Stichomancy
Okay, do not tell anyone I told you this, but I sometimes go to façade.com and run a stichomancy request. Hey, it’s free.
Stichomancy is when some computer generates a random excerpt from a random book and tells you…
I don’t believe I’m saying this. This is California influence for sure. I’d have never fallen for such nonsense in stiff-upper-lip Michigan.
Anyway, it tells you that you should meditate (…oh please, like I’ve ever meditated in my life. The closest I come to meditation is that trance I fall into whenever Keanu is on the silver screen. I don’t believe I told you that, either. But there’s something about him. Anyway, it tells you that you should meditate) on the following passage.
So this is what my stichomancy said today, and I looked at it, and suddenly I thought, “Dang, lookee here, if this ain’t some deep shi-at.”
It’s an excerpt from John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address. You remember JFK? He was a Democrat from back when Democrats were actually pro-America?
…final war.
So let us begin anew. . .remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate…
Well, heck, that’s enough to set me brooding till November. Let us never negotiate out of fear, but never fear to negotiate. That in and of itself is a headful. That could well last me the rest of my life.
I wrote a screenplay and it has a director and producer attached. We are trying to find funding. Meanwhile, a nearly-nuclear Iran has come to visit Columbia University. These two things put together are a stichomatic moment: I want to get a good deal on my script, in case some nutjob doesn’t end the world, and I am forced to deal with continued life.
Wow. That’s just too much, all put together. I think I’ll go watch Keanu. Look at that mouth. Mmm…
