Collie's Bestiary

In effect, as a friend pointed out, they expected me to manage the conversation for them, so they didn't have to take responsibility for their fear of confrontation — which was how they saw a good argument. Curiously, they often then stomped angrily off to yell at someone else about how they were right and [...]

or: "Collie, you're just so intimidating!"
(Originally posted January 2005)
To Bob, Dave, & Lou, who aren't intimidated… or so they say. ;)
As those who know me are aware, I love a good argument. By "argument," of course, I don't mean screaming and verbal fisticuffs. I mean a thoughtful, mentally challenging discussion where two or more [...]

(Since I seem to be musing about honesty recently… a short college paper written in 1999 for a primate anthropology class. Enjoy!)
A current 'hot' topic in primate studies today is the issue of infant killing. Our readings contain three articles on the subject.
The first was the 1977 Hrdy article "Infanticide as a Primate Reproductive Strategy," [...]

This month's Firestarter is a (badly needed) review and reflection on How Do We Keep Honesty? I figured since February is traditionally a month for love, this time I'd attempt to achieve love of self, and gently engage in some internal reflection — always a scary proposition. :-) Fair warning: this Firestarter will make the [...]

I try not to write "hop on the bandwagon" postings about the current "hot" topic in the news. I like to have a bit of time to consider and reflect on issues and situations. Within that timeframe I frequently find that simply quietly helping however I can is all I wish to say on the [...]

I've come to the conclusion I don't agree with the definition of Gatekeeper. I do agree there's more than just the two extremes — regardless of whether you call them "Warrior" and "Forgiver" or "heavy-handed militarism" and "turn-the-other-cheek pacifism." I suppose Gatekeeper is as good a term as any for that "middle of the road" [...]

Part of a quick "reflection" written for my aikido class.
Huzzah! My aikido class has a list of recommended readings. The first of those books, which I requested at the library, has come in and is now successfully in my hot little hands. I'm the proud new borrower of Richard Strozzi Heckler's "Aikido and the New [...]

This is an invite to the Open House being held for the Master's program I'm in. It has been, quite frankly, life changing for me, so if you're at all intrigued, please come out to hear more about it.
Open House & Information Session
Saturday, January 23, 2009
at 12:00 p.m.
with Co-directors
Judy Grahn and Dianne Jenett
We are pleased [...]

Well, after giving it the old college try, I think posting former papers from college in this format is way too much bother! If I refer to them in future reviews or Firestarters, I'll upload them here as single, very long pages, rather than a kabillion short blog entries.
That being said, as promised, here from [...]

Possible Solutions
It is a simple but appealing answer to say all that needs to be done to solve the problems delineated and explored above is to restructure the societies in the readings. Were this to occur, then by definition women and minorities would not be repressed any longer, but would instead be hegemonically considered full [...]