The contrast between where I am now and where I was yesterday is rather stark. All of the following events have taken place within the past twenty-four hours. None seem entirely modern. I As I wended my way up the steep, narrow cobblestone street to my hostel in Valparaíso, I saw an old man wending … More Traigo queso de vaca fresco

I am in Valparaíso and it is wonderful. Everywhere else I have been in Chile has been interesting, and Valdivia has the best fish market I have ever seen, but Valparaíso ROCKS, and it is beautiful. Evidence of its ultra-hip culture can be observed here. Later, I will translate this poem by Gonzalo Rojas, on Valparaíso. PUERTO … More Valparaíso, el viento

I 1. This page looks terrible in LINUX, or at least in the version I have and the browsers I have. 2. The exam I gave today was very hard to fail, if you studied, but very hard to pass, if you did not. All students who had failing averages before the exam, have now … More Technicalities

There is much I do not like about Pablo Neruda, but these lines fit this morning’s windswept sunniness. Gracias, violines, por este día de cuatro cuerdas. Puro es el sonido del cielo, la voz azul del aire. On this graceful, four-stringed day, skies sound pure as violins: the air’s blue voice. Axé.

Moksha is on a blogging hiatus, but my stats suggest she may still be reading. If she is, she will discover that this post is for her, since I know she will appreciate it. How do I know that? Well, she liked a term I coined, “Bible-drippers.” With her in mind I will dare to … More In Honor of HAH!

I Got trolls? Worse yet, anonymous trolls, or trolls with names, but fake URLs and go-nowhere e-mail addresses? One of mine today suggests that I volunteer for service in Iraq. Another believes this site dispenses unauthorized academic advice. Perhaps these discreet souls would like to read a note – signed, with an authentic return address … More Daily Mail

Consider this, and this. I was going to tell an amusing tale about my student Byron and his father, but in light of some recent news I am reminded of the only Viet Nam veteran I ever met who would discuss war experiences with any personal detail at all. We met him on the beach, … More Viet Nam

We shall walk through the valley We shall walk through the valley of the shadow of death, We shall walk through the valley in peace. This was Leadbelly singing his take on a slave spiritual. Here, east of the Rockies, there are fewer bright days than I am used to, and people cover their windows. … More Shadow of Death

For readers who may not have understood yesterday’s video, here is a very partial transcription. COMMENTATOR: El cielo se ha despejado. The sky has cleared. Hubo frío, mucho frío. It was cold, very cold. Hoy el cielo se ha despejado. Today the sky has cleared. Ya no hay tanto frío. It is no longer so … More Suave Patria

Heresy 1 would be what I said about Al-Anon on this comment thread yesterday afternoon, adding random points and thoughts in between grading papers and updating departmental websites. A boil-down of those comments might be to say that I find the formulaic nature of the program very constraining. Formulas, guidelines, and paradigms all have their … More Heresy 2