A Mr. Steve Williams from Melbourne has commissioned a Personal Philosophy for his brother Michael, presumably in lieu of an actual Christmas gift, so I am rushing this one out to him instead of spending Christmas Eve time with my family. You're welcome! Michael Williams's Personal Philosophy* My philosophy is derived mostly from my cat, I think. Cats have a special Continue Reading …
The Personal Philosophy of (i.e. for) Actor/Podcaster Matt Yang King
A Personal Philosophy has been donated to Matt, who has appeared in many TV shows and movies and video games. He also broadcasts via the entertaining GeeksOn podcast I've blogged about, but is perhaps best known for being the first dude killed in Species III. Matt Yang King's Personal Philosophy* I believe there is a force within each of us that can enable us to do Continue Reading …
The Personal Philosophy of (i.e. for) The Atlantic’s Jared Keller
Atlantic associate editor Jared Keller attracted our oracular, magnetic Personal Philosophy pen by asking someone who tweeted about this series for more information. Does this mean he'll write a Pulitzer-winning article about us as the inevitable end point of the juxtaposition of high culture and the Internet? Only he knows for sure! (Well, Santa too.) Jared Keller's Personal Continue Reading …
The Personal Philosophy of (i.e. for) The Onion’s Jason Roeder
More personal philosophies (you can have one too!). This one MAY have been sponsored by an anonymous donor, or it may have been selected by me to acknowledge my debt to The Onion in conceiving some of these now plentiful personal philosophies. So, in keeping with the desire to select not the top brass at some organization but a tireless mid-level functionary, Onion "Staff Continue Reading …
The Personal Philosophy of (i.e. for) Kathleen M. Ryan
Perhaps best known (by me) for being the person on Facebook who complained about all these Personal Philosophy postings (see inset), Ms. Ryan is also known for her excellent sense of humor and her facility with plastic explosives. This personal philosophy has been commissioned for her by an elderly billionaire who is too shy to introduce himself. Also, it should be noted, Continue Reading …
The Personal Philosophy of (i.e. for) Lee Abramson
A while ago, I reviewed my ex-bassist Lee's project Rumi Music, which is just one of several albums he's finished since being knocked out of the bass-playing (and walking and talking) business by ALS. His latest shtick is a 2012 Presidential run, so as a speech-writer audition I thought I should create a personal philosophy for him, based on an idea he sent to me, which was Continue Reading …
Philosophy of the Future Book of Matt Gantner
Mr. Matt Gantner of Gantner Creative Media (a company with no web site Google has heard of) has donated more money to P.E.L. than anyone not actually on the show, despite our not knowing him personally or having provided him any quid pro quo philosophical favors like putting in a good word for him with Arthur C. Danto and/or the Absolute. With his latest donation, he asked Continue Reading …
The Personal Philosophy of (i.e. for) Mike “Mr. Murph” Murphy
Today's Personal Philosophy is sponsored by Melissa Murphy and created expressly for her handle-bar mustachioed high-school-physics-teaching husband. Michael K. Murphy's Personal Philosophy* I believe that we need to act now to preserve our fragile ecosystem. I also believe that robots are our future. Giant robots with rockem' sockem' type arms and lasers that shoot out of Continue Reading …
The Personal Philosophy of (i.e. for) NPR’s Mara Lisasson
What the hell is this? Today we semi-randomly sort-of honor NPR national political correspondent Mara Liasson: Mara Liasson's Personal Philosophy* I have such a to-do list for when I'm a ghost! Everything is so topsy turvy right now, what with my job and family and all, that I can't wait to depart my mortal body and have an eternity to walk the earth, fixated on Continue Reading …
The Personal Philosophy of (i.e. for) Audiobook Narrator Scott Brick
Continuing to shift my purview, I have constructed a personal philosophy (much like the one YOU want, but not as good) for the fine audiobook narrator Scott Brick. Having only heard him read me Dune and some other books, I have no idea what his actual personality is like, but anyone who can pronounce all those freaky Fremen names must undoubtedly deserve a philosophy as grand Continue Reading …
The Personal Philosophy of (i.e. for) Salon.com’s Laura Miller
So far none of the select celebrities whom I have gifted an ultra-personal Personal Philosophy have sent me so much as a dry-cleaning coupon, which I guess means that they're not Internet-obsessed, self-Google-alerting, must-personally-respond-to-everything-associated-with-their-names kind of people, unlike, say, me. But what about journalists? Will Laura Miller, writer Continue Reading …
The Personal Philosophy of (i.e. for) Frank Conniff
I hope it's obvious from my inclusion of this MST3K alum, given my past comments on MST3K, that I am not slamming these needy celebrities by creating for them spiffy brand new personal philosophies (give one today to someone who's name you've drawn for secret Santa!). I am not implying that such celebrities do not currently have a philosophy or that their philosophy is Continue Reading …
The Personal Philosophy of (i.e. for) Callum Keith Rennie
Donating another philosophy to a needy minor celebrity, this time the guy who played the most sensitive cylon and other roles. For y'all just tuning in, read this to learn how to order your own special personal magical cool-ass philosophy. I have to credit my dad, noted children's performer Mr. Bob, for giving me the idea for this one. Callum Keith Rennie's Personal Continue Reading …
The Personal Philosophy of (i.e. for) Martin Starr
We have received an actual donation now with a commission to create a personal philosophy, but I'm working with the donator and trying to figure out the result, and I don't want Gigi Edgley to feel unfairly singled out if she somehow gets ahold of the link, so I have identified another needy celebrity to receive a holiday personal philosophy, because December is the time for Continue Reading …
The Personal Philosophy of (i.e. for) Gigi Edgley (Chiana from Farscape)
Since no one has yet forked over their X-mas cash to us in response to my offer to craft your personal philosophy, I'm writing one for a semi-randomly chosen needy celebrity, selected because of her hotness and because she's not quite so famous that she wouldn't potentially have a Google alert out on herself: Gigi Edgly, shown here in freaky Farscape make-up, in which she Continue Reading …
Special Offer: Your Own Personal Philosophy
Are you confused? Directionless? Tired of trying to figure it all out? Does the thought of slogging through the history of philosophy trying to figure out what does and doesn't make sense to you depress and/or intimidate you? Well, now there's an answer. For a $40 donation to the Partially Examined Life podcast and blog, I will write you a personalized personal philosophy, Continue Reading …
Mark’s Inspirational Speech
Responding to a listener request, here's the text of the inspirational speech from the end of episode #14, so you can have it tattooed or mounted or embroidered or perhaps written in frosting on a birthday cake. I have rendered it in BOLD MAGENTA #3 (C031C7) for your pleasure: What you see before you, i.e. me, is, admittedly, very awesomely partially examined, but I was not Continue Reading …