Speculation is a dirty word

As with most contemporary information hounds, I enjoy a trip down Wikipedia lane as much as the next scholar. Parallel activities I almost enjoy more are explorations though the deep catacombs of dictionary.reference.com and etymonline.com (ie. word origin and origin).

One of the most useful tools on dictionary.reference.com is the easy transfer from dictionary entry to thesaurus entry, a feature I utilize more often than is necessary. Therefore, while exploring the wide world of words during one of my lunchtime "type and click" sessions I discovered I had been using "philosophize" entirely in error. Allow me to supply the minimal amount of background information prior to this exposition.


Resulting from an abnormal college background and exceptional friends, I have attained the title of "engino-philosophizer". Now, having bachelors degrees in philosophy and mechanical engineering may not seems logical to most folks, but I assure you nothing could be further from the truth. Both fields of study deal with the information related to 'problem, investigation and solution', it just so happens that engineers focus on the solution and philosophers on the investigation (yes I know this is excessively simplified). Now to address the error; although "philosophize" may be the only verb relative to the activities of a philosopher, there is a marked difference between a "philosophizer" and "philosopher". In my ignorance I have failed to realize that the "izer" is merely a speculator in the superficial manner while the latter thinker is truly immersed in their cognition. I cringe at the mere word "speculation" as I entirely feel its near miss with 'conjecture' concerning knowledge of a topic. Simply put: it is really the half-assed approach at thinking and understanding.

To put this post to a quick end: I would like to amend the title to "engino-philosopher". Though the change may simply appear vainglorious, I do considerably pursue knowledge beyond the superficial.

New and Old

I haven't much time - but I find it necessary to write that i enjoy this theme so much more than those of my wordpress blogs. I would rather prefer to be holed up with a freshly lit pipe, a pint of beer and a roaring fire. I may have to make the switch to this one soon. Until then - everything goes on mikewjansen.wordpress.com.

My Weird Wife

Now I have three blogs. Why? Because my wife is a hoarder. Yup, I said it. She's a total hoarder. Oh well, at least I get all of the cool URLs because of her obsessive nature.

Ed. - By the way, this was posted by my wife