Thanks for the answer. I was just playing this for my wife and her response was “so that’s why you asked me how to spell etymology “. I also liked your response to James’s question. When ever a word or phrase gets co-opted for some new meaning I like to quote Inigo Montoya: “You keep using that word. I don’t think it means what you think it means.” Steve Bauermeister.
My wife and I are watching The Resort and during episode three, I was struck by a scene involving you, alone, on a couch. You were so still, even when you eventually interacted with another character, and yet in this stillness evoked so much emotion. Reflecting on that, I remembered certain Swansonian moments where, again, you were able to speak emotional volumes while sometimes not moving a muscle. You have a great ability to create character moments from absolute stillness and would love to hear you discuss your approach to these kinds of moments, and how you make choices about physicality while you are acting.
"Usually the more public it is, the less Christ-like are the motives behind it." As a Christian, I absolutely agree. While I've known several wonderful, loving, nonjudgemental followers of Christ, I agree with you that it often feels like all we see around us are those who claim to represent God but spread nothing but hate and disrespect. I just can't wrap my head around how so many people (from all walks of life) can find it so difficult to be kind to everyone, regardless of whether or not they share the same beliefs. We're all human, after all.
Wow. As a Midwesterner, and deep-rooted Illinoisan, this post touched my soul. I have been thinking and writing a lot lately about exactly what you touched on - the factions of humans, the way we can use words to build up or tear down, how meanings change over time.
I went to a Cubs game very recently to get an NIU hat for my brother-in-law. He's the biggest NIU fan on the planet (though I think he's also a St. Louis Cardinals fan, but I can't be sure). The Cubs/NIU hat (which I acquired through many friendly interactions at the game) is a BRIGHT RED baseball cap. Any other time in history, I'd just think it looked more like a Cardinals cap than a Cubs hat. But now? A red hat symbolizes a tribe of hatred and bigotry. Without looking at the emblem, I notice myself seeing a red hat, and making assumptions. I'm trying to get better about it.
I hope my brother-in-law likes his hat, and that he can wear it proudly when he makes the trip from Missouri to Illinois. I also hope the tribalism surrounding red hats shifts again. And that nobody makes snap judgements about this awesome human's character the way I do when I see a red hat on a white man's head. It'll certainly take time to get there, though.
Jessie
Des Plaines roots/Lombard transplant, IL, Midwest, US, Earth
I absolutely loved your answers today. I’m born and raised deep southeast Texas, and cannot tell you how disappointing I find it, driving around my rural area and seeing nothing but signs promoting hate and racism.
My Daddy was a staunch democrat, and my Mom was a less-vocal Democrat, but they both raised me to treat all people with respect, and stand up for those who need it.
I used to think Texas was quite a place to be and to hail from, but now I’m mostly embarrassed and ashamed of the backwards, hateful “governance” and the majority support of it.
I’m also saddened by the fact new people I meet are so surprised when they find I don’t share the views of the far right majority here, as I’m white and Christian.
I think Woody Allen said it best, although I may not be quoting verbatim from ‘Hannah and Her Sisters’ here, but it goes: “If Jesus came back today and saw what is being done in His name, He’d never stop throwing up.”
Hello Mr Nick. I'm a 37 year old male from Co Antrim in Northern Ireland..near Bushmills, you may have heard of it. I'll cut to the chase, my friend ( we'll call him Philip) has told me for years to watch Parks and Recreation..I haven't really done that..he then suggested I listen to Donkey Thoughts ..and I have, I've enjoyed what I can hear .the problem I'm having is, are the episodes recorded at an incredibly low volume or am I losing my ability to hear Americans? I turn it up full on my phone and in my work van (I am an electrical underground cable jointer..I thought you might like to know that. So there you go..) and I still really struggle to hear a lot of your words. Can you help me? Thanking you, Neil
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm this now-Midwestern (Yooperland after spending a year which was 365 days too long in southern Illinois) Yankee listener will say that for me, “New England values” does connote a sober work ethic, with a commitment to square dealing, a frugality, and notions like “you don’t get somethin’ for nothin’” and “there’s no such thing as ‘get rich quick’”. Interesting..... and BTW just watched a coach on "A League of Thier Own' who kindasorta looked and sounded like you... winkywinky
I love this post, and the type of values you listed that are the simple values I have shared and partook from in small farming communities like helping your neighbors when they are down and having the humility to know the tables can turn quickly. I’ve been blessed to meet and have discussions with people in different parts of the world from Turkey, Hong Kong, Japan, and the Netherlands to name a few. I always felt welcomed, and I loved to hear about their customs and culture. Humanity can be pretty amazing if we can get out of our own way to let the good examples those choice values lead the way.
As I listen to your voice--I read your entries simply because I like the written word--I think to myself that it would be nice to hear you narrate one of my stories. The problem with that however, was which one would I like to hear you read? There are a few to choose from. And rather than trying to decide, I thought maybe if you looked at my SUBSTACK page and chose to read a small excerpt (it would also give me an idea as to where your interests lays since the stories are quite different in theme and content.) I mean, are you more likely to read an excerpt from my African Songbook because you're intrigued by the thought of a love story of tragic consequences, or my King Arthur story because you're wondering how I changed the last surviving knight of the Round Table from Sir Bedivere to an obscure Scots knight who was mentioned once by Mallory in his Le Morte d'Arthur. Then again, maybe the idea of a two-tiered story spanning two World Wars and concerning a dwarf is more up your alley? Either way, I leave it up to you to decide what you wish to do. And who knows, maybe you won't like any of the choices and will simply read my letter back to me with response.
Becoming a new mom recently has had me wondering about the importance of babysitters and who is best to choose to fill that role when I am away. I worked for a family that claimed to have babysat you when you were a wee lad. I wonder sometimes if the bartender I trained under was babysitting me in a way and helping me learn my own Midwestern values that I wasn’t exactly learning at home.
Is there anything you’d like to say in regards to caretakers and babysitters outside of the family? What they can do that family may not be able to- or how they impact us in more unique ways?
Eric Brown (Dayton Ohio). Have you ever visited someone's workshop and used one of their tools that was so bad you bought them something better?
Hi Nick,
Thanks for the answer. I was just playing this for my wife and her response was “so that’s why you asked me how to spell etymology “. I also liked your response to James’s question. When ever a word or phrase gets co-opted for some new meaning I like to quote Inigo Montoya: “You keep using that word. I don’t think it means what you think it means.” Steve Bauermeister.
My wife and I are watching The Resort and during episode three, I was struck by a scene involving you, alone, on a couch. You were so still, even when you eventually interacted with another character, and yet in this stillness evoked so much emotion. Reflecting on that, I remembered certain Swansonian moments where, again, you were able to speak emotional volumes while sometimes not moving a muscle. You have a great ability to create character moments from absolute stillness and would love to hear you discuss your approach to these kinds of moments, and how you make choices about physicality while you are acting.
This is a really great question!
"Usually the more public it is, the less Christ-like are the motives behind it." As a Christian, I absolutely agree. While I've known several wonderful, loving, nonjudgemental followers of Christ, I agree with you that it often feels like all we see around us are those who claim to represent God but spread nothing but hate and disrespect. I just can't wrap my head around how so many people (from all walks of life) can find it so difficult to be kind to everyone, regardless of whether or not they share the same beliefs. We're all human, after all.
I'll get off my soap box now :)
Wow. As a Midwesterner, and deep-rooted Illinoisan, this post touched my soul. I have been thinking and writing a lot lately about exactly what you touched on - the factions of humans, the way we can use words to build up or tear down, how meanings change over time.
I went to a Cubs game very recently to get an NIU hat for my brother-in-law. He's the biggest NIU fan on the planet (though I think he's also a St. Louis Cardinals fan, but I can't be sure). The Cubs/NIU hat (which I acquired through many friendly interactions at the game) is a BRIGHT RED baseball cap. Any other time in history, I'd just think it looked more like a Cardinals cap than a Cubs hat. But now? A red hat symbolizes a tribe of hatred and bigotry. Without looking at the emblem, I notice myself seeing a red hat, and making assumptions. I'm trying to get better about it.
I hope my brother-in-law likes his hat, and that he can wear it proudly when he makes the trip from Missouri to Illinois. I also hope the tribalism surrounding red hats shifts again. And that nobody makes snap judgements about this awesome human's character the way I do when I see a red hat on a white man's head. It'll certainly take time to get there, though.
Jessie
Des Plaines roots/Lombard transplant, IL, Midwest, US, Earth
I absolutely loved your answers today. I’m born and raised deep southeast Texas, and cannot tell you how disappointing I find it, driving around my rural area and seeing nothing but signs promoting hate and racism.
My Daddy was a staunch democrat, and my Mom was a less-vocal Democrat, but they both raised me to treat all people with respect, and stand up for those who need it.
I used to think Texas was quite a place to be and to hail from, but now I’m mostly embarrassed and ashamed of the backwards, hateful “governance” and the majority support of it.
I’m also saddened by the fact new people I meet are so surprised when they find I don’t share the views of the far right majority here, as I’m white and Christian.
I think Woody Allen said it best, although I may not be quoting verbatim from ‘Hannah and Her Sisters’ here, but it goes: “If Jesus came back today and saw what is being done in His name, He’d never stop throwing up.”
The entire Offerman Family ... the best of the best!
Hello Mr Nick. I'm a 37 year old male from Co Antrim in Northern Ireland..near Bushmills, you may have heard of it. I'll cut to the chase, my friend ( we'll call him Philip) has told me for years to watch Parks and Recreation..I haven't really done that..he then suggested I listen to Donkey Thoughts ..and I have, I've enjoyed what I can hear .the problem I'm having is, are the episodes recorded at an incredibly low volume or am I losing my ability to hear Americans? I turn it up full on my phone and in my work van (I am an electrical underground cable jointer..I thought you might like to know that. So there you go..) and I still really struggle to hear a lot of your words. Can you help me? Thanking you, Neil
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm this now-Midwestern (Yooperland after spending a year which was 365 days too long in southern Illinois) Yankee listener will say that for me, “New England values” does connote a sober work ethic, with a commitment to square dealing, a frugality, and notions like “you don’t get somethin’ for nothin’” and “there’s no such thing as ‘get rich quick’”. Interesting..... and BTW just watched a coach on "A League of Thier Own' who kindasorta looked and sounded like you... winkywinky
I love this post, and the type of values you listed that are the simple values I have shared and partook from in small farming communities like helping your neighbors when they are down and having the humility to know the tables can turn quickly. I’ve been blessed to meet and have discussions with people in different parts of the world from Turkey, Hong Kong, Japan, and the Netherlands to name a few. I always felt welcomed, and I loved to hear about their customs and culture. Humanity can be pretty amazing if we can get out of our own way to let the good examples those choice values lead the way.
As I listen to your voice--I read your entries simply because I like the written word--I think to myself that it would be nice to hear you narrate one of my stories. The problem with that however, was which one would I like to hear you read? There are a few to choose from. And rather than trying to decide, I thought maybe if you looked at my SUBSTACK page and chose to read a small excerpt (it would also give me an idea as to where your interests lays since the stories are quite different in theme and content.) I mean, are you more likely to read an excerpt from my African Songbook because you're intrigued by the thought of a love story of tragic consequences, or my King Arthur story because you're wondering how I changed the last surviving knight of the Round Table from Sir Bedivere to an obscure Scots knight who was mentioned once by Mallory in his Le Morte d'Arthur. Then again, maybe the idea of a two-tiered story spanning two World Wars and concerning a dwarf is more up your alley? Either way, I leave it up to you to decide what you wish to do. And who knows, maybe you won't like any of the choices and will simply read my letter back to me with response.
Lauren Schaubert (Salem, IL)
Becoming a new mom recently has had me wondering about the importance of babysitters and who is best to choose to fill that role when I am away. I worked for a family that claimed to have babysat you when you were a wee lad. I wonder sometimes if the bartender I trained under was babysitting me in a way and helping me learn my own Midwestern values that I wasn’t exactly learning at home.
Is there anything you’d like to say in regards to caretakers and babysitters outside of the family? What they can do that family may not be able to- or how they impact us in more unique ways?