RIP, Dixie Carter.

I'm annoyed with words right now because I remember an hour lecture at UCLA on "sympathy" and "empathy".

The professor explicity taught that "empathy" was intellectual and learned (meaning, a person could be taught to care for others and see their plight; i.e., project themselves to "walk a mile in someone else's shoes") and that "sympathy" was specifically a feeling you could have for another due to having had a similar experience. One could sympathize with being laid off if one had been laid off as well (at some point). If one has not been laid off, and he felt compassion for another who had been, that would be considered empathy.

And the Merriam-Webster dictionary backs that up.

BUT, everyone from Bill Bryson (in his "Troublesome Words" book) to nearly everyone on the web says something else. It's maddening. Not looking for debate, here, really, since people posting about what they "*think* it means, rather than parsing dictionary definitions, is part of the problem with most of the blogs and lit sites out there.

Did they never see Funny Face?

Hepburn: If I went to Paris, it would be to go to Emile Flostre's lectures.

Astaire: Who goes to Paris for lectures?

Hepburn: Professor Flostre is the greatest living philosopher, and father of empathicalism.

Astaire: Oh? What's empathicalism?

Hepburn: The most sensible approach to true understanding and peace of mind.

Astaire: Sounds great, but what is it?

Hepburn: It's based on empathy. Do you know what the word "empathy" means?

Astaire: No, I'll have to have the beginner's course on that one. Empathy. Is it something like sympathy?

Hepburn: Oh, it goes beyond sympathy. Sympathy is to understand what someone feels. Empathy is to project your imagination so that you actually feel what the other person is feeling. You put yourself in the other person's place. Do I make myself clear?... Why did you do that?

Astaire: Empathy. I put myself in your place and I felt that you wanted to be kissed.

Hepburn: You put yourself in the wrong place. I have no desire to be kissed by you, or anyone else.

Astaire: Don't be silly. Everybody wants to be kissed, even philosophers.

Right????

Don't be silly. Everybody wants to be kissed, even philosophers.

Good tagline.

Also, David, don't forget about the pots. Do you want me to keep both of them for you?

Sadly, I also forgot to serve Beth's lovely treats last night. Of course, this meant that I had a very tasty breakfast.

megan, you were very, very funny last night. I like you on negrenos! Also, thank you so much for hosting and feeding all of us such delicious fare.

Negronis!

Ha! I knew I spelled it wrong.

Do you want me to keep both of them for you?

Yes, ma'am, that would be lovely.

I just made soup for JZ as she and Matilda were walking back from church in the rain.

It started off as black bean soup but ended up being more like Italian wedding soup with veggie meatballs. Yet another improv cooking success.

Though I'm still a little more proud of the crystalized ginger I used in the stir fry last month.