that most astronomers do is more properly referred to as astrophysics, the study of physical conditions in faraway locations in the universe. I would maintain that this research does not have much direct, practical benefit to people's lives. From Dave Rothstein (http://curious.astro.cornell.edu/question.php?number=417).

I venture the connection is because we are interested and curious and like to wonder and try to answer big questions like, are we alone in the universe. And don't arts and humanities have the same utility? The same utilitarian value?

Hmm. So why aren't those business-type educators and their like-minded com-patriots cutting the funding for astronomy, or at least railing against its impractical value?

The big bang is an outlier some say. We like this subject and praise its theorists and publicists because we like to fit God into the picture. And god particle? What is that and does it answer my most fundamental quandaries: How is it possible I am here and why?

Pope Francis, it turns out today, doesn't have a radically new view  and acceptance of evolution in the Catholic cosmos of beliefs. Oh boy, let's get into that one. A good fight, er, discussion with my Christian friends is always, er, entertaining, although disagreements often lead to excommunication from their circles of interaction, or worse.

See what is happening? Of course the touchy-feely and squishy stuff has value along with the practical and oh-so-serious stuff about what is real, what we can see and touch. In a word, material stuff. We are obsessed with this other stuff, though. It is not the economics of questions like abortion but the values and beliefs involved. And how can you talk about matters like women's healthcare options without getting some background in how to think and talk about things social and human and political, etc.? Intelligent decisions come from education in and practice with stuff such as we find in the arts and humanities.

In legitimate "hard" science such as astronomy we like bite-sized news bits. Takes little effort to get the info and say, "Wow!" Now reading a book or taking the time to understand what a great painter did and how s/he did it, that takes a bit more. Is it worth it? Guess. And don't just try to nail me on the visual arts. Pick on anthropology or drama or all the rest of the world's perspectives--except the narrowest of disciplines, business.

Music. Should that be part of the curriculum and should we have experts who can perform and/or communicate intelligently about it? You can't be civilized or serious if you answer in the negative.

An MBA will lead you down precarious paths if it is these guys and girls and only these people who address themselves to health and healthcare. Ask a business-type about bedside manner and why they don't teach or train people in this important area, especially when the business-type is the patient. Ask that question right back and whether s/he has even sampled the universe of non-business points of view extant presently and in the past. And ask the follow-up. What have you done to ensure that there are people who know how to give compassionate care--to you and everyone else?

Silence.

Crack a book. Enroll in some course. You can still find one. Teach yourself through practical experience instead of that all-inclusive holiday. Include expanding mental and emotional horizons instead of your gut.

If you would like a rant, and I am sorry this has become a small tempest--truly I'm sorry--take a look at the increase in the number of for-profit business schools that have sprung up all around the world in the last twenty years. Look also at how some practicality-bent meme has nudged if not shoved more and more humanities-oriented courses out of the college catalogs and the public consciousness. Then ask, is this really a good thing? What's important that is slipping through the cracks? How can we reclaim our humanity?

Okay. That was a bigger bite than intended, and almost out of control. Thank god for self discipline which I learned how to manage. Now  where was that where I learned t manage these personal things? In business or business school? Don't recall that exactly . . .