Sometimes it feels like I am cursed with a brain. Would it be better to regress to the level of an ant? Would that even be a regression? Maybe ants are more sophisticated than humans. Do I have a choice in the matter? Some people choose drugs, some choose betting, sex or shopping. Some people […]
Society & Culture
Welcome to the article category society and culture. Read articles and essays on the the role of work in society and culture over the centuries
Wellington Street
The Problem With Society
As concisely as possible, this is the most significant contributing factor to the problem with society. It is the fundamental risk to the survival of our species. I’m not optimistic in the short term, but in say one thousand years if humans are still around, I am, in fact, optimistic. I’d like to think that […]
Oíche Shamhna
A little background on the Celtic New Year festival that went global Millions of children and adults around the world celebrate Oiche Shamhna or Halloween every year, but perhaps few are aware of, or indeed care about, its ancient Celtic origins. Here in Ireland when I was a kid, we’d call to the doors of […]
More Time For What?
As I contemplated dropping my van to the mechanic this morning, I considered how I might get back home as fast as possible. I could get the missus to follow me in the family car. I’d save time, get more work done, achieve more than I would if I walked. Really? To what end? It’s […]
Too Much of A Good Thing
It’s interesting. The old saying “too much of a good thing” is prominent for me at the moment. From the extra condition that sits around my waistline, to the over-enthusiastic tendency towards political correctness, and the cultural upheaval the US, collapse from the peak of excess seems to be an unavoidable condition of the human […]
How Quiet It Has Become
Their song It seemed louder and deeper than before. Like as if every branch of every tree held a blackbird. Someone told me that because there is so little traffic on the roads and less human activity generally, it means the birds can complete their entire song, not just a small part.