tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post7809603411990263217..comments2024-02-25T05:03:48.092-07:00Comments on Eudaemonia: A Conversation With William HammettLisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00665632105920753931noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-10832650789952704442008-07-04T09:10:00.000-06:002008-07-04T09:10:00.000-06:00As a result of your interview, Lisa, sales spiked ...As a result of your interview, Lisa, sales spiked a bit and Amazon reinstated the discount. Thanks--and Happy Fourth!WHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14815646433314236886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-61659035534832121142008-06-29T22:04:00.000-06:002008-06-29T22:04:00.000-06:00Gunter, Well thank you! I am still trying to figur...Gunter, Well thank you! I am still trying to figure this out :)<BR/><BR/>Billy, HBO had a tribute to George Carlin over the weekend, so I got to re-watch a number of his specials and as dark and cynical as some of his views were, especially about the environment, I found myself agreeing with most of what he said. I need to fight that despite the fact that someone once said something to the effect that behind the face of every cynic you'll find a disillusioned idealist.<BR/><BR/>Shauna, I'm glad you enjoyed the book as much as I did. I had the same feeling of not wanting the story to end too.Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00665632105920753931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-92204503750979036562008-06-28T19:58:00.000-06:002008-06-28T19:58:00.000-06:00You can leave me out of the contest because I alre...You can leave me out of the contest because I already have the book (which I loved and hated to have end). Wow! What a great interview and wonderful follow-up comments! I look forward to future interviews. Oh, and to more books by Billy.Shauna Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03871768714926149114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-70645153328006414102008-06-28T13:09:00.000-06:002008-06-28T13:09:00.000-06:00a little ps and btw: I noticed that Amazon has era...a little ps and btw: I noticed that Amazon has erased the discount on the book, which was selling for $14.35. I think it is still available at a cheaper price on B&N.WHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14815646433314236886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-42466579397626462632008-06-28T09:04:00.000-06:002008-06-28T09:04:00.000-06:00Lisa, you have nailed it. There is going to be an...Lisa, you have nailed it. There is going to be an enormous cost to all of us if we are going to slow global warming, and it's going to require many things, including personal pain and a tax. We can expect Washington to lead, but we have to force government and corporate entities to follow through and keep their word. We seem to have lost that proactive spirit from the 60s though. And the military industrial complex ... you're right there too. Ike knew what he was talking about.WHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14815646433314236886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-68258949714830143702008-06-28T03:18:00.000-06:002008-06-28T03:18:00.000-06:00Hey, there's a good interview, though. I added Bi...Hey, <I>there</I>'s a good interview, though. I added Billy's book to my wish list. Nice job.Günterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03623541273858467677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-85599206715596830792008-06-27T21:55:00.000-06:002008-06-27T21:55:00.000-06:00Riss, That's funny, although I would have loved to...Riss, That's funny, although I would have loved to hear that conversation. I checked out that blog and she does some great interviews. I'll have to bookmark her and check back.<BR/><BR/>Tim, Woohoo! Now the pressure is really on for me to come up with some good questions!<BR/><BR/>Vesper, Thank you very much. I was pretty fascinated by Billy's insights on blogging and social networking too.<BR/><BR/>Billy, Wow! Now there's some serious food for thought. On one hand, the only thing that keeps me from worrying too much about technology is the same thing that frightens me about our global disregard for the environment and what I think is the cause of our spiritual flu -- our ravenous consumerism. I think I worried about the possible results of technological developments more during the 60's, 70's and 80's when technology was driven by revolutions in the military industrial complex. Now things have shifted and technology is almost exclusively developed by the commercial sector and driven entirely by revenue generation. I believe that the only way that we'll get a handle on global warming and our environmental issues is for individuals to force change that will require a sacrifice on all of our parts. People talk about alternative sources of energy and other solutions, without recognizing that even though there are solutions, all of them are costly and no private company is going to voluntarily take on additional cost in order to be greener. When the time finally comes to shut down power plants that run on coal and oil, the cost to replace them will be enormous and we'll all have to agree to take it on. I'd like to think that we'll all join hands and agree to vote for regulation that will increase taxes in order to save the environment, but I don't have that much faith in "us". I think you're absolutely right about this being a pivotal time, for a lot of reasons.<BR/><BR/>Jennifer, I think you'd really like the book. <BR/><BR/>Yes, I also liked what Billy said about mentoring. Whether it's writing or painting or any kind of creative endeavor, I think teachers can help you with craft to a degree, but after that, I think a mentor would be much more helpful.<BR/><BR/>I'm guilty of that rush rush mentality with books. I have a whole pile of BIG books that I consistently put off getting started on because I know taking them on will be a big commitment. <BR/><BR/>Over a decade ago, when I was still working as a civil servant for the military, I worked for a pretty visionary guy who said that the next big career field would be that of "combat librarian". At the time he wasn't focused so much on the internet, as he was the plethora of stove-piped military information systems and our inability to wade through too much information and quickly find information we'd need, whether it was for intelligence purposes, or on the battlefield or to correlate seemingly unrelated data points. I think in our private lives, the chaff is what weighs me down. I might Google one thing and before I know it, I've been following link after interesting link and I've blown three hours just reading cool stuff that has nothing to do with what I was originally looking for.Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00665632105920753931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-27412052382369614882008-06-27T09:54:00.000-06:002008-06-27T09:54:00.000-06:00Excellent Q&A, Lisa. As others have said, I loved...Excellent Q&A, Lisa. As others have said, I loved the variety of subject. So much of what Billy said really resonated with me. <I>John Lennon and the Mercy Street Café</I> sounds very interesting.<BR/><BR/>I liked what Billy said about regarding himself as a mentor. More and more, I believe that mentorship is the way to go when pursuing an arts eduction. As opposed to the traditional teacher-student relationship (as I've experienced it, anyway), there seems to be a lot more openness, a lot more room for the apprentice to fall flat or take off, discover what rules--if any--work for her.<BR/><BR/>I also agree that people aren't reading enough, and many who <I>are</I> reading a lot are reading too quickly. I think this is partly due to the rush-rush nature of our society, but also to the incredibly vast amount of potential reading material. People feel they need to blast through, to get as much read as possible, and that can dull your ability to pick up on all the wonderfully subtle magic of a story. (Who was it who said that a book read once isn't really read at all? Terrible paraphrase on my part, I know.) <BR/><BR/>I totally agree with you about the information overload. There is so much that is great out there, but to find it, you really need a "wheat-from-the-chaff" mentality and a hefty dose of patience. Although some of the "chaff" can be great fun. Everything in moderation, as they say. . . .Jennifer Duncanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12628371104827804570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-10974397453560501592008-06-27T09:07:00.000-06:002008-06-27T09:07:00.000-06:00For all my grumbling about technology, Lisa, you c...For all my grumbling about technology, Lisa, you can see that I'm on Blogger, have a website, etc., and I couldn't be a ghostwriter without being able to network. The NET, like everything else--it's how you use it. The technology was inevitable, and the history of humankind is one of technological evolution. My biggest misgiving is that technology in general is outpacing man's ability to gather enough wisdom to use it. I watch a lot of astronomy shows, and the ones that really make me think are on SETI, where scientists discuss whether there are many advanced cultures out there. Surely life develops elsewhere, but are finite, imperfect beings able to withstand that critical phase where they must cope with advanced technology and either master it or let it master them? Makes me wonder. I think the next 100 years are going to tell the tale, which means we're living at a pivotal moment in history. I'll be planted six feet under by mid-century if not before, but I think we're losing the battle against global warming. Two years ago, AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH said we had ten years to start reversing the process. Gracious. That's not good.WHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14815646433314236886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-53808621927525145022008-06-27T05:02:00.000-06:002008-06-27T05:02:00.000-06:00An excellent interview, Lisa! Very intelligent, ve...An excellent interview, Lisa! Very intelligent, very considerate - a pleasure to read, both questions and answers.<BR/>I found the discussion about blogging and about having a theme most insightful.Vesperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12417602625059442986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-79492459422583810612008-06-26T23:43:00.000-06:002008-06-26T23:43:00.000-06:00Lisa --I'd do it in a moment, although it's going ...Lisa --<BR/><BR/>I'd do it in a moment, although it's going to be hard to follow Billy. (Men are so competitive.)Timothy Hallinanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00551263887774445511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-58393831424931110012008-06-26T23:18:00.000-06:002008-06-26T23:18:00.000-06:00Thanks Lisa (c: You rock. I had to explain that p...Thanks Lisa (c: You rock. I had to explain that phrase to an Italian guy I met in Rome...I'd never really thought about it before.<BR/><BR/>there is a blog that an acquaintance of mine puts out that is called Life, Universe and Art and she does really great artist interviews from time to time. I recommend it. I think it's a blogger address, I haven't been in a bit but I liked what I saw while I was there. she's got some good work herself.Risshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16582122840116012400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-85832977867370456682008-06-26T16:04:00.000-06:002008-06-26T16:04:00.000-06:00Cindy, I think it is my amateur nature that leads ...Cindy, I think it is my amateur nature that leads me to ask questions about subjects that interest me and the opportunity to get to know the person behind the book.<BR/><BR/>Larramie, Curses to blogger and its evil formatting demons! I actually thought of you when I read Billy's disappointment at a culture that stops believing in all things magical -- I believe specifically in fairy godmothers :)<BR/><BR/>Shauna, I think you've read JOHN LENNON & THE MERCY STREET CAFE too, haven't you?<BR/><BR/>Carleen, Well I'm sure some other people will get around to it (oh wait, you're the only other person I've sent questions to!) -- but no pressure -- I take just as long, if not longer to mess around with these questions and add more of them as the two authors who've done Q&As with me so far, so there is really NO pressure.<BR/><BR/>Riss, I can't wait until you come back to CO to visit! "Carpe NOW" -- I love that!<BR/><BR/>Patry, I'm so glad to hear from you! I'm afraid I'm not the best interviewer for book promotion. I kind of figure there is plenty that's out there online about the books that's probably been said better than I can say it, so I like to dive into the writer behind the books if the writer is game. Billy was a great sport about it, as was Nick Arvin, the subject of my first Q&A. <BR/><BR/>Usman, I saw my son's a while back (he's 27, but I think it's mandatory for anyone over 14 to have a Facebook page) and it made me a little squeamish. TMI for MOM.<BR/><BR/>Steve, We had a teacher in one of my elementary schools named Mrs. Curran, who was a proponent of "the rattan" -- whacks on the back of the hands from her ruler. This was in the Boston Public School System in the late 60's. Fortunately, I never had Mrs. Curran.<BR/><BR/>There's no doubt that the arts have been suffering in public school systems for a long time. No music, art, theater, and very little literature make for some pretty dull students, I think. <BR/><BR/>I am encouraged though by the number of twenty-somethings I've met here on line who are very well read, way smarter than I, and curious about the world. Specifically, I always read Larissa Uredi (Riss), Gunter and the Electric Orchid Hunter (all on my sidebar). They give me a lot of hope. I've also noticed that most of the lit bloggers (separate sidebar category) all appear to be very young as well. So just as the death of reading and culture in America is a bit of an exaggeration, so is the impression that there aren't plenty of cultured and well read literary types. I learn a lot from them<BR/><BR/>Billy, Thank YOU for taking the time to put up with my questions and more questions and for providing such thoughtful answers. As you can see, you've sparked lots of discussion, which is the whole point.<BR/><BR/>I think the interesting thing about our spiritual flu is that it's kind of hard to tell exactly what's happening because of information overload. If you look at all things popular (reality TV, the cult of celebrity, cell phones, ipods, social networking), it would appear we're OD'ing on junk. But on the other hand, there is also more good information available at the tips of our fingers than ever before. I've found more great literature through online recommendations and God help me, the Amazon "if you liked this, you'll like this" feature than ever before. If I want to know who Barthelme or Gass or Gaddis or Pynchon are, all I have to do is Google and I can learn more than I'd ever have learned at a library. And even television has its gems, if you know where to look. <BR/><BR/>Good luck with your deadline and thank you again Billy, for such a great discussion!<BR/><BR/>Tim, I'm always afraid that I don't talk enough about the books, but I am always excited to interview more authors. This is only the second one I've done and I'm always reluctant to ask, since I know authors are incredibly busy.<BR/><BR/>But -- now that you're back in the states, maybe you'd consider it?Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00665632105920753931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-10816103728508818302008-06-26T14:18:00.000-06:002008-06-26T14:18:00.000-06:00(o)(o)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-29185199041369895312008-06-26T10:35:00.000-06:002008-06-26T10:35:00.000-06:00Great interview, Lisa, and (most of all) really go...Great interview, Lisa, and (most of all) really good, insightful questions. That kind of intelligent participation by the interviewer makes it much, much easier for the subject. It gives him or her a standard to rise to.<BR/><BR/>Hope you plan to do more of these.Timothy Hallinanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00551263887774445511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-48659926935866807722008-06-26T08:40:00.000-06:002008-06-26T08:40:00.000-06:00Thanks, Lisa, for taking so much time to work up t...Thanks, Lisa, for taking so much time to work up this post. I'm already a fan of your blog, as you know, and I feel honored to have been interviewed by you. And thanks to those who have commented on the interview and my ramblings. <BR/><BR/>I do tend to get on a soapbox when itr comes to modern malaise and the spiritual flu. Either something's wrong in society, or I'm becoming an old fart who needs to listen to "The Times They Are A Changin'." <BR/><BR/>It's interesting how everyone seems to agree that education is a bit "off" these days. I taught writing in college for many years (and a few years in high school) and that was enough for me. (Everyone needs a second career in mid-life anyway!) I told my own son to sew his cell phone into his navel. Believe it or not, such experiments have already begun, with chips being implanted beneath the skin. Within 10-20 years, the PC will be a middleman that some people don't use. Info will go straight into the human body. Makes me think of Bradbury's "I Sing the Body Electric." But then sci-fi always had a way of predicting things decades in advance. <BR/><BR/>Anyway, I hope to be blogging more regularly one day, but it's hit or miss now. My present client's agent has me on a deadline. Thanks again, Lisa!WHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14815646433314236886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-76478684050936220322008-06-26T05:48:00.000-06:002008-06-26T05:48:00.000-06:00I'm not in favor of bringing back nuns with rulers...I'm not in favor of bringing back nuns with rulers, or the paddles we feared in public school. ("Over land, over sea, over Mr. Montman's knee. There's a paddle a-waitin' for me," we'd sing to the tune of "When the Caissons Go Rolling Along.")<BR/><BR/>But I agree with Billy on the schools' emphasis on science and math to the detriment of language, history, and the arts. <BR/><BR/>I'm not sure whether anyone understands the causes of World War I, given the fact that prominent historians disagree. But what my son knows about it comes more from watching "Young Indiana Jones" than from anything he learned in school.<BR/><BR/>Excellent interview.steve on the slow trainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18257811143869341854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-7900270045515727452008-06-26T02:06:00.000-06:002008-06-26T02:06:00.000-06:00That is such a great interview. I found myself agr...That is such a great interview. I found myself agreeing with most of what Bill had to say.<BR/>Had a look at my daughter's facebook couple of weeks ago and was appalled.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-34387481797505015772008-06-25T22:00:00.000-06:002008-06-25T22:00:00.000-06:00Thanks for introducing me to a new author. I liked...Thanks for introducing me to a new author. I liked that he talked about far more than books and writing--and I especially liked that he quoted Ray Bradbury, my personal writing guru.Patry Francishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10961915797919017179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-48759386676316230262008-06-25T21:46:00.000-06:002008-06-25T21:46:00.000-06:00I have to say I completely agree with his ideas of...I have to say I completely agree with his ideas of the education system. I think that the curriculums we teach in colleges nowadays are total jokes. I got a fairly good college education I think, I can write a coherent sentence, essay, etc. I was forced to think outside of my comfort zone. But I had to pay a LOT of money to get it. I went to a community college during a less favorable time in my life and took one class to entertain myself with...an Eastern Religions class. It was good but i had to teach myself. The teacher chose great texts but then expected us to regurgitate what we had read and not what we thought. No one is taught how to think critically anymore. It's why we lack problem solvers and yet are choking on "yes men and women" Makes me want to scream. And become a teacher so I can teach some lazy minds how to THINK. <BR/><BR/>Ugh. Does that count as getting out a piece of paper and writing about something that really ticks me off? I didn't mean to do it here but well, carpe Now. <BR/><BR/>I also really like his notion on parenting and the fact that he mentiones the Spiritual Flu. Awesome mind to speak with. Great post.Risshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16582122840116012400noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-14469447009649143992008-06-25T19:31:00.000-06:002008-06-25T19:31:00.000-06:00I already have Billy's book so you don't need to e...I already have Billy's book so you don't need to enter me in the contest, but I much enjoyed the interview. Every time Billy got off on the subjects of kids and education and society I thought it was me talking. We have very similar takes on things. <BR/><BR/>His book was very enjoyable, btw.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-4777517921100691402008-06-25T19:19:00.000-06:002008-06-25T19:19:00.000-06:00Glad somebody is answering your questions!Glad somebody is answering your questions!Carleen Bricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01433203126527081458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-4746217477747461032008-06-25T18:01:00.000-06:002008-06-25T18:01:00.000-06:00This looks great! I hope to have some time tomorro...This looks great! I hope to have some time tomorrow night to come back and read it.Shauna Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03871768714926149114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-83497636901811937552008-06-25T17:58:00.000-06:002008-06-25T17:58:00.000-06:00Terrific interview, Lisa -- despite the fonts ;) -...Terrific interview, Lisa -- despite the fonts ;) -- and Billy has impressed me for so many reasons, including his belief in Santa! *VBG*Larramiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14788910637361812265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-567668315717895367.post-16654003700043917242008-06-25T17:41:00.000-06:002008-06-25T17:41:00.000-06:00Oh yeah...I forgot to mention that I didn't even n...Oh yeah...I forgot to mention that I didn't even notice the wonkiness of the fonts! I had to go back up and scan for them. :-DCindyLVhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04123815678324617627noreply@blogger.com