We believe (and we are unanimous in this):

...that one can see the world in a grain of sand, and running an intellectual sandbox is a lot of fun.

...that we are all apes; yes, even you (perhaps even: especially you).

...that political philosophy is interesting; politics is gossip for people too proud to care about show biz.

...that there is a Sondheim song for every important life experience. In the rare event that there is not, there will be an appropriate Cole Porter song.

...that there's no good reason for anyone not to call themselves a feminist.

...that we are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.

...that empiricism is flawed, but it's what we have to work with.

...in "multiple intelligences" theory, and not just because we're bad at math and can't dance.

...really.

...that most people overestimate their degree of awareness and conscious control over their thought processes, and underestimate the effect of their circumstances, life history and other external forces on their personality and beliefs. See above on the subject of apes.

...that few things in life are more viscerally repugnant than bullying.

...that bullying, in various and subtle forms, happens a lot.

...situations may be desperate, but are rarely serious.

...apocryphal or not, that stuff about wearing sunscreen really is quite sensible.

...that a blow against grammar is a blow against civilization, truth, justice, and the things that make life worth living.

...that Ogden Nash is seriously underrated.

...that it is vitally important to support science, especially social science, in the struggle against pseudoscience, religion, and rhetoric.

...although we secretly admire rhetoric, and don't object to religion in its proper sphere. Pseudoscience is definitely bad, though.

...that we might not read us, if we didn't write us. Sometimes we don't. Those posts should be obvious.

Esquiver...

...is not my real name. Go figure.

...gave up a tenuous existence as a lecturer and freelance writer for money and respectability, and is now desperately scrambling for a way back to the aforementioned marginality.

...has a fair amount of personal and professional experience with Southeast and South Asia, despite never having set out to acquire any.

...still accepts freelance assignments. Inquiries welcome. Email me .