Rorty

https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/richard-rorty-life-pragmatism-and-conversational-philosophy/

Insistence on the existence or the importance of truth seems to me empty, at least by comparison to insistence on the need of freedom.

https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/21/books/richard-rortys-1998-book-suggested-election-2016-was-coming.html


Richard Rorty’s 1998 Book Suggested Election 2016 Was Coming

Check out the new bench by the train station!

There's a new bench in town - a Soofa solar-powered bench that lets you rest your weary feet and also charge your battery-weary mobile device.

The official unveiling will be on November 10 at 3 p.m. by the South Orange train station.

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Tour of Newark a Success

Sam Convissor, a long time resident of South Orange and member of the Board of Directors of the Newark Conservancy,  grew up in Newark.  On October 10th, Mr. Convissor took about 25 Seniors to Newark by bus for a tour of the city.

The tour covered old cemeteries in Newark, Phillip Roth’s childhood home and the Newark Conservancy.  Cemeteries were included in the tour to highlight the fact that in the not-so-distant past, people belonged to burial clubs, which allowed members to buy burial plots and pay in installments.

As a Board member, Mr. Convissor introduced the seniors to the Newark Conservancy. Where a synagogue once stood there is now a place to give training to people who have recently been released from prison: GED training, resume writing, interview skills as well as nutrition information combined with other social services. There is a garden where plants and vegetables are grown and sold to area residents together with several greenhouses.

The history of Newark was summarized, including the many waves of immigrants into and then out of the city.  Pentecostal and Evangelical churches have replaced synagogues and now serve the present population.  Surprising the seniors on the tour was gazing out on a fenced in area of two acres, where fruit trees were growing.  Plans to grow additional plants and crops are in the works.

Many people on the tour knew Newark from their youth and their personal anecdotes served to enrich Mr. Convissor's interesting observations about Newark, both past and present.  A nice lunch was served and a short lecture was presented by an administrator of the Conservancy.