The journey to better understand Jacques Lacan’s system of thought continues. In a few days we will turn the page on 2024. 2025 brings the inauguration of Donald Trump on January 20th. The first quotation featured in today’s post reminded me of the President elect. Our institutions proved hollow, without power to incarcerate him…
Another gray day in the Fox River Valley. My day began around 6:30 AM at Starbucks in downtown Geneva. Baristas there are old acquaintances, and it was good to see everyone again. Then several friends came in. The better part of the morning was dedicated to pleasant conversation. Is there a more congenial, satisfying…
A hangover is what this feels like. Perhaps you recall your last hangover? It is Thursday morning after Christmas day. You know, that day anticipated by everyone with the highest of expectation. For my adult self, reason/experience insists “that longing is fantasy, a shape shifting, media driven, ginned up illusion” so snap out of…
Christmas Eve and I begin the day at Starbucks… Why wouldn’t I? Beginning a day, any day with some reading, some contemplation, and pleasant conversation is agreeable to me. That is what I want. For the most part, on many occasions I have no idea about what I want. If you were to ask,…
As intended, I made a fire at nightfall on the winter solstice. The family left the warmth of the house to see the fire that by itself cut the frost of the night. I made the fire as a memorial of sorts for those who might have been with us, my parents, the grandmother…
Today, the 21st of December is Winter Solstice. Darkness will be at maximum duration. In the Northern Hemisphere the earth’s pole is tilted at greatest distance from the sun. But that is not all… Spring is coming! I wish that I knew a metaphor of greater exuberance, of unalloyed childlike anticipation to celebrate the…
Nothing much this morning. I have nothing to say. This tune though, seems apt for the season. The days grow short, slowly, too slow for immediate notice. And then December 21st is the winter solstice, the shortest day. I think that I will make a fire in the fire pit at dusk, my act…
There are, indeed, events, forms and oscillations which are only open to a long contemplative gaze, but remain hidden to the working gaze; things that are subtle, fleeting; inconspicuous things, minor things [das Geringe]; that hover or retreat, which evade any violent efforts at their capture. The Scent of Time by Byung-chul Han, trans….
Another day, and yet not just ‘another’ day. There has never been, or can there ever be a segment of space and time that mirrors, replicates this one. The “eternal return” as a rule-of-thumb is a safe bet. Patterns become familiar. We’ve seen them before. Would we expect anything else? Matter and the personalities…
The lines quoted below were read several days ago. I was confused. I thought about revisiting Nietzsche’s point of view, as more time was needed to absorb what he seemed to say. A collection of blown glass pumpkins that I encountered while Christmas shopping yesterday reminded me of the written lines about beauty. The…
