The trouble with philosophical abstraction is that it tries to create a space separated from the world. The metaphor of the slippery slope, for example, has become almost literal. That’s why it is often effective. Who wants to slide down a slippery slope? What is unstated but operative is that this metaphor encourages the reader/hearer to assume – without question – that there exists a place that is not slippery, where one cannot slide or fall. In our complex world…
Where are we, America? March 20th will be the four-year anniversary of the Iraq invasion and subsequent occupation. We’ve succeeded in making a bad situation worse for the people of Iraq. We’ve killed and been killed. We’ve drained our financial resources for the foreseeable future, and handed out contracts to such ilk as Halliburton. The oil profits are still being debated, but does anyone believe that the Iraqi people will benefit? A majority of the soldiers themselves thought they should…
You Are a Chimera You are very outgoing and well connected to many people. Incredibly devoted to your family and friends, you find purpose in nurturing others. You are rarely alone, and you do best in the company of others. You are incredibly expressive, and people are sometimes overwhelmed by your strong emotions. What Mythological Creature Are You?
“The need to speak, even if one has nothing to say, becomes more pressing when one has nothing to say, just as the will to live becomes more urgent when life has lost its meaning.” – Jean Baudrillard I remember a lecture given by Baudrillard at Emory. The crowd had transcripts of Baudrillard’s lecture, in case his accent was too overwhelming for them. People flipped pages like it was the Bible. I just looked and listened. I had no trouble…
From where I am, the eclipse will already be in progress when the Sun sets and the Moon rises. I’ll be watching the eastern horizon at sunset to watch the coppery red moon rise. Mid-eclipse (dark moon) is at 6:21 p.m. eastern time. By 8:12, the Earth’s shadow will have left the moon’s surface (from the moon’s perspective, it would be a solar eclipse by the Earth). This total lunar eclipse is very special – it is partly visible from…
Petition to Israeli, Palestinian & international leaders: The Palestinian-Israeli conflict lies at the heart of a global clash threatening to divide us all. People from every corner of the world want a just and lasting peace in the Middle East – and the international community can and must help bring all sides to the table. Start Real Middle East Talks Now, and stay at the negotiating table until we have peace… Stop the Clash (Note: Gender plays an interesting, somewhat…