{"id":4424,"date":"2006-03-13T13:52:26","date_gmt":"2006-03-13T17:52:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.law.harvard.edu\/formerlyknownas\/2006\/03\/13\/envy-update-with-confession\/"},"modified":"2011-08-05T14:54:05","modified_gmt":"2011-08-05T18:54:05","slug":"envy-update-with-confession","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/2006\/03\/13\/envy-update-with-confession\/","title":{"rendered":"envy update (with confession)"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Maybe I should reconsider yesterday’s <\/FONT>assertion<\/FONT><\/A> that I do not tend <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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to be envious.   Only a small amendment is needed, though. <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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You see, the <\/FONT>Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary<\/FONT><\/EM><\/A> defines envy<\/EM> as: <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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“painful or resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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another joined with a desire to possess the same advantage.”  <\/FONT><\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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Similarly, the <\/FONT>OneLook Dictionary<\/FONT><\/EM><\/A>‘s “Quick definition” of <\/FONT>envy<\/FONT><\/A> includes: <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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“a feeling of grudging admiration<\/EM> and desire to have something possessed <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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by another.”  <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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From the perspective of those two definitions, I must confess that (1) I have <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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lately “envied” people with good memories; and (2) for quite awhile, I have <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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been painfully aware that the children of my friends Bert and Esther Foer <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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are a few decades (or maybe a lifetime or two) ahead of me in the “achieve-<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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ment” department.   <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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early Alzheimer’s<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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she says she’ll have . . .<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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the usual<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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  John Stevenson<\/FONT><\/STRONG> <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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   from <\/FONT>Quiet Enough<\/EM><\/FONT><\/STRONG><\/A><\/DIV><\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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\"don't<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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These factors came together today, when I saw the Washington Post<\/EM> <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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article:  “<\/FONT>D.C. Writer Gives Unforgettable Performance<\/FONT><\/A>: USA Memory <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Championship Winner Entered Contest as Research for Book.” March <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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13, 2006.  It seems that, without really trying much, 23-three-year-old <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Joshua Foer won the <\/FONT>U.S. Memory Championship<\/FONT><\/A>, on Saturday in NYC. <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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I’m pleased for him, of course, and pleased to see, that this has not gone <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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to Josh’s head: <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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“Although Foer set a national record for memorizing a shuffled <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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deck of cards — one minute and 40 seconds — the world record, <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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he said, is 30 seconds.  “I can’t even turn over the cards in 30 <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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seconds,” he said.”<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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Yes, there is a touch of envy in my heart right now.  As his father has <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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already pointed out, however, it will now be much more difficult for Josh<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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to give excuses about having forgetten tasks he should be performing as the <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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webmaster and Chief Information Officer of the <\/FONT>American Antitrust Institute<\/FONT><\/A>.<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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If I could remember a few, I might tell you the embarrassing memory lapses <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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I had over this past weekend.  As I’m fairly sure I’ve said before: <\/FONT>peridementia<\/FONT><\/A> <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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is not a pretty thing. <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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                                                                                                             “everythingMovie”<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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\"tiny  Bert and Esther’s other children are New Republic<\/EM> editor and<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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author <\/FONT>Franklin Foer<\/FONT><\/A> and wunderkind novelist <\/FONT>Jonathan Safran Foer<\/FONT><\/A>,<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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both of whom have been discussed in prior posts at this website.<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Bert is founding president of the <\/FONT>American Antitrust Institute<\/FONT><\/A>. Esther <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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is the good-looking, brainy and talented parent. <\/FONT> <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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late night —<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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a waitress repeats<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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the list of pies  <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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  John Stevenson<\/STRONG><\/FONT><\/A> <\/FONT><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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   <\/FONT>The Heron’s Nest<\/EM><\/FONT><\/A> (<\/FONT>March 2006<\/FONT><\/A>)<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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<\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN> <\/DIV>
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<\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN> <\/DIV>
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<\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN> <\/DIV>
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<\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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widower –<\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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who will finish <\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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his sentences?<\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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   <\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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   <\/FONT><\/FONT>dagosan<\/FONT><\/A> <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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    (with a nod to <\/FONT>Tom Painting<\/FONT><\/A>)<\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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<\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN> <\/DIV>
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<\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN> <\/DIV>
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<\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN> <\/DIV>
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can’t remember<\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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the pretty one’s name – <\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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tip of my tongue<\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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<\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN> <\/DIV>
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   <\/FONT>dagosan<\/FONT><\/A> <\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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     <\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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\"don't  Happily, I have not forgotten how much <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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I like the one-breath poetry of John Stevenson<\/A>:  <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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after midnight<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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getting some of my thoughts <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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into the lifeboats<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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midwinter<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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hoping the symptoms <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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will pass<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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\"erasingS\"<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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jury room –<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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multiple errors <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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in a discarded crossword<\/FONT><\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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eightieth birthday <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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still playing <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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the numbers<\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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<\/FONT> <\/DIV>
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John Stevenson<\/STRONG><\/FONT><\/A> <\/FONT><\/DIV>
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Upstate Dim Sum<\/FONT><\/EM><\/A> (2005\/II<\/FONT><\/A>)<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/FONT><\/DIV>
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<\/SPAN><\/SPAN> <\/DIV>
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                                                                      deadly sins: <\/EM><\/FONT>envy<\/EM><\/FONT><\/A>  \"envyG\"<\/SPAN><\/SPAN><\/DIV>
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<\/SPAN><\/SPAN> <\/DIV><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/SPAN><\/FONT><\/SPAN><\/BLOCKQUOTE><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Maybe I should reconsider yesterday’s assertion that I do not tend to be envious.   Only a small amendment is needed, though.    You see, the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines envy as:  “painful or resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another joined with a desire to possess the same advantage.”  Similarly, the OneLook Dictionary‘s “Quick […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":94,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[2926],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4424","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-pre-06-2006"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6kP1R-19m","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4424","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/94"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4424"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4424\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12739,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4424\/revisions\/12739"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4424"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4424"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/archive.blogs.harvard.edu\/ethicalesq\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4424"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}