Because I do not hope to turn again
Because I do not hope
Because I do not hope to turn
Desiring this man’s gift and that man’s scope
I no longer strive to strive towards such things
(Why should the aged eagle stretch its wings?)
Why should I mourn
The vanished power of the usual reign?

Because I do not hope to know again
The infirm glory of the positive hour
Because I do not think
Because I know I shall not know
The one veritable transitory power
Because I cannot drink
There, where trees flower, and springs flow, for there is nothing again

Because I know that time is always time
And place is always and only place
And what is actual is actual only for one time
And only for one place
I rejoice that things are as they are and
I renounce the blessed face
And renounce the voice
Because I cannot hope to turn again
Consequently I rejoice, having to construct something
Upon which to rejoice

And pray to God to have mercy upon us
And pray that I may forget
These matters that with myself I too much discuss
Too much explain
Because I do not hope to turn again
Let these words answer
For what is done, not to be done again
May the judgement not be too heavy upon us

Because these wings are no longer wings to fly
But merely vans to beat the air
The air which is now thoroughly small and dry
Smaller and dryer than the will
Teach us to care and not to care
Teach us to sit still.

Pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death
Pray for us now and at the hour of our death.

from Ash Wednesday, by T. S. Eliot

FreeHugs.

A few days ago, I watched–on some local channel–an interview with Jack Silberman, the director of the documentary Raised to be Heroes, produced by the National Film Board of Canada:

They will fight for their country, they will die for their country, but not in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. And although they act on conscience, they pay a steep personal price. Featuring haunting accounts from the front lines, Raised to Be Heroes introduces the latest generation of Israeli soldiers to selectively object to military operations undertaken by their country.

I haven’t seen the film yet (I’m keeping an ear out for it) but from what clips I’ve seen, and the interview, I’ve extrapolated this: Despite the specific story that the film tells, the message is broadly applicable; This is but one instance of the fight against indoctrination; It’s a call for the personal examination and, if necessary, re-evaluation, of instilled doctrines that conflict with moral principles.

We’ve got some homework to do.

The Office: David Brent (played by Ricky Gervais) giving online dating a try.

(The DiscoveryChannel show he mentions @ 3:10 — I’ve heard similar hypotheses, and they’re interesting enough, but I don’t believe they are the leading theories today. Apparently, men really evolved to … well, I think I’ll save this story for a first date.)

a simple cure: (see gif animations below the fold.) (more…)

Mohammed Madbuli, a member of [a] prominent family of Cairo publishers, complains:

Members of the security services came to our shop and confiscated 280 copies of [Mohammed Fattuh’s] book: [Modern Sheikhs and the Industry of Religious Extremism]

Anybody heard of this book and/or this incident?

A narcissist and an altruist: a match made in heaven?

It’s snowing outside my window,

… and the weather network has no clue.

Would you say, she’s:

a) attractive
b) average
c) both

and, of course, why?

(hint: wordplay.)

Answer … tomorrow below … (more…)

My right eye has been twitching for the past three weeks… I’m not talking inconspicuous flutter; I’m talking the kind of twitch that gets mistaken for a wink. Which -by the way- is not always as funny as it’s portrayed in comedy sketches on TV. Two weeks after I developed the twitch, and it started to get really annoying, I decided to look it up on the internets. Turns out no one really knows what causes these anomalous nerve spasms. However, it’s been linked to stress, lack of sleep or too much caffeine. Friggin Duh! It’s also been linked to staring too much at computer screens. Naturally, after reading that, I promptly turned off my computer. Too bad they didn’t mention that piece of information at the end of the article though, cause I really wanted to know what happens next. Thankfully, a friend suggested a solution –to look peripherally at the computer screen– or else I wouldn’t have been able to go on with my life.

It is much better now; but at its peak this miniscule beat was so annoying, I think the term twitch should be used to symbolize extremely annoying non-entities. It’s so fitting and it’s gender neutral: ” _____ is a tw(at/b)itch,” get it? huh, get it? it’s twat/bitch… ok, ok, you get it, I know, I’m such a twitch!