Peregrine Station

I recently watched the movie Napoleon (2023). I enjoyed it. With the prefatory comment that French history is foreign to me, here are some thoughts/notes. Age of Napoleon in American Context: Napoleon Bonaparte was a kid growing up on the Mediterranean island of Corsica when the 13 colonies declared independence from Great Britain. And then he was the Emperor of the French from whom Jefferson purchased the Louisiana territory. Napoleon used the proceeds to fund his wars. When the War of 1812 transpired, Napoleon was invading Russia. He died in exile in 1821, one year after Maine became the 23rd state as part of the Missouri Compromise. Bonaparte Crossing the Alps (1850) More Details: Although he rose to be styled Emperor of French, Napoleon didn’t come from France. He was born in the capital city of Corsica, shortly after Genoa ceded it to the French. Corsica is an island located 100 miles southeast of Nice, France, and 50 miles from the Italy’s northwest coast. His family was Italian.

Originalism is a judicial philosophy, a school of thought on how legal texts should be interpreted. Its thesis is that we should understand law according to the original public meaning of the language at the time it was enacted. When it comes to the Contitution (most of it), this focuses on and celebrates what the Framers meant when they drafted the document in 1787. Originalists tend to be sober and matter of fact about Originalism. They think the Constitution has a fixed meaning; that it does not evolve like a living document read in a social context. Not only is this right, they argue, it is practical. Originalism serves to constrain the role of judges by adhering to text, leaving little room for the judge's personal social or political viewpoint. See , e.g. , < https://www.reuters.com/legal/transactional/conservative-us-judge-says-ai-could-strengthen-originalist-movement-2024-04-01/ >. Tacitly hidden in the appeal of Originalism is the spiritual belief that the Framers we

"American Progress" by John Gast (1872) I have never been persuaded by those who would "pack" the Supreme Court. Just because FDR wanted to do it at one point doesn't mean it's a good idea now. Just because one disagrees with the Court vociferously doesn't mean the institution is broken in need of repair.  That said, I am fully onboard with packing the Union. Expand the USA! Admit more states! 50+ or bust! Fifty is a nice, round number of states. Per the Constitution, it means we have a satisfying number of 100 Senators. The 50 stars fit nicely on the navy field of Old Glory. These justifications for keeping 50 states are psychologically powerful.  I think the 21st century will be an age of expansionist foreign policy. It is clear that Russia’s current leadership is pursuing revanchist foreign policy on its borders. (Previously in Georgia and currently in Ukraine.) The US can grow again without resorting to the worst parts of imperialism and colonialism

A blog post biography of the 41st President of the United States President Bush at his desk in the Oval Office. I. INTRO This month marks five years since the 41st president died. I call him Bush I (“Bush the First”). His son George is Bush II. The regnal numbers capture a certain imperial element that is part of the Bush tale, which our republican manners usually refuse to acknowledge. Anyway, here are my thoughts on the man. His notability, I hope, will become clear through this post.  Early Life George Herbert Walker Bush was born in June 1924, Milton, Massachusetts. His father, Prescott, was a finance/banker guy and became US Senator from Connecticut. George attended private school, then he signed up to be a US Navy aviator on his 18th birthday to fight in WWII.  [Fast forward 50-some years.] II. VIEW FROM KENNEBUNKPORT For context, I was just starting fourth grade on September 11, 2001, in Kennebunkport, Maine. Bill Clinton's sex scandal and the 2000 election (Bush v. Gore) ar

Here are my current, miscellaneous thoughts on Trump: Is Donald Trump more of an evil genius or a celebrity buffoon? I think he plays ignorant on TV so people underestimate him. He’s a hustler, clever and ruthless. What does he want? To be rich, popular, and powerful. He does not care about Americans beyond their adoring status or as chips in political power games or as wallets to be pilfered. He's corrupt. He doesn't care about the Constitution. He promotes political violence. And yet, his fans love him! I think people who watched him on The Apprentice in the early 2000s still see him as a larger-than-life figure, a successful man who can do no wrong. Brief Bio Son of Queens: Donald Trump breaks into the Manhattan real estate development scene and makes a name for himself in the tabloid press. He publishes  The Art of the Deal .  Hollywood Access: Trump stars as himself on The Apprentice  on NBC. He plays a business tycoon executive, replete with his own catchphrase -- "y

One of my least popular opinions is: Clarence Thomas is underrated. He’s an iconoclast who is unfairly maligned because he doesn’t fit the role people expect of an educated/professional black man. Let alone the fact that he replaced the legendary Justice Thurgood Marshall on the Supreme Court.  1. He’s a rigorous jurist. He has an original, coherent approach to law and judging. (Coherence will suffice here for consistency. I thought about saying he’s consistent, but I know lawyers could find plenty examples of apparent inconsistencies.) He works hard; he shows up and does his job. His opinions are explanatory and don’t patronize the reader. 2. He’s a free thinker. He’s radical. He always has been. In his youth, he was a left-leaning Black nationalist. Presumably in the pursuit of truth, his worldview evolved as he grew into adulthood. He is unafraid to state and stick with his analysis and conclusions in the face of a hostile, hegemonic ideological consensus. When the most powerful arg

Here is a link to my report on the US invasion of Iraq done in reflection of the 20 year anniversary. It's a combination of my narrative and ChatGPT. Note the pictures' placements got screwed up relative to the text, but they are in the correct general locations. https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vQjt_P12m28ludfFZp3envnEnvXMjYZUx3mI7OVuQCU6BU9Mfi-CaiQ6r_wN6OyQX8_Moy4g_FAfsgT/pub

One thing our humanist zeitgeist forgets is the fallen nature of humanity. Without getting into the truthfulness of the text as revelation, the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden captures something fundamentally true about humanity. Empowered as each intelligent being is, humans are operating with fundamental limitations. I have grown to appreciate this about the Catholic worldview. It's realistic about human nature. The contours of human limitations can be described across various dimensions, including cognitive, physical, emotional, and moral aspects. These limitations can help us understand our own boundaries, appreciate our interdependence with others, and recognize the role for humility in our actions and thoughts. Cognitive limitations : Humans have a limited capacity for processing information, memory, and attention. Our ability to reason and make decisions can be constrained by biases, cognitive shortcuts, and emotional influences. We may struggle with understandin

Here is my first, barely formed take (or set of takes) on the 2024 Republican campaign for president.  So far, only Donald Trump and, recently, Nikki Haley have announced their candidacies for the Republican nomination. The real primary, in the press and public opinion, is between Trump and Ron DeSantis. DeSantis is young and ambitious, plays hard for the Trump base, and has had electoral success in Florida; otherwise, there is nothing remarkable about him. Trump likes to point out that DeSantis is a Trump imitator. It's true. Word is that Trump wants to hit DeSantis over "likability." It's true, DeSantis is kind of a weird guy. He's not very likable. DeSantis seems to connect with voters, though, and he is the one Republican candidate giving Trump a run for his money .  Both men reside in Florida.  Trump is being investigated on multiple fronts and at different levels of government/prosecutors. He recently said he would still run for office even if indicted. Fina

History and Legal Status of Public Utilities Public utilities have a long and complex history that can be traced back to ancient civilizations. In ancient Rome, for example, public utilities included the aqueducts, which were used to transport water to the city, and the public baths, which provided a place for people to bathe and socialize. In the Middle Ages, many European towns and cities established public utilities such as water wells, public fountains, and sewers. These utilities were often owned and maintained by the local government, and were considered a public service that was necessary for the health and wellbeing of the community.[] In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the development of new technologies and the growth of urban areas led to the expansion of public utilities. In many countries, governments began to establish public utilities for the supply of electricity, gas, and water, as well as public transportation systems such as buses, trains, and subways. In the Unit

Design Psychology  Design psychology is the study of how design and aesthetics can impact human behavior, emotions, and cognition. It involves applying principles from psychology, neuroscience, and design to create products, services, and experiences that are both visually appealing and functionally effective. Design psychology considers how people perceive and interact with their environment, and how design can be used to influence these perceptions and behaviors. It involves analyzing the way that people process and interpret visual information, and using this understanding to create designs that effectively communicate information and elicit desired responses. Some key principles of design psychology include the use of color, typography, layout, and imagery to create visual hierarchies, convey meaning, and guide attention. Design psychology also involves understanding how people respond to different styles and aesthetics, and using this knowledge to create designs that are engaging

This post is overdue. What's the deal with US-Saudi relations? Why are we close allies? Can it really be all about the oil? Wikipedia says that the "core logic underpinning the relationship" is the provision/exchange of oil for security. They sell us oil, we sell them weapons. I am not the first to say that it is past time the United States reevaluates its "friendship" with the Saudis. The United States of America and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia could not be less alike as nations. Saudi Arabia is a theocratic Islamic monarchy. Meanwhile, the US is a secular, constitutional republic founded by Christians. The US is one nation out of many peoples, while the Saudis are one royal family that united four regions. The United States fancies itself the world's oldest democracy. Their nation-state was founded in the 1930s, what we would call modern. And yet, the US is the Saudis' largest trading partner, and Saudi Arabia is the US' largest export market in th

This 1.5 minute audio clip shows Biden's remarkable consistency on the question of U.S. goals in Afghanistan. He was roundly criticized for the decision to end the mission, particularly the manner in which troops were withdrawn, but I think history will have more respect for what was a difficult but necessary and overdue decision.

This question occurred to me the other day: What is the difference between a calculator and a personal computer? What is a computer?  I'm using one to write this, and you're looking at one as you read. Back in the day, computer was a role or job title, for one who did computations. That's because computing - v.,  to compute - is a function. It involves inputs, processing thereof, and outputs. In arithmetic, these inputs and outputs are numbers. In computers, I think it's code, which is built on a system of binary numbers (0 and 1). Computers come in all different sizes and configurations, depending on the use/situation ( see supercomputers, microprocessors, personal computers).  Computer ?=? Calculator When you think about it, "computer" and "calculator" are basically synonyms. Thus I have always basically understood computers to be sophisticated calculators. The elements and function seem to be the same. Calculators are electronic devices that some

Think back to summer 2021, when the news headlines were focused on the US' military withdrawal from Afghanistan. It was not a good look for the United States, which had spent 20 years and 2+ trillion dollars on the country, and was pulling out in a rapid and haphazard manner. The US was pulling out in full; there would be no residual forces would be left to assist the official government in its self-defense and administration of Afghanistan. Joe Biden was roundly criticized for the moves, and the United States looked impotent. It had failed to fulfill its diplomatic goals for Afghanistan, and the military/security situation was appearing to deteriorate. As the US military withdrew and a vacuum ensued, the Taliban rapidly advanced across the countryside. Taliban fighters took over localities one by one until they reached Kabul and recaptured the country. The Afghan military basically abandoned their posts and laid down their arms in the face of the Taliban offensive. Note that these

Reality = that which can be simulated Hyperreality = when the simulation outstrips reality This post is about the concept of hyperreality or the condition of being hyperreal. "Hyperreal" describes something that is intensely realistic or lifelike. The term is used especially in the context of media and technology. For example, highly realistic video games/graphics, virtual reality apps (VR or AR), and other immersive experiences with a high degree of realism may be described as having a degree of hyperreality. Something hyperreal is super realistic, to a point past that of reality. With the hyperreal, the amount of realism is so great that it's *more real* or lifelike than mere reality. Hyperreality includes situations or experiences that are particularly moving or intense, even if they are not grounded in the physical world. For example, someone might describe an emotional or transformative experience as "hyperreal" if it felt particularly intense or meaningful

In this video, Steve Jobs is at his most impressive -- visionary and charismatic. It's 1985, he's visiting a university in Sweden, a meeting to which he arrived via helicopter (and was roasted for it later in the video). Young and polished, wearing a suit, not the black and denim that would become his trademark, he offers his prescient vision and hopes for the future of computing, including what we call artificial intelligence.  Jobs recounts that he was immensely jealous when he learned that Alexander the Great's tutor , for over a decade, was none other than Aristotle. Through the medium of books, we are able to read Aristotle's own words, unmediated. But we can't ask Aristotle questions, so the medium is static and fixed-bandwidth.  Jobs sees his burgeoning industry and the soon-to-be ubiquity of personal computers (the original Macintosh was released in 1984) as the introduction to society of new medium . The existing media were print (text and images), radio (a

I want to write something about the aggressive war Russia is prosecuting on its neighbor Ukraine. Here's a separate thought, related to but separate from what I want to write about the conflict more broadly. There is no question, based on the war's current trajectory, the US will have a lot of influence in post-war Ukraine--its society and government, which will be facing the project of rebuilding a nation. I hope that soft power leverage is recognized and respected, not wielded nor misused. If and when the Ukrainian military wins, expels Russian occupant forces from their territory, I bet there will be no doubts that the United States supplied the means by which they were able to stay in, and win, that brutal fight. When that time comes, pax Ukraini, the United States should act like a superpower that allowed a foreign nation to secure its independence. It should recognize that it has not conquered Ukraine vis a vis the Russians, even if the common view of this is as just such

I have no inside knowledge on the climate. Like you, I'm just living in it. So I'll trust what we understand to be scientific consensus. That said, I remember being in school, hearing how the hole in the ozone layer was existential, like our atmosphere was going to slip out of this hole that was growing somewhere over the southern hemisphere. It was basically the proto Climate Change story.  Now, headlines tell of the Ozone's trajectory of restoration to robust health. Taking this lesson to heart, in the current climate, I think people risk investing too much in the prevailing popular scientific narratives about human impact on the climate systems, whatever that impact may be (global warming, cooling, or unpredictable changes, certain harmful emissions, etc.), and thus risk being caught off balance if/when the scientific consensus shifts.  Any day now, someone could invent a climate-restorative technology, or something that makes burning fossil fuels obsolete. These may not

The new year has me thinking about the various cycles of life. There are many ways in which life can be seen as occurring in cycles. For example, there's the lifecycle of birth, growth, reproduction, and death common to (all?) living things. This is happening all around us, including within us on a cellular level. In addition to biological cycles, there are other cycles in the natural world, such as the those of the annual seasons, the water cycle, and the carbon cycle. These cycles play a crucial role in the balance of the Earth's ecosystems. There are also social and cultural cycles that can be observed in human societies. For example, there are economic cycles, such as booms and busts, and political cycles, such as the rise and fall of governments. The start of 2023 is not a new decade, but I think it's the start of a new cycle or age.