http://thehollowblah.info/ Cogito Ergo Sum en-us (c) Jeremy Yamaguchi 2008 http://thehollowblah.info/rss_feed.php http://thehollowblah.info/index.php?p=1092 Well chaps it looks like our Father above has got some new plans in store for me this chapter, as well as my sugar-muffin-of-honey-oats-and-banana-cupcake-of-love. This more or less boils down to me beginning school next year in preparation for going into ministry in academia which God is calling me into by several different means. All that to say, wish me well. http://thehollowblah.info/index.php?p=1091 I've been doing a lot of vector art recently, so I wanted to get away from that for a while and create something freehand; something that had a more rough-around-the-edges look and feel. The above print is the result, and the background alone represents about 2 hours worth of work (never again). This print in particular is very detailed, so as usual, click to see the full-size, high resolution version. http://thehollowblah.info/index.php?p=1090 I just wanted to move this hopeful discussion from Angel's blog to mine so as to generate some content in this desert among other things. Basically Ruthie wants to say that only things like the hard sciences are objective and that everything else (philosophy, ethics, etc.) is subjective. Now I've got a problem with this because it sounds like something out of A.J. Ayer and his "Language, Truth, and Logic" with its direct promotion of Logical Positivism. The problem I see with affirming something like that is that Verificationism is dead - mainly because it's self refuting, for instance by saying that all that you can know to be objectively true is what you can observe by the five senses would put you in the rather odd position of not being able to verify that statement itself with the five senses in which case you couldn't know that it was true. But you also wanted to throw mathematics in with the hard sciences (I suppose those are what you're referring to by 'science' and not the humanities for instance) and I'd have a problem with that as well since I lean towards being a Fictionalist with respect to mathematics and not a Platonist, that is I don't see mathematical discourse as being ontologically committing - but we can leave that one out if you want and just stick to that first point, it seems to be more important anyway - what will you bring? http://thehollowblah.info/index.php?p=1089 Pirate kings are kings too. http://thehollowblah.info/index.php?p=1088 I was recently made aware of a book called "The Devil's Dictionary" which is a collection of definitions for common words that were written and published in The New York Times by American writer Ambrose Bierce between 1881 - 1906. It's more or less the cynic's guide to life, abundant with snark, sarcasm, and great ego. I've included some of my favorite entries below: CAT, n. A soft, indestructible automaton provided by nature to be kicked when things go wrong in the domestic circle. ABSURDITY, n. A statement or belief manifestly inconsistent with one's own opinion. DISCUSSION, n. A method of confirming others in their errors. EDUCATION, n. That which discloses to the wise and disguises from the foolish their lack of understanding. EGOTIST, n. A person of low taste, more interested in himself than in me. SELFISH, adj. Devoid of consideration for the selfishness of others. IMPUNITY, n. Wealth. IMPIETY, n. Your irreverence toward my deity. LANGUAGE, n. The music with which we charm the serpents guarding another's treasure. LITIGANT, n. A person about to give up his skin for the hope of retaining his bones. YEAR, n. A period of three hundred and sixty-five disappointments. CRITIC, n. A person who boasts himself hard to please because nobody tries to please him. BACK, n. That part of your friend which it is your privilege to contemplate in your adversity. COMFORT, n. A state of mind produced by contemplation of a neighbor's uneasiness. BRUTE, n. See HUSBAND. To further read more balls-to-the-walls-awesome entries to this great book, you can find a digitized version at thedevilsdictionary.com (Kudos goes David for bringing this great literary work to my attention.)