Friday, November 6, 2009

“Carrollton police chief David James will retire after 15 years - Pegasus News” plus 4 more

“Carrollton police chief David James will retire after 15 years - Pegasus News” plus 4 more

Carrollton police chief David James will retire after 15 years - Pegasus News

Posted: 06 Nov 2009 01:13 PM PST

CARROLLTON — After a long and distinguished career of service, City of Carrollton Police Chief David James has announced plans to retire, effective January 15, 2010. Chief James said, "It has been a privilege and an honor to serve as Carrollton's Chief of Police for over 15 years." During his tenure, the police department adopted an operational philosophy, Community Resolution Oriented Policing, implemented through Self-Directed Work Teams and Servant-Leadership.

Chief James has over 36 years experience in municipal law enforcement service, executive management experience with other municipal services and working with city management. Prior to his appointment in Carrollton, Chief James retired from the Dallas Police Department after 21 years of service. The Carrollton Police Department serves a resident population of approximately 121,000. Present authorized strength for the department is 163 sworn officers and 80 non-sworn personnel.

Since 1977, Chief James has been actively involved in law enforcement training, particularly leadership and management issues. Presently he is an advisory board vice-chair for the Institute for Law Enforcement Administration where he has served as an adjunct faculty member for 23 years. In 2001, Texas Governor Rick Perry appointed him as a Commissioner for the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Education. Chief James is a past president of the North Texas Police Chiefs Association and is immediate past president of the Texas Police Chiefs Association. From 2004 to 2008, he chaired a committee for the TPCA to establish a statewide accreditation/recognition program for all municipal police agencies.

City Manager Leonard Martin said, "I have worked directly with several police chiefs during my career and many others indirectly. David James is by far the best police chief I have had the pleasure of working with or knowing. His no-nonsense approach to leading a department, strong emphasis on professionalism and discipline, and futuristic vision of what law enforcement can, should, and will become is invaluable. I know that his peers hold him in the very highest regard and look to him for leadership. I congratulate David on a stellar career in law enforcement."

Chief James commented, "The City of Carrollton is served by a respected and competent police department. It is my hope that the agency will continue to mature and build upon its philosophy of genuine customer service and resolution building to address the challenges of an inner ring urban environment. The future should reveal a vibrant, adaptable, and professional business model that will continue to serve the citizens of Carrollton."

Source: City of Carrollton

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Raising Japan’s Profile - Newsweek

Posted: 06 Nov 2009 01:13 PM PST

Even before Yukio Hatoyama became Japan's prime minister this summer, his philosophy of yuai, an idea that translates loosely to "fraternal love," had been ridiculed. The conservative Sankei Shimbun newspaper worried about the concept's origins, tracing it back to the liberté, egalité, and fraternité of the French Revolution and comparing Hatoyama to a modern-day Robes-pierre, sans guillotine. The moderate newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun doubted something so lofty could be understood, much less applied, on a global level. And despite Hatoyama's assertion that his brand of fraternity is "combative," rooted as it is in revolution, his political opponents have derided it as impractical and "as mushy as ice cream."

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But yuai is more than just a tempting target. In October, in his first parliamentary address since taking office, Hatoyama began spelling out how this fuzzy-sounding notion would be applied to policy. Guided by a spirit of fraternity, he said, Japan would seek to temper the turbulence of globalization by promoting the free market while also boosting domestic social safety nets. Japan would take a moral-leadership role on the world stage by aiding poor countries in their fight against climate change. And it would agree to cut CO2 emissions by 25 percent from 1990 levels by 2020 if other rich countries reciprocated. In essence, he suggested, the philosophy would elevate Japan more than ever before into the community of nations that are now tackling transnational issues such as climate change, the financial and economic crisis, nuclear proliferation, and terrorism.

Hatoyama would go far beyond his predecessors, who tried for decades to coin a phrase that would signpost Japan's place in the world. Some of these ideas understood Japan primarily in relation to the world's great powers. Democratic Party of Japan chairman Ichiro Ozawa talked of Japan as a "normal country"—by which he meant that Japan would have a foreign policy of its own, independent of the United States. Other catchphrases were more nationalistic in tone, such as former prime minister Shinzo Abe's "beautiful country" or Taro Aso's "thought leader" of Asia. Still others attempted to position Japan as the premier power in Asia, with Japan dubbed the head of "the flying geese." But all these formulations positioned Japan against others rather than putting it in a truly global context. Yuai, by contrast, identifies Japan as an independent actor that is also part of a larger, integrated global system. Indeed, the universal rhetoric seems ap-propriate for a time of universal problems.

Hatoyama's grandfather Ichiro Hatoyama is said to have stumbled upon the idea in a book at a time when he had been forced out of Japanese politics by U.S. occupying forces. The book, titled The Totalitarian State Against Man, was written in the 1930s by Richard Coudenhove-Kalergi, the originator of the idea of a unified European community. He argued that fraternity was the key to building a peaceful society and striking a balance between freedom and equality. In his view, too much freedom yielded anarchy; too much equality yielded tyranny. The elder Hatoyama was so moved by the ideas that he translated the book into Japanese and, in 1953, began promoting the idea to postwar Japan.

His grandson has tried to translate these ideals into modern terms. Japan's direction on foreign policy is in line with the Obama administration's emphasis on consultation with the community of nations. He aims to position Japan as a "bridge for the world" between the East and the West, between rich and poor countries, and "between diverse civilizations," while also providing leadership on global issues. For instance, the government recently announced it would lend Indonesia the equivalent of $400 million to fight climate change, and urged India to make its own commitment to the effort. Japan has also indicated that it will apply this lofty idea on a regional level by emphasizing sustainable and inclusive growth in the Pacific as Japan's chairmanship of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation approaches in 2010.

Yuai is both less mushy and less combative than critics suggest. It is a philosophy that suggests Hatoyama wants to forge a new identity for Japan in which it will lead as part of a team. But if it is to gain real traction, the prime minister will have to a find a balance between the merely inspirational and the concrete policies Japan demands.

Stewart is program director and senior fellow at the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs and a fellow at the Truman National Security Project.

© 2009

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Words of wisdom: Meet St. Augustine, the man, not the city - Naples Daily News

Posted: 06 Nov 2009 08:27 AM PST

Anyone who has visited the beautiful Florida city of St. Augustine knows how rich the city's past is. But, did you ever wonder just exactly who St. Augustine, a key figure of antiquity, was?

Augustine could be called the greatest of the fathers, doctors, philosophers and theologians the Christian church has ever seen. The theology found in Augustine's writings towered over all of that of the early church for many centuries, and what he wrote is still relevant today.

Augustine was born in 354. His father Patricius is not as well known as his more famous mother, Monica. Because of Augustine's raucus lifestyle as a youth, it's said he made his mother, Monica a saint, too, from all the praying she had to do for him.

Augustine received a Christian education, and is legendary for his forays into sin and giving himself over to pleasure at a young age. At the age of 19, it was reading Cicero's "Hortensius" where he first developed his love of philosophy. Augustine's focus then became philosophy, and not sinning.

It was the church father, Ambrose, who came to Augustine's eventual rescue in 383, when the future saint was 29 years old and came to Rome. It would take yet another three years before the preaching of the gospel, through Ambrose, and the reading and contemplation of scripture would take its hold on Augustine. During this time, he turned to academic philosophy, in particular, the study of Plato.

In 386, he was radically converted to Christianity and began to pursue what became for him, the ultimate philosophy.

Augustine was ordained into the priesthood in 391 and became bishop of Hippo in 396. As a bishop, he fought many battles against the heretics of his day.

Much of what Augustine wrote and said would influence that would ultimately come out of The Second Council of Orange, against the heretical Christians.

One of Augustine's most famous credos, which he borrowed from Ambrose, is "I believe, therefore I understand." This statement became the forerunner of all theology from the time of Augustine to today. Theology is said to be, simply, "faith seeking understanding." That is the modern definition, and we have St. Augustine to thank for it. He died in 430 at the age of 76. The city named after him is still a great place to visit, though.

Michael Hickey is a local writer and poet who lives in Pelican Bay and Swampscott, Mass. His book, "Get Wisdom," is published by Xlibris Div. Random House Publishing and is available at 1-888-795-4274, ext. 822, at www.Xlibris.com or your local bookstore. E-mail Mike Hickey at Mikehic@nii.net. Read Michael Hickey's short poem online at marconews.com/news/islander.

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200 Episodes of 'Philosophy Talk' Radio Show Illustrate Appetite for ... - PR Inside

Posted: 05 Nov 2009 11:20 AM PST

2009-11-05 20:17:02 -

They call in from all over the country, from places like upstate New York, West Virginia and California. And they have questions – lots of questions. They are the people who listen to the nationally syndicated public radio show Philosophy Talk : . Folks call in to comment on all sorts of subjects like the prison system, politics,

ethics, and race. They want to share their thoughts with Ken Taylor and John Perry, both Stanford philosophy professors, and co-hosts of Philosophy Talk.

Professor Taylor attributes the show's appeal to the fact that listeners find the questioning spirit of philosophy a refreshing alternative to traditional media content.

"At its worst, the media is designed not to engage us in critical reflection at all but to subject us to a sort of mind-numbing manipulation of our beliefs. Too much of the media underestimates the intelligence and attention span of the public," says Taylor. "We are convinced that there are millions of thinking, reflective people out there who find much of what they hear and see in mass media unappealing.
We're trying hard to reach such people, to provide them with more substantive fare."

Echoing that sentiment, Professor Perry adds that, "Even the most thoughtful programs on radio and TV typically reach a point where they say, 'We'll have to leave that to the philosophers'. It's as if when one gets to the philosophical issues one has hit bedrock. But it's not bedrock, it's the level where you get past the mud and muck and find real gems."


Six Years of Engaging Conversations with Prominent Guests

Every Sunday for the past six years, professors Taylor and Perry have approached all manner of topic : from a philosophical perspective. Topics are lofty (Truth, Beauty, Justice), arresting (Terrorism, Intelligent Design, Suicide), and engaging (Baseball, Love, Happiness). The hosts chat with notable guests and take calls from listeners, giving every broadcast a lively and conversational tone. The loyal and growing audience often continues discussions on the Philosophy Talk blog : or Facebook page : . Show guests have included Alan Dershowitz, Frank Deford, Kathleen Sullivan and Myles Brand.

Philosophy Talk, which bills itself as radio that questions everything except your intelligence, originates from KALW 91.7 FM : in San Francisco. It is a weekly, one-hour, program that also airs on the Oregon and West Virginia Public Broadcasting networks and numerous other stations from New York to California.


Growing Philosophy Trend Signals More 'Question-Askers'

Lately Ken and John have noticed an increasing interest in philosophy.

Of course, they may be biased, but a recent New York Times article : noted increasing enrollment in the philosophy departments of a number of colleges and universities. Perhaps it's that people are searching for more meaning in these trying times, but whatever the reason, the phones are always busy during show tapings.

Professor Perry feels that the show taps into the large, analytical segment of the population. Perry said that these are people who take a philosophical approach to issues, though they may not realize it.

"These are the same people who, when they hear the word 'should' they naturally ask, 'Where does that 'should' come from?' When they hear the word 'obviously', their natural reaction is 'It's not obvious to me!' Ken and I are such people, and we cater to such people."


Philosophy Talk Hits the Road

Taylor and Perry have met many of their fans at live events : , which they have been booking with increasing frequency. They have entertained audiences in a range of venues including college campuses, senior communities, bookstores, and at lecture series. They have even performed in the halls of Congress and at the Smithsonian Institution.

200th Episode to Feature Top 10 Philosophical Conundrums in Society Today

The 200th show, airing on November 15, 2009 : , will feature a Top 10 list of issues that listeners think philosophers should tackle in the coming years. The hosts put a call out to their listeners asking them to weigh in on the topics and have already received a range of ideas from global warming and overpopulation to astrophysics and health care.

Taylor expects that healthcare and the environment will rightly make the list. They are both topics that he says pose many philosophical conundrums. A recent episode about the environment already raised a number of compelling questions, like "What, if anything, we owe, morally speaking, to future generations?" and building on that, "Do we owe it to these not yet existing people to leave them an earth as rich and as bountiful as the one we now inhabit and, if so, why?"


Healthcare reform is a topic looming large in the mind of many Americans and Taylor said this issue falls into a philosophical realm known as distributive justice. Taylor used a relatable example to explain the concept.

"The well off drive better cars, live in better houses, and take fancier vacations than the not well-off. And I think most people would say that's OK because considerations of justice don't require us to guarantee everybody equal access to fancy vacations or fancy cars." But, Taylor adds, "Lots of people feel differently about healthcare. One of our jobs as philosophers is to figure out what, if anything, differentiates goods like healthcare from goods like fancy vacations."


'Best Public Radio Show'

In a 2008 feature story about the show Los Angeles Times columnist Maria La Ganga noted, "'Philosophy Talk' is as accessible as it is thoughtful..." In 2007 San Francisco Weekly named Philosophy Talk the 'Best Local Public Radio Show'.

Bios


Ken Taylor is Professor Henry Waldgrave Stuart Professor of Philosophy at Stanford University and Director of Stanford's Symbolic Systems Program. His work lies at the intersection of the philosophy of language and the philosophy of mind, with an occasional foray into the history of philosophy. He is the author of many books and articles, including Truth and Meaning, Reference and the Rational Mind, and Referring to the World.

John Perry is Henry Waldgrave Stuart Professor of Philosophy at Stanford University. He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a recipient of many honors and awards, including the Nicod and Humboldt Prizes. A popular lecturer, in 1990 he was awarded the Dinkelspiel Award for undergraduate teaching. He is the author of over 100 articles and books, including, A Dialogue on Personal Identity and Immortality, Knowledge, Possibility, and Consciousness, and Reference and Reflexivity. He also wrote the internet's most popular essay on procrastination.

Show Archive Sale


The entire Philosophy Talk archive can be purchased with : or without : an annual subscription.

Philosophy Talk is a weekly, one-hour radio series produced by Ben Manilla. The hosts' down-to-earth and no-nonsense approach brings the richness of philosophic thought to everyday subjects.

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6093221&lang=en : .

Stanford UniversityCorrie Goldman, 650-724-8156Stanford
Humanities Outreach Officer corrieg@stanford.edu : mailto:corrieg@stanford.edu

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What Does Grayson Think About Afghanistan? - DAILY KOS

Posted: 06 Nov 2009 10:57 AM PST

Good, right? You may disagree with him, but you can't argue that he's not well-informed. If he keeps showing such command, he'll defy the efforts of the corporate media to clownify him.

He doesn't merely take a position; he articulates a philosophy, in relatable terms:

"The basic premise that we alter Afghan society is extremely flawed…I've been to a hundred-seventy-five countries all around the world including Afghanistan, including every country in that region, and what I've seen everywhere I go is that there are some commonalties everywhere you go. Everywhere you go people want to fall in love.  It's an interesting thing.  Everywhere you go, people love children.  Everywhere, they love children.  Everywhere you go, there's a taboo against violence.  Every single place you go.  And everywhere you go, people want to be left alone.  And that's the best foreign policy of all: Just to leave people alone."

What I love about this is that he doesn't oppose the occupation on narrow grounds. He doesn't argue that we need to withdraw because Bush screwed up or because we didn't get Bin Laden at Tora Bora. Those kinds of arguments only reinforce the hawkish delusion that imperial adventures will succeed if only they're managed correctly. Grayson understands that they are inherently flawed, doomed.

In June Grayson withstood a furious arm-twisting effort from the White House and opposed the request for further war funding--one of only thirty-two Democratsto do so. Here he explained why.

"There is no need in the 21st century to do this, to make us safe," Representative Alan Grayson, a freshman Democrat from Florida, said of the continuing American-led wars. "This is a 19th-century strategy being played out at great expense in both money and blood in the 21st century, in the wrong time at the wrong place."

"It's wrong," Mr. Grayson added. "That's why I am going to vote against it."

It makes sense that a politician who battles concentrated wealth at home would also battle imperialism abroad, because plutocracy and war go hand in hand. It's a connection Grayson surely understands better than most given his history of prosecuting war profiteers. An economic populist and an anti-imperialist: No wonder he unsettles "respectable" people.

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