Monthly Archives: January 2014

“Out, Out—”: A Poem and A Video

Posted on January 12, 2014 by Elaine Magliaro

By ELAINE MAGLIARO For my first post at Flowers for Socrates, I thought I’d share “Out, Out—”, a poem written by Robert Frost, and a video from the Favorite Poem Project. In the video, Frost’s poem is read by Elizabeth … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Willful Ignorance

Posted on January 12, 2014 by Gene Howington

By GENE HOWINGTON The BBC has published an interesting opinion piece that goes straight to the heart of one of the key problems in society today, from media to politics to interpersonal relationships.  That problem is willful ignorance. It is … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Sneaker Pimp, Singular

Posted on January 11, 2014 by Gene Howington

By GENE HOWINGTON Not to be confused with the British trip-hop band Sneaker Pimps, Portland based Sirgiorgiro Clardy is a singularly different kind of sneaker pimp. In June of 2012, Clardy beat a john so badly with his Nike Air … Continue reading →

Posted in Weird Crime | 9 Comments

Propaganda 104 Supplemental: The Streisand Effect and the Political Question

Posted on January 11, 2014 by Gene Howington

By GENE HOWINGTON As mentioned in the last installment of this series, silence in various forms can be just as potent a propaganda tool as words or images proper. Variations of this tactic were presented as were examples of successful … Continue reading →

Posted in Propaganda | 3 Comments

Skill As Safety Function

Posted on January 11, 2014 by Gene Howington

By GENE HOWINGTON Throughout the ages, tools have been limited by two factors: skill of the user and design. But what happens when the design decreases the skill required of the user? Usually there is an increase in efficiency.  For … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 9 Comments

FFS Adds Another Author!

Posted on January 10, 2014 by Gene Howington

I’d like to welcome Mike Appleton to the Flowers for Socrates family!  He doesn’t write as many columns as some of us, but when he does, he speaks volumes.  Erudite and knowledgeable, Mike always makes his case clearly and to … Continue reading →

Posted in FFS Update(s) | 20 Comments

Courage Is Where You Find It

Posted on January 10, 2014 by Gene Howington

By GENE HOWINGTON Courage and heroism are often seen in unusual places and from unlikely people. How courageous and heroic were you at age seventeen? The place this story is set in not unusual; a war zone like the town … Continue reading →

Posted in Heroism, Pakistan | 1 Comment

Another Fine Addition to the FFS Family!

Posted on January 9, 2014 by Gene Howington

I am pleased – no – overjoyed to announce the addition of Elaine Magliaro to the Flowers for Socrates author roll call.  If you don’t know her passionate and well researched work from other blogs like Res Ipsa Loquitur, you … Continue reading →

Posted in FFS Update(s) | 16 Comments

The Reality of Violence

Posted on January 9, 2014 by Gene Howington

By GENE HOWINGTON There are patterns in the world and this is illustrative of one of them. There is a tragedy, some horrid even where a lot of people have died senseless deaths and often for doing nothing more egregious … Continue reading →

Posted in Heroism, Law Enforcement, Media, Mental Health, Society, United States | 14 Comments

Privacy Rights – To Enumerate or Not to Enumerate, That is the Question

Posted on January 9, 2014 by Gene Howington

By GENE HOWINGTON Reasonable people tend to agree there is both a right to privacy and that it is necessary.  But what exactly is the right to privacy? Justice Brandeis famously said in Olmstead v. U.S., 277 U.S. 438, 479 … Continue reading →

Posted in Big Brother, Civil Liberties, Constitutional Law, Democracy, Equal Rights, Jurisprudence, Legal Theory, Philosophy, United States | 3 Comments