This from the New York Times….
As cultural coordinator for a resource center for new Quebecers, Gabriel Garcia is leading an effort to bridge the gap between the growing number of immigrants here and the mostly French-speaking society into which they have moved.
But one issue is proving to be a bridge too far for the province’s Click Here to continue reading.

The New Yorker hasn’t interviewed me, so I got aSeamstress to do it instead.
Gripping in-depth interview right here.
Filed under Letters.

As done by aSeamstress.
1.What is the best piece of advice that you’ve ever been given?
The best advice was from my Dad. Rather than being a piece of advice he has given on one particular occasion it has been his general exhortation to me in life. Distilled down to a pithy saying, it would be something […]

The vultures circle while Søren Kierkegaard and Jean de La Bruyère opine on life.
I had a turkey vulture sighting recently. You can read about it, and see a few pictures, here.
Filed in Letters.
For those interested in fine words of wisdom from the sages:
Søren Kierkegaard on choices, here.
Jean de La Bruyère on the nature of life, […]

One Vulture

I did a double-take. I had just set out on my bike ride and wasn’t even a half mile from the house when I passed the old burned out house and the abandoned barn. As my gaze slid across the barn I half registered something different. Strange shapes–almost like huge bird statues–wait, there is […]

A philosopher says,

I see it all perfectly; there are two possible situations — one can either do this or that. My honest opinion and my friendly advice is this: do it or do not do it — you will regret both.
– Søren Kierkegaard in Either/Or
Trust a philosopher to give you helpful advice.
I have heard […]

It is said,

Life is a tragedy for those who feel, and a comedy for those who think.
– Jean de La Bruyère
I must be a well rounded individual, because for me life is a tragic comedy.
This quote via Wikipedia’s Wikiquote.

Although a lot of liberals would rather die then admit it, the Bush administration has been very good for the US economy. In fact, it has been a long time since this country has had it so good. Tax revenue is up. Unemployment has stayed low. People complain about the widening disparities in wealth, but Click Here to continue reading.

Sights, Sounds, and Smells of Spring
One of the many good things about spring is that without it, and without the absence imposed by fall and winter, we flawed mortals might fail to appreciate the beauties around us. So much of the wonder of spring is found in the return of what was absent. Would the […]

The Qian Brothers are famous for doing extremely difficult technical juggling, both in practise and in performance. Until now, the only videos I had seen where of very poor quality. One was of the brothers passing 18 rings (6 each) and the other was of Jian Wan Qian flashing 8 badminton rackets. These videos can Click Here to continue reading.