In the bit about not passing judgment, I'm reminded of my late friend Cathy Seipp. When told, "Hey, that's a value judgment," she would say something along the lines of: "I have values, so I make judgments."

I'll have to remember that. Judgments have gotten a bad rap in our declining age.

A man shows the lack of judgment to go on a drinking skylark to North Fucking Korea, and I express the opinion "That'll learn ya" and I'm somehow "judgy"? I think not.

Once someone in conversation referred to a certain first lady's previous job as "modeling," when we all know it consisted of being photographed rubbing her shaved beaver against another woman's puss for the purpose of making men masturbate.

It's a living, sure, but "modeling" isn't the word.

I suggested, gently, that modeling traditionally involves clothing, and I was subsequently accused of "slut shaming."

"I'm glad you agree she's a slut," I said, "and it's a damn shame."

Should we presume the mediation team is being disbanded because it interferes with the generation o f legal fees?

I'm reminded of the great research showing how eating from a bowl held in one had upright with chopsticks greatly increased the mindfulness of the eater. Of course it does. You are worried about dropping your food on the floor.

Far too much of soft science research falls into one of two categories. Either it is blindingly obvious or it is wrong. I understand replication studies cost money. But until the soft sciences are willing to pony up that money their work is worthless.

Quoted article:

What remains is a tool of self-discipline, disguised as self-help.

Sounds great to me - from Boomers on, Americans are sorely lacking in any type of discipline.

If I wanted to be religious in any way, I'd get library books on the subject. For free, obviously.

Beware of anything that costs money; chances are it's a scam. Yes, that goes for the majority of other things as well. Example: Not all home repairs need experts to fix them, so even though they're not necessarily scamming you, it's worth trying to work out the problem yourself first. With the help of books.

Also, I seldom go to movies or theaters these days, since it's pricey and I typically forget what I've seen in just a few days. (And, when I recently went to see Offenbach's opéra bouffe "La Belle Helene," since I hadn't seen it since I was little, I couldn't make out more than half the words - as often happens in opera.)

Why spend money on short-term luxuries when you can have long-term luxuries instead? Even then, you have to be cautious, because it's too easy to take something permanent for granted after a while - such as antique furniture - and then it doesn't feel like a luxury any more.

Money is power, so don't fritter away your power. After a while, one loses one's taste for short-term things like Starbucks coffee, just as a new vegetarian loses the hunger for meat.

I think the mindfulness people have a point. There is something very zen like and calming about focusing on only one thing at a time. Anything with controlled breathing, and no distractions is good for most people.

Not just an American problem, but modern life is geared to turn all of us a bit ADD. Not sure about focusing on chewing a raisin but I do know, if I am not hungry enough to focus entirely on my food, with maybe a bit of light conversation, with family and friends, I have no business eating, because I’m not hungry enough.

The person who is doing two things at once, (like driving and eating). is rarely doing either of them well.

“But anything that offers success in our unjust society without trying to change it is not revolutionary - it just helps people cope. “

What precisely is wrong with coping? Especially with things that can’t realistically be changed?

Please name one “just” society.

This article seems to think that mindfulness is somehow undermining the social justice revolution. Something needs to undermine it, because a lot of the social justice warriors are not only naive, they are just plain Bat shit crazy.

Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Oh, by all means take radical action, destroy the system, all without any plan whatsoever. What could go wrong? And if your political plan is so flimsy that some people concentrating on eating a raisin are sufficient to undermine it...well.

There's an appropriate time for everything. Meditation isn't supposed to be done in lieu of doing anything to improve the world. It's to support and develop your ability to be effective in other activities.

When I was doing death penalty cases and practicing at SF Zen Center, I felt that my law practice was supported and informed by my religious practice and vice versa. I had little patience (ha) for the Zennies who focused exclusively on working on themselves and planned to tackle the rest of the world when they were, I don't know, fully enlightened or something. (Thanks, we'll be looking for you at the soap kitchen in 2056.)

Training in mindfulness in the quiet of your room can make you more mindful and resilient in your work. So ... why not do both? Why make it either/or?

But just for a few moments, that dried grape is their entire raisin d'etre.

I'll just let myself out.