Ian Janssen

US postage stamp, value 17 cents, with drawing of Rachel Carson

Two Library of America volumes of Rachel Carson’s writings.

Any opinions on Rachel Carson as a writer?

I picked up a few of her volumes a while back but haven’t done much with them yet.

I feel the need to read more about the environment and nature (and probably become horribly depressed).

My opinion is that the pandemic brought to the fore fault lines and dangerous tendencies already in place.

Becoming less critical was underway before then, in my view.

WWAD?

What would Adorno do?

Landscapes like this are part of the reason I want to visit and hike Ireland someday.

That’s a really beautiful photo.

No war but class war

Vikingur is an excellent dog name, you know …

It is a really cute dawg, though. 🐶

‘Trump’s experience of time is central to his political behaviour. The president doesn’t think in terms of long-term strategy but rather in terms of deadlines. He’s like a director who does not shoot films but only trailers for movies that will never be made.’

I'm sorry, I don't think too many academics want to be part of making an unjustified war more successful, efficient, or consistently pursued.

US postage stamp, value 17 cents, with drawing of Rachel Carson

Two Library of America volumes of Rachel Carson’s writings.

Any opinions on Rachel Carson as a writer?

I picked up a few of her volumes a while back but haven’t done much with them yet.

I feel the need to read more about the environment and nature (and probably become horribly depressed).

Agreed. Nobody says not to pursue the matter or that it is unimportant, rather that it’s unlikely to “fix” anything.

Accusations of hypocrisy are commonplace and often mean little in terms of substantive change.

You should be able to give yourself kudos for the positive actions you take, not in a braggartly sense, but as a genuine recognition of the benefits of you. I think we're particularly bad at parsing the distinction between these two items.

When I finally quit smoking, I'll be insufferable!

"Self-satisfied" has a negative connotation, "but satisfied with self" shouldn't.

If one achieves positive personal goals, is helping others, is of general benefit to the wider world, I suppose all those could lead to levels of healthy satisfaction with self.

Not an endpoint, a fringe benefit.

I’m in trouble …

كَأَنَّمَا الأَرْضُ شَاعَ فِيهَا * مِنْ طِيبِ أَزْهَارِهَا بَخُورُ أَثْنَتْ عَلَى رَبِّهَا السَّوَارِي * وَالنَّبْتُ وَالمَاءُ وَالصُّخُورُ وَنَحْنُ فَوْقَ التُّرَابِ ثِقْلٌ * يَكَادُ مِنْ تَحْتِنَا يَخُورُ

—Springtime—
💐

Like a censer of incense
earth's filled with flowers' fragrance.

The plants, rocks, water, and clouds
all sing to their Lord in praise.

And we're dead weight on the land —
beneath us it almost gives way.

— al-Maʿarrī (Syria, d. 1057)

“At the end of the day, the best measure of the humanity of any society is the life and happiness of its children. We live in a rich society with poor children, and that should be intolerable.”

— Mike Davis, City of Quartz (2006 preface)

It was meant as a gentle bit of humor, but thanks for implying I'm not capable of thinking about this or am familiar with Marcus Aurelius.

Now fuck off.

True, this all may be said of many cultures and religions, and no argument is made here for the superiority of one over another.

Yet, I think sometimes the irreligious (like me) find it difficult or even noxious to appreciate these forms of art because of the deleterious nature of the belief.

Despite its all too frequent wretchedness in application and effect, Christianity as a whole produced a rich artistic tradition, especially when the many and diverse cultural productions of this tradition are considered.

Its archival tracings likewise are fascinating.

Crowded but beautiful. Maximalist!

These people - men, women, and children - had value, loved and were loved, were human and embodied humanity, and we utterly obliterated them for the most trifling reasons.

God damn America.
God damn Trump and his adherents. God damn the senior officer corps for following orders.

Selfie on middle aged man wearing a pink and blue plaid shirt.

Spring shirt time, check it.

Injustice and its trauma, I meant to say.

Injustice as an eternal problem (read the entire thread).

Cool!

Wall in my apartment, with two shelves displaying album covers. Underneath are white bookshelves with stereo system components, CDs, and books. Foreground is a poetry book, eyeglasses, and highlighter.

Quiet Monday night with Best Son in bed already (he has a nasty little cold).

Thank you! 😘

🤣🤣🤣🤣

I’ve decided and committed myself to quitting smoking by the month’s close, or die (slowly) trying …

It actually does feel different this time from the bazillion times before.