The denizens of 2G have started dining al fresco given the great weather: it’s two dudes with luxurious pandemic beards down to their chests and, tonight at least, a nice bottle of wine and bouquet of foxgloves on the table. Bon appetit, Beard Bros!
Category Archives: redtailhawk
German Word of the Week: Glühbirne
It’s a lightbulb, obvs, but the literal translation is “glow pear”: cutest thing ever.
Rear Window: Berlin Edition
So, its been a couple of months now, and while I haven’t met many of my neighbors–I find Berliners keep mostly to themselves other than the forced ritual of having the DHL guy leave packages with you for other people who then show up sheepishly at your door at 9 pm to collect them–that hasn’tContinue reading “Rear Window: Berlin Edition”
Aikido and Rhetoric: The Sword, The Scalpel
The penetrating brilliance of swordsWielded by followers of the WayStrikes at the evil enemyLurking deep withinTheir own souls and bodies. O-sensei, The Art of Peace SocratesThat is just what surprises me, Gorgias, and has made me ask you all this time what in the world the power of rhetoric can be. For, viewed in thisContinue reading “Aikido and Rhetoric: The Sword, The Scalpel”
Untangling the Skein
I owe this phrase to the inimitable Chump Lady, who uses it to describe the obsessive phase that chumps (cheated-on partners) often go through as they try to wrap their heads around how and why their cheaters could have done what they did: e.g., watching dozens of videos on narcissism and Cluster B personality disorders;Continue reading “Untangling the Skein”
Aikido and Rhetoric: Women
Economy is the basis of society. When the economy is stable, society develops. The ideal economy combines the spiritual and material, and the best commodities to trade are sincerity and love. Morihei Ueshiba, The Art of Peace “‘So you see,’ [Diotima] said, ‘you are a person who does not consider Love to be a god.’“‘WhatContinue reading “Aikido and Rhetoric: Women”
Ceramics Saturdays: The Ostrakon and Cancel Culture in Ancient Athens
The Agora Museum in Athens is full of these funny little terracotta disks with a hole in the middle, partially glazed in black, with someone’s name scratched through the black glaze. They’re ostraka, and they were used in special elections called to banish certain citizens from Athens for 10 years. Ostracism was used in casesContinue reading “Ceramics Saturdays: The Ostrakon and Cancel Culture in Ancient Athens”
Aikido and Rhetoric: Sacrifice
Loyalty and devotion lead to bravery. Bravery leads to self-sacrifice. The spirit of self-sacrifice creates trust in the power of love. Morihei Ueshiba, The Art of Peace Men of Athens, I honor and love you; but I shall obey God rather than you, and while I have life and strength I shall never cease from the practiceContinue reading “Aikido and Rhetoric: Sacrifice”
Aikido and Rhetoric: Diplomacy
All life is a manifestation of the spirit, the manifestation of love. And the Art of Peace is the purest form of that principle. A warrior is charged with bringing a halt to all contention and strife. Universal love functions in many forms; each manifestation should be allowed free expression. The Art of Peace isContinue reading “Aikido and Rhetoric: Diplomacy”
People Gardening
So at around 10:10 am every weekday morning, the caretakers at a nearby nursery school pull a wagon stuffed full of adorable toddlers past my kitchen window on the way to the park playground. There are 4 toddlers on each side of the red wagon, facing each other and holding on to a yellow gripContinue reading “People Gardening”
The Rookery 