Observations

7 03, 2017

On silence

By |2017-03-12T12:08:38-04:00March 7th, 2017|2017, Academia, Arts, Debate / dialogue, Everything Else, Literature, March, Observations, poetry, Politics, Technology|0 Comments

On silence. Why poets, and others, look for quietude – with lovers, friends, or by themselves – in lieu of words Doodle: Good morning, Noodle. You appear deep in thought. Noodle: Thanks for the interruption. I’m puzzled by a poem. As a professor of the humanities, I’ve read a lot of poetry, and should be [...]

2 01, 2017

The Greatest of New Years

By |2017-01-07T12:18:13-05:00January 2nd, 2017|2017, Academia, Debate / dialogue, education, Europe, Everything Else, History, January, Language, Literature, mathematics, Observations, Philosophy, science, STEM, Technology|0 Comments

The Greatest of New Years: that our age of science is also the age of the humanities, from our St. Petersburg correspondent, 1 January 2017 “S nastupivishim!”: “Happy upcoming New Year!” So the new year begins here, ahead of yours, and we have been enjoying the sparkling lights in the Nevsky Prospekt. There are fewer tourists [...]

5 12, 2016

Science and the music of history

By |2016-12-15T07:22:37-05:00December 5th, 2016|2016, Academia, Debate / dialogue, December, Everything Else, History, Language, Observations, Philosophy, science, STEM, Technology, U.S. / Canada|0 Comments

Science and the music of history: is this a new age of knowledge? A scientist and an historian discuss the value of the past, and the promise of the future. Scientist: Hey there, Scrupulus, what have you been up to this morning? Historian: Oh hello, Speculus. Just listening to music. Scientist: I like to do that, [...]

1 11, 2016

On Politics and Poetry: a dialogue between a poet and a politician

By |2016-11-06T11:07:34-05:00November 1st, 2016|2016, Arts, Debate / dialogue, Economics, education, Everything Else, History, Journalism, Language, Literature, November, Observations, Philosophy, poetry, U.S. / Canada, Writing|0 Comments

On Politics and Poetry: a dialogue between a poet and a politician Politician: What’s going on, poet? Are you able to scrabble together a living? Poet: Rich enough, I suppose, though it’s hard to earn my bread. What about you: still hungry for attention? Politician: That’s rich, coming from you! I have the best interests of [...]

5 10, 2016

Is education useless?

By |2019-12-10T07:58:22-05:00October 5th, 2016|2016, Academia, Debate / dialogue, education, Employment, Everything Else, Language, Literature, Observations, October, Philosophy, science, Technology, U.S. / Canada|0 Comments

Education is useless (or rather: is education useless?): a neighborly discussion about what’s worth learning, and where one should learn what's needed -- or useful -- for life. Crimpet: Hello, neighbor. Crumpet: Why are you so happy, Crimpet? You look like you won the office pool. Crimpet: Nothing as wonderful as that. But I’m glad to [...]

4 09, 2016

Day Labors

By |2016-11-02T11:52:05-04:00September 4th, 2016|2016, Debate / dialogue, Everything Else, Literature, Observations, poetry, September, Writing|0 Comments

Day Labors: a conversation between Night and Day on the circuits of human affairs  Day enters, and sits down next to Night. He turns and sighs. Night: Is that you, Day? Aren’t you back early? Day: Maybe a few minutes, at this time of year. But I’m looking to rest before starting again tomorrow. Night: You [...]

7 08, 2016

A letter about writing

By |2023-04-28T17:09:43-04:00August 7th, 2016|2016, Academia, Arts, August, Debate / dialogue, Europe, Everything Else, Journalism, Language, Libraries, Literature, Observations|0 Comments

A letter about writing: a correspondent argues against the mania for writing Editor’s note: The following letter, printed below in its entirety, was written in response to an earlier post, Against Reading. The editorial staff does not typically sanction the placement of readers’ letters in the monthly Observations, yet found that the author’s candor [...]

3 07, 2016

Against Reading

By |2016-11-02T11:52:09-04:00July 3rd, 2016|2016, Academia, Debate / dialogue, education, Everything Else, History, Journalism, July, Observations, Philosophy|0 Comments

Against Reading: why life is better spent doing other things. Ferreus. Hi, Procopius. What are you up to? Procopius. Hello, Ferreus. I’m just catching up on my reading. Ferreus. What magazine is that? Procopius. The Economist. It’s a bit stilted, but it helps me understand world affairs. Ferreus. I looked at it once. It was [...]

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