Archive for June, 2008
Friday, June 27th, 2008
Damn That Grammar!
It looks like it all comes down to an interpretation of some shady grammar, of commas, of prefatory, operative, and ablative clauses. And something about Latin.
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
If the founding fathers […]
11 Comments » - Posted in Essays by eric
Friday, June 27th, 2008
Spain and Ahab’s Wife at a Crossroads
I am about half way through (around page 300 of 600) Ahab’s Wife: Or, The Star-gazer. The novel, one of my mother’s favorites, had been lying dormant for years on my book shelf until a week or so ago when I decided to open her up and give some air to pages. After a slow […]
No Comments » - Posted in Digressions, Living la vida española, literature by eric
Thursday, June 26th, 2008
Justice Scalia, the Judicial Activist
To no one’s surprise, Justice Scalia and his Republican appointee brothers on the Court have shown a fine example of judicial activism. Personally, I think that from a historical and even a literal reading of the Constitution, it is a real stretch to find an absolute right to bear arms in the Second Amendment. And […]
2 Comments » - Posted in Essays by eric
Thursday, June 26th, 2008
Wynton Kelly’s Piano and Some Great Horns
One problem I have with music is that I simply don’t have enough time for all of it. Of course that doesn’t keep me from exploring, finding, and adding new music to my collection. One thing I do to make sure I am consistently listening to a wide variety of my iTunes library is to […]
No Comments » - Posted in Jazz by eric
Thursday, June 26th, 2008
Kenny Drew Jr. Playing Mingus
Almost two years ago, I went to see/hear Kenny Drew Jr. live, and I was blown away by the breadth and versatility of his piano. The last couple of days I have been listening to his Portrait of Mingus & Monk, and my favorite is the Mingus composition “Farewell Farewell” with bassist Lynn Seaton’s bowed […]
No Comments » - Posted in Jazz by eric
Wednesday, June 25th, 2008
Slavery by Another Name
The Journal does it again! Yesterday I watched the video podcast of the most recent edition of the Bill Moyers Journal. The topic was race in America and the history and legacy of slavery, featuring three parts: Patterson and Loury on Race in America (featuring Orlando Patterson and Glenn C. Loury), Documentary Preview: Traces […]
1 Comment » - Posted in Essays by eric
Wednesday, June 25th, 2008
Summer in Spain
I just got back to Madrid from seven days in Paris. When I left Madrid, it was in the 70ºs F (low 20ºs C) in the Spanish capital, but when I got back yesterday, the temperature had already reached 90ºF (32ºC). Here in Madrid, you almost have no real transition from Spring to Summer. […]
No Comments » - Posted in Friends / Family, Living la vida española by eric
Monday, June 23rd, 2008
Rewarding the War Mongers and Oil Companies
I was just watching yesterday’s post Tim Russert Meet the Press with guests Senators (D-DE) Joe Biden and Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and yesterday I read an excellent piece about Bush’s energy policy by Thomas L. Friedman in the New York Times. Both got me to thinking — and I can’t remember whether it is postive […]
1 Comment » - Posted in Essays, Obama 08 by eric
Friday, June 20th, 2008
Surviving the Hits
I am in Paris where I had job interview yesterday and will have another one on Monday. When I have a chance, I will write a little bit about job interviews and my reflections on siting on the other side of the table after years of asking the questions.
In any event, I just had the […]
2 Comments » - Posted in Digressions by eric
Tuesday, June 17th, 2008
Trying to Keep It Close
During the primaries, I repeatedly denounced the press’ stretching of the facts to keep the Hillary v. Obama contest going as long as possible. The press needed a good story to tell — a battle of the titans — and it also knew that McCain was simply too boring for primetime.
Depending on how things proceed […]
