A little bit of blood, seeping from “a vessel in my brain” (as I believe the medical staff described it) has changed some things rather abruptly.
Apparently, protein in a vessel caused the leak, and in maybe a fraction of time, that bit of blood, from what I gather, screwed up some infrastructure, we might call it, in my brain.
I had a brain bleed. A stroke.
So, for the moment, I’m writing on my phone’s incredibly small keyboard.
What’s called ‘touch-typing’ — typing with all my fingers on my much larger PC keyboard — I’m not able to do, right now. Coordinating some things, even things I’ve been doing routinely and automatically, I need to do differently.
I’m taking it all in…
…it’s fascinating!
That blood in my brain might get re-absorbed in the fluid surrounding my brain, which would be way cool, since a brain bleed can self-heal.
But, enough about me…
I’ve been thinking about other folks’ brain infrastructure, their neurons and nerves, that I now realize are fragile as all get-out.
How are other folks using their own precious, fragile brain infrastructure, as they’re setting about influencing how we all are seeing, and reacting, to this nation… this world… we’re in.
How are they seeing things, and processing — in that bundle of neurons and such in their brains — the world around them?
What are their intentions? Good, or evil?
For several years now, writing about influencers, anyone seeking to get inside our heads… to shape our perception… how we’re seeing things… I’ve been wondering how they have such power over people.
How does former President Trump have such power? Considering his persona? And Florida Governor Ron DeSantis? And others, whose persona might leave much to be desired?
That’s puzzling, even when my brain’s in tip-top shape.
Some of these politicians on the far right seem to have mastered undermining faith in government, which might be relatively easy to do, considering… you know… government. Or governments. Some on the far left have mastered that, too.
So, bottom line, these are unusually troubling times, which, shall we say, I’m attempting to wrap my mind around.
Right now, various politicians seem to be undermining our confidence in norms and mores… in democracy, overall. This seems to be what’s going on, going by what’s in the news, and various politicians’ rhetoric… their skills at messaging, shaping opinion and taking advantage of tough, challenging times. By convincing us things are crappy. By scapegoating people with differences, people whose ethnicity is different, whose beliefs are different, those sorts of things.
The bottom line is… these are concerning, and possibly perilous, times…
…and fascinating, too.
Harvey Radin is former senior vice president in charge of corporate communications and media relations, Bank of America Western Region. He makes his home in Redwood City, CA.