If you're ever seen these, you'll probably remember them: They're a pretty sizable installation in the southwest corner of Grant Park - near Michigan and Roosevelt, a few steps away from the Museum Campus Metra Electric stop, and a little longer walk from the Field Museum and Soldier Field. The question I've always had … Continue reading Grant Park Photo Diary – Those Weird Headless Metal Statues
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The Glenn Gould Reader
I just finished the compilation of things Gould wrote and have been collected by Tim Page in The Glenn Gould Reader. I'm guessing a lot of the excerpts in here are available elsewhere online. I've extracted some quotations that might spark discussion, or at least amusement (see below). About the book more generally - there's about … Continue reading The Glenn Gould Reader
A Puzzle
The philosopher Fred Dretske died the other day. I had never read his work, but I had heard of him, of course, as he was one of the most prominent American analytic philosophers of the past half century. Hearing of his death, I thought I would quickly look into the nature of his work, in … Continue reading A Puzzle
Treme – a Re-appraisal
I know it's been a few years, but it's time to crank up the old David Simon praise machine again. I just finished watching season 3 of Treme, and I've got to say, this show deserves a little more acclaim than it's received. It's not The Wire (nothing could be) but I imagine, if this show … Continue reading Treme – a Re-appraisal
culture of protest
Greetings, ladies and gentlemen Have you noticed how, recently, a lot of people in many countries take to the streets as soon as they got some problem with the government (or someone else)? Examples: Turkey, Brazil, Egypt, the Zimmerman case. What I'm not so sure about is whether these people actually understand the situation they … Continue reading culture of protest
Grant Park Photo Diary – Logan Memorial statue area
South of Balbo St. (700S) and north of about were 11th St. would run if it extended across Michigan Ave. (1100E the park's western boundary), and bounded on the east by the Metra track tunnel again is an expanse of park nicely manicured but completely lacking in anywhere to sit, except (sort of) for the … Continue reading Grant Park Photo Diary – Logan Memorial statue area
Infinite Jest – I finished!
Just a few hours ago I read the last of the 981 pages (plus footnotes) that comprise Infinite Jest. It's a hard to thing to get my head around, to say the least. There are lots of directions to go in understanding the book (and my experience of it) - literary, philosophical, syntactical (seriously). The best … Continue reading Infinite Jest – I finished!
Grant Park Photo Diary
I thought I'd take a break from more highfalutin topics and start a little series about Grant Park, focusing on its statues and reading-friendly spots. I've got about a month before school starts up again, and relatively little to do. I live about 1/4 of a mile from the start of the park. Walking around … Continue reading Grant Park Photo Diary
God, Steroids, and Bo Jackson
Tonight I caught ESPN's "30 for 30" on Bo Jackson: You Don't Know Bo. It was very good, as are all the 30 for 30 specials I've seen. Anyway, I was struck by a comment halfway though about how if Bo Jackson had burst upon the scene 10-15 years later, everyone would have thought that … Continue reading God, Steroids, and Bo Jackson
Fumerton on Disagreement
This is the third installment in my series of synopses of essays on the philosophical significance of disagreement. In "You Can't Trust a Philosopher," Richard Fumerton offers us good news and bad news. The good news is that epistemic peer disagreement (EPD) concerning philosophical issues does not, in itself, undermine the rational justification of … Continue reading Fumerton on Disagreement