I once had a therapist who thought that because I was an academic, and could speak like one, I was necessarily dishonest about feelings. The ability to be precise, as a result of reflection based on feeling, was a bad thing, as it prevented this therapist from directing my feelings more completely. “Dishonesty,” as it … More On True and False Therapy
Comments and Wars: Political I have spoken rather severely to two commentators on this blog. One was a right wing self-styled pundit who advocated political violence and murder. I decided to block him from the site because he was too disrespectful and too violent. I am far enough left politically that most liberals and progressives … More Un poco de calma, camaradas
1. YouTube still does not play sound for me unless I log in as administrator. Logged in as user, however, every other form of sound plays for me. I do not understand this: is it a problem at YouTube itself, or is there some setting I should adjust? 2. Recommended reading for interested parties is … More Le Monde Eléctronique d’Aujourd’hui
People post about serious things, but forget to watch the Mardi Gras Indians, who are far more interesting. The excellent, classic film on Mardi Gras Indians is, as I have said before, Always for Pleasure. The classic album to own is The Wild Tchoupitoulas. These are only the starting points. To find the Indians, you … More Indians!
1. In This Concrete Moment I have a splitting headache, caused by redoing footnotes. This onerous task is in itself enough to cause a splitting headache. And I now get splitting headaches from academic writing, anyway, so in this circumstance, I have a double splitting headache. Academic writing has not always given me splitting headaches. … More On Writing
One important attribute of the best scholars is that they give advice which speaks to the point of a question, and do not merely repeat platitudes. And yes, I do recognize that there is wisdom in platitudes, and that there are situations in which they do bear repetition. For further discussion of this matter, see … More Intermission: What Is A Scholar? XV
The best thing about Mardi Gras are the Indians. These are some very authentic ones, from 2006. It is downright thrilling to be sitting at your kitchen table, or executing some other entirely mundane activity, and to hear a tambourine in the distance . . . Indians coming! Axé.
. . . in the land of Mordor where the shadows lie (Tolkien). When Frodo Baggins threw the Ring into the fires of Mount Doom, the only place where it could be destroyed, the Shadow lifted. One year in late spring I found the Ring. Having it was exhilarating until early fall. I have been … More Shadow
There is always at least one student fascinated with One Hundred Years of Solitude. Today one such student said that in this novel, the characters are impelled to act according to a series of paradigms, with which they work but which they do not control. The containing and shaping influence of these paradigms does not … More One Hundred Years
In one of my comment threads yesterday, Colorado Bob talked a little bit about how he thinks of his blog. This is, of course, a question we all consider often, and much has been said about it. I will not attempt to link to, or to summarize, the ongoing discussions of this matter. My anniversary … More On Voice
coldhearted scientist وداد 