PROF PETER ARENELLA

Regardless of the causation issue, I am very grateful that David has such empathy because it helps him get along with others. Peter

Ken, I agree because that is the best explanation for David having this in his emotional toolbox. However, two neurologists who have examined David by brain scans insist that the part of his brain where most emotions come from was not damaged significantly by his anoxia at birth.

Heather, happy I found you here; your substack post was both insightful and alarming as is all news coming from this coup that our national media are afraid to say: they bend to power instead of speaking truth to its horrific display

Saoirise, excellent post

I meant the Universe, not the University LOL

When I talk to David about his use of this capacity, we have a conversation between 2 "normal" adults.

because abstractions have no meaning for him. But, David is also an empath; an ability that 99% of mildly retarded lack. His empathy allows him to connect to people, and most especially to the mentally disabled clients and staff at his adult group home.

by what the empath sees, feels, interprets. From my perspective, it is one of the most important human capacities to use to understand and connect with others. As you know, my son is mildly retarded from suffering anoxia at birth. He can not read or engage in simple math skills like adding/division

Ken, I am so very grateful that God, the University, or family genes gave me this gift. And, as always, you nail the proper definition of it: a capacity to understand another's thoughts, feelings, and emotions. In my experience, this capacity does frequently also generate strong emotions triggered

hacienda as a hotel that she will manage after I return to stardust. But, Trump is deliberately crashing the stock market for the reasons you outlined above. I thought moving to Mexico would shield us from the worst repercussions of the US losing its democracy but I was wrong. Peter

David, Trash will eventually cut federal funding for adult group homes for mentally disabled adults. I had only one source of income apart from my SS and UCLA pension which Mia uses to fund all our living expenses and her construction of a second home here. Her plan is to then use our beautiful

@nastyoldwomyn.bsky.social Did the Philadelphia crash impact you and your family in any way? I lost an old Boston friend who was on the Washington flight with his daughter.

I would love to know how fame impacted your character if you care to share. To keep any conversation private, we could use DMs on X or I can figure out how to do so here. With respect Peter

pundits and appeared daily on local, national, and international TV. The experience taught me about how fame can enhance one's narcissism but can also give one the opportunity to meet great artists, comedians[Billy Crystral in my case at Gelsen's in Pacific Palisades] and actors.

if this is Kiefer's account, I would be interested in getting to know you. While I respect both your father's work and yours, I am not some fan who wants or needs to connect with a celebrity. I had a decade "Andy Warhol" moment in the 90's when I worked for ABC news as one of the very first legal

engage average Americans is now.

a democracy apart from voting. By the time voting is suspended in 2028 when Trump declares martial law, it will be far too late to resist. Indeed, Trump would welcome massive civil demonstrations in 2028 to justify the imposition of martial law. The time to start a massive protest that might

realize they must start mass protests that older Americans might eventually join once such protests create a counter narrative that we are facing an authoritarian take over and the loss of our democracy. I am not optimistic they will do so given their general ignorance of what constitutes a

are acting like they will use the inflation from Trump's kindling of a trade war to win a Presidential election in 2028 that might not even occur. As I have posted several times in the past year, we desperately need the young to wake up and

"THE MEDIA WILL NOT PROVIDE THE NARRATIVE. YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE THE NARRATIVE. IT'S THE ONLY WAY THEY'LL TALK ABOUT IT." how do we alert ordinary Americans who are paying no attention to the coup occurring? We clearly can't rely on our national media or Democratic leaders in Congress who

Rick, I find it comforting that we agree that "We're in the fight of our lives" I can only hope that far more Americans appreciate the abyss we are facing and do their best to resist Trump and his criminal accomplices. So far, the Dems have done very little to fight back.

today. I find it hard to be optimistic when more than half of our population is functionally illiterate. I hope you and your family are doing well. Your friend for life Peter

I am sure you remember that I was always somewhat more pessimistic than you about Harris beating Trump. Of course, for all we know, Musk and Putin might have corrupted the voting machines in some manner. I am curious whether you feel I am being too pessimistic about our current situation in my posts

@rickpetree.bsky.social Rick, first of all, how are you adjusting to the hellscape Trump has already created in such a short time. For someone who denied ever reading Project 2025, he certainly seems to be heading quickly in that direction as he dismantles many of the federal agency regulations.

understand the basic foundational principles of a democracy that are under attack.

level below the 6th grade, 20% are below 5th-grade level, and 21% are illiterate. Source: The National Literacy Institute At this late juncture, the battle for our country's best version of itself as a constitutional republic might already be over because of the American people's incapacity to

As our founders understood, a democracy can only survive if a majority of the electorate act in an informed manner. Yet, our public education system has failed to give high school graduates a requisite level of critical thinking skills. Even worse is the reality that 54% of adults have a literacy

ultimate responsibility and blame for our fall from grace lies with the American voters who do not understand that a coup is taking place every day. Instead, we have MAGA cultists who do not appreciate Trump's agenda or their own self interest. And far too many of our young failed to vote at all.

first term. Now, with blinding speed to "flood the zone", Trump has imposed a massive number of executive orders that frequently violate existing laws, the separation of powers doctrine, and the constitutional limits on executive power. As our dystopian era begins, I want to emphasize that the

As my older followers know, for the past 3 yrs I had posted warnings[and explanations] about how much our national media had failed to warn us that Trump and his enablers would destroy our democracy if we were dumb enough to return "TRASH" to the White House to finish the job he started in his