Olodum Means Creation
16/04/2010
This is Friday, Oxalá’s day. The sun makes the cobblestones shine like silver, and everyone is wearing white. Axé.
Long Suffering
15/04/2010
Blackguard (PhD 2008): You have been working here all these years and you are clearly incompetent, because there are flaws in this program. Professor Zero (mildly): Yes, there are flaws. There were once even more flaws. (Aside:) If you only knew how much competence was required to create the PhD level position that resulted in … More Long Suffering
Roman Noir
14/04/2010
Not being clean the place smelled ripe. The proprietors attempted to mask this by putting the air conditioning on cold and the fan on high. Those of us familiar with frozen lands already knew how a cold breeze draws attention to grime. Axé.
Reading for Pleasure Wednesday: The Secret History of Night
14/04/2010
This radio show is about a book I really want to read. Before modern 24-7 life and constant streetlight, humanity was terrified and transfixed by the mystery of the pure, dark, night. The time after sunset was given over to criminals and demons, night terrors and moonstruck lunatics — the night was a menacing world … More Reading for Pleasure Wednesday: The Secret History of Night
La Victoria
13/04/2010
Here is the traditional commercial neighborhood of La Victoria in Lima, Peru, as it is today. This video is actually rather flattering and it is fun because of the soundtrack — this is how people really talk. Here is the same district as it was between 1908 and 1945, with a scratchy soundtrack by the … More La Victoria
Academic Mondays: Research Culture I
12/04/2010
I do not enjoy painting or carpentry. I had dinner with a friend who discussed the lack of research culture here, the poor holdings at the library, the fact that so many faculty do not appear to come from a research culture themselves, and the lack of funding for research. She is attempting to adjust … More Academic Mondays: Research Culture I
Ijexá
11/04/2010
Axé.
Curly Headed Baby
10/04/2010
This morning I got up to receive and ponder a rather fraught missive on language policy, and then went off to a funeral. I did some errands and went to work out at the gym, where we watched the Polish airplane disaster and the West Virginia mining disaster on television. I came home and painted … More Curly Headed Baby
An Orientalist Opera
09/04/2010
It is the weekend, and we are singing of the celestial Aida. This opera premiered in Cairo. I would prefer to see it with Giulietta Simoniato. But Caruso sang of Aida in 1908, when this opera was still quite new. I still think his version of this song is the best. Axé.
On Patronage and Paternalism (Return of the Whiteman)
08/04/2010
Student: I am interested in these graduate programs. Do you think I am aiming too high? Professor Zero: That is an excellent list for your interests. Those programs are competitive but you should be accepted to some. Apply and see where you get in. Write a good statement of purpose and be sure to get … More On Patronage and Paternalism (Return of the Whiteman)
coldhearted scientist وداد 