Monthly Archives: September 2020

C’est Monyafeek

Posted on September 25, 2020 by hessd

This is (yet another) celebration of the way Neal Stephenson uses language and the illustration is taken (yet again) from his Anathem. You need to know a little bit about the story or you won’t be able to share the … Continue reading →

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The -ize has it

Posted on September 24, 2020 by hessd

Now I think that’s just fun.  It sounds wrong, of course, but it probably isn’t.  It sounds like “eyes,” which would require a plural verb, “have.”  But -ize is not a noun, like “eyes;” it is a “word-forming element” used … Continue reading →

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The Banner of Republicanism

Posted on September 19, 2020 by hessd

I’ve been teaching a course about parables.  I want to offer that as an excuse.  One of the easiest things to do with a parable is to turn it into an allegory, in which each element of the story represents … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Just Enough Evidence for Now

Posted on September 16, 2020 by hessd

I have one model of persuasion I would like to explore today and one I would like to reject.  I am sure these models have names that are known to people who study persuasion, but I don’t know what they … Continue reading →

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Government by “Stand-up Guys.”

Posted on September 14, 2020 by hessd

President Trump has referred to people who lie on his behalf and who are willing to be convicted for their service to him, as “stand-up guys.”  That could sound unobjectionable.  Who would not want to be served by people who … Continue reading →

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Identity and Agency

Posted on September 6, 2020 by hessd

Sounds heavy doesn’t it?  You wouldn’t know, just by looking at the title, that this is going to be a critique of hyperindividualism. [1] Let’s start with this exchange. Empathetic Elder: (EE) Thank you for sharing that account with me.  … Continue reading →

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Victory Lapse

Posted on September 4, 2020 by hessd

I am hoping that title will arouse your curiosity.  I know it will only make my kids roll their eyes.  “Oh no.” they will say, internally, and then to each other, “Dad’s at it again.” For everyone else, let me … Continue reading →

Posted in Getting Old, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Living without stories of our own

Posted on September 2, 2020 by hessd

There are some things novelist Neal Stephenson just does better than anyone else.  This post is about two of them.  The first is that he builds these thick amazingly dense alternative worlds—worlds with their own history and people and languages.  … Continue reading →

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