tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23233831055775534142024-03-17T10:07:14.624-07:00Examined WorldsPhilosophy and Science FictionEthanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13490888839784651097noreply@blogger.comBlogger611125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323383105577553414.post-61166784260093130082024-03-16T23:23:00.000-07:002024-03-17T10:06:40.975-07:00Random Thoughts, Part 23: Cats, Conflict, Categories, Conservatism, Commercials, etc.<p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_zB5aFziT803e0PDHHLtcZsHkPXu58MEV_kT6jOldLFL-S47FjFgiTqrns5gB38ZS9p9sfRgsY4YL6cfeZeMBWJE1f72FoU_MqDvFPj9Q1i_Ke-_gWHpaaRxMyY72c2brIhu8ZtskyqkCiVxzTncFGUBZi4rj6JoC9VX8fN0d-RkQe3s4R67pJ2ZBaRt/s1320/cat%20lisan%20al%20gaib.jpg" style="font-style: italic; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1320" data-original-width="870" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_zB5aFziT803e0PDHHLtcZsHkPXu58MEV_kT6jOldLFL-S47FjFgiTqrns5gB38ZS9p9sfRgsY4YL6cfeZeMBWJE1f72FoU_MqDvFPj9Q1i_Ke-_gWHpaaRxMyY72c2brIhu8ZtskyqkCiVxzTncFGUBZi4rj6JoC9VX8fN0d-RkQe3s4R67pJ2ZBaRt/w264-h400/cat%20lisan%20al%20gaib.jpg" width="264" /></a></p><p><i>My <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2023/10/random-thoughts-part-22-dentists.html" target="_blank">Random Thoughts series</a> continues. Randomly, we are now at Part 23, which is an extra large helping of random thoughts and even better: it comes with an extra large helping of random memes (although I should warn you, dear reader, that the Dune memes have been flowing more strongly with the release of <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2024/02/dune-part-two-non-spoilery-first.html" target="_blank">Dune Part Two</a>). Enjoy!</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ7lQvHUg0Mmj69qG2gAYJ8x37rirXzJduMeA6s4wY4yOJqvZh0nk7_dlmcRraOFBuiUzrtunKjn6kanGxyhc0Z-VzyYluMazcoPvOPI0jfHAI8E5UuJkDvAKkKTMMqD_jSFgoGDDpK8KL9rEb27eIVJ3BWPjo-ynjhOw05wTrbioyztz8lM0mTobSG6sq/s1479/cat%20emperor%20of%20dune.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1479" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ7lQvHUg0Mmj69qG2gAYJ8x37rirXzJduMeA6s4wY4yOJqvZh0nk7_dlmcRraOFBuiUzrtunKjn6kanGxyhc0Z-VzyYluMazcoPvOPI0jfHAI8E5UuJkDvAKkKTMMqD_jSFgoGDDpK8KL9rEb27eIVJ3BWPjo-ynjhOw05wTrbioyztz8lM0mTobSG6sq/w293-h400/cat%20emperor%20of%20dune.jpg" width="293" /></a></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-rD81REE_f_wUbXJ1qi-cc96T1pRyKXsudytyNsn5mDyq34OB92gawC9cj12c6uAFxgFW8cQCTHWvKlqq-lpecp_o91g7RLihrkEFFMlAp-0UHtmZ7_RyCCEuPINGXssDOwSOF-8SFWAvwjKkVEJ1uNUuSpRkCwXNMdFukPTWUpp1IT2i35hFgflRjW0Z/s1440/ST%20films%20alignment.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-rD81REE_f_wUbXJ1qi-cc96T1pRyKXsudytyNsn5mDyq34OB92gawC9cj12c6uAFxgFW8cQCTHWvKlqq-lpecp_o91g7RLihrkEFFMlAp-0UHtmZ7_RyCCEuPINGXssDOwSOF-8SFWAvwjKkVEJ1uNUuSpRkCwXNMdFukPTWUpp1IT2i35hFgflRjW0Z/w300-h400/ST%20films%20alignment.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><span></span><p></p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p><br /></p>
597. Expecting absent-minded professors to use increasingly arcane computer systems intermittently with little to no training -- what could go wrong? <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0KFH2cMbJnADxsTjqDL_t-lGcUWZJ93O__Ww3mDLeUwVGZFit7Og2XfXeUaPXAL2g5sLrtz8NZTOdFVXOqRzUKD1Wxj6nHFotW7IkuXiNO43G9dRAjgEoRRnPw5tleQpoN8j7fdjiXT2wTsN4Wp7VBh7qNLbC-0iZqOp80PZYPE3fTmYMTnLUkBKrlzae/s750/watching%20horror.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="629" data-original-width="750" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0KFH2cMbJnADxsTjqDL_t-lGcUWZJ93O__Ww3mDLeUwVGZFit7Og2XfXeUaPXAL2g5sLrtz8NZTOdFVXOqRzUKD1Wxj6nHFotW7IkuXiNO43G9dRAjgEoRRnPw5tleQpoN8j7fdjiXT2wTsN4Wp7VBh7qNLbC-0iZqOp80PZYPE3fTmYMTnLUkBKrlzae/w400-h335/watching%20horror.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhstr3M6KZcPCbroMasA5UnzE7xKUH2Il94bu3XWBkTKWe4kz-2ShD0py97NqYUvyU7-huXmphuqjkL-HBwzoqwiLfOntErn8lfFjydFG2ak2CVSfnIPsEVnd9eWOr6dajgbEGB1fxlQhw4oOkuDAtVff4aTLzVLGW8a2kvBg3EeqhmwRudldukWK2H_cnZ/s960/cosplayers.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="746" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhstr3M6KZcPCbroMasA5UnzE7xKUH2Il94bu3XWBkTKWe4kz-2ShD0py97NqYUvyU7-huXmphuqjkL-HBwzoqwiLfOntErn8lfFjydFG2ak2CVSfnIPsEVnd9eWOr6dajgbEGB1fxlQhw4oOkuDAtVff4aTLzVLGW8a2kvBg3EeqhmwRudldukWK2H_cnZ/w311-h400/cosplayers.jpg" width="311" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>598. Sometimes being a professor is going down a rabbit hole of reading to over-prepare for a single class discussion while your students just want you to finish grading and give them the next assignment prompt.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiUsA7CCyn-XFb_LWBRV8lKzct4Llb1hB8UffzdSInVUx7rhUjbKP9x-Esju6bn15SkKQCGBauZoJmMuLkyXA9K7NQambCoaV5Zzc5AbIQd-FHSHWF2e0RqqNjKBurN7J2kZcZ487UcDva-Ncls3YoNIMSQgMG6XOKwdIrheixQLHC4ol09-4rWAtds9zT/s1080/human%20bartender.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="976" data-original-width="1080" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiUsA7CCyn-XFb_LWBRV8lKzct4Llb1hB8UffzdSInVUx7rhUjbKP9x-Esju6bn15SkKQCGBauZoJmMuLkyXA9K7NQambCoaV5Zzc5AbIQd-FHSHWF2e0RqqNjKBurN7J2kZcZ487UcDva-Ncls3YoNIMSQgMG6XOKwdIrheixQLHC4ol09-4rWAtds9zT/w400-h361/human%20bartender.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2MVXNlf_6wHdfpO9cJy_gQniDrOc9iAADWKABDEc7TkD9Yz7zS4Pv_LCEpjGAdFsWt1hnnUw2XjDKgaVEZiBSUc6EvWdFli7_WgV04Ta-agYwrTJNUFUGrx0LgrOF6dMDs3Py2PCVuwKhAx90ub-fcwjEay-dBEso8US3l-nrvbHiC16jI4esm0So3T6Y/s1168/academics%20speed.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1168" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2MVXNlf_6wHdfpO9cJy_gQniDrOc9iAADWKABDEc7TkD9Yz7zS4Pv_LCEpjGAdFsWt1hnnUw2XjDKgaVEZiBSUc6EvWdFli7_WgV04Ta-agYwrTJNUFUGrx0LgrOF6dMDs3Py2PCVuwKhAx90ub-fcwjEay-dBEso8US3l-nrvbHiC16jI4esm0So3T6Y/w370-h400/academics%20speed.jpg" width="370" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>599. I’m often confused that phenomena like problematic artists, systems of oppression that we all participate in to some degree or other, privileges based on aspects of one’s identity beyond one’s control, etc. cause some people so much knee-jerk consternation. I think it’s that most people think that guilt is a feeling to be avoided at all costs, even if those costs include massive self-imposed denial (“sexism/racism/homophobia doesn’t exist”), theoretical subversion (“no ethical consumption under capitalism” or “separate the art from the artist”), or a resolute anti-intellectualism of “I just don’t think about that.” But guilt can’t be entirely removed. It’s a basic existential condition, a byproduct of being a sufficiently thoughtful and compassionate human being. Guilt is not to be removed, but to be used, hopefully to work toward the creation of a world where people will have less to be guilty about. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRiO8DrqNY2snMYPa1tXmvsbwE8gmUkdRqRiMJZ91bNCKKSAKbpBPLAW3ussIJRKwWNCS0ksdeqL34XKL_Ul3Kuz0VX7vS7YzSFr0vmi4NX-zI4jSyyLcEp4IGB0CcvAES7C_yJoFQfR8BDQYT26hI3hMISGV-E7f95naSwn7FT7_yg6qPvUwRuOEuXZPj/s634/Poe%20library%20ad.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="634" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRiO8DrqNY2snMYPa1tXmvsbwE8gmUkdRqRiMJZ91bNCKKSAKbpBPLAW3ussIJRKwWNCS0ksdeqL34XKL_Ul3Kuz0VX7vS7YzSFr0vmi4NX-zI4jSyyLcEp4IGB0CcvAES7C_yJoFQfR8BDQYT26hI3hMISGV-E7f95naSwn7FT7_yg6qPvUwRuOEuXZPj/w379-h400/Poe%20library%20ad.jpg" width="379" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ArsPuDmg3po0NnkFpG06Vlk3Pw2V4us43HnCUoau-iyD4WLWRr26dpO_7URKIUjb97motfLHBLHUR5-PwPpXL8ShnC6e6RRlh5jJ4Yb3Zit9Z6NhExFao_4Yn0YbHoVdRqZRqYi03eiqCepJ8KyrAazK-b-zULo9syop1FYZ7jAfE-Ijq1blDlx9TCp0/s1080/everyone%20energy%20vamp.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1080" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ArsPuDmg3po0NnkFpG06Vlk3Pw2V4us43HnCUoau-iyD4WLWRr26dpO_7URKIUjb97motfLHBLHUR5-PwPpXL8ShnC6e6RRlh5jJ4Yb3Zit9Z6NhExFao_4Yn0YbHoVdRqZRqYi03eiqCepJ8KyrAazK-b-zULo9syop1FYZ7jAfE-Ijq1blDlx9TCp0/w400-h225/everyone%20energy%20vamp.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>600. One day you’re young and hip, and then some day you find yourself attracted to the people in ads for laundry detergent. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRuuBeKqGkOo_DtNLAU3zBRrwSo5Ik3EYyNCHBuXPXZl27uzj5aMluzyPzhQ7F_fNqM4PY2QqdvHVHgtIuS0WPkfe3ZUeL_95DaOb5HQhEVWCd2p03hgV5wCBkk2dORJQFvaAaFjmrs8FF6yQ5fCskCHH_8J7uJ4WMTdBOkDjAgRHV3RUMKwBFyj3DFNBw/s720/conspiracy%20project.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="663" data-original-width="720" height="369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRuuBeKqGkOo_DtNLAU3zBRrwSo5Ik3EYyNCHBuXPXZl27uzj5aMluzyPzhQ7F_fNqM4PY2QqdvHVHgtIuS0WPkfe3ZUeL_95DaOb5HQhEVWCd2p03hgV5wCBkk2dORJQFvaAaFjmrs8FF6yQ5fCskCHH_8J7uJ4WMTdBOkDjAgRHV3RUMKwBFyj3DFNBw/w400-h369/conspiracy%20project.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0J4yLyTlRqu0wYMT2taKF_o27ABSC82Dt3Dy5tJRxq0JJpIDHTDfJsH7V98wrLbsH7e7J1yzea9N7c1SW9H8rQ_4byRAbUh2r0ydzggXt4Xl5Gowi4VlVga070LB5gekjRHI3lhWoVVkfv52WMxXpvsVtmVBvg31SE59dKVWg8m1XO1x2IQtv64EYcx7b/s974/alter%20ego.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="936" data-original-width="974" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0J4yLyTlRqu0wYMT2taKF_o27ABSC82Dt3Dy5tJRxq0JJpIDHTDfJsH7V98wrLbsH7e7J1yzea9N7c1SW9H8rQ_4byRAbUh2r0ydzggXt4Xl5Gowi4VlVga070LB5gekjRHI3lhWoVVkfv52WMxXpvsVtmVBvg31SE59dKVWg8m1XO1x2IQtv64EYcx7b/w400-h385/alter%20ego.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>601. I care deeply about individual humans and about humanity as a whole, but I often find it difficult to care about groups in the same way, especially when one group is pitted against another and caring about one is thought to entail not caring about the other. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf2EAPC6zTNl5YYSI-PEigzNIs6nt2PEY5OdjCbsckw3DVIpTH1rvbemaFe5m3MgN4hjh7GlddYdJ_Do83OP_OC_Ae-oi_jI5Ol95dt9rjRlrDBEtGHjSa8PFOEKH3ZyioOjSi2qAMUcqpUfb7P2SKbGB4zxwu0TCZJrBcZxuvLrGX6intfpunDORrdITG/s750/q%20tips.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf2EAPC6zTNl5YYSI-PEigzNIs6nt2PEY5OdjCbsckw3DVIpTH1rvbemaFe5m3MgN4hjh7GlddYdJ_Do83OP_OC_Ae-oi_jI5Ol95dt9rjRlrDBEtGHjSa8PFOEKH3ZyioOjSi2qAMUcqpUfb7P2SKbGB4zxwu0TCZJrBcZxuvLrGX6intfpunDORrdITG/w341-h400/q%20tips.jpg" width="341" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjsRL65jPd_cVYCJWHDvrI3d0aYT8FA-J55rQgz6usMfE7cG_qNLumCJp5F5baECAcOzp4E6ZmbhLRSIfZqNsuhrlWD0nFGeFp35xm_EPW4CnP3sjT4dGpuBj76I1MyL9TuYjiwu0a84SnjVC3X1YZ4z0hyIC02Jjl_co6nrihL_EuaoWYA42v6s8Nc74G/s584/hellraiser%20hellenistic.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="584" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjsRL65jPd_cVYCJWHDvrI3d0aYT8FA-J55rQgz6usMfE7cG_qNLumCJp5F5baECAcOzp4E6ZmbhLRSIfZqNsuhrlWD0nFGeFp35xm_EPW4CnP3sjT4dGpuBj76I1MyL9TuYjiwu0a84SnjVC3X1YZ4z0hyIC02Jjl_co6nrihL_EuaoWYA42v6s8Nc74G/w343-h400/hellraiser%20hellenistic.jpg" width="343" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>602. Every day I work from home, I sit down after breakfast to "look at my email." Then I look up and it's three hours later. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8sgaTI-8CluMZcxzOK598AhQkD0PApYR9s1Rz_ViMlyYCiakfv-rFSQf8zNNh0dyA6HLRIKSASRu33fo1hy18MpM-NGA61oeyLr0zsmAHVNEa-d-ukndW4CX6qbfhQVMNVmt4yPD3EhqXMOvzzoXZo_elOWAbbORDBMHS3VipsCM5dLzQqaqjlXzlle1O/s500/weird%20al%20honor.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="500" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8sgaTI-8CluMZcxzOK598AhQkD0PApYR9s1Rz_ViMlyYCiakfv-rFSQf8zNNh0dyA6HLRIKSASRu33fo1hy18MpM-NGA61oeyLr0zsmAHVNEa-d-ukndW4CX6qbfhQVMNVmt4yPD3EhqXMOvzzoXZo_elOWAbbORDBMHS3VipsCM5dLzQqaqjlXzlle1O/w400-h388/weird%20al%20honor.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSNVK7_Yus1rJjTTAoBSeCdE0pt02j7Av7eXNFX5ABhiak5-fzZYZ1r5jBQXSF2M6Fw5ls6h1GaGqa80O6apwSY75aEQjeH3-HQtU-ETQ6E41GoZCTzbh0GKznYdRWXDC-QS7A6Y6olZDTRr6T4dxErALFsmXk8jMaNQScs4a3b0lqLZQ77NB5ih7Gu_ug/s975/cunk%20on%20butlerian%20jihad.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="975" data-original-width="621" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSNVK7_Yus1rJjTTAoBSeCdE0pt02j7Av7eXNFX5ABhiak5-fzZYZ1r5jBQXSF2M6Fw5ls6h1GaGqa80O6apwSY75aEQjeH3-HQtU-ETQ6E41GoZCTzbh0GKznYdRWXDC-QS7A6Y6olZDTRr6T4dxErALFsmXk8jMaNQScs4a3b0lqLZQ77NB5ih7Gu_ug/w255-h400/cunk%20on%20butlerian%20jihad.JPG" width="255" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>603. Some people think the job of philosophy is to give answers to philosophical questions, even if these answers are incomplete or not strictly knowable, and to show how our answers to philosophical issues can shape our lives. Other people look at philosophy as a way to deepen and expand the questions we ask, and to show that these questions are often lurking even where we think our answers are most assured. Am I the second type? </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhryn258hDfgoigm6RcZ7yhKaTrY7dVAEsrMCdMGQaFieJrbOI6DcqDy0xXpPpzBRHdGIyumYvGwifQvtHg5KZ6vhUekco-ioFg56JJCynohof8oCrlbFrYInsMwbGYBMmHg4WitHq7NAEi3F0XzPqJoJBqFIGP9KQwBqp3AR-LLzddmobTcrglNLxD38Dr/s1080/jason%20twin%20peaks.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="807" data-original-width="1080" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhryn258hDfgoigm6RcZ7yhKaTrY7dVAEsrMCdMGQaFieJrbOI6DcqDy0xXpPpzBRHdGIyumYvGwifQvtHg5KZ6vhUekco-ioFg56JJCynohof8oCrlbFrYInsMwbGYBMmHg4WitHq7NAEi3F0XzPqJoJBqFIGP9KQwBqp3AR-LLzddmobTcrglNLxD38Dr/w400-h299/jason%20twin%20peaks.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4scP0_2na8Z-CVBLNtt2eHzs0SShjzMAfBqvzIEkQewPQm41L-sMgZVKCwbkdyq4-r_tMfgAkmZp9yRNXLglAO5EQWn8Zk0Rpyp2bCHoCy1csTsXFnmMqr9sC21OiROcpNud3ZOxcBnuCoRAfqAm2Rxl5mV62ZcKjf4yiBK02utp3zNrSc9ya3aa15Hdm/s720/jedi%20halloween.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="720" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4scP0_2na8Z-CVBLNtt2eHzs0SShjzMAfBqvzIEkQewPQm41L-sMgZVKCwbkdyq4-r_tMfgAkmZp9yRNXLglAO5EQWn8Zk0Rpyp2bCHoCy1csTsXFnmMqr9sC21OiROcpNud3ZOxcBnuCoRAfqAm2Rxl5mV62ZcKjf4yiBK02utp3zNrSc9ya3aa15Hdm/w400-h325/jedi%20halloween.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>604. Sure, life is hellscape of suffering leading to oblivion, but on the other hand, cake is pretty good. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWEGIRKU7fYFB58XZKxeZMt4MZwIf_G4mTpYBduomAUarpV9UXa25-K8leCAVuu7RvPnS8xIf17iDileKyKltYNBxyY6w33diErRVv5UyP7aOOzcigS1pvt3ZJsl0hukcSBw00fMlyfcMXFPvbUBcbC6yk9mo0cr1iqf1678lJSgldjC2HBgyAyOeSODHE/s917/sarcasm.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="917" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWEGIRKU7fYFB58XZKxeZMt4MZwIf_G4mTpYBduomAUarpV9UXa25-K8leCAVuu7RvPnS8xIf17iDileKyKltYNBxyY6w33diErRVv5UyP7aOOzcigS1pvt3ZJsl0hukcSBw00fMlyfcMXFPvbUBcbC6yk9mo0cr1iqf1678lJSgldjC2HBgyAyOeSODHE/s320/sarcasm.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpUnznmfpEQDL9K3Na6Kd8EQmUPHIwZaxghrDUM6hkGKGedeEWottd9QfRkTT-7W4iDA_Z7FBY89em71bVkrPuSXnHIyu2zuDQDB-NyiscE_RUz_TsKX2KY18ba0D-5A46MWKq__R_SbMpPdd7noAois6thNPlOuh_nlFRA5TuFQ6z2n17qYx4bzGtMcdP/s960/earl%20grey%20cold.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="958" data-original-width="960" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpUnznmfpEQDL9K3Na6Kd8EQmUPHIwZaxghrDUM6hkGKGedeEWottd9QfRkTT-7W4iDA_Z7FBY89em71bVkrPuSXnHIyu2zuDQDB-NyiscE_RUz_TsKX2KY18ba0D-5A46MWKq__R_SbMpPdd7noAois6thNPlOuh_nlFRA5TuFQ6z2n17qYx4bzGtMcdP/w400-h399/earl%20grey%20cold.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>605. A game I like to play on my walks: Dead snake or discarded hair extension? </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh40wMsE42PYldeqjkc93mcDVcpJXH4RmvD5t_KlC1ymo_RjyueRyOhUcut67GFsJM_f7yu4ZdQjrgQwNVOqY62YauHG9d3kpeBMoSZdQkVCDSiS5CG38vG8LUss0UXU2rCZ5npgLgw5sLCEMGwPn86Imv1rrDR9UtaYs3CfbEItRuIwV2DKteszTyPudVh/s960/frankenstein%20book.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="834" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh40wMsE42PYldeqjkc93mcDVcpJXH4RmvD5t_KlC1ymo_RjyueRyOhUcut67GFsJM_f7yu4ZdQjrgQwNVOqY62YauHG9d3kpeBMoSZdQkVCDSiS5CG38vG8LUss0UXU2rCZ5npgLgw5sLCEMGwPn86Imv1rrDR9UtaYs3CfbEItRuIwV2DKteszTyPudVh/w348-h400/frankenstein%20book.jpg" width="348" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFV6N5BK4fH6mzbeLAqvQu0PX6dYkLcIFqRUhCGN9lm4-v9vtDlLmZ8T3iKYfSIDOr2aj_GUOT_IzGfL37wU0Da_EWnEamQ0MN-EJXQuQ_LV2cCzkDrE7fdJoRuunyTZ0Zdho6Lu-Ai9DPgSS_QTx6tGvK6zlaQ9yUTVtGk09VPtW1NQOFRumzRq9vS-T5/s1350/Fri%20the%2013%20colin%20robinson.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFV6N5BK4fH6mzbeLAqvQu0PX6dYkLcIFqRUhCGN9lm4-v9vtDlLmZ8T3iKYfSIDOr2aj_GUOT_IzGfL37wU0Da_EWnEamQ0MN-EJXQuQ_LV2cCzkDrE7fdJoRuunyTZ0Zdho6Lu-Ai9DPgSS_QTx6tGvK6zlaQ9yUTVtGk09VPtW1NQOFRumzRq9vS-T5/w320-h400/Fri%20the%2013%20colin%20robinson.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>606. A terrible confession: I often think “modern retellings” of Grimm’s fairy tales, Greek mythology, Bible stories, etc. are kind of boring. I’d generally rather hear a new story. It also sometimes encourages a kind of “winking at the audience” cleverness and pretentious references in the place of interesting ideas. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvWdkjjlsxNAwCzVfvtdmz5k-7paTBmq8AKW_4wc-mFcfo3lvIHOWiU1czczvMlmwX2of17DRi5NgboFVOBasCVa_8cUs5bRUfTWpMz4pWxFtfrTKan4vYAXctkPs5o0Y8nnfoBw_vKy826GrajEo1sBTOFyjMXEMyJDOo2_IF7eqAsqfpaCmljXwdGZku/s1024/alien%20kool%20aid.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="574" data-original-width="1024" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvWdkjjlsxNAwCzVfvtdmz5k-7paTBmq8AKW_4wc-mFcfo3lvIHOWiU1czczvMlmwX2of17DRi5NgboFVOBasCVa_8cUs5bRUfTWpMz4pWxFtfrTKan4vYAXctkPs5o0Y8nnfoBw_vKy826GrajEo1sBTOFyjMXEMyJDOo2_IF7eqAsqfpaCmljXwdGZku/w400-h224/alien%20kool%20aid.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6KV3QybMmPi3LOXBjxt5WaYSVXKmcskcH-AHlWUE1azWh4SJVuI7YaURt2XM_4z4zJUg5-y7EZZdwzH95iocW8mbFMNo-7HAq318zassuFIxdxxcClVk9_cE_aMQsRtP34S4KzsBpAODt6xjeLPSYtkQ0xTH5aY9lZ05V-BkPg-6dAD3BUh7Bnxugskm2/s720/aggressive%20animal.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="716" data-original-width="720" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6KV3QybMmPi3LOXBjxt5WaYSVXKmcskcH-AHlWUE1azWh4SJVuI7YaURt2XM_4z4zJUg5-y7EZZdwzH95iocW8mbFMNo-7HAq318zassuFIxdxxcClVk9_cE_aMQsRtP34S4KzsBpAODt6xjeLPSYtkQ0xTH5aY9lZ05V-BkPg-6dAD3BUh7Bnxugskm2/w400-h398/aggressive%20animal.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>607. Between the high speed limits, unnecessarily giant death machine trucks, road rage, and lack of safe walkable spaces, it almost seems the United States is deliberately trying to kill pedestrians. And if the cars don’t kill you, the guns, drugs, or lack of affordable healthcare might do the job. Anyway, fun things I think about on my walks. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiyweizE4Gkapa1OUjFBxNsv_I32Zrc0FvMPwEZtFXyBM2241LoQ3t7HfsTgit_9IvP99P_pkl1fFgMg_rPiWt2xBwUNJ5K5J751L6731g3X4AxUsqLWEaJnqaJwFKdL0chB7dlA4DK1UHLcHfuz9pkXkT6f3bqLTWmvEzHgVelKEWbk3ihcWBDnfWJwiv/s2048/Dune%20oil%20meth.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiyweizE4Gkapa1OUjFBxNsv_I32Zrc0FvMPwEZtFXyBM2241LoQ3t7HfsTgit_9IvP99P_pkl1fFgMg_rPiWt2xBwUNJ5K5J751L6731g3X4AxUsqLWEaJnqaJwFKdL0chB7dlA4DK1UHLcHfuz9pkXkT6f3bqLTWmvEzHgVelKEWbk3ihcWBDnfWJwiv/w266-h400/Dune%20oil%20meth.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhau3KY75ARTQe1Uj4yYrQiDT0kcI7XPv0-3BlHJcDE3BmLd0AP-k607Z20SZrKcZHkU5Tszpgn8mYSqW9JEi67m3fTdfrwxyuZYS1m2SSqAA1NmUm7qrhXsQeSx_0wjNsXwe598_y5dfSZI_l7rhpbHerNGNlACB-yt9BvoewhdWP-iHKYw9GMmA_jxagN/s750/whelmed.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="434" data-original-width="750" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhau3KY75ARTQe1Uj4yYrQiDT0kcI7XPv0-3BlHJcDE3BmLd0AP-k607Z20SZrKcZHkU5Tszpgn8mYSqW9JEi67m3fTdfrwxyuZYS1m2SSqAA1NmUm7qrhXsQeSx_0wjNsXwe598_y5dfSZI_l7rhpbHerNGNlACB-yt9BvoewhdWP-iHKYw9GMmA_jxagN/w400-h231/whelmed.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>608. Imagine if I told you that pedestrians need to see your turn signals, too? </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWjVgnlrxRFb_00FzOtwvnuW3Lki0XaljBJMyi99m7IYhJASiAkVDv_gBdqikDSugmG2i0LJrnV6QCVf-hfwGp70PysEJNR7xrctRv2CA4dsDB1giIfAcpTV7XZ0JpXGMGgdc0VMqH7LZVQy5OsUptoaGtm1rUv46485Layncc-IXpub2AC5ETbwp9BYgX/s720/cat%20while%20at%20work.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWjVgnlrxRFb_00FzOtwvnuW3Lki0XaljBJMyi99m7IYhJASiAkVDv_gBdqikDSugmG2i0LJrnV6QCVf-hfwGp70PysEJNR7xrctRv2CA4dsDB1giIfAcpTV7XZ0JpXGMGgdc0VMqH7LZVQy5OsUptoaGtm1rUv46485Layncc-IXpub2AC5ETbwp9BYgX/w400-h400/cat%20while%20at%20work.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHEr5D2zHC9X7mlMcVo4S5HZWkKe_iujrmYwGj_-g6JIrfiI8qjls7jb9gmjE0Ct_-6fInNAJjdpzZBPAJlEBEHP1mvSVp2fHUABV0RWf6zQfPkIPJlIMuAzxVtWISNhyw9LReLWRDW4jCzKGwlTF4cEDNI3N2XOB8PPuL_y67g-WXwaiTIYleApyqrj0F/s1266/dune%20social%20interactions.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1266" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHEr5D2zHC9X7mlMcVo4S5HZWkKe_iujrmYwGj_-g6JIrfiI8qjls7jb9gmjE0Ct_-6fInNAJjdpzZBPAJlEBEHP1mvSVp2fHUABV0RWf6zQfPkIPJlIMuAzxVtWISNhyw9LReLWRDW4jCzKGwlTF4cEDNI3N2XOB8PPuL_y67g-WXwaiTIYleApyqrj0F/w341-h400/dune%20social%20interactions.JPG" width="341" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK3ccXuCp0d_E7BikD069fUWvhL2ED-rVm-BUVB_v7G0fz_Xd2PPXKrpWz_PiJzE3jb9-HgdT00RR2oxCJMery91jPvs1QFeU-fDF89KIQVDfIJdediVc7LDOc8nfl3o4B10kWln7Cm_SiWcA6eGHpuVnecxkzMKpsBrod1mkz3TTdJTfhVeyhyzktyCF_/s1080/frakes%20direct.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK3ccXuCp0d_E7BikD069fUWvhL2ED-rVm-BUVB_v7G0fz_Xd2PPXKrpWz_PiJzE3jb9-HgdT00RR2oxCJMery91jPvs1QFeU-fDF89KIQVDfIJdediVc7LDOc8nfl3o4B10kWln7Cm_SiWcA6eGHpuVnecxkzMKpsBrod1mkz3TTdJTfhVeyhyzktyCF_/w400-h400/frakes%20direct.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>609. A funny thing: When you tell people you love heavy metal and/or horror, they often immediately inform you that they don’t personally care for that type of thing. Honestly, for me this is part of the appeal of both metal and horror. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIhJu8HqUe32S4s_FM8mOb1-E1_aIiPdNWjHzQr55eRarji089r7TqaMSjorsxsam_zRjl4quTrAftmrNqLgfrXUHCcsQpPEXWAyLvRp0KZrY2WZcqj1lFiqNg6kauxGj1d96zhBnmVUgj3VGtQSe_H0HgOV8N7GSy0hZOxbtf_htDUPc8s46P66LNpqF0/s639/cat%20confrontation.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="639" data-original-width="639" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIhJu8HqUe32S4s_FM8mOb1-E1_aIiPdNWjHzQr55eRarji089r7TqaMSjorsxsam_zRjl4quTrAftmrNqLgfrXUHCcsQpPEXWAyLvRp0KZrY2WZcqj1lFiqNg6kauxGj1d96zhBnmVUgj3VGtQSe_H0HgOV8N7GSy0hZOxbtf_htDUPc8s46P66LNpqF0/w400-h400/cat%20confrontation.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyN9MVWU1B0wJj8c7BudBk3KuAG5ltgLYZJzfSSPmWOQaFlFz_eiT-2af_1J0oh3q-JMjeAUhpZbmIU5fiDzZdxJpbwlTd_cPHO1GPNVbvxMy_-pgjwOhH6QGTu2Fg0u3k68Eyf58iSnlAlQ_K41OZ_HQaFUJJekgps0LbgrjkiEVhkY50HnR3ypyVNKWz/s500/uber%20chimi.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="500" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyN9MVWU1B0wJj8c7BudBk3KuAG5ltgLYZJzfSSPmWOQaFlFz_eiT-2af_1J0oh3q-JMjeAUhpZbmIU5fiDzZdxJpbwlTd_cPHO1GPNVbvxMy_-pgjwOhH6QGTu2Fg0u3k68Eyf58iSnlAlQ_K41OZ_HQaFUJJekgps0LbgrjkiEVhkY50HnR3ypyVNKWz/w400-h399/uber%20chimi.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>610. Peak winter break is when you run out of milk, so you use Bailey’s instead. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8fKSSUB2iLJhyU52Py3u2FABsLnM3kCjTEb0FvVbdKNIg6703WhmqyYsuGic6Bilt23FKylRCoLcilO_-8sLw_IprsgfdASpkruS0tvsrw18vEc3cPTEhVRzD1sb14PCxDv33Kzr6tPr5dkH4aCiKj1cHfx01jEedq9GwTK-pb2vjrvrot07OvFUnTvE-/s720/Pinhead%20chihuahua.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="530" data-original-width="720" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8fKSSUB2iLJhyU52Py3u2FABsLnM3kCjTEb0FvVbdKNIg6703WhmqyYsuGic6Bilt23FKylRCoLcilO_-8sLw_IprsgfdASpkruS0tvsrw18vEc3cPTEhVRzD1sb14PCxDv33Kzr6tPr5dkH4aCiKj1cHfx01jEedq9GwTK-pb2vjrvrot07OvFUnTvE-/w400-h295/Pinhead%20chihuahua.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5B3BBpK6MtSt0eaXT27_l66LO5QFmI9XIGrql53-O2-O7MrTbgOsY5vZxSWKdlDVivyIuin-eRgLp6s9UcXNOBY_eV9Dk8gsHFQLdNG5HE5YMiJx3XPfuxy3Qs006-nH9JXxaAnFI0I_Z7hCcairywW9fIs1jrUcmGHw9c7p8PscNwofqFnJnBx_mijZf/s1079/horror%20movies%20all%20year.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1079" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5B3BBpK6MtSt0eaXT27_l66LO5QFmI9XIGrql53-O2-O7MrTbgOsY5vZxSWKdlDVivyIuin-eRgLp6s9UcXNOBY_eV9Dk8gsHFQLdNG5HE5YMiJx3XPfuxy3Qs006-nH9JXxaAnFI0I_Z7hCcairywW9fIs1jrUcmGHw9c7p8PscNwofqFnJnBx_mijZf/w400-h356/horror%20movies%20all%20year.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg10KFpjwF8QTrHq4xp5CBeTrC45-x5IvS-0e7K9rcbvYMTM-PpcShkczBzABs8FZLuhYiD44QVxquUKi4pqrGXUvuhR4AqG6xhJ0U-b1VmdfpmYG_aza63tLIvxCgopkC-WGKIbwBGj-fvLfX-godLini_v42uzagwhbi6mFnTzt57pLZxcY7kinG7Y8cI/s818/MuadDib%20Halloween.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="818" data-original-width="805" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg10KFpjwF8QTrHq4xp5CBeTrC45-x5IvS-0e7K9rcbvYMTM-PpcShkczBzABs8FZLuhYiD44QVxquUKi4pqrGXUvuhR4AqG6xhJ0U-b1VmdfpmYG_aza63tLIvxCgopkC-WGKIbwBGj-fvLfX-godLini_v42uzagwhbi6mFnTzt57pLZxcY7kinG7Y8cI/w394-h400/MuadDib%20Halloween.JPG" width="394" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>611. All I want is for all violence and oppression to stop, for everyone to have their basic needs met, to have a good chance for human flourishing. I’ve been told that I’m supposed to stop wanting that sort of thing as I get older, less naïve, and more hardened to the world. Yet all the hardness and experience and disappointment of my life have just made me want this more. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUurZ2vCuyjsepraYzT2S4JbV3V3u2-YzJcbLSvqhhyphenhyphenQZZkENB1jnkHoOY9tqiLjkywHMj1WtwgXGEkxALKu4wPG1OdheCUGhwZ9SEhGzFrTnhFDSkcBjmKJI4l3fyXuJPbwhdCtu4BVdSF8QYx7mS7NQlBDMWLnxEFm_zA3is4gp9ZWupnAPsRUNtTTfQ/s1464/Gritty%20of%20Dune.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1464" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUurZ2vCuyjsepraYzT2S4JbV3V3u2-YzJcbLSvqhhyphenhyphenQZZkENB1jnkHoOY9tqiLjkywHMj1WtwgXGEkxALKu4wPG1OdheCUGhwZ9SEhGzFrTnhFDSkcBjmKJI4l3fyXuJPbwhdCtu4BVdSF8QYx7mS7NQlBDMWLnxEFm_zA3is4gp9ZWupnAPsRUNtTTfQ/w263-h400/Gritty%20of%20Dune.jpg" width="263" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEjagIvD4mgmdgPGRcnfvoeocBFXWozyJ5JtqikFuNs97iekp-T79XBy_2inIfhU5p8CaBZPmy-sgecRJEg73U2m3CzJAZx0zrzLnyFiHGfPvrSCJWAXXje59B5pYCqB-_YkKQ3mBy3oWI9549aBxset5jJ5PhlWb_5rREH2XLhGmRvcgIpXr9U3XNIdVe/s2048/Live%20Lovecraft.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEjagIvD4mgmdgPGRcnfvoeocBFXWozyJ5JtqikFuNs97iekp-T79XBy_2inIfhU5p8CaBZPmy-sgecRJEg73U2m3CzJAZx0zrzLnyFiHGfPvrSCJWAXXje59B5pYCqB-_YkKQ3mBy3oWI9549aBxset5jJ5PhlWb_5rREH2XLhGmRvcgIpXr9U3XNIdVe/w400-h400/Live%20Lovecraft.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>612. It's weird when people imply that war, violence, and exploitation are “practical” by claiming that nonviolence and justice are “impractical.” </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9-0kZTC6BcbKUsY6mvRMrh29Y0DsHozWA0pul1ywTQNydJbgtBlpuIxDp24guPbfuF1vqU_4HNIDPi2J5Rq6KRjUDnICuGqENgYMB_5q2wEuT_kU9IAXru-2IyBcqTs2GCEDYWWO3ywdHO5_0beL5_tbFZ4-f2mkziPlmvhSf3Mmf2PRUoSzYlyF3Hiw3/s550/butlerian%20jihad%20this.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9-0kZTC6BcbKUsY6mvRMrh29Y0DsHozWA0pul1ywTQNydJbgtBlpuIxDp24guPbfuF1vqU_4HNIDPi2J5Rq6KRjUDnICuGqENgYMB_5q2wEuT_kU9IAXru-2IyBcqTs2GCEDYWWO3ywdHO5_0beL5_tbFZ4-f2mkziPlmvhSf3Mmf2PRUoSzYlyF3Hiw3/w364-h400/butlerian%20jihad%20this.jpg" width="364" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3i_fZYJZWtim2T2ciS2W7JjguX3Kcds75Fl1OvgpJ1vi67vY9bgbjEDvNCVtS7C4tv1yeO2hVCIwRb3wBDauKff73ztzOMp2LOKWolUsuNWXgVUa6YTr89QoStTCleNK2BmqtQHciwvE63hAzshqlUbYqSYJozVFtouTvOcvSJ54biJs8DaUYIL43dONa/s1227/Dune%20daylight.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1227" data-original-width="999" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3i_fZYJZWtim2T2ciS2W7JjguX3Kcds75Fl1OvgpJ1vi67vY9bgbjEDvNCVtS7C4tv1yeO2hVCIwRb3wBDauKff73ztzOMp2LOKWolUsuNWXgVUa6YTr89QoStTCleNK2BmqtQHciwvE63hAzshqlUbYqSYJozVFtouTvOcvSJ54biJs8DaUYIL43dONa/w326-h400/Dune%20daylight.JPG" width="326" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutP3aAE_IHcN9Ezi_YKyP4kAJGDVU3ydfkmmqhBjBJPAWcW-XNC2ZYGDB3UR9l9bZtUvqYA4DUH0Qo6w-BygAfZbB_eby2kzm2ROZDu6i_00x3oTyZFfwlW2WUXhKWBCq3SSrrV4TImMKfr8tkGZIfpN1OzcCnyYVbWanftTMQq9MeRx99TZYwY1TY-fo/s652/Dune%20pun.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="652" data-original-width="538" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjutP3aAE_IHcN9Ezi_YKyP4kAJGDVU3ydfkmmqhBjBJPAWcW-XNC2ZYGDB3UR9l9bZtUvqYA4DUH0Qo6w-BygAfZbB_eby2kzm2ROZDu6i_00x3oTyZFfwlW2WUXhKWBCq3SSrrV4TImMKfr8tkGZIfpN1OzcCnyYVbWanftTMQq9MeRx99TZYwY1TY-fo/w330-h400/Dune%20pun.JPG" width="330" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>613. Cats teach us a lot about how to relax. One example: If you can’t tell whether you’re “taking a nap” or “going back to bed,” then you’re relaxing in cat-mode. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2PHCgIT0bWjr9dSJfCG6AuJBkrzbHEFWgKgcvj3KnAGgqI2om42MMPa_D4xr0UD5fUkZ9risB4Z96Iz8CGamnKLdXwk3upicxMpW-0s1j3By1D3qBkWetU1JGbpSL2k_z68_YiRkrOVkr6o842DE5gVSRqiE7Sxoxn8N2c76m-7ocnLu6JKGGg2xenac4/s1080/baby%20feyd.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="1080" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2PHCgIT0bWjr9dSJfCG6AuJBkrzbHEFWgKgcvj3KnAGgqI2om42MMPa_D4xr0UD5fUkZ9risB4Z96Iz8CGamnKLdXwk3upicxMpW-0s1j3By1D3qBkWetU1JGbpSL2k_z68_YiRkrOVkr6o842DE5gVSRqiE7Sxoxn8N2c76m-7ocnLu6JKGGg2xenac4/w400-h393/baby%20feyd.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQZxzr9D0PvUmSsWhYLjNvsRESEk3WhTGZblMblU5uTClEdtxumkSou8Y3hVUfyaYmzGZ4tmSStY9Pa1QgeYtTvz5wWbs704flZPaGg8i6bYRAs1r1Be5rtg9yf_uQV8IL95m8XgZ7rj-iwJc93fO7rLymWM3h13yEU7iylQUAOv3oA10CbWI2O5fPwu0F/s618/cosplay%20spock.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="618" data-original-width="564" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQZxzr9D0PvUmSsWhYLjNvsRESEk3WhTGZblMblU5uTClEdtxumkSou8Y3hVUfyaYmzGZ4tmSStY9Pa1QgeYtTvz5wWbs704flZPaGg8i6bYRAs1r1Be5rtg9yf_uQV8IL95m8XgZ7rj-iwJc93fO7rLymWM3h13yEU7iylQUAOv3oA10CbWI2O5fPwu0F/w365-h400/cosplay%20spock.jpg" width="365" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsoc4QiH2SQyTR7LqXrPQhmhmZVFnN6-CqTOHNUVpVgYHncQIV8IkoFn4MiyhsRlRYaxeYnj0S1wxC1Z1iHkgO1JGpyWJpnwkHgV6inHpG4T7KKLQeT1slZtxQ164DW0_vg57wl03638xANQu4HpOFMU2cQI1PrhAOthCod3eGSMDobk5dyUe7ZDj810pA/s1464/Dune%20Mariah.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1464" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsoc4QiH2SQyTR7LqXrPQhmhmZVFnN6-CqTOHNUVpVgYHncQIV8IkoFn4MiyhsRlRYaxeYnj0S1wxC1Z1iHkgO1JGpyWJpnwkHgV6inHpG4T7KKLQeT1slZtxQ164DW0_vg57wl03638xANQu4HpOFMU2cQI1PrhAOthCod3eGSMDobk5dyUe7ZDj810pA/w274-h400/Dune%20Mariah.JPG" width="274" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>614. There are a lot of TBD’s on my syllabi, because it seems hasty to let whatever whims strike me in the first week of January dictate the entire spring semester. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheJDn5j81M6BVGBeLVpw8y5Og400w19iCdX11Z5PHgUCe993oWUY5tJRUETAbT8tGzS-Pkeda6Ai89mGHKUe2MwFQ11hWS6fzhR1QCFiWJspMCY1F2KZgVFS86QPHs8v77tgvZm7FnTY1kKqc0IdDdUcGIavpbp6ji26wXuNSfdjOBOj_jOzqzKlQX9YWV/s1360/IT%20Franks%20notes.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1360" data-original-width="1048" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheJDn5j81M6BVGBeLVpw8y5Og400w19iCdX11Z5PHgUCe993oWUY5tJRUETAbT8tGzS-Pkeda6Ai89mGHKUe2MwFQ11hWS6fzhR1QCFiWJspMCY1F2KZgVFS86QPHs8v77tgvZm7FnTY1kKqc0IdDdUcGIavpbp6ji26wXuNSfdjOBOj_jOzqzKlQX9YWV/w309-h400/IT%20Franks%20notes.JPG" width="309" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigD-X_TKwVgRKAdk918lkQPurAwvHs2-D8gPx0DhzOLwKCupS3eKpE9cvXpHk2tycrqREtTtFU1hy5x7w2cbsqdpfv9uaWJgiERmEzMrpYYliIQ9vkigpc0kc2-MqBcUugG7IHV89BbU59Rdl2xBcyTzN9zDLEyU4Rtb9cPSNUg_2TsYmJansPCqky7dif/s1300/Mary%20Poppins%20muad%20dib.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1300" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigD-X_TKwVgRKAdk918lkQPurAwvHs2-D8gPx0DhzOLwKCupS3eKpE9cvXpHk2tycrqREtTtFU1hy5x7w2cbsqdpfv9uaWJgiERmEzMrpYYliIQ9vkigpc0kc2-MqBcUugG7IHV89BbU59Rdl2xBcyTzN9zDLEyU4Rtb9cPSNUg_2TsYmJansPCqky7dif/w334-h400/Mary%20Poppins%20muad%20dib.jpg" width="334" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ38Y6csGUgec9R_c7teLjTSOOA5p0wXeMBGJvNHBuMXmhEZzmdtos-a9921M4AFLTQszHwf8C5KguinFC-4cFATUze4aPSBQXfay6AJNqwUgpgm5SAi4PjC4B2OwA4114a1YGKJbma8PU1zz0eb_9yyisSXBZFbQxNLVLxppnnkZ40csTFfueYFlvoVOF/s721/spooky%20domestic.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="721" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ38Y6csGUgec9R_c7teLjTSOOA5p0wXeMBGJvNHBuMXmhEZzmdtos-a9921M4AFLTQszHwf8C5KguinFC-4cFATUze4aPSBQXfay6AJNqwUgpgm5SAi4PjC4B2OwA4114a1YGKJbma8PU1zz0eb_9yyisSXBZFbQxNLVLxppnnkZ40csTFfueYFlvoVOF/w400-h400/spooky%20domestic.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>615. I love André 3000’s flute album. Releasing a New Age flute album after being half of one of the greatest hip hop duos of all time is honestly probably the most André 3000 thing he could do. A creative inspiration to us all! </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8F0YPQnWc5Q22HIX2E5m4Lhyphenhyphenp3vFHr2mNMMbIew7GfMnwiF40Pm9euM6sOxg53yPwy3CBFn2LC5yV58iWBkGF_pLkcZPCd3foL_rsdZ8Ti0k6iq3X_GXcO_Jm-uqIvO_eRNvLf2wgr4-NEGB9LN9MLv3W1yiNVXe4txD_bcuyK6yIgG10z1QUzGmXmyyW/s1200/God%20Emperor%20cat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="843" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8F0YPQnWc5Q22HIX2E5m4Lhyphenhyphenp3vFHr2mNMMbIew7GfMnwiF40Pm9euM6sOxg53yPwy3CBFn2LC5yV58iWBkGF_pLkcZPCd3foL_rsdZ8Ti0k6iq3X_GXcO_Jm-uqIvO_eRNvLf2wgr4-NEGB9LN9MLv3W1yiNVXe4txD_bcuyK6yIgG10z1QUzGmXmyyW/w281-h400/God%20Emperor%20cat.jpg" width="281" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh72N-ricGDv_5YsbSx1eYZ8DJaVMZir9YKjGr_7YtClMRdgZFTN2hfQObUHMAphKMfjRYD_T4rWdmqulqyE3u3NlVItu1KLR7OaGnMsK9ATaoAOIPYzDD-9W6BdfZUs_0uEFfngbWrhbeLlvhXKc2KVueSjsAG6PXVMF3TWBoqXjAAqe5FxnuWtuEeK4JV/s1080/shai%20hulud%20confident.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh72N-ricGDv_5YsbSx1eYZ8DJaVMZir9YKjGr_7YtClMRdgZFTN2hfQObUHMAphKMfjRYD_T4rWdmqulqyE3u3NlVItu1KLR7OaGnMsK9ATaoAOIPYzDD-9W6BdfZUs_0uEFfngbWrhbeLlvhXKc2KVueSjsAG6PXVMF3TWBoqXjAAqe5FxnuWtuEeK4JV/w400-h400/shai%20hulud%20confident.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx7uXRl89D_K0js1ZwMy4OUdW0ZOZPD215jimzxzKOrzUDoh7LG7OKa3n32nUB-IYs_v3qfB5xtHaOHaNNlCmR14-E2dNt42_8v54E5Cf4k642iqd9Nm805_03NmNZNWnRSwV41H1rrlQTz1pImKgmOpJeMwMC6NEAXiPc8hPtxxntwlGJ5M9zt1wLyfnv/s1080/99%20problems%20salary.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx7uXRl89D_K0js1ZwMy4OUdW0ZOZPD215jimzxzKOrzUDoh7LG7OKa3n32nUB-IYs_v3qfB5xtHaOHaNNlCmR14-E2dNt42_8v54E5Cf4k642iqd9Nm805_03NmNZNWnRSwV41H1rrlQTz1pImKgmOpJeMwMC6NEAXiPc8hPtxxntwlGJ5M9zt1wLyfnv/w400-h400/99%20problems%20salary.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>616. January 2024 is the time of year for updating the math whenever I need to remind myself that things that "weren't that long ago" really were "that long ago." For example: the other day I did the math, and it turns out that 1999 was 25 years ago. As Neo said in <i>The Matrix</i> (1999): Whoa. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdMvQVDbqLOcocv7ZX34tzLQ1OmpaAm37umXKfyROTcfFbeUN4-93KpGI24vcH-WFQe3SZAGf_t6i0d9VyOqSq6np5JeYa8D0nAPuj3GAGys5wqvE2KgXU6s3yefdCqZTSXebWzhQ-Pjxzr3QWgkgxfUzKoJiZzPaCV6Z9ykbukapr4oHOLERSgPIVk4gg/s526/crush%20enemies%20lunch.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="517" data-original-width="526" height="394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdMvQVDbqLOcocv7ZX34tzLQ1OmpaAm37umXKfyROTcfFbeUN4-93KpGI24vcH-WFQe3SZAGf_t6i0d9VyOqSq6np5JeYa8D0nAPuj3GAGys5wqvE2KgXU6s3yefdCqZTSXebWzhQ-Pjxzr3QWgkgxfUzKoJiZzPaCV6Z9ykbukapr4oHOLERSgPIVk4gg/w400-h394/crush%20enemies%20lunch.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghYpA0G5Tyu_kCpFSuhjDlW8TjDpbXlFQ-dtVoOVsJe2_5FcgVJo7Qvl1N0Wu1mJ25s6gURaxAhQ3N1APVRX2Gb_oaTSFS76aJEWxddLsY6Tojbirr6IgKGurCkgRbzPB6-rfrLwLsbG3McDKv9vSqIpQhKXB3MLSBbOLieUxXQS9Zcxjw27MsE2XM5OtJ/s2048/Dune%20clues.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1638" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghYpA0G5Tyu_kCpFSuhjDlW8TjDpbXlFQ-dtVoOVsJe2_5FcgVJo7Qvl1N0Wu1mJ25s6gURaxAhQ3N1APVRX2Gb_oaTSFS76aJEWxddLsY6Tojbirr6IgKGurCkgRbzPB6-rfrLwLsbG3McDKv9vSqIpQhKXB3MLSBbOLieUxXQS9Zcxjw27MsE2XM5OtJ/w320-h400/Dune%20clues.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRw2ABJYiS6Qk8vDTcf2gbvrhrDPG3Z_udGfS5OfOh-5fr3EbSYYP8nswXgnEAt60kxk0rNwCR8Kr8-02c5u-W62YK40o7Z2gZYoXI0QZkjXGfAQ8pMc_S_Lc8mbVr07E1EfPrONdk3fRAZslelwpvWb_h1QIlcspw7pBo8uUbFqgOlPNjv-8L0Az7GqYS/s1993/moneo%20pizza.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1993" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRw2ABJYiS6Qk8vDTcf2gbvrhrDPG3Z_udGfS5OfOh-5fr3EbSYYP8nswXgnEAt60kxk0rNwCR8Kr8-02c5u-W62YK40o7Z2gZYoXI0QZkjXGfAQ8pMc_S_Lc8mbVr07E1EfPrONdk3fRAZslelwpvWb_h1QIlcspw7pBo8uUbFqgOlPNjv-8L0Az7GqYS/w400-h216/moneo%20pizza.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>617. Philosophy is not really a single academic discipline, but rather a loose collection of separate but occasionally overlapping communities of separate but occasionally overlapping individuals. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix3FrkOeDo1Axd9dlnP5LWsRgxXXVsBo2f-qMH_M0e_GGoseovMJYMxmeOsLzgKaVYisqktmYzWvReRHURG0bCcuZ57kf9DNEjOCKeUgp3mAQ7-4xe9nJE_BB6gZTuD_7U0vtU3sKmmR1zP9JtI6plAJ_ArcaPJW20u__DqG7dXoGs0rFXGK7DbiHRO1jE/s960/euro%20coat%20of%20arms.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="809" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix3FrkOeDo1Axd9dlnP5LWsRgxXXVsBo2f-qMH_M0e_GGoseovMJYMxmeOsLzgKaVYisqktmYzWvReRHURG0bCcuZ57kf9DNEjOCKeUgp3mAQ7-4xe9nJE_BB6gZTuD_7U0vtU3sKmmR1zP9JtI6plAJ_ArcaPJW20u__DqG7dXoGs0rFXGK7DbiHRO1jE/w338-h400/euro%20coat%20of%20arms.jpg" width="338" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglgSHtxzyZNtiMp5g55F24bme2GuJlFvU_QwxG57ba6L7KreZO8rVpEfoAUjSxvifVI7WNkwiJmkHUT303ekS4yzZtOejEFVOS5DYWlEZwAA3_FJdMZ1gioSyNMBEK6al0zBGQx9kySZkqkd8NZxXNpNsmuIbA6q8DxWUE7Qf-EPZKuanH8yZPU7LM74x/s960/king%20of%20the%20hill%20samsara.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="768" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglgSHtxzyZNtiMp5g55F24bme2GuJlFvU_QwxG57ba6L7KreZO8rVpEfoAUjSxvifVI7WNkwiJmkHUT303ekS4yzZtOejEFVOS5DYWlEZwAA3_FJdMZ1gioSyNMBEK6al0zBGQx9kySZkqkd8NZxXNpNsmuIbA6q8DxWUE7Qf-EPZKuanH8yZPU7LM74x/w320-h400/king%20of%20the%20hill%20samsara.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip-DIylE7G51jHIIByQ2UfKZeXDYnADBq7fmnU3SEPg-C4BTUFgd6zojvgDSQmYIKV45NAiFrvDopNEUuIFXvpxWtTdJiMfGzgO4CFQ0RoU5mDvr_TRNaKbJS0AR68lQN4JBhCV4iD7N5e_Yl4DUcLQWqe5bkosKtDdcpcwIwXoZshf8eDm-vjzleB6rXG/s1080/song%20gets%20heavier.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1058" data-original-width="1080" height="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip-DIylE7G51jHIIByQ2UfKZeXDYnADBq7fmnU3SEPg-C4BTUFgd6zojvgDSQmYIKV45NAiFrvDopNEUuIFXvpxWtTdJiMfGzgO4CFQ0RoU5mDvr_TRNaKbJS0AR68lQN4JBhCV4iD7N5e_Yl4DUcLQWqe5bkosKtDdcpcwIwXoZshf8eDm-vjzleB6rXG/w400-h391/song%20gets%20heavier.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>618. I’m fond of saying, “Everything is more complicated than you think it is.” Perhaps another way to say this: “The universe is not contained by your ideas, wishes, or conceptual schemes.” </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpc-O8iStsg5Ax5bGEj6L-oxG22Oe-9IIgnM8GlagWZm9VR2LwxmAyUry1r8UMkpgfYK-zd_mN0PvINWd3o8OWuZhXgrx3duoV8jmMD5DgpmKXWORkxD-rcS5FggcGp2YU-XOG6cI75TZCT8Ux1421_Tq0ShH9WCAp3WYNI0xk0dbqijfluFGPN0M4WEcY/s750/cave%20shadows%20society.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="750" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpc-O8iStsg5Ax5bGEj6L-oxG22Oe-9IIgnM8GlagWZm9VR2LwxmAyUry1r8UMkpgfYK-zd_mN0PvINWd3o8OWuZhXgrx3duoV8jmMD5DgpmKXWORkxD-rcS5FggcGp2YU-XOG6cI75TZCT8Ux1421_Tq0ShH9WCAp3WYNI0xk0dbqijfluFGPN0M4WEcY/w400-h266/cave%20shadows%20society.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil7u1nViITuyZwxoBkNaENFn6oQG1qKmwZ8rHd2E3kspmPXSDX6aczmtDkW_EC_eMdegrm2hLBOJ1LgNt1YO5V2E0qPG6BRs6cIAhH1kF4_D-AsaOpsNuOxEB8StwAjUAQAxOx9Uc4QD1-J5NCTWMzdbXsDamFru0P0DBwkEDkxxPD5CVKFm55m-GIacR1/s960/cosmic%20horror%20profile.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="785" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil7u1nViITuyZwxoBkNaENFn6oQG1qKmwZ8rHd2E3kspmPXSDX6aczmtDkW_EC_eMdegrm2hLBOJ1LgNt1YO5V2E0qPG6BRs6cIAhH1kF4_D-AsaOpsNuOxEB8StwAjUAQAxOx9Uc4QD1-J5NCTWMzdbXsDamFru0P0DBwkEDkxxPD5CVKFm55m-GIacR1/w328-h400/cosmic%20horror%20profile.JPG" width="328" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie-CSMCtfNMSvEoUtRihGnf9zxzAc-tkcphhliq1OoWDuI7uOFXULzSa9aWqw58iWQyD_rTkXfVGGzOLvc-7zb1YrkSS0NdOGAtlLl6-QCp68pY7HV4Yu-tOKwDmunsrNkwm9ZBQ2SxqmTjQfHB7q7OI-Millcy0QHE3iN2himZ5YCvTm4_tWjKbq2wS4x/s2048/who%20is%20he%20shai%20hulud.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1637" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie-CSMCtfNMSvEoUtRihGnf9zxzAc-tkcphhliq1OoWDuI7uOFXULzSa9aWqw58iWQyD_rTkXfVGGzOLvc-7zb1YrkSS0NdOGAtlLl6-QCp68pY7HV4Yu-tOKwDmunsrNkwm9ZBQ2SxqmTjQfHB7q7OI-Millcy0QHE3iN2himZ5YCvTm4_tWjKbq2wS4x/w320-h400/who%20is%20he%20shai%20hulud.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>619. An MLK Day thought: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” is a great line and people are right to quote it frequently, but lately I've been thinking a lot about the idea of an “inescapable network of mutuality.” </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipGN-JZwHcNcITzzfsMOFM0FGR3YkQjaHEleq_q6uK9xpsh1vsVJHNPbd672Z7ft_qxNoPasSIkQqGd3Eli_5JkC6hON6BXxgedj-AJi4bieBXjUA06rThjDK_RQIFkm3O5c1XpcxbhzElEz5pkni_lwCh-pkXitJUf1eevGimANcyktr_B4EQTYCkxBMF/s3840/208501-Frank-Herbert-Quote-There-is-no-real-ending-It-s-just-the-place.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipGN-JZwHcNcITzzfsMOFM0FGR3YkQjaHEleq_q6uK9xpsh1vsVJHNPbd672Z7ft_qxNoPasSIkQqGd3Eli_5JkC6hON6BXxgedj-AJi4bieBXjUA06rThjDK_RQIFkm3O5c1XpcxbhzElEz5pkni_lwCh-pkXitJUf1eevGimANcyktr_B4EQTYCkxBMF/w400-h225/208501-Frank-Herbert-Quote-There-is-no-real-ending-It-s-just-the-place.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikELvWZZtPmlz475zEr5wzlKMvMSaMc_KuwDEp6H-hjmTyRyZI7K8RnjQnzG7tRPaznBJu7todP4BtTfAI-IhScMWjisIwWFajFT70pcPximKRBkevtnZrkPJJKAvmxteuARIN6g12An1mnKwHsa1F2Jrls6tU7rQMn5mXzcKDTywUF-OhRvJ8Lxy3rdQR/s1213/jihad%20weve%20seen%20it.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1213" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikELvWZZtPmlz475zEr5wzlKMvMSaMc_KuwDEp6H-hjmTyRyZI7K8RnjQnzG7tRPaznBJu7todP4BtTfAI-IhScMWjisIwWFajFT70pcPximKRBkevtnZrkPJJKAvmxteuARIN6g12An1mnKwHsa1F2Jrls6tU7rQMn5mXzcKDTywUF-OhRvJ8Lxy3rdQR/w356-h400/jihad%20weve%20seen%20it.jpg" width="356" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihpsWTdiPTN8YxOrKTGwd4K4Vni6C0_V2foaMOxIoAV3E8YhRzUJ4BryT7Sygn29liT6j4NP9amUnPlYS1C8_WWLoFkY5cjLAKQcgeNyzSBOI2SsFfw8ME-7Wp-o_Ell9xmqyLWldVM2neR1SkHIqdVrwcJkfaPzv1JE4ymEV9I3FcO-0178Z9ZID0LADK/s1739/remember%20tooth.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1275" data-original-width="1739" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihpsWTdiPTN8YxOrKTGwd4K4Vni6C0_V2foaMOxIoAV3E8YhRzUJ4BryT7Sygn29liT6j4NP9amUnPlYS1C8_WWLoFkY5cjLAKQcgeNyzSBOI2SsFfw8ME-7Wp-o_Ell9xmqyLWldVM2neR1SkHIqdVrwcJkfaPzv1JE4ymEV9I3FcO-0178Z9ZID0LADK/w400-h294/remember%20tooth.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>620. One of the many fun things about teaching world philosophies or really any class not totally bound by “the Western tradition” (whatever <i>that</i> is): you get to learn new and cool stuff about various peoples, cultures, languages, and histories. Why should teachers’ insecurities about “being an expert” ruin good educational fun, both for us and for our students? Why do we let academia tamp down the love of learning new things that brought most of us into academic pursuits in the first place? </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmiLZWaZ8_9YOGK6OwoUQ_i7ACQzXlstvhQp1cUdlauWlh7c107uHIqN4ngYYfDVrgsCrRQ064RR9Zs9ajnFP-fg0FmVciT-rwmB_T0Ujyo0ps2xx3MaIWAcpri6GwyELhDBPB4ehwmAZo12ROF8LFkQY-CyBwNzoHCo7lUmXf3jYryAqOhkE7xdrzQ1s3/s1102/harkonnens%20nice.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmiLZWaZ8_9YOGK6OwoUQ_i7ACQzXlstvhQp1cUdlauWlh7c107uHIqN4ngYYfDVrgsCrRQ064RR9Zs9ajnFP-fg0FmVciT-rwmB_T0Ujyo0ps2xx3MaIWAcpri6GwyELhDBPB4ehwmAZo12ROF8LFkQY-CyBwNzoHCo7lUmXf3jYryAqOhkE7xdrzQ1s3/w273-h400/harkonnens%20nice.jpg" width="273" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidzWr8Cwgq2Vx3tMOEz2dqCwXNk3a6me5kU0QabcTL5GeQf76nkkfGrDhZWaxqVYtCTRwcSRg2x_itKX34s_5wvbTSU1UQDJsdKLNy1-XfZF4qYhLfGGGm7d-p4ECeRu4o5a0szhevQ2QdbkEpR2ELuHPi4snxfCeKI771TSpI7f_J_qaF8rB2y5DO8q3-/s2048/saving%20for%20hell.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1078" data-original-width="2048" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidzWr8Cwgq2Vx3tMOEz2dqCwXNk3a6me5kU0QabcTL5GeQf76nkkfGrDhZWaxqVYtCTRwcSRg2x_itKX34s_5wvbTSU1UQDJsdKLNy1-XfZF4qYhLfGGGm7d-p4ECeRu4o5a0szhevQ2QdbkEpR2ELuHPi4snxfCeKI771TSpI7f_J_qaF8rB2y5DO8q3-/w400-h210/saving%20for%20hell.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFYCZnz9NRHFVU9IO2N8oK5tN_LJcXbkWk9T4RM5WAHr4APqJq2X7IwSg9wPYYtKX293d4wtIKyWiqSNbUVGsZm94dTSbRftn6t8QbebJ4hWl8BYgLNrZi0nHWDdY_zQiQTpn8ZSuxzapuKVl9kA24LUM3CZyL0efubeDmmdwsvE61PTNiudYQD1hfDLV2/s460/vulcan%20streets.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="460" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFYCZnz9NRHFVU9IO2N8oK5tN_LJcXbkWk9T4RM5WAHr4APqJq2X7IwSg9wPYYtKX293d4wtIKyWiqSNbUVGsZm94dTSbRftn6t8QbebJ4hWl8BYgLNrZi0nHWDdY_zQiQTpn8ZSuxzapuKVl9kA24LUM3CZyL0efubeDmmdwsvE61PTNiudYQD1hfDLV2/w400-h261/vulcan%20streets.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>621. Skepticism without open-mindedness leads to curmudgeonly egoism. Open-mindedness without skepticism leads to foolish credulity. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0pY99KKT1EmVncalcGm3DbZ_fow83VNcZrickJz9UBn1a7qMzg8x3TCJ-ev6KU2LBS0GTyluLWKfh7hpzbRGsq4s17o7SRBZrttW2mtLIgwa_RG-MPaqV7oVSFeamDNqZHazFc9wMnn5Qd9OOjyfJLt0ewgnHqNPwKaLUYYn4N8KgJlzJfEb9lnidYzh/s832/bev%20crusher.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="832" data-original-width="600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO0pY99KKT1EmVncalcGm3DbZ_fow83VNcZrickJz9UBn1a7qMzg8x3TCJ-ev6KU2LBS0GTyluLWKfh7hpzbRGsq4s17o7SRBZrttW2mtLIgwa_RG-MPaqV7oVSFeamDNqZHazFc9wMnn5Qd9OOjyfJLt0ewgnHqNPwKaLUYYn4N8KgJlzJfEb9lnidYzh/w289-h400/bev%20crusher.jpg" width="289" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuidzrCNGD-bMASBVvO8IRkyaDiPSZW80fPoc372fnpnDG3BgnFKJMPExVuoYpfygtPffVdtnqELBsslBaofz5AW7zFI6JNWkU8ZZIsQver8BpOI09osrktzYeVJemXwpjm0s6ZoJYXVxCmNmDcpFX0gwylQTYo4mf965_ouNzTs9toMoR-tJkaboa22-2/s500/golden%20path.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuidzrCNGD-bMASBVvO8IRkyaDiPSZW80fPoc372fnpnDG3BgnFKJMPExVuoYpfygtPffVdtnqELBsslBaofz5AW7zFI6JNWkU8ZZIsQver8BpOI09osrktzYeVJemXwpjm0s6ZoJYXVxCmNmDcpFX0gwylQTYo4mf965_ouNzTs9toMoR-tJkaboa22-2/w320-h400/golden%20path.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAqKPrYXCb_s1sowXbdMfQp0-mQ7ZE-tU32EzG_fY9inP3Ayorbt5tvW1aQSiPrFa87VkhyphenhyphenuflSpciBB7bn6rE3qICNaN5__k_dYLPGtYVSK1htC4rG3xGyHZkxgsGtDjvTsE-z48aCIs65eZky5fiMlwNqvmckkW9fgY8-cGvYAu-IdbiQ7lbtJ4P7Jp3/s1382/picard.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1382" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAqKPrYXCb_s1sowXbdMfQp0-mQ7ZE-tU32EzG_fY9inP3Ayorbt5tvW1aQSiPrFa87VkhyphenhyphenuflSpciBB7bn6rE3qICNaN5__k_dYLPGtYVSK1htC4rG3xGyHZkxgsGtDjvTsE-z48aCIs65eZky5fiMlwNqvmckkW9fgY8-cGvYAu-IdbiQ7lbtJ4P7Jp3/w313-h400/picard.jpg" width="313" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>622. There’s a lot of talk about leadership these days. And somewhat less talk about being a follower. But I’m not particularly interested in being either a leader or a follower. Why not just be a weirdo who does their own thing, occasionally intersecting with other weirdos but without pressure to lead or follow? Must all human interactions be so hierarchical? </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoMYpjzF0X2VsBDZRoZBfvx0bKeV9v4Qn2rTKYdDzhCegwiWAM9RdnKvvVEXvhyphenhyphen8p3CPaowf2eko2B6kyh9TQpyYy9XX9RyiBsBf_HMsRqCVPI0NwgYscO_JjRoUT70_aQ7moFm6OzAjR3maxSqWfoGR30FeOupsIFEc6aR5FgEgcUKqOJUfhkaAJYsv4V/s1213/done%20dune.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1213" data-original-width="857" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoMYpjzF0X2VsBDZRoZBfvx0bKeV9v4Qn2rTKYdDzhCegwiWAM9RdnKvvVEXvhyphenhyphen8p3CPaowf2eko2B6kyh9TQpyYy9XX9RyiBsBf_HMsRqCVPI0NwgYscO_JjRoUT70_aQ7moFm6OzAjR3maxSqWfoGR30FeOupsIFEc6aR5FgEgcUKqOJUfhkaAJYsv4V/w283-h400/done%20dune.jpg" width="283" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmEYmyvWb1NxBNGQgp1WQT2fzEHSPY0LpFHmmLzMNJQTelm6MgsSlVw1zlGXFLyMUljxSOn-QtevtggfKZFd8Tq7Bi72r6eFlNfsVz82L3O7gYNLie4VgtWf2Swe9CgHjSjMvXjgNl-E8slhSb_lxL35JWY8mtcshO2LzhXNCS9u-htayUJPGHa2vNXtIx/s822/gozilla%20friends.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="412" data-original-width="822" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmEYmyvWb1NxBNGQgp1WQT2fzEHSPY0LpFHmmLzMNJQTelm6MgsSlVw1zlGXFLyMUljxSOn-QtevtggfKZFd8Tq7Bi72r6eFlNfsVz82L3O7gYNLie4VgtWf2Swe9CgHjSjMvXjgNl-E8slhSb_lxL35JWY8mtcshO2LzhXNCS9u-htayUJPGHa2vNXtIx/w400-h200/gozilla%20friends.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQYDBzQLxgnpF769GtjUkkT4GmWY1AEFgtCGTjuZLsM9gM65zrLu7K2Puh6Qyvdho7mTMiDUyhmHhDV3LQPW4FdHy7cJAkPnzkasUJKHEyineE4II4fM8ef_4r67Lfp1XloBHixhvlVCCObfelBCXNXXn3VtER1arkKsfpAEYRbo6wS2px-mNZDStSGqd/s749/heard%20of.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQYDBzQLxgnpF769GtjUkkT4GmWY1AEFgtCGTjuZLsM9gM65zrLu7K2Puh6Qyvdho7mTMiDUyhmHhDV3LQPW4FdHy7cJAkPnzkasUJKHEyineE4II4fM8ef_4r67Lfp1XloBHixhvlVCCObfelBCXNXXn3VtER1arkKsfpAEYRbo6wS2px-mNZDStSGqd/w385-h400/heard%20of.jpg" width="385" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>623. Why aim for leadership when you can have friendship? </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVByTx-z32GZefkcqo3clFMjmGB5qbpocyy3xmYUydkvI8JR-JhbRj-KWUV7s_O-fCtM6b2m3SzVDJAujM7ZoUpAnm_eS8Ek5v7fSugukfK7q1LkzWY76QMf2Wa0x-VD7R_20LoH5cLRBqibOA_ErfSZ0hFTWTkvfrPsXOicCZwdQ7YrUVKFHXOJuG7kGV/s1080/barclay.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1051" data-original-width="1080" height="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVByTx-z32GZefkcqo3clFMjmGB5qbpocyy3xmYUydkvI8JR-JhbRj-KWUV7s_O-fCtM6b2m3SzVDJAujM7ZoUpAnm_eS8Ek5v7fSugukfK7q1LkzWY76QMf2Wa0x-VD7R_20LoH5cLRBqibOA_ErfSZ0hFTWTkvfrPsXOicCZwdQ7YrUVKFHXOJuG7kGV/w400-h389/barclay.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2IqXjN5cQa8gEuxxFL2nxMpB2l3HvBl0dgJ8sve7SxRbCo4Fmh2s0yrUe-4J1tZfwvTnNDGYgbruINOFfqoryCZT8avax5Gg6KkKDegLGNXgfnuRGHdJmn3iVMWoyqZkrCyistREoZsivHj18409GuX6Cj9iitCqljPJjEqTgQP8gjAgQkpn6ZLSIt0ix/s1208/dare%20to%20be%20stupid.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1208" data-original-width="984" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2IqXjN5cQa8gEuxxFL2nxMpB2l3HvBl0dgJ8sve7SxRbCo4Fmh2s0yrUe-4J1tZfwvTnNDGYgbruINOFfqoryCZT8avax5Gg6KkKDegLGNXgfnuRGHdJmn3iVMWoyqZkrCyistREoZsivHj18409GuX6Cj9iitCqljPJjEqTgQP8gjAgQkpn6ZLSIt0ix/w326-h400/dare%20to%20be%20stupid.jpg" width="326" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivkQApfUSUwO0pUprcmBle28rAXCMqtyCCPqM3hvisJ9ezWw47bxtGCqpGEtBuqs4aB8uQRmjCDIsxfgCbnKAlIj2B__XXG4alXAI5upweRjKmVhM__kAD8P92C-ycGMqXWP9chfBvxCYRt4nt3_WSf31nb4284PwTwHsHfD-mfutr8M2CAUlymPwJRZQ1/s848/yoda%20semester.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="848" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivkQApfUSUwO0pUprcmBle28rAXCMqtyCCPqM3hvisJ9ezWw47bxtGCqpGEtBuqs4aB8uQRmjCDIsxfgCbnKAlIj2B__XXG4alXAI5upweRjKmVhM__kAD8P92C-ycGMqXWP9chfBvxCYRt4nt3_WSf31nb4284PwTwHsHfD-mfutr8M2CAUlymPwJRZQ1/w236-h400/yoda%20semester.JPG" width="236" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>624. For people who occasionally brag about how “anyone can find anything now” due to the internet and how this makes us much more enlightened than people in the pre-internet past, my younger students are often seemingly incapable of finding easily available information on the syllabus and course website. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlargdFYfDQqfXhZB3czqtJ-L35_AK9_gTNJORYUdQdkeSGns4w_KoejiI2xtAKOdv7GFJEiuZFxuKrAaKmsiAhoI9zPvi_MudkfEyeg4mT3JsFdtuKsuXAa4MCC1IBK13TP7HpZls7JFmf9OgPcVQ8dY6qUWJ6BlNEnDDc6-r8de8Jnl-PW2k2-aMpC3F/s1080/cookie%20dough%20gom%20jabbar.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="464" data-original-width="1080" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlargdFYfDQqfXhZB3czqtJ-L35_AK9_gTNJORYUdQdkeSGns4w_KoejiI2xtAKOdv7GFJEiuZFxuKrAaKmsiAhoI9zPvi_MudkfEyeg4mT3JsFdtuKsuXAa4MCC1IBK13TP7HpZls7JFmf9OgPcVQ8dY6qUWJ6BlNEnDDc6-r8de8Jnl-PW2k2-aMpC3F/w400-h171/cookie%20dough%20gom%20jabbar.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYn8JZETJOhOgfKeIcg4Z0S0PDKF0MJDIzde9lxaf5FYrGW9caUxUZrVY4JUjtAsLwXETanlJCeXcnqCJ5X7MHnEbkm0XGg9aQr9QFTvgNG0UKtHPIUBMpgo1AoDheaY_vD8X3iAHivhF2fUsu6p3iGQq9obujcVPK21W-B5urwekkDy8tDAgC5QKaljOb/s1324/godzilla%20bigger%20boat.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1324" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYn8JZETJOhOgfKeIcg4Z0S0PDKF0MJDIzde9lxaf5FYrGW9caUxUZrVY4JUjtAsLwXETanlJCeXcnqCJ5X7MHnEbkm0XGg9aQr9QFTvgNG0UKtHPIUBMpgo1AoDheaY_vD8X3iAHivhF2fUsu6p3iGQq9obujcVPK21W-B5urwekkDy8tDAgC5QKaljOb/w303-h400/godzilla%20bigger%20boat.jpg" width="303" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhENhQgQMyZDDpZOS2FGg2drA0AcB7v5NXgEQ7kPRwUplH6LHeV4EjCPmT2n-exUP5GKo3_4U23cVVSP0utb8W-p7wBt_wk7-9B-7jvCKPN9zM1L2DY6joopPKjmjdeTZMZVwTgVOK4mvz65uya5qTCWHn2jOBn5q7u4HXNXn5a3q2IMIHNNa2QVdcJfq9/s563/Beavis%20Haderach.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="563" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhENhQgQMyZDDpZOS2FGg2drA0AcB7v5NXgEQ7kPRwUplH6LHeV4EjCPmT2n-exUP5GKo3_4U23cVVSP0utb8W-p7wBt_wk7-9B-7jvCKPN9zM1L2DY6joopPKjmjdeTZMZVwTgVOK4mvz65uya5qTCWHn2jOBn5q7u4HXNXn5a3q2IMIHNNa2QVdcJfq9/w400-h300/Beavis%20Haderach.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>625. If anything, I think the internet has made things worse: you can find a lot of information, but the internet also makes us remarkably disinclined to do so. It gives people a false sense that the information they <i>do</i> find is the only information that <i>exists</i>—a bizarre kind of relativistic digital idealism. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2XasfJEfxwC9msBQYvJNE-wGtrds2Qfx45JJWcFTs7TFuwF3mcE-zU2wVAdytIY_oDKO2y4UZHMgfLA41ivQR-zd8gkI1LlRtft01zhcz7TdCigRMy3eoeJD3TL_tBb_bCfjIXAJj6KYSK6Dbc5D5JCPFdXvqpk1umUMJ-xSMy8jpWCPpC6dBBB1VhLeP/s839/billionaires.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="663" data-original-width="839" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2XasfJEfxwC9msBQYvJNE-wGtrds2Qfx45JJWcFTs7TFuwF3mcE-zU2wVAdytIY_oDKO2y4UZHMgfLA41ivQR-zd8gkI1LlRtft01zhcz7TdCigRMy3eoeJD3TL_tBb_bCfjIXAJj6KYSK6Dbc5D5JCPFdXvqpk1umUMJ-xSMy8jpWCPpC6dBBB1VhLeP/w400-h316/billionaires.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUvs3UKIjZd3ToO6kiexBO4gEWlp_NwSPctOlU8m6ttokdU8axWmW7iHplafMRmSCGXGIj249z-lGp4zP7EbkbmQ0f7vl6CxKOh74aDptMfcMFtcDne0M0l9G_hA5-D06c2QU3GE6ccU18ma-JbY8DFvWx-Lwn2KNBFZzKyZqM31zhlFE6hniGhwnVfpH5/s640/droids%20memory.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUvs3UKIjZd3ToO6kiexBO4gEWlp_NwSPctOlU8m6ttokdU8axWmW7iHplafMRmSCGXGIj249z-lGp4zP7EbkbmQ0f7vl6CxKOh74aDptMfcMFtcDne0M0l9G_hA5-D06c2QU3GE6ccU18ma-JbY8DFvWx-Lwn2KNBFZzKyZqM31zhlFE6hniGhwnVfpH5/w400-h400/droids%20memory.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-Fv5bLmJhl4tt-7oOZpRgcuXjNOLmMjlsdntAHboXcVz3PneYhzsYbgLeifcQ0x10N1piUUZJ1TztOzyrj1KhUthZnTb8UtpJwZLpAEaYshmiDi8B37cAtOw8B4v4pZp4AC-40xGo0rftxIiRuwfyI6y2BfUN5OHwm2QCKlHdsP3ytyitUvghM6Mr69f/s1508/Missionaria%20Protectiva%20reason%20for%20the%20season.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1508" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-Fv5bLmJhl4tt-7oOZpRgcuXjNOLmMjlsdntAHboXcVz3PneYhzsYbgLeifcQ0x10N1piUUZJ1TztOzyrj1KhUthZnTb8UtpJwZLpAEaYshmiDi8B37cAtOw8B4v4pZp4AC-40xGo0rftxIiRuwfyI6y2BfUN5OHwm2QCKlHdsP3ytyitUvghM6Mr69f/w265-h400/Missionaria%20Protectiva%20reason%20for%20the%20season.JPG" width="265" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>626. When you are young, your friends are flaky mostly because they make plans at the last minute. As you get older, your friends become flaky mostly because they <i>cancel</i> plans at the last minute. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3w0v4PAK4uV6187XP6l0PhBKYEzqNLo4X8t1NyMGuhjy-krt1qbbKQsZSUMIqgK-sesCZUiXASCwwQ9zGtDxJeuiEH2zlaOoOSFtxX8RFSly58737lYY40kmsT9D6qFBULhOgrhdjCIkqpIkBDAd74ursBhfMn5urPgpZXjMbZzkeRxiROrjPiKiUyVs/s440/415481437_848598537274399_4223812208593025782_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="416" data-original-width="440" height="379" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3w0v4PAK4uV6187XP6l0PhBKYEzqNLo4X8t1NyMGuhjy-krt1qbbKQsZSUMIqgK-sesCZUiXASCwwQ9zGtDxJeuiEH2zlaOoOSFtxX8RFSly58737lYY40kmsT9D6qFBULhOgrhdjCIkqpIkBDAd74ursBhfMn5urPgpZXjMbZzkeRxiROrjPiKiUyVs/w400-h379/415481437_848598537274399_4223812208593025782_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAks8adoXXjsHSMz0X0rASL9OA7u3uRItrqmMtaH9M99AjWPEwV78fXhBpFHDr0zrrgipK0GLBB5-Rmf3gofKhUR67o_j7APMp8C2DlKJJnUajbYOfWpoQS3O2l2w-TRN_VWCkmf82gGijsK_HiIutGkrBAjxL7P1Bw4wk9cpeik9HuJ93N1Ea97fD_BNg/s1832/Atreides%20student%20loans.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1832" data-original-width="1501" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAks8adoXXjsHSMz0X0rASL9OA7u3uRItrqmMtaH9M99AjWPEwV78fXhBpFHDr0zrrgipK0GLBB5-Rmf3gofKhUR67o_j7APMp8C2DlKJJnUajbYOfWpoQS3O2l2w-TRN_VWCkmf82gGijsK_HiIutGkrBAjxL7P1Bw4wk9cpeik9HuJ93N1Ea97fD_BNg/w328-h400/Atreides%20student%20loans.JPG" width="328" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOynBK28g_ZulBVPnJTSnQKqN50nB_nlgCnO9WgggA8jMJYQ8UiJbrF7fchd8D1VPVZy02UG8c5DvA6rdy4eqeIvmDaoe90dIeIhwwrfh4PW0j1DNeUNqYenie_tn9-9-a-MVXoLWYE9IibQdgA3TQvVnmp5UYcUWOYdzF5sziJf7gh8E_gZxhe8VXp9Qy/s828/Beavis%20dun.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="476" data-original-width="828" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOynBK28g_ZulBVPnJTSnQKqN50nB_nlgCnO9WgggA8jMJYQ8UiJbrF7fchd8D1VPVZy02UG8c5DvA6rdy4eqeIvmDaoe90dIeIhwwrfh4PW0j1DNeUNqYenie_tn9-9-a-MVXoLWYE9IibQdgA3TQvVnmp5UYcUWOYdzF5sziJf7gh8E_gZxhe8VXp9Qy/w400-h230/Beavis%20dun.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>627. It has always been weird to me how the concept of gender is such a big organizing part of most people’s identities, shaping their ideas about who they hang out with, who they are allowed to admire, the activities they can do… I’m not talking about the social aspects of gender, which affect all of us whether we want them to or not. As I sometimes say, I don’t have any personal interest in the idea of “being a man,” but masculinity has an interest in me. But really what weirds me out is that most people seem to consciously choose to acquiesce to a gender concept: “I do this because I’m a man/woman.” But these choices are in turn based on the largely unwitting and unexamined concepts of gender that shape all of us, subtly influencing the very idea of “conscious choice,” so that I’m not making a moral judgment here. The constructs drive the choice as much as the choice drives the constructs. But like so many things people do, it’s just weird to me. This is maybe also why I really enjoy the increasing popularity of questioning gender paradigms that has been driving gender traditionalists batty in recent decades. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiePtNxDK-MEQqrQyCsWrqX3IGeWryTCvYEOGtEmfE8MoIK_5w9OJ_8t3G_ciSsDpkdJRavUZtcWNmj9FHyVA1FrHL-vKlizonsZfWZEQZ3uty86twffCDST3Sy0do4HyLzVZCeaei6oXClK36psQu6DeFjrdeF_3N8zdRKVXRD5OAmUe_r1vUfYdnYdknn/s720/marcus%20jedi.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="511" data-original-width="720" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiePtNxDK-MEQqrQyCsWrqX3IGeWryTCvYEOGtEmfE8MoIK_5w9OJ_8t3G_ciSsDpkdJRavUZtcWNmj9FHyVA1FrHL-vKlizonsZfWZEQZ3uty86twffCDST3Sy0do4HyLzVZCeaei6oXClK36psQu6DeFjrdeF_3N8zdRKVXRD5OAmUe_r1vUfYdnYdknn/w400-h284/marcus%20jedi.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU9hp7IRa2eQmDEEiUglcd2ngExkR1debcR-bHlgqmlowKooSE5r6CFwqqfBiiafpmt7mp6rZkK8EO3s2lbvHmQ6UbytdWAzrt0NmdD-vS-YCodIHbEq5sLiYRH8FDjs6YPFBwPdo6LQxTr0aAQG7QMuOibe91z2_ijaC7KWxtEXccsh-j4Vw2U_rTG413/s720/spock%20slept.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="706" data-original-width="720" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU9hp7IRa2eQmDEEiUglcd2ngExkR1debcR-bHlgqmlowKooSE5r6CFwqqfBiiafpmt7mp6rZkK8EO3s2lbvHmQ6UbytdWAzrt0NmdD-vS-YCodIHbEq5sLiYRH8FDjs6YPFBwPdo6LQxTr0aAQG7QMuOibe91z2_ijaC7KWxtEXccsh-j4Vw2U_rTG413/w400-h393/spock%20slept.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHcTMJljh4XNqnemRJBhfjmmfA0wulYFrxwFdago9SFUrM0cK2zhe8zvv3X2w3aA5jc7gzDunwSlq51z22oGHWRr2fGJcRL3sYekOt3nQAD6cg3OD2RzdeSsk-l8HhjVviKciA4QNL-_d0ZvlQY6YOWyRizbvwfz1mOfGdcNwtoNiCnfldFMtO5mKRGLBU/s592/Thomas%20D&D.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="580" data-original-width="592" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHcTMJljh4XNqnemRJBhfjmmfA0wulYFrxwFdago9SFUrM0cK2zhe8zvv3X2w3aA5jc7gzDunwSlq51z22oGHWRr2fGJcRL3sYekOt3nQAD6cg3OD2RzdeSsk-l8HhjVviKciA4QNL-_d0ZvlQY6YOWyRizbvwfz1mOfGdcNwtoNiCnfldFMtO5mKRGLBU/w400-h393/Thomas%20D&D.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>628. Deliberately and unproblematically choosing a broad category to define one’s identity is strange to me: “I do this because I’m this gender, this generation, from this place, etc.” Of course, these categories shape all of us, but not in such straightforward determining ways that shouldn’t be constantly questioned. To put it in Buddhist terms, these categories are conventional conceptual constructions that are merely a small part of the innumerable causal conditions that make us who we are. Such categories not worth being too attached to, especially insofar as doing so solidifies an attachment to the idea of self. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiovAIP8bsh5R3W2WCF4d76n6CBiQtb9OsHoyvFc38YwHkw9eOLrjYDTi4GXj5xsciiRAy7KqWhvg60IHh5KuMHf_KrLcBAIMRftukAKtir6T0zBtq62ebqSwm41EXtRmY31Xa4gN34GYsBu7iA8eQeYxJ3yPbHqFwtHkBIiSWAAkG-HYwGYq1FRXMJ7ur3/s877/David%20Lynch%20theater%20of%20absurd.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="877" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiovAIP8bsh5R3W2WCF4d76n6CBiQtb9OsHoyvFc38YwHkw9eOLrjYDTi4GXj5xsciiRAy7KqWhvg60IHh5KuMHf_KrLcBAIMRftukAKtir6T0zBtq62ebqSwm41EXtRmY31Xa4gN34GYsBu7iA8eQeYxJ3yPbHqFwtHkBIiSWAAkG-HYwGYq1FRXMJ7ur3/w400-h274/David%20Lynch%20theater%20of%20absurd.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyhn-bNZIlX_y5Jk61lyFKK6ej4isk0OKLKRf-3ZQKDcQf0ceSlr7Pxue6BdtvIbjoGJ2t59M0hkd9tOYQt-k4w1NcZYjGI07J25G913bZKp75rh4wCo6r9f1Z9AdPyiHRUasahtxM9chlrTEiwBdu6YQzgCJgljOm4apLon556XE_znrrPTj9zHe2oCRr/s586/sardaukar%20python.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="586" data-original-width="532" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyhn-bNZIlX_y5Jk61lyFKK6ej4isk0OKLKRf-3ZQKDcQf0ceSlr7Pxue6BdtvIbjoGJ2t59M0hkd9tOYQt-k4w1NcZYjGI07J25G913bZKp75rh4wCo6r9f1Z9AdPyiHRUasahtxM9chlrTEiwBdu6YQzgCJgljOm4apLon556XE_znrrPTj9zHe2oCRr/w364-h400/sardaukar%20python.jpg" width="364" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4EoXPsYRL7yE0sAkVjQd2WFlvQi2fnPf7rs5-PUQMsY4eYjlSsLEn9FRdssZiWSDXh9uty1CIWpO5zS03x0tnV-6VuZxAYbnN0lGrdhsecDT7CJcBsIxX031Unfv6vgG0di6oI8sKMmkJBvicmE4gO-hmJNM0rxyLT0jHn1e3llrDdIuaaatmRwrxYoaS/s1435/vulcans%20beautiful.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1435" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4EoXPsYRL7yE0sAkVjQd2WFlvQi2fnPf7rs5-PUQMsY4eYjlSsLEn9FRdssZiWSDXh9uty1CIWpO5zS03x0tnV-6VuZxAYbnN0lGrdhsecDT7CJcBsIxX031Unfv6vgG0di6oI8sKMmkJBvicmE4gO-hmJNM0rxyLT0jHn1e3llrDdIuaaatmRwrxYoaS/w400-h268/vulcans%20beautiful.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>629. Apparently “normal people” just think things and then keep thinking those things without a constant barrage of self-questioning and new thoughts coming to undermine the old ones. I’ve long been deeply puzzled by this. But now I’m coming to think many people’s lack of self-reflection also explains a lot about the world we live in. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4mFGWHtxjOc_ddjWhXN6vl_OFPm-bT53mgKUEYooCUvsBF-GDdQvnAJp-dXXFLU6gCJ63MWW-5IpImylsOfmfNqOfUqMp4F890-tsMLSxqZ1upxUHJKEAsOQyJXINhtXOZ8VqJTjRJA1TEIvuWOIIXm59WgobSsp63OUkCtVEC2N6uQU-2QUpjL2-n34/s960/coke%20fitness.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="960" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm4mFGWHtxjOc_ddjWhXN6vl_OFPm-bT53mgKUEYooCUvsBF-GDdQvnAJp-dXXFLU6gCJ63MWW-5IpImylsOfmfNqOfUqMp4F890-tsMLSxqZ1upxUHJKEAsOQyJXINhtXOZ8VqJTjRJA1TEIvuWOIIXm59WgobSsp63OUkCtVEC2N6uQU-2QUpjL2-n34/w400-h360/coke%20fitness.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikgSTd-T5RbkvdOJ1v-2lyhPrS6t5wnPSbwZE6RemysQ3KRYNk3cHgiCi1A8AEcMznYqklVdAWbmUAuLI9Yh2O_EgmldN7il_Oy_LAsH179XIGWEeq57s9viAE4N0vIVRtVXF1Ebhhf9RF9MoY0T9fQRYwwqcgxPNzb_wXDHUuGnwtXU8ORWZ0LbkXM5Ga/s1294/editor.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1294" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikgSTd-T5RbkvdOJ1v-2lyhPrS6t5wnPSbwZE6RemysQ3KRYNk3cHgiCi1A8AEcMznYqklVdAWbmUAuLI9Yh2O_EgmldN7il_Oy_LAsH179XIGWEeq57s9viAE4N0vIVRtVXF1Ebhhf9RF9MoY0T9fQRYwwqcgxPNzb_wXDHUuGnwtXU8ORWZ0LbkXM5Ga/w334-h400/editor.jpg" width="334" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiWJEcOf_Kz5JNcjI9pGH8DS0A5UrwFjjFkAImCkhWHoBjuTTwQgiJMbwbLDEIUYEAcVpWadjJ5kYildgGdSwVM0WxKb63UEUu_8cMmBWN0cNWYMEgcVZNQ4Xny_ISw_ojSKkzUDDoCgPMVZ8p5S0znnQmzzNIAVnM8pgcsqBhRD6irlnulJjtB8F2VUcA/s1036/music%20saved%20me.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1036" data-original-width="922" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiWJEcOf_Kz5JNcjI9pGH8DS0A5UrwFjjFkAImCkhWHoBjuTTwQgiJMbwbLDEIUYEAcVpWadjJ5kYildgGdSwVM0WxKb63UEUu_8cMmBWN0cNWYMEgcVZNQ4Xny_ISw_ojSKkzUDDoCgPMVZ8p5S0znnQmzzNIAVnM8pgcsqBhRD6irlnulJjtB8F2VUcA/w356-h400/music%20saved%20me.jpg" width="356" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>630. The phrase “strong woman” has always sounded odd to me, because it implies that the natural or normal state for women is to be weak, and this has never been my experience. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3KM1_wRvTQowkA014A2gBT8d5E7gkPy9cbhpRmCEPpJCbVfdcejWbKLDUnmvdYiRY0IktSrcqew4JLinT-e5dLrrretknIDdcerd6HGuQm5jwSMZKFwc_2-x2qX0b5S0Z8fjl8gWRYzI8hGE7gy3E9zVr73rfZZbCXvaJYkPyXCzivZ_Te0IYAeA8zIh6/s965/cat%20domestication.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="965" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3KM1_wRvTQowkA014A2gBT8d5E7gkPy9cbhpRmCEPpJCbVfdcejWbKLDUnmvdYiRY0IktSrcqew4JLinT-e5dLrrretknIDdcerd6HGuQm5jwSMZKFwc_2-x2qX0b5S0Z8fjl8gWRYzI8hGE7gy3E9zVr73rfZZbCXvaJYkPyXCzivZ_Te0IYAeA8zIh6/w299-h400/cat%20domestication.jpg" width="299" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWq6Ub18s-ZmqM7Xx-CCDnPvu-5kK0mxkouqT4CbJi3Nj2Y3HG1PXYzO3jL7ryo70yDv7OP7DHgSPGbFvifJjgGgntNIYs9zm2HPcBs7y2uNlLNRefQ-rRpRQNio7dy3r6UtfI4dn3Eti3H_xZaFab07TanbvKqfd1asGl8_FNFf8qygTsURLYOrPo4vpW/s980/cat%20in%20school.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="980" data-original-width="784" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWq6Ub18s-ZmqM7Xx-CCDnPvu-5kK0mxkouqT4CbJi3Nj2Y3HG1PXYzO3jL7ryo70yDv7OP7DHgSPGbFvifJjgGgntNIYs9zm2HPcBs7y2uNlLNRefQ-rRpRQNio7dy3r6UtfI4dn3Eti3H_xZaFab07TanbvKqfd1asGl8_FNFf8qygTsURLYOrPo4vpW/s320/cat%20in%20school.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>631. I’m never quite sure what people mean by “strong characters” when discussing fiction, film, or TV (often about “strong female characters”). Is it a person who dominates others? Dominates themselves? Must strength be identified with domination? </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUh24KcP7bkBbaaN3WKC66KfKXo-W_055YqQ0AbnrJu163CXfpgeG3qmO3D5bFQmQbzl8PGo7wZYsFlxRKAEpcIE1_MWb6uqQ1nhplGonGmIsDZrMESMBjyk3HOJ1s190kweJgMhnUiF1lmYb0UqPFNvdgao0K8bgHu7AWAIROh0yHLEEQA0Vi0KQlG_m1/s1310/stephen%20king%20book.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1310" data-original-width="924" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUh24KcP7bkBbaaN3WKC66KfKXo-W_055YqQ0AbnrJu163CXfpgeG3qmO3D5bFQmQbzl8PGo7wZYsFlxRKAEpcIE1_MWb6uqQ1nhplGonGmIsDZrMESMBjyk3HOJ1s190kweJgMhnUiF1lmYb0UqPFNvdgao0K8bgHu7AWAIROh0yHLEEQA0Vi0KQlG_m1/w283-h400/stephen%20king%20book.jpg" width="283" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw-pF7PdUSPp5tIQu3YwOvOoOwpUGYHIcugpxVoTrtqowK_rXk92_2ywakcpGwhaXN_operFeq4KNiv_tWKVjtaIYX1E5RNmEnvZkHIQP8X56xFqWNGsXJPadW82tHcZhnrkZl1HnHexWKHnDpZLYdncgnxGDBOlFT-gXQPLYHJfj6QFQD9RAulEDpuJms/s1044/the%20thing%2082.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="955" data-original-width="1044" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw-pF7PdUSPp5tIQu3YwOvOoOwpUGYHIcugpxVoTrtqowK_rXk92_2ywakcpGwhaXN_operFeq4KNiv_tWKVjtaIYX1E5RNmEnvZkHIQP8X56xFqWNGsXJPadW82tHcZhnrkZl1HnHexWKHnDpZLYdncgnxGDBOlFT-gXQPLYHJfj6QFQD9RAulEDpuJms/w400-h366/the%20thing%2082.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOuGYWF3CTQ4DVND7ZK4yesZ774OYglzWBRj7oRtEeg6LguVuMw8fgMqbvX6gOgrnB_6UiyNsefhd0Geam02oE-bYYuNFGpONgruESWvwxxpsn9D131rCKL5krNPI_a7O3Ati3GkVRGibCK415wMNiLayPV8oHSKyGTDfkEzmOexW5K_JU4fv-abtkPR5A/s1351/wheaton%20picard.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1351" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOuGYWF3CTQ4DVND7ZK4yesZ774OYglzWBRj7oRtEeg6LguVuMw8fgMqbvX6gOgrnB_6UiyNsefhd0Geam02oE-bYYuNFGpONgruESWvwxxpsn9D131rCKL5krNPI_a7O3Ati3GkVRGibCK415wMNiLayPV8oHSKyGTDfkEzmOexW5K_JU4fv-abtkPR5A/w320-h400/wheaton%20picard.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>632. It’s not that when you’re born doesn’t shape your experiences and thus who you are as a person, but I don’t think that generations are quite the uniquely determining factors we seem to have decided they are. And the idea that different generations have nothing to learn from each other and no possibility of common experiences is actually kind of bad for all of us. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkQFO21KFYXpsvFaYCWo-Ib9QiEWBnDyyyV9y3Iae0QDt3O-NR031QqkXwDlzQesgVKwA9tJrDVHadlklCsdgQt5izhRvRJ8x5EuSnRHp8WLIgF2K82KEqXVtyuLIgbz0tRe0TrV8gJ1QfACKG0CPtfdDv2ify9OjfxRMeGKKdrzIfkzoCl0oodSdzNR4m/s564/kitten%20podcast.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="564" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkQFO21KFYXpsvFaYCWo-Ib9QiEWBnDyyyV9y3Iae0QDt3O-NR031QqkXwDlzQesgVKwA9tJrDVHadlklCsdgQt5izhRvRJ8x5EuSnRHp8WLIgF2K82KEqXVtyuLIgbz0tRe0TrV8gJ1QfACKG0CPtfdDv2ify9OjfxRMeGKKdrzIfkzoCl0oodSdzNR4m/w400-h340/kitten%20podcast.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_GsvfS3ETpRfnnLFIOBjiMLHzqS4ycsDKeMYW8mq3InrA855lCoegZNFdIqmNQ5AG3h8WsMFAIonCeqUREygcT7f7U0Z93Oo2bZafhdCZiNrhZTCs1MnIjfbOgeJ4-m1iA5ZgJoFClk9hVn1gJuXkcWAq1QNW8T_ECvfQJgpr5bA_HBIF5A4ONImNEZW/s789/Paul%20into%20sandworms.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="789" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_GsvfS3ETpRfnnLFIOBjiMLHzqS4ycsDKeMYW8mq3InrA855lCoegZNFdIqmNQ5AG3h8WsMFAIonCeqUREygcT7f7U0Z93Oo2bZafhdCZiNrhZTCs1MnIjfbOgeJ4-m1iA5ZgJoFClk9hVn1gJuXkcWAq1QNW8T_ECvfQJgpr5bA_HBIF5A4ONImNEZW/w400-h233/Paul%20into%20sandworms.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWym-U2sAiXsHCHYNf47_nkcr0KK0twglAmFyOOCN1bFJbgVT9GN4kzdVQlmOm9eEHTo7R5cUVDR1GYFsv1AL-nO-_HjWjSFudPtQl1SK4w32BN9mFddJorjMEMRlBEip5BThh6Ig71jSTa7A3LzumpWQr5P9yFaHopm-H9CMv0r5ikxmxyxOFGUCd7CV1/s600/second%20gandalf.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="599" data-original-width="600" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWym-U2sAiXsHCHYNf47_nkcr0KK0twglAmFyOOCN1bFJbgVT9GN4kzdVQlmOm9eEHTo7R5cUVDR1GYFsv1AL-nO-_HjWjSFudPtQl1SK4w32BN9mFddJorjMEMRlBEip5BThh6Ig71jSTa7A3LzumpWQr5P9yFaHopm-H9CMv0r5ikxmxyxOFGUCd7CV1/w400-h399/second%20gandalf.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>633. I guess some of my antipathy toward sorting people into large categories is that I’ve never felt that I’ve comfortably fit into any category. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMbhOImHk6Myx7eyelA6in3DntHBWZ0_qgIjHW-yn5zKv_nm56DTiYsj8C3rQR9sOg0kpMogo3M5pNMH0B1H40XmQZFCPFUrPG_UX387X2btIXYci7jGGbpieTWvClIzpLBWu4HrzaVwsbbaLZb5ORoXR9W_2zdWpfM5P1CS4HO-PZSZ8gKEZ68dxh1fd1/s564/cats%20social%20media.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="564" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMbhOImHk6Myx7eyelA6in3DntHBWZ0_qgIjHW-yn5zKv_nm56DTiYsj8C3rQR9sOg0kpMogo3M5pNMH0B1H40XmQZFCPFUrPG_UX387X2btIXYci7jGGbpieTWvClIzpLBWu4HrzaVwsbbaLZb5ORoXR9W_2zdWpfM5P1CS4HO-PZSZ8gKEZ68dxh1fd1/w400-h400/cats%20social%20media.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPvMdruhZ73BimVaNmwA7B_BVwh4UZnKBwrybY3l2wUND7-jGPrGqzxg1ouvOhAI-KTcYnUGimwCnhYFK331ixreSuV67B-o-GXLzoBKeF84XZhRw9W4Bkx-satYNm8SfTIkiJTP6xfolW_Q149bwuJlI59A_PIlBoIDdRGrt87zbkdrkO-w6y-gyW4v0H/s455/food%20and%20sleep.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="299" data-original-width="455" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPvMdruhZ73BimVaNmwA7B_BVwh4UZnKBwrybY3l2wUND7-jGPrGqzxg1ouvOhAI-KTcYnUGimwCnhYFK331ixreSuV67B-o-GXLzoBKeF84XZhRw9W4Bkx-satYNm8SfTIkiJTP6xfolW_Q149bwuJlI59A_PIlBoIDdRGrt87zbkdrkO-w6y-gyW4v0H/w400-h263/food%20and%20sleep.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt36Kc0cmVCyfDgSCBzy6inFGRUxuAgca1_G6aRGtCrbQeHoB3QmO1aZM0nD1Mem2FVRwUOK_AIg1bsc_yXH2U8k8Rejrb6p8H1SYf7zSDhkhbFBm8YVdsk8gRbweAfXbNEEQQoapMhAYCpbGcHgRjmbI4OyGRIPHemq72ui77Y4eO7RNP_zjqFXxwyrW4/s720/plans%20within%20plans.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="720" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt36Kc0cmVCyfDgSCBzy6inFGRUxuAgca1_G6aRGtCrbQeHoB3QmO1aZM0nD1Mem2FVRwUOK_AIg1bsc_yXH2U8k8Rejrb6p8H1SYf7zSDhkhbFBm8YVdsk8gRbweAfXbNEEQQoapMhAYCpbGcHgRjmbI4OyGRIPHemq72ui77Y4eO7RNP_zjqFXxwyrW4/w400-h225/plans%20within%20plans.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>634. Everyone is weird in their own weird little way, and that’s a beautiful thing. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzNBeuBHriNndberPbT9OmLC0UnUS59A5rbnCFL8TrGSdqf4GOnle6L_DSFCNg9p9TliLhrjloCWal15zoqx31XGfW6Z38xkEuWIwcAjWLuoH0TvvgdKJZbAP2apaa1Ysjfuugpmkw9JGydbylT7phmI3AaF78suYAXy2uDCp1q5-3WkBQR_8RmxFELh9g/s1080/battle%20pug.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzNBeuBHriNndberPbT9OmLC0UnUS59A5rbnCFL8TrGSdqf4GOnle6L_DSFCNg9p9TliLhrjloCWal15zoqx31XGfW6Z38xkEuWIwcAjWLuoH0TvvgdKJZbAP2apaa1Ysjfuugpmkw9JGydbylT7phmI3AaF78suYAXy2uDCp1q5-3WkBQR_8RmxFELh9g/w400-h400/battle%20pug.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7a2GcS6iCcNk0l1VVoV0JLyY_rK5mEkn1f2-W8vxvuq5V7TIXlXD8AcG-MUob4nOn0hAdEFChArMP-5mF_ofUtL-3iTUFt9ISvn44Achh4A-MKRsLuQJdwm5CuKqgnhQMpekgbiGF6PDeCePD063bgVnZnoaYdqmmiyH6UfpMApv40K1Rdk2uPkAJzSje/s720/waldo.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="720" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7a2GcS6iCcNk0l1VVoV0JLyY_rK5mEkn1f2-W8vxvuq5V7TIXlXD8AcG-MUob4nOn0hAdEFChArMP-5mF_ofUtL-3iTUFt9ISvn44Achh4A-MKRsLuQJdwm5CuKqgnhQMpekgbiGF6PDeCePD063bgVnZnoaYdqmmiyH6UfpMApv40K1Rdk2uPkAJzSje/w400-h285/waldo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-8H9WuOG_r7OOTfvJtgdjlXYgj5zXpHXZEZGPIwDyx3NuFo5aeLHrqYXXrzDz24oLtnU6NYfbElbMEnxPX78D_tbnbyZ6_0f69ORBt9-vXPsUsINNhFWNqqxci1tVo2HtLO5bge4nvEeMYhmzz9Nd1AN5Ih26J5tvOijsLH0WLH3NnTTV4XF6JzfQhif/s1511/worm%20ride.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1511" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-8H9WuOG_r7OOTfvJtgdjlXYgj5zXpHXZEZGPIwDyx3NuFo5aeLHrqYXXrzDz24oLtnU6NYfbElbMEnxPX78D_tbnbyZ6_0f69ORBt9-vXPsUsINNhFWNqqxci1tVo2HtLO5bge4nvEeMYhmzz9Nd1AN5Ih26J5tvOijsLH0WLH3NnTTV4XF6JzfQhif/w286-h400/worm%20ride.jpg" width="286" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>635. The red state-blue state narrative makes some people in blue states smug and complacent and some in red states demoralized and apathetic. Neither attitude is helpful. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzIo84oC7DitOg1Jkp0oKn9GYHLOCa3IGX1fFyOvdVX6x7nhkDaT4x-Dw6UksQj_ZsNPbzHYCmYZDpTWNo6XFPeStnTH0KfhiMUJOe13d2Xozn6AQ4Jjufg6ZAkZA0N65_ZxNe2icR9OZfMVaIoXhVfN9Irob5-CsbnzGEFtWBWqxDPNeJ64GXYhFWv2cD/s1130/Atreides%20sucks.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1130" data-original-width="828" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzIo84oC7DitOg1Jkp0oKn9GYHLOCa3IGX1fFyOvdVX6x7nhkDaT4x-Dw6UksQj_ZsNPbzHYCmYZDpTWNo6XFPeStnTH0KfhiMUJOe13d2Xozn6AQ4Jjufg6ZAkZA0N65_ZxNe2icR9OZfMVaIoXhVfN9Irob5-CsbnzGEFtWBWqxDPNeJ64GXYhFWv2cD/w293-h400/Atreides%20sucks.JPG" width="293" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUOkC-YJXkedw1a3EU1hlZlTdRPCrczAIQgFtJTiYeKbtWNC7FwbygQdpQMYKyNJTb0cFjWWFNGapdkQ_Hk4HOaDdgHhkuavd5RhyphenhyphenZR29yXJEW7K-tp4r6GAQwW31R_Jwoa5NwsXlulpQ2CZUMBJev9GGBmuIsKwJM032McWTovOicpejzhGdA9kqXQxSW/s567/buddha%20human.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="567" data-original-width="470" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUOkC-YJXkedw1a3EU1hlZlTdRPCrczAIQgFtJTiYeKbtWNC7FwbygQdpQMYKyNJTb0cFjWWFNGapdkQ_Hk4HOaDdgHhkuavd5RhyphenhyphenZR29yXJEW7K-tp4r6GAQwW31R_Jwoa5NwsXlulpQ2CZUMBJev9GGBmuIsKwJM032McWTovOicpejzhGdA9kqXQxSW/w331-h400/buddha%20human.JPG" width="331" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_AQ784mXf7PXn5Pl9_3LU0rS1t0fxfGvh5NOaEBshuS0eW9-R4DHXKaNzJjIvoUaMYP7Pl3i4XdUDfZJK3K51ZY7B41i8vqdKevTjCBmTAuC8XJYIdoRt5cAjLfQGuwArWDQESgxexIdSKPAQSAYo5TEGPcPQUyBvsBLtHVt7QfDWGSVg4ioujEqrefgt/s445/not%20a%20robot.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="375" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_AQ784mXf7PXn5Pl9_3LU0rS1t0fxfGvh5NOaEBshuS0eW9-R4DHXKaNzJjIvoUaMYP7Pl3i4XdUDfZJK3K51ZY7B41i8vqdKevTjCBmTAuC8XJYIdoRt5cAjLfQGuwArWDQESgxexIdSKPAQSAYo5TEGPcPQUyBvsBLtHVt7QfDWGSVg4ioujEqrefgt/w338-h400/not%20a%20robot.JPG" width="338" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>636. A lot of modern conservatism results from a lack of imagination: we can’t have a living wage or basic rights for entire groups of people because powerful people can’t or won’t imagine anything else. The irony is that this lack of imagination simply channels the currents of change into making our future society worse for most of us by exacerbating and solidifying present-day inequalities and hierarchies. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCY9dZeG_tjOtp60JoNx8JgQozmu9Vpq1GhsnlIXLjk3-onq6EfEHlgHEwZY6UDJ5kjN9DoIWVZJm0kGY4hYzDIXAKZdB6FZlcaW0hM3OEkU-NAqYLzDLyZn1TL5XQT7qEUz_Mjw6XlydnV0LLl5xT8pAlVOYGtnqlcV_PVitPXHIKmeikUm0cvqgvxsJk/s638/silly%20sietch.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="638" data-original-width="486" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCY9dZeG_tjOtp60JoNx8JgQozmu9Vpq1GhsnlIXLjk3-onq6EfEHlgHEwZY6UDJ5kjN9DoIWVZJm0kGY4hYzDIXAKZdB6FZlcaW0hM3OEkU-NAqYLzDLyZn1TL5XQT7qEUz_Mjw6XlydnV0LLl5xT8pAlVOYGtnqlcV_PVitPXHIKmeikUm0cvqgvxsJk/w305-h400/silly%20sietch.jpg" width="305" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0ccvgiSXD2WAEWJv1gF2OvrFxMHYgRnHUpzMMlfPDYXLamaRrIvzxsWyaPwqaneq8OqWklNA92sm3T2drjK5dJA4_mGcCztqZrHYJM-FFkR06l6Ix6r05OZWtzegxbpYxIOJLl4WaxvuKH7AlFsdWNW0GWKInIg-Yfl11T6NGtHklly2D3MVsfEGGN-X/s1080/tearing%20me%20apart%20lisan.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="609" data-original-width="1080" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0ccvgiSXD2WAEWJv1gF2OvrFxMHYgRnHUpzMMlfPDYXLamaRrIvzxsWyaPwqaneq8OqWklNA92sm3T2drjK5dJA4_mGcCztqZrHYJM-FFkR06l6Ix6r05OZWtzegxbpYxIOJLl4WaxvuKH7AlFsdWNW0GWKInIg-Yfl11T6NGtHklly2D3MVsfEGGN-X/w400-h225/tearing%20me%20apart%20lisan.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>637. The fundamental incoherence of political conservatism is that the past or the present simply can’t be conserved. The question is not <i>whether</i> we will change, but<i> how.</i> </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvDKS5MugsONKyt0C2Rql_ZH88ZehYB8z3Jdk6yP8Gtu2TJd8id5Kxx5SqRd41gAOiDPM3zpQdnlbzLSXj303hWKXqvIKXP9JNKAyB8fZvhF1_asUYVLCI05BZDkWi1mv_WFBAS8bcBLFAgpQ0EB0FFlKiigvo1eRePEcfK1lMioOEKAQ5ZqIMlezym-xx/s1822/Lisan%20al%20Gaib%20Simpsons.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1822" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvDKS5MugsONKyt0C2Rql_ZH88ZehYB8z3Jdk6yP8Gtu2TJd8id5Kxx5SqRd41gAOiDPM3zpQdnlbzLSXj303hWKXqvIKXP9JNKAyB8fZvhF1_asUYVLCI05BZDkWi1mv_WFBAS8bcBLFAgpQ0EB0FFlKiigvo1eRePEcfK1lMioOEKAQ5ZqIMlezym-xx/w238-h400/Lisan%20al%20Gaib%20Simpsons.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF2r1A7UMZkhK5jYdfZQZgtEfyzhUXIET2_Zq4x84XHAVl-1u_6LnP8fcfvnZTOFGAANzBU8sN8Nnwy4DTyBITiIql7Y-ftN_kPhhMeFzJ2OvOvnc8CM6W0x1sIKVd0lamaGDr0D9lGZuwxVtGP2ZGYN5YiorCj6hO_hw9RX4k1nl-Z-XvpmUUzqsUcmKi/s692/one%20more%20dune.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="692" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF2r1A7UMZkhK5jYdfZQZgtEfyzhUXIET2_Zq4x84XHAVl-1u_6LnP8fcfvnZTOFGAANzBU8sN8Nnwy4DTyBITiIql7Y-ftN_kPhhMeFzJ2OvOvnc8CM6W0x1sIKVd0lamaGDr0D9lGZuwxVtGP2ZGYN5YiorCj6hO_hw9RX4k1nl-Z-XvpmUUzqsUcmKi/w370-h400/one%20more%20dune.jpg" width="370" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4x9X7l6Cpg6ejxVh7X1e6pTbgYbpT3As06xvVRzKLMdMxyl15IEZ84xwqiIU9etW881XIOq04eJihtThO2enuKELs1WlhJy0Qe1W5pnnHv-z-bJBS-PpzOCDX1nPlg8Di9ne9lSJM4W8Nn5exPKb3kuDASbWvzlfG0VmjUY76u-0sTA6s0Zl2q2ERd3br/s1200/student%20loan%20hunter%20seeker.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="967" data-original-width="1200" height="323" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4x9X7l6Cpg6ejxVh7X1e6pTbgYbpT3As06xvVRzKLMdMxyl15IEZ84xwqiIU9etW881XIOq04eJihtThO2enuKELs1WlhJy0Qe1W5pnnHv-z-bJBS-PpzOCDX1nPlg8Di9ne9lSJM4W8Nn5exPKb3kuDASbWvzlfG0VmjUY76u-0sTA6s0Zl2q2ERd3br/w400-h323/student%20loan%20hunter%20seeker.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>638. Contemporary conservatism (especially here in the US, but perhaps elsewhere, too) isn’t really conservatism in the literal sense of conserving traditions of past so much as it’s a nostalgia for a past that never was in the form of a vision of a dystopian future. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzRi4PU2RFERq-egrWL1NcF_rl_BVb0brROw4LPvy1P1CXrsrd9jSEBcTVg0Xcx4MGd4bitH0Mr_ZzNh7tJxnH9JCl_GPfNWbc8PPAnnVjDfuTKHLhY-Gic-xmlS-A3jnfKPsgVY42l2egDfwecvd9o5dxhXy0Jud4j4Rg5O3j9aUHJsMrDJuA5qDvhMZ8/s2048/cunk%20lisan%20al%20gaib.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1166" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzRi4PU2RFERq-egrWL1NcF_rl_BVb0brROw4LPvy1P1CXrsrd9jSEBcTVg0Xcx4MGd4bitH0Mr_ZzNh7tJxnH9JCl_GPfNWbc8PPAnnVjDfuTKHLhY-Gic-xmlS-A3jnfKPsgVY42l2egDfwecvd9o5dxhXy0Jud4j4Rg5O3j9aUHJsMrDJuA5qDvhMZ8/w228-h400/cunk%20lisan%20al%20gaib.JPG" width="228" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>639. Ultimately my love of both philosophy and speculative fiction (science fiction, fantasy, horror, etc.) have the same root: the hunch that developing the ability to imagine different ways of being, doing, and thinking is essential to one’s humanity. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiovxu_s4cueRhLZlR4jWom7PJC9xT6fMjo10Q5I20a1DkNw_r_qiCCcRuCXNxVSUsd5OXlpNVwfoMWqmCeDRijs_nq-gKch_LwDhOoGgjgkFmaKjhxko80XqPslKRvMM3xq9cL8bb6aM2eWOysWcBJNJESZBRrexmMiQ3c9eEhLu-P3unSELLVHdy1yFsC/s1024/laundry%20taxes%20dune.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiovxu_s4cueRhLZlR4jWom7PJC9xT6fMjo10Q5I20a1DkNw_r_qiCCcRuCXNxVSUsd5OXlpNVwfoMWqmCeDRijs_nq-gKch_LwDhOoGgjgkFmaKjhxko80XqPslKRvMM3xq9cL8bb6aM2eWOysWcBJNJESZBRrexmMiQ3c9eEhLu-P3unSELLVHdy1yFsC/w400-h400/laundry%20taxes%20dune.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfhsf7XsR-3Zgg4VqWQCI86DTSX2UWXBHM37q6b-c9ggb43sfPI-DrzQD-QfCBL1BwNQOKwkupbFxGmXZhzKzwiJ_f9ZdAnB4aBYpbsPlI7YNup3MCdyPZ81qw0EHzqWlze5bRzLJa9QS8SdFlJUnmbdWhFHNFDmsoK34ooDfc4s_aqTHd2SYpIEwHlgR3/s526/432423505_10228688583692137_2497726771076548172_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="526" height="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfhsf7XsR-3Zgg4VqWQCI86DTSX2UWXBHM37q6b-c9ggb43sfPI-DrzQD-QfCBL1BwNQOKwkupbFxGmXZhzKzwiJ_f9ZdAnB4aBYpbsPlI7YNup3MCdyPZ81qw0EHzqWlze5bRzLJa9QS8SdFlJUnmbdWhFHNFDmsoK34ooDfc4s_aqTHd2SYpIEwHlgR3/w400-h389/432423505_10228688583692137_2497726771076548172_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>640. When I say war is unnecessary, I don’t mean that one group may not occasionally have to defend themselves from another. I mean that in a vaster sense beyond sides, factions, armies, and so forth, war is always a failure of leadership somewhere and a hardening of hearts to the fact that war always causes tremendous suffering for those who had no part in starting the war. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXeAruLw7EDNAWBptGH97VBPYHRguaMIEKqb_VH4NehH9CxRXd2CaNGbZPcNZaP5LF7kUux-GTSNzhjZPLkQxSk-LaFSnaTclw7gRWKnKlpSjDV3umc4kRQ2LVxNDk5pVuDkvMx7lNPuEISFx3PBcrWXlHUDktWxiE_zzi02U8XEiKOEbnVoymipEkirTh/s962/baldwin%20children.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="962" data-original-width="770" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXeAruLw7EDNAWBptGH97VBPYHRguaMIEKqb_VH4NehH9CxRXd2CaNGbZPcNZaP5LF7kUux-GTSNzhjZPLkQxSk-LaFSnaTclw7gRWKnKlpSjDV3umc4kRQ2LVxNDk5pVuDkvMx7lNPuEISFx3PBcrWXlHUDktWxiE_zzi02U8XEiKOEbnVoymipEkirTh/w320-h400/baldwin%20children.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhktG-Gzsfg-mf4iLGDa9NztI4bNfg_Xn93QZaXNqfgM6mE4oeejuZ4Ie6rHcwSrKgi6W8JrDAyYnbGpFJs2434OEYGsKV6R5J465dlluomP8T6tTzmlcg8JL30GABS1ieJzsupTLotpVgearezt7OzMCFPEAJWcmpBWaoM22fPLQuK5sZoZvgNq2_xNHmZ/s718/432311645_6742410709193748_2370063842359838449_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="718" data-original-width="526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhktG-Gzsfg-mf4iLGDa9NztI4bNfg_Xn93QZaXNqfgM6mE4oeejuZ4Ie6rHcwSrKgi6W8JrDAyYnbGpFJs2434OEYGsKV6R5J465dlluomP8T6tTzmlcg8JL30GABS1ieJzsupTLotpVgearezt7OzMCFPEAJWcmpBWaoM22fPLQuK5sZoZvgNq2_xNHmZ/w293-h400/432311645_6742410709193748_2370063842359838449_n.jpg" width="293" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>641. I always stop to talk to cats. And if they don’t immediately run away, I feel as if I’ve made a breakthrough in inter-species understanding. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd68YGImKXP8ybtpt4O5YpfZju-2Zdjz_ZdNzhhS-VrsO7qmuWVIHpjhHm6xUB_UCsiSl3PBxpY8ibOsxIABPCsxgEx9EcV9RzMcjAro9T2VOsBnJsbgErrjCSNcMHBqfd8K_bT5aHIbfrJt3TeQDQBkEhheSfvY0JVlelEiWiYbqTE-WU_NJFb-3KMVrh/s700/kitty%20ancient%20greek.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="578" data-original-width="700" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd68YGImKXP8ybtpt4O5YpfZju-2Zdjz_ZdNzhhS-VrsO7qmuWVIHpjhHm6xUB_UCsiSl3PBxpY8ibOsxIABPCsxgEx9EcV9RzMcjAro9T2VOsBnJsbgErrjCSNcMHBqfd8K_bT5aHIbfrJt3TeQDQBkEhheSfvY0JVlelEiWiYbqTE-WU_NJFb-3KMVrh/w400-h330/kitty%20ancient%20greek.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL4ZJSGRRBwVyw-zWJI_RpNjQVKm1UnT5I_utL34SNdDK1pvRjuLtRjvPeZet9eRSWjHQH6o52po7gf1cRmzzasgguIlcW6lmbRlK0Y5dmTaEOfDN7ScFBe6RnIPP4AGq7-MgMRLqB3-QA-RSTT9YOImtnU14e0gPMDJrhNlR3sYEXQOEjHvWE-T6CsfMW/s791/Dune%20citations.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="791" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL4ZJSGRRBwVyw-zWJI_RpNjQVKm1UnT5I_utL34SNdDK1pvRjuLtRjvPeZet9eRSWjHQH6o52po7gf1cRmzzasgguIlcW6lmbRlK0Y5dmTaEOfDN7ScFBe6RnIPP4AGq7-MgMRLqB3-QA-RSTT9YOImtnU14e0gPMDJrhNlR3sYEXQOEjHvWE-T6CsfMW/w400-h253/Dune%20citations.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>642. A big part of the charm of cats is that their little kitty minds are somewhat inscrutable, beyond humans’ understanding and control. Will they ignore you and sleep for 15 hours? Go on a rampage around the house? Curl up on your lap? Climb the curtains? Demand pets? These adorable little chaos furballs keep you guessing, which is a good lesson for anyone trying to be alive in this universe.
</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgud7m4EmfflsM9Am7uUBn2J3ahrBjteU5HMEhKNIEWtPbpqaopXj0i4U3SqVJ0h6ZryInFZ9AYUZriLBa6qLGZ7sR7ABLVqyHvivurPo8fbZ7T4NkfrHzOynNWQNK6MVHE2XYuIfDJ9yV-sAUo7oGPnbSqQZd3ZjN-8riT4rBQwP4TozkxF9hyEbmYLNU/s851/meow%20at%20cats.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="736" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgud7m4EmfflsM9Am7uUBn2J3ahrBjteU5HMEhKNIEWtPbpqaopXj0i4U3SqVJ0h6ZryInFZ9AYUZriLBa6qLGZ7sR7ABLVqyHvivurPo8fbZ7T4NkfrHzOynNWQNK6MVHE2XYuIfDJ9yV-sAUo7oGPnbSqQZd3ZjN-8riT4rBQwP4TozkxF9hyEbmYLNU/w346-h400/meow%20at%20cats.jpg" width="346" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPdd3UK4pdd8XbNuAIkYHK4X3ets0n13lg337paHiUENWdqskJZ8nwMDOqZVKn5iz13LdvsOBBNbW59UczR9iK3HaivcdlCAsasf86qrjyjkgO2WI13skAhPA-8RUkRm08dZWfN_9YPiug7zqwWKlpBHS0hxmJF4O-7TxXKIYPkyZ9cBdTcYhvzHeRYT9D/s1082/cat%20folded%20space.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1082" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPdd3UK4pdd8XbNuAIkYHK4X3ets0n13lg337paHiUENWdqskJZ8nwMDOqZVKn5iz13LdvsOBBNbW59UczR9iK3HaivcdlCAsasf86qrjyjkgO2WI13skAhPA-8RUkRm08dZWfN_9YPiug7zqwWKlpBHS0hxmJF4O-7TxXKIYPkyZ9cBdTcYhvzHeRYT9D/w399-h400/cat%20folded%20space.jpg" width="399" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc_nGVQDocC5nLfZSoeSSOAn3071sqeT1yfw5eJdAcaF5-v5PaQrVBt69HHHP0mw7DYL1chgdy0BEoJxhmCGwcSqLKwnlv1m4xC-T4T-kZTjI_cdMinEjMWyp2gRH1Ts4433c4TK5sa4kE3FMIS2W8ThEKcFZJ10HZ3zJCpEWximYbt6pLEdBv59OmWHTX/s1180/lisan%20al%20yankovic.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1180" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc_nGVQDocC5nLfZSoeSSOAn3071sqeT1yfw5eJdAcaF5-v5PaQrVBt69HHHP0mw7DYL1chgdy0BEoJxhmCGwcSqLKwnlv1m4xC-T4T-kZTjI_cdMinEjMWyp2gRH1Ts4433c4TK5sa4kE3FMIS2W8ThEKcFZJ10HZ3zJCpEWximYbt6pLEdBv59OmWHTX/w305-h400/lisan%20al%20yankovic.JPG" width="305" /></a></div><br />Ethanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13490888839784651097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323383105577553414.post-13258301490671006672024-03-11T20:38:00.000-07:002024-03-11T20:38:01.528-07:00Happy (?) Fourth Pandemiversary<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Cs3gc2luv8QmkAuJh0unS5aVS5mc24O6AtCCYDiRGZRo8FwOPkr9JtA1WD5A6p0wW-_D_tI4SVrhAD1_FJKTxgEQJSyYlz4xMUuWDmYmWrkWnkfdQ-nfuWTzqKgxExvdxCmeGXxysmT-8g8Ax9RZzHawka6cdj1fGzHNNldVPJ8bSEAMdWyprDDRsQ_8/s1200/Pandemic.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Cs3gc2luv8QmkAuJh0unS5aVS5mc24O6AtCCYDiRGZRo8FwOPkr9JtA1WD5A6p0wW-_D_tI4SVrhAD1_FJKTxgEQJSyYlz4xMUuWDmYmWrkWnkfdQ-nfuWTzqKgxExvdxCmeGXxysmT-8g8Ax9RZzHawka6cdj1fGzHNNldVPJ8bSEAMdWyprDDRsQ_8/w400-h266/Pandemic.webp" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><i>For the last few years, I've made <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2023/03/happy-third-pandemiversary.html" target="_blank">posts on the pandemic anniversary, or "pandemiversary," days.</a> Here is one for March 11, 2024.</i></p><p></p>
It’s our fourth pandemiversary. It was four years ago today that the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 pandemic. <span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><div>Tomorrow I’m heading to Lobby Day for organized labor here in Tennessee. I’ll be joining my union, United Campus Workers, to lobby state legislators at the capitol in Nashville. For a bit of symmetry, the last time I went to Lobby Day was March 10, 2020, the day before the pandemic was declared. We knew COVID was an issue. We were already not shaking people’s hands, but not yet wearing masks or canceling in-person events. I was worried to be in the crowded halls and offices of the state legislative building. And then I got on a plane to Minneapolis that evening, but the next day I decided to cut my trip short and rented a car to drive home. </div><div><br /></div><div>While the pandemic is not over and people are still getting COVID, <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/who-downgrades-covid-19-pandemic-says-its-no-longer-global-emergency" target="_blank">the World Health Organization declared in May 2023 that the COVID-19 pandemic is no longer a global health emergency.</a> Most people seem to have decided that the pandemic is over long before that. </div><div><br /></div><div>I hardly ever wear a mask anymore, although I do still see people wearing masks on occasion. It doesn’t feel weird these days like it would have before March 2020, at least here in the US. Or at least it doesn’t seem weird to me: maybe people are sick and don’t want to infect others, maybe they’re immune compromised, maybe they’re just careful… all good reasons if you ask me. </div><div><br /></div><div>As far as I know, I only actually got COVID once in the summer of 2022. But I still worry every time I cough or sneeze, and I feel terrible coughing or sneezing in public, like I’m violating the public trust. I use a home test if I feel sick, but so far have only ever tested positive that one time. I did wear a mask to class once last semester when I had a cold. I stay up to date on my booster shots. </div><div><br /></div><div>So, when will the pandemic be over? Have we really learned anything? How have the last four years changed all of us? </div><div><br /></div><div>I can’t answer any of those questions. COVID itself seems like it will be with us for some time, even if it doesn’t kill as many people as it once did. And lots of people are experiencing long COVID effects. </div><div><br /></div><div>I suspect it may take years or decades to fully understand what this upheaval in human history has done to all of us individually and as a species. Maybe we’ll never completely understand. The news locally, nationally, and globally isn’t giving me a lot of hope these days that we’ve learned much of anything. And if we humans somehow survive bigotry, nationalism, and pandemics, there’s climate change. </div><div><br /></div><div>But at least <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2024/02/dune-part-two-non-spoilery-first.html" target="_blank"><i>Dune Part Two</i> finally came out, and it was great!</a> Maybe this pandemic will really be over by the time Denis Villeneuve’s <i>Dune Messiah</i> is in theaters.
</div>Ethanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13490888839784651097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323383105577553414.post-18761430575314186192024-03-10T12:27:00.000-07:002024-03-10T12:39:39.126-07:00So I Watched All the Oscar Nominees for Best Picture... Again!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcb05Jc0tIl1Dhf4Eanjb0V_2Ze0PXH5AEj4loVrW8rRzxuQykWRfUnsSYcHuKfS47WewrV6CPfFvr6fo92ePlV1_RP674lJMDIRISszopwJ5FDapKVqdwqIuIt-Vvuq5dQytCXzLNPM5rn2ppZRPG7tDOA3np-iOKMwFmCBz1dUobpSDJMVzyqM3__VQw/s760/230721-Barbieheimer-Box-Office-jg-9492fe.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="381" data-original-width="760" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcb05Jc0tIl1Dhf4Eanjb0V_2Ze0PXH5AEj4loVrW8rRzxuQykWRfUnsSYcHuKfS47WewrV6CPfFvr6fo92ePlV1_RP674lJMDIRISszopwJ5FDapKVqdwqIuIt-Vvuq5dQytCXzLNPM5rn2ppZRPG7tDOA3np-iOKMwFmCBz1dUobpSDJMVzyqM3__VQw/w400-h200/230721-Barbieheimer-Box-Office-jg-9492fe.webp" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Last year I wrote a post called <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2023/03/so-i-watched-all-oscar-nominees-for.html" target="_blank">"So I Watched All the Oscar Nominees for Best Picture."</a> I didn't set out to do so, but at some point I realized I had seen a few of the nominations and figured I might as well complete my tour. So I did! And it was mostly pretty fun. It didn't hurt that my favorite, <i>Everything Everywhere All At Once, </i>was the winner.</p><p>Well, dear reader, as Britney Spears once said, "Oops, I did it again." </p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p>Like a lot of other people, I was caught up in the <i>Barbenheimer </i>craze last summer. And I caught a few more of the movies at home and a few more in theaters. I wasn't sure I'd get to <i>The Zone of Interest</i>, but as the Oscar fates would have it, my local theater was showing it yesterday afternoon, so I was able to complete the set once again in 2024.</p><p>I don't have a clear personal favorite like I did last year, but like last year, I thought this was a pretty good crop overall. And a diverse one, too; it's hard for me to really rank movies as different as <i>Barbie </i>and <i>Anatomy of a Fall </i>or <i>American Fiction </i>and <i>Killers of the Flower Moon </i>or <i>Poor Things </i>and <i>Past Lives.</i> And like almost everyone else, I think <i>Oppenheimer </i>is probably going to win. But we'll see <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/2024/03/10/oscars-2024-host-time-nominees/" target="_blank">Sunday night.</a></p><p>It's hard for me to rank <a href="https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/2024" target="_blank">these movies</a>, because I appreciate all of them for different reasons. I probably personally cared for <i>Maestro </i>the least, but I can appreciate its artistic merits. I'm not confused by any of this year's nominations, like I was last year (<i>Top Gun: Maverick</i>? Really?). So these are not in any specific ranking order. Sometimes I feel the need for rankings crowds out more interesting discussions (much like the fixation on grading and peer review in academia). In any case, I'll leave the business of ranking these films to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.</p><p><br /></p><p><i><u><b><span style="font-size: large;">Oppenheimer</span></b></u></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOYfdU8nPb7NMK_8scQ-Q7K06vnGTGP0AYU7q4LEoVZXVwlATXUkrzd8X85S_HOMfHfM3NMVGJo-Oip_Oz7BCnj4iclo8_fSVrZXY7peihFUDVFnYLzYiyNWJGEhWqrj6v_NKuxvWbrLnDzU1ieYh69kO0RSk-FwBnufeembwCiQhgCallIhTaHMefifUW/s1200/oppenheimer-header.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1200" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOYfdU8nPb7NMK_8scQ-Q7K06vnGTGP0AYU7q4LEoVZXVwlATXUkrzd8X85S_HOMfHfM3NMVGJo-Oip_Oz7BCnj4iclo8_fSVrZXY7peihFUDVFnYLzYiyNWJGEhWqrj6v_NKuxvWbrLnDzU1ieYh69kO0RSk-FwBnufeembwCiQhgCallIhTaHMefifUW/w400-h210/oppenheimer-header.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>My initial impression walking out of <i>Oppenheimer </i>in IMAX last summer: this is a horror movie. It's not just a particular scene where a cheering crowd is juxtaposed with a vision of atomic horror, but the whole tragic failure of the initially plausible idea that atomic weapons could bring peace. Oppenheimer is not a hero, but a complex tragic figure. In perhaps a great advertisement for a wider liberal arts education rather than narrow specialization, he really did know some Sanskrit, and <a href="https://news.ufl.edu/2023/08/the-conversation-oppenheimer-bhagavad-gita/" target="_blank">his translation of the <i>Bhagavad Gītā </i>is the famous line people quote whether they know the source or not: "Now I am become death..."</a>. It's also fun to see all these famous scientists depicted on screen. Cillian Murphy is great. Emily Blunt and Florence Pugh do well with what they're given, and almost every A-list white dude in Hollywood is there. There's almost no treatment of Japan, where the bombs were actually dropped--check out <i>Godzilla Minus One </i>for more on that (nominated for Visual Effects!). There are few things the Academy loves more than a celebration of white male genius, and <i>Oppenheimer</i> is a really white dude-centered movie (which was US nuclear physics at the time, I suppose). Christopher Nolan's films tend toward a cool, abstract affect. But for all his failings, Nolan usually makes me feel and think deeply (my favorite is still <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2015/04/interstellar-and-meaning-of-human-life.html" target="_blank"><i>Interstellar</i>)</a>. And there's no denying the aesthetic accomplishment of <i>Oppenheimer. </i>I'm glad I saw it in IMAX first, although it was still great watching at home again. Ludwig Göransson's score propels the viewer through a movie that jumps around in time during its three-hour run. <i>Oppenheimer </i>is a film that I think people will be talking about in 10 or 20 years. And I'd be surprised if it doesn't win Best Picture this year.</p><p><br /></p><p><b><i><u><span style="font-size: large;">Barbie</span></u></i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinTBAm6HZdYHIem9flSKZuQ_oxy3giMkSKbbHxl76XvPdwGVCABUfINebL07PG-dqlu36VjfKWTTj2tIj9eV8fKIiSAn1NkyBdlJCIwcKEa-ZZVg0nvJLU69sLtbo-6fM4Brii_sRKMFNKedHX1HH8tFBImrH6D2z1nqEo742tZIfmxAZViuLESuvRontZ/s960/p13472534_v_h8_ae.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinTBAm6HZdYHIem9flSKZuQ_oxy3giMkSKbbHxl76XvPdwGVCABUfINebL07PG-dqlu36VjfKWTTj2tIj9eV8fKIiSAn1NkyBdlJCIwcKEa-ZZVg0nvJLU69sLtbo-6fM4Brii_sRKMFNKedHX1HH8tFBImrH6D2z1nqEo742tZIfmxAZViuLESuvRontZ/w400-h225/p13472534_v_h8_ae.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>The other half of <i>Barbenheimer</i>! Say what you will about <i>Barbie </i>(and many people have), I think it's one of the most philosophical movies on this list. It's also just a lot of fun, especially for a movie that delves into death and existentialism so explicitly and starts with an homage to Kubrick's <i>2001: A Space Odyssey</i>. It really is too bad that Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie weren't nominated for directing and acting, but America Ferrera is totally deserving as is Ryan Gosling. Some have criticized <i>Barbie </i>for not going deep enough into feminist theory or for being too tied to white feminism. Sure, maybe, but one has to start somewhere, and this film is astonishingly complex for a movie about a mass-market toy. It's also just really funny, and along with <i>Poor Things</i>, one of the few films on this list that could be considered science fiction or fantasy. And the soundtrack is fun, too. I imagine I'll rewatch this one more than any other movie on this list, so maybe that's a point in its favor (but I'm not giving points, of course).</p><p><br /></p><p><b><i><u><span style="font-size: large;">Past Lives</span></u></i></b></p><p><b><i></i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkfLIs9wQ8i3GFdnyhQlEsuZaLjNb7-t2x_kFeuCDJ6_H3HapDPphmYV2dXAV0Zm_mmt65lDa9BZKb-ECMLkO2hr73M5FDqDFqhsDGUDS2xqvzqcAP0lUF51ODglBk-zY6JvDlO_dlMEA-5vgYVXjuGK9teP0Udo5s7f8dSbzUzJoB-eE2n6u8m6J4p7Ck/s1280/maxresdefault.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkfLIs9wQ8i3GFdnyhQlEsuZaLjNb7-t2x_kFeuCDJ6_H3HapDPphmYV2dXAV0Zm_mmt65lDa9BZKb-ECMLkO2hr73M5FDqDFqhsDGUDS2xqvzqcAP0lUF51ODglBk-zY6JvDlO_dlMEA-5vgYVXjuGK9teP0Udo5s7f8dSbzUzJoB-eE2n6u8m6J4p7Ck/w400-h225/maxresdefault.jpg" width="400" /></a></i></b></div><b><i><br /><u><br /></u></i></b><p></p><p>I've been thinking about <span style="font-style: italic;">Past Lives </span>since I saw it<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>the other day. It's one of those films that makes you feel all the feels. It follows two childhood friends in South Korea over 24 years. One emigrates to Canada and then the US while the other remains in South Korea, but occasionally they get in touch with each other over the years. Greta Lee and Teo Yoo are both doing some subtle acting, and anyone who has ever felt unrequited love or similarly complex feelings will find something to relate to. I really enjoyed Greta Lee's nuanced portrayal of Nora's immigration experience, and Teo Yoo as Hae Sung is able to break your heart with a look (John Magaro also does so once or twice). The score sets just the right level of moodiness. I'll look forward to what director Celine Song does next. I really enjoyed the <a href="https://www.soas.ac.uk/study/blog/past-lives-luxurious-and-lingering-portrayal-lost-love-and-identity-korean-diaspora" target="_blank">use of the Korean Buddhist concept of </a><i><a href="https://www.soas.ac.uk/study/blog/past-lives-luxurious-and-lingering-portrayal-lost-love-and-identity-korean-diaspora" target="_blank">In-Yun</a>, </i>which involves people finding and losing each other repeatedly over thousands of lifetimes. This mostly works in <i>Past Lives</i> as a metaphor for the complexities of the Korean diaspora in the digital age, but I've been thinking lately about the mind-expanding possibilities of Buddhist cosmology even for those of us who were not born in a position to believe in rebirth more literally: our lives and connections to each other are vaster than we think, and maybe there's a tragic beauty and melancholy comfort in that.</p><p><b><i><u><br /></u></i></b></p><p><b><i><u><span style="font-size: large;">American Fiction</span></u></i></b></p><p><b><i></i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY8kVdKPeRpY5-28UrgEtfFaSBUO7O7TbcBbjiXb0nBSEJpxESDZ36-bDcl6ABSZYTQ8c_Bs0fBMrtuLd3tMkwn62PASq-FQhEBb5DlQI_FVqnC5AdvSvscglqipDefCZD2W1_4QYwMNjDXMft9jhijuRsxVbmpT6Wbj-r1flVfrATYXMq-C1AJQy30Dvw/s294/download.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="171" data-original-width="294" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY8kVdKPeRpY5-28UrgEtfFaSBUO7O7TbcBbjiXb0nBSEJpxESDZ36-bDcl6ABSZYTQ8c_Bs0fBMrtuLd3tMkwn62PASq-FQhEBb5DlQI_FVqnC5AdvSvscglqipDefCZD2W1_4QYwMNjDXMft9jhijuRsxVbmpT6Wbj-r1flVfrATYXMq-C1AJQy30Dvw/w400-h233/download.jpg" width="400" /></a></i></b></div><p></p><p><i>American Fiction </i>is probably the funniest movie on this list, at least at the level of biting satire. Jeffrey Wright is fantastic as a literature professor called Monk (after "Thelonious"), who's frustrated with the American publishing world's treatment of Black authors. In one scene he finds his books on ancient Greek mythology in the African-American Studies section of a bookstore, and he's alarmed/jealous of the success of a fellow author who wrote a book that panders to white audiences through Black stereotypes. The other author is played by Issa Rae, who is amazing as always, as are Sterling K. Brown, Tracee Ellis Ross, Keith David, Leslie Uggams, Erika Alexander, and more. In a moment of alcohol-fueled frustration, Monk has the idea to write the type of "Black book" the mostly white, affluent publishing industry wants and submits it to his agent under a pseudonym as a satirical joke. And then it turns out this is exactly what the publishers want, of course, and just to make it even funnier (and perhaps the best cinematic nod to <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2018/01/2017-movies-good-bad-and-mediocre.html" target="_blank">Du Bois's concept of double-consciousness since <i>Get Out</i>)</a>, he ends up on a literary award committee judging his own book. I probably laughed harder and more often through <i>American Fiction </i>than any other film on this list, which is saying something because I laughed a lot during <i>Barbie </i>and <i>Poor Things, </i>too. I can't wait to see what director Cord Jefferson does next. As a white college professor myself, of course, I have to wonder about my own relationship to this film and its relation to the still mostly white Academy (both the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the academic establishment of which I am part, however ambivalent I may be).</p><p><br /></p><p><b><i><u><span style="font-size: large;">Poor Things</span></u></i></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVqPDcq2i1C5NiQlvAAVKFU34XMCST8_PnK96pijwAAkV2VS02BgCqQKSjk3MAtqL0zDrMNQOkBitfbdoxU_-K_MI5omrxcllliNF9Zd9hAO8BZhv7nLVBUsU0YzmP1EA1HBf6DpwWS7FrEukCC1GPISv5sVYcAuM-7wkF3iOiK21mL54FoC-ZSXcUgwoE/s275/download-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="183" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVqPDcq2i1C5NiQlvAAVKFU34XMCST8_PnK96pijwAAkV2VS02BgCqQKSjk3MAtqL0zDrMNQOkBitfbdoxU_-K_MI5omrxcllliNF9Zd9hAO8BZhv7nLVBUsU0YzmP1EA1HBf6DpwWS7FrEukCC1GPISv5sVYcAuM-7wkF3iOiK21mL54FoC-ZSXcUgwoE/w266-h400/download-1.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i><p></p><p><i>Poor Things </i>isn't all that similar to <i>Everything Everywhere All At Once, </i>but like last year's winner for Best Picture, I'm pleasantly astonished that a film as strange as Yorgos Latnthimos's <i>Poor Things </i>would be nominated at all. It's based on a novel Alasdair Grey, which is a fun riff on <i><a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2018/09/monsters-death-and-authenticity.html" target="_blank">Frankenstein</a>, </i>which continues to inspire over 200 years after Mary Shelley published it. Emma Stone is obviously having fun playing Bella, the <i>Frankenstein-</i>type Steampunk experiment of Godwin ("God" played by Wilem Defoe, in a nod to Mary Shelley's father, William Godwin, and the concept of a Creator). Bella embarks upon adventures in a strange and highly stylized 19th century Europe. Some of her coming of age is sexual, and this film does not shy away from sexuality (sex is pretty funny if you think about it). Is there something skeevy about a grown woman with the mind of a child having lots of sex with men (like Mark Ruffalo's buffonish Duncan) who seem all too willing despite her condition? Yes. But is that offset by her character development and becoming her own person later despite being made of parts for unknown reasons (as we all ultimately are) outside of all the boxes the men in her life (and a few women) want to keep her in? Maybe. The viewer, I suppose, has to decide for themselves. <i>Poor Things </i>also shows that philosophy may be more mainstream than I think, when a character played by Jerrod Charmichael tells Bella that philosophy is a waste of time and then proceeds to give his own philosophical explanation for his view (as people who hate philosophy almost always do).</p><p><br /></p><p><b><i><u><span style="font-size: large;">Killers of the Flower Moon</span></u></i></b></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZhFiDtUsTh7Muu9n6tYfHML6zs6lY6R-gldBUJ0wAvtkOlVTzi-CW8K9bFknBQ64rUA1bC4RWWXH0kBM-2kif2axuYhJIwEwfZu3Yq0ncZAp4FW0smtAQX4KV1FQRJv1uWMlXuy7wC01tUcdWLhSHh-SuOs2H3L8v1UXMEcQcgxuDR7NszI7aMnwThO_T/s387/Killers_of_the_Flower_Moon_film_poster.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="387" data-original-width="258" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZhFiDtUsTh7Muu9n6tYfHML6zs6lY6R-gldBUJ0wAvtkOlVTzi-CW8K9bFknBQ64rUA1bC4RWWXH0kBM-2kif2axuYhJIwEwfZu3Yq0ncZAp4FW0smtAQX4KV1FQRJv1uWMlXuy7wC01tUcdWLhSHh-SuOs2H3L8v1UXMEcQcgxuDR7NszI7aMnwThO_T/w266-h400/Killers_of_the_Flower_Moon_film_poster.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br />Martin Scorsese still knows how to direct a film and Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert DeNiro are fine actors as always, but I think Lily Gladstone stole the show in <i>Killers of the Flower Moon</i>. If Gladstone doesn't win an Oscar, I'd be surprised. <i>Killers of the Flower Moon </i>tells the story of the Osage people in Oklahoma in the early 20th century, many of whom became extremely wealthy due to oil on their land. And because this was the US (the Tulsa race massacre happened around the same time and is mentioned in the film), white people felt the need to step in to prevent such things. In this case, one strategy was for white men to marry Native women and thus receive their oil wealth, often through outright murder of the women and their family members. It's a grisly tale, and a long one (over three hours). Scorsese is no stranger to grisly tales, of course, nor long films. There could be criticisms of a white director's treatment of this issue, although the treatment feels balanced overall (or so it seems to this white viewer). The costumes and the score are also great (the detail of Osage women wearing military outfits as wedding attire is a great one). The film ends with footage of a 21st century powwow, reminding viewers that the Osage and other Native people are not confined to historical dramas by white directors.<p></p><p><b><i><u><br /></u></i></b></p><p><b><i><u><span style="font-size: large;">The Zone of Interest</span></u></i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_VowT6E5u65zRgCpoYR3Wh96aKqodXkJs8Ei4q2eedQ8nubNb5a5vAGRxULp-gqzJJsEPAGdc2N1aaQeG6ulLakPXl9uI3BGM762R_J89rNEuJiZ-quuT9ritaVE8gspHtXm2YcZdOU7w5iGYfnJtxUt5f22HzT1EgPwEgH4rSpp-gH3l2gQ-PX5-ZFlW/s1024/658b2251ceb78e001dd4f641.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="771" data-original-width="1024" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_VowT6E5u65zRgCpoYR3Wh96aKqodXkJs8Ei4q2eedQ8nubNb5a5vAGRxULp-gqzJJsEPAGdc2N1aaQeG6ulLakPXl9uI3BGM762R_J89rNEuJiZ-quuT9ritaVE8gspHtXm2YcZdOU7w5iGYfnJtxUt5f22HzT1EgPwEgH4rSpp-gH3l2gQ-PX5-ZFlW/w400-h301/658b2251ceb78e001dd4f641.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Sometimes I wonder when we'll stop seeing so many movies about the (original) Nazis. It feels overdone, and in the last decade I've started to wonder if humanity really learned anything from the upheaval of WWII and the Holocaust. Maybe all these movies aren't enough. Maybe it's time for filmmakers to give up on WWII and make movies about current day Nazis, both the literal, tiki-torch carrying kind and the close-enough-to-Nazis ethnic/religious nationalisms here in the US and elsewhere. I'm still not sure what to think about all that, but I almost didn't see <i>The Zone of Interest. </i>I was prepared to call this post "So I Watched (Almost) All the Oscar Nominees for Best Picture<i>." </i>But then I saw my local theater was playing one show this weekend, so here we are. Despite my skepticism, <i>The Zone of Interest </i>is a wholly different kind of WWII movie. We see pleasant scenes of a family at home, doing chores, tending the garden, going swimming, and so on, while Auschwitz is literally on the other side of the wall. I'm glad I saw this in a theater so I could fully appreciate the sound design, which is essential to this film. You see a married couple arguing, children playing, a dog sniffing a table full of food, housekeepers sweeping, and so on, all while shouts and gunshots populate the background and smoke rises out of focus beyond the wall. There is little drama and almost no story. There's no explicit violence shown on screen. Aside from a few unusual-looking scenes, you might think you're watching a pleasant period piece if you weren't paying attention to the sound. Yet this is probably the most chilling WWII movie I've seen since <i>Schindler's List. </i><a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2018/06/auschwitz-immigration-and-currents-of.html" target="_blank">I visited Auschwitz in 2018</a> on a trip to Poland (you see some of the contemporary museum at the end of this film). While I was there I thought about the flesh-and-blood human beings who lived and died there. It was a profound and horrifying experience. <i>The Zone of Interest </i>evoked a bit of that experience for me, and it represents a new possibility for WWII and Holocaust movies. It's a clear cinematic vision of <a href="https://aeon.co/ideas/what-did-hannah-arendt-really-mean-by-the-banality-of-evil" target="_blank">what Hannah Arendt referred to as "the banality of evil."</a> It also makes another disturbing point, encouraging viewers to think about the horrors on the other side of our own walls here in the 21st century.</p><p><u><br /></u></p><p><b><i><u><span style="font-size: large;">The Holdovers</span></u></i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqpHYXDRB6ElQtzd_VkagaZKYJ1jwpp3aG_YtACU7kbhJpiudV_PDEW0YUcz2KUp34TGJ_FNf77QgqfvLclSROcW_j7bSHZBDjFfvT-7iXRCJbtiP1cbWVJUE6ESKHATmjD0BhhdRz3kOA8VNLwwWsHYRNqDkLzgy0r6LR9yXNhFuhiAiF_Z-fsUNLs413/s378/Holdovers_film_poster.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="378" data-original-width="255" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqpHYXDRB6ElQtzd_VkagaZKYJ1jwpp3aG_YtACU7kbhJpiudV_PDEW0YUcz2KUp34TGJ_FNf77QgqfvLclSROcW_j7bSHZBDjFfvT-7iXRCJbtiP1cbWVJUE6ESKHATmjD0BhhdRz3kOA8VNLwwWsHYRNqDkLzgy0r6LR9yXNhFuhiAiF_Z-fsUNLs413/w270-h400/Holdovers_film_poster.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><br /><p><i>The Holdovers </i>takes place in the early 1970's, and it feels exactly like a film of that period down to the grainy look and extremely groovy folk rock score. Paul Giamatti is in his element as a grumpy literature teacher at a private boys' boarding school. The "holdovers" of the title are those who need to stay at the school over winter break, which includes Giamatti, one student, and one of the cooks, played phenomenally by Da'Vine Joy Randolph (for me, it will really be between Randolph and America Ferrera in the supporting actress category and both are totally deserving). Some viewers might criticize this as yet another story of an ornery white man finding redemption, which is almost as Oscar-baity as <i>Oppenheimer</i>-type stories of white male genius. But I think there are enough other elements here, and it's Randolph's character that really sticks with me, both her heart-rending grief and the message about the costs of war disproportionally handed to people of color in the US. And the early 1970's aesthetic is a thing of beauty in itself. For a fun horror movie version of basically the same premise as <i>The Holdovers</i>, <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2024/01/holiday-horror-2023-part-two.html" target="_blank">see <i>The Sacrifice Game.</i></a></p><p><br /></p><p><b><i><u><span style="font-size: large;">Anatomy of a Fall</span></u></i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE568Zh9zqgaJbt-NNoQ8N0yT4gin_oU_5-C7UX8CZw-SV3liUM82L9agTzveatJ2CB3waYDunQbjwVJZIXye8EyY4MnHcK7Gb-Wse1bqfkM1BBi7hAZULva1vRPybFbVG7I2zOSqjXJkqsfud8JFwd5I8geOCk6xVj7diopQGcWpmVy-wX_AVVogkpusv/s300/Anatomy_of_a_Fall_(2023)_film_poster.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="220" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE568Zh9zqgaJbt-NNoQ8N0yT4gin_oU_5-C7UX8CZw-SV3liUM82L9agTzveatJ2CB3waYDunQbjwVJZIXye8EyY4MnHcK7Gb-Wse1bqfkM1BBi7hAZULva1vRPybFbVG7I2zOSqjXJkqsfud8JFwd5I8geOCk6xVj7diopQGcWpmVy-wX_AVVogkpusv/w293-h400/Anatomy_of_a_Fall_(2023)_film_poster.jpg" width="293" /></a></div><br /><p><i>Anatomy of a Fall </i>is an interesting film, more so than an enjoyable one (at least to this viewer). You get to learn a lot about the French legal system, and the core mystery of what really happened is engaging. It's nice to see so many films on this list with so much non-English dialogue, although Hüller speaks mostly English as her character's French is not as good as her English (I also tried to practice my French by reading the English captions and then guessing what the characters would say in French, but I need <i>a lot</i> of practice before I could follow a French courtroom drama). Sandra Hüller (also in <i>The Zone of Interest</i>) plays Sandra, a German author married to an American author living in the French Alps. When her husband dies of a fall (hence, the "fall" of the title), the French police investigate and a trial ensues. Caught in the middle are their visually-impaired son, Daniel (Milo Machado-Graner) and their dog Snoop. Did Sandra murder her husband? Was it an accident? Suicide? Speaking of, well, speaking, it's interesting to me that Sandra never speaks her native German in the film. Her son Daniel speaks mostly French, only ever speaking English to his mom, perhaps dramatizing the fact that we all speak different languages to other people than we do to ourselves.</p><p><b><i><u><br /></u></i></b></p><p><b><i><u><span style="font-size: large;">Maestro</span></u></i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9GAUqUIWSjyi8B-9dhNVr6UCK9HJYWQBv80puQKD3iqHV_k89E9NjIBdZygEwY95hk4zOkqLC44fsFm77__4LqT2Wwf6oc6Akb_oWzx61TAUz-hI6CzDkXjKQ7PDKcM9TO5aYtJEeLk4Jw7BYLNFj77MUfUFfgwpR14USLVEoPZHB3dWsPWzVN07D2Mto/s384/Maestro_poster.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="259" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9GAUqUIWSjyi8B-9dhNVr6UCK9HJYWQBv80puQKD3iqHV_k89E9NjIBdZygEwY95hk4zOkqLC44fsFm77__4LqT2Wwf6oc6Akb_oWzx61TAUz-hI6CzDkXjKQ7PDKcM9TO5aYtJEeLk4Jw7BYLNFj77MUfUFfgwpR14USLVEoPZHB3dWsPWzVN07D2Mto/w270-h400/Maestro_poster.png" width="270" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>It's not that I think <i>Maestro </i>is a bad movie. It's a perfectly good biopic with some interesting artistic elements. I even managed to get past Bradley Cooper's false nose after a few minutes. Maybe I would have liked this more if I were a big Leonard Bernstein fan, but it kind of feels like the film could have been called "Bradley Cooper wants an Oscar." It does have some LGBTQ content and Carey Mulligan is great and gets a lot more screen time than you might think as Bernstein's exasperated wife. She has top billing, in fact. I like learning a bit about the creative process of such a talented composer, although the film oddly focuses more on Bernstein's orchestral directing rather than his composing. Overall, this is not really my thing, but I can appreciate it.</p>Ethanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13490888839784651097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323383105577553414.post-77751945449082667302024-02-25T22:20:00.000-08:002024-02-26T08:21:49.989-08:00Dune Part Two: Non-Spoilery First Reactions!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdV4s2w5dVlIjD2vSCA-ibXC9iFdPpjZrg3vOBavDkFbRVmOecRw3ZMJUb9BD7oLch3NIo5h86VsZO7oQixQ20XoJO5qHyZRpAVVABceljUcO47XalqS9pkHwnezVav1aNIbyjAQTRs4WGLSTgJ6A73P3KfWEapc_4-QoqZLc6lPBWBptU5tWDWNf0FSQT/s384/Dune_Part_Two_poster.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="259" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdV4s2w5dVlIjD2vSCA-ibXC9iFdPpjZrg3vOBavDkFbRVmOecRw3ZMJUb9BD7oLch3NIo5h86VsZO7oQixQ20XoJO5qHyZRpAVVABceljUcO47XalqS9pkHwnezVav1aNIbyjAQTRs4WGLSTgJ6A73P3KfWEapc_4-QoqZLc6lPBWBptU5tWDWNf0FSQT/w270-h400/Dune_Part_Two_poster.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Earlier tonight I was lucky to be able to catch the early IMAX premiere of <i>Dune Part Two </i>five days before its official US release date of March 1! Like a lot of <i>Dune </i>nerds, I've been eagerly (obsessively!) anticipating this one <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2021/10/initial-impressions-of-dune-2021.html" target="_blank">since 2021</a>. For those who haven't seen it yet and who aren't Kwisatz Haderachs, here are my 100% spoiler-free initial thoughts on the film!</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The show I attended was almost entirely sold out. I think there were a few open seats in the front row, but choosing a seat off to the side didn't spare me from sitting in a full row. It's probably been four or five years since I've been in a theater so packed. I had forgotten how simultaneously exhilarating and annoying it is to share a film with a few hundred people.</li><li>How was the film? <b><i>I </i></b><i><b>loved it.</b> </i><a href="https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dune_part_two" target="_blank">The reviews</a> are not kidding. This is a masterpiece. Villeneuve's <i>Dune </i>adaptations will go down as some of the best science fiction films of all time. And I don't say that lightly or just because you have to either 100% love or 100% hate everything in our current click-bait culture. It really is that good.</li><li>There were several scenes where even the near-constant shuffling and crunching and shifting of a few hundred people went entirely quiet, because every single person in the theater was too mesmerized to be annoying. Even the guy next to me put down his phone for a few minutes here and there.</li><li>Yes, there are changes from Frank Herbert's novel. Some of them are pretty big. But I loved all of them. They work in service of adapting <i>Dune </i>to a visual medium in the 2020's, and there are several things that serve Villeneuve's own vision, but not in a way that detracts from Herbert's. I sometimes get annoyed by narrow-minded fans who expect a film or TV adaptation to basically just film the book. But you can't do that. You <i>shouldn't </i>do that. And Villeneuve doesn't--to his credit. Besides, the book is always there if you want to read it--and you should!</li><li>I was really interested to see how the film would handle some of the weirder aspects of the book, and it succeeds admirably, splendidly, at time almost overwhelmingly. I'm almost tempted to think that Villeneuve should keep making the rest of the series when things get <i>really </i>weird and not stop with <i>Dune Messiah </i>as he intends to.</li><li>I loved Hans Zimmer's score of the first one, and I love this one just as much. Really some of my favorite film soundtracks in... well, ever.</li><li>The actors are all amazing. Javier Bardem and Zendaya in particular get a lot more to do in this one. Florence Pugh's Irulan does more than in the novel. Christopher Walken's Emperor is a bit understated compared to previous Emperors, but I like it. Rebecca Ferguson is always one of my favorites, and she brings the commanding presence she brought to <i>Doctor Sleep </i>to her role here (I would follow Jessica or Rose the Hat anywhere, whether out of fear or love or some combination of the two).</li><li>There are some funny parts. No, really. And they work.</li><li>The Harkonnens get to shine in their evilness even more. Austin Butler can do a lot more than Elvis impersonations. We get to see a bit of the Guild, too. The Corrinos get a decent amount of screen time, and Irulan does more than write epigraphs or the weird floating head intro to <i>Dune </i>(1984). The record for most Irulan still goes to <i>Frank Herbert's Dune </i>(2000), which is one of the things I really like about the miniseries. </li><li>The Bene Gesserit are as interesting and terrifying as ever, maybe even a bit more. They've always been my favorite of the many factions in <i>Dune</i>, although some of this is colored by my love of the later books where they play a huge part.</li><li>The Fremen are depicted in a really interesting and more nuanced way (even more so than in the book, or at least the first book). Souhelia Yacoub as Shishakli deserves a lot of credit on this count.</li><li>Is it long? Yes. It's almost three hours. Does it feel as long as it is? No. Not at all. As if in a spice trance, time and space have no meaning while watching <i>Dune Part Two.</i></li><li>There was at least one scene in the book that wasn't in either <i>Dune </i>(1984) or <i>Frank Herbert's Dune </i>(2000), but that does appear in <i>Dune Part Two</i>.</li><li>The deep and often troubling philosophical questions of the novel are there. Much more so than in previous adaptations.</li><li>There were a few things I wanted to see that weren't included, but most of them were more than made up for by the interesting choices of Villeneuve and the other filmmakers. My fellow <i>Dune </i>fans, even if you don't 100% love all the choices this film makes, I think any lover of <i>Dune</i> will agree the changes are interesting at the very least, or maybe they even make you rethink some aspects of the story. And after all, that's one of the great things any adaptation can do. Especially with a text and deep and multi-layered as <i>Dune.</i></li><li>So overall: if you like <i>Dune </i>or science fiction or just fascinating bits of well-crafted cinematic weirdness, I encourage you to check out <i>Dune Part Two! </i>The official US release date is 1 March 2024 and <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15239678/releaseinfo/" target="_blank">slightly before or after that worldwide.</a></li></ul><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i>As I did for <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2021/11/spoilery-review-of-dune-2021.html" target="_blank">Dune (2021),</a> I plan to write a spoilery review of Dune Part Two after I've had a chance to think about it, and maybe see it a few more times. Will my plan succeed? Only a Kwisatz Haderach can tell!</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><p></p>Ethanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13490888839784651097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323383105577553414.post-86700538212491437042024-02-21T20:11:00.000-08:002024-02-24T23:39:12.029-08:00Connooga 2024!<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlgjyIXyBhJNutwg-pvZ9B3qbRlJDoASODgQUatHzootyq9IxF86bc4oTYu0N0valQJCwgveNwXYQDN8II7bBUpoiwGvIv2ObRh4GXObWV7a14qavrQwteX8QFA7rh1HQBESLWEFNphShN7GRFw5bMQr-lDxLNyEtg_ve6o9YTVBNo3OZ3OGa3LcqmEwG/s320/Con%20Nooga.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="318" data-original-width="320" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlgjyIXyBhJNutwg-pvZ9B3qbRlJDoASODgQUatHzootyq9IxF86bc4oTYu0N0valQJCwgveNwXYQDN8II7bBUpoiwGvIv2ObRh4GXObWV7a14qavrQwteX8QFA7rh1HQBESLWEFNphShN7GRFw5bMQr-lDxLNyEtg_ve6o9YTVBNo3OZ3OGa3LcqmEwG/s1600/Con%20Nooga.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me at Connooga in 2017, which was apparently as blurry as the pre-pandemic years now feel.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p>After taking a few years off for the pandemic, I returned to Connooga last year (or at least for Saturday in a somewhat diminished capacity). This year <a href="http://www.connooga.com" target="_blank">Connooga is this weekend: Feb. 23-25! </a></p><p>For Connooga 2024 I might try Friday and Saturday, and maybe Sunday, although duty requires I be elsewhere later that evening... for the early premiere of <i>Dune, Part 2</i>! (I'll be sure to share some preliminary nonspoilery thoughts of this movie I've been eagerly anticipating for three years.)</p><p>This year I won't be on a bunch of Connooga panels <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2020/02/looking-forward-to-seeing-con-nooga-2020.html" target="_blank">as I have been in the past.</a> Unfortunately, the panel track I was part of (Deep Thought) was discontinued. Maybe next year I'll try to get on a few panels just to see how it goes.</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p>I have a few friends who will be going with me this year, which will be fun. Lately I've been reflecting on the fact that I've now lived in Chattanooga long enough (ten years!) to have phases of my life here: an early one where I usually went to local cons by myself, a middle one where I got really involved in both <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2024/01/chattacon-2024.html" target="_blank">Chattacon</a> and <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2019/02/get-ready-for-con-nooga-2019.html" target="_blank">Connooga</a>, and then... the pandemic, which has created a multi-phase life for all of us who have lived through it.</p><p>Here's hoping to a new phase of cons, both local and in the universe beyond!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Ethanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13490888839784651097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323383105577553414.post-27373273767742457492024-02-10T10:32:00.000-08:002024-02-10T10:36:00.102-08:00Sci-Fi Kant: The Thing Itself by Adam Roberts<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkSFsfSDqoJyZXIuB2QEzzxPt5-MIQ7SJRNlBr1llohpmIixCFi-i6Jql9N1grXf_FjJ5PVKIU8XFZdLjavzGKGpT0ITn99IVKc1wy62cqYeo1nJ6QiR_suo2zylvQPFUyfXClih4UvPLbe27n65Bjp7er902CmMsTXvNiRzYQnD_RephD4V3wqso_k2Pb/s499/26187256.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="329" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkSFsfSDqoJyZXIuB2QEzzxPt5-MIQ7SJRNlBr1llohpmIixCFi-i6Jql9N1grXf_FjJ5PVKIU8XFZdLjavzGKGpT0ITn99IVKc1wy62cqYeo1nJ6QiR_suo2zylvQPFUyfXClih4UvPLbe27n65Bjp7er902CmMsTXvNiRzYQnD_RephD4V3wqso_k2Pb/w264-h400/26187256.jpg" width="264" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26187256-the-thing-itself" target="_blank"><i>The Thing Itself </i>by Adam Roberts</a> has been on my list for years, and a cold snap in January seemed like the best time to read it. As a philosopher and science fiction fan, I was already on board for science fiction with a Kant angle, but the obvious links to Lovecraft and John Carpenter's <i>The Thing</i> made it so much MY THING (itself?) that I'm shocked it took me so long to get to it. I'm sure I would have read it sooner if I realized it was so funny (not quite as outright zany as <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2018/04/42-hitchhikers-guide-to-galaxy-by.html" target="_blank">Douglas Adams</a> or <i><a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2023/06/review-of-reviews-june-2023-regulators.html" target="_blank">The Illuminatus Trilogy</a></i> and not quite on <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2015/06/death-and-utopia-reflections-on-culture.html" target="_blank">an Iain M. Banks wavelength</a>, either, but in some category of hilarity nearby). </p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p>Kant scholars, astronomers, historians, etc. may have their quibbles, but if you can forgive a few authorial leaps and short cuts of a typical science fictional variety, the story is just fun and interesting (not to mention occasionally bewildering, but that's just part of the fun). One stretch: I'm not actually a Kant scholar, but I studied a lot of Kant in grad school, and if I remember correctly the categories are supposed to apply to the experience of all rational beings, which as a science fiction fan I always argued would apply also to aliens and AI, not just humans (Kant maybe did discuss angels, I think?). Anyway, if you can forgive Roberts for having Kantian categories only apply to human experience, then the rest will follow ... more-or-less. There are a lot of other leaps, too, but it's all so much fun and makes for such an interesting story, that I'm all aboard.</p><p>Rather than explaining all the plot(s) and ideas, I might engage in a Kantian transcendental deduction and say that I enjoyed that each chapter title included the names of Kantian categories. The "main" story of sorts begins with two scientists in a very <i>The Thing</i>-like Antarctic post in the 1980's. Our protagonist sells a letter to his partner, who seems lonely. Then the partner doesn't show the protagonist the letter in an amusing plot device riffing on the unknowability of the Kantian thing-in-itself (such amusing riffs continue, much to my philosophical and science fictional delight). </p><p>Our protagonist sees... well, he's not sure, exactly, but it may be, wait for it... <i>the thing itself</i>! Or maybe reality not filtered through the regular human categories. In any case, this haunts the protagonist for the rest of the book and drives the plot of that part. I regret to inform fans of <i>The Thing</i> that only that first chapter takes place in the Antarctic, while the rest of that story takes place decades later and involves secret government agencies, godlike AI, kidnapping, teleportation, and more. But even that's only about 60% of the book.</p><p>The rest of it? There's a Victorian-era travel story, a 17th-century English magical memoir, a story or two set in the future and/or other universes, and more. It's pretty wild and seemingly random ... or is it? That's all part of the fun.</p><p>Honestly I've probably already said too much about the plot and ideas. As Kant might say, we rational beings much each engage in our own critique of pure reason and dare to think! Or at least read. </p><p>I recommend checking it out if you've ever wondered whether what you see is what you get, or whether reality may be radically different than we think it is from within the confines of our human conceptual categories. Whether you enjoy the book or find the thing-in-itself may depend on the categories of your own tastes and experience. But I thought this was among some of the most philosophical/science fictional fun I've had from within my own categories.</p><p><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1551024210" target="_blank">See also my Goodreads review.</a></i></p>Ethanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13490888839784651097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323383105577553414.post-86593127623878599212024-02-03T08:46:00.000-08:002024-02-03T08:46:11.927-08:00Tilting Tolkien: Godslayer by Jacqueline Carey<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJfZY_grZG8ltw3LLxKRqYwnYOb7faM20UpQO_OdaHmgwooPYTewiz__jJ8IAlK-atUv8TNu34Kxx0DRgCxSBgnO9SC6c7c6chwmzy9pXPv1UQvH9HgmB-jIOeU7WLLnUw8otG1qDqKCBS8QqnInYK9oaEKk0HbSctZjHQcGKOByJcWhf1yi7rgerZ4BbL/s475/40220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="286" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJfZY_grZG8ltw3LLxKRqYwnYOb7faM20UpQO_OdaHmgwooPYTewiz__jJ8IAlK-atUv8TNu34Kxx0DRgCxSBgnO9SC6c7c6chwmzy9pXPv1UQvH9HgmB-jIOeU7WLLnUw8otG1qDqKCBS8QqnInYK9oaEKk0HbSctZjHQcGKOByJcWhf1yi7rgerZ4BbL/w241-h400/40220.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><i>Godslayer </i>is the sequel to Carey's <i>Banewreaker</i>, or really it's more of a continuation of one long story. I felt about this second one much the same as <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2023/01/sympathy-for-devil-banewreaker-by.html" target="_blank">the first one</a>: I love the idea of it, but didn't find the execution quite as compelling as I hoped. Also, sometimes authors' styles just don't click with you, and that's probably part of it for me (your taste may vary). </p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p>I think another part of it is that there are so many characters (the Dramatis Personae helped immensely!), and I didn't feel like many of them were really fleshed out much. I maybe feel like I got to know Tanaros, the human general made immortal through his service to the Shaper/god Satoris. </p><p>As I said about <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2023/01/sympathy-for-devil-banewreaker-by.html" target="_blank">the first one,</a> the issue for me is that this is more <i>The</i> <i>Silmarillion</i> than <i>The Lord of the Rings</i>. We do get a "Frodo and Sam" stand-in, but even they felt a bit bland. It's all so Epic High Fantasy that it was hard for me to care much, cool as I think it is to complicate the traditional dichotomies of epic fantasy.</p><p>But I kept reading, and I'm glad I did! I found the last third or so pretty engaging. I wanted to see what happened, and well, I won't spoil it. But I will hint that the tragic mode of the first book continues. I maybe would have liked more attention to the ways that this epic war harms all the regular people of the land (humans, elves, orcs, dwarfs, halflings, etc.), but maybe that's just my antiwar sentiment here on Earth interfering. </p><p>But really one question this book makes me ask is, as Edwin Starr asked many years ago: war, what is it good for? In most epic fantasy that question doesn't even come up. Whether the answer is "absolutely nothing" at the end of the Shapers' War, I'll leave as an exercise for the reader.</p><p>But it does make me think about all the various real-life wars past, present, and future. Even the "good" ones. Is it all worth it in the end? What if we found other, nonviolent ways to settle our conflicts and differences that didn't disproportionately harm the most vulnerable among us who had nothing to do with the conflict in the first place?</p><p>I have no idea if Carey intended anything like that. But it is a fun exercise to turn Tolkien on his head--or at least tilt him on his side.</p><p><br /></p><p><i>See also <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6100107825" target="_blank">my Goodreads review.</a></i></p>Ethanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13490888839784651097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323383105577553414.post-154273006136935812024-01-18T19:57:00.000-08:002024-02-10T10:36:49.829-08:00Favorite Utopias New and Old: A Prayer for the Crown-Shy by Becky Chambers and The Player of Games by Iain M. Banks<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGiR2G95WQPKtjY83hazoFFqat1utjKg4nKIFKKAp3lXB6hRE20i3dtyNUju6n_MF5Qv7P6R-YYbhcVwGg57ONqNYVP66_-0HogCI-gL21JUBmCIT12qhX6x9VjLoC7Jbr5E42iP9sZfZWL6v8FFYc7gktQECz87hGHJLUQVV-3jU_nTxAUEdjlSHxR0yP/s4032/Chambers%20and%20Banks.heic" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGiR2G95WQPKtjY83hazoFFqat1utjKg4nKIFKKAp3lXB6hRE20i3dtyNUju6n_MF5Qv7P6R-YYbhcVwGg57ONqNYVP66_-0HogCI-gL21JUBmCIT12qhX6x9VjLoC7Jbr5E42iP9sZfZWL6v8FFYc7gktQECz87hGHJLUQVV-3jU_nTxAUEdjlSHxR0yP/w400-h300/Chambers%20and%20Banks.heic" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I was recently in the mood for some unabashed utopian science fiction. I had been saving the second volume of Becky Chambers's <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2022/08/hugo-ballot-2022-novels-and-novellas.html" target="_blank">Monk and Robot series</a> for the right moment. And I've been meaning to reread all of Iain M. Banks's Culture series ever since <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2015/06/death-and-utopia-reflections-on-culture.html" target="_blank">I frequently gushed about it so much on this very blog back in the mid-2010's.</a></p><p>I need some time to mull it over, but I think Chambers's Monk and Robot series may be one of my all-time favorites. I’d say I want to give it a million stars if that sort of hyperbole didn’t feel contrary to its entire ethos.</p><p>I loved it so much that I couldn't think of how to review it properly. So instead I wrote this weird... review? Or whatever this is...</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p><br /></p><p>I also recommend listening to <a href="https://0gphilosophy.libsyn.com/a-prayer-for-the-crown-shy-and-anarcho-primitivism-pt1" target="_blank">the Philosophers in Space episodes</a> on <i>A Prayer for the Crown-Shy</i> to dig deeper into the philosophies like "anarcho-primitivism" (although it's not 100% clear to me that's the best label for what's going on here).</p><p>I love Dex (the monk) and Mosscap (the robot). I hope we have many more adventures with both of them as they explore Panga and themselves.</p><p>I love unabashed sci-fi utopias. The Monk and Robot series is now officially one of my favorites in that genre, along with Iain M. Banks's Culture novels. I re-read <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2015/06/culture-round-up-reviewing-culture.html" target="_blank">one of my favorite Culture novels, <i>The Player of Games</i>,</a> right after reading <i>A Prayer for the Crown-Shy</i> for a second, much different utopian experience. I loved it at least as much as I did the first time I read it back in 2013 and decided that the Culture was among the coolest science fiction I had ever read. </p><p>Maybe I love <i>The Player of Games </i>even more now because now I understand just how cool the Culture is as a galactic post-scarcity utopia -- think <i>Star Trek </i>only even bigger and more utopian! And with hilarious robots called drones. And enigmatic Minds (benevolent super AIs). And just so much cool SF stuff, not to mention excellent writing on Banks's part. But this is not really a review of Banks, either.</p><p>As Mary Midgley has argued, utopias are not meant to literally describe a perfect place. Both Chambers and Banks are careful not to cover up all the complications in their respective utopias. But as Midgley says, utopias are not literal predictions or descriptions of a perfect world. </p><p>Rather, they show us possible blueprints, turn us in a new direction, or give glimpses of things so far away we may never get to them, if indeed we knew how--yet these glimpses might change us nonetheless (I'm very loosely paraphrasing Midgley's essay "Practical Utopianism" here).</p><p>The pictures that Chambers and Banks draw look very different, but in both taking care of people is the priority of a society. I still love the brash, big galaxy of Banks, but living through the worst of the pandemic and the recalibration of attitudes on life, the universe, and everything that took place, I'm more and more seeing the appeal of something smaller, yet greater in its own way. </p><p>The world that Chambers so skillfully depicts here is lovely. Call it "cozy science fiction" if you like, but for me some of my deepest thoughts and most enjoyable pleasures have been in cozy moments, when life is free and open to happen without the confines of plans, goals, or lofty purposes.</p><p>To say there are strong Daoist elements of this series is obvious, and even more obvious at the end of this one.</p><p>I realize I didn't say much about the plot of either <i>A Prayer for the Crown-Shy </i>or <i>The Player of Games</i>, but that's okay. I'll say this: <i>A Prayer for the Crown-Shy </i>is funny. And deep. Just like Banks's Culture. But there's also just something ... nice about Chambers's creations.</p><p>Chambers reminds us that sometimes the quiet drama of human (and robot!) life is enough. And maybe that's what we all need right now. Enough.</p><p><br /></p><p>See also <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5107091358" target="_blank">my Goodreads review of <i>A Prayer for the Crown-Shy</i></a>, which overlaps with a lot of this post. And see <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/685435847" target="_blank">my Goodreads review of <i>The Player of Games</i></a>, which was written long, long ago in a mindset far, far away.</p>Ethanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13490888839784651097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323383105577553414.post-20463266045990871962024-01-15T13:09:00.000-08:002024-02-10T10:37:01.620-08:00Considering Our "Inescapable Network of Mutuality": MLK Day 2024<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHM1tKVBSrtupqvrSB8WG0qPM1ZHaw1HZIyRSMCPShmzGiDgQzXDoUTyCkRmljuM7wb7MQrWXO1T2fMF8H-x7HrUAZk0ujP0jU0DB96-cexCyMB88u6yiNO655Xx8e3IuWwh_kBZEcNPUQ2DKUrDhNoUGEuAhwaOJcHzGlbCo-4ugTF0dDs5Ax151NpD4i/s1920/Injustice-Justice-network-mutuality-martin-luther-king.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1920" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHM1tKVBSrtupqvrSB8WG0qPM1ZHaw1HZIyRSMCPShmzGiDgQzXDoUTyCkRmljuM7wb7MQrWXO1T2fMF8H-x7HrUAZk0ujP0jU0DB96-cexCyMB88u6yiNO655Xx8e3IuWwh_kBZEcNPUQ2DKUrDhNoUGEuAhwaOJcHzGlbCo-4ugTF0dDs5Ax151NpD4i/w400-h266/Injustice-Justice-network-mutuality-martin-luther-king.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); white-space-collapse: preserve;">I had a great time at <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2024/01/chattacon-2024.html" target="_blank">Chattacon</a> this weekend, which included a fun panel on Dune and Philosophy! </span></p><p><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); white-space-collapse: preserve;">Today is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day here in the US. I was looking forward to following up my Chattacon experience with my local MLK Day march and parade, but today we're having some winter weather. The local MLK Day festivities have been postponed. </span></p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); white-space-collapse: preserve;">So, I'm home thinking about some of the many great ideas and turns of phrase in Martin Luther King, Jr.'s writings, especially his "Letter From a Birmingham Jail" (which <a href="https://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html" target="_blank">you can read here</a> and includes a lot of great material on the philosophy of nonviolence).</span></p><p><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); white-space-collapse: preserve;">"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere" is a great line and people are right to quote it frequently, but lately I've been thinking a lot about the idea of an "inescapable network of mutuality."</span></p><p><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); white-space-collapse: preserve;">In one sense, this is obviously true. Unless you live alone in a cabin in the mountains or somewhere totally disconnected from all other human beings, we are all, as some Buddhists would say, interdependent. For most of us, most of the food we eat, clothes we wear, art we experience, and so on come to us through the work of other people. We all get by with a little help from our friends, not to mention many strangers we may never meet personally. And this is even before considering the entire nonhuman universe that makes our lives possible.</span></p><p>To push it a bit deeper, the languages we speak, the cultures and histories that shape us, the ideas that drive us, much of our basic conceptions of life, the universe, and everything are heavily influenced by other people as well. Your basic sense of who you are and how you fit into the larger scheme of things--your "philosophy" in the colloquial sense--owes quite a bit to other people going back generations, even thousands of years. </p><p>Sure, it's ultimately up to you what you accept into your "fortress of solitude," but it's what you're exposed to (the people around you, the things you learn, etc.) that gives you the options in the first place. This is, in fact, a big part of why I love teaching philosophy, both inside and outside the classroom: I get to introduce people to new ideas they may not have otherwise been exposed to, even if whether they ultimately accept any of it is totally up to them (in fact, I think you've got to leave things open to some extent for any real philosophical learning or development to take place).</p><p><a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2021/08/nondualism-and-pandemic-part-1.html" target="_blank">The pandemic and other things in recent years have encouraged me to think more deeply about Buddhist notions of nondualism</a>, or roughly the idea that there is no strict separation between self and other, between you and the rest of the universe. As many Buddhist philosophers have been thinking about for centuries, the "inescapable network of mutuality" goes much, much deeper than you might think--into the very roots of your being.</p><p>Whether one has to go that far to understand what King was talking about, I'm not sure. As such abstruse nondual experiences are relatively uncommon, perhaps I should hope we <i>don't</i> all need to have the experiences that even Buddhist philosophers like Vasubandhu admit only fully enlightened Buddhas really have.</p><p>Still, I'm wondering if even <i>considering</i> the kinds of ideas that Buddhists have been talking about for thousands of years could be a kind of inspiration or impetus toward the deeper rethinking I think we all need if humanity is to survive the various crises of the 21st century, like climate change, pandemics, inequality, injustice, poverty, violence, war, fascism, bigotry, and so on.</p><p>I wonder if there's some benefit to anything we can do to make the conceptual walls between ourselves and others a little less opaque, a little more permeable. Especially in my native United States, the deeper root of a lot of our problems is a type of zero-sum thinking: me versus you, people like me versus other groups, and so on (for a great social science based critique of this zero-sum thinking in a US context, <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2023/12/review-of-reviews-december-2023.html" target="_blank">see Heather McGhee's <i>The Sum of Us</i>).</a></p><p>I realize the kind of abstract Buddhist philosophy that I work on as an academic is not going to solve the world's problems all by itself. It's not easy to read, and even more difficult to think! But a big inspiration for both a current academic project of my own and a class I'm teaching this semester ("Buddhist Nondualism: Identity, Climate, and Beyond") is that I wonder if considering nondualism could supply some small part of recognizing our "inescapable network of mutuality," which in turn forms a key part of the <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2023/01/mlk-day-and-kindred-history-is-still.html" target="_blank">larger revolution of values</a> that King fought and died for. Perhaps it gives us conceptual resources for thinking of how we might recognize our network of mutuality while acknowledging our differences (nondualism does not, it seems to me, imply that we're all the same, just that we're all connected).</p><p>I'm not sure where this will lead. Indeed, the <a href="https://thekingcenter.org/about-tkc/the-king-philosophy/" target="_blank">Beloved Community</a> that King spoke of is almost as difficult to imagine from the confines of our unenlightened world as the fully nondualistic experience of the Buddhas is to imagine from within our dualistic context. Yet I think hoping for a better world--especially one we can't fully imagine today--is precisely what the King holiday here in the US is all about.</p><p>Happy MLK Day 2024!</p>Ethanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13490888839784651097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323383105577553414.post-39988774759373711212024-01-11T20:26:00.000-08:002024-01-11T20:26:39.310-08:00Chattacon 2024!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-gm1lq01Ov2K73B2P2mUEBl5mDe7sfFFzAfO-ftAkm61E0gPKeuF2EW6O1bXIhWXHBIkTuzQVjVOZPco_GziFNl7mZMOBsK6y0irXlbXP2ZuOzkPCO4z_RMm1A5bjjYtkg-KZzfSVxRbPzrrSENCeFnQgN11vNrbHvFcYoVFIRpU_SE2VAlB5TlHpsmF/s233/309013196_468506238631044_6682621123057591365_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="233" data-original-width="216" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF-gm1lq01Ov2K73B2P2mUEBl5mDe7sfFFzAfO-ftAkm61E0gPKeuF2EW6O1bXIhWXHBIkTuzQVjVOZPco_GziFNl7mZMOBsK6y0irXlbXP2ZuOzkPCO4z_RMm1A5bjjYtkg-KZzfSVxRbPzrrSENCeFnQgN11vNrbHvFcYoVFIRpU_SE2VAlB5TlHpsmF/w371-h400/309013196_468506238631044_6682621123057591365_n.jpg" width="371" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I'm excited to be attending <a href="https://chattacon.org/" target="_blank">Chattacon</a> once again this year! Chattacon 49 will take place this weekend (Jan. 12-14, 2024) at the Doubletree Hotel in downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee!</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p>I've been attending <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2023/01/chattacon-2023-is-this-weekend.html" target="_blank">Chattacon for almost a decade now</a>, and for the last six or so years I've been a panelist. I even have <a href="https://chattacon.org/person/dr-ethan-mills/" target="_blank">a panelist page on the website!</a> I'm really looking forward to seeing friends, acquaintances, and those-people-I-see-at-Chattacon-every-year-but-haven't-gotten-around-to-talking-to-yet. I'm also excited to meet the Guest-of Honor <a href="https://chattacon.org/person/mary-robinette-kowal/" target="_blank">Mary Robinette Kowal </a>(I really loved her <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2019/07/lady-astronaut-mashup-calculating-stars.html" target="_blank">Lady Astronaut series</a>).</p><p>You can find more information about registration and events on <a href="https://chattacon.org/" target="_blank">the Chattacon website.</a> Here are some of the panels I'll be on:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The Shape of Science Fiction (Fri. 5pm)</li><li>WWOBD: What Would Octavia Butler Do? (Sat. 12pm)</li><li>Science Fiction 101: Cosmos in the Classroom (Sat. 4pm)</li><li>Do You Grok Spock?: Religions that Came from Science Fiction (Sun. 11am)</li><li>Dune and Philosophy: Sandworms and Spice (Sun. 12pm)</li></ul><div>That last panel will include a discussion of the Dune and Philosophy course I taught last fall, and of course how giddy Dune-nerds are for <i>Dune Part 2</i>, which will be released in March.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm super excited for all of this! Maybe I will see you there this weekend ... or in some other strange time and place, maybe even next year for Chattacon 50!</div><div><br /></div><p></p>Ethanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13490888839784651097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323383105577553414.post-19034281244930318452024-01-07T20:59:00.000-08:002024-01-07T20:59:49.468-08:00Holiday Horror 2023, Part Two!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga0n1_I97bXXje3Pjkv7RZB8STWKL5Bn2T_nNZA-ysrGIovb6nJl4c__F2vGGwbJH8I71ttFiddaN73fzupWcS9iajQsVxues-qQbOA94G70WmO5OHK-M1DAuOMGJvfJCjT7id8ZRx4scxAHEi7F4-hptuwz5MHxZz0p9A1UupR54r4KKtWYT-GqGw6QnW/s377/There's_Something_in_the_Barn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="377" data-original-width="265" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga0n1_I97bXXje3Pjkv7RZB8STWKL5Bn2T_nNZA-ysrGIovb6nJl4c__F2vGGwbJH8I71ttFiddaN73fzupWcS9iajQsVxues-qQbOA94G70WmO5OHK-M1DAuOMGJvfJCjT7id8ZRx4scxAHEi7F4-hptuwz5MHxZz0p9A1UupR54r4KKtWYT-GqGw6QnW/w281-h400/There's_Something_in_the_Barn.jpg" width="281" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Is it too late for Part 2 of my <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2023/12/holiday-horror-2023.html" target="_blank">Holiday Horror 2023</a>? I don't know, but I'm doing it anyway! It may be early January, but the true horror of the holidays is with us all year, so check out some thoughts on <i>Night of the Comet, I Trapped the Devil, The Sacrifice Game, </i>and<i> There's Something in the Barn ... </i>and because I count New Year's as part of "the holidays," <i>Strange Days, </i>and <i>Midnight Kiss.</i></p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><i><br /></i><p></p><p><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Night of the Comet (1984)</span></b></i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3AkZjQB2gprTgHB4kiEzypLB3KGYyWbZP-KRZ483_s-5zNMOwOLAXaj5gzEtOeSU5CcXmqpCqFgeDU1iozlgdy8zEZK5Vi81spLbQp3Uz6sh_OnMnOTiEk37IyVkHf9L24w5e1YsACdPrTe7FI1AEoVK0TyjQzYVA5MKyTOTgB8hYtXI41ZgRrPgd75Hb/s1440/p8570_v_v9_aa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3AkZjQB2gprTgHB4kiEzypLB3KGYyWbZP-KRZ483_s-5zNMOwOLAXaj5gzEtOeSU5CcXmqpCqFgeDU1iozlgdy8zEZK5Vi81spLbQp3Uz6sh_OnMnOTiEk37IyVkHf9L24w5e1YsACdPrTe7FI1AEoVK0TyjQzYVA5MKyTOTgB8hYtXI41ZgRrPgd75Hb/s320/p8570_v_v9_aa.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />They poured all the 80's cheese on this one. A comet turns most people in Los Angles into dust or zombies. Our protagonist survies with her boyfriend in an apparently comet-ray-proof theater protection booth, and they set out on a fun zombie/post-apocalyptic romp through LA, complete with a shopping spree at the mall when they find that her sister has survived, too. This all happens around Christmas, which of course leads us to the <i>Die Hard </i>question of what counts as a Christmas movie, but whatever you think, I just wish they made more science fiction horror comedies as fun as this one.<p></p><p><br /></p><p><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">I Trapped the Devil (2019)</span></b></i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYe08TBz3eYOvbhzhwoxyihXbd5mi7iklk61tghla_7II2_3hCAlJTm6j8p2ZE8gT2iZyYIN424zNFJVauGqm3dZua4EQZJ8eOZbawQUldShM1teNnrdMiEkxvmz_k1ZDzuBugRgUAkqoufZSm2-oUcdWCyeUD1sTh74dtfU8LUGa-SBDkzyo1cRe6VsRZ/s741/MV5BNGNhMTQ0YWYtZDA5Mi00YWU2LWE4NzgtYTUzZGFhYTVkMzVlXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyODY3Nzc0OTk@._V1_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="741" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYe08TBz3eYOvbhzhwoxyihXbd5mi7iklk61tghla_7II2_3hCAlJTm6j8p2ZE8gT2iZyYIN424zNFJVauGqm3dZua4EQZJ8eOZbawQUldShM1teNnrdMiEkxvmz_k1ZDzuBugRgUAkqoufZSm2-oUcdWCyeUD1sTh74dtfU8LUGa-SBDkzyo1cRe6VsRZ/w270-h400/MV5BNGNhMTQ0YWYtZDA5Mi00YWU2LWE4NzgtYTUzZGFhYTVkMzVlXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyODY3Nzc0OTk@._V1_.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><br /><i><br /></i><p></p><p>After the cheesy fun of <i>Night of the Comet, I Trapped the Devil </i>was a serious and creepy turn. A man and his wife go to celebrate Christmas with his estranged brother at their family's old house. The brother is acting strange and eventually tells them that he has the Literal Devil trapped in a room in basement (which is not a spoiler, because well, that's the title of the movie). Is he mentally ill? Or is there something to it? The film is remarkably tense and gripping for what could be a <i>Night of the Comet </i>level of ridiculousness. It's the kind of film that's probably better experienced than explained, but I can say it goes to some dark and disturbing places -- almost as dark and disturbing as the holiday season itself. </p><p><br /></p><p><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">The Sacrifice Game (2023)</span></b></i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-jW4LcNlqLDoCOfhEAZ9pfpUdVIhpq_ZcEpc8OviXSy0mscKVjEVHPMl2nShIoDg0wyu3wc0PrFb9bpmTlklLPSHmDe_BkY_ab2vVbxTe99iOX484vi2Ib9n_LKuVRQFz_hRUs44zV41mvKdyPZhH01RKknCI86kRQifvBvgZpRVXJlGuCnKZox4Mwql/s363/The_Sacrifice_Game_(2023)_poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="363" data-original-width="245" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-jW4LcNlqLDoCOfhEAZ9pfpUdVIhpq_ZcEpc8OviXSy0mscKVjEVHPMl2nShIoDg0wyu3wc0PrFb9bpmTlklLPSHmDe_BkY_ab2vVbxTe99iOX484vi2Ib9n_LKuVRQFz_hRUs44zV41mvKdyPZhH01RKknCI86kRQifvBvgZpRVXJlGuCnKZox4Mwql/w270-h400/The_Sacrifice_Game_(2023)_poster.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><i><br /></i><p></p><p><i>The Sacrifice Game </i>is another dark and serious Christmas horror film, and a newer one on Shudder. Two students and their teacher have to spend the holiday break at their girls' boarding school in the 1970's. A Manson-family type group of ragag psychopaths crashes the awkward party with a creepy task: they believe that they need a sacrifice for a demon, who in return will grant them supernatural power. Overall I thought this was well-made and engaging. The 1970's setting is a great aesthetic choice. There's a twist that I won't spoil, but it does encourage you to think carefully about demons, both literal and figurative, and who you deem worthy of sacrifice for your own ends.</p><p><br /></p><p><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">There's Something in the Barn (2023)</span></b></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUaF9i7341-x5Ru51bcxpS9CMghGuB-04dg-30lvUICF2XONAUAhoZY2XPnGXRfAAejtGBYLlPtbDrYow6qhkHNnu24gKRQJP8RTrOnx6wQ8eKHPGYAWOEwnloi8fNfJIH7tBZC7wD2YTXYO_BGkWxVT3vt6UlBohz32V3Ur1Kqqf_SSf_uomEg7lZ43yW/s377/There's_Something_in_the_Barn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="377" data-original-width="265" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUaF9i7341-x5Ru51bcxpS9CMghGuB-04dg-30lvUICF2XONAUAhoZY2XPnGXRfAAejtGBYLlPtbDrYow6qhkHNnu24gKRQJP8RTrOnx6wQ8eKHPGYAWOEwnloi8fNfJIH7tBZC7wD2YTXYO_BGkWxVT3vt6UlBohz32V3Ur1Kqqf_SSf_uomEg7lZ43yW/w281-h400/There's_Something_in_the_Barn.jpg" width="281" /></a></div><br /><p>Holiday horror (especially Christmas horror) must be becoming more of a thing, because there's more new stuff than I can watch during the season. But after two pretty heavy ones, I figured something lighter was on order. I heard about this one, and it sounded fun. And it is! An American family<i> </i>moves to a family farm they inherited in rural Norway. Martin Starr plays the father in a fun riff on Chevy Chase in <i>Christmas Vacation.</i> They arrive, and it's as snowy and dark as you'd expect it to be in Norway around Christmas. The son hears about the legend of Barn Elves ... and ... you can probably see where this is going already. But it's a lot of fun! There are plenty of fun Norwegian-American cultural misunderstandings. And the Barn Elves are just fantastically weird little dudes (think garden gnomes) that show us that not all is holly and merry and bright during the holidays. But maybe peace is possible, after all (there is a surprising nod to the philosophy of nonviolence amid all the murder).</p><p><br /></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Strange Days </i>(1995)</span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUrfDavFyt-wT0IUaiZSszamR5U6YXrfBv6wRtKgG7fWwu8G5dv6hn-yORkYgzctHOBsGb8omQZ4rdTKtM1wJNDacSy7fi63WsZfON9dmOV3mRLhAXONVhYor57o7azAg83up0EuEuAiHxfaCfLcBsEuRNwckz0Hk67AVmBUgAJVGYSIsWbwdegVGpXw0u/s376/Strangedays.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="376" data-original-width="250" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUrfDavFyt-wT0IUaiZSszamR5U6YXrfBv6wRtKgG7fWwu8G5dv6hn-yORkYgzctHOBsGb8omQZ4rdTKtM1wJNDacSy7fi63WsZfON9dmOV3mRLhAXONVhYor57o7azAg83up0EuEuAiHxfaCfLcBsEuRNwckz0Hk67AVmBUgAJVGYSIsWbwdegVGpXw0u/w266-h400/Strangedays.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>I've already said that I consider New Year's to be one of "the holidays," but is <i>Strange Days </i>really a horror movie? I don't know, but it does have lot of intense violence and the whole idea of downloading murderers' experiences into your brain is plenty scary. I somehow missed this one back in the 90's. It takes place in a Los Angeles much less fun than in <i>Night of the Comet: </i>fewer cheesy zombies and tons of crime and violence, like the 1992 riots are happening on every block while our main characters just kinda ... drive right on by. It's interesting to look back (almost 30 years on!!) at what people thought New Year's Eve 1999 was going to be like (Y2K wasn't a major story yet in 1995). It's an interesting take on the history of a future that is now the past. It has some technically interesting shots (apparently director Kathryn Bigelow and James Cameron built a special rig for the POV shots). But overall the plot is a bit of a convoluted mess of an attempt at sci-fi noir. I don't normally give content warnings, but there is a super disturbing sexual assault scene that I should warn you about if you haven't seen this one. On the other hand, Ralph Finnes and Angela Bassett are great.</p><p><br /></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Midnight Kiss</i> (2018)</span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4zOKV5ocgEh6svypnIPrOvB3DBPGPeY4-cCF1RfTN_Jo47DvlhbpUpG0KuVFT_I1DDm8fZ_HxjUmt8T6g3f59Z6eChyphenhyphenjnnxKjyWO_MYc6pqs7vumwPuUxTcG3b17gTjJomofAtYS9-bzEikAg-tGnAAgsHAZk0GYUaWE5jfQCcx15mCBzol90gyR1KZPe/s849/MV5BMGJlMjI0ZGYtOWQzMi00YmQ4LThjZDktMzg4MjdjYTcwZmJkXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTc4ODM1NTg@._V1_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="849" data-original-width="606" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4zOKV5ocgEh6svypnIPrOvB3DBPGPeY4-cCF1RfTN_Jo47DvlhbpUpG0KuVFT_I1DDm8fZ_HxjUmt8T6g3f59Z6eChyphenhyphenjnnxKjyWO_MYc6pqs7vumwPuUxTcG3b17gTjJomofAtYS9-bzEikAg-tGnAAgsHAZk0GYUaWE5jfQCcx15mCBzol90gyR1KZPe/w285-h400/MV5BMGJlMjI0ZGYtOWQzMi00YmQ4LThjZDktMzg4MjdjYTcwZmJkXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTc4ODM1NTg@._V1_.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Part of Hulu's <i>Into the Dark </i>series that mostly consists of horror around all kinds of holidays, <i>Midnight Kiss </i>is definitely both a horror movie and a New Year's movie. A group of gay men and their straight friend go to a house in the desert for New Year's Eve. The friends go to a club, but when they return to the house... I mean, it's a horror movie that turns out to be a slasher horror movie. But it also raises interesting questions about what we owe friends, lovers, and strangers, with a big emphasis on friendship (there are also, of course, plenty of steamy scenes).</p><p><br /></p><p>So there you have it! I'll look forward to whatever holidays horrors may await us in 2024!</p>Ethanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13490888839784651097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323383105577553414.post-14026867631836428762023-12-31T14:54:00.000-08:002023-12-31T15:21:18.158-08:00600th Post and New Year's Eve 2023 Spectacular!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXsV_45h2P2HAZpFSGny0ozp2xfUxOQe73p4wJRNQSWgeC2ls4SDOzHizAcxrLvTpP7hL-UkJLjONVXBuG_jLHMBgGzIm1UBWSojNbF4I7Sf-P6qbp3q-QuWkBOvyg0wIExEHDRqan_FFVnuYRc0rLv7SYlEFxo4LtKiV5i8Kkgwz2udQDM2Ud0W_0pcOp/s720/2024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="602" data-original-width="720" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXsV_45h2P2HAZpFSGny0ozp2xfUxOQe73p4wJRNQSWgeC2ls4SDOzHizAcxrLvTpP7hL-UkJLjONVXBuG_jLHMBgGzIm1UBWSojNbF4I7Sf-P6qbp3q-QuWkBOvyg0wIExEHDRqan_FFVnuYRc0rLv7SYlEFxo4LtKiV5i8Kkgwz2udQDM2Ud0W_0pcOp/w400-h335/2024.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p>I was planning to write a post "<a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2023/12/holiday-horror-2023.html#morehttps://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2023/12/holiday-horror-2023.html#more" target="_blank">Holiday Horor 2023</a>, Part 2," which would also feature some New Year's horror, but then I noticed that not only is it New Year's Eve, this will be 600th post on this blog! So here is my 600th Post and New Year's Eve 2023 Spectacular!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8V0IhgvdkMmLpTANJGEIOKBvdEUXxiLymbeNtS14DjLaQ0bBder5Dr1-O6Ra9X3ASBcX89lCN5KcIJ0BtISJAefQmmWqUZdFZApJwnJPDFvEWiVSwI4mkvdqQDb86B9QT88rrKy_s53xkVJrTnRSdD4AT4Wfw18Oe49SG70Y4a7BCqE8GzvYg2rm62hMl/s1080/period%20christmas%20ny.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1070" data-original-width="1080" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8V0IhgvdkMmLpTANJGEIOKBvdEUXxiLymbeNtS14DjLaQ0bBder5Dr1-O6Ra9X3ASBcX89lCN5KcIJ0BtISJAefQmmWqUZdFZApJwnJPDFvEWiVSwI4mkvdqQDb86B9QT88rrKy_s53xkVJrTnRSdD4AT4Wfw18Oe49SG70Y4a7BCqE8GzvYg2rm62hMl/w400-h396/period%20christmas%20ny.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidbe9_-w8-tInLEZIlgir6k_EtihdZYG7BzVXFPPNXJ4ZuMqbhZLgCoHnRGxCUKQB_ePevfoiPJU6M-mf-wfxyQCvfrU9vJSB49dPUIQVMpR9wk3r1bqYf3kEpJtLjbJmfQ7dcSsiRemE1QHAIjjEFeeheZo6-R1eh7TTXenxndDpQdg5rh9deZSGW0Zxo/s753/Bombadil%20Daytona.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="498" data-original-width="753" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidbe9_-w8-tInLEZIlgir6k_EtihdZYG7BzVXFPPNXJ4ZuMqbhZLgCoHnRGxCUKQB_ePevfoiPJU6M-mf-wfxyQCvfrU9vJSB49dPUIQVMpR9wk3r1bqYf3kEpJtLjbJmfQ7dcSsiRemE1QHAIjjEFeeheZo6-R1eh7TTXenxndDpQdg5rh9deZSGW0Zxo/w400-h265/Bombadil%20Daytona.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfZfMDC08AA85ch7U57qXW8DiuUfKxlWGtwwxqMhHxbbRLqZCj9DDhwFVeZ0XP0hWtM11M-mivgqQ4BnNWKZRmjL1ZrQ-ccJZLmcHvc627ZkfIq2NSPM4OQNQbXWQXEbwSDaeoggSLGjEsfCykiKKMLe8VuZAzIRJ2DFX2hov23swVZW7HeHH7lY6oGYLH/s960/Gowron%20Barbie.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="714" data-original-width="960" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfZfMDC08AA85ch7U57qXW8DiuUfKxlWGtwwxqMhHxbbRLqZCj9DDhwFVeZ0XP0hWtM11M-mivgqQ4BnNWKZRmjL1ZrQ-ccJZLmcHvc627ZkfIq2NSPM4OQNQbXWQXEbwSDaeoggSLGjEsfCykiKKMLe8VuZAzIRJ2DFX2hov23swVZW7HeHH7lY6oGYLH/w400-h297/Gowron%20Barbie.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span><p>I also have a lot of memes I've been meaning to share, so enjoy those along with -- or in spite of -- my ramblings here.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-s418OgRU63T_ybovWAuIYJheBwi2CBu10anMUjtKQzidR3ls2OSd_QUFNECElAeVUpfr6GMsIwdgQOmV8ln0iqS2t58AdhZAF07O2JbnDr2gtGdRZm_w2ila3NyDV4hfUPhUvheDKKXeeCkAZluOfAMA3Q8a-dSLugN1nrR0w-ucgtue06sHPA01H94O/s750/watching%20horror.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="629" data-original-width="750" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-s418OgRU63T_ybovWAuIYJheBwi2CBu10anMUjtKQzidR3ls2OSd_QUFNECElAeVUpfr6GMsIwdgQOmV8ln0iqS2t58AdhZAF07O2JbnDr2gtGdRZm_w2ila3NyDV4hfUPhUvheDKKXeeCkAZluOfAMA3Q8a-dSLugN1nrR0w-ucgtue06sHPA01H94O/w400-h335/watching%20horror.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPsOQRpj2YROuozzP5ZXr5Wd-0ArkltUJCTn8ssfqSaXMQqCD3Qc9AZHI94Y46oF0ntxpWlBpScmV_bk3XsOgnrP8Qf2qomb36GNoCIOR9PbybJDa-JA5jdPWO7QBadMAXtv1EkqBQezB3_uOXCCDuUUg64ge6RZU81DLmz7hcBbi9aW_jjAL18QfVOf81/s1284/lisan%20al%20ghaib.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1077" data-original-width="1284" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPsOQRpj2YROuozzP5ZXr5Wd-0ArkltUJCTn8ssfqSaXMQqCD3Qc9AZHI94Y46oF0ntxpWlBpScmV_bk3XsOgnrP8Qf2qomb36GNoCIOR9PbybJDa-JA5jdPWO7QBadMAXtv1EkqBQezB3_uOXCCDuUUg64ge6RZU81DLmz7hcBbi9aW_jjAL18QfVOf81/w400-h335/lisan%20al%20ghaib.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWXsjZHcL45CNSMIq2Zld65toU9mWjFmlpf1IdjqWT-v8RqNQov772QHYvJaQhtPu_qHmbSpgIuXBaTagms_pAiSq0IBaLlAtyhf_QgbCtZO1RwjO-Ib-nNLGIWJVUppdHMTSdq-ZcgT715-33W8mYFy4I9U3fUbqJlnm4QQXejSwivUugvk0p6gbFMb9N/s1562/Picard%20Mario%20Kart.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1562" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWXsjZHcL45CNSMIq2Zld65toU9mWjFmlpf1IdjqWT-v8RqNQov772QHYvJaQhtPu_qHmbSpgIuXBaTagms_pAiSq0IBaLlAtyhf_QgbCtZO1RwjO-Ib-nNLGIWJVUppdHMTSdq-ZcgT715-33W8mYFy4I9U3fUbqJlnm4QQXejSwivUugvk0p6gbFMb9N/w276-h400/Picard%20Mario%20Kart.jpg" width="276" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>I could say more about how 2023 was for me. I had a sabbatical in the spring, which was just the reset I needed in terms of teaching, research, and life after the last few pandemic years. I <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2023/04/old-grey-and-ethans-excellent-adventure.html" target="_blank">traveled a bit.</a> I got to teach a Dune and Philosophy class! I published a few things, and I currently have a few more things in progress (including, hopefully, another book). I read a bunch (you can see <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/challenges/11633-2023-reading-challenge" target="_blank">my Goodreads challenge here</a>).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhW_OpfCP7XLVd0XXywnkJp4aR7DW5dalEcHYPubuKJLqkNIhwhUL2EPSAF7z8wmEC_LrEHQGBl1CHYYx06r5AVz-hkSSDaPQr-00ocG8BqK4S3VeJ0-buu3-i5CW_2L3pgIFMYtv6PTtvoaaG2CtiDxgApD9mc0gEK6VfY1982qmMTTLbyWjK5DDJSi4w/s1081/anti%20union%20meeting.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1081" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhW_OpfCP7XLVd0XXywnkJp4aR7DW5dalEcHYPubuKJLqkNIhwhUL2EPSAF7z8wmEC_LrEHQGBl1CHYYx06r5AVz-hkSSDaPQr-00ocG8BqK4S3VeJ0-buu3-i5CW_2L3pgIFMYtv6PTtvoaaG2CtiDxgApD9mc0gEK6VfY1982qmMTTLbyWjK5DDJSi4w/w400-h400/anti%20union%20meeting.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>It was a pretty good year for labor, with big wins in Detroit and Hollywood. I'm still with <a href="https://ucw-cwa.org/" target="_blank">United Campus Workers here</a>, and hopefully there will be a union vote at the Volkswagen plant here in Chattanooga soon. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt36C3sO9Tmsq8y2dCABuGfGmcCY7Si0YNheLaFeu80DJAJjGQKQG3h5WlLld0jM5kTQ_8PQXDWwLeJcTdV50UmpvEAspF_TIzpvqUQSrXqU5WI2zrO1ARd2yQGCTJpO35K3Rb-0-t5w3fbzs6Kb-pa-1a4IeUoJzxOAapdIl2JBzBV4kT73fDmPduOl48/s828/Beavis%20dun.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="476" data-original-width="828" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt36C3sO9Tmsq8y2dCABuGfGmcCY7Si0YNheLaFeu80DJAJjGQKQG3h5WlLld0jM5kTQ_8PQXDWwLeJcTdV50UmpvEAspF_TIzpvqUQSrXqU5WI2zrO1ARd2yQGCTJpO35K3Rb-0-t5w3fbzs6Kb-pa-1a4IeUoJzxOAapdIl2JBzBV4kT73fDmPduOl48/w400-h230/Beavis%20dun.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_KrvOr-SXXKcMU6PjUkHP-iuAo3iNph1p7L6lbKL8CB5KCAynk0YMnnlS2ttbmARjoN5KIuufFy_7TAU2FE1XnIDG1T_R4xY93gXkjdwyncQa58cujaMm3F9dR4pgC3DGJGRsEhhXLdBr1O_Up-sEB4E0OH4n2_YmFo5obQ6ChEFyKlyg4bKD2SV32kI/s818/MuadDib%20Halloween.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="818" data-original-width="805" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_KrvOr-SXXKcMU6PjUkHP-iuAo3iNph1p7L6lbKL8CB5KCAynk0YMnnlS2ttbmARjoN5KIuufFy_7TAU2FE1XnIDG1T_R4xY93gXkjdwyncQa58cujaMm3F9dR4pgC3DGJGRsEhhXLdBr1O_Up-sEB4E0OH4n2_YmFo5obQ6ChEFyKlyg4bKD2SV32kI/w394-h400/MuadDib%20Halloween.JPG" width="394" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjILpGKqEIJe83MUxGHG0Yyc0k7s0dbjKT36e4vfGY9ZuQxr0wwnQs6AcBm98dD-bd3S_BDTStDHQBxKEQu-tzVR_eYlkYx3jxODMM-Rht65vvLbUr_63YAFbBT50pSGo44j33WjKfEv-7D2mnyGi2aeYEyaTn2PjsIl0uCrKh3B524jukzXmP6TAfmJdoO/s1350/Spaceballs%20BIFAR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjILpGKqEIJe83MUxGHG0Yyc0k7s0dbjKT36e4vfGY9ZuQxr0wwnQs6AcBm98dD-bd3S_BDTStDHQBxKEQu-tzVR_eYlkYx3jxODMM-Rht65vvLbUr_63YAFbBT50pSGo44j33WjKfEv-7D2mnyGi2aeYEyaTn2PjsIl0uCrKh3B524jukzXmP6TAfmJdoO/w320-h400/Spaceballs%20BIFAR.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgziDRY6tA6P0u74yh2nCzcYFy9vd0Fwkrsg9qPnubdHiHIW4kMq_fVnjaGlP9l7Uey_Tq1ee85v-sWwbUmS6YzJz9Nru0aLyC0LGXcOcP7ddKFAHcHHmYg-SYlI4BYy-j2wFj97Q_zRSVQAOp6i_Gsd9ifGaKemqROlcY3JB4uyxBcemajGz1LngaeXA5f/s750/war%20assholes.jpg.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="750" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgziDRY6tA6P0u74yh2nCzcYFy9vd0Fwkrsg9qPnubdHiHIW4kMq_fVnjaGlP9l7Uey_Tq1ee85v-sWwbUmS6YzJz9Nru0aLyC0LGXcOcP7ddKFAHcHHmYg-SYlI4BYy-j2wFj97Q_zRSVQAOp6i_Gsd9ifGaKemqROlcY3JB4uyxBcemajGz1LngaeXA5f/w400-h266/war%20assholes.jpg.webp" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>But it has been a terrible year for many others. Aside from all the various private ills that assail everyone at one time or another, there are numerous armed conflicts ongoing, not just the well-covered ones in <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2023/12/israelpalestine-dialogue-with-myself.html" target="_blank">Gaza</a> and Ukraine, but <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ongoing_armed_conflicts" target="_blank">also Myanmar, Yemen, Syria, Somalia, and elsewhere.</a> I hope those and all regions will see peace in 2024. I hope this despite the fact that I'm not confident it will happen. Such is the nature of hope, I suppose, although stranger things than peace have happened.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvH5Tqh16ffW4Nu01TU95ao_3LkDHc2GbGhCfLCBsgVI-9PkmQslXe4eMPRKowzXO5vRL0n4aaODBrkNoO6je66NOFRks_R234ORMW3zb4uQexejQAgG8tuQtr5xplYQ8_ALnOZ6qD8G5YFpmWJS2lv1hCii8HiLMAWPtAIeOMuvzYhHkm2IwYD5f6R267/s962/baldwin%20children.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="962" data-original-width="770" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvH5Tqh16ffW4Nu01TU95ao_3LkDHc2GbGhCfLCBsgVI-9PkmQslXe4eMPRKowzXO5vRL0n4aaODBrkNoO6je66NOFRks_R234ORMW3zb4uQexejQAgG8tuQtr5xplYQ8_ALnOZ6qD8G5YFpmWJS2lv1hCii8HiLMAWPtAIeOMuvzYhHkm2IwYD5f6R267/w320-h400/baldwin%20children.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>We here in the US have another Presidential election coming up in 2024, which I'm dreading to be honest, not just because of my intense dislike of Trump and the chance he could win again (although I do think Biden will win -- maybe more out of hope than data at this point), but something about a Presidential election has felt like it brings out the worst in my fellow Americans, at least since the whole debacle of 2016. With climate change, fascism at home and abroad, the threat of another pandemic even as the previous one is not over yet, and widespread violence worldwide, it's hard to get too excited about the future. But I feel the need to hope that we might at least mitigate some of this. I hope.</p><p>I suppose I should reflect on 600 blog posts! I don't get much traffic these days, nor do I post as much as I used to. I can't promise 600 more posts, but I think I'll keep this blog going for now, at least until I can celebrate its 10th anniversary in December 2024!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQscnt8L7_XbdHdApzGFVdNJ6xI5dv-rUsfYd0tFKXhfDVDJx21652Lwibz-PEPgwIXg-aQzD9Nno_FfSleUTibzx7hbVM7kUkehvsVfgLOgc1PWz88oMaDChwpg_pr6C0smXt8XUIUzbbU4aYwoWBREnl-N2JstJJ0DLHDtluT7d4vB_wLxla9dC07Q5R/s1024/bill%20ted.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQscnt8L7_XbdHdApzGFVdNJ6xI5dv-rUsfYd0tFKXhfDVDJx21652Lwibz-PEPgwIXg-aQzD9Nno_FfSleUTibzx7hbVM7kUkehvsVfgLOgc1PWz88oMaDChwpg_pr6C0smXt8XUIUzbbU4aYwoWBREnl-N2JstJJ0DLHDtluT7d4vB_wLxla9dC07Q5R/w400-h400/bill%20ted.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHEWGwlaquFhD4u0E-72eiMj_0DivhB1ip0sQnvrTPZierxbj3RUhYXW-ufJ-7L5MCUbG5llQ-MjFsUabXabQmpTZRw4PxzJnRW495serW_0HR_9B4QeT_ihPfzHA8REw6N3x2hWhUkva6joKEuAt6byt86LFVz18fYuNXozQ2hJzXAzndYEi9p2qfUeA/s1440/lift%20spirits.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="557" data-original-width="1440" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUHEWGwlaquFhD4u0E-72eiMj_0DivhB1ip0sQnvrTPZierxbj3RUhYXW-ufJ-7L5MCUbG5llQ-MjFsUabXabQmpTZRw4PxzJnRW495serW_0HR_9B4QeT_ihPfzHA8REw6N3x2hWhUkva6joKEuAt6byt86LFVz18fYuNXozQ2hJzXAzndYEi9p2qfUeA/w400-h155/lift%20spirits.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA1bKiQGf5295Nxj1Xw-bzwXvntf0lngUv29QNd7ihTxJMNt0Rb440zcI6bz3v46hBiM3Sj6oqO6JiMeaScSzLPcfSFjm7yIfTJPlXhjMN1BAtcTX6ngZJc_vjAxVW44MFsw6E-GWm1byNBVGvMUh3852Oio_1KeOZMyT2853PM9H5iXRjaZLZ8CN4uD0N/s500/do%20not%20call.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="368" data-original-width="500" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA1bKiQGf5295Nxj1Xw-bzwXvntf0lngUv29QNd7ihTxJMNt0Rb440zcI6bz3v46hBiM3Sj6oqO6JiMeaScSzLPcfSFjm7yIfTJPlXhjMN1BAtcTX6ngZJc_vjAxVW44MFsw6E-GWm1byNBVGvMUh3852Oio_1KeOZMyT2853PM9H5iXRjaZLZ8CN4uD0N/w400-h295/do%20not%20call.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9dzhCRk3hZlbTbb8xXEK8dti2YcDUNZjXnoMdXs_OVGvna2RRMXM_pkixPA0_dCml90BjC3J1_M0Scsyn6azZfOLyNhfxjwRKrZDMxc2zaKfowe1AhbX9p55MHEyqIwhVBzGDqzgajoxFn0dphBiGHuYu4bZkYhCeT-PU9Z_DUYXMkFJM8WTQGZWpLiZM/s1295/fuck%20around.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1295" data-original-width="1078" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9dzhCRk3hZlbTbb8xXEK8dti2YcDUNZjXnoMdXs_OVGvna2RRMXM_pkixPA0_dCml90BjC3J1_M0Scsyn6azZfOLyNhfxjwRKrZDMxc2zaKfowe1AhbX9p55MHEyqIwhVBzGDqzgajoxFn0dphBiGHuYu4bZkYhCeT-PU9Z_DUYXMkFJM8WTQGZWpLiZM/w333-h400/fuck%20around.jpg" width="333" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbBhPYi_CCEYmSd4tqSHAChDpsK7YV0x7LnZ46M-R23lA6UTZIxNWHxFANPLFPx_AXudLK-EA9fLQepPV7FtX_CfI3Qs9zxKnX_syXCLKkhxvBotF0kAsaQ8oh4dIx3qJhZi0BisAw4-rXCF6YIbxSQx5Q5gb01JeF6IC0WAFJFv6CmSmJQTq7pp-xW4w_/s1350/Temba%20checks%20blank.heic.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbBhPYi_CCEYmSd4tqSHAChDpsK7YV0x7LnZ46M-R23lA6UTZIxNWHxFANPLFPx_AXudLK-EA9fLQepPV7FtX_CfI3Qs9zxKnX_syXCLKkhxvBotF0kAsaQ8oh4dIx3qJhZi0BisAw4-rXCF6YIbxSQx5Q5gb01JeF6IC0WAFJFv6CmSmJQTq7pp-xW4w_/w320-h400/Temba%20checks%20blank.heic.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxVs2c3hng5fK8yzKj1hxf0KzOn1VAjecRhmfl3VlfXpxs4Ek-uiUTuUfnwxQqBz5F1Z8nmkFtLHnYrF85Dqy3IXOD-WNFR5TJ7fE3KgaQQWLl45MsF09yQmK-2E2X9qv1OJLK4CroZzaynyH-fEVQAzNkAnSbBYSU5V-GoqJeQZOpzuMAGJoGrX7SSHqx/s1074/existence%20is%20a%20scam.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="812" data-original-width="1074" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxVs2c3hng5fK8yzKj1hxf0KzOn1VAjecRhmfl3VlfXpxs4Ek-uiUTuUfnwxQqBz5F1Z8nmkFtLHnYrF85Dqy3IXOD-WNFR5TJ7fE3KgaQQWLl45MsF09yQmK-2E2X9qv1OJLK4CroZzaynyH-fEVQAzNkAnSbBYSU5V-GoqJeQZOpzuMAGJoGrX7SSHqx/w400-h303/existence%20is%20a%20scam.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUqdSCOGsqLB67lQyrP9EYKl8lFrEp4f9LrWZzYQ3U1_OfJIkdKLsy3-JzjgEw1hJdfkBonbwyMNstdvpY5fmQf3rAfHFCeo8JJzaqNRTNi8PvmgdlFHCK3YfatpDZxKle8UY-XtGjzy-nAoacw_be6X5EONyxrTZcKutES0bKwLuI_LyLKDHhqS4DALG0/s720/octopusses%20bones.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="463" data-original-width="720" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUqdSCOGsqLB67lQyrP9EYKl8lFrEp4f9LrWZzYQ3U1_OfJIkdKLsy3-JzjgEw1hJdfkBonbwyMNstdvpY5fmQf3rAfHFCeo8JJzaqNRTNi8PvmgdlFHCK3YfatpDZxKle8UY-XtGjzy-nAoacw_be6X5EONyxrTZcKutES0bKwLuI_LyLKDHhqS4DALG0/w400-h258/octopusses%20bones.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>But above all, I want to thank you, esteemed reader, for being here with me in cyberspace. Life is filled with suffering for sentient beings such as we, but this doesn't stop me from wishing each and every one of you peace and love and rest and fun in 2024. Happy New Year!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLnGSGLdJKvBNh2N_dYHbwOsjCfEvrAi5rljsfubWQ19GcKQDkvXLryza22RMRt0ZPkp1Aei_AjyMq8qrWndK7rD-KyZdQaRZmUCoX30W3sCTQZxP5q2oxTiDYLmH3ocZCi_oO-ThSJvY8A3yhsWOxS1zI0ka4Sun6Dvbh4Nj6TR3hveUPCtwnaQizd-Oc/s960/sisyphus%20for%20toddlers.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLnGSGLdJKvBNh2N_dYHbwOsjCfEvrAi5rljsfubWQ19GcKQDkvXLryza22RMRt0ZPkp1Aei_AjyMq8qrWndK7rD-KyZdQaRZmUCoX30W3sCTQZxP5q2oxTiDYLmH3ocZCi_oO-ThSJvY8A3yhsWOxS1zI0ka4Sun6Dvbh4Nj6TR3hveUPCtwnaQizd-Oc/w400-h400/sisyphus%20for%20toddlers.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1WZGPA6CHxw0ZQpgi5iIsKR4HVxB8BWdvKj3s1urwsCQlq4kmG1pdFpTRveFseVYWGehl5eKI4oxtAI2voFGsLf4Aj34GqHUuIjEt8mkDyQKtpOs_UXmd7qgHZmHjXB1PBMlUwlaAasi-lJc4F6Uc8dFR-48CopyeZ2vZlZDLphdqw8OmIIa7Tu7qQ0Fh/s802/haunted.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="802" data-original-width="799" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1WZGPA6CHxw0ZQpgi5iIsKR4HVxB8BWdvKj3s1urwsCQlq4kmG1pdFpTRveFseVYWGehl5eKI4oxtAI2voFGsLf4Aj34GqHUuIjEt8mkDyQKtpOs_UXmd7qgHZmHjXB1PBMlUwlaAasi-lJc4F6Uc8dFR-48CopyeZ2vZlZDLphdqw8OmIIa7Tu7qQ0Fh/w399-h400/haunted.JPG" width="399" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYuTB7QM4c3SgqJw79zbsUsn7tVLZJi0NLn5s3F9VPoeDul12eyFZdrIDdQsv8f9qenPs2MFUQT7GraTY4azF5SNhQP164OcJaV5f4ktwze7lBlT6xm_48tyjNb-ZOq_kfctQPHTwJ93LcUIo-rRMgkgrL9aeEZqWUvJQuHRWcmEhdaGGIVf4gTn-myyH_/s1844/student%20loan.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="1844" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYuTB7QM4c3SgqJw79zbsUsn7tVLZJi0NLn5s3F9VPoeDul12eyFZdrIDdQsv8f9qenPs2MFUQT7GraTY4azF5SNhQP164OcJaV5f4ktwze7lBlT6xm_48tyjNb-ZOq_kfctQPHTwJ93LcUIo-rRMgkgrL9aeEZqWUvJQuHRWcmEhdaGGIVf4gTn-myyH_/w400-h223/student%20loan.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHmD_hoP0wIfHVsvxalHS2jW8I_c70MYQmWHuRSbehseFHYSRTTZtzHVq7xAhWDEmZeJgw7iA5MVOGNq2Tlmu8ap3PaGmN8QLd8OoNk1l_ClcH-onAbsSixOhklvNUlMmCmff-m_yxIZjaZklDyeuow-q0ygvZn9nz0foxpglzzwL6kQ2wDiFaSgjvh6ek/s1284/never%20collaborated.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="1284" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHmD_hoP0wIfHVsvxalHS2jW8I_c70MYQmWHuRSbehseFHYSRTTZtzHVq7xAhWDEmZeJgw7iA5MVOGNq2Tlmu8ap3PaGmN8QLd8OoNk1l_ClcH-onAbsSixOhklvNUlMmCmff-m_yxIZjaZklDyeuow-q0ygvZn9nz0foxpglzzwL6kQ2wDiFaSgjvh6ek/w400-h245/never%20collaborated.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqBNmBwkaDaaRZlzSlFikpieEoPFEGCc-nWCUhmsVvAoKe8EPbmBGrFQVVaKGjncWLuI9BPAEXCJYtUjUyWPJHW2b7SScv_LkYNW6GA7fXVziOHn_ffIugHKTYCMywShkXXPcPaSRZ0xT7kKmANNPTLJ0HUQCgDZ8Ygx92guigG_0su5HSxx9NSxCCpw9w/s1080/enjoy%20SW.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1080" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqBNmBwkaDaaRZlzSlFikpieEoPFEGCc-nWCUhmsVvAoKe8EPbmBGrFQVVaKGjncWLuI9BPAEXCJYtUjUyWPJHW2b7SScv_LkYNW6GA7fXVziOHn_ffIugHKTYCMywShkXXPcPaSRZ0xT7kKmANNPTLJ0HUQCgDZ8Ygx92guigG_0su5HSxx9NSxCCpw9w/w400-h334/enjoy%20SW.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8RMhe0p3UYQERfd32iC1mN-a_IGL4x1_uNbtTU_0ujlcClMYjFkheuxPituKvaLMWW3aEsTXXQScq5RS8agfeGMmZ3JyStRPZ-hMIBFD3fx4YGAxFXmVIaxyjKvplNF4vZ1FTEDEhQ0LzW6RwH5bTHYI4yh6vb585qSJEL20nMai285DfwVPhi7qm19Vp/s1688/Butthead%20calls.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="1688" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8RMhe0p3UYQERfd32iC1mN-a_IGL4x1_uNbtTU_0ujlcClMYjFkheuxPituKvaLMWW3aEsTXXQScq5RS8agfeGMmZ3JyStRPZ-hMIBFD3fx4YGAxFXmVIaxyjKvplNF4vZ1FTEDEhQ0LzW6RwH5bTHYI4yh6vb585qSJEL20nMai285DfwVPhi7qm19Vp/w400-h364/Butthead%20calls.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6_E6oTLBcNrAUwydDFHLDRzDn5Ms2j41Yjjl8NoKpLc0GRHNPTljX79zzn0nHruZ_eoxzXIhQfXZGKH4niaO9ejSI55VljW09f82Y0Dq3r64UULIss7hbFVaTYJU1ZOYlt1iVb-E8XKF19z_BsADmb6Wql_I5mWSklrYTjJ5PV8piD4W7NFMcLCgXV7-5/s720/cat%20while%20at%20work.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6_E6oTLBcNrAUwydDFHLDRzDn5Ms2j41Yjjl8NoKpLc0GRHNPTljX79zzn0nHruZ_eoxzXIhQfXZGKH4niaO9ejSI55VljW09f82Y0Dq3r64UULIss7hbFVaTYJU1ZOYlt1iVb-E8XKF19z_BsADmb6Wql_I5mWSklrYTjJ5PV8piD4W7NFMcLCgXV7-5/s320/cat%20while%20at%20work.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXLN5fFPpuMVnb-Yb_z3htSKtHCzfxOZzwl3r3xmAnqm2m3_sgAZZnT-bbPJPPmRwLMwWWff12-KyIKajlzUalp7B989Bjzap0SbVhzfcTlsOJuUVp9P9jNpkscozXhsyH8Eql2v6cPc0zSuSomkR4lF35vSiJgI6aEo9SCMkDtFytJolwOO1ttuIiGENP/s1222/improvements%20b&b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1222" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXLN5fFPpuMVnb-Yb_z3htSKtHCzfxOZzwl3r3xmAnqm2m3_sgAZZnT-bbPJPPmRwLMwWWff12-KyIKajlzUalp7B989Bjzap0SbVhzfcTlsOJuUVp9P9jNpkscozXhsyH8Eql2v6cPc0zSuSomkR4lF35vSiJgI6aEo9SCMkDtFytJolwOO1ttuIiGENP/s320/improvements%20b&b.jpg" width="283" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb45TdF7CTwnvmFDKYWqBnwFk9ThVGwRfbi8XlqiGIcPCE2f72ZMWz5WxjodePDr6NcRgWZcOc6gfj9nfpQmdlKagLsGNLtGhPGGYEx7EWVGqQJHjaxf8ENdM_DX0Inf2s5cZpAhRWIlrXZU061jAAfASbxOUum7nELDSvzHow4c87dF-wR6fSHvsVDcbE/s1213/done%20dune.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1213" data-original-width="857" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb45TdF7CTwnvmFDKYWqBnwFk9ThVGwRfbi8XlqiGIcPCE2f72ZMWz5WxjodePDr6NcRgWZcOc6gfj9nfpQmdlKagLsGNLtGhPGGYEx7EWVGqQJHjaxf8ENdM_DX0Inf2s5cZpAhRWIlrXZU061jAAfASbxOUum7nELDSvzHow4c87dF-wR6fSHvsVDcbE/w283-h400/done%20dune.jpg" width="283" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhumOOrMHk_iODK_XWBK1L58odDQRUINXa-ZWFH_sFyCv0_tT8QQ20cNEWjjYjwm4rOxjVSEnbQE6lXqxmwbxXaAQ3D-StC9aasBHCGOC1LanC6sZqMedYXiolBjvPpmIBZkQWpJOZkwVogcikXozzklSlGlI7YKhmrg7wDzJTMhqSHUWmug0k8yZpcqtRG/s3840/208501-Frank-Herbert-Quote-There-is-no-real-ending-It-s-just-the-place.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2160" data-original-width="3840" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhumOOrMHk_iODK_XWBK1L58odDQRUINXa-ZWFH_sFyCv0_tT8QQ20cNEWjjYjwm4rOxjVSEnbQE6lXqxmwbxXaAQ3D-StC9aasBHCGOC1LanC6sZqMedYXiolBjvPpmIBZkQWpJOZkwVogcikXozzklSlGlI7YKhmrg7wDzJTMhqSHUWmug0k8yZpcqtRG/w400-h225/208501-Frank-Herbert-Quote-There-is-no-real-ending-It-s-just-the-place.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Ethanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13490888839784651097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323383105577553414.post-83538615608691192772023-12-28T22:53:00.000-08:002023-12-28T22:53:05.518-08:00Review of Reviews: December 2023<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2pGa8jjGlNMxTE-1DxU3bpQQMeXCx2pZFrrOHaAhhXnQrzFVncK5sfsgjMLPZkQnzFwrOaGKehEYAaPI-s_bRQRq3vepWman1POFmQN3NwCES4TPQFstka90tUWVCGmJDiRqBgeQDhcJ1l_Xk_seH41c-xBhmJVeNRssY5H7WyVJAldDiiZeT5ur_I63v/s475/17934530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2pGa8jjGlNMxTE-1DxU3bpQQMeXCx2pZFrrOHaAhhXnQrzFVncK5sfsgjMLPZkQnzFwrOaGKehEYAaPI-s_bRQRq3vepWman1POFmQN3NwCES4TPQFstka90tUWVCGmJDiRqBgeQDhcJ1l_Xk_seH41c-xBhmJVeNRssY5H7WyVJAldDiiZeT5ur_I63v/w268-h400/17934530.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p>It's the week between Christmas and New Year's, that blank time filled with cheese, sugar, and not knowing what day of the week it is. I've been having fun reading, but I have been somewhat remiss when it comes to writing reviews. Lest I disappoint the small handful of humans and bots who will read this, here are my reviews of some of what I've been reading lately: <i>Transcendent </i>by Stephen Baxter, <i>The Chrysalids </i>by John Wyndham, <i>The Sum of Us </i>by Heather McGhee, and <i>Annihilation </i>by Jeff VanderMeer. I also recently finished <i>A Prayer for the Crown-Shy </i>by <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2022/08/hugo-ballot-2022-novels-and-novellas.html#more" target="_blank">Becky Chambers</a>, but I need more time to process how much I loved everything about it. I'm also returning to an old favorite, <i>The Player of Games </i>by <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2015/06/culture-round-up-reviewing-culture.html" target="_blank">Iain M. Banks</a>, which I'm loving just as much if not more than I did when I first read it ten years ago. Anyway, on to this Review of Reviews: December 2023!</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u><i>Transcendent </i>by Stephen Baxter</u></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKmGAAows5Axbr2HUm-erm0GUMIzDUiuVzSkHdt4E4fuCnWw6ehdj1BILxDBiZ9npy_Lc5Ryf40aqpryz4OEnDC5NKIlfn8kW-b1FBtLRGpm4uiQPDJ4vyG_9cuRY_ZPpBF_xxmGY2R6ZLFHSm_Mqzs9ZxGasivrFCoEnROq7KlpSbEIOBenfvWLYcRLvl/s475/66790.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="290" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKmGAAows5Axbr2HUm-erm0GUMIzDUiuVzSkHdt4E4fuCnWw6ehdj1BILxDBiZ9npy_Lc5Ryf40aqpryz4OEnDC5NKIlfn8kW-b1FBtLRGpm4uiQPDJ4vyG_9cuRY_ZPpBF_xxmGY2R6ZLFHSm_Mqzs9ZxGasivrFCoEnROq7KlpSbEIOBenfvWLYcRLvl/w244-h400/66790.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2017/10/the-contingencies-of-histories-ultima.html" target="_blank">Stephen Baxter </a>is never boring, at least if mind-bending physics, philosophy, and science fictional speculation are your thing. Like Arthur C. Clarke, Baxter does both Big Ideas SF and Engineering SF, and you get plenty of both here. Transcendent is a "sequel" to <i>Coalescent</i> and <i><a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2019/06/review-of-reviews-courtier-and-heretic.html" target="_blank">Exultant</a>,</i> but it's not so much a continuation of the same story. There are some direct ties, especially to <i>Coalescent</i>, but I think you could easily read this as a standalone. </p><p>Michael Poole is a depressed engineer in 2047 in a world seeing the serious effects of climate change. He is haunted (literally, it seems, oddly enough!) by his dead wife. Eventually he works with his estranged son as well as his uncle and aunt (who were characters in <i>Coalescent)</i> on a potential geoengineering fix for a catastrophic climate issue. Meanwhile (in a vastly temporally extended sense of "meanwhile"!), 500,000 years in the future, a woman named Alia is "Witnessing" Michael from her generation ship. She is also contacted by the Transcendence, a group of post-humans intent on achieving a kind of god-like existence that involves some kind of time-meddling redemption of all past human suffering. She embarks on a trek across the galaxy to figure out if she will join the Transcendence, becoming a bit suspicious of them in the process. I enjoyed that each chapter alternated between Michael's and Alia's timelines. Some readers might find this disjointed, but I think it helped keep things moving. </p><p>I never quite entirely understand everything in a Stephen Baxter novel (that's part of the mind-bending fun, I guess), but in this case I'm not sure I really understood what the Transcendence wanted to do or what their motivations were, or in any case that felt underdeveloped to me, especially for a group of such allegedly advanced post-humans (it kinda felt like a loosely sketched out "space Christianity" or something). But I guess when you're juggling so many science fictional balls as Baxter, it's hard to avoid dropping one now and then. But overall, I really enjoyed this one. And I appreciated all the shoutouts to philosophers (Leibniz, Russell, Kant, and more!). I've never failed to be entertained by <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2017/10/the-contingencies-of-histories-ultima.html" target="_blank">a Baxter novel</a>, and <i>Transcendent</i> is no different on that count.</p><p><i>See my <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2820365357" target="_blank">Goodreads review.</a></i></p><p><br /></p><p><b><u><span style="font-size: large;"><i>The Chrysalids </i>by John Wyndham</span></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwLZir6w-QnjZqPjnBI4KHZG83dA-eeSWh7zR4nJVb6DnNX6z8P95Hc-desmJRhuIpByUSZw3mcD7Xyl1SEjqgfSTOqy4wka6UdF_k3PMFWjX6ys12F01S2Ni8Fqb3uIDlAX8O9onRY08_hDSlbzD6kiTJZpwoB7I3KMtBEp-_yFhyRtiXRP50TDhhzZ-/s475/826845.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="287" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWwLZir6w-QnjZqPjnBI4KHZG83dA-eeSWh7zR4nJVb6DnNX6z8P95Hc-desmJRhuIpByUSZw3mcD7Xyl1SEjqgfSTOqy4wka6UdF_k3PMFWjX6ys12F01S2Ni8Fqb3uIDlAX8O9onRY08_hDSlbzD6kiTJZpwoB7I3KMtBEp-_yFhyRtiXRP50TDhhzZ-/w241-h400/826845.jpg" width="241" /></a></div><p>I've been meaning to check out John Wyndham for a while, and I'm glad I finally did. Published in the 1950's, this may be one of the first in the now-ubiquitous genre of dystopian science fiction. We never learn exactly when this novel takes place, but it seems there was a climate-altering nuclear was at some point, leaving humans in small, isolated communities. Our protagonist lives in a community in Labrador, where they have a religion that teaches them to abhor any sort of impurity, especially in the form of genetic mutations. Our protagonist meets a girl with six toes on one foot, and later he discovers that he, too, is different. </p><p>It's a deep, yet readable, meditation on the problems of insisting on purity and attempting to erase difference and change, of trying to build borders between yourself and the rest of reality (these days I'm thinking a lot about <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2021/08/nondualism-and-pandemic-part-1.html" target="_blank">nondualism in a Buddhist sense</a>, and this novel keeps me thinking in that theme). <i>The Chrysalids</i> is also quite short (about 200 pages in my edition), and while short novels were the norm in mid-20th century science fiction, it's still amazing how much Wyndham does in such a short book. I look forward to reading more of his work.</p><p><i>Check out <a href="https://www.tor.com/2008/10/27/the-chrysalids/" target="_blank">this great review by Jo Walton</a>. And my <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6053117632" target="_blank">Goodreads review</a>.</i></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><u><b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>The Sum of Us </i>by Heather McGhee</span></b></u></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGGRAVOZxS4G7U79pbUBfBkIG_zP-ozwrdOPIvezxiWPgCE78_oyk2EJu9G0oDSqrdaGBvuduwdDB9Wb_zYfDaf7tmvtQiReX2abLAYbL9lSKgdUZZdpJ7LNh8YvdZ0BBNH_S5NhyOAdxmc9QjcVIp-9xjv-uOMOPM1Ind8S-_xMPFHnj4m-sYuIXnxCig/s2550/53231851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2550" data-original-width="1688" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGGRAVOZxS4G7U79pbUBfBkIG_zP-ozwrdOPIvezxiWPgCE78_oyk2EJu9G0oDSqrdaGBvuduwdDB9Wb_zYfDaf7tmvtQiReX2abLAYbL9lSKgdUZZdpJ7LNh8YvdZ0BBNH_S5NhyOAdxmc9QjcVIp-9xjv-uOMOPM1Ind8S-_xMPFHnj4m-sYuIXnxCig/w265-h400/53231851.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><i>The Sum of Us </i>is a fascinating and engagingly-written examination of the folly of zero-sum thinking about race, the kind of thinking that seems to be at the root of so many white Americans' thinking these days (although few would so blatantly admit it). While McGhee admits that of course racism most adversely affects people of the color in the US, she makes a great case that it affects white people, too. Her guiding metaphor is the closure of public pools in many US cities that decided to close public pools rather than desegregating them. Likewise, zero-sum thinking about race hurts all of us when it comes to healthcare, economics, education, housing, political representation, and so on. I've always suspected that we're all in this together (thinking a lot about Buddhist nondualism lately has deepened this for me), but McGhee's book gives an accessible, social science-based argument to this effect. As a white American myself, I wish more people would make the switch in thinking that this book represents in what McGhee calls a Solidarity Dividend. We'd all be better off for it!</p><p><i>See <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5513379997" target="_blank">my Goodreads review.</a></i></p><p><br /></p><p><b><u><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Annihilation </i>by Jeff VanderMeer</span></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6dgZl-CCT8Ju_kYmrfTE9QZfAoIIwXC_LztjO8xIS846QgqwxFwlKO85T6xKcffiqoPGJh_LiYao88WtBhA-EBEaR46Ij7AYyP7JDGt-GB0UhbBRC3flgZDiY2qF2_f-YbGD0rOXT5Cktg6bKSUf1WFRKcvjJMVR34-Rfk0aCviRXU5eb6icfaXLWpDn/s475/17934530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6dgZl-CCT8Ju_kYmrfTE9QZfAoIIwXC_LztjO8xIS846QgqwxFwlKO85T6xKcffiqoPGJh_LiYao88WtBhA-EBEaR46Ij7AYyP7JDGt-GB0UhbBRC3flgZDiY2qF2_f-YbGD0rOXT5Cktg6bKSUf1WFRKcvjJMVR34-Rfk0aCviRXU5eb6icfaXLWpDn/w268-h400/17934530.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>I loved the 2018 <i>Annihilation </i>movie, and I've been meaning to read the book ever since. I finally did! There are some differences, but like the movie, the book is creepy and atmospheric. If anything, it feels a bit more dream-like and disturbing in a, dare I say it, Lovecraftian sense (but without Lovecraft's verbiage and racism). And little things (like the fact that we never learn the characters' names and that a tunnel is referred to as Tower) makes it feel delightfully uncanny. I enjoyed how VanderMeer doles out bits of information about our main character as we go on. </p><p>I admire the filmmakers for visualizing this book, but in some ways I think maybe I like the book more for evoking amorphous dread, uncanny creatures, and existential absurdity beyond our human ken. Cosmic horror usually works better on the page than the screen: what you can't quite visualize is always scarier than anything on the screen. <i>Annihilation</i> is I think one of the most unique and engaging examples of cosmic horror in recent years. And I love how compact it is: so much in so few pages! Although the sequels look longer, I'll get around to reading them someday, too.</p><p><i>See also <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1424699268" target="_blank">my Goodreads review.</a></i></p>Ethanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13490888839784651097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323383105577553414.post-69306338475676258022023-12-23T14:02:00.000-08:002023-12-23T14:02:30.419-08:00Holiday Horror 2023<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRTlwPDP_izZZp3HOx59BdEk8mUT0E6u_FDs68IxLisPU49fB3vYyk2TPuW3mUh5vN4CpCB3Rqz7TYtF7qj28sDEf7U8ZRKhLEDJWeHomuxJOi4xMRQzyzlStBQe4B8C4VdqLE_FNTvB6ER2Usa2t06XWcJ26-K-vWcRjX7yWcMnQeu3GORf6-obZl4JNZ/s273/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="273" data-original-width="185" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRTlwPDP_izZZp3HOx59BdEk8mUT0E6u_FDs68IxLisPU49fB3vYyk2TPuW3mUh5vN4CpCB3Rqz7TYtF7qj28sDEf7U8ZRKhLEDJWeHomuxJOi4xMRQzyzlStBQe4B8C4VdqLE_FNTvB6ER2Usa2t06XWcJ26-K-vWcRjX7yWcMnQeu3GORf6-obZl4JNZ/w271-h400/download.jpg" width="271" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Here at <i>Examined World</i>s we have <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2022/12/christmas-horror-2022.html" target="_blank">a tradition of writing about holiday horror movies</a>. I guess it's my way of dealing with my complicated feelings about the Most Wonderful/Horrific Time of the Year. It's not that I hate the holidays, really. It's just that it's all a <i>bit much </i>sometimes: the pressure to produce holiday magic at all times through food, cheer, and cheesy decorations, the rampant commercialization that makes you feel like an asshole if you don't buy your loved ones new cars and expensive jewelry, hearing a million versions of the same songs over and over and over and over, each one more insipid than the last ...</p><p>Okay, no need to rehash <i>all that. </i>On to the movies!</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p><br /></p><p><b><i><u><span style="font-size: large;">It's a Wonderful Knife (2023)</span></u></i></b></p><p>A new one being advertised a lot on Shudder (my horror streaming service of choice). If you've ever asked yourself, "What if <i>It's a Wonderful Life </i>were a time-traveling slasher movie?" then this movie is made for you. Our protagonist discovers travels to an alternative dimension where she was never born to discover that she has prevented a lot of deaths from the local slasher (complete with creepy mask and robe <i>à la Scream</i>). As with any alternate-universe premise, this one brings up a lot of philosophical fun about life, choices, meaning, and the effects we all have, for good or for ill, on this mixed-up universe of ours. I also particularly enjoyed Justin Long as the sleazy mayor.</p><p><br /></p><p><b><i><u><span style="font-size: large;">The Advent Calendar (2021)</span></u></i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg728I-JG646t8TRufRiRu4hc7z9JqtAy-ynhnBjxju0NWvwGO3YrMH-Lgphx3LCgpV-OE5rR6suwy_XdGKU0cqqNZekO6wA8kTPUCFZdmdLbE71m0BZ3OM3b8oYQOvPfaYg7Hf14EY5BPx4OywYl3udD6rq-g7e9KiBpF7jSW3ZsBZsRCeFXx4OBtl2BhT/s1440/p18327994_v_h9_ae.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1440" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg728I-JG646t8TRufRiRu4hc7z9JqtAy-ynhnBjxju0NWvwGO3YrMH-Lgphx3LCgpV-OE5rR6suwy_XdGKU0cqqNZekO6wA8kTPUCFZdmdLbE71m0BZ3OM3b8oYQOvPfaYg7Hf14EY5BPx4OywYl3udD6rq-g7e9KiBpF7jSW3ZsBZsRCeFXx4OBtl2BhT/w400-h300/p18327994_v_h9_ae.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>This one has been on my Shudder list since last year, but I'm glad I got around to checking out this French/Belgian production. The protagonist is a paraplegic woman whose friend gives her a creepy German advent calendar (is there any other kind of German advent calendar?). Each day she opens a drawer, well, it's horror movie, dear reader, so don't be surprised when I say bad things happen. It's a fun premise that gets into classic horror terror-tory of "be careful what you wish for." I'm not the best person to evaluate the merits of this film in terms of disability representation, but overall the protagonist is a fully human character. At one point she has to deal with a coworker telling her she's brave, but there's also a whole subplot of her regret that she gave up a dancing career before her accident.</p><p><br /></p><p><b><i><u><span style="font-size: large;">The Brain (1988)</span></u></i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGNFWYQEUw15RnJKNnHk55UlImZ2M5hm8PUztHOBqEZYY8cWmeWETDkgYQTpJYtUizd4vf_M3NtAU2nUdrNUrXq8BfXg0A3eIOLqDd7jFfrDsGj0Q517mQO5HDFXoi3uPtIHpiXm_Q9iswHL9sYEDQfyVbiQ_RQyU6rFxu1P8t9qQnBUPW9KQTAyy_oWNK/s254/download-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="198" data-original-width="254" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGNFWYQEUw15RnJKNnHk55UlImZ2M5hm8PUztHOBqEZYY8cWmeWETDkgYQTpJYtUizd4vf_M3NtAU2nUdrNUrXq8BfXg0A3eIOLqDd7jFfrDsGj0Q517mQO5HDFXoi3uPtIHpiXm_Q9iswHL9sYEDQfyVbiQ_RQyU6rFxu1P8t9qQnBUPW9KQTAyy_oWNK/w400-h312/download-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>My Shudder account has been getting a workout this week. I watched this and the next one on this year's <a href="https://www.imdb.com/news/ni64359466/" target="_blank">Job Bob Briggs Creepy Christmas Special</a>. Is <i>The Brain </i>a Christmas movie? It takes place at Christmas. My inclination is to be open and forgiving about this topic. Recently someone asked me if I thought <i>Die Hard </i>is a Christmas movie, and I said, "Sure, why not?" I don't have a lot of strong opinions either way. Whether <i>The Brain </i>is a Christmas movie or not, it is most definitely a bonkers movie in the way that Canadian-produced horror movies in the 80's often are. A giant brain from outer space is controlling a Canadian town through brain waves, which we discover when a high school delinquent is called in to see a strange psychologist to reduce his desire to prank everyone (including his high school principal, which is how he got suspended in the first place). It's a fun skewer of the self-help industry and commercialization of all kinds. So maybe it really is a Christmas movie?</p><p><br /></p><p><b><i><u><span style="font-size: large;">The Gingerdead Man (2005)</span></u></i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnR1U9OElfyoxPnrtZu_scOwSqE5ei4PmO1pSfskqqNhirNEp7u4Mj6AErAVfyAAxt12knYvlqtvRmtEDRjQD-v4TY1IPlygottCGRSmiXb8EgqN_ckjywl56bmZuw7Xi_agdCy7IAr9r0DxtYGzEyAXiPoDokQqwHYXkJZsxYY71ZxHUt4mmiL1wvMjN/s500/MV5BMTgyNTUwOTUxN15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNjE0NzgwMzE@._V1_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="341" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnR1U9OElfyoxPnrtZu_scOwSqE5ei4PmO1pSfskqqNhirNEp7u4Mj6AErAVfyAAxt12knYvlqtvRmtEDRjQD-v4TY1IPlygottCGRSmiXb8EgqN_ckjywl56bmZuw7Xi_agdCy7IAr9r0DxtYGzEyAXiPoDokQqwHYXkJZsxYY71ZxHUt4mmiL1wvMjN/w273-h400/MV5BMTgyNTUwOTUxN15BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwNjE0NzgwMzE@._V1_.jpg" width="273" /></a></div><br /><p>Another one I watched with help from Joe Bob Briggs (one of the main actors from the film, Robin Sydney, joined him, too!). Did someone say bonkers? Did someone also utter the name synonymous with all things bonkers? Yes, that's right. Mr. Gary Busey is here to bring Christmas bonkersness. Busey plays a cruel criminal who is killed and wouldn't you know it? His spirit inhabits not a car, not a doll, not a tomato, not a tire, but a gingerbread man. And of course the gingerbread, er, ginger-<i>dead </i>man embarks upon killing as many bakery employees and random people as possible. It's exactly as bonkers and fun as it sounds. To say that <i>The Gingerdead Man </i>is a philosophical film is maybe a bit of a stretch, but on the other hand maybe it shows us that sometimes, <i>à la </i>Camus, you have to embrace the absurdity of life and take a bite out of that which scares you.</p><p><b><i><u><br /></u></i></b></p><p><b><i><u><span style="font-size: large;">Deathcember (2019)</span></u></i></b></p><p><b><i></i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwrsfvVN3-N3dw2WsgKOaYzfj24wS9_-PBxsvUeNrN81XtpELUy8RsR0ae2-DJnNdLjfmZZfeAjUO5a7OpgaxJ2oA4Hrkz2DK0XLPdhcaIpD8d9b-roofq9yrngNkB_57_yAgM11QE0fewZOt03uxME05k_AlpLYeDIbq4jT-ftrsRroMvQe-BPbnwjGgS/s1133/MV5BMzI5MTVjYTktYTE0NS00OGMxLThlNjgtNmQ0NmI1Y2ZhMDI3XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyODM1Njc3NDk@._V1_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1133" data-original-width="747" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwrsfvVN3-N3dw2WsgKOaYzfj24wS9_-PBxsvUeNrN81XtpELUy8RsR0ae2-DJnNdLjfmZZfeAjUO5a7OpgaxJ2oA4Hrkz2DK0XLPdhcaIpD8d9b-roofq9yrngNkB_57_yAgM11QE0fewZOt03uxME05k_AlpLYeDIbq4jT-ftrsRroMvQe-BPbnwjGgS/w264-h400/MV5BMzI5MTVjYTktYTE0NS00OGMxLThlNjgtNmQ0NmI1Y2ZhMDI3XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyODM1Njc3NDk@._V1_.jpg" width="264" /></a></i></b></div><b><i><u><br /></u></i></b><p></p><p>What if instead of a movie <i>about</i> an advent calendar, the whole movie <i>is </i>an advent calendar? That's what you get here, with 24 short films more-or-less in a holiday vein. It's an international effort with films in German, English, Spanish, Korean, etc. I can't summarize all of them, but one of my favorites was about a shopper trying to return something without a receipt. As with most anthology films (or really more like a short film festival cut together?), the quality varies. I've honestly forgotten most of them already. But this would be a good one to watch if you have a few minutes between baking cookies, wrapping presents, dealing with obnoxious relatives, etc. And just as the holiday season is a bit much, there are actually 26 films instead of 24. There's also at least one Hanukkah movie, which led me to seek out the next one...</p><p><br /></p><p><b><i><u><span style="font-size: large;">Hanukkah (2019)</span></u></i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4A2cyg4DgI8wNaHvQw3jfV07Z_1dZgVZ3i4dpQyXiLHdtQ2368JEa6pRlqhs3gzQJWFI3rGIHLBuMknhFqNEIwbXjW7Kv0MMbULgiX4CqoLrkB5rAhVHcFKUEZQPLSnnTnXJZTRPZN1BhNeCat99u3-GrNR-HAFfuocpqZvy7kfceBpVQYGJg1vh5ddHI/s931/MV5BZTc5YTU1MGQtMmIyOC00MzJkLWJkNTEtODQ2YzBjNmI1ZTI1XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTcyMTk1Mg@@._V1_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="931" data-original-width="620" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4A2cyg4DgI8wNaHvQw3jfV07Z_1dZgVZ3i4dpQyXiLHdtQ2368JEa6pRlqhs3gzQJWFI3rGIHLBuMknhFqNEIwbXjW7Kv0MMbULgiX4CqoLrkB5rAhVHcFKUEZQPLSnnTnXJZTRPZN1BhNeCat99u3-GrNR-HAFfuocpqZvy7kfceBpVQYGJg1vh5ddHI/w266-h400/MV5BZTc5YTU1MGQtMmIyOC00MzJkLWJkNTEtODQ2YzBjNmI1ZTI1XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTcyMTk1Mg@@._V1_.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>While Christmas horror has been getting more popular in recent years, there are relatively few horror movies about other holidays (minus Halloween, of course). Enter 2019's <i>Hanukkah. </i>Is it a good movie? Not exactly. The pacing seems off, but maybe that was intentional as characters end up stuck in a location much longer than expected (Was it eight nights? I honestly lost count.). A group of young American Jews dealing with the issue of whether they're "bad Jews" (in various ways) are stalked and killed in fun/disturbing ways that often feature dreidels, stars of David (er, make that <i>scars of </i>David), latkes, and so on. It gets a bit horrific, but it's a fun way to navigate anxieties about identity, purity, and religious traditions. It also features the late Sig Haig from all those Rob Zombie movies, so that's cool.</p><p><br /></p><p><b><i><u><span style="font-size: large;">Mother Krampus (2017)</span></u></i></b></p><p><b><i></i></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDqaPjttq_2DAOgivGJLjORN5FLlso40Tcvfcw7t7herf3ex9C4ucZEOp_KwN8saOQayaOZTvYr-_QAQ2y0L50OUg6fSRjmZZGHPZDDg9MraJd8xDTV7u-kyR6PDl4QoAG1dHdPUq1HpMxMQKlaplQVpiBJQSOnVt98npOEL5cE7LU19Xho9n3p7jfzA9/s225/download-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvDqaPjttq_2DAOgivGJLjORN5FLlso40Tcvfcw7t7herf3ex9C4ucZEOp_KwN8saOQayaOZTvYr-_QAQ2y0L50OUg6fSRjmZZGHPZDDg9MraJd8xDTV7u-kyR6PDl4QoAG1dHdPUq1HpMxMQKlaplQVpiBJQSOnVt98npOEL5cE7LU19Xho9n3p7jfzA9/w400-h400/download-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></i></b></div><b><i><br /><u><br /></u></i></b><p></p><p>Maybe it was because 2015's <i>Krampus </i>was so much fun, but I was expecting <i>Mother Krampus </i>to be more fun than I found it. It's a version of the German Christmas legend of Frau Perchta, a Christmas witch who steals children. There's some communal trauma and sins, of course (a bit in the <i>Nightmare on Elm St. </i>direction), and some stuff happens. It all ends up feeling like it's taking itself too seriously and not quite hitting the mark, which is a weird thing to say about a movie focused on child murder, but maybe that's on me for expecting something a bit campier. Your creepy Christmas mileage may vary.</p><p><br /></p><p>And... there are more, including the 80's silliness of <i>Night of the Comet!</i> I'll get to them soon in Holiday Horror 2023, Part Two!</p><p><br /></p>Ethanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13490888839784651097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323383105577553414.post-18160723849654527232023-12-10T20:54:00.000-08:002023-12-10T22:17:07.226-08:00Dragons, Towers, and Constant Readers: The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSoa4t2b4lqTLdz3un3YPzI_yeRnNv-JiDZbyo0d8t2w1zm6dmF7B0fZP_LcZ5gM5awVKeszS9mjpEm2tEpp-XVzl7SVnoEDJ2ofqpGFgG_3WUa-6Btim5mwOjWS5GM94rq6SocGcK3v4xpnupB_LUJ_AS3l93Z7y7yfTjfEJF74ZqhIxluFHv2smgt8ZV/s475/10611.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="289" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSoa4t2b4lqTLdz3un3YPzI_yeRnNv-JiDZbyo0d8t2w1zm6dmF7B0fZP_LcZ5gM5awVKeszS9mjpEm2tEpp-XVzl7SVnoEDJ2ofqpGFgG_3WUa-6Btim5mwOjWS5GM94rq6SocGcK3v4xpnupB_LUJ_AS3l93Z7y7yfTjfEJF74ZqhIxluFHv2smgt8ZV/w244-h400/10611.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>The first time I read <i>The Eyes of the Dragon</i> was about 30 years ago. I didn't remember all the plot details reading it again, but I did remember that it's a fairy tale fantasy novel. Above all, I remembered the warm tone of the narrator who speaks directly to the reader. </p><p>It's pretty much King's style in the little forewords and afterwords where he directly addresses his Constant Readers, only if he were telling us a long fairy tale. I loved that aspect of the book just as much or even more than I did last time. I have a clear memory of reading a particular passage in which the narrator wishes the reader a good night. I'm a sucker for that sort of thing, dear reader.</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p>There's a King Roland and a shady wizard named Flagg. My fellow Constant Readers will recognize Flagg, who is up to his same old evil mischief in the Kingdom of Delain as he is with that other Roland in <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2020/10/dark-tower-re-read-book-7-dark-tower.html" target="_blank">the Dark Tower series</a>, in Las Vegas in <i><a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2020/01/phantasmagoric-american-myth-stand-by.html" target="_blank">The Stand</a></i>, and no doubt many other wheres and whens and levels of the Tower. (Come to think of it, the narrator in this novel may be Stephen King himself... my fellow Tower Junkies will know what I mean)</p><p>As for the plot, after an amount of backstory that makes sense for the kind of story this is, Roland dies mysteriously and wouldn't you know it, someone frames poor Prince Peter for the death of his father and installs his younger brother Thomas as King. You'll never guess who did it? Okay, you probably already did. It was Flagg, who is as much of an evil trickster as ever, but so much fun to read about. Since royals can't be executed, Peter is imprisoned in the tower (not THAT Tower).</p><p>I don't want to ruin it, but Peter does hatch a plan to escape with some help from napkins and a doll house, both of which are legacies of his deceased mother (you'll also never guess who's responsible for that murder...). I found that to be a sweet emotional touch: his love for his mother saves him in the end, along with some friends. But to learn about that, reader, you'll need to read the novel for yourself. You won't want to miss the dragon, of course.</p><p>So all-in-all, <i>The Eyes of the Dragon</i> is another good example of how good Stephen King is in any genre, but for fans of his more fantasy-oriented stories (like my favorite <i><a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2020/10/dark-tower-re-read-book-7-dark-tower.html" target="_blank">The Dark Tower</a></i>) this is a particularly great example of his fantasy. And it also shows how King works in the multiverse of the Tower. There are, after all dear reader, other worlds than these.</p><p><br /></p><p><i>See also <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/937062401" target="_blank">my Goodreads review</a> (another level of this review).</i></p>Ethanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13490888839784651097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323383105577553414.post-30723893794685003192023-12-05T20:04:00.000-08:002023-12-05T20:04:30.806-08:00Pandemic of Revenge: The White Plague by Frank Herbert<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgauiE8RvqVnF-zXKCNA6FuuclBkNwTHnqGgmkB7uvyxibGvKt2lMiwn0ItMBLe6LhbtaywRKO8w5XNsqTwmTyuzSWvtcpfTJ2r0iBkhGyG_mamoizx0sxGcdLOQAzrInm8cC017ep7Pc_Xd2SUeILF72xsstghjE7YuEIKbKtpzy5qjf_jTockz1t3Mo2v/s475/93448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="291" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgauiE8RvqVnF-zXKCNA6FuuclBkNwTHnqGgmkB7uvyxibGvKt2lMiwn0ItMBLe6LhbtaywRKO8w5XNsqTwmTyuzSWvtcpfTJ2r0iBkhGyG_mamoizx0sxGcdLOQAzrInm8cC017ep7Pc_Xd2SUeILF72xsstghjE7YuEIKbKtpzy5qjf_jTockz1t3Mo2v/w245-h400/93448.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Let's start with the obvious: <i>The White Plague</i> is not <i><a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2021/10/why-i-love-dune.html" target="_blank">Dune</a></i>. But it is definitely Frank Herbert: provocative, complex, dense, and oddly compelling. And yes, there are epigraphs at the beginning of each chapter.</p><p>Instead of a galactic empire 20-some thousand years in the future, we start with Ireland circa 1980. Microbiologist John Roe O'Neill loses his wife and children in a terrorist attack. And later a virus decimates humanity, or rather, half of humanity, as it only affects women. It turns out that O'Neill designed the virus as revenge, intending it to strike Ireland, England, and Libya. Of course, viruses don't respect national boundaries and it becomes a global pandemic.</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p>Along the way we meet a UN task force, the US President, the Pope, a woman who survives in isolation with her fiancé, a group of women and one man living in a Pagan commune, and a small band of Irishmen (including a priest, a soldier, and a mute boy) who meet a strange American named O'Donnell who may or may not be the O'Neill who unleashed the virus, but who promises to help them find a cure. Weirdly, it turns out he is the same person, or rather two persons in one (so is he really the same person? A fun philosophical question!)</p><p>If this sounds complicated, it's because it is. Actually it's a great deal more complicated than I just described. The revenge plot is a bit thin (sure, he's destroyed by the death of his family, but killing all other women seems a bit overboard, doesn't it?). Or maybe it's just that I've never cared much as revenge as a character motivation. </p><p>But the deeper thoughts about revenge are as relevant now as they were 40 years ago: once you ignite the fires of revenge, can you keep them from consuming the world? Does revenge actually satisfy as much as it promises? Does revenge ultimately destroy the person who seeks it, or is redemption possible?</p><p>There's also the weird gender stuff that won't surprise any Frank Herbert fans. What does this novel say about gender and biology? Why did Herbert decide to have a virus that kills women? Is that supposed to be more horrific (and it is plenty horrific, especially reading it in 2023 as we hopefully are nearing the end of a real-life pandemic)? How would the novel change if it were men who were killed? And how does this impact society afterwards: are women more or less powerful being in the extreme minority around the globe? What does this tell us about Frank Herbert's ideas about gender, or our own?</p><p>I distinctly remember checking this out from the library when I was a teenager after having read <i>Dune</i> for the first time. I never got around to reading it back then, but I think I appreciated it much more as an adult. This is definitely the more mature style of later Frank Herbert (published 1982). Reading this was like an IOU to my teenage self 30 years ago, so I'm glad I finally cashed it in. I feel like I'm a big enough Frank Herbert fan that I need to check out more of his non-<i>Dune</i> work, maybe next with <i>The Jesus Incident</i>, <i>The Godmakers</i>, or <i>The Saratoga Barrier</i>.</p><p><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/811181957" target="_blank">See also my Goodreads review.</a></i></p>Ethanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13490888839784651097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323383105577553414.post-71635829593521714132023-12-03T10:55:00.000-08:002023-12-05T09:55:05.768-08:00Israel/Palestine: A Dialogue with Myself<p>Me: I’ve been thinking a lot about what’s happening in Israel/Palestine, but I’m not sure what to say. I haven’t been saying much about it. </p><p>Me 2: But who are you to say anything? You’re not Jewish or Muslim, Israeli or Palestinian? Why should anyone care what you think? </p><p>Me: I don’t know, honestly. Obviously, I relate to this issue differently and less personally than people more directly affected by it, or by the recent rise in antisemitism and Islamophobia here in the US. I guess maybe writing this is a way to figure out what I think? Maybe it could help others? Or they could tell me where I’m wrong? </p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p><br /></p><p>Me 2: But isn’t that the problem, especially on social media? Did we learn nothing from the hellscape of social media in 2016? Do you really want people “telling you where you’re wrong”? </p><p>Me: No. Not like that. But I feel like it’s maybe not quite as bad, at least among people I tend to interact with these days. My problem was never that people disagreed with me (that’s just life), but that there seemed to be so little understanding. </p><p>Me 2: And then there are the people who think that if you’re not posting all your thoughts on social media 24/7, then you must not care about the issue at all. </p><p>Me: But I did write to my Senators and Congressperson about it, asking them to work toward a ceasefire. I gave money to charities working in Gaza. I did do something. I do think about it all the time. Just not publicly on social media. Like I said, there’s so little room for understanding on social media. Or nuance. You have to be over-the-top bombastic all the time. It’s exhausting. Not to mention the rampant misinformation. </p><p>Me 2: Remember in 2016 when that person on Facebook told us Snopes was coopted by George Soros and shouldn’t be trusted? </p><p>M: Yeah. That was the day my faith in any sort of reasonable discourse on social media died. </p><p>M2: And then there’s the “leftister than thou” crowd... Not<i> as</i> bad, of course. And we often agree. But they’re annoyingly smug and dismissive on social media. </p><p>M: True. So nowadays I’m mostly posting memes. It’s a good life. </p><p>M2: You mentioned George Soros, whose name is often used as an antisemitic dog whistle. </p><p>M: Right. And there has been a huge increase in antisemitic and Islamophobic incidents here in the US. I can’t imagine how traumatic this moment is for Muslims and Jews here in the US and in many other places. </p><p>M2: You’re right. We can’t imagine that. But we can worry about it. And try to do something about it. Maybe that’s a reason to say something? </p><p>M: Maybe. In the week or so after the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, it was clear to me that Islamophobia and antisemitism are both bad. Also bad: Hamas and the current Israeli government, which has continued to look even worse given the civilian death toll in Gaza. But on the “not bad” list: Palestinian and Israeli people, Muslims and Jews in general. </p><p>M2: So maybe what we’re worried about is the blurring and erasing of some of these lines? Or in another sense: that things are ossifying into two separate camps – pro Israel vs. pro Palestine, where these camps conflate certain ideological positions, certain leadership, and large groups of people? In reducing something this complex to two monolith and opposing sides, we all suffer for this delusion. </p><p>M: I think so. And this in turn relates to my other concerns about antisemitism and Islamophobia. The world doesn’t seem to be making much progress in dissolving various bigotries and prejudices. Things seem to have gotten worse. </p><p>M2: Or maybe it just seems that way against the background of things more generally getting better? Nobody bothered to complain when they expected things to be terrible all the time. So maybe your disappointment itself is a sign of progress? </p><p>M: I don’t know. Some things do seem to be getting genuinely worse. </p><p>M2: I guess we’ll let historians in 50 or 100 years argue about that. If anyone survives the climate crisis, anyway. The early 21st century is going to be a weird time to study. </p><p>M: So back to the current war. It all started with the Hamas attack on Oct. 7. Can we agree that was bad? </p><p>M2: Yes! They killed over a thousand Israeli civilians. And there are the hostages. </p><p>M: Okay. Let’s start there. </p><p>M2: But can we really start there? I mean, we have to look at the last decade of how Israel has treated Palestinians, if not back to 1948. Not to mention the very real costs of Islamophobia in places like the US and Europe. Look at recent attacks here in the US. Let’s not forget how bad it was after 9/11. </p><p>M: And then we can look at what happened to Jews in the Holocaust and for centuries before that. Remember when we went to Auschwitz a few years ago? </p><p>M2: Yeah. Horrifying. Sobering. Worth it in a weird way even if we were supposed to be having fun in Poland. I do worry people are forgetting the historical context of the Holocaust. </p><p>M: So, we can agree it’s a larger issue, historically speaking. </p><p>M: But the recent history of Palestine doesn’t justify what Hamas did. </p><p>M2: No. But maybe there’s a historical context that could explain it a bit. </p><p>M: Nor does the historical context of centuries of antisemitism justify killing over ten thousand Palestinian civilians, many of them children. </p><p>M2: Wait. Are we “both sides-ing” this? </p><p>M: Maybe? But I think the problem with “both sides-ing” is when you use it to diminish the legitimate harm on one side. But I think we’re just saying it’s all bad, not necessarily equally. I mean, just look at the death tolls. It’s clear this war is far worse for Palestinians in that sense, but this doesn’t erase the larger global dangers of antisemitism or the harm for people in Israel. But the leaders of both sides are the ones doing all this. </p><p>M2: Think of our favorite bit from that Kevin Costner movie. What was it? </p><p>M: <i>The Postman</i>, based on the novel by David Brin. I think the line was something like, “Wouldn’t it be nice if wars could be settled by the assholes that started them?” </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3kec5cgwZ-wZbbBUMetKUSQgOxBDA6NVM9ZLJRfWV-3EykzpfNl5TViQQ1l_cyT0XUoN9xATpVaGjSq54dwUF0mHM91ECl5jpiSNlwRRsMjb4n8Bbw1ZyTuOpyj2CIDJP-gwFK6HD6LpG_0yBfFqvX_pS3O7kY0ftZpQnVeQrjdO1E5dxw76MXY79CRj/s750/war%20assholes.jpg.webp" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="750" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3kec5cgwZ-wZbbBUMetKUSQgOxBDA6NVM9ZLJRfWV-3EykzpfNl5TViQQ1l_cyT0XUoN9xATpVaGjSq54dwUF0mHM91ECl5jpiSNlwRRsMjb4n8Bbw1ZyTuOpyj2CIDJP-gwFK6HD6LpG_0yBfFqvX_pS3O7kY0ftZpQnVeQrjdO1E5dxw76MXY79CRj/s320/war%20assholes.jpg.webp" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>M2: Hamas knew how the hardline rightwing Israelis would respond. And they counted on a brutal military response from the Israeli government, according to some reports. They offered up the Palestinian people as sacrifices toward their political goals. </p><p>M: Right. And let’s not forget the Israelis sacrificed to this cause. The Israeli government may have known about the Hamas plot ahead of time. The Israeli government seems to be reacting like a person who physically abuses their family because their family makes them mad. They seem to talk as if Hamas is making them do this. As if they have no choice in the matter. And regular Palestinians suffer for it. </p><p>M2: The real victims in all this: just regular people, including Israelis who demonstrated against the Netanyahu regime. </p><p>M: Not to mention Palestinian children who weren’t even born when Hamas was elected in Gaza. </p><p>M2: But wait: what are Palestinians supposed to do? They’ve suffered a lot in recent decades from the policies of the Israeli government. Will a sit-in or nonviolent demonstration do anything? </p><p>M: I don’t know. I don’t have the answers. But this war isn’t a good answer. It breaks my heart. And not in a cheesy liberal white guilt sort of way. It’s a deep heartrending, a fracture in my soul. The human cost is just … <i>too much</i>. (starts crying) </p><p>M2: Well, that’s dramatic. But I think I know what you mean. But what is Israel supposed to do? They can’t just let Hamas keep doing this, can they? </p><p>M: No. We agreed we’re no fan of Hamas. I read that Hilary Clinton article “<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/11/hamas-israel-ceasefire-humanitarian-pause-gaza/675992/" target="_blank">Hamas Must Go.” </a></p><p>M2: Me, too. But at what cost? How many children must we sacrifice for this goal? My reaction to the Clinton piece was that all the same arguments would apply to the Netanyahu regime. It must go, too. </p><p>M: Who’s “both-sides-ing” now? </p><p>M2: But something has to change. The current war is the worst possible outcome for everybody, especially the people of Gaza. </p><p>M: At least we had the temporary cease fire. And some hostages and prisoners are free. </p><p>M2: But the ceasefire didn’t last. Will the hostages all go home? And what happens after this war does finally end? </p><p>M: The US has been proposing a two-state solution for decades. </p><p>M2: Sure, but we could also talk about the US support for Israel: our tax dollars are going toward killing people in Gaza. And there’s Iranian support for Hamas. As for the two-state solution, will the current Israeli government agree to that? Will Hamas? </p><p>M: I don’t know. There have been some misinformation issues, too. Remember the debate about who bombed those hospitals? And the civilian death tolls come from the Hamas-run health authority, so some Israeli officials have said it’s not as bad as it seems. </p><p>M2: But it’s bad whether it’s 10,000 or 15,000. A lot of innocent people are dead. And for what? It all seems so pointless, this loss of life. People’s hopes, dreams, loved ones … obliterated by bombs and bullets. And for <i>what</i>? (starts crying) </p><p>M: Who’s heartbroken now? </p><p>M2: … </p><p>M: … </p><p>M2: Can we agree that on the ground in the middle east, this is generally worse for the Palestinians? What do we think about the calls to refer to this as a genocide? Settler colonialism? </p><p>M: I saw this article with a clickbaity headline, something like <a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/article-why-do-people-hate-israel/ " target="_blank">“Why Do People Hate Israel”? </a></p><p>M2: Such clickbait! </p><p>M: Sure, but the article made an interesting point about the narratives of genocide and settler colonialism, that it makes the situation morally clear-cut and digestible, especially on social media. And once you frame it this way, there can be no nuance. Only action. Maybe even by any means necessary. </p><p>M2: Sure. But is there something to it? What nuance do you need when it comes to leveling Gaza and killing thousands of innocent children? Don’t some Israeli officials talk in a sort of genocide-y way? We deeply respect Angela Davis, and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Freedom-Constant-Struggle-Palestine-Foundations/dp/1608465640" target="_blank">she’s been making this case for decades. </a></p><p>M: We agreed the war itself is terrible. </p><p>M2: We did. But now we’re getting into the larger goals of the leadership on both sides. </p><p>M: Right. So, what is the goal of Hamas? </p><p>M2: I think they want Palestine for Muslims eventually. But what is the goal of some hardline right-wing Israelis? </p><p>M: To remove Palestinians from Israel, I guess. </p><p>M2: So if we leave it to the hardliners on both sides— </p><p>M: Here we go with our “both-sides-ing” again!</p><p>M2: Sure, but what other way forward is there? Remember what we read <a href="https://writingfamilyhistories.substack.com/p/only-peace-is-possible?utm_source=profile&utm_medium=reader2" target="_blank">somewhere</a>? At this point there’s no practical way to force either Israelis or Palestinians to leave. The hardliners are chasing phantasms, trampling on the lives of innocent people as they do so. The only way forward is peace. Coexistence has to be the goal. </p><p>M: But not now? </p><p>M2: Maybe there will be another ceasefire? </p><p>M: I hope so. But where do we go from here, as MLK said in <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Where-Do-We-Here-Community/dp/0807000671" target="_blank">that book of his that we love so much</a>? How many innocent people have to die for the sake of short-term political goals? What is the long-term political goal for that part of the world? For the region? For humanity as a whole? Quoting King again: where do we go from here: chaos or community? </p><p>M2: I don’t know. But then again, nobody should take advice from us! Neither of us claims to have the answers. </p><p>M: Maybe it’s not up to us to have the answers anyway. For too long, people have been telling the middle east what to do, under the assumption that “those people” don’t know what’s good for themselves. Or that they’re essentially barbaric and prone to war. We’ve been seduced in the last 50 years into thinking war and violence in the middle east is inevitable. </p><p>M2: Right. It’s Orientalism. We’ve read <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Orientalism-Edward-W-Said/dp/039474067X" target="_blank">Edward Said</a>. But remember: we were trying to figure out what we think, not pretend we have all the answers for everybody. Still. </p><p>M: How about this answer? We can’t do this anymore. War, I mean. And not just in Israel/Palestine, but in Yemen, Ukraine, Myanmar, Ethiopia, Syria, and so many other places that don’t get regular news coverage … </p><p>M2: Let’s add gun violence here in the US, cartel violence in Mexico... Sexual violence around the world. I’d like to end all that. I really would. I’d also like to see the reallocation of wealth and resources that could make it happen, the reorientation of values. I want a <i>Star Trek</i> future. But it’s not realistic, is it? </p><p>M: Maybe not. But how well is the <i>status quo</i> working for us? For humanity? </p><p>M2: Maybe time to try something different? </p><p>M: We just <i>can’t</i> keep doing this. We’ve got to find a better way. We should choose community over chaos. It won’t be easy. But I have to believe we <i>can</i>, which is, of course, different than believing we <i>will</i>. Because the alternative… </p><p>M2: I know. </p><p>M: So, I guess we agree on something then?</p>Ethanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13490888839784651097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323383105577553414.post-55958902431141660942023-11-19T19:53:00.000-08:002023-11-19T19:53:12.505-08:00Vacation Revelations: The Cabin at the End of the World by Paul Tremblay<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglAlOMeqhimQZIeHSs1Ieajo-jdOdQfdqlme_GSI11-0UopvINX35GO7mvNKBgzyI4P5Pc6JlfvbuluXc7CuMSr1FUqL60Oq0tKZVOJAgpYxK74tU_69yOZ56oIGiFlGDSKTcty4CXOL_AqNkEZQUfI44dyxhvvXn7XS-Bo9Hnnpnn0fjqqjfYOOsoDAqM/s648/36381091.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="429" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglAlOMeqhimQZIeHSs1Ieajo-jdOdQfdqlme_GSI11-0UopvINX35GO7mvNKBgzyI4P5Pc6JlfvbuluXc7CuMSr1FUqL60Oq0tKZVOJAgpYxK74tU_69yOZ56oIGiFlGDSKTcty4CXOL_AqNkEZQUfI44dyxhvvXn7XS-Bo9Hnnpnn0fjqqjfYOOsoDAqM/w265-h400/36381091.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>I often find novels written in the present tense to be a bit gimmicky (like the author is trying too hard to make it feel immediate). I also don't always like horror that relies heavily on Christian symbolism (I can appreciate<i> The Exorcist</i>, but I prefer it when authors create new ideas to terrify us rather than riffing on centuries' old preexisting material). Yet somehow I really loved <i>The Cabin at the End of the World</i>, which probably says a lot about Tremblay's skills as an author. </p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p>In fact, I think what works best about the novel is Tremblay's writing and attention to characters. I feel like I got to know each of the main characters, especially Wen, Leonard, Andrew, and Eric, mostly through their responses to this bizarre scenario and plenty of flashbacks that didn't detract from the momentum of the story. It's no surprise to me that Stephen King blurbed this one as a fellow author who excels at characterization amidst unusual events.</p><p>We meet Wen, a young girl catching grasshoppers near the cabin where she's on vacation with her dads. A large, seemingly gentle man emerges from the forest and tells her he needs to get to know here and her parents. Eventually he and three others, armed with bizarre makeshift weapons, tell the family that they must save the world through an impossible choice. I'll leave it there to avoid spoilers, but I will say that the plot is engrossing throughout and keeps the reader guessing. My only complaint is that I was hoping for a little more backstory of Leonard and friends before they made this unusual journey, but that's a minor complaint and on second thought maybe would have slowed down the novel too much.</p><p>As for the Christian symbolism, it's so obvious to the reader and to the characters that it's not even fun to point out, but I will say it comes right out of the Book of Revelations. This may seem gimmicky to some readers, but I think Tremblay's subtlety is that the awareness of this symbolism itself plays into the inherent ambiguity of what really happens. Is the strangers' story really real? Are they targeting an innocent family to save the world, or is it random or for homophobic reasons? How does this play into questions about prophecy, religious experience, and questions about critical thinking and epistemology? Do the characters know what happened? Is it possible for the characters or the reader to know?</p><p>How does the novel compare to the film version (<i>Knock at the Cabin</i>), directed by M. Night Shyamalan, which I saw before reading the novel? For the first 3/4ths of the book, the film follows the novel more-or-less faithfully, and both do keep you guessing and engrossed. There are a few huge changes at the end of the film that I won't spoil, but I will say that the ending of the film is far less ambiguous. Also, I really loved Dave Bautista as Leonard (even though Leonard is described as much younger and with more hair than Bautista, it was hard not to think of his performance as I read the novel).</p><p>So, while I do recommend the film, I think I recommend the novel more. But then again, the book is almost always better. In any case, I'll be sure to check out more of Tremblay's work in the future. If we have one.</p><p><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5058151019" target="_blank">See my Goodreads review.</a></i></p>Ethanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13490888839784651097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323383105577553414.post-78963074619672835692023-10-30T20:50:00.002-07:002023-10-30T21:13:36.193-07:00Spooky Reads for Spooky Season: Halloween 2023!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQwH7hAYqYQw1IdL_qxS_F-_hxgRF9_4I-sWMKI0LjIAA_ISEYTGIUHOT4qdR26UDcdVQ2zN5QjnEOUOeDySBqiJXAxkcqZGrtJ16UC4rGFP_w2GeMgmSBB0YRg_Okiv5E_G0sBfZfQGTukshA4UUsp92-Wb0hCxibY-B5N1e5mwpqR2YzEqh7_gXuYZIq/s2159/52180399.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2159" data-original-width="1400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQwH7hAYqYQw1IdL_qxS_F-_hxgRF9_4I-sWMKI0LjIAA_ISEYTGIUHOT4qdR26UDcdVQ2zN5QjnEOUOeDySBqiJXAxkcqZGrtJ16UC4rGFP_w2GeMgmSBB0YRg_Okiv5E_G0sBfZfQGTukshA4UUsp92-Wb0hCxibY-B5N1e5mwpqR2YzEqh7_gXuYZIq/w260-h400/52180399.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><br /><p>Spooky Season has been in full swing for almost two full months here in the US. One of the better things my fellow Americans have done in recent decades: turning Halloween into a full two-month-long festival of ghoulish goodness!</p><p>I've been watching a lot of spooky movies, from the old school <i>The Wolf Man </i>to <i>The Descent </i>to the entire <i>Pet Sematary </i>cinematic universe (I re-read <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2539600804" target="_blank">the novel</a>, which remains better than any of the films, watched <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2019/04/is-dead-still-better-pet-sematary-2019.html" target="_blank">both film versions</a>, even got to <i>Pet Sematary 2, </i>which I don't necessarily recommend, and the brand new, <i>Pet Sematary: Bloodlines</i>, which I do recommend). I've also been trying to branch out more internationally with films like <i>Kandisha </i>from France and <i>Kaali Khuhi </i>from India. </p><p>And there's spooky TV, too, most excellently <i>The Fall of the House of Usher </i>(Mike Flanagan's fantastic take on Edgar Allan Poe) and <i>The Changeling </i>(based on <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2020/12/realism-and-other-fantasies-changeling.html" target="_blank">a novel by Victor LaValle</a> starring LaKeith Stanfield). I may write up some thoughts about my spooky cinematic adventures later, maybe sometime before my horror and philosophy students present their films on November 16! (stay tuned for details on that)</p><p>But for now, here are a few of my spooky reads for spooky season 2023! Happy Halloween!</p><span></span><span><a name='more'></a></span><p><br /></p><p><u><b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>The Only Good Indians </i>by Stephen Graham Jones</span></b></u></p><p>This is the second book by Stephen Graham Jones that I've read, after <i><a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2022/10/slashers-and-human-experience-my-heart.html" target="_blank">My Heart is a Chainsaw</a>. </i>I really liked both of them, although this one is a bit less fun and maybe more creepy.</p><p>In <i>The Only Good Indians</i>, we follow a group of friends who have an experience while hunting elk one winter. What follows is a strange tale of revenge, spookiness, and thoughts on family, ancestors, the experience of being Native, and more (to say "sins of the fathers" is too simple, but something kinda in that direction). There are three main stories, which may be worth knowing going in (I was caught off guard when the first story ends rather abruptly --or maybe the point is that stories never really end?). Anyway, it picks up with other related characters, and it all leads to a creepy conclusion that I won't spoil other than to say this is a good read for spooky season.</p><p>While I fully admit there are literary and cultural nuances I'm missing here, Jones's style is maybe a bit more in the MFA crowd direction than I tend to enjoy (I mean, he's not totally there; there is good spooky horror of a rural Montana working class variety, not just depressed rich white people in New York City or whatever). Lacking an MFA, I'm not sure I can completely describe what I mean, but maybe it's that even some of the basic descriptions require a bit of working out (I often found myself turning back to re-read passages). Or maybe I was in a weird place and not looking for this kind of subtlety when I read this? Who knows?</p><p>Anyway, I definitely see why Jones is a Big Deal in horror literature right now, and I do recommend checking him out. I'll be reading the sequel to <i>My Heart is a Chainsaw </i>soon (<i>Don't Fear the Reaper</i>), which promises if anything to be a more fun book. Speaking of fun, I have really enjoyed Jones's appearances on <i><a href="https://www.fangoria.com/podcasts/the-kingcast/" target="_blank">The Kingcast</a></i>, especially his hilarious animal encounter stories, so check those out, too!</p><p><br /></p><p><b><u><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Books of Blood, Volume 2 </i>by Clive Barker</span></u></b></p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxsPRZTaNH3v9Op-K35r9NK0oPPN8QnscU74hSQF7FdCLlWO6DSpCLib06g_jiOlvpZmGCRmpoxOjil84sT4-oZkyq6VkBMJ9lSTu56BwEYecXcGlmfoa__oPknRehnYHsHPYTcn0cnOcOPcjRkw4f_Rq2NkMr_jPdPEiyYjmDFJg5fvsPUDw16fkYN7WE/s475/291950.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="285" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxsPRZTaNH3v9Op-K35r9NK0oPPN8QnscU74hSQF7FdCLlWO6DSpCLib06g_jiOlvpZmGCRmpoxOjil84sT4-oZkyq6VkBMJ9lSTu56BwEYecXcGlmfoa__oPknRehnYHsHPYTcn0cnOcOPcjRkw4f_Rq2NkMr_jPdPEiyYjmDFJg5fvsPUDw16fkYN7WE/w240-h400/291950.jpg" width="240" /></a></b></div><b><br /><br /></b><p></p><p>I've been a Clive Barker fan for a long time (for <i>Hellraiser</i>, obviously, but also his dark fantasy novels). Last year I read <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2022/11/mini-reviews-of-spooky-stuff-for-spooky.html" target="_blank"><i>Books of Blood, Vol. 1 </i>for Spooky Season</a>, and I figured I should read <i>Vol. 2</i> this year. Great stuff, as expected.</p><p>"Dread" was fun for me because one of the main characters is an academic philosopher (although his "thought experiments" become all too real). "Hell's Event" and "Jaqueline Ess: Her Will and Testament" are both classic Clive Barker: somehow simultaneously brutal and beautiful with a touch of melancholy. "The New Murders in the Rue Morgue" is a fun riff on the classic Poe story, but with a gnarly Barker twist.</p><p>But my personal favorite has to be "The Skins of the Fathers," an excellent example of Barker's dark fantasy (where he lives most of the time: somewhere on the border of fantasy and horror). Maybe it's because I used to live in Arizona and New Mexico, but I've always thought the beautiful, brutal desert is as natural home for horror as the foggy moors of England or the eldritch forests of New England. And what if there were ancient atavistic progenitors lurking in the parched mountains of Arizona? And what if you got a bit of Barker's sympathy for "monsters" (think: <i>Nightbreed</i>)?</p><p>Another fun fact: a doom metal band I used to know when I lived in Albuquerque called Sandia Man had a song inspired by this story! <a href="https://sandiaman.bandcamp.com/track/skins-of-the-fathers" target="_blank">Check it out here.</a></p><p><br /></p><p><u><b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>The Ballad of Black Tom </i>by Victor LaValle</span></b></u></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihJZ1O-SeQv5Qyky05lIrw7kLBNHH3CSwWKwkSTns5UZTbx45Bd2IK120dxsRNJWsqsSN3IVcWcNs6nW8XB7r7YqyODMqmlsuE31KPzu5Z2gSN1xr0xObuvEmU4zA8DbGkZwJIlWUAoLRBQqVHTY-NyeIC54LkaFAOiNeJ-PUxQA3V6kvoFyr2I7SR6_qp/s400/26883558.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="250" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihJZ1O-SeQv5Qyky05lIrw7kLBNHH3CSwWKwkSTns5UZTbx45Bd2IK120dxsRNJWsqsSN3IVcWcNs6nW8XB7r7YqyODMqmlsuE31KPzu5Z2gSN1xr0xObuvEmU4zA8DbGkZwJIlWUAoLRBQqVHTY-NyeIC54LkaFAOiNeJ-PUxQA3V6kvoFyr2I7SR6_qp/w250-h400/26883558.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>I've read this one several times, because I teach it in the horror and philosophy class mentioned above! It's a good one for an answer to Lovecraft's xenophobia and racism, as well as LaValle's own take on the genre of cosmic horror. Speaking of LaValle, I enjoyed the Apple TV version of <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2020/12/realism-and-other-fantasies-changeling.html" target="_blank">his novel <i>The Changeling</i></a>, and I hope to read his latest book <i>Lone Women</i> soon.</p><p>Anyway, here's what I added to <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2021220937" target="_blank">my ever-increasing Goodreads review:</a></p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">Edit (Oct. 2023): Reading again for my horror and philosophy course. Not much new to add this time, just my continued appreciation for how much I love this novella and its take on cosmic horror. Maybe one thing has come more sharply into focus this time: one puzzle in Lovecraft stories like "The Call of Cthulhu" is why the cultists would want a creature like Cthulhu to come to Earth and upend human civilization, and maybe LaValle has given us something of an answer in the character of Black Tom.</blockquote><p><br /></p><p><b><u><span style="font-size: large;"><i>The Fall of the House of Usher and Other Stories </i>by Edgar Allan Poe</span></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEdLuKS92261ccNxuHfPmN29ZAyM6I3GoLGrzth003EfQvpqP7E42M_Mlc1ZCAGwQD-JKNEmflsspWl01yQOu1RgWTjsmEYmmQzI0-iTduaWvuTTc4mXJEz4j47yg_pRzVRdA9Mr2UXVdjdb3Kxzdj1oVUc3j384DR1v6wPkZxeQgRdYLB7m6qo1thxn1b/s2153/26076557.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2153" data-original-width="1317" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEdLuKS92261ccNxuHfPmN29ZAyM6I3GoLGrzth003EfQvpqP7E42M_Mlc1ZCAGwQD-JKNEmflsspWl01yQOu1RgWTjsmEYmmQzI0-iTduaWvuTTc4mXJEz4j47yg_pRzVRdA9Mr2UXVdjdb3Kxzdj1oVUc3j384DR1v6wPkZxeQgRdYLB7m6qo1thxn1b/w245-h400/26076557.jpg" width="245" /></a></div><br /><p>It being Spooky Season and with Mike Flanagan's adaptation of <i>The Fall of the House of Usher</i> coming soon, I figured it was a good excuse to revisit this volume (I knew I kept this old paperback around for a reason!). I stuck mostly with the most famous stories. Some (like "Murders in the Rue Morgue" and "The Purloined Letter") were less interesting to me than I remembered, but most were about as fun as I remembered ("Usher," "A Cask of Amontillado," "Masque of the Red Death," and of course "The Tell-Tale Heart"). This time I completely adored the less-famous story "The Black Cat." Don't be cruel to cats! Which reminds me that I was going to re-read <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2018/10/is-dead-better-pet-sematary-by-stephen.html" target="_blank">Stephen King's <i>Pet Sematary</i></a>, too...</p><p>[edit: Dear Reader, I am pleased to inform you that the Mike Flanagan show was amazing, if not exactly a traditional adaptation of a particular story but something more like an interwoven Poe-extravaganza, and I felt like I got a lot of the Poe references I would have otherwise missed if I hadn't reread these stories. I also did re-read <i>Pet Sematary</i>, which just might be my favorite non-Dark Tower Stephen King novel. And of course see the Clive Barker review above for Barker's, um, unique and very Clive Barker take on "Murders in the Rue Morgue"]</p><p><br /></p><p><b><u><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Pet Sematary</i> by Stephen King</span></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGWW-QDSaIlGDt3ssnj6-HWqOarZ18oVhfqnh6C-17fzcpL5VVCsJ5F2G9BVmOY9BPykHUEQz0e1hH_tY9RkLrnxx9CYNfIy6pju_q5V4uy-DBiCT5SRmwldgo0PchX_egA0l65KlsochreiCQikHxccpiukNKm_9KLtyp21rs72hZjvQWZkL9yUOovsqf/s320/91ndIrptO4L.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="177" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGWW-QDSaIlGDt3ssnj6-HWqOarZ18oVhfqnh6C-17fzcpL5VVCsJ5F2G9BVmOY9BPykHUEQz0e1hH_tY9RkLrnxx9CYNfIy6pju_q5V4uy-DBiCT5SRmwldgo0PchX_egA0l65KlsochreiCQikHxccpiukNKm_9KLtyp21rs72hZjvQWZkL9yUOovsqf/w221-h400/91ndIrptO4L.jpg" width="221" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>As mentioned above, I <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2539600804" target="_blank">re-read </a><i><a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2018/10/is-dead-better-pet-sematary-by-stephen.html" target="_blank">Pet Sematary</a> </i>this spooky season. Here's what I had to say about this trip to the ol' pet sematary.</p>UPDATE 2023: I'm teaching the same class this semester, but I do the 2019 movie now instead of the novel (it's just a bit too much reading to cover in a short amount of time). But I wanted to read the novel again after raving about it to my students and as a good spooky season read. So good! So much better than any of the film versions (although I appreciate the brand new prequel <i>Pet Sematary: Bloodlines</i>). Honestly, for all its faults, this may be one of my all-time favorites, maybe even my favorite non-Dark Tower Stephen King book. Ask me again another time, but for now I'll say, sometimes, dead is better.<p><br /></p><p><b><u><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Holly</i> by Stephen King</span></u></b></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKBBkweVn7J9S-IvJXzaqn8lIwjIsVXBchHjrJNtDSgfKW7dRLvRGiddtbNEygY9FjSQRjgvh9XFLfZscjvkTDHVfxBpt8JPHhr39_msdQT9IgRfT-wpKVxdhgXNgly5iAuovbHGpHzv56MS_aB9F1FvsANcOZJERLPEMeojUrM_ABWaVX3Wlk-Ljzp1hg/s900/65916344.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="595" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKBBkweVn7J9S-IvJXzaqn8lIwjIsVXBchHjrJNtDSgfKW7dRLvRGiddtbNEygY9FjSQRjgvh9XFLfZscjvkTDHVfxBpt8JPHhr39_msdQT9IgRfT-wpKVxdhgXNgly5iAuovbHGpHzv56MS_aB9F1FvsANcOZJERLPEMeojUrM_ABWaVX3Wlk-Ljzp1hg/w265-h400/65916344.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>This feels a bit like cheating, because <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2023/10/holly-versus-covid-and-professors-holly.html" target="_blank">my review of <i>Holly </i>was literally the post before this one.</a> But what are you going to do? Stop reading, and <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2023/10/holly-versus-covid-and-professors-holly.html" target="_blank">check out that post</a>? Oh, you are, well... excellent. You've fallen right into my trap, just as I, a nefarious college professor, intended! <i>Mwahahaha!</i></p><p>Happy Halloween!</p>Ethanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13490888839784651097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323383105577553414.post-74234561671432987002023-10-29T20:30:00.003-07:002023-12-05T09:56:01.710-08:00Holly versus COVID and Professors: Holly by Stephen King<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEFrKk-pjo0kLn5i-rYvCb5MQUp3xmP24Amp21XMUQ9PBuEpFfh52-UdBBQQSXNdRSjqQMpitNceQ4SZy2cmF4yNkIihgKxZrqjWpWrlriInhE6-iq5KuUWzEJuvY_2yY_A8igB1CjAu1IjQhfwXnya52Ltk7ZBqJOkJvXzpy32NjOrgjMtd2j793GvILd/s900/65916344.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="595" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEFrKk-pjo0kLn5i-rYvCb5MQUp3xmP24Amp21XMUQ9PBuEpFfh52-UdBBQQSXNdRSjqQMpitNceQ4SZy2cmF4yNkIihgKxZrqjWpWrlriInhE6-iq5KuUWzEJuvY_2yY_A8igB1CjAu1IjQhfwXnya52Ltk7ZBqJOkJvXzpy32NjOrgjMtd2j793GvILd/w265-h400/65916344.jpg" width="265" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Stephen King never (okay, rarely) disappoints, and this Holly Gibney novel, simply titled <i>Holly,</i> is no exception. </p><p>Since I started reading the Holly Gibney stories in a weird order, starting with <i><a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2021/12/still-novella-king-if-it-bleeds-by.html" target="_blank">If It Bleeds</a></i> and <i><a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2022/06/outside-boundaries-of-reason-outsider.html" target="_blank">The Outsider</a></i> without having read the Bill Hodges trilogy, I figured it was fine to pick up King's latest book in the tradition of having had new Stephen King for the last few autumns. I do plan to read the Bill Hodges trilogy soon, but when they came out I was under the impression (which I now realize is mistaken) that King's "crime fiction" would be less interesting than his traditional horror.</p><p>There's a lot one could say about this novel, so let me focus on two of its more controversial aspects: being King's first novel in which the pandemic is part of the plot, and being less of a traditional horror story (while nonetheless being firmly in the horror genre in my opinion).</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p>This is the first novel King has published long enough after the COVID-19 pandemic started so that the pandemic is happening in the story. And for those of us who've met Holly before, you can imagine that a nervous hypochondriac like her would not be too easy going about a disease that has killed at least one million Americans and was extremely deadly in 2021 when the novel is taking place. Of course, Holly is going to be concerned about masking and vaccination. And since much of the novel is from her point of view, it's going to consume a lot of her thoughts, just as it did for many of us living through that period. If only there had been more Hollys, maybe there would have been fewer deaths. </p><p>Which of course is precisely the controversy: of all the dumb mistakes we made in the US (and elsewhere, but like King I'll stick to the US) one of the worst was politicizing a deadly disease that should have brought us all together to fight a common enemy. Honestly the reviews of <i>Holly</i> lambasting King for his emphasis on COVID and his shots at Trump are hilarious. Have you not met Holly (this is EXACTLY how she would react) and do you know nothing about King (the guy is, to put it mildly, not a fan of Trump)? But in another way it's sad to me, because it shows that the culture war political divides that have made the pandemic worse than it had to be are still very much with us. And of course because I basically agree with King, this probably doesn't bother me. Still. It's pretty mild all things considered as a realistic portrayal of some of these divides. I don't see how else you could write about the US in 2021.</p><p>If I have any criticism of how King handles COVID and Trump, it's that characters are a little too forthcoming with their off-the-cuff thoughts on these topics. It seems that everyone Holly talks to for even a few seconds regales her with their opinions on these matters. But on the other hand, I spent much of 2021 interacting with strangers as little as possible, which Holly of course would have preferred if she were not in a line of work that requires interacting with strangers on a regular basis. I also live in a cozy little bubble of academia. Even pre-pandemic, I tended to go into interactions with random people as situations to be dealt with as efficiently as possible. Maybe chattier people, non-academics, and private investigators had a different experience?</p><p>As for my second topic, one thing longtime King fans may notice is that this is not a traditional horror tale. Of course, Constant Readers also know that King, despite his regal status in horror, has written a lot of different genres for decades: mimetic fiction, science fiction, fantasy, nonfiction essays, poetry, and whatever <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2020/10/dark-tower-re-read-book-7-dark-tower.html" target="_blank">the Dark Tower</a> is that I love so very much. In the last decade or so, he has been writing a lot of crime fiction. I have been reluctant to delve into it, but as every "crime fiction" story I read (<i><a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2023/05/review-of-reviews-may-2023.html" target="_blank">Billy Summers</a></i>, <i><a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2021/07/spooky-crime-later-by-stephen-king.html" target="_blank">Later</a></i>, <i><a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2021/12/still-novella-king-if-it-bleeds-by.html" target="_blank">If It Bleeds</a></i>, <i><a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2022/06/outside-boundaries-of-reason-outsider.html" target="_blank">The Outsider</a></i>, etc.) has been amazing, I do fully intend to finally get to the Bill Hodges trilogy.</p><p>Of course King, being King, isn't afraid to mix in the occasional supernatural horror or fantastic element into his crime fiction, even into some of his Holly Gibney stories. But what about this one?</p><p><b><mild spoiler alert!!!!></b></p><blockquote><p><i>There are no supernatural elements in </i>Holly<i>. But it is, I would argue, still very much horror. The octogenarian retired professors who are up to nefarious deeds are every bit as evil as Pennywise or Randall Flagg. Side note: this just goes to show what dealing with academic politics will do to people! If anything, as one character comments later, the fact that these are just regular humans makes them all the more disturbing. It's not that we live in a mostly good universe with some evil dimension rudely poking in. The evil is right here. The ignorance is right here. </i></p></blockquote><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;"><i>(A meta-note on spoilers. King has said that he doesn't mind spoilers, because if the story is good enough you will still enjoy watching it play out. I agree. And he shows this brilliantly in </i>Holly, <i>as we know who the evildoers are early on while the novel still remains as engrossing as anything King has ever written.)</i></p></blockquote><p style="text-align: left;"><b><end mild spoilers></b></p><p>And in the end I think that has been King's larger philosophical inclination. Our universe is not all puppy dogs and rainbows. Sometimes horrific shit is going to happen. Sometimes it feels like all hope is lost in the face of horrors like diseases of the biological or political varieties. And death and horror and tragedy are very real. But there are also people like Holly Gibney out there, too. King's unflinching realism about the horrors of reality without an abdication of all hope is, I have long suspected, a key to King's enduring popularity that is fully on display in his latest novel.</p><p><br /></p><p><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5833975546" target="_blank">See also my Goodreads review.</a></i></p>Ethanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13490888839784651097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323383105577553414.post-55159365034526426112023-10-09T18:43:00.000-07:002023-10-09T18:43:38.470-07:00Random Thoughts, Part 22: Dentists, Strikes, Care, Work-Life Balance, and Semis in the Left Lane<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja4cAPZWXbsqGEfPCogtJcuKdSug6l9lClQtH0ygojA97hG2MY8v-cWL1H-EhQJ8259g-NVTsgOvPdeeCL1gxuyjtFXboAEpcRN1vwjPAYtgxwuz5CPUSmNaktreKeRX59H6DGnG702IHCWW0C9ZvPdWM_aSjOEYVTwyqjwcTpJCqFCSbK_XdfI7RiEUAr/s960/Dune%20Spaceballs%20Apes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="788" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja4cAPZWXbsqGEfPCogtJcuKdSug6l9lClQtH0ygojA97hG2MY8v-cWL1H-EhQJ8259g-NVTsgOvPdeeCL1gxuyjtFXboAEpcRN1vwjPAYtgxwuz5CPUSmNaktreKeRX59H6DGnG702IHCWW0C9ZvPdWM_aSjOEYVTwyqjwcTpJCqFCSbK_XdfI7RiEUAr/w329-h400/Dune%20Spaceballs%20Apes.jpg" width="329" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><i>My <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2023/07/random-thoughts-part-21-john-wick.html" target="_blank">random thoughts series</a> has all led to this: Part 22! It sounds portentous, but it's actually just trivially true. Your whole life has led to you reading this blog post! See?</i></p><p><i>My random thoughts keep coming. If anything, my thoughts get more random every year. Or is that actually not random at all? If something becomes incrementally more random, is it thereby not random? Maybe let's set the AIs on that one instead of deciding people's economic fates or giving students new ways to cheat.</i></p><p><i>Anyway, enjoy this crop of random thoughts as well as another non-random fact: the ever-more ridiculous amount of random memes!</i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsQxzorbmPRs2l0A6gO8FE5T-ntp9tnYo_dTST1q2THpGZUm_1AnXaAdhRhrOuFXXVf32q1yoKgyMN0cWSfKu8X2LUbvtVlRafJF9OlEh9_UgLBeietSWSa-cfnSnyKohyRIJyUiEitaGeCbnrFeeCcgFVCh89oOpF-nGuMyPK7z8DPyhHijSmRY_QF-tZ/s1440/spice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsQxzorbmPRs2l0A6gO8FE5T-ntp9tnYo_dTST1q2THpGZUm_1AnXaAdhRhrOuFXXVf32q1yoKgyMN0cWSfKu8X2LUbvtVlRafJF9OlEh9_UgLBeietSWSa-cfnSnyKohyRIJyUiEitaGeCbnrFeeCcgFVCh89oOpF-nGuMyPK7z8DPyhHijSmRY_QF-tZ/w300-h400/spice.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><i><br /></i><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgge-mhyphenhyphenfkCep4Y_7eTl1o_y1yq5ulsqFX6PSRHluR11nZ7EOrWbh3cEeawVxx87Y_WCTGxcMym36O8O5Vd7eK1fdih_URDxphIqHUgnczSv-TCTk_utjpRHCL0KTEfBcRlVl-Ccn1Lf-rhkKBssEm-mUo5mTuVU2r7D16l1wqvGhdoO4UcoZ_x88x6-DqM/s960/Star%20Trek%20how%20its%20going.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="686" data-original-width="960" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgge-mhyphenhyphenfkCep4Y_7eTl1o_y1yq5ulsqFX6PSRHluR11nZ7EOrWbh3cEeawVxx87Y_WCTGxcMym36O8O5Vd7eK1fdih_URDxphIqHUgnczSv-TCTk_utjpRHCL0KTEfBcRlVl-Ccn1Lf-rhkKBssEm-mUo5mTuVU2r7D16l1wqvGhdoO4UcoZ_x88x6-DqM/w400-h286/Star%20Trek%20how%20its%20going.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>
564. If you can manage it, live somewhere other than the area in which you were born and raised—at least for a little while. If you can’t manage that, travel—at least to a different part of your own country, if not other countries. If you can’t manage that, read widely from different genres and authors of different backgrounds, watch foreign films, etc. Do something to remove yourself from the trajectory of stagnation. Travel beyond the boundaries of that which feels obvious merely because you’ve never experienced any alternatives. <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2dx7cODxxx0ySh8EUZ0nQsYX7XzvNey92iAAFRSr0hBR4bHWN54hmyVfWSosRISb1J4m7aVep9ZRH4iCZcgEpB9LimJmR5GGZ0OSZ5G0hyphenhyphencoL3xO1eG2A6LR7jZNgbTTu9SWTKE-0uIAkcug8RaHF7sVKDbeqY7VMyVX5YgA2IeU__wsAgg2qapjR54WW/s576/juice%20of%20sophia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="576" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2dx7cODxxx0ySh8EUZ0nQsYX7XzvNey92iAAFRSr0hBR4bHWN54hmyVfWSosRISb1J4m7aVep9ZRH4iCZcgEpB9LimJmR5GGZ0OSZ5G0hyphenhyphencoL3xO1eG2A6LR7jZNgbTTu9SWTKE-0uIAkcug8RaHF7sVKDbeqY7VMyVX5YgA2IeU__wsAgg2qapjR54WW/w400-h300/juice%20of%20sophia.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_kxVc559Qdcf9bwLMUx_V5NmArs0VtwCsJukZPW1a9XkpHJlnSeFvnM4_2gMI3o1AjgrEVd19fRNRB3IiqwScV0rv7_7a4Fv9-rD0rtlzjVuqcN6UeCYcC9g290DvqZXzs8NK2Bi3Diitl_bQ83qHszz34_vkMj77UclU_o_mkbyKN8uLREMSAIRCpRH6/s1148/rough%20draft.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1148" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_kxVc559Qdcf9bwLMUx_V5NmArs0VtwCsJukZPW1a9XkpHJlnSeFvnM4_2gMI3o1AjgrEVd19fRNRB3IiqwScV0rv7_7a4Fv9-rD0rtlzjVuqcN6UeCYcC9g290DvqZXzs8NK2Bi3Diitl_bQ83qHszz34_vkMj77UclU_o_mkbyKN8uLREMSAIRCpRH6/w376-h400/rough%20draft.jpg" width="376" /></a></div><br /><div><div><br /></div><div>565. I’ve always been lucky to have good teeth. So, going to the dentist has almost always made me feel good about myself. Is this what skinny people experience at the doctor’s office? </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixxCt87mweHKjvrnHhmV5tiBXKOkr4f_LbbAc2Y4CT_sckl57LBKydolNDtWLeanIhzwF9RA715nw87w1Vku2gpMQM2ugkWB3YFIhr4orM3FxvaD54raNVJF_PNoyoIkGmJWxbBZwJx4dwTMWqbSzJGK6dqScLgjYPPIsIPQrtTWaApkYfPwZOZlqdhYcZ/s395/Cats%20Khan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="285" data-original-width="395" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixxCt87mweHKjvrnHhmV5tiBXKOkr4f_LbbAc2Y4CT_sckl57LBKydolNDtWLeanIhzwF9RA715nw87w1Vku2gpMQM2ugkWB3YFIhr4orM3FxvaD54raNVJF_PNoyoIkGmJWxbBZwJx4dwTMWqbSzJGK6dqScLgjYPPIsIPQrtTWaApkYfPwZOZlqdhYcZ/w400-h289/Cats%20Khan.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5y0ljYVEu5QmQzcY60iX_shI75YYqh8izgQbVC2IgAVuDEhpKRTqXWuMsyxfgT9rchK9-xXMcle-ygYB3Sw6sUb-rr2iubD73SbozZ8pcr1ZdoaiedWCdW0ZXTLGz7lwYqb6QLyE_EVhXI3a3x4c92px0RFhn5-uL1f6FFPObKTAkt-tn1ynC5W_i9OSL/s1630/IPA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1630" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5y0ljYVEu5QmQzcY60iX_shI75YYqh8izgQbVC2IgAVuDEhpKRTqXWuMsyxfgT9rchK9-xXMcle-ygYB3Sw6sUb-rr2iubD73SbozZ8pcr1ZdoaiedWCdW0ZXTLGz7lwYqb6QLyE_EVhXI3a3x4c92px0RFhn5-uL1f6FFPObKTAkt-tn1ynC5W_i9OSL/w400-h265/IPA.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>566. The whole red state/blue state narrative has always bothered me, because it encourages the obviously false conclusions that these categories are fatalistically eternal, that every person and every area in an entire state fits this narrative, that some states (and the people who live there) can be written off entirely, and that large groups of Americans are a monolithic Other rather than messy, complicated human beings. It’s a prime example of how a narrative can drive thinking and experience rather than the other way around, one greatly exacerbated by the news media and especially social media. Whose interests does this narrative serve? Note that I am not saying vicious, harmful policies should not be fought against, but rather that the whole red/blue state narrative often impedes one from doing so. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiimiRQkJCNTRFxmGEpuKuYj32ZUSLukje1BFljo4wGIaF4z77MR8LcTgqjpupd7wIcwhiRi0oMGbR3U8BCawPxW75dJNAYQdxpvszsSymCawcCtyS8AFQfpwozHhYSsHi_hAEaeYi1M1YaZjGbh2RoyX3nKiBCHdR9DulhHj6n07C1HLd813Lx6iudI64G/s666/boldly%20nap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="666" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiimiRQkJCNTRFxmGEpuKuYj32ZUSLukje1BFljo4wGIaF4z77MR8LcTgqjpupd7wIcwhiRi0oMGbR3U8BCawPxW75dJNAYQdxpvszsSymCawcCtyS8AFQfpwozHhYSsHi_hAEaeYi1M1YaZjGbh2RoyX3nKiBCHdR9DulhHj6n07C1HLd813Lx6iudI64G/w400-h300/boldly%20nap.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiawka3wjivJLkfBjrH8_8GUnlZYfs41BNi0necIjBQI5uhVhzdd8fWNoWbJNUolaV2lAydppc2xgFoYmhurqWpeWzYvAKISK3bhhTZr2cFwT0k3wKZsHXi_foMM57kMRmkhJ0kngPd6Ix_wqZ-ILW9aQQulL7xKxkZBfANhFroU77QoZnlnIP0x8Yck73z/s2048/grogu%20weirdos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1672" data-original-width="2048" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiawka3wjivJLkfBjrH8_8GUnlZYfs41BNi0necIjBQI5uhVhzdd8fWNoWbJNUolaV2lAydppc2xgFoYmhurqWpeWzYvAKISK3bhhTZr2cFwT0k3wKZsHXi_foMM57kMRmkhJ0kngPd6Ix_wqZ-ILW9aQQulL7xKxkZBfANhFroU77QoZnlnIP0x8Yck73z/w400-h326/grogu%20weirdos.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>567. In almost all cases, the best way to end a strike is to meet the workers’ demands. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItyNEU_EwdYZbzexE2Jy-rpGFVZnd_Bx44SOOGNlrSFUQlqeQCx9OM17JH7q0WcV5Yac3iRyKyvnYozZYi154Ujd8_q_e3dNDdGbtP4IHDVz2vxayV72XKVEBD9AfawJIyFaJLBaHAZNWIbTvIf1ZjXOA9wv7Fa1nLQFh0FgV7zbgQ9qnA8u1_QuzOjJ_/s843/happy%20hour%20nap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="843" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhItyNEU_EwdYZbzexE2Jy-rpGFVZnd_Bx44SOOGNlrSFUQlqeQCx9OM17JH7q0WcV5Yac3iRyKyvnYozZYi154Ujd8_q_e3dNDdGbtP4IHDVz2vxayV72XKVEBD9AfawJIyFaJLBaHAZNWIbTvIf1ZjXOA9wv7Fa1nLQFh0FgV7zbgQ9qnA8u1_QuzOjJ_/w400-h400/happy%20hour%20nap.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjamNufvFT08YTDDXVf0UZnuquLLhJpiBYLzjk0ttlJIwtZ_FvqCLNc7QXjn-f6nezTADw11vvU82FCdBpciVuzBhxNk0Pfo9tNlP8u5JXHKxr7pFeVvOwXjIQRhdu1RWtiERZGeEv1NJRR4f1Ol6n4N7JaJyoMWeYQCi4-enZqIKru3yuqJnvGossSlHPb/s395/alien%20cat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="395" data-original-width="355" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjamNufvFT08YTDDXVf0UZnuquLLhJpiBYLzjk0ttlJIwtZ_FvqCLNc7QXjn-f6nezTADw11vvU82FCdBpciVuzBhxNk0Pfo9tNlP8u5JXHKxr7pFeVvOwXjIQRhdu1RWtiERZGeEv1NJRR4f1Ol6n4N7JaJyoMWeYQCi4-enZqIKru3yuqJnvGossSlHPb/w360-h400/alien%20cat.jpg" width="360" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>568. It’s not that I think there are no aesthetic criteria, no difference between bad and good art. It’s not all--in that confusing popular idiom--“just subjective.” But I think whatever aesthetic criteria there may be are far less clear and far more difficult to apply than most people think. Or maybe I just mean: don’t be too attached to your aesthetic judgments. Or more fundamentally: don’t be a condescending jerk about it. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNh9WicvPmrzq_HHk9pEMs5c7dILmt-nZh21BXi8myoNiY6z_f04k9omet1jAZqDILa4k7aAB7nEfBYErw5ClvJtxC-KmCggdSU8Met5WYV8O8K2mo4MXpBgOp6S7WKnGOvEplBsv0GrenGQL88dOeh4C088iey5GSW_Yu3OqtRVCW-pr_cUP9DdMDHMkb/s960/Bilbo%20sock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="838" data-original-width="960" height="349" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNh9WicvPmrzq_HHk9pEMs5c7dILmt-nZh21BXi8myoNiY6z_f04k9omet1jAZqDILa4k7aAB7nEfBYErw5ClvJtxC-KmCggdSU8Met5WYV8O8K2mo4MXpBgOp6S7WKnGOvEplBsv0GrenGQL88dOeh4C088iey5GSW_Yu3OqtRVCW-pr_cUP9DdMDHMkb/w400-h349/Bilbo%20sock.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZAmTakxLMutyUKn77f_pKslCg1A2uR6_7-0GyPAGolxEat3Ww5_7rWloPkZkgDfXxEGhWmO5xk0NM9WBV4tH027YuSHsjE1tap6qFW0swaX06F9VVIKy9Kwh9q7lx7RSLyNAfpHB63eCNfMcXpJmQZT0e6cRbYX6VVJq7rM2n6m6M_25ZiH5uEUcQ9kE/s828/space%20parasol.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="772" data-original-width="828" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZAmTakxLMutyUKn77f_pKslCg1A2uR6_7-0GyPAGolxEat3Ww5_7rWloPkZkgDfXxEGhWmO5xk0NM9WBV4tH027YuSHsjE1tap6qFW0swaX06F9VVIKy9Kwh9q7lx7RSLyNAfpHB63eCNfMcXpJmQZT0e6cRbYX6VVJq7rM2n6m6M_25ZiH5uEUcQ9kE/w400-h373/space%20parasol.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>569. Semis in the left lane: Why? </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTJle7NZaFvckVP5McOWOV_Rp3VqpuwOXbSKdBga00RYpJx1fHyO_KTH7mvkBa0-2lzXEk0HcN99t2476CZgIojkDdG6-P8h6lXhpTKDtsfnKR5ZUXQzat1YztIKAeMr9T8Gc0yn17FsyqIOjVkVo5eJvduTWO0SGF-XEjUMwJ7-T3t1xKyEqVCXCE4KUd/s1200/Dune%20weird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1200" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTJle7NZaFvckVP5McOWOV_Rp3VqpuwOXbSKdBga00RYpJx1fHyO_KTH7mvkBa0-2lzXEk0HcN99t2476CZgIojkDdG6-P8h6lXhpTKDtsfnKR5ZUXQzat1YztIKAeMr9T8Gc0yn17FsyqIOjVkVo5eJvduTWO0SGF-XEjUMwJ7-T3t1xKyEqVCXCE4KUd/w400-h356/Dune%20weird.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6cfsz1jNNTJJqnvu4iGA0eE0D7SLArwILQUnfA0sXVe4KTiP0h8hw_ELVeAM5HG7r5aT-MlZpuxtiK5nR0OaVCIn1iyggk5_K-IDbpOFB2fVJHBKywHvbEyyyNzmH5-vD-F-hHOwAayr6EUrCMJ4hFYfyMOatC5Dizg-qY_IUvhnjwsPEhyphenhyphenotA4aN4a-l/s1043/wizards%20leaf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1043" data-original-width="885" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6cfsz1jNNTJJqnvu4iGA0eE0D7SLArwILQUnfA0sXVe4KTiP0h8hw_ELVeAM5HG7r5aT-MlZpuxtiK5nR0OaVCIn1iyggk5_K-IDbpOFB2fVJHBKywHvbEyyyNzmH5-vD-F-hHOwAayr6EUrCMJ4hFYfyMOatC5Dizg-qY_IUvhnjwsPEhyphenhyphenotA4aN4a-l/w340-h400/wizards%20leaf.jpg" width="340" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>570. My biggest pet peeve on road trips: anything that prevents me from using my cruise control, especially semis in the left lane. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOt46axGc7Wz5iHFA-mIt2O9sj2I4TMxkeSZ_-4rS6ee0OrqUMW-6oRuh6CjY8wXEOi-bwUfNgVwdldCwfeJEbH0UQyA3L6o15vpon1t5tdnLIXeIvwt4rVXbi5wpnO7sxnFhgZBZPfueTWG3qN16VpWx8u-mwuJ9KSs3Mkh2qiaLrLZv2WUbep5oS05rH/s960/RIker%20peacock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="839" data-original-width="960" height="350" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOt46axGc7Wz5iHFA-mIt2O9sj2I4TMxkeSZ_-4rS6ee0OrqUMW-6oRuh6CjY8wXEOi-bwUfNgVwdldCwfeJEbH0UQyA3L6o15vpon1t5tdnLIXeIvwt4rVXbi5wpnO7sxnFhgZBZPfueTWG3qN16VpWx8u-mwuJ9KSs3Mkh2qiaLrLZv2WUbep5oS05rH/w400-h350/RIker%20peacock.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3X_9NuQS8Wdvo18YeXEamZssLko7kGf5YhtqaEPuLYPfzBkWoN8VLWGlYJ0wMa1xcZ20tuPhdlKn-8qF-afV2R4bpcQxGVjXpVnTXh8mXdXW6ijtRNxXsJdDZiZXbOwQHwIyhhfGhxie29Fma8Dm0hGr7_aIlIwVxAMmuNLKBT_zt5bWJh1IbkUttLFrY/s933/sisyphus%20how%20it%20started.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="688" data-original-width="933" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3X_9NuQS8Wdvo18YeXEamZssLko7kGf5YhtqaEPuLYPfzBkWoN8VLWGlYJ0wMa1xcZ20tuPhdlKn-8qF-afV2R4bpcQxGVjXpVnTXh8mXdXW6ijtRNxXsJdDZiZXbOwQHwIyhhfGhxie29Fma8Dm0hGr7_aIlIwVxAMmuNLKBT_zt5bWJh1IbkUttLFrY/w400-h295/sisyphus%20how%20it%20started.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>571. It has been cool lately to love autumn as the best season, but I’m gauche enough that my favorite season has been and remains summer. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnwZ2cYGEefNeFntZ5KxYwYyHXOHx9uACACfZaJf0kk0p-q_mv3UhIykCLNhGo5Uz7WNfwTncyOVc6UAlA6wTBW790NoOe-c-dnMFyVc0gQwEq4N4NZJQwU_wXUX7nDhvEbKikEmEG6x7-JfOAA3qS4Vz2eAHxrXp80dbxefUXUj1LhgDeTqt5fsEHRi2f/s1424/Borg%20futile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1072" data-original-width="1424" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnwZ2cYGEefNeFntZ5KxYwYyHXOHx9uACACfZaJf0kk0p-q_mv3UhIykCLNhGo5Uz7WNfwTncyOVc6UAlA6wTBW790NoOe-c-dnMFyVc0gQwEq4N4NZJQwU_wXUX7nDhvEbKikEmEG6x7-JfOAA3qS4Vz2eAHxrXp80dbxefUXUj1LhgDeTqt5fsEHRi2f/w400-h301/Borg%20futile.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7bjsIFgOGRitbOqSvwJG6bQ4bvq_nTxgvgxhpvWt7nVXXzZG_Izwnjj3vg7fbN2fOqM5um5c1m9S2L9nOrAMDx33yaNaorC2Zwk-lfcGTqagpM8uVc8lxr0DGy67kw1XqNd2SstZqtyVPDCSFLEDb-i5rB4GQfR6ytoU-n-InrkRCtFTQVr3wp-87joxO/s1080/Asimov%20capcha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="245" data-original-width="1080" height="91" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7bjsIFgOGRitbOqSvwJG6bQ4bvq_nTxgvgxhpvWt7nVXXzZG_Izwnjj3vg7fbN2fOqM5um5c1m9S2L9nOrAMDx33yaNaorC2Zwk-lfcGTqagpM8uVc8lxr0DGy67kw1XqNd2SstZqtyVPDCSFLEDb-i5rB4GQfR6ytoU-n-InrkRCtFTQVr3wp-87joxO/w400-h91/Asimov%20capcha.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikTDzTtbKjEvliURx86vvrXJa-aHxAJIsZdwLZdtugfAMoOPugChefl8HmrMvFW3CKduPmC2WA6FirfB9uDrxGSXzeuxhkobIPpDmCOZCy-F4ZIpjPjQJLvHvLzT51gOhtVnhV_CpgbauoDBq0e4-thcqABIAIe3sikTxYIK1owxS_nVADqhPJaDmcy4od/s720/grogu%20drug%20test.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikTDzTtbKjEvliURx86vvrXJa-aHxAJIsZdwLZdtugfAMoOPugChefl8HmrMvFW3CKduPmC2WA6FirfB9uDrxGSXzeuxhkobIPpDmCOZCy-F4ZIpjPjQJLvHvLzT51gOhtVnhV_CpgbauoDBq0e4-thcqABIAIe3sikTxYIK1owxS_nVADqhPJaDmcy4od/w400-h400/grogu%20drug%20test.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>572. Even though I still love summer and think the “I love fall” thing gets a little out of hand, I have to admit that Americans’ seemingly collective decision to turn Halloween into a two-month-long festival of ghoulish goodness is one of the best things this country has done in a long time. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaidma_X_u3QYnzqRWyvh5QOENOJXaWFb0asHUTcCiV-pkGX4Fnf8ncGvT79w6OIr9wzonIEzvuQn50qKRD_tbIpxNwM8BhMZv8n6AuPQ2Xs64Wc0VVmms0bzwkR15pYlMUbh6H3M3-JL9pdteyI0Bur4zMsErXaAqwL9gnak7HnTvJYW2DEFV27HH_n8o/s960/phone%20box.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaidma_X_u3QYnzqRWyvh5QOENOJXaWFb0asHUTcCiV-pkGX4Fnf8ncGvT79w6OIr9wzonIEzvuQn50qKRD_tbIpxNwM8BhMZv8n6AuPQ2Xs64Wc0VVmms0bzwkR15pYlMUbh6H3M3-JL9pdteyI0Bur4zMsErXaAqwL9gnak7HnTvJYW2DEFV27HH_n8o/w400-h320/phone%20box.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDnZcOynRTQVohbVl4jS7LCPn6KLDjTQTNh3mMjPV3EyL4LHaavLs1PjaxVkMSIA6GwOAq9v1HaHuSf8diVmjxbUwvCkvmva1dO9teRsSV34ccxL_7bDUoHWnk2DbRlk9eqS1JYNZ7_vDApZjMpDQ14NhrFMH_Hcj8FN-lBNS00qNkJZ3RZMmeYb9JNsq/s1194/Paul%20authority%20mom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1194" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDnZcOynRTQVohbVl4jS7LCPn6KLDjTQTNh3mMjPV3EyL4LHaavLs1PjaxVkMSIA6GwOAq9v1HaHuSf8diVmjxbUwvCkvmva1dO9teRsSV34ccxL_7bDUoHWnk2DbRlk9eqS1JYNZ7_vDApZjMpDQ14NhrFMH_Hcj8FN-lBNS00qNkJZ3RZMmeYb9JNsq/w361-h400/Paul%20authority%20mom.jpg" width="361" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>573. I’ve read a lot of fancy philosophy in the last few decades, which has greatly enhanced my life, but a lot of what you need to know about basic human decency and our current society’s lack thereof can also be gleaned from two films of the late 1980s: <i>Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure</i> (1989) and <i>They Live</i> (1988).</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjka7RRJgGW6x-g-a2A9Uc6ur_TLadXCxUx6XiEywvHEzcMhcOryFYH98z9ehlietJW-cJksiFhGOipvM2VZG9OCKBKYNC-p_wANT4IrqRAg58AlQMHbtA36TrIX7eB4S1ZsreNFdT0-dEhUeSNN1OoxrL5HK0APR3AlTRfLfp41cniMj0hl20At3Tb5QY_/s1082/Dune%20Star%20Wars%20They%20Live.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1082" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjka7RRJgGW6x-g-a2A9Uc6ur_TLadXCxUx6XiEywvHEzcMhcOryFYH98z9ehlietJW-cJksiFhGOipvM2VZG9OCKBKYNC-p_wANT4IrqRAg58AlQMHbtA36TrIX7eB4S1ZsreNFdT0-dEhUeSNN1OoxrL5HK0APR3AlTRfLfp41cniMj0hl20At3Tb5QY_/w399-h400/Dune%20Star%20Wars%20They%20Live.jpg" width="399" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2HywDJ65AUzvztmjdftSrT5t0eg68856ofzZQ5ipU8-HjOFocm2-s-RmphiyOYGDd4kQTzJiEk4svBquBzHStQMvw3HM-uDWp_Xx1kbn63MAg4aGhg10KJMSWEs42QhMCJ0E232S8HRB3iweXEeyZA1Ga5g4rpjI1MGpGf3DtAFmMwtADtO0dKFobcwA6/s437/changed%20his%20mind.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="437" data-original-width="433" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2HywDJ65AUzvztmjdftSrT5t0eg68856ofzZQ5ipU8-HjOFocm2-s-RmphiyOYGDd4kQTzJiEk4svBquBzHStQMvw3HM-uDWp_Xx1kbn63MAg4aGhg10KJMSWEs42QhMCJ0E232S8HRB3iweXEeyZA1Ga5g4rpjI1MGpGf3DtAFmMwtADtO0dKFobcwA6/w396-h400/changed%20his%20mind.jpg" width="396" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>574. Other people’s ideas and actions often confuse me. A few examples: Skinny people who go on diets. People who don’t want to join a union. Non-millionaires who support unregulated capitalism. People who blame their problems on those who have little power in our society--immigrants, trans kids, the poor--rather than the rich assholes who actually cause their problems. People who value greed, hatred, and competition over love, compassion, and basic decency. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizdjIce-1-UlNkHYswIMr8hYSipius3pJKqZTnTPvhBRo5ZUEwE4M5b_HfHXhB3vajJwMrtxG9HBO3OU6IFMARmt3IIoRZhSxFy4rIC4EZINnifasnSPWlUWYebi_PVb5ViHQvTFYvdx1IHd8Nj6w9cMHhqzxRGoAr7a5SYE_MmeETJg_2raeKVw68J9fx/s960/Dune%2010191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="954" data-original-width="960" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizdjIce-1-UlNkHYswIMr8hYSipius3pJKqZTnTPvhBRo5ZUEwE4M5b_HfHXhB3vajJwMrtxG9HBO3OU6IFMARmt3IIoRZhSxFy4rIC4EZINnifasnSPWlUWYebi_PVb5ViHQvTFYvdx1IHd8Nj6w9cMHhqzxRGoAr7a5SYE_MmeETJg_2raeKVw68J9fx/w400-h398/Dune%2010191.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirvwt25sMHu1py9i17dn6EdMuNwHLzgokwfMhrV1KFQc-FweqBnGMrFyqu8Aem_3Llx2SKJelbq_66QYw5yCqgEQV_K9ArU11MEG9bYFESne1PkscMHkTNgy1zX0sb8aQNGKTvgnkoX1ITrYaDU30rsdLHkkDTqmTr-pl__Q7eDfNQAKlWdf6g0Sq5RjKQ/s1215/absurdist%20seinfeld.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1215" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirvwt25sMHu1py9i17dn6EdMuNwHLzgokwfMhrV1KFQc-FweqBnGMrFyqu8Aem_3Llx2SKJelbq_66QYw5yCqgEQV_K9ArU11MEG9bYFESne1PkscMHkTNgy1zX0sb8aQNGKTvgnkoX1ITrYaDU30rsdLHkkDTqmTr-pl__Q7eDfNQAKlWdf6g0Sq5RjKQ/w355-h400/absurdist%20seinfeld.jpg" width="355" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>575. It is often said that having children makes one less selfish, which at some level may be true, but I have also observed that having children makes some people more selfish, at least if you include their children in the domain of their “self” as opposed to the “other” of other people’s children. I often suspect that this sort of expanded selfishness is the root of a lot of our society’s ills when it comes to education, housing, healthcare, transportation, fair employment, and other public goods. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0lQqtiZH5jI80lAip9vuIXMC9RxioAs8k0JNivjun5_VKRS0wSyNrjlDUJkUERN7XrrTdzrb_vowJwYbdHfe1keaB2L5YNR56uy3wz1wl52tTgk0O5lGhP1KD9FsgcEi-Ezp_57RrPkakHgeUnUS8PEJjL6aED6RqfsZGalWre09X5wbgduuoVzIFgyTw/s1080/Dune%20dispensary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1054" data-original-width="1080" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0lQqtiZH5jI80lAip9vuIXMC9RxioAs8k0JNivjun5_VKRS0wSyNrjlDUJkUERN7XrrTdzrb_vowJwYbdHfe1keaB2L5YNR56uy3wz1wl52tTgk0O5lGhP1KD9FsgcEi-Ezp_57RrPkakHgeUnUS8PEJjL6aED6RqfsZGalWre09X5wbgduuoVzIFgyTw/w400-h390/Dune%20dispensary.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj16iHwLlNik0Q1mfKb4sXvPCAIz8B-7DpWIT-lzJIQSI_o9hCiOmmsRP39DeOHyFWWS79O11WUiciigQ6017s3E7zmYVx5zd5LtXYGBE6ln2YbKRqvygAHTK_ZQGzVCYeW1T5YXx8iq9cKZ3bn2T1loTIv8hxWNI24-Bd-hfj_ZXPXU9_UB8sb7889D0RD/s750/state%20of%20the%20soul%20taco%20bell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="436" data-original-width="750" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj16iHwLlNik0Q1mfKb4sXvPCAIz8B-7DpWIT-lzJIQSI_o9hCiOmmsRP39DeOHyFWWS79O11WUiciigQ6017s3E7zmYVx5zd5LtXYGBE6ln2YbKRqvygAHTK_ZQGzVCYeW1T5YXx8iq9cKZ3bn2T1loTIv8hxWNI24-Bd-hfj_ZXPXU9_UB8sb7889D0RD/w400-h233/state%20of%20the%20soul%20taco%20bell.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>576. I wish I knew how to make people care about other people. I really do. But maybe the best we can do is to encourage people to think--to really, deeply think--about this simple fact: we’re all in this together—we all come into this universe with no idea what it’s all about, we all suffer, and we’re all going to die someday. If that doesn’t get you to care about other people, I don’t know what else to do. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh9woaXnddkGrNW5K-8WpQ6qo_fSp1pNRi0GgbOnYHUI6KFNQE4_Utv6i_uBD_ZB7xV-dBMAQXbJ9tRpQ5Tg5fiXN1cbz1ZPHL9Qy9UslT8vsGBaW0jyw-9pKuXngiyUVM7MIKr-_eDixbRilygdBzvsVf9CX_4eOmEpW6NTFA-0LtMkJZDxJc33qYEqis/s914/significant%20others.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="914" data-original-width="736" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh9woaXnddkGrNW5K-8WpQ6qo_fSp1pNRi0GgbOnYHUI6KFNQE4_Utv6i_uBD_ZB7xV-dBMAQXbJ9tRpQ5Tg5fiXN1cbz1ZPHL9Qy9UslT8vsGBaW0jyw-9pKuXngiyUVM7MIKr-_eDixbRilygdBzvsVf9CX_4eOmEpW6NTFA-0LtMkJZDxJc33qYEqis/w323-h400/significant%20others.jpg" width="323" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaJmiyGAwwxv2DrWJ0VS7LFNdhui2glyqQaQPBGi_5f4gFii3QvNfZtkEQpyGyqRKO61WLxF5hV6dyOigl5QquxiYMZXC-j84inzEgsAeGpbmrfxw9vCjg_Z1xqEqwZIm_OmQrtN3GpLSJ-bd_C_yvfVlARw0FfxIqTyMB-yqJdZTQ8exKQis1IkKym600/s1325/paws%20purr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1325" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaJmiyGAwwxv2DrWJ0VS7LFNdhui2glyqQaQPBGi_5f4gFii3QvNfZtkEQpyGyqRKO61WLxF5hV6dyOigl5QquxiYMZXC-j84inzEgsAeGpbmrfxw9vCjg_Z1xqEqwZIm_OmQrtN3GpLSJ-bd_C_yvfVlARw0FfxIqTyMB-yqJdZTQ8exKQis1IkKym600/w326-h400/paws%20purr.jpg" width="326" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>577. At some point in human history the morning people all got up early to conspire to create “civilization” while the night owls were still dreaming about getting back to their weird little projects in the serene hours of the night after the obnoxious morning people go to bed. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoRNjDWPjIUFY7sJSOQ5emCRNyTSr1NjRa9I8ZeQ3PgqVrGKvweZasZAZOsYi-KHF20geyXxoKmcXhnOxei32XNpD8s9K3SIGUIgQAo6iULWEan-CQqr5AkrCocxGmp17uOTsJl0hbzMwjiRx4BvgUv1VkXYXanuy0cb5fkZ6f47OVdWqcR5nh-5WWRG1g/s712/brain%20cells%20morning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="712" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoRNjDWPjIUFY7sJSOQ5emCRNyTSr1NjRa9I8ZeQ3PgqVrGKvweZasZAZOsYi-KHF20geyXxoKmcXhnOxei32XNpD8s9K3SIGUIgQAo6iULWEan-CQqr5AkrCocxGmp17uOTsJl0hbzMwjiRx4BvgUv1VkXYXanuy0cb5fkZ6f47OVdWqcR5nh-5WWRG1g/w400-h295/brain%20cells%20morning.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8l55dQwLyutKlyaXFXFHUsgtlClYK8tzma_ncHDzBr2M7R_8wqgRl1fX80gRElpFHtQDpE1iY1sNJLp8dF89SVEgrwhkLzE-gz7KdD4DsgaP0FRMD1mnIon_nwo56QOpwaTCqBPlue2SWvMxwJNYwX93QDB2bYKLclLR2QDM_3qxxHI37rnJtbmGNKztQ/s875/grogu%20feelings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="875" data-original-width="700" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8l55dQwLyutKlyaXFXFHUsgtlClYK8tzma_ncHDzBr2M7R_8wqgRl1fX80gRElpFHtQDpE1iY1sNJLp8dF89SVEgrwhkLzE-gz7KdD4DsgaP0FRMD1mnIon_nwo56QOpwaTCqBPlue2SWvMxwJNYwX93QDB2bYKLclLR2QDM_3qxxHI37rnJtbmGNKztQ/w320-h400/grogu%20feelings.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>578. A terrible confession: I secretly dread the beginning of the NFL (American football) season every year. I don’t ever say this to people because I don’t want to come off as trying to ruin anyone’s fun or begrudging other people for liking something. It’s not that! Really! I’m all for people liking things that aren’t my thing! We humans are a diverse lot and live in a vast universe with many wonderful things to like. Rather: dread arrives for me every August because football talk pervades our entire culture and discourse in a way no other sport does in the US. It becomes inescapable. It doesn’t bother me at all that some people care about football. Go for it! But I do find it annoying that everyone is expected to care about football.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPXUhI6l-Q4wZq8jnnEV-5lRo0E78KUjB0jAN88c3nyxu8vc4ntGHLJS_-SU_znMI6HO8GM-koDcwXD4od25oGhcaH45ol1EUY3aOU_cs_5_KAhMZRXNwFFU3L5kHxHsZkIM74DnTGs9SBpeh0-hK_Z7Qm2l_bHZq9WQz4RkHT9atz-RjOT6if9lYDW-mY/s528/Godzilla%20morning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="528" data-original-width="527" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPXUhI6l-Q4wZq8jnnEV-5lRo0E78KUjB0jAN88c3nyxu8vc4ntGHLJS_-SU_znMI6HO8GM-koDcwXD4od25oGhcaH45ol1EUY3aOU_cs_5_KAhMZRXNwFFU3L5kHxHsZkIM74DnTGs9SBpeh0-hK_Z7Qm2l_bHZq9WQz4RkHT9atz-RjOT6if9lYDW-mY/w399-h400/Godzilla%20morning.jpg" width="399" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxCqqDK5ZEjWE06c-tD5c9uWHRt3fB7QgAH_1gfqODmAWV-l-LzCpybe2VTUNmnRHBEeqsM6_VQOlPXtx1wkQF-nFpQTggs0MNt8RIgmOTLeCGkDSXg4JOtSvrZNk9HLhbRvccjK4v9F0F2I_BbD1ezSidLrsNvAeezZGDQaLQrpNTh1iIJm3vq4YDCvUb/s2048/Dune%20lego.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1452" data-original-width="2048" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxCqqDK5ZEjWE06c-tD5c9uWHRt3fB7QgAH_1gfqODmAWV-l-LzCpybe2VTUNmnRHBEeqsM6_VQOlPXtx1wkQF-nFpQTggs0MNt8RIgmOTLeCGkDSXg4JOtSvrZNk9HLhbRvccjK4v9F0F2I_BbD1ezSidLrsNvAeezZGDQaLQrpNTh1iIJm3vq4YDCvUb/w400-h284/Dune%20lego.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>579. Whenever I wear a shirt or hat in public with the name an academic institution with which I’ve been affiliated, I often encounter people who want to talk to me about sports. And it catches me off guard every time. But then I remember that for most Americans, colleges are sports teams that offer a few classes on the side. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4x2uP6rbD0jX4YmMiIpZkly6BPCVnmeUJLO8UdyU3RgVpfvi9aAvk_G86LWE5hdKepPbT4DU0jEh8yOzgMI1VNPcvyhwG4dltQxsOLSxQXVPUGlrt6391ZKA7zhhmgs3P0wxT7Npsohyphenhyphen1V9GGWfZPdDSiAbrGBoYsvVvybFLkfKeJvG_0jVnVK5wwFnX/s700/metal%20sunrise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4x2uP6rbD0jX4YmMiIpZkly6BPCVnmeUJLO8UdyU3RgVpfvi9aAvk_G86LWE5hdKepPbT4DU0jEh8yOzgMI1VNPcvyhwG4dltQxsOLSxQXVPUGlrt6391ZKA7zhhmgs3P0wxT7Npsohyphenhyphen1V9GGWfZPdDSiAbrGBoYsvVvybFLkfKeJvG_0jVnVK5wwFnX/w400-h400/metal%20sunrise.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibGEeve7OAazc9me47Gprtn-19q10FYBbI79Uy-QnkiaAI0_n1kn0I9d6HIeaQ5OFEuNEXXoNi5qwVgcBlV6EL3azFRMw6Ji7ydITtzcGMW8aM2W9WIpMGFLZKLbQlaKiehuwf1cV-ypPvRHidKEGC8IHTznY15sm-iYFhb80YTvDBa-xt4q1BWD8cxM9k/s750/Dune%20star%20wars.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="712" data-original-width="750" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibGEeve7OAazc9me47Gprtn-19q10FYBbI79Uy-QnkiaAI0_n1kn0I9d6HIeaQ5OFEuNEXXoNi5qwVgcBlV6EL3azFRMw6Ji7ydITtzcGMW8aM2W9WIpMGFLZKLbQlaKiehuwf1cV-ypPvRHidKEGC8IHTznY15sm-iYFhb80YTvDBa-xt4q1BWD8cxM9k/w400-h380/Dune%20star%20wars.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>580. Even if it takes longer and is an unpopular route, I’d rather go my own way. The best way is not always the fastest or easiest way. – Thoughts on life and directions </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtDKGx_SVz7Gsrbgfj4XaD9CiaQPl1hnSU7nPETDQ8YSM8yJuGlzJf7p9CVWRGTSdkxatYpiYdfIB5Lq95OyfHCFE8Mch01FzyG4opoMGzXDAJqyjhaBcLaNstLoBteng_dDVe1bh2E2Ej89SKwkp0_zWEscTp4-VUzFON_UrxTwqTfn8dyKlkLvscOsW/s660/Wonka%20war%20Dune.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="660" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtDKGx_SVz7Gsrbgfj4XaD9CiaQPl1hnSU7nPETDQ8YSM8yJuGlzJf7p9CVWRGTSdkxatYpiYdfIB5Lq95OyfHCFE8Mch01FzyG4opoMGzXDAJqyjhaBcLaNstLoBteng_dDVe1bh2E2Ej89SKwkp0_zWEscTp4-VUzFON_UrxTwqTfn8dyKlkLvscOsW/w400-h265/Wonka%20war%20Dune.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbHyaeamxEuMP7wED498we23wLoChS4qNnCSe5Zc-xq-MbK2D0NYzB_QnE12Lgrp413pMT6sp1wNIRknlbI0wH0Yw9z8R6Vmx2iCvwbayJqoPL4bAzWvpDojAwEsTrNasB94PrP-bR7EM0-ssp2OoabBL-CYfHhSSTyFI3M3xNRM24CZaDjXbCIU_GT4YW/s2048/Wonka%20war%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbHyaeamxEuMP7wED498we23wLoChS4qNnCSe5Zc-xq-MbK2D0NYzB_QnE12Lgrp413pMT6sp1wNIRknlbI0wH0Yw9z8R6Vmx2iCvwbayJqoPL4bAzWvpDojAwEsTrNasB94PrP-bR7EM0-ssp2OoabBL-CYfHhSSTyFI3M3xNRM24CZaDjXbCIU_GT4YW/w400-h225/Wonka%20war%202.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>581. I’ve never understood how people drink scalding hot liquid. Are their mouths fireproof? Is my mouth especially burnable? </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKf34ojibrmA7CUopy1hgDTZ4DdIq4HSQk00mSBISas0b2iL_T-Fc6f92pkS5bA8hIoMkc0qpkzd0gygohN6uPtwBsy1WUQ9Vk8E7MU9EknbtenQk2W5fTt-i2n_Fq-AuAvMFqBu2JYKcHhq3jQCir9K0szYo3sNOQ2n8zRWLpBg_LwL7VA3SEgHIjToP/s860/Lynch%20teapot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="745" data-original-width="860" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKf34ojibrmA7CUopy1hgDTZ4DdIq4HSQk00mSBISas0b2iL_T-Fc6f92pkS5bA8hIoMkc0qpkzd0gygohN6uPtwBsy1WUQ9Vk8E7MU9EknbtenQk2W5fTt-i2n_Fq-AuAvMFqBu2JYKcHhq3jQCir9K0szYo3sNOQ2n8zRWLpBg_LwL7VA3SEgHIjToP/w400-h346/Lynch%20teapot.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjupaTK8tIXDW67dj1x9rhOxipi16ToRlIMi6E3RdkqnriIRVq4FRQ7Wo3i9PH4svbITt826q3LGAVqHYEbc6fhqKojwEFgBCgouJFDjq8cMqI5LJrKxOgQXBGWPzpAnuEcORhdb5EaozOwi02_M6FwCJKpJ31dzc66LYMiAY1ConYoaIrpG5xcXrl8Jnnq/s1600/Barbie%20sandworm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="826" data-original-width="1600" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjupaTK8tIXDW67dj1x9rhOxipi16ToRlIMi6E3RdkqnriIRVq4FRQ7Wo3i9PH4svbITt826q3LGAVqHYEbc6fhqKojwEFgBCgouJFDjq8cMqI5LJrKxOgQXBGWPzpAnuEcORhdb5EaozOwi02_M6FwCJKpJ31dzc66LYMiAY1ConYoaIrpG5xcXrl8Jnnq/w400-h206/Barbie%20sandworm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>582. Community is as important to human beings as food, air, water, and shelter. Without it, we become less than fully human. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQynIcFTeRlElYiwv7kuqRItUSeAskh_9rkZtzqAGqwwTLVWWBmle3j_RxOKQNq-Tv6eQWhqfmLJBtEVwK6xwn2Gj5MvJjswBvEApyMdOJJNrfVKk0rHj1fylQwWMqv61-AaYtgGw1ZJDmhK3gky7L9gDTCLa_4YmkmELJIlZh4w8p4vgB29sRZbxO7bF3/s1080/Butt%20Head%20climate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1074" data-original-width="1080" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQynIcFTeRlElYiwv7kuqRItUSeAskh_9rkZtzqAGqwwTLVWWBmle3j_RxOKQNq-Tv6eQWhqfmLJBtEVwK6xwn2Gj5MvJjswBvEApyMdOJJNrfVKk0rHj1fylQwWMqv61-AaYtgGw1ZJDmhK3gky7L9gDTCLa_4YmkmELJIlZh4w8p4vgB29sRZbxO7bF3/w400-h398/Butt%20Head%20climate.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRb7c2_T2wwGyblw6KfNHDYiezDCn9yV1gagdkjIzFgFGJDs45UZ0NqYUXLLBiPWWpoUceVOUM5oklakXNZja2Aw1nLcNsdalrVOgwjXaHQ-we8atow8DG9qrMe-RGtxJ8ux6Lnm68gtU9Kv1gz6tpFBNy9IYsx6og7Mrrqr4EZ8SqUKoI_1yfxmdGyN7/s800/Dune%20delayed%20gom%20jabbar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="800" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRb7c2_T2wwGyblw6KfNHDYiezDCn9yV1gagdkjIzFgFGJDs45UZ0NqYUXLLBiPWWpoUceVOUM5oklakXNZja2Aw1nLcNsdalrVOgwjXaHQ-we8atow8DG9qrMe-RGtxJ8ux6Lnm68gtU9Kv1gz6tpFBNy9IYsx6og7Mrrqr4EZ8SqUKoI_1yfxmdGyN7/w400-h250/Dune%20delayed%20gom%20jabbar.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>583. What a sad culture in which we all love the entertainment provided by music, art, and stories, and if it weren’t a bit gauche to say so, we may well admit these things are part of what makes life worth living—but then we simultaneously don’t think most of the people who make music, art, and stories deserve to supported by the society that relies on them. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiDQUxpz5Yj82AL5acxpa139nT9-TxeDF3EgtyaND1CRywCLxg0K8HBBedoWnC0gSe-VPxVv7jEMQroPHbCLItbn14dm8KNmNaRW6Oo4Pre3BCJB37gTfD28zH5lKboKeroPPPHUPHQa6oX3Xu5JRK9KpercBV3aUB1HQgcjy_ml6W2l5hRCkJofJVQAzv/s480/Lotr%20stapler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="476" data-original-width="480" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiDQUxpz5Yj82AL5acxpa139nT9-TxeDF3EgtyaND1CRywCLxg0K8HBBedoWnC0gSe-VPxVv7jEMQroPHbCLItbn14dm8KNmNaRW6Oo4Pre3BCJB37gTfD28zH5lKboKeroPPPHUPHQa6oX3Xu5JRK9KpercBV3aUB1HQgcjy_ml6W2l5hRCkJofJVQAzv/w400-h396/Lotr%20stapler.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2n_HfY-g_AKUHLprrxm8ZO8jAbH1ap8XCySeFmXWWMe5GhtRabRCNlBfcsWSTF0XbFbtcn9OPpWSurB78fIUQlnTjGbmE_rw9ZmuHicJb1g-ABxw-VyZ59F7X9Rl3VtRiKuXsmUjYPyXyITnmGhWZ4ICfcT05rILLhA4UCQsU89VBggaoXZxBKBi27F8l/s556/ethics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="556" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2n_HfY-g_AKUHLprrxm8ZO8jAbH1ap8XCySeFmXWWMe5GhtRabRCNlBfcsWSTF0XbFbtcn9OPpWSurB78fIUQlnTjGbmE_rw9ZmuHicJb1g-ABxw-VyZ59F7X9Rl3VtRiKuXsmUjYPyXyITnmGhWZ4ICfcT05rILLhA4UCQsU89VBggaoXZxBKBi27F8l/w400-h276/ethics.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>584. What a strange society we are! Do we really think people who move wealth around and/or produce wealth off the labor of others should be richly rewarded while the people who do the work essential for civilization should be scrambling to meet their basic needs? </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghxb7uSbvbsPmBeXGiD0JAfBPaaYDxTJVld2vKERjcjy585wpMBrulMJfoz-xpgFyZcgyOY-5h-Zo1yBE9sISldsP23qHrdoHTp1IUhKWCm2GiAUF4YSXMSa62gQlDJOp-TfzYqghFNKJrkx8F5cZYISE95VHI6C5RHt-5y4oVc3BwgeXenMPx_v25ymGf/s526/Aragorn%20reading.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="526" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghxb7uSbvbsPmBeXGiD0JAfBPaaYDxTJVld2vKERjcjy585wpMBrulMJfoz-xpgFyZcgyOY-5h-Zo1yBE9sISldsP23qHrdoHTp1IUhKWCm2GiAUF4YSXMSa62gQlDJOp-TfzYqghFNKJrkx8F5cZYISE95VHI6C5RHt-5y4oVc3BwgeXenMPx_v25ymGf/w400-h399/Aragorn%20reading.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrRvLKhpwMYc3Bz6z9bmgGtgNz-XBTSHmAGYOuUgAjBdQfa_q4sAzfMfMK475TiGsB-OcbRD_3yXQGbF25hbbGppS8W5XUSCGdDcwOY-v5E1GG0IHr2R24s2Lawcq3ETA68Umi537LkKgJ65l__MUmYn01pg3lKlwe-_vyQYuW9SSneEPcEnUaZa8_puq5/s741/queso.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="589" data-original-width="741" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrRvLKhpwMYc3Bz6z9bmgGtgNz-XBTSHmAGYOuUgAjBdQfa_q4sAzfMfMK475TiGsB-OcbRD_3yXQGbF25hbbGppS8W5XUSCGdDcwOY-v5E1GG0IHr2R24s2Lawcq3ETA68Umi537LkKgJ65l__MUmYn01pg3lKlwe-_vyQYuW9SSneEPcEnUaZa8_puq5/w400-h318/queso.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>585. Sometimes it feels like the US was specifically designed to rob its citizens of any communal feeling, basic decency, or time to just be. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaeb9JlyySun6x2DVyXyRdRIQXGhjdWx5LPcQ_sLKIpghskMFdtBKLb5Nvq2QnewoU2aqrUYXZ2hVA2KprYVlJkXTtOybT_LovQw66TKgUCxhZHtPcqYg5r_4MqBL52OU_963xFb0jhyphenhyphen-zP8JUJh2aBrbDgYnXTCxzfPUj_OgZhZmmyM_ilFtLa5AQIdhF/s912/reading%20my%20posts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="912" data-original-width="795" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaeb9JlyySun6x2DVyXyRdRIQXGhjdWx5LPcQ_sLKIpghskMFdtBKLb5Nvq2QnewoU2aqrUYXZ2hVA2KprYVlJkXTtOybT_LovQw66TKgUCxhZHtPcqYg5r_4MqBL52OU_963xFb0jhyphenhyphen-zP8JUJh2aBrbDgYnXTCxzfPUj_OgZhZmmyM_ilFtLa5AQIdhF/w349-h400/reading%20my%20posts.jpg" width="349" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6saN4bL134yRh6MqrDXnFengpmHEAGPTc1LJQvHxAaO_ucyskcTvKYvfPmohBUyqCDRk0BH9yE3qW_HtuGTcOhUNoJh2WZ0J410IXbwHVdKPYZ7JjAbOfXwJsf3OTzDb4599yK1VZ6rwuL60II6ZEmi7sVedB-ecRg500Ev4nCNyZtn3pN5y9uW38DPl9/s960/cat%20cosplay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="746" data-original-width="960" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6saN4bL134yRh6MqrDXnFengpmHEAGPTc1LJQvHxAaO_ucyskcTvKYvfPmohBUyqCDRk0BH9yE3qW_HtuGTcOhUNoJh2WZ0J410IXbwHVdKPYZ7JjAbOfXwJsf3OTzDb4599yK1VZ6rwuL60II6ZEmi7sVedB-ecRg500Ev4nCNyZtn3pN5y9uW38DPl9/w400-h311/cat%20cosplay.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>586. Sometimes in the last couple years I’ve felt that we Americans may be reaching a new level of consciousness of what should be an obvious idea: we should just care about people, and we are a wealthy enough society to give everyone a minimally decent chance at life. But then I hear some successful Republican politician talk, and I am quickly disabused of such notions. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMryBYUadDwjZEbMoaaLlSoIno5Ea12PEaK2WVShRKnu7PyLFq6Cfi_tE1XTKAiZBH5xcu5oVTmviDPUfcer3RFEotLZed_ntUHBWinsf9UA9qjhs_wmeCkgp6RpyiwqznngYXODRaK-iAAQ8edxaWs9hN4ViETngYK8OsJdUIy6esytss4Skhm8oErtr7/s1243/thought%20experiments.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1029" data-original-width="1243" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMryBYUadDwjZEbMoaaLlSoIno5Ea12PEaK2WVShRKnu7PyLFq6Cfi_tE1XTKAiZBH5xcu5oVTmviDPUfcer3RFEotLZed_ntUHBWinsf9UA9qjhs_wmeCkgp6RpyiwqznngYXODRaK-iAAQ8edxaWs9hN4ViETngYK8OsJdUIy6esytss4Skhm8oErtr7/w400-h331/thought%20experiments.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicSvWbMFdYQe0dSUaglJmb529oY1po0X-GKzru-GP-ajfzhcOGPGWViptc1A1rlcTaCH3u0aRhjijh4gVEM_uW3gswKl2uJnzwBBTsfvLEVMS2j65RxUFvMAs_TfEblc398Ec-Fz8HTE8-EPvZuKlRV-ZE8wy05DFwPiwnV2uKp05KX8wodey4rqfdbLKe/s960/lwaxana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="719" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicSvWbMFdYQe0dSUaglJmb529oY1po0X-GKzru-GP-ajfzhcOGPGWViptc1A1rlcTaCH3u0aRhjijh4gVEM_uW3gswKl2uJnzwBBTsfvLEVMS2j65RxUFvMAs_TfEblc398Ec-Fz8HTE8-EPvZuKlRV-ZE8wy05DFwPiwnV2uKp05KX8wodey4rqfdbLKe/w300-h400/lwaxana.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>587. It's kind of funny that some of the same people who think soda is poison will drink eight or ten cups of coffee a day. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib9bmO6pgWdevAaZa5SJsNI1q0rR6QQ_UpoXPxFX4giZ4ydF4wEv8tOpcGSGWvBJVvYhapQ9bkHEDWT_zZimXvqoeK6qUv-xEDPyliwrLbz2WlvrmFDr0x9YmxGQ8HxqioT0P2v5m4cRKeFJT6XimV1bfCLaNYdKRZQaAvc6VnzSz6u5fU1ydOxSRJHnod/s640/cats%20power.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="624" data-original-width="640" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib9bmO6pgWdevAaZa5SJsNI1q0rR6QQ_UpoXPxFX4giZ4ydF4wEv8tOpcGSGWvBJVvYhapQ9bkHEDWT_zZimXvqoeK6qUv-xEDPyliwrLbz2WlvrmFDr0x9YmxGQ8HxqioT0P2v5m4cRKeFJT6XimV1bfCLaNYdKRZQaAvc6VnzSz6u5fU1ydOxSRJHnod/w400-h390/cats%20power.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzynrHJ6ZYJ6foyD3W2ytDrejUkc19tC_NzYwRKU4xVH-8vUtVGilKdEnjtd3eK6pI88HzcoJkZAxq7vRtvTIxX5UK_iN60R5IQiVuRzVEin7y7Bs6kOwQR4NEUTQCKoyvUn-pzLvPnVveX4McRqpsYlR8unzlqUr8z1Dx2kFjd2qR7QpBReFbnIdE9tHr/s720/me%20at%2035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="634" data-original-width="720" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzynrHJ6ZYJ6foyD3W2ytDrejUkc19tC_NzYwRKU4xVH-8vUtVGilKdEnjtd3eK6pI88HzcoJkZAxq7vRtvTIxX5UK_iN60R5IQiVuRzVEin7y7Bs6kOwQR4NEUTQCKoyvUn-pzLvPnVveX4McRqpsYlR8unzlqUr8z1Dx2kFjd2qR7QpBReFbnIdE9tHr/w400-h353/me%20at%2035.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>588. Technology is supposed to make our lives easier. Aside from machines that wash dishes and clothes, I have yet to notice this effect. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf-EmehZzESWztXciRxzGrX9vRWPeNjgHbMe7x7MseXTvJ8nZdzOxCb3dl9IAQQTfhlOlaecC1CL2Kf-BjaN8Ga3X-EaI_xTuF_BR0O4tuYVJCa8Xls5R-jhD9ZndTId5zdjSuiG_dGtO6t10GshbUhI-KYic9n7AQJPuNHPwazhTBGFNzenm0SbYuYxcL/s1369/cryptid%20currency.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1369" data-original-width="1079" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf-EmehZzESWztXciRxzGrX9vRWPeNjgHbMe7x7MseXTvJ8nZdzOxCb3dl9IAQQTfhlOlaecC1CL2Kf-BjaN8Ga3X-EaI_xTuF_BR0O4tuYVJCa8Xls5R-jhD9ZndTId5zdjSuiG_dGtO6t10GshbUhI-KYic9n7AQJPuNHPwazhTBGFNzenm0SbYuYxcL/w315-h400/cryptid%20currency.jpg" width="315" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8kitxFaHvsLeg1PatveyaQ50AvOYAJe3cb8D_AhYd9C0FrhllbtLqQlAXpYd1SOzhYNhHj030M0PwkeNTndLMDoCaK13IU5ccQj9Gxj1Vsh7YTcPQRG88-QZiWyMQ8P4l5eJD0879_iZxv7p-c2QCN5tZWPOB_vIBDofYbTUVWYnqsZ-gwzHZH35yw1bQ/s535/woke%20i%20am%20smart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="535" height="349" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8kitxFaHvsLeg1PatveyaQ50AvOYAJe3cb8D_AhYd9C0FrhllbtLqQlAXpYd1SOzhYNhHj030M0PwkeNTndLMDoCaK13IU5ccQj9Gxj1Vsh7YTcPQRG88-QZiWyMQ8P4l5eJD0879_iZxv7p-c2QCN5tZWPOB_vIBDofYbTUVWYnqsZ-gwzHZH35yw1bQ/w400-h349/woke%20i%20am%20smart.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>589. Can the petty shortsightedness and selfish cruelty of many humans be disappointing? Yes. But is it better to hold on to this disappointment against the background of hope for some small improvement than to give in to the view that petty shortsightedness and selfish cruelty are the best humanity can do? Also, yes. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9D3ii6kd-PRNgAM4uLzHeSmlMCmTTa32tv8ADk6-szXBLRihmVruSpvH00Niszu3LDssckcdWG5XoOTqLpKH4WT0nrwgh7La1awjsdBLbIpsGDsZLv5C9F1nQgGXMV3Z-bdEvZbysSyp5rv6OkGQ6ZU-5PaCxpZALwgscCxIClhIa780uqHsGAgwOsBb/s1087/you%20are%20here.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1087" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9D3ii6kd-PRNgAM4uLzHeSmlMCmTTa32tv8ADk6-szXBLRihmVruSpvH00Niszu3LDssckcdWG5XoOTqLpKH4WT0nrwgh7La1awjsdBLbIpsGDsZLv5C9F1nQgGXMV3Z-bdEvZbysSyp5rv6OkGQ6ZU-5PaCxpZALwgscCxIClhIa780uqHsGAgwOsBb/w398-h400/you%20are%20here.jpg" width="398" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTqanmm2NKHxrdyuI1x9mMgUfW68WI2MkfwvK6D1oRLW4VtvxjlBV36iXd6aqR8Du-vVeGE5QrY8AQB2qo9BuspBs2BDj-3SzorJ4cOi3YOT_tVXieocpvaOhdSHDxWUor0VighM8H0eyWK6-4kF2X5ukC1GlAep2xrzyu_X06Qk_WHoge4EGC0lPLGa1U/s1080/Butthead%20memes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTqanmm2NKHxrdyuI1x9mMgUfW68WI2MkfwvK6D1oRLW4VtvxjlBV36iXd6aqR8Du-vVeGE5QrY8AQB2qo9BuspBs2BDj-3SzorJ4cOi3YOT_tVXieocpvaOhdSHDxWUor0VighM8H0eyWK6-4kF2X5ukC1GlAep2xrzyu_X06Qk_WHoge4EGC0lPLGa1U/w400-h400/Butthead%20memes.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>590. “I’ll just go through my email real quick. It’ll only take a minute.” – one of my most delusional thoughts. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVy8UWEJ3ZahwsSG4C0VjweDlHsOUWpd7fnZlyHjCZm2gFyXkXgZUHIS6v5A6dt4ZBvHrPML7QeubdjYCgi_O2jB8oe2y1j97FXbRhh3X0vvLXjtgnNRvYDChKbk3Y-TzlgVRKnMzaPXdkwRqe3frRH53Xr6GAsJ1ZGfTDqRZKfLwnB3ij3F8xloi9QEBx/s1284/Leto%20II%20Barbie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="783" data-original-width="1284" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVy8UWEJ3ZahwsSG4C0VjweDlHsOUWpd7fnZlyHjCZm2gFyXkXgZUHIS6v5A6dt4ZBvHrPML7QeubdjYCgi_O2jB8oe2y1j97FXbRhh3X0vvLXjtgnNRvYDChKbk3Y-TzlgVRKnMzaPXdkwRqe3frRH53Xr6GAsJ1ZGfTDqRZKfLwnB3ij3F8xloi9QEBx/w400-h244/Leto%20II%20Barbie.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio-bzOfL8kxObleb3r3C5jc95nUF7AM7e1hJcH7YujMii2IsOsFDDbP0LJxM1Dkyj9BvwsnpmuIv3ww9dWhqEAZP77LpMfGw8lQNtcheb-Rd31YJZlgSHqULgcLOR3vKPNSEd6BFXWu4waWwjcFVGaqHaHGduGZpuk7c7rJ-Rbi-QZC-n7rY__pmPlj6_G/s500/Pantera%20Beavis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio-bzOfL8kxObleb3r3C5jc95nUF7AM7e1hJcH7YujMii2IsOsFDDbP0LJxM1Dkyj9BvwsnpmuIv3ww9dWhqEAZP77LpMfGw8lQNtcheb-Rd31YJZlgSHqULgcLOR3vKPNSEd6BFXWu4waWwjcFVGaqHaHGduGZpuk7c7rJ-Rbi-QZC-n7rY__pmPlj6_G/w400-h400/Pantera%20Beavis.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>591. A new way to maintain work-life balance: be so frazzled and absent-minded that you miss the deadlines for new things you shouldn’t be taking on anyway. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN8nXLZ4XsaS84cw2d_h0PeyMDXmQLE57eAj3O5pTI__iMY7nzOsGEh2r1MRfLAwafmtXcgkDkxwy1zjuvvl-94cTcwJLv6urPSTZawimAndo3Gl9ftwPVIV-L6urJTOBMBaSII9nsK6NwPLcfumYxdNMdF1J9rsc_el3kh4XgQsrwDijwd7ZxBlp2fr_t/s902/spaceballs%20vader.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="902" data-original-width="716" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN8nXLZ4XsaS84cw2d_h0PeyMDXmQLE57eAj3O5pTI__iMY7nzOsGEh2r1MRfLAwafmtXcgkDkxwy1zjuvvl-94cTcwJLv6urPSTZawimAndo3Gl9ftwPVIV-L6urJTOBMBaSII9nsK6NwPLcfumYxdNMdF1J9rsc_el3kh4XgQsrwDijwd7ZxBlp2fr_t/w318-h400/spaceballs%20vader.jpg" width="318" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbiRLK8rwGQwlge7VAjM-Q33DHHMlG46uoZ_cxjIWyemdTk-q0YVgxUaSBhedWW9a3_4US4moZB_bu_iGhg3nu37WXJvYDDawUOVAofGH-FBhBhjuFFii9nAQIgzjoZ4fDi7wkPXjfx_DlrVDiWsERv0pLZbZ-YmsrnG1UdPSzT4QjvZjshz3zsV-ecOA7/s571/more%20cowbell%20sardaukar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="571" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbiRLK8rwGQwlge7VAjM-Q33DHHMlG46uoZ_cxjIWyemdTk-q0YVgxUaSBhedWW9a3_4US4moZB_bu_iGhg3nu37WXJvYDDawUOVAofGH-FBhBhjuFFii9nAQIgzjoZ4fDi7wkPXjfx_DlrVDiWsERv0pLZbZ-YmsrnG1UdPSzT4QjvZjshz3zsV-ecOA7/w350-h400/more%20cowbell%20sardaukar.jpg" width="350" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>592. War begins with political and moral failures of elites, leading to the injury and death of innocents. The line between legitimate self-defense and bombastic militarism is often crossed by forgetting that war is always and everywhere a tragedy. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMJHCQyFHMFdq8N_19tCf6DdW87k-LfyzMbKp17bVKknemkmBtIr7ZJHztEOeUVeFZ_m81NjmOhdEk52c4XilLBZ8Id5LasBnBSY92RtXKiiynDdWWz7NwE4aU8YrHM2R0ZIiatNvM071ZJGfi8NdogR8Spn-5TAOAwl80FhYEX5gePWEGFONlcv_7UoV6/s719/new%20futurama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="719" data-original-width="526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMJHCQyFHMFdq8N_19tCf6DdW87k-LfyzMbKp17bVKknemkmBtIr7ZJHztEOeUVeFZ_m81NjmOhdEk52c4XilLBZ8Id5LasBnBSY92RtXKiiynDdWWz7NwE4aU8YrHM2R0ZIiatNvM071ZJGfi8NdogR8Spn-5TAOAwl80FhYEX5gePWEGFONlcv_7UoV6/w293-h400/new%20futurama.jpg" width="293" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJq7elysV0Vbjnd3P_ihzUH748XJFeXhj7uwUlEzkC-C7lSpx-68ZknnAAMa3Tx3MxmUtHbG2EVQVH5ObbRJKFeXTDd0HIjcvQfz709Y2UW1BPL7DX2MCYe6dCZJp3nWKTOLQegAIRBxJT46HReIErrQDnqLuCIzNMCQG_N9xqmCLfvrVRkogyQecjXe0/s778/what%20do%20you%20do%20for%20fun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJq7elysV0Vbjnd3P_ihzUH748XJFeXhj7uwUlEzkC-C7lSpx-68ZknnAAMa3Tx3MxmUtHbG2EVQVH5ObbRJKFeXTDd0HIjcvQfz709Y2UW1BPL7DX2MCYe6dCZJp3nWKTOLQegAIRBxJT46HReIErrQDnqLuCIzNMCQG_N9xqmCLfvrVRkogyQecjXe0/w370-h400/what%20do%20you%20do%20for%20fun.jpg" width="370" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>593. Fashion is one of those enduring human mysteries to me, like sports, religion, jingoistic patriotism, and people who never use their turn signals. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCq_pd5jkUnEE0sBL5w9_GW1onRcYYEhDbi1J52nfw8-arxMz3HJzpej3wVS4vLjHgX1aHK6rR-enIASHwR8xAqeZS7lOkjo4Hp90_9q9STEjvkqc6zjDCF4qAfVCcxpMNEwFupDh0kYvDi0L6wrBISu-lojr9ennyLQ-tcB6HDEchLR_RmN7aVzBICXms/s640/stealing%20meme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="520" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCq_pd5jkUnEE0sBL5w9_GW1onRcYYEhDbi1J52nfw8-arxMz3HJzpej3wVS4vLjHgX1aHK6rR-enIASHwR8xAqeZS7lOkjo4Hp90_9q9STEjvkqc6zjDCF4qAfVCcxpMNEwFupDh0kYvDi0L6wrBISu-lojr9ennyLQ-tcB6HDEchLR_RmN7aVzBICXms/w325-h400/stealing%20meme.jpg" width="325" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitifK8oGXtvjGSKm_yLOxmcEVTm6Uw4AUenesdXrRQaDrfqifL_8t0Q78MhFPd2NfE0-h7d1YSepw60-FAzK0PGrqZgLknVISX2mbkv3nkvQMpY3MHvi1VgNPc728Y7pSMiBU2zG7kgd_B9_YMIc3rce7VyZQrlvR691QSkm5aRtVNNvNJ2fYsI7rQQYt9/s720/cat%20on%20campus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="564" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitifK8oGXtvjGSKm_yLOxmcEVTm6Uw4AUenesdXrRQaDrfqifL_8t0Q78MhFPd2NfE0-h7d1YSepw60-FAzK0PGrqZgLknVISX2mbkv3nkvQMpY3MHvi1VgNPc728Y7pSMiBU2zG7kgd_B9_YMIc3rce7VyZQrlvR691QSkm5aRtVNNvNJ2fYsI7rQQYt9/w314-h400/cat%20on%20campus.jpg" width="314" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>594. I’m not an ambitious person when it comes to things like honors, money, power, leadership, or influence over others; I can occasionally be talked into a leadership position out of a sense of duty, but I rarely seek it out. But when it comes to my own weird little projects and all the odd paths they could take, my attitude is usually, “Why not?” </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA9ptRMh9tl135tLGcTYy_xf8zAhUsVbZOF6F01aef759GVK2UjNPMrtpXKUDSn9OqqBcKyNMMFhrUw1IgENRIS13CgCVlosnXfqWLAuf0aXZaswaTFEAGwnIGy3-XqjoMYkMaISFVHFfZSMwlBxz5rBf85C1pq6SKXnmCCi8uKMRBAV7OzFSAuunJRmdS/s960/Word%20image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="748" data-original-width="960" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA9ptRMh9tl135tLGcTYy_xf8zAhUsVbZOF6F01aef759GVK2UjNPMrtpXKUDSn9OqqBcKyNMMFhrUw1IgENRIS13CgCVlosnXfqWLAuf0aXZaswaTFEAGwnIGy3-XqjoMYkMaISFVHFfZSMwlBxz5rBf85C1pq6SKXnmCCi8uKMRBAV7OzFSAuunJRmdS/w400-h311/Word%20image.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifQPigDJscBPquP3ZWrAyNZvV7sBqtLl5AoGlfTOM1HXx9yGpkUHTgNZfielSdYYZLArXrO16g9Im_1PRMjKfhuiljRC76RqKbzSX3TVuNa7i9JNfEhXo7FFj7DqWu0k0K9lXJzUdf1ULn2FptCY-6WkQVkV_zEFsWExYDqk6_O3io63ua8qALieaBdf3X/s720/energy%20vampire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="368" data-original-width="720" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifQPigDJscBPquP3ZWrAyNZvV7sBqtLl5AoGlfTOM1HXx9yGpkUHTgNZfielSdYYZLArXrO16g9Im_1PRMjKfhuiljRC76RqKbzSX3TVuNa7i9JNfEhXo7FFj7DqWu0k0K9lXJzUdf1ULn2FptCY-6WkQVkV_zEFsWExYDqk6_O3io63ua8qALieaBdf3X/w400-h205/energy%20vampire.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>595. It’s amusing when people talk as if capitalism makes sense. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZCTtrXFzQJ0ETok6PXQ74WYbJKHfjDmXe3n2M5tt_dfnF3PklXH87un-1l6ArVHOQQJrWVWqjL5j-61RnA8YqRqzgtlNt6NiWRO8U-vdavkKhl_Rub29hxx0Uxn5c5f2lSAkKb9pkFwNp19D2Wxonn6obj6aeQqnQdr9eBUEL5ktmb5UR1CY56nDguM0j/s680/Twitter%20apes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="680" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZCTtrXFzQJ0ETok6PXQ74WYbJKHfjDmXe3n2M5tt_dfnF3PklXH87un-1l6ArVHOQQJrWVWqjL5j-61RnA8YqRqzgtlNt6NiWRO8U-vdavkKhl_Rub29hxx0Uxn5c5f2lSAkKb9pkFwNp19D2Wxonn6obj6aeQqnQdr9eBUEL5ktmb5UR1CY56nDguM0j/w400-h291/Twitter%20apes.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEireiEU_5UbqO07Aa681g_0z8UEHfLwzpq_4c6wj1LZyYTI-_C-1f7MIapwdUEu86LUvseM3VD4tBkUZc4Fm12fPELE2jHUez5qP6bAfPgeAQyU0am5oXsWUgV8ic-gaF9CcqfHvDvyEjMuLwnjPuf4bvCMfDkiu0EGWNt9SFA-JY1IX9Fmad-LOEa7oH-r/s2000/More%20birthdays%20Grogu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1652" data-original-width="2000" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEireiEU_5UbqO07Aa681g_0z8UEHfLwzpq_4c6wj1LZyYTI-_C-1f7MIapwdUEu86LUvseM3VD4tBkUZc4Fm12fPELE2jHUez5qP6bAfPgeAQyU0am5oXsWUgV8ic-gaF9CcqfHvDvyEjMuLwnjPuf4bvCMfDkiu0EGWNt9SFA-JY1IX9Fmad-LOEa7oH-r/w400-h330/More%20birthdays%20Grogu.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>596. People don’t want to get involved in a union or other organization because they’re not sure it will be effective, but then these organizations can’t be effective because people don’t want to get involved, which creates the impression that these organizations aren’t effective, which makes people not want to join… and so on. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjLBXLDMpf2brr4v0fF3OM_fqj6QjVFtNFR1uJf_1ZUPFAvQxCEdTOzvJ3fv5b5rm_bJ4SLdGA-EXaAJA2t_7iwMEjbA-tEmBdfL5GQy-HwodnIhgD6gIS3e0Ckzlpfmu7Vg_GpcDszf_6zko8Pq2sxBaLvDK4lEsopre7Sc4euSEAiqMP_B0eiZrYLp87/s462/more%20books.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="462" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjLBXLDMpf2brr4v0fF3OM_fqj6QjVFtNFR1uJf_1ZUPFAvQxCEdTOzvJ3fv5b5rm_bJ4SLdGA-EXaAJA2t_7iwMEjbA-tEmBdfL5GQy-HwodnIhgD6gIS3e0Ckzlpfmu7Vg_GpcDszf_6zko8Pq2sxBaLvDK4lEsopre7Sc4euSEAiqMP_B0eiZrYLp87/w400-h400/more%20books.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsMcL9IGXH4GidRfYtZNwKAZTnEp6Nl9N39GnBcrd8VeDizDqKbAo71Phuw2hEQdrYTnr2jdJOkLpvJb7SoncWiq-PjsA1_TX70Tzay7F3iHZay4a2PMzfETgNLhKzilucQRKNJd_WuN4Oj2kjxDsZ82Vsu8VzzDnOuwNrjH6eRkRjeEQjIMhiOifAk_I-/s720/cat%20Egypt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="720" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsMcL9IGXH4GidRfYtZNwKAZTnEp6Nl9N39GnBcrd8VeDizDqKbAo71Phuw2hEQdrYTnr2jdJOkLpvJb7SoncWiq-PjsA1_TX70Tzay7F3iHZay4a2PMzfETgNLhKzilucQRKNJd_WuN4Oj2kjxDsZ82Vsu8VzzDnOuwNrjH6eRkRjeEQjIMhiOifAk_I-/w400-h291/cat%20Egypt.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>597. Mimetic fiction is a strange thing: why would you use this mysterious human power of imagination to create something that could easily happen in the course of your regular experience when you could imagine … <i>literally anything else?</i></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJkRLbKv20AVToaP6c-agKtwkanFK0W8234-tUwW5p3utOK4zNjLX6Qi6qCxXVb6YYxDsMyRJ3FO1uwliSjB1lFeU-oo6oQPD1EUZ7WXZgZ_e-M1s4F2t_CHA7qxJ6ExkfRV4G1kHbVdeX2lqgN2lq3xY2OF-awRIt0sEvDoHUj6RTszZaAMpHHEaDkSV/s793/whales.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="793" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJkRLbKv20AVToaP6c-agKtwkanFK0W8234-tUwW5p3utOK4zNjLX6Qi6qCxXVb6YYxDsMyRJ3FO1uwliSjB1lFeU-oo6oQPD1EUZ7WXZgZ_e-M1s4F2t_CHA7qxJ6ExkfRV4G1kHbVdeX2lqgN2lq3xY2OF-awRIt0sEvDoHUj6RTszZaAMpHHEaDkSV/s320/whales.jpg" width="291" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcGRRzL-jJSY-dcRmZdNzff-44Vq9IPukViSQ9Uc_A46sZ1WYEydSt_6pouGOP0AITKk8NPaTXgQLcw0_ax3G3_aE6YjyjWvesJytSpWiiJyJof9xavgOJVMgr3k2NX4r8l-xltmc4xj0vsWo_2sOgrtmKfa6IKzCqZjx_p2V6djqUugz1pH9NRODY2IFs/s500/darth%20vader.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="500" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcGRRzL-jJSY-dcRmZdNzff-44Vq9IPukViSQ9Uc_A46sZ1WYEydSt_6pouGOP0AITKk8NPaTXgQLcw0_ax3G3_aE6YjyjWvesJytSpWiiJyJof9xavgOJVMgr3k2NX4r8l-xltmc4xj0vsWo_2sOgrtmKfa6IKzCqZjx_p2V6djqUugz1pH9NRODY2IFs/w400-h266/darth%20vader.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEDTjvPBpQKL-WXNHO1Qfybykas5DsVApFJRU5n9d449ThHjyQlvaNf9K-n4rIV8hLAnEV9Aqxf9CNiB-Hy0j-jtkEFhy3wUygaZQXAyjTfkBtketCWNdcXEwgqXEYANug0gnrnfbC94ivVRVRbPcky338q2lcGpc9ail0lyThQrQDfSL4L5lHJrk93lKg/s720/go%20out%20b%20and%20b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEDTjvPBpQKL-WXNHO1Qfybykas5DsVApFJRU5n9d449ThHjyQlvaNf9K-n4rIV8hLAnEV9Aqxf9CNiB-Hy0j-jtkEFhy3wUygaZQXAyjTfkBtketCWNdcXEwgqXEYANug0gnrnfbC94ivVRVRbPcky338q2lcGpc9ail0lyThQrQDfSL4L5lHJrk93lKg/w400-h400/go%20out%20b%20and%20b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizqwVUhFHMDjNmAyxFbHnqNNruuZtO7QzWJ8nSWiZt_sMOsLJBg4M3MirO69bAopfNL1GUEehWfQoHDHUFYfMPutvdRhwgZ_SdT2whxCopMLBMNecKkOyED9fFDf13rp1ElMimHlZcVmUmgVQJ3T5h_nENjqTYHqSj3LacTqJq0ggOclCmgwSQweN43G1K/s1239/day%20drinking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1239" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizqwVUhFHMDjNmAyxFbHnqNNruuZtO7QzWJ8nSWiZt_sMOsLJBg4M3MirO69bAopfNL1GUEehWfQoHDHUFYfMPutvdRhwgZ_SdT2whxCopMLBMNecKkOyED9fFDf13rp1ElMimHlZcVmUmgVQJ3T5h_nENjqTYHqSj3LacTqJq0ggOclCmgwSQweN43G1K/w349-h400/day%20drinking.jpg" width="349" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Y6Z08qqoVvKZaAIKxlOWy08YqF-NvTRs83rNB0mZf3NAzofQSEWD-tl9LzlW7RFUTIyQVSrft2quBbmIpklIX5dVpr6y_Nc4WpC8MWFvtFTds-hOAvv4NOosCfJRCh_sp3P6ZsWFZO9NY44tsHcxZIc11YaTfULZvGODoagGqTBF_wNdUPIwZv-TAWyf/s1377/LeVar%20mom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1377" data-original-width="1079" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Y6Z08qqoVvKZaAIKxlOWy08YqF-NvTRs83rNB0mZf3NAzofQSEWD-tl9LzlW7RFUTIyQVSrft2quBbmIpklIX5dVpr6y_Nc4WpC8MWFvtFTds-hOAvv4NOosCfJRCh_sp3P6ZsWFZO9NY44tsHcxZIc11YaTfULZvGODoagGqTBF_wNdUPIwZv-TAWyf/w314-h400/LeVar%20mom.jpg" width="314" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div></div>Ethanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13490888839784651097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323383105577553414.post-8133328952016569052023-10-03T20:44:00.002-07:002023-10-04T09:41:35.359-07:00Hugo Ballot 2023: Novels, Novellas, and More!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMBYSxUv6WmrK_j7Uvl9bWap7nurHrpHO0lCDzOt4XI0_CFGFB5nfgCf-100Xjm_aa_blTFI7Ixnu4epXTuUUtwKXL4mtAiaqFjyT1IWiST-gIahppdaRP7uu_jy5m6mrSm4CesPht4p5-CwNxklfu9l4zTMuLPTj6KTzqBJhm1zUjZhqLOKiaIhYh9OBF/s310/download.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="163" data-original-width="310" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMBYSxUv6WmrK_j7Uvl9bWap7nurHrpHO0lCDzOt4XI0_CFGFB5nfgCf-100Xjm_aa_blTFI7Ixnu4epXTuUUtwKXL4mtAiaqFjyT1IWiST-gIahppdaRP7uu_jy5m6mrSm4CesPht4p5-CwNxklfu9l4zTMuLPTj6KTzqBJhm1zUjZhqLOKiaIhYh9OBF/w400-h210/download.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>I made it! I got my Hugo votes submitted by the Sept. 30 deadline! It felt like <a href="https://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/2023-hugo-awards/" target="_blank">a compressed Hugo reading season</a> to me. Maybe it was the delay on the front end from the local Worldcon or the fact that my late summer travels and the beginning of the school year ate into my reading time, but I felt a bit rushed this year <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2022/08/hugo-ballot-2022-novels-and-novellas.html" target="_blank">compared to previous years</a>. I barely finished the novels and only kinda finished the novellas (you can see how I voted <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2023/09/hugo-ballot-2023-short-stories-and.html" target="_blank">on the novelettes and short stories here</a>). I skimmed the Related Works, glanced at some of the art, and went totally from memory for the Dramatic Presentations. But I did manage to vote in most of the categories. I felt especially invested in the semiprozine category this year for reasons revealed below.</p><p>How'd it go? I surprised myself with a few picks this year, especially for Best Novel, but I can say I enjoyed reading all the nominees and would be thrilled to see any of them win. Check it out below! You can see how it all turns out during the ceremony on Oct. 21 at the Chengdu Worldcon! Good luck to all the nominees!</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Best Novel</span></u></b></p><div><b><i>1. Legends & Lattes</i>, by Travis Baldree (Tor Books)</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Nobody is as surprised to find this one at my #1 spot as I am. Yet here we are. From <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2023/09/serious-cozybusiness-legends-lattes-by.html" target="_blank">my review</a>: "Why does fantasy have to be Serious Business about saving the world all the time? Why can't a battle-hardened orc put down her sword and open a coffeeshop with imported gnomish coffee? Why can't she make friends with a quiet shipbuilder, a succubus who dropped out of magic college, a rat-person pastry chef, and a dire cat who occasionally stops by? Why not make the coffeeshop cooperatively owned while you're at it? Why not, indeed!"</li></ul></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><i>2. Nettle & Bone</i>, by T. Kingfisher (Tor Books)</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>From <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2023/08/dark-fantasy-horror-comedy-nettle-bone.html" target="_blank">my review</a><b>: "</b>... she [the protagonist] sets out to kill her sister's husband, which is Serious Business, but it's also kind of funny. Because, that's just the kind of book this is. I'm tempted to call this dark fantasy horror comedy. There's also something called a bone-wife (sort of a friendly necromancer), magical godmothers, and an undead bone dog. And a lovable barbarian with rippling muscles and moral clarity about what must be done. Once you get the main group together, it's hard not to love them all."</li></ul></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><i>3. The Daughter of Doctor Moreau</i>, by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (Del Rey)</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>From <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2023/09/digging-new-wells-daughter-of-doctor.html" target="_blank">my review</a>:<b> "</b>One cool thing is that we get to know the hybrids created by Dr. Moreau, not just as spooky sci-fi tropes, but as people: coworkers, friends, family members, etc. In the chapters from Carlota's POV, we never really even hear much about their "animal" aspects, because to her they're family."</li></ul></div><div><b><br /><i>4. The Kaiju Preservation Society</i>, by John Scalzi (Tor Books)</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>From <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2023/08/fun-with-kaiju-kaiju-preservation.html" target="_blank">my review</a>: "John Scalzi is always fun to read, and <i style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 16px;">The Kaiju Preservation Society</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 16px;"> is no exception! It's interesting that we're starting to see novels set during the early pandemic. And how could a novel about Kaiju </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 16px;">not</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 16px;"> be interesting, especially by a writer as entertaining as Scalzi?" </span></li></ul></div><div><b><br /><i>5. The Spare Man</i>, by Mary Robinette Kowal (Tor Books)</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="background-color: white; color: #424242; font-family: "Times New Roman", Times, FreeSerif, serif; font-size: 16px;">From <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2023/09/stirring-past-into-future-spare-man-by.html" target="_blank">my review</a>: "Ultimately I think for me this premise would be a good long short story or novella, but a murder mystery in space riffing off 90-year-old films for whatever reason doesn't hold my attention for a whole novel. I do want to try some of those cocktails, though."</span></li></ul></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Left off my ballot: <i>Nona the Ninth</i>, by Tamsyn Muir (Tordotcom)</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>This is a part of a series. I did read <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2020/07/2020-hugo-ballot-part-one-novel-novella.html" target="_blank">the first one for the Hugos a few years ago</a>, which I thought was cool, but a bit of work to get through. Ultimately I didn't think I had the energy to continue the series. My apologies.</li></ul><br /><br /><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Best Novella</span></u></b></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>1. Ogres</i>, by Adrian Tchaikovsky (Solaris)</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I've loved Tchaikovsky's other work (like <i><a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2020/04/humanities-in-space-children-of-time-by.html" target="_blank">Children of Time</a> </i>and <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2022/08/hugo-ballot-2022-novels-and-novellas.html" target="_blank"><i>Elder Race</i>)</a>, so I was excited to read this one. And it was great! From <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5710792053" target="_blank">my review</a>: "It may sound like a gimmicky cop-out, but it's true: the less you know about this going in, the better. It's probably not what you think. And then when you think something else, it's probably not that, either. You will repeat this a few more times. I will tell you that, much like this review, most of the novella is in the second person. Which seems gimmicky, too. Until you find out why."</li></ul></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><i>2. What Moves the Dead</i>, by T. Kingfisher (Tor Nightfire)</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>More T. Kingfisher! From <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5710794974" target="_blank">my review</a>: "It looks like a fairly standard retelling of Poe's <i>Fall of the House of Usher.</i> But it's that and more. I do plan to revisit Poe's story before the Mike Flanagan series comes out, but it's been awhile since I read that. But from what I remember, Kingfisher adds a lot more fungi (to delightfully horrific effect), a nonbinary narrator, a science fiction horror element, and generally a lot more plot."</li></ul></div><div><b><i>3. Even Though I Knew the End</i>, by C.L. Polk (Tordotcom)</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>From <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59807975-even-though-i-knew-the-end" target="_blank">my review</a>: "I wasn't sure about this one for the first several chapters: a hardboiled detective and her girlfriend in 1940's Chicago with hints of the supernatural? Maybe fun? But also maybe: yawn... But then there were more than hints of the supernatural, and things picked up for me: magic, demons, angels, a supernatural serial killer, angelic possession, and my favorite: angelic teleportation!"</li></ul><div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><b style="font-style: normal;"><i>4. A Mirror Mended</i>, by Alix E. Harrow (Tordotcom)</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Here's where the "kinda" in "I kinda finished the novellas" comes in. I started but haven't quite finished this one yet, but it's the second in a series and <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2022/08/hugo-ballot-2022-novels-and-novellas.html" target="_blank">I did read the first one for the Hugos last year</a>, so I kind of triangulated a rating based on having read the first one and part of this one. Will I finish it? Probably. Unless I get sucked into another dimension, or the library needs it back.</li></ul></div><div style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><i style="font-weight: bold;">5. Into the Riverlands</i><b>, by Nghi Vo (Tordotcom)</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Another triangulation based on <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2021/11/hugo-ballot-2021-novels-and-novellas.html" target="_blank">having read a previous entry in the same series.</a> I still really like the fantasy setting inspired by Imperial China, but I also still find it hard to get into completely for whatever reason.</li></ul></div><div><b><br />Left off my ranking: <i>Where the Drowned Girls Go</i>, by Seanan McGuire (Tordotcom)</b><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>McGuire is super popular, but I tried to read the first one of these many years ago and couldn't get into it. And now seven (or a million?) entries later, it just feels too late for me. My deepest apologies once again this year. Goodreads tells me there are at least two more entries on the horizon, and I imagine they will be finalists, too. I guess that makes my novella reading list a little shorter every year...</li></ul><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Best Novelette and Best Short Story </span></u></b></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">(see <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2023/09/hugo-ballot-2023-short-stories-and.html" target="_blank">my previous post</a>)</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></u></b></div><div><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Best Series</span></u></b></div><div><br /></div><div>I just voted for <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2022/12/the-space-of-minds-children-of-ruin-by.html" target="_blank">Adrian Tchaikovsky's <i>Children of Time </i>series</a>, because I love it, and left the others off. Is that fair? I'm not sure. My apologies.</div><div><br /></div><br /><br /><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Best Related Work</span></u></b><div><br /></div><div><i>I always make a point to vote in this category, because I tell myself that if there is some alternate universe in which I were nominated for a Hugo, it might be this category. But then when I see the sheer amount of work that goes into the nominees in this category, I realize that this possible world must be far away from this world. Case in point: I only really had time to skim a little bit of the beginning of each nominee, but I did find what I read to be excellent in all cases. So, here's my perhaps slightly irresponsible ranking...</i></div><div><br /></div><div><b>1. <i>Blood, Sweat & Chrome: The Wild and True Story of Mad Max: Fury Road,</i> by Kyle Buchanan (William Morrow)</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>2. </b><b>“The Ghost of Workshops Past”, by S.L. Huang (Tor.com)</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>3. </b><b><i>Terry Pratchett: A Life With Footnotes</i>, by Rob Wilkins (Doubleday)</b></div><div><br /></div><div><b>4. <i>Chinese Science Fiction, An Oral History, Volume 1</i>, by Yang Feng (Chengdu Times Press)<br /><br />5. <i>Still Just a Geek: An Annotated Memoir,</i> by Wil Wheaton (William Morrow)<br /><br /></b></div><div><b>6. <i>Buffalito World Outreach Project</i>, by Lawrence M. Schoen (Paper Golem LLC)</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><br /><b><u><span style="font-size: large;"><br />Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form</span></u></b><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div><div><i>As a nerd who watches a fair bit of TV and movies, I usually get most of the dramatic presentation categories for free (I just watched </i>The Creator <i>yesterday, and I fully expect to see it on this list next year; I enjoyed it, and I'll write about it soon). And this year was no different. I saw all of these except for Turning Red, which I did hear was great. But as with </i><a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2023/03/so-i-watched-all-oscar-nominees-for.html" style="font-style: italic;" target="_blank">the Oscars</a><i>, I'm afraid for me it's got to be </i>Everything Everywhere All At Once<i>, although as a huge Jordan Peele fan, I have to give </i>Nope<i> second place (both were also philosophically and visually interesting as well). I also really loved Apple TV's philosophically fascinating show </i>Severance<i>. </i>Black Panther: Wakanda Forever<i> wasn't as good as the first one, but still cool. </i>Avatar<i> was about as silly as the first one, but even more visually stunning, which has to count for something.</i></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><b>1. <i>Everything Everywhere All at Once</i>, screenplay by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Sheinert (IAC Films / Gozie AGBO)</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>2. <i>Nope</i>, written by Jordan Peele, directed by Jordan Peele (Universal Pictures / Monkeypaw Productions)</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>3. <i>Severance</i> (Season 1), written by Dan Erickson, Anna Ouyang Moench et al., directed by Ben Stiller and Aoife McArdle (Red Hour Productions / Fifth Season)</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>4. <i>Black Panther: Wakanda Forever</i>, screenplay by Ryan Coogler and Joe Robert Cole, directed by Ryan Coogler (Marvel Studios)<br /><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />5. <i>Avatar: The Way of Water</i>, screenplay by James Cameron, Rick Jaffa, and Amanda Silver, directed by James Cameron (Lightstorm Entertainment / TSG Entertainment II)<br /><br /><br />Left off my ranking: <i>Turning Red,</i> screenplay by Julia Cho and Domee Shi, directed by Domee Shi (Walt Disney Studios / Pixar Animation Studios)</b></div></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><br /></div><br /><br /><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form</span></u></b><div><br /></div><div><i>It took me a few episodes to get used to it, but I loved </i>Andor. <i>Do I want all </i>Star Wars <i>to be like that? No. </i>Star Wars <i>should be fun and a little silly now and then, but I do appreciate that Disney has finally figured out that there's plenty of room in the Star Wars universe for different genres of shows, even super engrossing, super intense spy thrillers that look seriously at the costs and benefits of violent revolution. </i><i>I adored </i>She-Hulk, <i>which felt like one of the first Marvel shows to know that the whole Marvel thing is a little bit silly, and that's okay. I enjoy a good breaking of the fourth wall, and if you combine that with trashing obnoxious sexist trolls, count me in. </i><i>I've been loving </i>Stranger Things all along <i>(I'm really looking forward to the Duffer Brothers taking on an adaptation of Stephen King and Peter Straub's </i>The Talisman <i>once they finish; you can see someone reading it in </i>Stranger Things!). <i>I also loved </i>The Expanse <i>even if the last season or two weren't quite the same (I need to finish those books one of these days...). </i> <i>I don't feel like I gave </i>For All Mankind <i>much of a chance (the first episode had too much jingoistic patriotism for me, but I'm told it gets much better... maybe I'll watch it while I'm waiting for Apple to make more great SF content; see also their recent show </i>Silo<i>, which I wouldn't be surprised to see on this list next year).</i></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>1. <i>Andor</i>: “One Way Out”, written by Beau Willimon, Tony Gilroy, and George Lucas, directed by Toby Haynes (Lucasfilm)</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>2. <i>She-Hulk: Attorney at Law</i>: “Whose Show is This?”, written by Jessica Gao, Francesca Gailes, and Jacqueline Gailes, directed by Kat Coiro (Marvel Entertainment)<br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>3. <i>Stranger Things</i>: “Chapter Four: Dear Billy”, written by Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer, and Paul Dichter, directed by Shawn Levy (21 Laps Entertainment)</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>4. <i>The Expanse</i>: “Babylon’s Ashes”, written by Daniel Abraham, Ty Franck, Naren Shankar, directed by Breck Eisner (Alcon Entertainment)<br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>5. <i>Andor</i>: “Rix Road”, written by Tony Gilroy and George Lucas, directed by Benjamin Caron (Lucasfilm)<br /><br /></b></div><div><b>Left off my ranking: <i>For All Mankind</i>: “Stranger in a Strange Land”, written by Matt Wolpert and Ben Nedivi, directed by Craig Zisk (Tall Ship Productions/Sony Pictures Television)</b><br /><br /></div><br /><b><br /><u><span style="font-size: large;">Best Professional Artist</span></u></b><div><b><br /></b></div><div><i>I used to do some drawing. And I like looking at pictures. Does this qualify me to vote in this category? Who knows?</i></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>1. Enzhe Zhao</b></div><div><b>2. Alyssa Winans</b></div><div><b>3. Jian Zhang</b></div><div><b>4. Kuri Huang</b></div><div><b>5. Paul Lewin</b></div><div><b>6. Sija Hong<br /><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><span style="font-size: large;"><u><b>Best Semiprozine</b></u></span><div><b><br /></b></div><div><i>Remember when I said I'm unlikely to ever be nominated for a Hugo? Well, if you squint just right, I maybe kinda have been already. At least if you recall that last year (Sept. 2022-June 2023, anyway), I was <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2022/08/im-associate-editor-at-escape-pod.html" target="_blank">an Associate Editor (aka, first reader, aaka, slush reader) for </a></i><a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2022/08/im-associate-editor-at-escape-pod.html" target="_blank">Escape Pod</a><i><a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2022/08/im-associate-editor-at-escape-pod.html" target="_blank">! </a>Okay, so the real credit goes to the editors named below, and it's cool enough just to say that I know some people nominated for a Hugo (I even met Ben Kinney in person once). So, of course, I have to vote for </i>Escape Pod,<i> but having seen how the </i>Escape Pod<i> team works from the inside, I can honestly say they're doing a great job and totally deserve this award. And even if you don't agree with that assessment, that's okay, because the other "semiprozines" are also doing high quality work. You really can't lose with this lineup.</i></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>1. <i>Escape Pod</i>, co-editors Mur Lafferty & Valerie Valdes; Assistant editors Benjamin C. Kinney & Premee Mohamed, host Tina Connolly, producers Summer Brooks and Adam Pracht</b></div><div><b><br />2. <i>FIYAH</i>, edited by the entire FIYAH team</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>3. <i>Uncanny Magazine</i>, publishers and editors-in-chief: Lynne M. Thomas and Michael Damian Thomas; managing/poetry editor Chimedum Ohaegbu; managing editor Monte Lin; nonfiction editor Meg Elison; podcast producers Erika Ensign and Steven Schapansky.</b></div><div><b><br />4. </b><b><i>PodCastle</i>, co-Editors Shingai Njeri Kagunda and Eleanor R. Wood; Assistant Editor Sofia Barker; Host Matt Dovey; Audio Producers Peter Adrian Behravesh, Devin Martin, and Eric Valdes</b></div><div><b><br />5. </b><b><i>Strange Horizons</i>, edited by The Strange Horizons Editorial Team</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>6. </b><b><i>khōréō</i>, edited by Team khōréō</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><br /><br /><b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Best Fanzine</span></u></b><div><br /></div><div><i>This is always a fun category, and I'm always impressed by the work people are doing here! And it's especially cool to learn more about SF fandom in China this year (one of the benefits of remembering that it's called </i>Worldcon, <i>not </i>Euroamericon)<i>.</i></div><div><br /></div><div><b>1. <i>Chinese Academic SF Express</i>, by Latssep and Tianluo_Qi</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>2. <i>Zero Gravity Newspaper</i>, by RiverFlow and Ling Shizhen</b></div><div><b><br />3. <i>Galactic Journey</i>, by Gideon Marcus, Janice Marcus, Tammi Bozich, Erica Frank, Arel Lucas, and Mark Yon</b></div><div><b><br />4. <i>Journey Planet</i>, by Regina Kanyu Wang, Yen Ooi, Arthur Liu, Jean Martin, Erin Underwood, Steven H Silver, Pádraig Ó Méalóid and their other co-editors.</b></div><div><b><br />5. <i>Nerds of a Feather</i>, by Roseanna Pendlebury, Arturo Serrano, Paul Weimer, Adri Joy, Joe Sherry, Vance Kotrla, G. Brown</b></div><div><b><br />6. <i>Unofficial Hugo Book Club Blog</i>, by Olav Rokne and Amanda Wakaruk</b><br /><br /><div><br /></div><u><b><span style="font-size: large;">Best Fan Writer</span></b></u></div><div><br /></div><div><i>While my scrawlings here on this blog could conceivably be considered in conjunction with this category, when I see the work and dedication of the fan writers here, I'm filled with admiration and humility, realizing I'm not even in the same galaxy as these fine writers. Good work, fan writers!</i></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>1. Chris M. Barkley</b></div><div><b>2. RiverFlow</b></div><div><b>3. Jason Sanford</b></div><div><b>4. Arthur Liu</b></div><div><b>5. Bitter Karella<br />6. Örjan Westin</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><br /><br /><u><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Best Fan Artist</b></span></u><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span><div><i>Last but not least (at least among the categories I voted in): fan artist!</i></div><div><br /></div><div><b>1. Laya Rose</b></div><div><b>2. Richard Man</b></div><div><b>3. Alison Scott</b></div><div><b>4. Iain Clark</b></div><div><b>5. España Sheriff<br />6. Orion Smith</b><br /></div></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>So there you have it! I unfortunately won't be in Chengdu for the ceremony on Oct. 21 (although I may be in Glasgow next year; stay tuned). I will be eagerly awaiting the results in a few weeks. I may even try to watch it online, time difference permitting. Good luck to the Worldcon team in Chengdu and to all the nominees!</div>Ethanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13490888839784651097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323383105577553414.post-82221524977303221862023-09-27T20:40:00.001-07:002023-09-27T20:40:24.624-07:00Stirring the Past Into the Future: The Spare Man by Mary Robinette Kowal<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1xx7PFseA4ro3zGTlkmWfT0CtZzBx2uDompOESkFKtvhn_hpGas_u3qj6jBAahUurLwx3XQeb2KK6MgGWoPqWT5XDlEgHvwfrTHvV5nv84wo6PDaZn6jqdF53rusF_Wi0NFIgnk8JybS2nX0QZLQ8b70B1oa40NCFL9jz8P2_5WvaWn1pNnlaimtumtrg/s400/55077658.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="260" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1xx7PFseA4ro3zGTlkmWfT0CtZzBx2uDompOESkFKtvhn_hpGas_u3qj6jBAahUurLwx3XQeb2KK6MgGWoPqWT5XDlEgHvwfrTHvV5nv84wo6PDaZn6jqdF53rusF_Wi0NFIgnk8JybS2nX0QZLQ8b70B1oa40NCFL9jz8P2_5WvaWn1pNnlaimtumtrg/w260-h400/55077658.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><a href="https://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/2023-hugo-awards/" target="_blank">My 2023 Hugo reading</a> continues with <i>The Spare Man </i>by Mary Robinette Kowal. What did I think?</p><p>I like the concept of this book, which you might call stirring the past into the future: pour a bit of the old <i>Thin Man</i> movies from the 1930's and 40's (married couple travels with their dog, drinking cocktails), but in space with a healthy splash of hard SF engineering--all served in a large glass of murder mystery. </p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p>I was really enjoying it for the first hundred pages or so. I particularly enjoy that each chapter begins with a cocktail recipe (like Frank Herbert's epigraphs, but cocktails!). But then I just kind of ran out of steam. Maybe this book just isn't for me, but I found myself skimming the last half just to see who did it (and you do find out, so it is a classic murder mystery structure).</p><p>Also, some aspects of the book that bothered other people started to grate on me, too. The protagonist is a super wealthy inventor who gets out of several situations by almost literally (and maybe actually literally in at least one case) saying, "Do you know who I am?" She is similar to the protagonist of <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2019/07/lady-astronaut-mashup-calculating-stars.html" target="_blank">Kowal's first Lady Astronaut novel (which I really loved)</a>, although in this book the sexual innuendos are slightly less nerdy.</p><p>A deeper reason this didn't click for me is that aside from a few interesting ideas ideas (for example: stating one's preferred pronouns may become obvious in the future) and Kowal's care about the engineering and the cocktails, this future feels a little too familiar. It feels like a fun exercise (and it IS fun!), but I don't really feel like there's much to think about (unlike some Kowal's other work, which I found more philosophically engaging). This book is more what I call Engineers' SF than Big Ideas SF, albeit with the retro-futuristic murder mystery vibe.</p><p>So, it's not a bad book. It's fun enough. I'm a bit puzzled this was nominated for a Hugo, but then again, many of <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2023/09/serious-cozybusiness-legends-lattes-by.html" target="_blank">this year's nominees</a> are more fun than usual, so maybe it does make sense. Ultimately I think for me this premise would be a good long short story or novella, but a murder mystery in space riffing off 90-year-old films for whatever reason doesn't hold my attention for a whole novel. I do want to try some of those cocktails, though.</p><p><br /></p><p><i><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5672069225" target="_blank">See also my Goodreads review.</a></i></p>Ethanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13490888839784651097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323383105577553414.post-78369704225874365172023-09-25T21:27:00.000-07:002023-09-25T21:27:36.812-07:00Birthday Report: 2023<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYaBxP42GgLSOWjJQq-RFlLp2s5XA240PZeYnzo9a6TKkcCBwvI1w78ItQ67KCT61GLr_BcC2y486KVLASK3afh8xCbRW19E8uowabPCSYrKLr3Y_Aasi1AbJ9meyz7FTFHLRDxCMgqkePiK0ZsVUWng9Xw5mnLAL-FKLrE3mntngGD3S40oiFvVZJe6nH/s4032/IMG_1489.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYaBxP42GgLSOWjJQq-RFlLp2s5XA240PZeYnzo9a6TKkcCBwvI1w78ItQ67KCT61GLr_BcC2y486KVLASK3afh8xCbRW19E8uowabPCSYrKLr3Y_Aasi1AbJ9meyz7FTFHLRDxCMgqkePiK0ZsVUWng9Xw5mnLAL-FKLrE3mntngGD3S40oiFvVZJe6nH/w300-h400/IMG_1489.HEIC" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Every year I've had this blog, I've written <a href="webcal://p64-caldav.icloud.com/published/2/MTI0Njc5MjUyMTI0Njc5MtaZsz2T1fRBLF3_VfHlUtetBY9syjZY6uPnyqh40ulL" target="_blank">a little something for my birthday</a>. And this year is no different!</p><p>But aren't birthdays for kids? First of all, why should kids have all the fun? If being an adult requires draining life of all fun, wonder, and joy so you can pay bills and work until you die, well, then, what's the point of <i>that</i>?</p><p>I've always liked <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbR7axof1wk" target="_blank">the message of <i>Ferris Bueller's Day Off </i></a>(yes, I <i>am </i>that old!): "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it." And birthdays are great days to do that!</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p>Besides, as I've been saying <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2015/09/birthdays-and-deathdays-why-birthdays.html" target="_blank">on this blog since 2015</a> (and for a long time before that), </p><blockquote>The fact that we are alive to experience the beauty, horror, and mystery of the universe is pretty cool. Birthdays are a time to reflect on the incalculably precious privilege of becoming a speck of the universe that, for however short a time, is able to contemplate <a href="http://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2015/05/42nd-post-spectacular.html">life, the universe, and everything</a>. <i>That’s</i> something worth celebrating! </blockquote><p>Why would you <i>not </i>want to celebrate birthdays, and help others celebrate theirs? This is why I like to wish people happy birthday on social media. A cynical, small-minded killjoy might say I only do this so I get birthday greetings on my birthday. I <i>do </i>get plenty of those, and I thank everyone for them! But that's not really <i>why </i>I do it. We're all in this wild, mixed-up universe together, and if that doesn't make you care about other people, I really don't know what else to say.</p><p>So what have I done to celebrate this birthday? I had some really good pre-birthday fun with social activities over the weekend (including a scifi bookclub at a brewery and a Hobbit Day celebration of Bilbo and Frodo's birthdays!). </p><p>What to do with a birthday on a weekday? I've been working on maintaining the sort of work-life balance I started trying in the last few years with the confluence of tenure, the pandemic, and my mid-40's. Since Mondays are a flexible, work-from-home day for me, today I did some work at home in the morning and then I took some work with me for lunch on the patio of a local pub (see above). </p><p>I took a long walk around downtown Chattanooga (something I used to do often when I lived close to downtown), and then I went to see a matinee of the new horror movie <i><a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15683734/" target="_blank">It Lives Inside</a> </i>(you've heard of Christmas horror movies, and even Thanksgiving horror, now get ready for Durgā Pūjā horror!)</p><p>(Lest any bean-counting bureaucrats read this: when you teach horror and philosophy, movies count as work, too! And if the bean-counters don't buy that line of argument, let's call it a healthy work-life balance. And if they don't buy that, well, one bit of wisdom my advancing years have taught me is that one must partition one's cares discerningly, or less delicately, have fewer fucks to give).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2TfuLLndQ3CNT4kFZHtkFMhB2hPLMUcv2-ZT6xqxwjWbgtrWlK_rdo-7TSND401ThSiVR2zVil0A69zCmCtDRyysw92Np8EIr5wjHTtYvevNliztF-6BAyy1wWxmPYXN5-8ImMHIQnnPg3fFV2-Fdk0iGaZXtTgIrkvpVhzWEtlokKXuyxa8T7FuzqbKT/s4032/IMG_1490.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2TfuLLndQ3CNT4kFZHtkFMhB2hPLMUcv2-ZT6xqxwjWbgtrWlK_rdo-7TSND401ThSiVR2zVil0A69zCmCtDRyysw92Np8EIr5wjHTtYvevNliztF-6BAyy1wWxmPYXN5-8ImMHIQnnPg3fFV2-Fdk0iGaZXtTgIrkvpVhzWEtlokKXuyxa8T7FuzqbKT/s320/IMG_1490.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>After the movie, I stopped by a local cupcake shop and headed back home to my spouse and cats for Indian take-out and the <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8589698/" target="_blank">new <i>Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles </i>movie</a>, which was delightful. All in all, not a bad way to slide into the penumbra between my mid- and late- 40's!</p><p>Have I, in my advanced age, finally gotten the hang of this life thing? Nah. But like Ferris Bueller, I do enjoy looking around once in a while. And maybe, just maybe, it's taking this time to experience joy and wonder and our connections with each other and this unfathomable mound of being we call the universe that really does make all this worthwhile.</p><p>Or maybe not! Who knows? Happy birthday to me, and to you, dear reader, whenever your next birthday may be!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-x81fwWCUFrXVTqRajmjhNvuupoUYbjyTFleeiwen4STvj_JcM326PdIlE9xkemqhGGxr7-LfSuXcestvrsdp2tpDf6MP49FLyRgMizt8ksBfJnBY6KxWHqauw0Qw_b985TQ0lmC3TW9h_75g67ciVinix0UV1VdbQiNsgzKOaUwtydEevi7SbddopCuK/s4032/IMG_1493.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-x81fwWCUFrXVTqRajmjhNvuupoUYbjyTFleeiwen4STvj_JcM326PdIlE9xkemqhGGxr7-LfSuXcestvrsdp2tpDf6MP49FLyRgMizt8ksBfJnBY6KxWHqauw0Qw_b985TQ0lmC3TW9h_75g67ciVinix0UV1VdbQiNsgzKOaUwtydEevi7SbddopCuK/s320/IMG_1493.HEIC" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ABbc26-HSm-Hw7-R0bO9anZMMShDTFDQbW4WJm5lFhnBfF_p8Rii0dRsKlBpKZL0sYvq7uTGOoNUKflV67PopM5CrxYDmQrGmqnF8ji57yJ6ExyUNZaiAX1zcUKc7x1m0MXMd_ca4cDm13brVTMfG5tJUyP7aUs5fd6ju_QtYyuWsz4PQONEKb1g7JgN/s4032/IMG_1492.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ABbc26-HSm-Hw7-R0bO9anZMMShDTFDQbW4WJm5lFhnBfF_p8Rii0dRsKlBpKZL0sYvq7uTGOoNUKflV67PopM5CrxYDmQrGmqnF8ji57yJ6ExyUNZaiAX1zcUKc7x1m0MXMd_ca4cDm13brVTMfG5tJUyP7aUs5fd6ju_QtYyuWsz4PQONEKb1g7JgN/s320/IMG_1492.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>PS: As is my tradition, here's my all-time favorite birthday song by one human who maybe actually has figured some stuff out: Weird Al Yankovic!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fV3VjF64ga4" width="320" youtube-src-id="fV3VjF64ga4"></iframe></div><div><br /></div>Ethanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13490888839784651097noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2323383105577553414.post-19719296498061591122023-09-20T21:17:00.001-07:002023-09-21T08:04:27.767-07:00Hugo Ballot 2023: Short Stories and Novelettes!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_cuVLo0Kh7ddBgz1dOdl2pyCggvvjKcZuMwaX1cdyLCO2-_aVmfZ-mxkZWJzbgj-uR6j8wVxN8jqr4wJHWQ3_Q9zg0JHpoxobXQVizCzQYT53TPwkloBXAx1B04H_jioFHPMp9HG3oIBeiNXuT7q4pgFDG6_LmhMlVFqaA16JDcHrUGn4mSK16PyFhbSu/s1151/123595138.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1151" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_cuVLo0Kh7ddBgz1dOdl2pyCggvvjKcZuMwaX1cdyLCO2-_aVmfZ-mxkZWJzbgj-uR6j8wVxN8jqr4wJHWQ3_Q9zg0JHpoxobXQVizCzQYT53TPwkloBXAx1B04H_jioFHPMp9HG3oIBeiNXuT7q4pgFDG6_LmhMlVFqaA16JDcHrUGn4mSK16PyFhbSu/w261-h400/123595138.jpg" width="261" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>It's <a href="https://en.chengduworldcon.com/" target="_blank">Hugo reading season!</a> The voting deadline is coming up on Sept. 30! There was a bit of a delay in releasing <a href="https://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/2023-hugo-awards/" target="_blank">the list of nominees</a> and the Hugo packet, and then summer travels and the beginning of the fall semester happened to me ... so, how am I doing?</p><p>I'm almost done with <a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2023/09/serious-cozybusiness-legends-lattes-by.html" target="_blank">the novels.</a> I may or may not get to all the novellas (sad, I know!). But I have now finished<a href="https://examinedworlds.blogspot.com/2022/08/hugo-ballot-2022-novelettes-and-short.html" target="_blank"> the novelettes and short stories. </a> Maybe because this year's Worldcon will be taking place in <a href="https://en.chengduworldcon.com/" target="_blank">Chengdu, China</a>, there are more finalists from China than usual! Unfortunately I won't get to China this year, but Worldcon will be in Glasgow, Scotland next year, and I'm hoping to attend in person as part of the <a href="https://sciencefictionandphilosophysociety.weebly.com/" target="_blank">Science Fiction and Philosophy Society</a> (stay tuned for details).</p><p>Anyway, overall I thought there were some great novelettes and short stories this year. The novelettes in particular were really difficult to rank (reading the Hugo nominees in the last several years has taught me that I seem to enjoy the novelette-length short fiction best: enough space to dig in, but it's still not too long). Here are my rankings and what I thought about this year's short stories and novelettes!</p><span><a name='more'></a></span><p><br /></p><u><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Best Short Story</b></span></u><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>1. “Rabbit Test”, by Samantha Mills (<i>Uncanny Magazine</i>, November-December 2022)</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>From <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5778059167" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>: "I think the storytelling trend of 'jumping back and forth in time' is getting to be way overdone these days (case in point: the recent Beanie Baby movie... why?), but here it works well to tell a story about issues of pregnancy and abortion throughout, well, most of human history and into the 22nd century. The result is as historically and philosophically interesting as it is emotionally visceral. Why do we keep fighting these battles when lots of people throughout history and (if opinion polls are accurate) even most Americans today have been in favor of bodily autonomy? I hope that the US in 2023 is just in a bad spot where a relatively small minority exploited political vulnerabilities, but "Rabbit Test" makes me fear that these battles may never be over."</li></ul></div><div><b>2. “Resurrection”, by Ren Qing, translated by Blake Stone-Banks (<i>Future Fiction/Science Fiction World</i>, December 2022)</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The idea of making a synthetic body to prolong a person’s life is not new in science fiction (nor are the fun philosophical questions about personal identity), but the subtlety and heartbreak of this story works well. It reminds me a bit of <i>Frankenstein</i> (Mary Shelley’s original novel, that is), but it also manages to ask some questions of its own about identity, militarism, and human nature. And the English translation is beautiful.</li></ul></div><div><br /></div><div><b>3. “Zhurong on Mars”, by Regina Kanyu Wang (<i>Frontiers</i>, September 2022)</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>A lonely robot on Mars is looking for friends after humanity departs the planet and ends up expanding, finding a friend, discovering fungal life, and becoming an origin myth. The translation reads smoothly, and I appreciated the notes about the translation process.</li></ul></div><div><br /></div><div><b>4. “D.I.Y.”, by John Wiswell (Tor.com, August 2022)</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>From <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5778095046" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>: "I didn't like this as much as some of Wiswell's other work, but it's a somewhat interesting story that combines water-shortage cli-fi with a wizard school: What if spells could go viral on the internet and we could magically crowd-source solutions to our woes?"</li></ul></div><div><br /></div><div><b>5. “The White Cliff”, by Lu Ban (<i>Science Fiction World,</i> May 2022)</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>I’m not sure I “get” this story, but I think there are some thoughts on dreams, death, and grief within some sort of Matrix-like simulation.</li></ul></div><div><br /></div><div><b>6. “On the Razor’s Edge”, by Jiang Bo (<i>Science Fiction World</i>, January 2022)</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The English translation begins with a caveat that it was translated by AI, which itself raises fun science fictional issues. The resulting translation is mostly readable, just a bit bland. The story itself is fine, but not terribly interesting (I admit I skimmed the last half of the story). I like the idea that astronauts have a camaraderie beyond the borders of their home nations—an international camaraderie we science fiction fans should emulate!</li></ul><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><u><b><span style="font-size: large;">
Best Novelette</span></b></u><div><br /></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div><b>1. “Murder By Pixel: Crime and Responsibility in the Digital Darkness”, by S.L. Huang (<i>Clarkesworld</i>, December 2022)</b></div><div><ul><li>From <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5778038476" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>: "A deep thought experiment on the ethical issues surrounding AI, bullying, the internet, the power of words written in the style of long form journalism (think <i>The Atlantic</i>). Can a chat-based AI bully someone? Is it really bullying if the AI can't really feel or form intentions? Are the programmers responsible for bullying, racism, sexism, homophobia, antisemitism, etc. that their creations may enact? Why are we so worried about the ethics of these AI scenarios when we do so comparatively little about human bullies? How to best face the real harms and benefits of online interactions of both the human and AI varieties? As with any great philosophical science fiction, there are more questions than answers here, but I love how Huang expands and sharpens the questions we need to be asking."</li></ul><br /><b>2. “A Dream of Electric Mothers”, by Wole Talabi (<i>Africa Risen: A New Era of Speculative Fiction,</i> Tordotcom)</b></div></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>From <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5778098639" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>: "I loved this one! In a future West African nation, a leader consults a council of "electric mothers" -- a computer containing the voices of the elders, speaking mostly as one but not quite. Along with this science fictional premise, we also get some interesting Yoruba metaphysics concerning personal identity, according to which a person consists of three parts: ara, emi, and ori (terms I have previously read about in a philosophy article, "Personal Identity in African Metaphysics" by Leke Adeofe, which I highly recommend to the philosophically inclined). We also get an emphasis on consensus decision making. I always love to see philosophical explorations of science fictional premises, and Talabi does a great job here, showing that neither philosophy nor science fiction are limited to "Western" traditions. Great stuff!"</li></ul></div><div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>3. “We Built This City”, by Marie Vibbert (<i>Clarkesworld</i>, June 2022)</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>From <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5778019019" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>: "An interesting and moving story about labor relations on a colony on Venus. The people we (all-to-briefly!) called "essential workers" in 2020 really are, well, essential. And human. Especially on Venus, but here on Earth as well. Solidarity with workers on all planets!"</li></ul><br /></div><div><b>4. “If You Find Yourself Speaking to God, Address God with the Informal You”, by John Chu (<i>Uncanny Magazine</i>, July-August 2022)</b></div><div><ul><li>From <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5778027505" target="_blank">Goodreads</a>: "What seems like a fun superhero story becomes a sweet romance and thoughts on anti-Asian racism and the fact that, as much good as individuals can do, not even superheroes can solve deeper more systemic problems alone. That last point is a nice reflection for me on the attraction to and limitations of the superhero genre."</li></ul></div></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>5. “The Difference Between Love and Time”, by Catherynne M. Valente (<i>Someone in Time: Tales of Time-Crossed Romance</i>, Solaris)</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>From <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5778097848 " target="_blank">Goodreads</a>: "Valente usually has interesting prose, and the interesting prose is turned up to 11 on this one. While I enjoyed reading this for the prose style, it went on a bit too long for what feels to me more like an absurdist poem having fun with language than a story <i>per se</i>. I don't mind an experimental story, but this one's not quite for me. I found myself wanting either more "story" or more weird SF ideas, but underneath the super fun prose (which I did really enjoy!) I'm not sure there's enough either story or ideas for my tastes."</li></ul></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Not ranked: “The Space-Time Painter”, by Hai Ya (<i>Galaxy’s Edge</i>, April 2022)</b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The Hugo packet only includes a Chinese version of this story, and I am unable to find an English translation. Unfortunately my one semester of Mandarin in the 90’s and a few Daoist and Confucian terms I’ve picked up over the years are not enough for me to be able to read this story, which is totally on me, not the Hugo Awards, of course. I hope those who can read Chinese enjoyed it! </li></ul></div><div><br /></div><div>So there you have it! I wish I could travel to China to attend the Hugo ceremony in person to see how it all turns out, but I will watch/read about it from the US!</div>Ethanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13490888839784651097noreply@blogger.com0