A mathematics learning disability. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals used this word in their opinion postponing the gubernatorial recall election, applying it to the voiting machines themselves! C.f. dyslexia. Dyscalculia web site is here..

Here’s an excerpt from the ruling:

In this case, plaintiffs allege that the fundamental right to have votes counted in the special recall election is infringed because the pre-scored punchcard voting systems used in some California counties are intractably afflicted with technologic dyscalculia.

Allusion to something by denying that it will be mentioned, as in “I will not bring up my opponent’s questionable financial dealings.”

A philosophical term, describing an insoluble contradiction or paradox in a text’s meanings. Apparently plays a central element in Derrida’s philosophy (more study needed here). Also “perplexity”. Intellectural paralysis. Conceptual puzzlement. Etymology goes back to “lacking a way/path”. By extension, an expression of doubt or befuddlement. A crisis of choice, of action and identity, as well as of belief. Adjectival form is aporetic: “an aporetic encounter”. Epistemic emptiness.

Not purely negative—can also function as a stimulus to some kind of breakthrough.

Posted August 22, 2003, after the blackout.

Now we have more things to think about. Would we rather be working to ensure people have electricity in Baghdad, or in Cleveland, Ohio?

At the end of the day, a political party is the sum total of all its policies. When you realize you don’t support any of its policies is when you realize there’s no reason to support the party itself.

If lying about Monica Lewinsky was grounds for impeaching Bill Clinton, then what is George W. Bush’s lying to us about the war, the economy, and the environment grounds for doing?

Think about it.
—Bob

Postd August 29, 2003

With Bush’s policies, now there is no money to fix NASA or invest in space exploration. Instead, the money is being spent on tax breaks for the rich and making war. And there is no political will to even think about what we should be doing in space. Instead, the political energies are being spent figuring out which interest group to pander to for the upcoming election. Remember that the vision required for the moon program came from a Democrat—John F. Kennedy. What would Father think?

Think about it.
—Bob

Posted August 18, 2003

I found it interesting that George W. Bush, in his standard speeches he gives at his fundraisers (he gave two this week, 20 minutes each, raised a total of $2M), emphasizes that

“right now I’m focused on the people’s business” and “the political season will come in its own time.”

This is while he is at a campaign event, raising money for his campaign! He intends to raise $150-170 million this time around.

If you don’t like any of the Democratic candidates, you could consider supporting Wesley Clark, the ex-NATO commander. He understands military issues and the role of American power in the world. Recently, he said:

“We went into Iraq under false pretenses . . . You call it deceptive advertising, you’d be taking [Bush] to the Better Business Bureau if you bought a washing machine the way we went into the war in Iraq,” the former NATO commander told CNN.
“We haven’t made America safer by this. We’ve made America more engaged, more vulnerable, more committed, less able to respond. We’ve lost a tremendous amount of goodwill around the world.”

Think about it.
—Bob

Posted August 9, 2003.

Today, George W. Bush held a little news conference at his Texas ranch. The interesting thing was that EVERYONE he brought along was part of his WAR TEAM. Rumsfeld. Condoleezaa Rice. Even Richard B. Myers, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. And of course Vice President Cheney, who basically has a war focus.

Why isn’t Bush consulting with advisers for health issues, or the economy, or the environment?

Think about it.
—Bob

From Jeffrey Steingarten’s “The Man Who Ate Everything.”

1. Bake Bacon if you so prefer.

2. Crumb-ize bread (not too fine) in food processor. Then, saute in butter. This is good!

3. Squeeze eggs down through the sieve.

4. Let cook in double boiler. Keep stirring and stirring.

5. When they start to firm up, add butter and cook about one more minute.

6. Add cream.

7. Serve.

Filing frivolous or repeated lawsuits.

A class/instance or part/whole relationship, normally used in semantics and linguistics. In a meronymic analogy, a part is used to stand in for the whole: “He’s got a nice set of wheels”.