Chris Carosa, Author at Chris Carosa

More Lasting Than Bronze

By Chris Carosa on March 22, 2011

Exegi monumentum aere perennius.

Horace begins a sarcastic ode on his own immortality with the above phrase, which translates to “I have erected a monument more lasting than bronze.” Ironically, in our continuing study of this poem, Horace has, indeed, achieved a form of immortality, one invulnerable to the physical ravages of time.

Last week I wrote a fanciful speech I never intended to deliver (“Et tu, Espagnol?”). This week, however, fate guided me to the School Board meeting where, with no preparation I delivered the following remarks (perhaps slightly embellished for the purposes of this page):

“I am reminded of a time some twenty or so years ago when a different Continue Reading “More Lasting Than Bronze”

Posted in Gray Matter Musings, Memoir of a Real Life Tagged HFL, Honeoye Falls, Latin, Lima, Mendon, orchestra, string

The Impact of FTAs in a Multi-polar World

By Chris Carosa on March 17, 2011

[This Commentary originally appeared in the March 15, 1990 issue of The Mendon-Honeoye Falls-Lima Sentinel.]

Sometimes sovereign nations and little children behave in the same way. Both can act selfish and territorial. Both can ignore the long term consequences of their short term orientation. Each can view the world egocentrically, seeking always to win and never to share.

Despite these attributes, we generally tolerate children. After all, they quickly grow up into adults. Countries, on the other hand, take a lot longer to sprout a mature bearing.

We may offer the argument that nations, no matter how old, will always acquit themselves like children. They do, of course, have the obligation to protect their Continue Reading “The Impact of FTAs in a Multi-polar World”

Posted in The Compleat Carosa Commentaries Tagged economics, foreign policy, GATT

Et tu, Espagnol?

By Chris Carosa on March 15, 2011

Students, teachers, administrators, lend me your ears;
I come to bury Latin, not to praise it.Continue Reading “Et tu, Espagnol?”

Posted in Gray Matter Musings Tagged humor, Latin, satire

Creative Chaos

By Chris Carosa on March 10, 2011

[This Commentary originally appeared in the March 8, 1990 issue of The Mendon-Honeoye Falls-Lima Sentinel.]

There used to be a car repair commercial about the Second Law of Thermodynamics: The Law of Entropy. Here’s something you might not know: Entropy actually lists as the third law of thermodynamics. For a while, physicists viewed entropy as the second most important idea in thermodynamics. Then, they discovered what they now consider the utmost concept in the field. Unfortunately, by the time of the discovery, everyone used the Second Law of Thermodynamics and the Law of Entropy interchangeably. The scientists could not very well shift everything down one. It would cause too much confusion.

Physicists, however, can often act as astute problem solvers. Since the nomenclature had already included the terms First and Second, they needed to invent a higher order Continue Reading “Creative Chaos”

Posted in The Compleat Carosa Commentaries Tagged creativity, innovation, inspiration, philosophy, Physics

The Roaring Eighties – R.I.P.

By Chris Carosa on March 3, 2011

[This Commentary originally appeared in the March 1, 1990 issue of The Mendon-Honeoye Falls-Lima Sentinel.]

Like its predecessor the Roaring Twenties, the decade past seemed filled with excess. The eighties saw gargantuan gluttonous wrought forth upon a foundation of financial speculation and naïve hopes. But, enough has already been said about the sins of the last ten years.

Indeed, we come not to praise the eighties, but to bury them. While the calendar says we entered the nineties two full months ago, the end of February really Continue Reading “The Roaring Eighties – R.I.P.”

Posted in The Compleat Carosa Commentaries Tagged economics, Malcolm Forbes, philosophy

The Apolitical Blues

By Chris Carosa on February 24, 2011

(Apologies to Little Feat)

[This Commentary originally appeared in the February 22, 1990 issue of The Mendon-Honeoye Falls-Lima Sentinel.]

“Politics must be avoided. Politics leads to trouble. Politics remains the domain of the greedy deceivers who can’t make it in the private sector. Politics should be shunned by all proper people.”

So go the thoughts of the typical citizen towards the professional which includes our government leaders. Where does this conviction originate? Why do most people view the political world with such disdain and mistrust? Why do honorable persons circumvent a discussion at the first Continue Reading “The Apolitical Blues”

Posted in The Compleat Carosa Commentaries Tagged philosophy, politics

Mid-Winter Blahs

By Chris Carosa on February 17, 2011

[This Commentary originally appeared in the February 15, 1990 issue of The Mendon-Honeoye Falls-Lima Sentinel.]

As we approach mid-February we enter the depths of winter. All in all winter is a fine season. The pleasant snow covers everything. Yes, it’s a pain in the neck when it comes to driving, but it’s especially beautiful when it outlines the branches of all the trees.

The variety of the seasons enlivens us. Even constant sunshine and warm weather can oppress. The quarterly changes allow us to regularly anticipate and experience beginnings and endings. This cycle brings emotional health.

Yet, for all the good things, we must endure one great burden: the mid-Winter Blahs. I’m not quite sure if psychologists have coined a catchy term for this mental morass. I don’t read a lot of those hip psycho-analytic magazines. (Although I admit once some Continue Reading “Mid-Winter Blahs”

Posted in The Compleat Carosa Commentaries Tagged humor

Like Crap Through a Pheasant: A Review of The Mirror Test by Jeffrey W. Hayzlett

By Chris Carosa on February 15, 2011
As I read The Mirror Test: Is Your Business really Breathing?, one particular passage of the opening monologue of the movie Patton kept haunting me:

“Now there’s another thing I want you to remember. I don’t want to get any messages saying that ‘we are holding our position.’ We’re not holding anything. Let the Hun do that. We are advancing constantly and we’re not interested in holding onto anything except the enemy. We’re going to hold onto him by the nose and we’re going to kick him in the ass. We’re going to kick the hell out of him all the time and we’re going to go through him like crap through a goose!”

Author Jeffrey Hayzlett offers this message: Either your business is moving forward or Continue Reading “Like Crap Through a Pheasant: A Review of The Mirror Test by Jeffrey W. Hayzlett”

Posted in Book Reviews Tagged business

Celebrate Freedom Day!

By Chris Carosa on February 10, 2011
[This Commentary originally appeared in the February 8, 1990 issue of The Mendon-Honeoye Falls-Lima Sentinel.]

This coming Monday we celebrate Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. Actually, we used to celebrate Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, now we just celebrate President’s Day. How unfortunate Lincoln chose to come into this world a mere week or so before George Washington’s birthday. I’m sure we would still celebrate Lincoln’s birthday had he been born in, say, March or June.

We cannot discount the gigantic symbol the Father of Our Country has become. Neither can we forget the courage embodied in Lincoln and his quest to promote freedom and equality for all. Maybe we can still recognize this great man by combining his birthday Continue Reading “Celebrate Freedom Day!”

Posted in The Compleat Carosa Commentaries Tagged philosophy

“Remember, You are Just a Man!”

By Chris Carosa on February 6, 2011
There’s this part of the Catholic Mass called the “homily.” It’s like the “sermon” of other denominations, albeit usually a lot shorter. For whatever reason, I tend to do my most creative thinking during homilies. That’s probably true of most people. According the Catholic Encyclopedia, the homily, in brief, intends to mix the specific practicum of everyday experience with the generic spiritual/philosophical treatise offered by the Gospel. It’s said to be the oldest form of preaching. These inspirational words must therefore prod one into reflexive thought; hence, my tendency to brew ideas as the priest speaks in the most general of terms.

Today was different. Not only was it Scout Sunday and I was dressed in uniform to accompany a small covey of Boy Scouts as they brought up the gifts, but today the priest didn’t communicate merely in generalities. Today he named specific names. Today, he pointed to me and proclaimed Continue Reading ““Remember, You are Just a Man!””

Posted in Boy Scouts, Gray Matter Musings, Memoir of a Real Life Tagged Growing Up, honor, ideal, respect