Latest Posts
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Forever Small
This story came across the wires yesterday: In a case fraught with ethical questions, the parents of a severely mentally and physically disabled child have stunted her growth to keep their little “pillow angel” a manageable and more… Continue reading
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Southern Comfort
Just noticed this short piece in China Daily: Guangzhou achieves developed city status (Bernama.com/chinadaily.com.cn) Updated: 2007-01-04 21:48 The per capita of Guangzhou, the capital of China’s richest Guangdong province, is expected to surpass US$10,000 last year, becoming the… Continue reading
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The Failure of Saddam’s Family
Here’s a grim passage from the Guardian’s obituary of Saddam Hussein (hat tip, Andrew Sullivan): Saddam was born in the nearby village of Owja, into the mud house of his uncle, Khairallah Tulfah, and into what a Tikriti… Continue reading
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A Confucian Legislature
A story ran a few days ago in the Canadian newspaper, The Globe and Mail, about a friend of mine, Daniel A. Bell, who works to demonstrate the contemporary relevance of ancient Chinese, and especially Confucian, thought: Prof.… Continue reading
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On the Execution of Saddam Hussein
It didn’t take long to confirm the wisdom of the Tao Te Ching, which says this about capital punishment (it is not all that it says, but it is a prominent aspect): The Executioner’s [i.e. Way’s] killing is… Continue reading
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The Five Things Meme
Lao Lu, over at The Crazy Insect, tagged me with the "five things you don’t know about me" meme. It is the first time I’ve been memed! So, here we go: 1. On Halloween, 1974, I… Continue reading
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Friday I Ching Blogging: Work in the New Year
It’s been a long time since we have consulted the I Ching. To ring in the New Year, I thought it would be good to go back to the oracle and ask about my work in the coming… Continue reading
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The Loss of a Year
I have learned more about myself this holiday season than any other I have experienced. Christmastime and the end of a year bring reminiscence. For me, that memory is dominated by the loss of my son, Aidan, who… Continue reading
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The Tao Te Ching as Wiki
For Christmas my sister gave me a gift card to the local book store. Yesterday I went over and picked up four books – and my daughter came along and got one for herself. Among my pile was… Continue reading
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Repeat After Me: It’s Not About Confucianism….
This almost slipped by me: back in early December Time Magazine (Asia edition) ran an interview and profile of our favorite Legalist, Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore. It struck me as an effort to keep him before the… Continue reading
The Useless Tree 