tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-198979502024-03-13T19:59:02.438-05:00Loud Time: David A. Zimmerman's Blog of MiscellanyDavid Zimmermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04736122606687383813noreply@blogger.comBlogger840125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19897950.post-53688498703299739652022-01-10T07:32:00.001-06:002022-01-10T07:32:00.173-06:00Both Inspiration and Cautionary Tale: Excerpts from MiddlingWhat follows is an excerpt from the Winter 2021 edition of Middling, my quarterly newsletter on music, books, work, and getting older. I'm about to send out my next edition and I'd love for you to get it. You can sign up here.
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A few years ago I bought a book that told the story of Stax Records, ground zero of the Memphis Soul sound. I didn’t read that book till 2020 for some reason, but I’mDavid Zimmermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04736122606687383813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19897950.post-56299592527825674312021-10-22T07:15:00.002-05:002021-10-22T07:15:00.207-05:00The Resiliency of Spirit and the Banality of Evil: Excerpts from MiddlingI write a quarterly newsletter called Middling, in which I reflect on books, music, work, and getting older. My next issue is going out soon and I'd love for you to get it. You can sign up here. What follows is an excerpt from the fall 2020 issue.
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I started out [2020]—I can’t imagine why—wanting to read as much as I could about fascism. It’s a fairly common practice for me to identify a David Zimmermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04736122606687383813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19897950.post-78138670963045495462021-10-20T07:05:00.002-05:002021-10-20T07:05:00.217-05:00We Are Gen-X After All: Excerpts from MiddlingI write a quarterly newsletter called Middling, in which I reflect on books, music, work, and getting older. My next issue is going out soon and I'd love for you to get it. You can sign up here. What follows is an excerpt from the fall 2020 issue.
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I read once that Aimee Mann has assured us she is not depressed. That’s surprising to most people since so many of her songs are melancholy David Zimmermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04736122606687383813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19897950.post-79365143406643816652021-10-18T06:54:00.003-05:002021-10-18T11:37:49.827-05:00Unconscious Approaches to Each Ensuing Crisis: Excerpts from MiddlingI write a quarterly newsletter called Middling, in which I reflect on books, music, work, and getting older. My next issue is going out soon and I'd love for you to get it. You can sign up here. What follows is an excerpt from the fall 2020 issue.
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At the outset of 2020 I knew a few things:
(1) I would be turning fifty in a few months;
(2) I would be voting for a new president—any new David Zimmermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04736122606687383813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19897950.post-42667158077440382992021-07-23T07:41:00.003-05:002021-07-23T07:41:00.194-05:00Hope Is a Matter of Vision: Excerpts from MiddlingI put out an occasional newsletter about music, books, work, and getting older. You can subscribe to it in the sidebar. My next issue is coming out next week and I'd love for you to get it. Here's a taste of what happens there: This is from last summer's issue, in which I reflect on the experience of turning fifty.
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Our publishing house sponsored an online event called the Spiritual First David Zimmermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04736122606687383813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19897950.post-13498071080022248832021-07-21T07:33:00.001-05:002021-07-21T07:33:00.184-05:00A Soft Soundtrack of Lowered Expectations: Excerpts from MiddlingI put out an occasional newsletter about music, books, work, and getting older. You can subscribe to it in the sidebar. My next issue is coming out next week and I'd love for you to get it. Here's a taste of what happens there: This is from last summer's issue, in which I reflect on the experience of turning fifty.
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I once read an entire book dedicated to the big transition in pop music thatDavid Zimmermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04736122606687383813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19897950.post-24709478353962174202021-07-19T07:28:00.001-05:002021-07-19T07:28:00.198-05:00When I Was Younger: Excerpts from MiddlingI put out an occasional newsletter about music, books, work, and getting older. You can subscribe to it in the sidebar. My next issue is coming out next week and I'd love for you to get it. Here's a taste of what happens there: This is from last summer's issue, in which I reflect on the experience of turning fifty.
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I used to bob or bang my head in unison with The Who (“Hope I die before I David Zimmermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04736122606687383813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19897950.post-81933908486554152462021-04-02T07:41:00.002-05:002021-04-02T07:41:00.678-05:00The Virtue, Gift and Discipline of Secrecy: Excerpts from MiddlingI write an occasional newsletter (quarterly when I don't forget) to friends and family about my life: music, books, work, and getting older. I'd love to send it to you. Sign up for Middling here. What follows is an excerpt from the winter 2020 issue--before the whole world shut down.
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Considering how regularly I assail you with blog posts, tweets, instas, and newsletters, you might be David Zimmermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04736122606687383813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19897950.post-28618007496214273572021-03-31T07:31:00.001-05:002021-03-31T07:31:01.248-05:00Anachronistic Today: Excerpts from MiddlingI write an occasional newsletter (quarterly when I don't forget) to friends and family about my life: music, books, work, and getting older. I'd love to send it to you. Sign up for Middling here. What follows is an excerpt from the winter 2020 issue--before the whole world shut down.
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I got some great music for Christmas. A new record by the Avett Brothers, the debut album of the Americana David Zimmermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04736122606687383813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19897950.post-71545555705713728782021-03-29T07:11:00.001-05:002021-03-29T07:11:02.644-05:00There Was a Chance 2020 Would Be Great: Excerpts from MiddlingI write an occasional newsletter (quarterly when I don't forget) to friends and family about my life: music, books, work, and getting older. I'd love to send it to you. Sign up for Middling here. What follows is an excerpt from the winter 2020 issue--before the whole world shut down.
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The safest place
Is the more or less middling: the mean average
Is not noticed.
—W. H. Auden, The Age of David Zimmermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04736122606687383813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19897950.post-78074654919474049312020-09-21T08:04:00.001-05:002020-09-21T08:04:00.276-05:00Hashtag Winning: Excerpts from MiddlingI write an occasional newsletter (quarterly when I don't forget) to friends and family about my life: music, books, work, and getting older. I'd love to send it to you. Sign up for Middling here. What follows is an excerpt from the fall 2019 issue.
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Every September I attend a retreat for the Academy of Christian Editors. A feature of that retreat is a sharing circle where we each get David Zimmermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04736122606687383813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19897950.post-14100233809848752952020-09-14T07:45:00.001-05:002020-09-14T07:45:00.521-05:00Resilient Voices: Excerpts from MiddlingI write an occasional newsletter (quarterly when I don't forget) to friends and family about my life: music, books, work, and getting older. I'd love to send it to you. Sign up for Middling here. What follows is an excerpt from the fall 2019 issue.
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I may have let my discipline slip a bit lately. I’ve been indulging my interest in vinyl a lot this year, which is at odds with my original David Zimmermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04736122606687383813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19897950.post-58919386855049578912020-09-07T08:07:00.001-05:002020-09-07T08:07:00.203-05:00Teaspoons of Something or Other: Excerpts from MiddlingI write an occasional newsletter (quarterly when I don't forget) to friends and family about my life: music, books, work, and getting older. I'd love to send it to you. Sign up for Middling here. What follows is an excerpt from the fall 2019 issue.
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Twenty-five years ago I was a twenty-four-year-old man-child in the throes of newly wedded bliss. Kara and I got married a few months after sheDavid Zimmermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04736122606687383813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19897950.post-74413579334942742112020-06-22T08:22:00.000-05:002020-06-22T08:22:09.140-05:00"God, Part III"The year I was born John Lennon wrote what was essentially a Declaration of Independence. “God” was the tenth track on his first post-Beatles record (featuring the Plastic Ono Band), and it called out everyone from Elvis and Bob Dylan to Jesus and Hitler. A kind of epitaph for the 1960s, it might reasonably be considered an anthem for Generation X: “I don’t believe in Beatles,” he sang. “I just David Zimmermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04736122606687383813noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19897950.post-44212091735389090432020-06-08T07:53:00.000-05:002020-06-08T07:53:01.454-05:00Add Some Beauty to Your Life: Excerpts from MiddlingI write an occasional newsletter (quarterly when I don't forget) to friends and family about my life: music, books, work, and getting older. I'd love to send it to you. Sign up for Middling here. What follows is an excerpt from the summer 2019 issue.
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I’ve started reading George Orwell: A Life in Letters, and I’m enjoying them, although I have the sneaking suspicion that he might have been David Zimmermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04736122606687383813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19897950.post-20151685815367971652020-06-01T07:12:00.001-05:002020-06-01T08:45:55.311-05:00People of Unclean Lips: A LamentI journaled this weeks ago in reaction to the murder of Ahmaud Arbery. I considered posting it upon the killing of Breonna Taylor, but I held back. And then George Floyd was killed by police in Minneapolis and Christian Cooper was threatened by a white woman in New York, who told him she'd call 911 and say an African American man was threatening her, after he reminded her she was legally David Zimmermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04736122606687383813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19897950.post-152531642704877542020-05-25T07:42:00.000-05:002020-05-25T07:42:06.593-05:00The Sandwich Season: Excerpts from MiddlingI write an occasional newsletter (quarterly when I don't forget) to friends and family about my life: music, books, work, and getting older. I'd love to send it to you. Sign up for Middling here. What follows is an excerpt from the summer 2019 issue.
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I’ve reached the age where the generation behind me is hitting its markers of adulthood. My oldest niece has graduated high school. One of David Zimmermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04736122606687383813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19897950.post-54130495141972333942020-05-11T07:23:00.000-05:002020-05-11T07:23:05.733-05:00An Exchange I Found Especially Humorous: Excerpts from MiddlingI write an occasional newsletter (quarterly when I don't forget) to friends and family about my life: music, books, work, and getting older. I'd love to send it to you. Sign up for Middling here. What follows is an excerpt from the spring 2019 issue, a compare-and-contrast of two visionary books.
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I've recently read two books that are authors reflecting on and advocating for their David Zimmermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04736122606687383813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19897950.post-13041444648620915382020-04-27T07:44:00.000-05:002020-04-27T07:44:05.247-05:00The Hulk Is a 9: An Enneagram Adventure | Epilogue: “More to You Than You Like to Show”What follows is an epilogue to a running series on the Enneagram. For previous posts, click here.
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The Hulk, it can at last be acknowledged, does not exist. He was the figment of Stan Lee’s imagination when he was introduced to the world more than fifty years ago. He’s been a comic book character, a television character, a cartoon character, and a movie character. He has never been flesh andDavid Zimmermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04736122606687383813noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19897950.post-62059192495214704172020-04-20T07:24:00.000-05:002020-04-20T07:24:05.209-05:00In Praise of Drew BlankmanI first met Drew Blankman when I was interviewing for my first real editing job. Drew was interviewing for the same job. Seriously, our interviewer introduced us to each other. I was wearing a suit; Drew was wearing, as I recall, a Hawaiian shirt. Drew got the job, I didn't.
I got a similar job a couple of weeks later at the same place. Another editor had announced she was leaving, and I had David Zimmermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04736122606687383813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19897950.post-2794927486962582402020-04-13T07:09:00.000-05:002020-04-13T07:09:00.910-05:00The Hulk Is a 9: An Enneagram Adventure | Part Five: "The Brains and the Brawn Together"For previous posts in this running series of posts on the enneagram (including the rationale for the series), click here.
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The Avengers: Infinity War begins where Thor: Ragnarok ends. The Hulk has never been beaten before, but we’re not long into the film before Hulk suffers defeat at the hands of Thanos (who may also be a nine, but that’s another story). With nowhere left to hide in the David Zimmermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04736122606687383813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19897950.post-23757863553250806562020-03-30T07:05:00.000-05:002020-03-30T07:05:03.735-05:00The Hulk Is a 9: An Enneagram Adventure | Part Four, "Hulk Like Raging Fire"For previous posts in this running series of posts on the enneagram (including the rationale for the series), click here.
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The Marvel universe is intricately interwoven. It’s a delight to sit down to watch a film focused on any one character and to be treated to an appearance from another. Thor: Ragnarok is an especially gleeful example, with a brief cameo from Dr. Strange and the prominent David Zimmermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04736122606687383813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19897950.post-53688392203870229902020-03-16T07:40:00.000-05:002020-03-16T07:40:02.111-05:00The Hulk Is a 9: An Enneagram Adventure | Part Three: "You're Confusing Peace with Quiet"Part three of a series. Read the prologue here.
Read part one here.
Read part two here.
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The next film to feature the Hulk, Avengers: Age of Ultron, demonstrates early on that the team has figured out a way to manage the monster. Tony (with Bruce’s help) has developed special Hulkbuster armor for Iron Man in case Hulk goes on a rampage. But that's the remedy of last resort. Natasha has David Zimmermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04736122606687383813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19897950.post-74191585089500393102020-03-02T05:58:00.000-06:002020-03-02T05:58:00.821-06:00The Hulk Is a 9: An Enneagram Adventure | Part Two: "I'm Always Angry"For previous posts in this running series of posts on the enneagram (including the rationale for the series), click here.
Having left Bruce Banner in the rubble of the building he destroyed, we now travel to New York, where the rest of the team has rallied for the final battle of the first Avengers movie. Things are about to get crazy. Bruce arrives late to the party but just in time for the David Zimmermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04736122606687383813noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19897950.post-23975706071271328992020-02-17T07:46:00.000-06:002020-02-17T17:27:56.097-06:00The Hulk Is a 9: An Enneagram Adventure | Part One: "I'm Sorry, That Was Mean"For the rationale for this running series of posts on the enneagram, click here.
We first meet Bruce Banner, in the first act of The Avengers, in a remote village in Kolkata. He has taken himself off the grid and entered a monkish life: celibacy, solitude, service. Serenity. His life there is interrupted when an emissary (Natasha Romanoff, the Black Widow) is sent to “persuade” him to help David Zimmermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04736122606687383813noreply@blogger.com2