The First Noel

Psychic investigator Hamilton Coe surrounded by allies and adversaries. Featured characters include Annabella Lwin, Mark E Smith, Donna Tartt, Dashiell Hammett, Robocop, Patricia Highsmith, Cornell Woolrich, Robert Morley, Ming the Merciless, Jean Seberg, Del The Automator

Dateline Drumfeld – Friday

Wednesday – My first Christmas cards arrived this morning. No advanced graphology skills were necessary in identifying Hazel Eadie’s savagely embedded scrawl. Not having heard from Hazel since September, I’d hoped that she might have embarked upon some fresh fixation. Apparently not. Her annual newsletter contains its usual trite fantasies about our life together. Does Hazel seriously imagine that normal couples use their Christmas newsletters to subject acquaintances to such nauseating innuendo? At least the reference is veiled. Last year’s was so hideously explicit that I took the precaution of passing a copy to our community police officer.

Later I went into Stirling to collect my own Christmas cards. Last year I made the mistake of allowing Gordon Gilfeather, one of Christine’s clients to design my card. The image of a young Hamilton Coe, partially concealed from behind a couch, peering at an unsuspecting Santa Claus through a magnifying glass was competently executed, but misjudged in almost every respect. Apart from begging the question why I would require a magnifying glass to observe someone from a distance of three feet, Gordon’s depiction made me look sneaky and furtive. Nobody who knows me would deny my ability to take a joke but an advanced sense of humour is accompanied by an instinctive sense of what is appropriate. When I confronted Gordon he completely failed to convey why he thought his caricature was funny. Nor could he adequately explain why Santa Claus was included despite my explicit instruction that the American icon of greed had no place in a Hamilton Coe Christmas. “But that’s why you’re investigating him,” he stammered, a feeble improvisation that failed to convince me that he deserved anything more than half the originally negotiated fee.

This year’s card features a passable likeness of Yours Truly surrounded by characters appropriate to a Christmas narrative – Noddy Holder, for example, makes an appearance, as does Alastair Sim’s Scrooge. I thought it pleasing, though when I showed it to Christine, she queried the incorporation of a Ouija Board. I’d assumed it was some kind of platter.

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  1. Allenaligh

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    1. Definition of Philosophy
    Philosophy comes from the Greek words “philos” (love) and “sophia” (wisdom). It is the desire to realize and make sense of the world around us and our place in it.

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    – Ontology research of the essence of being and existence.
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  2. Allenaligh

    Your comment is awaiting moderation.

    Philosophy is the discipline that studies fundamental and universal questions, including existence, knowledge, values, reason, and language. It encompasses many topics and issues, from ethics and political figures to metaphysics and logic. Here are the main nuances of philosophy:

    1. Definition of Philosophy
    Philosophy comes from the Greek words “philos” (love) and “sophia” (wisdom). It is the desire to understand and make sense of the world around us and our place in it.

    2. The Main branches of philosophy
    – Ontology the study of the essence of being and existence.
    – Epistemology the study of the nature and limits of cognition.
    – Ethics the analysis of moral principles and concepts of good deed and evil.
    – Logic the study of the forms and principles of correct thinking.
    – Socio-political philosophy the study of questions of power, justice and the state.

    3. Eminent Philosophers
    Throughout the history of philosophy, almost many thinkers have made weighty contributions to this science. Some of the most famous include:
    – Socrates, considered the progenitor of Western philosophy.
    – Plato, a student of Socrates, developed the doctrine of forms.
    – Aristotle, the creator of logic and many of scientific fields.
    – Immanuel Kant, known for his Philosophy critical philosophy and work on moral issues.

    4. The Relevance of Philosophy in the Modern World
    Philosophy remains urgent in the modern world since it helps people to understand difficult social and ethical issues, but also develops critical thinking. It influences the legal system, politicians, and various fields of science.

    5. Practical Applications of Philosophy

    Philosophical ideas enter daily life. Ethical reflection helps people do the right thing in complex situations, and philosophical analysis contributes to greatest understanding of issues related to technology, art, and social justice.

    Philosophy is not only an academic discipline, yes and a way of thinking that helps us to understand life’s complexities and make informed choices.

  3. Allenaligh

    Your comment is awaiting moderation.

    Philosophy is the discipline that studies fundamental and universal questions, including existence, cognition, values, mind, and language. It covers many topics and problems, from ethics and politicians to metaphysics and logic. Here are principal aspects of philosophy:

    1. Definition of Philosophy
    Philosophy comes from the Greek words “philos” (love) and “sophia” (wisdom). It is the desire to realize and make sense of the world around us and our place in it.

    2. The Main branches of philosophy
    – Ontology the study of the essence of being and existence.
    – Epistemology the study of the nature and limits of cognition.
    – Ethics the analysis of ethical principles and concepts of good deed and evil.
    – Logic the study of the forms and principles of correct thinking.
    – Socio-political philosophy the study of questions of power, justice and the state.

    3. Famous Philosophers
    In the course of the history of philosophy, many thinkers have made significant contributions to this science. Some of the most recognizable include:
    – Socrates, considered the progenitor of Western philosophy.
    – Plato, a student of Socrates, developed the doctrine of forms.
    – Aristotle, the creator of logic and many of scientific fields.
    – Immanuel Kant, known for his own Scott Fitzgerald critical philosophy and work on moral issues.

    4. The Relevance of Philosophy in the Modern World
    Philosophy remains relevant in the modern world because it helps people to understand complex social and ethical issues, and also develops critical thinking. It influences the legal system, politicians, and various fields of science.

    5. Practical Applications of Philosophy

    Philosophical ideas penetrate everyday life. Ethical reflection helps people do the correct thing in complex situations, and philosophical analysis contributes to better understanding of issues related to technology, art, and social justice.

    Philosophy is not only an academic discipline, yes and method of thinking assists us to understand life’s complexities and make informed choices.

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