Let me bequeath
by Yitzhak Maplebury Box me on a warm bright day -- youthful, though not, not ever again, useful -- hands crossed neatly over shirt and tie. Let young things on grass plan parties, raves, getaways with only ethical narcotics and…
Dormitory days
Like many people, I served time in a college dormitory. Two years in college were preceded by eight weeks in high school as part of a National Science Foundation physics session for smartasses "smart" kids. I have a few memories…
The point of no return
Yesterday I was interviewed by Guy Evans at Smells Like Human Spirit. The podcast and description are embedded here and also below. ____________ Please join me in supporting Blazing Kat Productions, the voice and images of the Occupy movement. Donate…
Hope, Redux
Stephanie Jo Kent has penned a thoughtful essay at Reflexivity. The final paragraph includes a comment and a question for me: "I have been listening and watching for ways to stimulate robust processes of social resilience. One idea is to…
Spreading the Horror
I'm pretty sure you know the drill. You pose the scenario and ask the hypothetical questions: There's an asteroid headed for Earth. We know exactly when it will strike, and it will kill all humans. Do you want to know…
Memento Mori
by Brutus, who writes at The Spiral Staircase, where he specializes in reviews, armchair social criticism, diatribes, rants, and jeremiads. This essay is cross-posted here. Prior to the 20th century, the specter of early death was never far from people's…
The Knife and the Nun
I started exchanging physical labor for fiat currency when I was about 12 years old. Nine-month stints spent within indoctrination facilities were interrupted by summers spent clearing fields of woody debris: Small landowners converted forests to fields and other youngsters…