The Empire of Luxury

Is modern life truly multipolar?

Two songs are in my head this morning. The first by Billy Joel reminds me:

I can always find someone
To say they sympathize
If I wear my heart out on my sleeve
But I don't want some pretty face
To tell me pretty lies
All I want is someone to believe

The question that captures me on this occasion has to do with the reason we learn things that we know and expect…