Several days ago a friend sent me this graphic. The three fates are pictured attending to their respective duties, measuring and allocating the course of good and the not-so-good fallout of “chance” in the life of the individual and also of nations. Our ancestors understanding of “determinism” had to do with the meta observation…
I was a participant in a rollicking discussion on the topic of determinism and free will earlier in the week. The topic is an ancient philosophical conundrum how the appearance of choice, true freedom can be real, given that cause and effect are seamless. That cause and effect are inviolate is the underlying premise…
ProPublica yesterday published a scoop on the tax returns of some of the wealthiest Americans. Included were the returns of Jeff Bezos, Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, Rupert Murdoch, Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg. Aside from the issue of how ProPublica obtained the returns, is confirmation of what well informed Americans already knew. One would…
Why do I return to the old songs, the ballads that search the landscape of love and loss, of faithfulness and betrayal? Homer’s great tale, The Iliad, is such a story put into verse. I awakened at 4:30 AM this morning, with the chorus to this song, echoing in my waking consciousness. Laughing, is…
We visited the Flea Market at the Kane County Fairgrounds. Pandemic restrictions have recently been lifted here in Illinois. We are eager to freely move about in public. The fairgrounds had more exhibits of bric-a-brac, colorful 1950s vintage serving bowls, a collection of solid brass doorknobs embossed with a cross, — than we could…
Well it is Sunday, blazing hot, and we need rain. Looking for rain in early June… What is happening to us? I wanted to change my routine. I began the day with an early walk around the backyard. Nature is uplifting, visually inspiring as vegetation is in seasonal bloom, and wild life is at…
Saturday morning, and there is much to do. There’s just not the spark to launch myself into a “to do” list. My quotient of energy is at low ebb. On account of many concerns, there does not seems to be a lot “left in the tank.” Is not every genuine concern a personal concern?…
We walked tree lined streets. Springtime is the best time for a walk through Batavia neighborhoods. Homes are embellished by the growth of spring flowers, trees, the ornamental plants selected with care by townspeople with a love for working the soil. Walking with a friend, we discussed topics of interest, of concern to both…
Relieved due to a wider dissemination of the covid vaccines more of us are able to move about without wearing a mask. The danger is not over though, as some countries are struggling with a rising outbreak, and many deaths. Poor countries remain essentially unvaccinated. Virologists warn that the virus is mutating as long…
Stepping away from the chatter is not easy. I ask, “are we addicted to information?” It comes cascading at a rapid rate, at best understood partially, without enough context, — via iphone, TV, laptop screen… One byte after another edited for our approval, or said clearly, for “consumption.” After sitting down to breakfast I…
