Plague Poems – The Thirty-Ninth Week
Numbering the dead there was a moment when every ghastly multiple of ten thousand was met with fresh headlines but that was a long time ago we were young then … Continue reading
“The Tree of Science” an English translation of Eugene Huzar’s “L’arbre de la science” [Part 3]
“Indeed, what is the seduction of the flesh beside the seduction of science? Nothing; for the seduction of the flesh may well ruin a man, a people, a nation, an … Continue reading
Plague Poems – The Thirty-Eighth Week
The month ends as it began with us shivering anxiously in our quarantined hovels as the plague marches through the streets outside. * Where once the smiling photographs from family … Continue reading
Plague Poems – The Thirty-Seventh Week
When we read of how past civilizations were overwhelmed by plagues we scoff at their foolishness we sigh at their scientific ignorance we sadly shake our heads and then blithely … Continue reading
Plague Poems – The Thirty-Sixth Week
Though you eagerly await (how could you not?) the arrival of a vaccine you must not forget that the plague has not yet departed. * It has been months since … Continue reading
The Cassandra Conundrum
“We hate the people who try to make us form the connections we do not want to form.” – Simone Weil One Let us begin with a riddle. Question: … Continue reading
Plague Poems – The Thirty-Fifth Week
That we find ourselves with slightly more time in which to solve our problems does not mean that our problems have been solved. * Your hope that somehow perhaps just … Continue reading
“The Tree of Science” an English translation of Eugene Huzar’s “L’arbre de la science” [Part 2]
“Destruction by invasions is forever over; the barbarians who will put our human cycle in powder form will be the forces and energies of nature, these giants who have come … Continue reading
Plague Poems – The Thirty-Fourth Week
Clouds can block the heavens crystal balls can fall and break tarot decks can be missing cards an A+ poll can feature a mistake. Even the prescient do not know … Continue reading
Plague Poems – The Thirty-Third Week
“We’re not going to control the pandemic” declared the harried man. “That’s the spirit” the plague replied. * An unpleasant aroma wanders from the trash beneath my sink Committed to … Continue reading
“The Tree of Science” an English translation of Eugene Huzar’s “L’arbre de la Science” [Part 1]
When the locomotive of progress carries us away, it is quite permissible to ask the mechanics who direct it to be prudent and to moderate its speed before having assumed … Continue reading
Plague Poems – The Thirty-Second Week
In the summer the plague encouraged us to demonstrate that we had learned from the spring. In the fall the plague is encouraging us to demonstrate that we have learned … Continue reading
Plague Poems – The Thirty-First Week
Gathered virtually we gave voice to our feelings of loss. “I miss playing for an audience” the musician sighed. “I miss being in the classroom with my students” the teacher … Continue reading
Technology and the society we want to build – a review of the second edition of Langdon Winner’s “The Whale and the Reactor”
The announcement that Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan would be donating $300 million to help address some of the challenges COVID-19 poses for the 2020 elections was met with a … Continue reading
Plague Poems – The Thirtieth Week
In confusion and consternation a fatigued people cry out “What is happening?” “I am” replies the plague. * Do not pray for a powerful man to recover. Do not pray … Continue reading
Theses on Doomscrolling
‘Tis sweet, when, down the mighty main, the winds Roll up its waste of waters, from the land To watch another’s labouring anguish far, Not that we joyously delight that … Continue reading
Plague Poems – The Twenty-Ninth Week
On this day of awe we set aside our excuses our frail justifications so that we may atone and so that we may forgive the transgressions against us. Sitting in … Continue reading
Plague Poems – The Twenty-Eighth Week
A country that does not stop to mourn two hundred thousand deaths is a country that does not have long left. * I understand (how could I not?) why you … Continue reading
Plague Poems – The Twenty-Seventh Week
The clearer it becomes that the future for which I had always prepared has vanished the more confused I am by the ways in which day after day I continue … Continue reading
Flamethrowers and Fire Extinguishers – a review of “The Social Dilemma”
“The myth of technological and political and social inevitability is a powerful tranquilizer of the conscience. Its service is to remove responsibility from the shoulders of everyone who truly believes … Continue reading
Plague Poems – The Twenty-Sixth Week
Do not allow yourself to believe that it was inevitable that a week would begin with the terrible news that the plague has claimed its one hundred and ninety thousandth … Continue reading
Plague Poems – The Twenty-Fifth Week
One can be excused for failing to be ready when the unimaginable strikes by their very nature such calamities elude most minds. Yes one can be forgiven for lacking foresight … Continue reading
Plague Poems – The Twenty-Fourth Week
This morning my love left me dressed formally clutching old keys bag nervously in hand returning to the campus where their classroom of masked pupils awaits. This evening my love … Continue reading
How to Prepare for This (totally normal) Fall Semester
The start of a new academic year is a thrilling and exhilarating moment! Professors and students come together to explore new topics, investigate complex issues, and continue down the path … Continue reading
Plague Poems – The Twenty-Third Week
You need not be a sagacious prophet wizened in interpreting the motions of the heavens in order to understand that it is an ill omen for a week to being … Continue reading
Plague Poems – The Twenty-Second Week
Those who did not know the answer to the Sphinx’s riddle were devoured for their incorrect response. We cannot claim not to know the answer to the plague’s riddle as … Continue reading
Plague Poems – The Twenty-First Week
If our leaders truly believed that our lives had any value they would not be debating whether six hundred dollars is too grand a sum. * That which was unthinkable … Continue reading
What teaching online taught me
“In the race between education and catastrophe, which Mr. H.G. Wells pointed out long ago, we can already see the finish line. And at the moment, catastrophe is in the … Continue reading
Plague Poems – The Twentieth Week
A considerate teacher the plague has provided our leaders an opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned. Alas it appears the lesson our leaders have internalized is that they should … Continue reading
Plague Poems – The Nineteenth Week
When the plague first appeared experts and commentators projected possible deaths the optimistic ones assumed that deaths would be few the pessimistic ones feared that deaths would be many but … Continue reading
