casswp This Mortal Coil The Covid pandemic brought a public health emergency, political and legal challenges, intense media coverage, social divisions, and intense debates among scientists. Yet, in public commentaries, attention fell almost exclusively on a single cause of suffering: the virus itself. This framing of the crisis contributed to an atmosphere of extreme danger, a … Read more
‘I confess I do not believe in time.’ Vladimir Nabokov On a hostel rooftop in Morocco, I met a Russian man who had not been home since the war broke out. I was there to catch the last of the sun and read my book in peace so when he first introduced himself I made … Read more
The big man tugged the brim of his hat and spoke gently to the camera as though a guest had newly arrived at his door. “Evenin’ folks. I’m here to tell you about my new picture, The Train Robbers, with a little lady you might have heard of by the name of Ann Margaret.” He … Read more
The following is a Q and A between Luke Sheehan and Deniz Güngör. Can you summarize the political crisis in Turkey? First, I must say that in Turkey, a person must have a university diploma to be eligible to run for president. After the main opposition CHP’s Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu announced his … Read more
Dawn sun, distant mountains, red cliffs near, white clouds scattered, still world, until a breeze caresses the desert floor, and a scorpion awakes, resting on a piece of earth where no human ever stood. In this wilderness stands a horse, and sitting on the horse a rider. Tail swishing, standing still, a motionless man watching, … Read more
Kneecap caused a stir at Coachella this year—though you wouldn’t know it from the official festival footage. The Belfast rap trio opened their set with a searing visual: a burning police car, references to British imperialism, American complicity in Palestine, and a general tone of “we’re not here to play nice.” The response? Censorship. The … Read more
Loose Notes with a Cup of Coffee “The bird fights its way out of the egg. The egg is the world. Who would be born must first destroy a world.” — Hermann Hesse, Demian 1. The first time I ever touched a piano must have been when I was 10 or 12 years old. It … Read more
The future of urban transport policy lies not in expansion but in the intelligent use of existing traffic areas. The objective of ensuring mobility for people travelling to work and shopping and during leisure time requires urban traffic management based on modern information technology. Ernst Joos, Deputy Director of Zurich Transport. ‘Lessons in Transportation Planning … Read more
On Tuesday last I had an email from the Chancellor of UMass Lowell, where I sometimes teach: “I am sorry to let you know that this changed over the weekend. As part of the university’s proactive effort to support and inform our international students, the International Students & Scholars Office (ISSO) has been regularly monitoring … Read more
Saturday morning and Lil’Johnny was on his way to work on the Market. He walked along the long curve of street that ran along the bottom of the hill bordering the old marshes where now stood council estates. The tall towers stood like giants against the clear cold blue sky where the first rays of … Read more