Word: familiarity
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...unsustainability of today’s trends cannot be emphasized enough. Ecologically, the critique has always been obvious: The consumption patterns familiar to many Western citizens today simply cannot be universally adopted. Instead, according to one environmentalist, if climate cataclysms are to be averted, we will have to reduce per capita carbon emissions to around 0.4-0.5 tons annually (the average American emits six tons). This is almost surely impossible barring a total transformation of current structures of consumption and production. As another, no less ominous example, consider the fact that mainstream economics has no answers for the displaced rural...
...Culture is often preserved even when language is lost. Many today are familiar with Greek myths; few can speak or read ancient Greek. Further, loan words in English—common words like “rendezvous” and “fiesta” that are borrowed from other languages—illustrate that English words (and the ideas behind them) don’t automatically replace foreign ones (and the ideas behind them). On the contrary, language encourages a linguistic survival-of-the-fittest. If a foreign idea is so nuanced as to not have an English...
This week's murder of pro football star Sean Taylor by still unknown assailants was tragic. But for residents of Miami, where Taylor was shot early Monday morning in his suburban home during an apparent break-in, it also felt tragically familiar. Taylor, 24, a standout safety for the Washington Redskins, was an equally stellar defensive back for the University of Miami Hurricanes. And his untimely death was just the latest in what has become an unsettling succession of violent ends for active and former UM players...
...Delta, in fact, is clearly in favor of industry consolidation and has established a committee to review its options for a potential merger but says there are no discussions going on with any carrier at this time. But a source familiar with Delta who spoke on the condition of anonymity says that there has been ongoing talk at the company to work toward announcing a merger and submitting it for review to the Department of Justice before Christmas, because the company wants to take advantage of the current administration before potential changes in the DOJ and the Department of Transportation...
...Bolton's outspoken policy views have long been familiar, but what's most interesting about his new book is the sheer enthusiasm with which he has adopted the mantle of the most vocal neoconservative critic of the Bush Administration's foreign policy, only months after resigning from the Bush team when the Senate for the second time refused to confirm his nomination to the U.N. post...