I spent some time reading the Salon Brilliant Careers article on Ursula K LeGuin.
Now that I've read a fair chunk of her stuff, I feel compelled to read it all, to engage completely with her thought, though I don’t believe a lot of what she believes.
I like her regionalism idea, that you need to be rooted somewhere local. It’s important.
Friday, June 8
Wednesday, June 6
The Book of the Century: interesting, loooong Salon article on Tolkien (via Jennifer 13).
"I rarely remember a book about which I have had such violent arguments," WH Auden wrote. "Nobody seems to have a moderate opinion: either, like myself, people find it a masterpiece of its genre or they cannot abide it, and among the hostile there are some, I must confess, for whose literary judgment I have great respect ... I can only suppose that some people object to Heroic Quests and Imaginary Worlds on principle; such, they feel, cannot be anything but light 'escapist' reading."
Tolkien issued his own Great Refusal to the myth of Enlightenment, preferring the enlightenment of myth.
Germaine Greer defines the central characteristic of Tolkienian literature as "flight from reality." This is true enough if you understand the ideological content of her terms, so that "flight" means "thoroughgoing rejection" and "reality" means "the accepted liberal narrative of material and political progress."
I don't believe for a moment that it is the best book of the 20th century, or even that such comparisons are meaningful. But it is a distinctive, even definitive, modern work of rebellion against modernity and, in the words of Tolkien's publisher and friend, Rayner Unwin, "a very great book in its own curious way
And, for all of you libertarian-leaners out there:
"My political beliefs lean more and more to Anarchy (philosophically understood, meaning abolition of control not whiskered men with bombs)"
"I rarely remember a book about which I have had such violent arguments," WH Auden wrote. "Nobody seems to have a moderate opinion: either, like myself, people find it a masterpiece of its genre or they cannot abide it, and among the hostile there are some, I must confess, for whose literary judgment I have great respect ... I can only suppose that some people object to Heroic Quests and Imaginary Worlds on principle; such, they feel, cannot be anything but light 'escapist' reading."
Tolkien issued his own Great Refusal to the myth of Enlightenment, preferring the enlightenment of myth.
Germaine Greer defines the central characteristic of Tolkienian literature as "flight from reality." This is true enough if you understand the ideological content of her terms, so that "flight" means "thoroughgoing rejection" and "reality" means "the accepted liberal narrative of material and political progress."
I don't believe for a moment that it is the best book of the 20th century, or even that such comparisons are meaningful. But it is a distinctive, even definitive, modern work of rebellion against modernity and, in the words of Tolkien's publisher and friend, Rayner Unwin, "a very great book in its own curious way
And, for all of you libertarian-leaners out there:
"My political beliefs lean more and more to Anarchy (philosophically understood, meaning abolition of control not whiskered men with bombs)"
On the smart front: Charlotte voters strike down arena referendum. I used to live there, and I'm glad.
``People are concerned about a living wage and affordable housing in this city and not an arena,'' said Donnie Garris, a Baptist minister and spokesman for the group Helping Empower Local People, which also opposed the referendum.
I was a marginal member of HELP's clergy caucus when I lived there. It's a really good community organizing group. Look at the things they've accomplished - scroll down front page.
``People are concerned about a living wage and affordable housing in this city and not an arena,'' said Donnie Garris, a Baptist minister and spokesman for the group Helping Empower Local People, which also opposed the referendum.
I was a marginal member of HELP's clergy caucus when I lived there. It's a really good community organizing group. Look at the things they've accomplished - scroll down front page.
Tuesday, June 5
Nathan has some really good commentary on strikes and the government:
I believe that government shouldn’t intervene in the market unless there is a case of market failure. As cited before, an example is that of the negative externality impacting the environment, or in English, the hidden costs of pollution. This is a market failure, because the market fails to account for the cost to the environment of the cost of cleanup and general damage to the environment. How do you value a mountain that doesn’t exist anymore because a mining company removed it and dumped the rubble in a valley? Thus, the government should intervene on behalf of the environment.
Labor conflict is not a market failure. Labor conflict is the inevitable result of a heirarchical relationship between the money that runs business and the people that run business.
The government shouldn’t be involved in labor disputes, except to ameliorate dangers to public health that arise.
And, I would add, that if the government does get involved, it also has a responsibilty to those its overriding to get their concerns addressed. That would make the government think twice about intervention.
I believe that government shouldn’t intervene in the market unless there is a case of market failure. As cited before, an example is that of the negative externality impacting the environment, or in English, the hidden costs of pollution. This is a market failure, because the market fails to account for the cost to the environment of the cost of cleanup and general damage to the environment. How do you value a mountain that doesn’t exist anymore because a mining company removed it and dumped the rubble in a valley? Thus, the government should intervene on behalf of the environment.
Labor conflict is not a market failure. Labor conflict is the inevitable result of a heirarchical relationship between the money that runs business and the people that run business.
The government shouldn’t be involved in labor disputes, except to ameliorate dangers to public health that arise.
And, I would add, that if the government does get involved, it also has a responsibilty to those its overriding to get their concerns addressed. That would make the government think twice about intervention.
Interesting reflections on community by Chris:
Etiquette presupposes a few conditions: that there is a community to talk about such issues, that there are people invested enough in the community to take the time to debate, that the community is flexible and open to discussion, and that people see value in such discussion. When a community (and I count any practice where such discussion can take place as a community) ceases to foster debate and instead languishes in ennui or becomes so regimented and rules-oriented that there is no need for discussion, that community is effectively dead, living a zombie-like-existence, displaying the illusion of life.
The health of a community depends on its ability to walk the rail between utter disinterest in norms and blinding loyalty to dead rules.
Etiquette presupposes a few conditions: that there is a community to talk about such issues, that there are people invested enough in the community to take the time to debate, that the community is flexible and open to discussion, and that people see value in such discussion. When a community (and I count any practice where such discussion can take place as a community) ceases to foster debate and instead languishes in ennui or becomes so regimented and rules-oriented that there is no need for discussion, that community is effectively dead, living a zombie-like-existence, displaying the illusion of life.
The health of a community depends on its ability to walk the rail between utter disinterest in norms and blinding loyalty to dead rules.
Steven has an excellent essay on terrorism.
I take a little exception with his definition of terms. To me, the broad term he defines as terrorism, sowing disruption and discord, would be defined as something more like ‘resistance’, broken down into sub-categories like ‘non-violent resistance’ and ‘violent resistance’, the latter including terrorism. But that’s a small distinction. Still, it seems that ‘terrorism’ is best defined as ‘using terror as a weapon’.
Steven’s essay gives me occasion to write something I’ve been thinking about for a long time: Terrorism sometimes gets a bad rap. Or, to put it another way, terrorism isn’t what you think.
Let me explain. Terrorists often act in that way because they feel they have no other recourse. And that is often functionally true. Think about how few nations and people-groups have a voice with the US. Could they affect change by conventional, legal means if they wanted to? No.
What’s more, our inattention, or the inattention of the global community, can amount to violence. We sell arms to Israel unrestrictedly, but ask them not to kill Palestinian civilians. Guess what. They do anyway.
US corporations perpetrate crimes with violent outcomes (say, for example, unsafe working conditions) on all kinds of people.
Who can un-hypocritically blame people who react violently?
So, to go back to my intentionally controversial statement: Terrorism sometimes gets a bad rap. Maybe illegal, violent reaction against civilians is sometimes reasonable in response to ‘legal’ violent action against civilians.
I say ‘reasonable’. The Christian ethic which I profess seeks to go beyond what is reasonable. But I’m trying to work here within the boundaries of what might be a typical, common sense ethic.
And the other statement: Terrorism isn’t what you think. Maybe our government and our corporations commit de facto terrorism all the time. Are How can you reasonably argue with violent retaliation?
This argument, of course, extends to other governments in similar situations.
What do you think?
I take a little exception with his definition of terms. To me, the broad term he defines as terrorism, sowing disruption and discord, would be defined as something more like ‘resistance’, broken down into sub-categories like ‘non-violent resistance’ and ‘violent resistance’, the latter including terrorism. But that’s a small distinction. Still, it seems that ‘terrorism’ is best defined as ‘using terror as a weapon’.
Steven’s essay gives me occasion to write something I’ve been thinking about for a long time: Terrorism sometimes gets a bad rap. Or, to put it another way, terrorism isn’t what you think.
Let me explain. Terrorists often act in that way because they feel they have no other recourse. And that is often functionally true. Think about how few nations and people-groups have a voice with the US. Could they affect change by conventional, legal means if they wanted to? No.
What’s more, our inattention, or the inattention of the global community, can amount to violence. We sell arms to Israel unrestrictedly, but ask them not to kill Palestinian civilians. Guess what. They do anyway.
US corporations perpetrate crimes with violent outcomes (say, for example, unsafe working conditions) on all kinds of people.
Who can un-hypocritically blame people who react violently?
So, to go back to my intentionally controversial statement: Terrorism sometimes gets a bad rap. Maybe illegal, violent reaction against civilians is sometimes reasonable in response to ‘legal’ violent action against civilians.
I say ‘reasonable’. The Christian ethic which I profess seeks to go beyond what is reasonable. But I’m trying to work here within the boundaries of what might be a typical, common sense ethic.
And the other statement: Terrorism isn’t what you think. Maybe our government and our corporations commit de facto terrorism all the time. Are How can you reasonably argue with violent retaliation?
This argument, of course, extends to other governments in similar situations.
What do you think?
from my journal:
You are a good Father. i know how much i love my children and how much i'm above them in understanding and ability and Our relationship is similar, but infinitely more in both directions: i am more infantile and You are more mature.
i feel like i've built lots of bad stuff, lots of ill-advised stuff, lots of foolish stuff on my faith. i feel i've built with a lot of hay and stubble that's going to burn. i hope i've built with a little silver and gold. and i feel i've lost perspective radically. so i just need to sit back and not do any building for a while. the last time i did this kind of 'retooling' was 10 years ago. i was even more misguided then, so i guess that's encouraging.
in a similar vein, You say 'come to me all you who are heavy laden and labor and i will give you rest. take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for i am gentle and humble of heart and You will find rest for your souls. for my burden is light, and my way is easy.'
it's easy by comparison. i should know. i go not-Your-way a lot. and it's hard. i don't get anything done. it's like oxen without a yoke - a lot of hard work and nothing gets done. you think plowing's hard? try it without a yoke. it's necessary.
Your way is easy by comparison. it's still hard work. but you also get some work done.
part of my problem is 'what do i trust in? how can i trust You when i don't know what to expect?'
well, the simple answer is true: that's right, i don't know what to expect. and Your ways are a lot higher above mine than mine are above my children's. i have to trust You, that You'll do what's best. it's simple to express, but hard to get. 'You're just plain hard to get.'
i'm sick to death of my cerebral 'faith'. 'the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.' 'show me your faith by what you believe and i'll show you my faith by what i do.'
maybe my spiritual disciplines need to be active - love and outreach and giving and stewardship. enough academic studying and intellectual journalling. now i could also use more emotional discipline.
another way to think of devotions/discipline is more of the practice/work out model. i work out to get stronger. it's not easy. but i'm building muscle. and i'm getting stronger. same thing with 'devotions'. i don't need to work my head anymore. it's strong enough. my head is big enough. i need to work my heart and my hands. i need to get more of the stuff in my head down into my heart.
another big deal is going to be - how do i pray? i need to pray, just differently.
You are a good Father. i know how much i love my children and how much i'm above them in understanding and ability and Our relationship is similar, but infinitely more in both directions: i am more infantile and You are more mature.
i feel like i've built lots of bad stuff, lots of ill-advised stuff, lots of foolish stuff on my faith. i feel i've built with a lot of hay and stubble that's going to burn. i hope i've built with a little silver and gold. and i feel i've lost perspective radically. so i just need to sit back and not do any building for a while. the last time i did this kind of 'retooling' was 10 years ago. i was even more misguided then, so i guess that's encouraging.
in a similar vein, You say 'come to me all you who are heavy laden and labor and i will give you rest. take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for i am gentle and humble of heart and You will find rest for your souls. for my burden is light, and my way is easy.'
it's easy by comparison. i should know. i go not-Your-way a lot. and it's hard. i don't get anything done. it's like oxen without a yoke - a lot of hard work and nothing gets done. you think plowing's hard? try it without a yoke. it's necessary.
Your way is easy by comparison. it's still hard work. but you also get some work done.
part of my problem is 'what do i trust in? how can i trust You when i don't know what to expect?'
well, the simple answer is true: that's right, i don't know what to expect. and Your ways are a lot higher above mine than mine are above my children's. i have to trust You, that You'll do what's best. it's simple to express, but hard to get. 'You're just plain hard to get.'
i'm sick to death of my cerebral 'faith'. 'the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.' 'show me your faith by what you believe and i'll show you my faith by what i do.'
maybe my spiritual disciplines need to be active - love and outreach and giving and stewardship. enough academic studying and intellectual journalling. now i could also use more emotional discipline.
another way to think of devotions/discipline is more of the practice/work out model. i work out to get stronger. it's not easy. but i'm building muscle. and i'm getting stronger. same thing with 'devotions'. i don't need to work my head anymore. it's strong enough. my head is big enough. i need to work my heart and my hands. i need to get more of the stuff in my head down into my heart.
another big deal is going to be - how do i pray? i need to pray, just differently.
Monday, June 4
I agree largely with Steven's assessment of the Israel-Palestine problem. I haven't written about this for a while because I'm so sick of it and, frankly, hopeless.
I don't think the current reprisals are tit-for-tat. My impression is that they're usually more like rocks against American-made strike helicopters.
That's why I give Palestine the edge here. Though they are not guiltless, they are the underdogs, by far.
I don't think the current reprisals are tit-for-tat. My impression is that they're usually more like rocks against American-made strike helicopters.
That's why I give Palestine the edge here. Though they are not guiltless, they are the underdogs, by far.
Steven's military accumen is considerable. His assessment of the situation between China and Taiwan, militarily speaking.
Well, we had that new worship service on satpm. It's a beginning, a humble one. Ryan reviewed it. At least we've started and we've got something to work with. All the preaching and officiating went well enough. Went home and took a nap.
Had a big day with the kids yesterday: ran in the sprinkler, swam in the neighbor's kiddie pool, friend Josh came over, played in the back yard, ate ice cream, the kids took a bath together, went to bed late.
We had a great time at the zoo friday night. It was a members only thing, which was great because there were so few people there.
Had a big day with the kids yesterday: ran in the sprinkler, swam in the neighbor's kiddie pool, friend Josh came over, played in the back yard, ate ice cream, the kids took a bath together, went to bed late.
We had a great time at the zoo friday night. It was a members only thing, which was great because there were so few people there.
The best friend in the world just happens to be my best friend Kurt Graves.
In that vein, he sent me REM's new album, Reveal. I'm enjoying it. I have the rest of the major albums (ie, not limited editions, imports, etc.). I'm a big fan.
REMHQ
In that vein, he sent me REM's new album, Reveal. I'm enjoying it. I have the rest of the major albums (ie, not limited editions, imports, etc.). I'm a big fan.
REMHQ
Stayed up late finishing 'The New Jedi Order:Balance Point'. I'm reading them out of sequence. I read the first one, and this is the latest one (I think). It was pretty good, well written. I enjoyed the story.
However, I'm getting a little tired of the New Republic and the Jedi getting their butts kicked from planet to planet by the Yuzhan Vong. I'm glad I haven't read 6 books worth of it. I'll probably only read one or two in the middle.
However, I'm getting a little tired of the New Republic and the Jedi getting their butts kicked from planet to planet by the Yuzhan Vong. I'm glad I haven't read 6 books worth of it. I'll probably only read one or two in the middle.
Friday, June 1
How about something a little more personal for the weblog? I sense you asking this question. Okay, here it is, a little, personal update from Sean.
The big thing on my mind is ‘newcity’. We’re starting a new, satpm night worship service tomorrow night. I’m in charge. This satpm I’m leading worship and preaching. I won’t usually do that much, though. Will people come? Will it minister to people? Stay tuned.
Also, I’m preaching at 3 services sunday morning, and maybe officiating communion. That won’t be so bad.
The kids are loads of fun. Elizabeth has these whole routines about me and Wil being sick, being scared of thunder and Scooter the carrot of VeggieTales. It gets tiresome repeating them all the time with her, but they’re pretty amazing. We’re going to the zoo this afternoon for members only night. We hope to get some good tours in, but we’ll have to see if the kids can hang with it.
I’ve read RA Salvatore’s ‘The New Jedi Order: Vector Prime’ and Ursula K LeGuin’s ‘The Telling’ recently. Pretty good.
The big thing on my mind is ‘newcity’. We’re starting a new, satpm night worship service tomorrow night. I’m in charge. This satpm I’m leading worship and preaching. I won’t usually do that much, though. Will people come? Will it minister to people? Stay tuned.
Also, I’m preaching at 3 services sunday morning, and maybe officiating communion. That won’t be so bad.
The kids are loads of fun. Elizabeth has these whole routines about me and Wil being sick, being scared of thunder and Scooter the carrot of VeggieTales. It gets tiresome repeating them all the time with her, but they’re pretty amazing. We’re going to the zoo this afternoon for members only night. We hope to get some good tours in, but we’ll have to see if the kids can hang with it.
I’ve read RA Salvatore’s ‘The New Jedi Order: Vector Prime’ and Ursula K LeGuin’s ‘The Telling’ recently. Pretty good.
re: Fred Rogers quote above:
I met Fred in person once and he was totally awesome and he didn't have to be cuz it wasn't a photo op or anything.
he brought out the Daniel Striped Tiger and King Friday puppets for some of the kids we had with us and he was doing the voices and i went to shake hands with King Friday and i said 'your majesty' and he said (in the voice) 'i see you know how to greet a king.'
he's the king, man.
I met Fred in person once and he was totally awesome and he didn't have to be cuz it wasn't a photo op or anything.
he brought out the Daniel Striped Tiger and King Friday puppets for some of the kids we had with us and he was doing the voices and i went to shake hands with King Friday and i said 'your majesty' and he said (in the voice) 'i see you know how to greet a king.'
he's the king, man.
fil! posted Conan O'Brien's Harvard 2000 graduating class address on MetaFilter. Parts of it are funny.
Anil redesigned, and it looks nice. I especially like the buttons at top in his colors that change to proprietary colors when hovered.
Chris is back up with res publica, but there’s not much content, yet. Welcome back to the world of weblogging, Chris.
Woody’s Watch is a good, objective critique of many different, commonly used products including MS Office, Windows, Access, and Project and Palm, among others. Here’s his very helpful assessment of Office XP (via Robot Wisdom).
More for your 'Mr Rogers is the Man' file:
You see, I believe that appreciation is a holy thing, that when we look for what's best in the person we happen to be with at the moment, we're doing what God does. So, in loving and appreciating our neighbor, we're participating in something truly sacred.
A few years ago, I was asked to be part of a White House meeting about children and television. Many broadcasters from all over the country were there. Since I was supposed to be one of the speakers, I was seated beside Mrs. Clinton, who afterward said, "Congratulations," and was whisked away to her next meeting. But as I was leaving that enormous room, I heard something from one of the military guards, who was all dressed up in white and gold looking like a statue. I heard him whisper, "Thanks, Mr. Rogers." So I went over to him, noticed that his eyes were moist, and I asked him, "Thanks for what?" "Well, sir," he said, "as I listened to you today, I started to remember my grandfather's brother. I haven't thought about him in years. I was only seven when he died, but just before that, he gave me his favorite fishing rod. I've just been thinking, maybe that's why I like fishing so much and why I like to show the kids in my neighborhood all about it." Well, as far as I'm concerned, the major reason for my going to Washington that day was that military guard and nourishing the memory of his great uncle.
via Higgy
You see, I believe that appreciation is a holy thing, that when we look for what's best in the person we happen to be with at the moment, we're doing what God does. So, in loving and appreciating our neighbor, we're participating in something truly sacred.
A few years ago, I was asked to be part of a White House meeting about children and television. Many broadcasters from all over the country were there. Since I was supposed to be one of the speakers, I was seated beside Mrs. Clinton, who afterward said, "Congratulations," and was whisked away to her next meeting. But as I was leaving that enormous room, I heard something from one of the military guards, who was all dressed up in white and gold looking like a statue. I heard him whisper, "Thanks, Mr. Rogers." So I went over to him, noticed that his eyes were moist, and I asked him, "Thanks for what?" "Well, sir," he said, "as I listened to you today, I started to remember my grandfather's brother. I haven't thought about him in years. I was only seven when he died, but just before that, he gave me his favorite fishing rod. I've just been thinking, maybe that's why I like fishing so much and why I like to show the kids in my neighborhood all about it." Well, as far as I'm concerned, the major reason for my going to Washington that day was that military guard and nourishing the memory of his great uncle.
via Higgy
Science Friday (I don't try, it just happens!)
Fossilized remains of a plant-eating dinosaur, the second most massive animal ever to walk the Earth, have been unearthed in a desert oasis in Egypt.
InterPlanetary Internet Special Interest Group
Interplanet Janet, she's a galaxy girl
there's never been a planet Janet hasn't seen.
Fossilized remains of a plant-eating dinosaur, the second most massive animal ever to walk the Earth, have been unearthed in a desert oasis in Egypt.
InterPlanetary Internet Special Interest Group
Interplanet Janet, she's a galaxy girl
there's never been a planet Janet hasn't seen.
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