Monthly Archives: December 2006

On Heidegger

“Introduction to metaphysics” accordingly means: leading into the asking of the fundamental question. But questions, and above all fundamental questions, do not simply occur like stones and water. Questions are not given like shoes, clothes, or books. Questions are as they are actually asked, and this is the only way in which they are. Thus …

December 31, 2006 – 1:10 pm | By ashok | Posted in philosophy | Tagged | Comments (0)

Vision (a poem)

for Pam Jaska, because she asked. Merry Christmas. Sometimes, nearing twilight,the blue sky shimmers.And I imagine wearingthat dress electric,charging through the king’s men,their consorts dropping tearsinto glasses of champagne. The blue light never drownsthose golden bubbles, though. Sometimes, during the day,the sky is clear, the sun shines.And an old man sits under a treeand draws …

December 30, 2006 – 1:08 pm | By ashok | Posted in poetry | Comments (0)

Ranting About Despair

And yet, we are each touched once, maybe even now and then, by the concealed power of this question ["Why are there beings at all instead of nothing?"], without properly grasping what is happening to us. In great despair, for example, when all weight tends to dwindle away from things and the sense of things …

December 29, 2006 – 11:42 am | By ashok | Posted in personal, philosophy | Tagged | Comments (0)

Home

1. I eat very well at home. (It should be noted that for Montesquieu, the most despotic countries seem to be the ones with the best cuisine: China, India and, by implied argument, France are all cited as being tyrannical or tending towards tyranny.) 2. It feels comfy. (Been very diligent with Aristotle this past …

December 22, 2006 – 4:10 pm | By ashok | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (1)

Baltimore

There is something peculiar about a city where the Center – there is a Basilica and a Washington Monument there – and the Harbor are the only places one can walk. What is peculiar is not the crime; crime has existed in all ages. It is the limitation of motion caused by the crime. One …

December 18, 2006 – 6:30 pm | By ashok | Posted in personal | Comments (0)

Communication

I want to contact her, and just talk, but I know that’s impossible. I’ve said awful, awful things to her, and apologies won’t do, I know that. Worse yet, she’s done something amazingly cruel to me – I’m shocked anyone could do what she’s done. I can forgive that, but only if she’s willing to …

December 5, 2006 – 2:38 am | By ashok | Posted in personal | Tagged | Comments (3)

A Theory On Myspace’s Popularity

Note: I left this comment on Jeff Jarvis’ blog and thought it was a waste sitting there. I have modified it some. This was also posted on my old blog, before it was literally eaten by the server. MySpace works in my mind because it’s blogging without all the “writing” and “thinking” keeping an audience …

December 3, 2006 – 11:19 pm | By ashok | Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | Comments (1)

"If I can stop one heart from breaking," Emily Dickinson

“If I can stop one heart from breaking…” Emily Dickinson If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain; If I can ease one life the aching, Or cool one pain, Or help one fainting robin Unto his nest again, I shall not live in vain. Commentary: “I shall not …

December 2, 2006 – 5:32 pm | By ashok | Posted in dickinson, love, poetry | Tagged , , | Comments (2)