• Breakup + Breakthrough = Still Broken

    Once, if I remember well, I had to end an intensely demanding relationship with someone much younger whose native language was not English. We had been playing at breakup for several weeks, and the time finally to commit to severing… more ›

  • Gathering the Gauntlet

    Having successfully completed the three written comprehensive exams without either dying or melting down, I now only face the two-hour oral defense scheduled for 2:00 PM tomorrow. I think that if I don’t develop anal leakage or explosive diarrhea, then… more ›

  • Exams, Part II

    Today’s field/question: the ontological turn in 20th-century hermeneutics. At least that’s what I think the theme will be. Perhaps my professor will spring some other topic on me in about 90 minutes. Since last week’s webcam adventure worked so well,… more ›

  • Exams

    Today–in less than an hour (at 10:00 AM)–I begin my comprehensive exams. Today’s field: Modern Jewish Thought. I think I might argue that there’s no such thing! A strategy I might use on another exam for another field. I won’t… more ›

  • El sonido nuevo

    Here is my list of 17 new tracks that everyone should be listening to this spring. iTunes offers 7 of them for sale; the others can be found online through their individual sites. Enjoy. “Stutter” – She Keeps Bees “Alphabet”… more ›

  • Be Mine

    When I was in second grade all those years ago, I got it in my tiny head to create my own Valentine cards for my classmates who, might I remind you, were not necessarily my friends. I painstakingly cut out… more ›

  • Canor, cantor, dulcor

    Richard Rolle abandoned the intellectual life and his academic training at Oxford to take to the frock in meditation upon the name of Christ. He didn’t have much of an option, though: while praying in a chapel one day, the… more ›

  • Resurrection

    Is this damn blog still up and online? Does anyone ever post on this damn thing anymore? What’s up with the crappy black-and-white photos uploaded at random? Did the cute but considerably older and insanely pretentious guy who used to… more ›

  • Urban Mist

    I shot this photograph on the ride home after an afternoon at the symphony and a delicious but slow supper at Bolsa. more ›

  • DSO

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