The first time I met Bruno Latour, I brought with me a copy of his newest book (at the time) An Inquiry into Modes of Existence. I had some questions for him about it, which he was generously willing to answer. There was just one problem: my dog Jasper had gotten hold of the bookContinue reading “Wrestling with the Angel: In Memoriam Bruno Latour”
Category Archives: redtailhawk
Aikido and Rhetoric: Dignity
Never fear another challenger, no matter how large; Never despise another challenger, no matter how small. To injure an opponent is to injure yourself. To control aggression without inflicting injury is the Art of Peace. Morihei Ueshiba Wherefore, O judges, be of good cheer about death, and know this of a truth – that no evilContinue reading “Aikido and Rhetoric: Dignity”
Lost & Found
I was pretty sure this ring was lost until it turned up yesterday morning in the pocket of a pair of work pants I hadn’t worn since last fall, I think–(but who knows at this point in the pandemic?). I was ridiculously happy–not because I love the ring so much (I do love the ring;Continue reading “Lost & Found”
Letter of Recommendation: Defiance
I like defiance because it’s positive instead of negative. It’s creative rather than destructive. It’s a “yes” in answer to somebody’s “no.” It’s a step into the world you’d rather be living in. And it’s time-honored across cultures: from the ancient Christians who continued meeting when the Roman emperor banned it; to Gandhi making saltContinue reading “Letter of Recommendation: Defiance”
The Wisdom of Youth
I’ve been watching a lot of vlogs lately with 20-somethings dispensing sage life advice. It reminded me that when I was that age, I thought I knew everything, and at the same time, I was totally insecure about myself and my knowledge about the world. As I’ve gotten older, I’m more sure of what IContinue reading “The Wisdom of Youth”
Letter of Recommendation: Black Panther
I had the good fortune of seeing Black Panther the weekend it opened in Vegas with a festive full house, many of whom were dressed as their favorite Marvel Cinematic Universe character or in African regalia. I’ve seen the movie multiple times since, and honestly I think I would list it in my top 20Continue reading “Letter of Recommendation: Black Panther”
The Kimchi Index
So I just put up a new batch of kimchi, and I felt so ridiculously happy I figured I’d best ponder that for a minute. Here’s the answer: Making kimchi requires enough time and specific resources—ingredients, containers, etc.—that if I can pull it off, it’s a good indicator that I feel settled. That’s why myContinue reading “The Kimchi Index”
Grateful Eating
This isn’t the same thing as mindful eating, though they’re related. I’m talking about something more specific and at the same time broader–a way of eating that engages me with the bigger picture of how and why I eat. I think if you were brought up in relatively mainstream America, as I was, grateful eatingContinue reading “Grateful Eating”
German Pflasterstein (Cobblestone) Rating System
This cracks my friend Birgit up, so I thought I’d share it. As I’ve mentioned before, cobblestones are tough on Lucky, my Bike Friday, with his 20-inch wheels. And cobblestones (pflastersteine or kopfsteinpflaster) are actually getting increasingly common in Berlin as the city tries to find ways to limit rain run-off and recharge its failingContinue reading “German Pflasterstein (Cobblestone) Rating System”
Aikido and Rhetoric: Refining
Iron is full of impurities that weaken it; through forging, it becomes steel and is transformed into a razor-sharp sword. Human beings develop in the same fashion. Morihei Ueshiba, The Art of Peace But can the man who does not know what abstinence is, claim to be truly abstinent? or brave, if he has never purgedContinue reading “Aikido and Rhetoric: Refining”
The Rookery 