So say Joshua Rust and Eric Schwitzgebel.

“The majority of philosophers expressed the view that ethicists do not behave better than non-ethicists”.

The duo came to the conclusion by polling APA attendees.

Professor Leiter of course, raises a good point.

“More useful would be to know about the differences between Kantians, utilitarians, and virtue ethicists.  Based on my utterly non-scientific, anecdotal method, my conclusion is that you’re safest with utilitarians and virtue theorists, and in mortal danger around Kantians”.

Mortal danger is hyperbolic of course, but I know where Leiter is coming from. That said, I agree with the point. The categorical imperative is a dangerous way of deciding what makes an action ethical.

I thought with the slew of retirements from the Baggy Greens they would be at least somewhat ordinary in the first Test of a new Australian era of cricket.

How wrong I happened to be.

Putting up 500 runs against a decent Sri Lankan squad can only make the rest of the Test playing world feel even more hopeless against the Australian juggernaut.

If there is one team I truly hope picks up its play, its the West Indies. As Tony Greig has said many times, cricket benefits when the West Indies play well.

So does this mean Mitt won’t be the Republican nominee?

“I don’t think the Republican Party will choose a pro-choice, pro-gay civil union candidate to lead our party”.

Mitt Romney after Rudy Giuliani was endorsed by nutjob Pat Robertson.

Well I was contemplating why I have never posted here, and I realized, my interests in what I would theoretically write about are too many. It is hard to be focused when I would like to sound off on so many issues.

Now that I have said that, I feel that maybe I should explain my interests and what I would like to write about (remember this is not a ranking, just a list. Similar to yesterday’s list it is not exhaustive. Exhausting maybe, but not exhaustive).

Sport: indeed it is one of my passions. I enjoy rugby (both League and Union), cricket, tennis, baseball, football, boxing, cycling, sailing, and I’ve been known to watch a little basketball. I do enjoy collegiate basketball however. Teams I support are almost always Australia in international competitions, FSU, and not France.

Food: cooking is perhaps my other great passion. I fancy myself as a good cook and enjoy doing it. I enjoy food most of all and that includes a passion for fine spirits.

Politics: I enjoy Georgia politics most of all I think. The characters in the Peach State’s history are some of the most colorful around. Australia’s aren’t to bad either. Foreign policy often piques my interest too.

Music: Jazz and Classical are two of my other passions. I would also think of myself as being fairly cultured. I also don’t think I have pretension and hope that my Catholic upbringing has taught me some humility. Really I like all genres of music. I figure I will listen to anything, it won’t hurt me.

Literature: I enjoy reading but have not found enough tome for it lately. I have the first three volumes of the Khalil Gibran poetry anthology that are screaming to be read. In due time.

I guess this is a bit of a cop out in terms of a post for the day. Let’s hope that tomorrow will bring something more meaty.

Oh, and getting back to my title, we are in a rather serious drought. Maybe Gibran’s “Song of the Rain” will provide relief.

I am dotted silver threads dropped from heaven by the gods.
Nature then takes me, to adorn her fields and valleys.

I am beautiful pearls,
Plucked from the crown of Ishtar by the daughter of Dawn to embellish the gardens.

When I cry the hills laugh;
When I humble myself the flowers rejoice;
When I bow, all things are elated.

The field and the cloud are lovers
And between them I am a messenger of mercy.
I quench the thirst of one;
I cure the ailment of the other.

The voice of thunder declares my arrival;
The rainbow announces my departure.
I am like earthly life,
Which begins at the feet of the mad elements
And ends under the upraised wings of death.

I emerge from the heard of the sea
Soar with the breeze.
When I see a field in need,
I descend and embrace the flowers and the trees in a million little ways.

I touch gently at the windows with my soft fingers,
And my announcement is a welcome song all can hear
But only the sensitive can understand.

The heat in the air gives birth to me,
But in turn I kill it,
As woman overcomes man with the strength she takes from him.

I am the sigh of the sea;
The laughter of the field;
The tears of heaven.

So with love -
Sighs from the deep sea of affection;
Laughter from the colourful field of the spirit;
Tears from the endless heaven of memories.

Poem found at Khalil Gibran Online.

NaBloPoMo, what is it? One is supposed to write a blog post everyday for November. Well, I just found out about it today.

Who knows what will come of this, maybe it will be the genesis of regular posting, perhaps just a cathartic release.

I guess a decent point to begin, if there is one, is to navel gaze and wonder why I haven’t blogged regularly.

My detractors would no doubt owe it to the fact that my ideas are not worth listening to.

And to an extent I would agree. Well, I will say that I have wanted to write about several things. But most of what I have started to write has been too short, if one were to ask me, to warrant a full post.

What has been on my mind?

Some sporting event in France wrapped up. I wish to not discuss what happened actually.

The Parrot wants to take the helm of the Wallabies. What an unmitigated disaster that would be. Granted he had some–fine, great success–coaching the Aussies in the ’80s, but I think he is just too far removed from the game to be any good.

While we are on the subject, John Connoly was not a bad coach. I mean, coming in after Eddie Jones, who wouldn’t look spectacular. But the way he helped guide Berrick Barnes shows that he was an exceptional coach for the green and gold.

The Baggy Green continue to look amazing and with no sign of letting up in the future. Lee and MacGill will at least get to a similar level of McGrath and Warnie. Maybe not as good, but at least they will be mentioned in the same breath, mark my words.

Who will stop the Patriots? No one.

I recently began watching onto Law and Order, I see why it is so popular.

I Can Has Cheezburger is amazingly addictive, and surprisingly it never fails to leave me laughing.

On a recent trip outside of Georgia, I acquired some Three Floyd’s. I am giddy with anticipation.

The latest edition of Utopias was released. Any reactions?

Oh the food blogs I have discovered recently. So Good, Amateur Gourmet, Apartment Therapy:Kitchen (my personal favorite).

I’ve made several wonderful dishes lately. Many courtesy of Mark Bittman who, if one were to ask me, can do no wrong (remember the no knead bread?).

Adesnik is making sure everyone knows who he supports for President. Hint: It’s not Giuliani.

We had some elections. Who says your vote doesn’t count? My sympathies to both Bull Moose and drjay. Of all the regular commentors on Peach Pundit, you are two of my favorites.

Speaker Richardson’s plan does not appear to be as popular as we were told to believe. If anyone wishes to challenge him for re-election, I would gladly donate money to his or her campaign. Likewise to the Republican who dares to remove him from the role of Speaker of the House.

Of course, most egregiously in the world of Georgia politics, Paul Broun, still not sworn in.

I am of the belief that it does not matter how much a country supports us in the War on Terror, if said country is doing plenty to promote unrest and the creation of terrorists within its borders.

What has been quite disturbing for me recently, is that I have not read many books lately. I picked up a Man in Full a few months ago and found it entertaining and enjoyable but I can’t seem to stick with it. Could it be that Tom Wolfe might change his characters names’ and stories, but essentially writes the same book every time?

Speaking of reading, the New York Times ended their $elect service. I enjoyed it but clearly not enough other people did. Does this show how newspapers will have to adapt business models on the web?

Too much classical music news to begin, too many jazz musicians dying including one of my favorites.  I will be going to watch this and I am quite excited. Oh, and Jazz in 3/4 Time is an album no household should be without. I say that with only minimal hyperbole.

All this without going into (too much depth) what I’ve read on blogs.

These next few days shall be interesting to say the least. I believe “interesting” is the correct word.

Watching the speech on NBC. Early glitches, all fine now.

9:04 – Still flickering screen, I can’t figure out this blogging platform, its keeping me from listening attentively.

9:05 – Doubt the tribal leaders Bush met at Labor Day are at all representative of the people. That was such a controlled event. Still poor feed, switching to some other network.

9:07 – ABC has poor audio. Glad Bush is mentioning the other parts of Iraq not just Anbar. Ordinary life is returning to Iraq. Admittedly, I don’t know much about domestic life in Baathist Iraq, but I’m guessing people were not afraid that there children would be kidnapped on the way to school.

9:08 – Just three decades of living in tyranny is what is causing the divide in Iraq. Is the administration trying to show its incompetence?

9:09 – No flickering screen here at ABC, but the video is less sharp. I believe NBC said they were in High Definition.

9:10 – Finally the real topic at hand, troop reductions.

9:11 – I’m running low on Punkin Ale.

9: 12 – “Return on success”. Erm…

9: 13 – A free Iraq is key to America’s freedom. Yes I guess so. Saudi Arabia is free but it doesn’t make America safer. Likewise for Pakistan. The rest of what he says, it will fight al-Qaeda &c. is not a guaranteed.

9:14 – A US withdrawal would not embolden al-Qaeda. Al-Qaeda has suffered almost, if not more, than we have in Iraq.

9:15 – You must demand your leaders make the tough choices for freedom. This is an excellent line to help Iraqi leaders you know, govern.

9:17 – The administration is recognizing the UN? What a night!

9:18 – This speech is hardly believable or inspiring. I honestly feel that if President Bush were standing (and not reading an email off a sheet of paper) it would carry more weight.

9:19 – Color me nonplussed. A lightweight speech.

9:20 – What I took away from the speech was that it was an address mainly directed at legislators. Bush ensured that no troop withdrawals will pass in congress tonight with his rhetoric. So in that regards, it was well done. But in terms of speaking to Americans, there was no resonance. I’m only halfway listening to the Democratic response. It sounds forceful though.

9:22 – I think that after this there will be more GOP unity in congress than there was before tonight. Its always amazing that a politically dangerous can still command so much within the party.

9:24 – You know, I say that I was thoroughly unimpressed but I can’t stop thinking about how forcefully Bush made it known that he will control troop levels and no one else.

9:28 – I wanted to have my opinion changed about the surge and progress in Iraq, but I’m not swayed at all.

9:30 – Yes the address is over, and I guess I’m just liveblogging my thoughts now. I still believe in the mission in Iraq. I still think we should have gone in. I am still infuriated at the level of absolute incompetence that this administration showed in handling the war. Perhaps that is why I believe almost nothing the White House says about Iraq.

Any one who is a fan of American tennis needs to read this article immediately.

Money quote:

“What happened to us?” asked Mary Joe Fernandez, a five-time quarterfinalist at Roland Garros. “I don’t know why the Americans aren’t as consistent as they used to be. That’s a really good question.”

…

The answers: A combination of an evolving disdain for the dirt and the globalization of the game.

His story is incredible.

Born in the slums of Rio, speaks somewhere around three languages, is a true renaissance man, and his latest album is phenomenal.

I strongly encourage everyone to buy it.

There is a palpable enthusiasm that rings through the album. It hard to forget that he is playing at a festival as the music has joy and the only way to describe the piece is–fun.

When he interacts with the audience he is playing with the crowd and is a highlight of the album.

This genuine playfulness and lightheartedness makes his already warm music that much more appealing.

N.B.: Could someone tell me why it takes two years to release a live album?

India and Sri Lanka will have to wait to complete their ODI.

What I have have always loved about rain delays are the bloody obvious messages during the delay.

Cf.:

Currently, I find myself under the care and guidance of Gosling’s Black Seal and the more I drink it, the more my ambivalence about it grows.

I will admit that this is a powerful rum, everything from the aroma to the after-warmth is strong enough to make a pirate blush, and this is not the source of my discomfort with the drink. It is some sort of je ne sais qoui (am I allowed to say that if not speaking about a rhum?), which only seems to strengthen my ambivalence.

While appreciative of its strength, which is unquestionably the dominant and most noteworthy characteristic of the rum, I get an overwhelming sense that, perhaps it is trying to be commanding, rather than allowing itself to be just so.

Maybe my feelings are telling me that I should perhaps try it in a “Dark n’ Stormy” as opposed to neat (which I have been doing exclusively now).

Yet, the power is ultimately what I truly love about it. I get a real sense of satisfaction and accomplishment whenever I finish a sip of Black Seal, as if I have tamed some unruly beast. And the fire contained inside the bottle is not affordable, but cheap, at less than $20 a bottle.  The kick is made even more wonderful when contemplated from that perspective. And truth be told, I will be purchasing more Black Seal for that very reason.