coldhearted scientist وداد

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)

Reading for Pleasure Wednesday: Leo Tolstoy

07/04/2010

In the past two weeks I have read the following works by Tolstoy, all stories and novellas: The Prisoner of the Caucausus The Diary of a Madman The Death of Ivan Ilyich The Kreutzer Sonata The Devil Master and Man Father Sergius After the Ball The Forged Coupon Alyosha the Pot Hadji Murat These are … More Reading for Pleasure Wednesday: Leo Tolstoy

Adaware

07/04/2010

You are supposed to disable Adaware to install Carbonite but I do not want to deinstall Adaware. I cannot see how to temporarily disable it. Et vous? Axé.

Linux

07/04/2010

It is really difficult to make carpenters, of which I really need one, come to one’s house. I have calls out to three or four and apparently I am just not exciting enough. My desire to upgrade things is such that I am tempted, while waiting, to buy a Linux box. I would buy from … More Linux

Wireless

06/04/2010

Now I am typing on an unsecured wireless network inside my house. I do not know how to secure it or why it is working. Earlier today I bought a wireless router. Its installation and configuration wizard did not permit me to install and configure it. I phoned technical support in India who said the … More Wireless

Easter, 2010

05/04/2010

Today, in New York City, the US is torturing a Muslim detainee with no prior criminal record who has not even gone to trial. Too long a sacrifice Can make a stone of the heart. O when may it suffice? Easter was April 4 this year. The Orthodox Easter coincided with ours. Passover does not … More Easter, 2010

Accent

05/04/2010

Now the Internet has been installed at my house, on a very advanced and inexpensive system. The man who came to install it was of German and Polish extraction. He had a differently Southern accent, quite beautiful as many Southern accents are. I thought he was from Kentucky, but he was from central Texas. Axé.