Leigh M. Johnson

And I Think To Myself, What Are Multiple Worlds?

June 9, 2024 Leigh M. Johnson Just Ask, Philosophy Comments Off on And I Think To Myself, What Are Multiple Worlds?

Part two of the “Just Ask” challenge finds this (from Daniel B.):I immediately thought of a softball question, such as “Derrida: great philosophy, or greatest philosopher?” Instead, I will test your mettle: What are the moral implications of the many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics? First, let me take the softball: great philosophy and great philosopher….

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Back Online, Memphis-Style

June 9, 2024 Leigh M. Johnson Memphis 3 Comments

Well, I’m just about all settled in now. And, surprisingly, it’s neither hot nor humid. Or maybe I’m acclimating more quickly than I thought… At any rate, the weather is beautiful, the city is familiar enough to be comfortable but changed enough to be interesting and, most importantly, I am happy to report that my…

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the multi-tasking friend

June 9, 2024 Leigh M. Johnson Uncategorized 2 Comments

Recently I read an article on the web entitled “Five Friends Every Woman Should Have.” It wasn’t well-written and it wasn’t particularly insightful–as a matter of fact, it was on one of those sites dedicated to “women’s lifestyle” that tend to be nauseatingly Oprahesque–but it did provide a very interesting list to consider. Here is…

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The Quotable South, Part 3: There’s Just Something About Deep-Fried Lovin’

June 9, 2024 Leigh M. Johnson Memphis, The Quotable South Comments Off on The Quotable South, Part 3: There’s Just Something About Deep-Fried Lovin’

It means, “I love you. And I’m sorry for what you are going through and I will share as much of your burden as I can.” And maybe potato salad is a better way to say it. –Will D. Campbell, on the tendency of Southerners to bring food to families in mourning If someone asked…

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The Quotable South, Part 2: Gittin’ Religion

June 9, 2024 Leigh M. Johnson The Quotable South Comments Off on The Quotable South, Part 2: Gittin’ Religion

I think it is safe to say that while the South is hardly Christ-centered, it is most certainly Christ-haunted. –Flannery O’Connor First of all, if you aren’t familiar with Flannery O’Connor, by all means stop reading this immediately and go find yourself a copy of A Good Man is Hard to Find. Make sure you’re…

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The Quotable South, Part 5: Subtle Differences

June 9, 2024 Leigh M. Johnson Memphis, The Quotable South Comments Off on The Quotable South, Part 5: Subtle Differences

My father would say that the only difference between Mississippi (which was a dry state) and its neighbor Tennessee, which was wet, was that in Tennessee a man could not buy liquor on a Sunday. –Willie Morris I’ve always been perplexed by the differences in blue laws from state to state. Blue laws are designed…

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The Quotable South, Part 4: Heroes and Heroines

June 9, 2024 Leigh M. Johnson Memphis, The Quotable South Comments Off on The Quotable South, Part 4: Heroes and Heroines

I would venture to say that loudly denouncing Emmylou Harris will get you killed in any establishment that serves liquor south of Delaware. –Steve Earle Ahhhh, Steve Earle. For all his piss-and-vinegar-laden griping about Nashville, he still will stand up and pick a fight with anyone who hasn’t earned the right to criticize its ambassadors…

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Random Awards

June 9, 2024 Leigh M. Johnson Politics, Pop Culture/Film, Pop Culture/Film/Literature 2 Comments

So, I’m giving The Quotable South a break for a bit. This morning, I’ve decided to share with you some random bits that deserve, in their own perverse way, an award. Greatest News Headline This Week on MSN.COM: “Travolta Spurns Daylight” So, apparently John Travolta and his wife are night-owls. And Scientologists, in case you…

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The Quotable South, Part 6: The Drawl

June 9, 2024 Leigh M. Johnson Memphis, The Quotable South 8 Comments

A Southerner speaks music.–Mark Twain Southerners can probably say “shit” better than anybody else. We give it the ol’ two-syllable “shee-yet,” which strings it out quite a bit and gives it more ambience, if words can have ambience.–Lewis Grizzard If you are going to be underestimated by people who speak more rapidly, the temptation is…

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This Is Your Blurb!

June 9, 2024 Leigh M. Johnson Philosophy 4 Comments

Just before you go on the academic job market, everyone tells you that one of the most important things you can do is to figure out a way to distill and encapsulate your entire project into a roughly 2 minute soundbite, otherwise known as a “blurb.” This is a difficult, but immensely practical, endeavor. Chances…

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