Apr 19 2025 - Asshole - A Theory

 

This is a book by Aaron James, and last week I saw the 2019 documentary on the book. I didn't know about this philosophical area of study.  And the documentary shows how companies practice 'no-asshole' hiring, etc. given it is on the rise everywhere. The book has been around a while - it was written in 2012.  James' being an academic philosopher, he has an academic definition of the term.  I haven't found out how he chose the word for the area of behaviour.  In our current context, it makes complete sense to me.   How does he define asshole? ... according to James, an asshole "allows himself to enjoy special advantages in social relations out of an entrenched sense of entitlement that immunizes him against the complaints of other people."  I found him on Reddit answering questions. That was 11 years ago, when the book came out. Such good questions and answers.  Here are a few: How does one study assholes? I suppose ahole study starts in studying language, especially foul language, but also ethical discourse. There's a large body of philosophical literature on "expressionism" versus "cognitivism" about ethical language, some of which applies to foul words. And there's language studies of various sorts on swear words like "asshole" in particular. Plenty of moral and political philosophy through the ages has asshole-like characters. What's the most common type of asshole? The most common type might be the "smug asshole," who styles himself as superior to others in one way or another, say, for being richer or smarter or better looking. But I'm not sure. What are other titles you considered before settling on this one? I thought of On Assholes, which is a little high brow. I also thought of Asshole, singular, but found it too jarring. But Assholes, plural, seemed to more clearly pick out a type of person. The title is a bit jarring as the term is often used as a term of abuse, so to express feelings of disapproval. My claim is that it also has "cognitive" content, and so classifies people in a particular way, which might be correct or incorrect, whether or not one disapproves of being a member of the type. Do you think that being an asshole has become a necessary evil in certain parts of our society? Perhaps in politics, you have to act like an asshole these days to "get things done." Perhaps Obama hasn't succeeded as much as he might have for not being more of one--more like LBJ. People do say this anyway, though, in politics, there's a lot of real cooperation behind the scenes. Perhaps it is also true in corporate life that you don't seem serious unless you are pushing boundaries, and so that assholes that do are rewarded more than they were before. Five years later, he wrote Assholes:  A Theory of Donald Trump by Aaron James.  Here's the synopsis of the book: "Make America Great Again? Donald Trump is an asshole is a fact widely agreed upon—even by his supporters, who actually like that about him. But his startling political rise makes the question of just what sort of asshole he is, and how his assholedom may help to explain his success, one not just of philosophical interest but of almost existential urgency." The reddit link is HERE. It is amazing that Reddit actually has something worth reading.  A pretty hibiscus flower today.

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Aug 27 2024 - Rose of Sharon Tasty Treat

 

There are Rose of Sharon trees outside the office window.  Great big ones, like Janet had wanted when she lived there.  She envisioned a hedge of tall trees filled with flowers and that's what is there now.  Every morning it is filled with birds and squirrels.  Yesterday,  a Blue Jay few in and then out with something white in its mouth.  One of the flowers.   All that expertise I have on edible flowers and I didn't realize that the Rose of Sharon is one.  It is an Hibiscus. We drink Hibiscus tea.  Here's what Miracle-Gro has to say: "For edible flowers, consider Rose of Sharon. A long time garden favourite, Hibiscus syriacus is a medium to large-sized shrub or small tree that produces masses of single or double flowering blooms in a variety of colours; white, pink, red, purple, blue. Blossoms appear in late summer and have a nutty flavour to them.  Pick flower buds in the morning and put them in the refrigerator. They'll open when you take them out later to use." This article also says we can eat Roses.  I can say that's a stretch.  Only a few Rose varieties are edible in my experience.  I've tried lots of them. They are ascorbic, bitter and have an overly chewy texture in which they never break down so you are stuck with a little "Rose wad" in your mouth. The Rugosa roses are edible.  They are the perfume roses.  Better to buy Rose water if you want some of that divine scent/flavour in a dish. At this time of year, all kinds of birds like the Rose of Sharon.  My guess is that they are also eating the bugs in the trees and that would likely be Japanese Beetles.  There was a Cardinal on a branch next to the Blue Jay.  They aren't friendly with each other, so Japanese Beetles are likely tasty treats.  With all those flower pictures I have,  I can't remember taking pictures of Rose of Sharon.  It is quite the weed in my garden, comes up everywhere.  I consider Dandelions weeds and I have lots of pictures of them.  But they are not as noxious as Rose of Sharon in the garden.  Here's a tropical Hibiscus.

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April 24 2021 - Astounding

 

Here's today's question:  What is the current trend in "astounding"?  Is there something in the news that meets the criteria of surprisingly impressive?  Would you consider architecture to have astounding developments? Here's one listed for Toronto: In a Toronto neighbourhood defined by converted 19th-century brick warehouses and sleek glass condos, award-winning local studio gh3*’s bunker-like Storm Water Quality Facility is set to become a unique and imposing landmark. Following in the footsteps of the city’s numerous iconic infrastructure projects (from the massive Hearn Power Station to the art deco R.C. Harris Treatment Plant), the faceted 279-square-metre concrete structure similarly marries cutting-edge aesthetics with state-of-the-art processes. Its austere form and monolithic skin conceal a discrete four-part water treatment scheme — a strikingly simple choreography of elements that will purify urban runoff from the new West Don Lands development and return it back to nearby Lake Ontario. 10 years in the making, it’s been well worth the wait.   Doesn't that look like the Gardiner Expressway? Yes.  It will be at Lakeshore Boulevard and Cherry Street.  You can see the story and pictures HERE.  It is among 10 world projects for 2021 from Azure HERE.    A pretty Hibiscus flower this morning. Purchase at: FAA - marilyncornwellart.com Redbubble - marilyncornwellart.ca

Beautiful Ruffles

Here's a benefit of being a photographer - all those wonderful images parade themselves all winter long, and remind me of the great gardens, flowers and weather we have starting in March.  This is an Hibiscus from the Centennial Gardens in Toronto.