This has been a very light week due to my visiting relatives and friends in the Washington, DC area.
Toolan, Michael J. 1996. Total Speech: An Integrational Linguistic Approach to Language. Durham, N.C: Duke University Press.
- Finish Ch. 1: On Inscribed or Literal Meaning (21-25 Dec)
- Ch. 2: Metaphor (26 – 29 Dec)
- Ch. 3: Intentionality and Coming into Language (29 Dec)
- Half of Ch. 4: Further Principles of Integrational Linguistics, or, On Not Losing Sight of the Language User (29 Dec)
Saturday, 29 Dec 2007
Diaz, Aaron. Enough is Enough: A Thinking Ape’s Critique of Trans-Simianism. Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies.
Let us assume, for the sake of argument, that such a post-simian future is possible or even probable. Is it really a world we should want to strive for, where our very ape nature is stripped away in the name of efficiency? Technologies such as the bow and arrow already desimianize the act of hunting. While our ancestors were able to experience the pure ape feeling of clubbing an animal to death with a rock, we are left with the cold, sterilized bow that kills cleanly and quickly from a safe distance. This separation from basic daily activities is a slippery slope. What would happen if we no longer had to gather fruits and nuts, and they simply grew wherever we wanted them, or had drinking water flow right to our feet instead of wandering in search of streams for days? These seeming conveniences would rob us of what it means to be an ape.
Sent to me by Jodi Schneider.
Barreca, Gina. The Other Woman’s Holidays. Chronicle‘s Brainstorm.
Found at journey of a kitten by barbara ‘kitten’ trumpinski-roberts. See also Circulating Zen.
Pretty clear that my reading this week was done on my travel day. I went to Falls Church, VA on the 20th and got home this evening. Trying to get settled in. So much to do. Even just to get settled in.
