Called it
For anyone who thought that my portrayal of jihadis as thugs with no knowledge of Islam was maybe too harsh, we have the following corroboration from the Economist:
For recruits to an ostensibly religious militia, many of those joining IS seem to display a notable ignorance of...
Charlie Hebdo
Today I conducted a metaphysical interview with one of the men who allegedly carried out the massacre at Charlie Hebdo, killing Stéphane Charbonnier and eleven others. As you may know from earlier posts, a metaphysical interview is like a real interview except instead...
On Style
Be clear. Be concise. Omit needless words.This is the prevailing advice on writing these days. Avoid long sentences and figures of speech. Beware of adverbs. Go light on the exposition. Use modifiers sparingly. Show, don't tell. It is the notion that t......
12 People You’ll Never Believe You Actually Elected
The young man and the sage
Once upon a time a young man who was acclaimed for his wit and the profundity of his thoughts decided to visit an old sage who lived as a hermit on a mountain. The young man climbed up the steep path to the hermit’s hut and found him working...
Accounting for Taste
I have long believed that taste, one's aesthetic sense, one's choice in music, literature, art and fashion, is important, that it is not trivial or superficial. I've always struggled to articulate the idea, always wondering how people can like certain......
Return to blogging
I’ve been neglecting this blog for a while, but it’s been a busy few months:
- I finished my book, now titled The Myrtle Child. It is the funniest thing since sliced bread. It is so epic it makes Game of Thrones look like People magazine. Next step is to find an...
Commitment
I've just come back from Communion at church. There were two lessons, the first about Ananias and Saphira, and the second about the Widow’s Mite. The vicar talked during the sermon about the first lesson and the consequences of lying to God. What I found more interesting was the...
My Bias
David GilmourLast year, David Gilmour, Canadian author and a lecturer at the University of Toronto, stirred up controversy when he proclaimed his preference for heterosexual, white, male authors. Gilmour said, "I would only teach the people......
How I Quit Smoking
I have been smoking for half my life. And it's no wonder that I took it up. I grew up with it. My mom smoked in the house, in the car, in bed. She would write a note and send me to pick up cigarettes for her at the...