better word than 'dialectic' for an interplay of two issues that have underpinned my dissertation?

Synergy?

From Dictionary.com:

1. combined action or functioning; synergism.

2. the cooperative action of two or more muscles, nerves, or the like.

3. the cooperative action of two or more stimuli or drugs.

Or is that not what those issues are doing with each other?

I like it, Andi, but it's not quite right (and apparently I have become a game show host). It's more that the two issues conspired to interfere with my results, while proving my hyotheses at the same time. I am at a loss for the right word. I might just have to leave it at a description, rather than summing it up with a cool term.

Results section half completed. There's less to say in the second 'half'. I may actually have nearly finished. Except, you know, for cutting out about 2000 words and checking a couple of hundred references and rewriting some bits. (Do not sob your way through writing an introduction. It will end up a bit incoherent.)

Working off "synergy," Worknik suggests:

Coaction

Consilence

I've got (rare!) approval to share sis' pics with y'all. Once she'll be logged in again, I'll post here.

Seska - will thesaurus help?

The only thing that makes my very tired mind thinking it might be good to try and finish the paper (didn't continue one iota with it) is the reports/rumors from Fox News (Israeli media are pretty much "morally" banned from reporting from their sources - they've been told over and over again to keep out of it) that the Gilad Shalit deal might come to an end next week, and I want to make sure I'll have the time after Sunday to follow up the news coverage. I'm living in a very weird place.

I have a Tofurky, gravy, and cranberry sauce sandwich. I hate Tofurky for the actual Thanksgiving meal, but I always buy a small package for leftover sandwiches.

I like it, Andi, but it's not quite right (and apparently I have become a game show host). It's more that the two issues conspired to interfere with my results, while proving my hyotheses at the same time.

So they aren't exactly confounding factors. Oh well, I just woke up from a dream in which someone pointed out that synergy might not be the best choice because of it's use as a dirty word. There was even a link to a definition on "dictionary69.com". Unfortunately my alarm rang before the page loaded up, so I have no idea what it was supposed to be. And now I'm off to work, so I won't be around for the meaning y'all come up with - make it a good one.

Ohh! Naomi, it's not quite it, but what about entering "juxtapositioning" somewhere in there? Socio/anthro field seriously digs this word.

Alternatives that comes to my mind and from Google: dynamic, analytic, argumentative, polemical, a posteriori argument, conditional, synthetic, pilpulistic.

Any may I suggest - when in need, turn to math/physics metaphors. Always works for me.

where did Kara pick up Fake Yiddish?

I do not know where she picked up the fake yiddish. I'd be tempted to say Star Wars: The Clone Wars because she watches it a lot, but I'm pretty sure that's not it.

They're living on the east side of Cleveland, now, right?

We're in South Euclid, which is on the east side, but not as far out/expensive as Shaker. There is a large Jewish population on this side of town, though.

David, I think consilience is the closer of the two. Hmm.

Shir, juxtaposition isn't bad either. I will play with this and some of your other ideas in sentences, and see how they all sound. I've never heard the term 'pilpulistic' before. I love how quintessentially Jewish its meaning is. Would like to be able to use maths/physics metaphors, but I am afraid of numbers.

Andi, I love the dream with dictionary69.com in it!

Would like to be able to use maths/physics metaphors, but I am afraid of numbers.

You don't need numbers to say "interaction", "matrix", or to understand and use the very first elements of Quantum Theory (which, IMHO, brought pomo to us). That's the beauty of it.

Think of what Whedon said in Equality Now speech, that equality is like gravity. That's the level of metaphors I'm talking about. They sound great, and even if you can't intellectualize them, you can feel it, understand it in some sort of level.