The perpetual struggle for a just society
For my 85th birthday, April 3, Susana arranged for us a trip that she knew was tremendously important to me, for reasons both professional and personal: our visit to Hamburg and then to Kiel in northeast Germany, from March 31 to our return to Spain on April 9. A birthday is always an opportunity, or … read more »
Venezuela: Bolivarian Tragedy
Trump’s disregard for international, and even national, law —by bombing a country with which we were not at war and kidnapping its president — was outrageous and inexcusable, but not unimaginable, given Trump’s erratic and aggressive charcter and the US Government’s history of invading or fomenting coups to overthrow elected governments, especially in Latin America. … read more »
The year to come
My main resolution for 2026 is to continue to advance the three projects I had set out for myself in 2024: writing, language, and saving the world. So what is called for now is a progress report. But first, an explanation. 1) “Saving the world” in the face of wars and genocide, rapid climate change … read more »
Resolutions, past and present
For 2024, I posted four New Year’s resolutions as my alter ego The Man Who Can : 1, a new novel, this time set in Germany; 2, acquiring fluency in German; 3, more book reviews, and 4, getting better on guitar. I‘m part way there, on all four goals – except maybe no. 4, … read more »
Nihilistic times
Nihilistic Times: Thinking with Max Weber by Wendy Brown My rating: 5 of 5 stars What are “nihilistic times”? Our times, today, when for politicians, media hosts and other opinion leaders, nothing is sacred, there is no clear standard of right or wrong, truth or falsity that they are required to observe, and thus no … read more »