Francis W. Porretto
Mount Sinai, NY USA
Author's posts
Sep 18 2002
Reason, Death, And Unholy Desire
When confusion abounds and a multitude of strident voices make the world into one giant cacophony, I retreat to the classics. No, not Shakespeare or Milton, though they too have their place. I’m thinking of the great theorists of war and international relations, the RAND Corporation and Hudson Institute conflict-resolution scholia: Albert and Rebecca …
Jun 07 2002
Sex!
Being of a certain age — I’m certain of it even if you aren’t — I came to manhood amid the loudest and rowdiest years of the Sexual Revolution. Being of a certain height, build, and facial conformation — see the Personal page if you really need to know — mostly I didn’t participate. …
Jun 07 2002
Dictionary Of Government Doublespeak
Ever wondered why you simply can’t understand bureaucratese? It’s a problem that daunts many people, what with phraseology like “firmly tentative,” “bold caution,” and “interim final rules.” But never fear: your old friend Fran is on the job, and herewith presents the First Edition (collectors be alert!) of his fabulous… DICTIONARY OF GOVERNMENT DOUBLESPEAK Like …
May 31 1997
Private Knowledge
I consider myself a Catholic. I also consider myself an agnostic. And while you’re catching your breath from that seeming contradiction, I’m going to indulge in a little word-splitting, hopefully of the consciousness-expanding kind. The original Gnostic controversy propelled a great deal of the early unrest within the Church. On one side stood …
Jan 01 1997
Overheads
Economists tend to partition the world’s goods into: Capital goods (made because they help to produce something else), Consumption goods (made because they’re desirable in and of themselves). This is an incomplete partition, and its failings have cost us dearly. There is a third category: overhead. Overhead goods aren’t made for productive …
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