tales of copper city

The Shadow knows, redux

(I wrote this in 2004, and with some modifications and additions, I am re-posting the piece.  A group of men at St. John's Episcopal Church are exploring the idea of "letting go" as a better way to live, and I thought that some of the ideas in some books I read a few years back might shed light on what might actually occur when we "let go.""The Shadow knows" is Michael Gazziniga's delightful way of describing how much of what we think and do is already a "done deal" in our brain, so maybe we need to learn to stop thinking and "let go" and allow our larger intelligence guide us and play its role in life less impeded. I also think that a lot of what Milton Erickson, the psychiatrist, says about the unconscious is corroborated by this exciting field of science. I wrote about Erickson recently.)

In the past year [2004] I have been reading more and more about one important consequence of evolution: how our brains work and how we think. There has been in the past three or four decades an explosion of the new sciences of the brain and of consciousness and of how evolution has shaped the adapted mind, most of which I knew nothing about.

The best introductions I have found to this field are Steven Pinker’s How the Mind Works, Michael Gazzaniga’s The Mind’s Past, and Matt Ridley’s The Origins of Virtue: Human Instincts and the Evolution of Cooperation, all mind-blowing (pun intended) surveys of what we now know about how evolution has shaped our brains, our conscious life, and the categories with which we view the world.

(I wrote this in 2004, and with some modifications and additions, I am re-posting the piece.  A group of men at St. John's Episcopal Church are exploring the idea of "letting go" as a better way to live, and I thought that some of the ideas in some books I read a few years back might shed light on what might actually occur when we "let go.""The Shadow knows" is Michael Gazziniga's delightful way of describing how much of what we think and do is already a "done deal" in our brain, so maybe we need to learn to stop thinking and "let go" and allow our larger intelligence guide us and play its role in life less impeded. I also think that a lot of what Milton Erickson, the psychiatrist, says about the unconscious is corroborated by this exciting field of science. I wrote about Erickson recently.)

In the past year [2004] I have been reading more and more about one important consequence of evolution: how our brains work and how we think. There has been in the past three or four decades an explosion of the new sciences of the brain and of consciousness and of how evolution has shaped the adapted mind, most of which I knew nothing about.

The best introductions I have found to this field are Steven Pinker’s How the Mind Works, Michael Gazzaniga’s The Mind’s Past, and Matt Ridley’s The Origins of Virtue: Human Instincts and the Evolution of Cooperation, all mind-blowing (pun intended) surveys of what we now know about how evolution has shaped our brains, our conscious life, and the categories with which we view the world.

Bisbee Times: there is joy in Copper City

Great news from Bisbee; a very rare recall effort mounted by a very small group of individuals was crushed yesterday. Luche Giacomino beat her opponent with a 80-20 (257-70)  split; Bob Kasun triumphed over Jeff Harris, 75-25 (246-83).

Bob Kasun, by the way, died last week after a long illness. I for one believe that his life was made harder than it had to be by the general nastiness and untruthfulness of the recall campaign.

I know the wisdom is to be magnanimous in victory but I ain't running anymore.

I know how much this group led by some of the usual suspects misstated the facts about what happened in our two terms in office.

Bob and Luche were right there every step of the way; sometimes they supported me and at other times they opposed me but at all times they were loyal to the community and the ward they served and lived in all of their lives.

Bob often took me to the woodshed in a council meeting and sparks would fly. In truth he had a heart as big as all outdoors.

I once told him before a meeting that I hated our sparring contests and he said, "Me too." We understood and respected each other.

What a rare treat to meet and work with such wonderful people. I thank God for that and for Bisbee.

Carole and I are deeply grateful for the work of so many in the community to oppose this needless split in the ongoing life of a community. Jack and Pat Porter are at the top of that list and such dear friends. 

This was only the second recall in about five decades. The first one was against Frank Peters who went on to become a fine Bisbee mayor.

We love Bisbee so much and miss it every day. Carole can attest to the plain truth that I am walking around on a cloud today. Politics ain't beanbag. There's nothing like a good old country ass-kicking to restore my somber spirits.

Now if we could find a way to do the same thing at the national level and defeat the same  angry, mean-spirited divisiveness I would smile all the way to my grave.