One problem is that while I dawdle along, doing my writing thing, the world is quickly progressing, I'm getting older, and people I love are getting impatient with me. Why? Not because I don't produce, or don't make money, or am not happy - I am happy, though the other two are questionable - it's more because they kind of expect me to be outside, be strong, be thin, be physical, and the more I write, the more I want to sit here, tucked back in my chair, ignoring everything else.

Today I was taking the car in for an oil change and they had modern stuff - this was the dealer. A cappucino machine, trail mix, it was classy. This was good because it took over an hour because they wanted to inspect it, whatever. But what was alarming was the television, something I never watch, which showed an endless parade of people-tripping-and-badly-hurting-themselves clips. Just what I needed! At 72 I already live in fear of such things.

The upshot of it is, I have to write my once-in-a-lifetime book. The one I'm here on this earth to write. It's about language. It's about Chomsky, and Universalism, and the way people are.

To get the essence of it, study traffic, and the way it's similar to language. In both cases people interact with each other, each with their own motive. In both cases their mutual success is good for each of them. In both cases the law tells them what to do but they do what they want anyway, although sometimes they're afraid of the law, or sometimes at least, the law influences their behavior. The law doesn't control their behavior. Natural barriers in some cases make breaking the law harder but in general, people can do what they want to do, law or not.

Come with me, on Lake Shore Drive, Chicago. The sky is blue on one side and the lake shines. On the other, tall buildings, stacked up against each other. But be careful! You are in one of seven lanes of traffic and all are going 70. One false move and you have a twenty-car pileup. Why is everyone breaking the law? Because it's mutually beneficial. If you just go the same speed as everyone, everyone gets there faster. Just don't blow it!

What does this have to do with language? Chomsky used to make a big deal out of natural restrictions, like they were built in to our concept of language. But does nature make restrictions? No, not really, unless it helps people evolve. So, nobody tells you you have to drive on the right, only the law tells you, and you still do it either because you are cooperating with the law, or because that's what everyone expects you to do. Why go against the grain? Only if there is a purpose.

When your wife starts having a baby in the passenger seat, now you care less about societal norms and conventions.. If you can drive right across the grass to get to the entrance to the hospital, you'll consider it, because why not? This is no time to worry about politeness. If you have to go the wrong way on a one-way street you'll do that too but quick because that's not what people expect. Your behavior is determined by your needs, the pressure, what people expect, and what the law says. And also getting there as fast as possible, if that's part of the picture.

Now you're in a conversation with someone. Are there laws? No mostly conventions. There might be a few laws, like don't threaten the president, but in general you do things because that's what people expect and that's what helps them understand you. You seek the norm because they understand the norm. If they don't understand you, everyone loses.

I could go on, but I won't. Time's a-wastin'. I need to write this book. Watch out for it. The world goes on, traffic goes on, but in the world of language theory we just try to get to the bottom of eternal questions. Is there anything that all languages have in common? What do you have to do to make someone understand you?