Archive for the ‘Reflections’ Category
Rediscovering Lalla Ward
This was one of those hit-me-over-the-head-with-a-brick moments in tonight's reading, one that caused me to exclaim aloud at my computer monitor. I was reading a not-bad interview* with Richard Dawkins by Jim Holt; most of the discussion was about topics to be found in Dawkin's The Ancestor's Tale, which I happen to be reading and […]
Marriage Equality in MA on Firmer Ground
A mere year ago, when campaign passions were running high and the rhetoric was white hot, those of us who support marriage equality (and know that it will ultimately prevail) were a little taken aback by the ease with which the Massachusettes legislature passed an amendment to their state constitution that would have undone the […]
Rehnquist's Legacy, Parts I & II
Allen Dershowitz wrote about the legal career of the late Chief-Justice William Rehnquist ("Telling the Truth About Chief Justice Rehnquist"). After recounting some telling incidents from Rehnquist's time (the late '40s and early '50s) at Stanford law school, which still discriminated against Jews and other minorities, he told of the memo Rehnquist wrote at the […]
In: All, Plus Ca Change..., Reflections
Marxist Lawn Mowing
A couple of nights ago, I was mowing the grass — well, to be honest, the weeds that make up what we call our "lawn" — and thinking, as I often do. The steady noise of the lawnmower, plus the focus on repititive physical activity seems to create something approaching a meditative state for me. […]
In: All, Reflections, Splenetics
New Illiteracy
Some years ago, I had an exchange with a telemarketer that I still remember fondly. She was selling subscriptions to the Washington Post, and seemed surprised that I wasn't terribly interested. In fact, I'd never developed a habit of reading newspapers, and I didn't see a reason to start. So, I explained to her: "I […]
Sandwich Thoughts
I used to think I was the only one who noticed and wondered about things like: why did Subway sandwich shops change the way they cut the bread on their subs? Turns out, I'm not the only one. I don't know whether this is comforting or frightening, but it's certainly enlightening. Steve, at The Sneeze […]
In: All, Reflections, The Art of Conversation
Singular Experiences
Tonight Isaac and I had dinner with our favorite engineer and said engineer's son; both are men with enquiring minds willing to play tag with silly and frivolous topics, in which we nevertheless try to find meaning or at least amusement. It's a game we enjoy. RT (the engineer) offered crocodile-tear regrets that he had […]
Fascinating Footnotes
Just yesterday I finished reading Sharan Newman's The Real History Behind the Da Vinci Code (Berkley Books, New York, 2005). We know and enjoy Newman's writing from her outstanding series of historical mystery novels, set in medieval France, staring the fascinating Catherine LeVendeur; Newman happens to be mentioned in my own "Top Twenty Mystery Authors: […]
Liberal v. Conservative
Liberal versus Conservative It's allowed if it's not prohibited. It's prohibited if it's not allowed. Hey, that's ours! Hey, that's mine! Do as I do. Do as I say. We're all in this together. Watch out for number one. I've earned this. I deserve this. See for yourself. Trust […]
Writer or Wonk?
In my early blogging days, I tried doing politics for a little while — a very little while, actually, but I don't really find politics all that interesting. I am not consumed by the feeling that the activities of self-important, inside-the-beltway personnel (NB: "inside the beltware" is only about 5 miles from where I type […]
Unrealized Moscow
For most of my adolescence, I planned to make architecture my profession. I drew plans and sketches of buildings, read books on the subject, took four years of drafting classes in high school, the whole thing. Why it was that I then went to college and majored in physics I don't really know; I can't […]
In: All, Reflections, The Art of Conversation
Diabetes for Beginners
Tufts researchers recently reported that while the leading source of calories in the average American diet used to be from white bread, that may have changed.* What it has changed to is sweet drinks, presumably including soft drinks sweetened with sugar and various fruit juices and drinks (even "All Natural" ones!). It's an interesting observation, […]