Three “Open-World” Video Games

I've just had two unexpected snow days, which has finally given me the time needed to finish the "main quest" of Skyrim. I thought I'd write a little bit about how video games (at least roleplaying game video games) have evolved since I was younger. The biggest thing that exists now (at least in video … Continue reading Three “Open-World” Video Games →

Drugs, Liberty and Justice

After yesterday's post I wanted to flesh out the consequences of my argument more specifically for the context in which it arose - an argument about drug legalization. I won't do much more work here to defend justice over libertarianism per se (we're arguing about that on the other thread). That's not because I think I've … Continue reading Drugs, Liberty and Justice →

Why Libertarianism is Dangerous

Over the past week or so, I've had a running good-natured argument on facebook about drug legalization - a friend has been arguing that (among other things) marijuana use shouldn't be restricted by the government, because it's an individual's right to use it if they want. I've been arguing that "individual rights" isn't the best … Continue reading Why Libertarianism is Dangerous →

Gould Records 50-55 – Bach, Hindemith, Sibelius

Gould's frequent protestations in interviews notwithstanding, he really was a Bach specialist, so far as I can tell. It's strange that when asked about his favorite composer, he usually answered Orlando Gibbon, of whose music he recorded something like 12-20 minutes. There are hours upon hours of Bach. And if you want to put in … Continue reading Gould Records 50-55 – Bach, Hindemith, Sibelius →

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

My pictorial depiction of the world's major religions, drawn for my students in World Religions: Religion And along with the sketch, four questions to frame our ridiculously brief examination of the world's major religions: 1. How does R characterize ideal existence? What’s so great about it? 2. How does R characterize mundane existence? What’s so … Continue reading A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words →

Finnegans Wake – Book IV

[This is part of a longer series – previous post (III.4) - next post ("Deeper into the Night")] Book IV - Finnegans Wake's final book - contains only one chapter. It stands for the last of the four stages in Vico's theory of history - the "ricorso." The chapter read like the finale to a symphony, and also like … Continue reading Finnegans Wake – Book IV →

Finnegans Wake – Book III Chapter 4

[This is part of a longer series – previous post (III.3) – next post (IV)] I finished the whole book a few days ago but didn't get to blog about the last two chapters. I'll keep them separate just for the principle of it I guess. As HCE's final arguments from III.3 recede into the background, someone goes to sleep … Continue reading Finnegans Wake – Book III Chapter 4 →

Finnegans Wake – Book III Chapter 3

[This is part of a longer series – previous post (III.2) – next post (III.4)] Two times previously, Finnegans Wake has devolved into a trial - in Book I, first Finnegan, then HCE met their many accusers; in Book II it was Shem/Buckley charged with the murder of the Russian general. Now, we get the final trial - that of Shaun … Continue reading Finnegans Wake – Book III Chapter 3 →

Finnegans Wake – Book III Chapter 2

[This is part of a longer series – previous post (III.1) – next post (III.3)] This chapter continues the easy-to-read tale of Shaun begun in III.1. The literary conventions being followed are identified with almost Victorian-realist pseudo-transparency (but things get a little murky at the end). We start with another introduction of Shaun, move to a very long speech delivered … Continue reading Finnegans Wake – Book III Chapter 2 →

Finnegans Wake – Book III Chapter 1

[This is part of a longer series – previous post (II.4) – next post (III.2)] This was, by far, the easiest chapter to read in this book so far. Why does Joyce reserve relatively straightforward prose for the 13th chapter of a book that the average reader most likely gives up on halfway through chapter 1? In fact, the answer … Continue reading Finnegans Wake – Book III Chapter 1 →