Sir F. Chook, Inventor of Leopard Oil

Likeness captured upon a daguerrotype machine in Japan, July 1891

Lettres

Wherein the Author reflects upon certain topical & personal issues of the Day.

The archive for February, 2009

The following lettres were posted during this month:


Pardon Our Rust

Posted upon the 27th of February, 2009

Hello, readers! You might have noticed FrillyShirt having fits. Some small but vital component has sprung its confines, if not this mortal coil, but fear not; we’re working on it as fast as able! In the meantime, an observation: metric measurements are, generally, the most sensible. Compare metres, which follow in common usage the pattern […]

Ethics & Reminiscences

Posted upon the 17th of February, 2009

I’ll happily tell you, even at risk of sounding hackneyed, that I was always somewhat wary of deontological ethics. Morality achieved through following abstract logical imperatives rather than attending the visible needs of others? It seemed so cool, so dispersonal. I reacted by pushing in the opposite direction. I went through a real wild period […]

The Face of Global Warming

Posted upon the 11th of February, 2009

I don’t want to talk too much here about the continuing fire situation – given FrillyShirt’s usual, generally irreverent, subject matter, it seems inappropriate. I will, however, draw your attention to one article, by my friend and teacher, Dr Freya Mathews: “The Prime Minister weeps on television at the tragedy of Saturday’s events. He looks […]

Black Saturday/February

Posted upon the 9th of February, 2009

As local readers will be all too aware, Victoria – my home state, born and raised – has just experienced its worst bushfires, with the highest death toll, on record. Some towns have been so devastated as to have effectively been razed to the ground – a tragedy staggering to even contemplate. While my family […]