dys· phem· is· tic Sunday, April 25, 2004
On Gmail
On the other hand, thanks to my several years association with Blogger, I just got an invitation to try Google's new email: GMail. The fact that they give you a gigabyte of storage sold me. You can't sign up unless you receive an engraved invitation for now, but here's where you can find GMail.
posted by Pleonic @ 1:50 AM
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That Blogger is Freaky
Is it my imagination, or is Blogger acting reeeally freaky right now? The thing just can't stop publishing!
posted by Pleonic @ 1:32 AM
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Saturday, April 24, 2004
That I am Not Morning... Yet
Not that I lost my mother or anything... It just occurred to me, is all. My mom is 69 1/2, and although we tend to live till our 90's in my family, I'll be forced to morn her some day. And when I do, I know I'll also be morning the long ago loss of those unadulteratedly happy, innocent days when she raised her little boy.
posted by Pleonic @ 12:17 PM
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Tuesday, April 20, 2004
On Morning
When you morn your mother, you also morn her lost child.
posted by Pleonic @ 8:31 AM
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William James allegedly said (I've never found the quote, but I've never looked too hard) that people are born either "toughminded" or "tenderhearted." I believe that's where the liberal/conservative dichotomy that pervades all of history comes from.
A conservative is "toughminded" and asks, "What works?"
A liberal is "tenderhearted" and asks, "What's nice?"
Saturday, April 17, 2004
On Dichotomies and Where They Come From
William James allegedly said (I've never found the quote, but I've never looked too hard) that people are born either "toughminded" or "tenderhearted." I believe that's where the liberal/conservative dichotomy that pervades all of history comes from.A conservative is "toughminded" and asks, "What works?"
A liberal is "tenderhearted" and asks, "What's nice?"
posted by Pleonic @ 12:48 AM
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That Criticism is Easy
The intelligence on 9/11 was no more certain than the intelligence on Iraq -- yet Mr. Bush is excoriated for not acting preemptively on the one, and for doing so on the other.
Why? Because the Cult of Fundamentalist Liberalism with its us-against-them paradigm sees any concievable criticism of Bush as valid. And in the real world, and to an imaginative mind, there is nothing that cannot be criticized.
Why? Because the Cult of Fundamentalist Liberalism with its us-against-them paradigm sees any concievable criticism of Bush as valid. And in the real world, and to an imaginative mind, there is nothing that cannot be criticized.
posted by Pleonic @ 12:29 AM
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Friday, April 16, 2004
On The Danger of Toes
A bad day for feet. Getting up this morning I caught my right little toe on the mangrove-like base of the old black used office chair at my desk, pulling the disfigured antipodal digit right out of its socket. It swelled larger and grew darker as I hobbled on it through the day.
Then the heel of my sock ripped out as I tried to pull it up. Lucky it was casual day at Fiscal Interpositions Incorporated; I could wear tennis shoes instead of wingtips.
Then the heel of my sock ripped out as I tried to pull it up. Lucky it was casual day at Fiscal Interpositions Incorporated; I could wear tennis shoes instead of wingtips.
posted by Pleonic @ 10:26 PM
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With several waves of torrential downpours and a cleansing breath of brisk air, Houston was actually pleasant today. The summers here are very much like walking around in a tub-full of hot water, and several times a day I fervently bless the man who invented central air.
Tuesday, April 13, 2004
That Houston is a Bathtub
With several waves of torrential downpours and a cleansing breath of brisk air, Houston was actually pleasant today. The summers here are very much like walking around in a tub-full of hot water, and several times a day I fervently bless the man who invented central air.
posted by Pleonic @ 12:04 AM
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Monday, April 12, 2004
Of Yodeling on Easter
After a soul-cleansing Easter service at Muskrat Bayou UMC, Gwen and I drove up to the nearest AMC 24 and saw Disney's Home on the Range. It was a fun, nicely done little movie with no singable tunes, staring Rosanne Barr, Dame Judith Dench and Jennifer Tilly as three cows. I did like Randy Quaid's psychedelic yodeling number, though.
posted by Pleonic @ 11:52 PM
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On this anniversary of the pivotal event of history, I offer Emily Dickinson...
Afraid? Of whom am I afraid?
Not death; for who is he?
The porter of my father's lodge
As much abasheth me.
Of life? 'Twere odd I fear a thing
That comprehendeth me
In one or more existences
At Deity's decree.
Of resurrection? Is the east
Afraid to trust the morn
With her fastidious forehead?
As soon impeach my crown!
Sunday, April 11, 2004
Of Deity's Decree
On this anniversary of the pivotal event of history, I offer Emily Dickinson...
Afraid? Of whom am I afraid?
Not death; for who is he?
The porter of my father's lodge
As much abasheth me.
Of life? 'Twere odd I fear a thing
That comprehendeth me
In one or more existences
At Deity's decree.
Of resurrection? Is the east
Afraid to trust the morn
With her fastidious forehead?
As soon impeach my crown!
posted by Pleonic @ 1:26 AM
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Saturday, April 10, 2004
On Parent - Child Days
Every second weekend of the month we observe Parent-Child days, a tradition I earnestly recommend to every father and mother. Daisy and I each pick a kid, eat a cheap lunch with them somewhere, and then spend the rest of the afternoon doing something with them. Next day, we switch kids and do the same thing again. The secret agenda is to get them to talk and maybe ask questions.
This got started when Gwen was two and I took her on a "date" to the local Baskin Robbins. I learned so much about her and the dynamic was so different from when she and Brian were together that we had to have more. So we've had Daddy-Daughter/Daddy-Son and Mother-Daughter/Mother-Son Days ever since.
Today Brian and I had subs and Snapple at Quiznos and then explored a shady trail that cuts through a little park we like. Walking down a tree-lined path discussing the last few weeks of his 5th grade experience, the relative intelligence of ants, and a Popular Science article on building a Space Elevator -- how does life get much better than that?
This got started when Gwen was two and I took her on a "date" to the local Baskin Robbins. I learned so much about her and the dynamic was so different from when she and Brian were together that we had to have more. So we've had Daddy-Daughter/Daddy-Son and Mother-Daughter/Mother-Son Days ever since.
Today Brian and I had subs and Snapple at Quiznos and then explored a shady trail that cuts through a little park we like. Walking down a tree-lined path discussing the last few weeks of his 5th grade experience, the relative intelligence of ants, and a Popular Science article on building a Space Elevator -- how does life get much better than that?
posted by Pleonic @ 7:42 PM
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Friday, April 09, 2004
Of Masquerade
I am a romantic stubbornly masquerading as a realist. As such, I tend to see the romance of realism.
posted by Pleonic @ 7:24 AM
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There is nothing I would like more to see than Doctor Rice vs. Senator Clinton in the 2008 election. A conservative as both the first black and the first female President -- few greater ironies can be imagined!
Thursday, April 08, 2004
On Ironic Politicians
There is nothing I would like more to see than Doctor Rice vs. Senator Clinton in the 2008 election. A conservative as both the first black and the first female President -- few greater ironies can be imagined!
