Words: Squash vs Quash You squash bugs. You quash rumors. ———— Change: “The about-to-launch campaign was also squashed by Mayor Boris Johnson.” ———— Technically squash can be used in place of quash (to put an end to; suppress). But isn’t it nicer to make the distinction?
December 6, 2017
And Justice for All
December 6, 2016. Congress Ave. Austin, Texas. Taken on my walk to the post office.
September 7, 2017
Self-Imposed Limits in Science Fiction
Science fiction is defined by a spirit of curiosity in a story where everything is just enough different that your initial biases are suspended and you, the reader, become alert to possibility.
August 6, 2017
Lost
迷 Three random incidents this week wove themselves together under the theme of “lost”. I. In one of my Japanese lessons, the vocabulary list included the word for enigma, puzzle, or riddle: nazo 謎 「なぞ」。 When I looked up the kanji, it turned out to be rather arcane (that is, not in the standard school set). On the left-side, is the radical “word” (to say). On the right side is
July 31, 2017
A Commonplace Book
In the last couple of years have I become more systematic in trying to synthesize my “highlighted” passages by trying to summarize them, paraphrase them, or otherwise actively engage with my reading.
April 4, 2017
Observing and Observed
One reason I’m usually behind the camera is that I don’t like to be in front of it. So I’m not likely to pose in front of the sights I’m seeing to take a snap to prove I’ve been there. And selfies belong to a younger mindset. However, I enjoy watching other people do that thanks to some inspiration from +Mee Ming Wong. Observing observers observe.
April 3, 2017
Córdoba, The Judería
The old Jewish quarter in Córdoba is a delightful twist of streets which stay shaded and cool most of the day. At 8PM, everyone is at dinner and many of the streets deserted.
April 2, 2017
Damson Lane
I was surprised that the trees were still not leafed out so late in spring.
December 26, 2016
Hygge: Danish Comfort versus American Shame
The lesson I see in this sudden interest in the UK and the USA of hygge, is the recognition that the middle class is disappearing and as these comforts become more rare they are more valued.
December 8, 2016
Midnight Diner
Netflix has come out with a 10-episode season of Midnight Diner, which began as an award-winning manga, then a Japanese TV series and feature film. Like the filmAn this series is quiet, quirky, and offbeat…mixing food, of course, with characters a bit on the edge of Japanese society but entirely recognizable as classic Japanese characters. Tokyo is said to be not so much a big city as a collection of small villages