Category: Uncategorized
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Hugs Can Mean So Much
The summer of ’92 my world changed unhinged. My parents were traveling in San Francisco for a weekend and I enjoyed the respite of freedom while staying at a friend’s place. On the second day of their holiday my mother phoned unexpectedly. Her words, brief and to the point (or so I remember): “Gwendolyn, your…
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Being Polite: Some Help From Kant
“The cashier is not part of the cash register,” my philosophy professor declared as she explained Kant’s principle of autonomy. This simple yet clear example from my undergraduate years echoed in my mind as I waited in line at Subway this afternoon. A young lady in front of me snapped at the man putting her…
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I Enjoyed Iron Man 3, But…
I enjoyed Iron Man 3. I was entertained. I found Ben Kingsley delightful (and, truth be told, I was giddy when I found out he would be in it). Plenty of scenes induced white knuckles, serious breath holding, and laughter. But… Upon leaving the theatre I felt a slight pang of disappointment. Was it…
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A Cat’s Life
*Just this once I’m breaking my vow and posting a blog about my cat. Perks to having a cat: 1. She points out pertinent passages in my research 2. She supervises board games 3. She reminds me of the importance of hydration 4. She gets into the holiday spirit 5. She fights evil 6. She…
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Bookworm
Being a bookworm means: 1. Mourning the end of a fabulous novel and needing some alone time to recover: Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen. 2. Bombarding others with interesting tidbits at social gatherings: Outliers, Malcom Gladwell. 3. Learning to see the world anew: The Story of My Experiments with Truth, Gandhi. 4. Being annoyed by hunger (and other…