In Pictures: Chicago
Saturday morning of last week was spent in Millenium Park, here is some of what I saw.
The One Book Meme
I was probably divinely called to complete this, as I’ve seen it in two places at about the same time (Listless Lawyer and BittersweetLife). 1. One book that changed your life: The Republic, Plato. I first read this book in high school and have read it since as well; I’m not a hardcore Platonite, his ideas are fascinating but naturally flawed (there are better descriptions of reality). Really, the reason The Republic earns this slot is because it opened my heart and my mind to the world of philosophy; the moment I encountered Plato’s description of justice my heart started palpitating with excitement, and my enthusiasm hasn’t waned. Yes, I am fortunate that I found a true passion in high school, and The Republic is what brought focus and...
Arena Tour
Saw this and couldn’t resist (HT: noel): Longtime readers will undoubtedly instantly recognize the inspiration behind my grammy-chasing side-career. Yes, the Cartographers for Social Equality will have a sonic face; the ultimate musical line of demarcation is about to be drawn and Latitudinal Anarchy will reign. Added bonus: Informal Poll. Will cassette tapes ever be retro-chic? Or, will their smarmy plastic and tape assemblage forever be destined to mar the bargain bin at your local Thrift...
Chicago
We’re off to Chicago this weekend (leaving in 2 hours). This should be one of last weekends of crazy busyness (crossing fingers) for a while. I will have narrative and pictures from our epic backpacking trek up soon; really I’m just waiting to get the pictures. You ought to know the trip was quite intense; in fact parts of the trail were considerably worse than what we expected and “Ernesto” put quite a damper on us the first night. Full report coming soon… In other news: We acquired tickets to see Midori in concert. This will undoubtedly be a magnificent evening, perhaps akin to the night spent immersed in Itzak Perlman’s artistry. I’ll let you know how it...
On Martyrdom
For one reason or another the idea of Martyrdom and martyrs has been on my mind recently. I’ve been comparing the classical idea of a martyr with a typical current rendition, and I must say that there are certain types of martyrs I absolutely loathe. Really, Martyrdom can be quite contemptuous. Perhaps you’ve read Fox’s Book of Martyrs and find my statement misguided, even absurd; or perhaps you have a sniveling Aunt or in-law and are shouting amen (while contemplating forwarding them a link to this post). Those two stances are indicative of the epic battle of definition; and the two results lie on different sides of the road: one an ideal worthy of admiration and aspiration, the other a self-absorbed carcass subsisting on its own stench. The...
Drenched Topography
Looks like we’ll be slogging through the mud this weekend (the one thing we didn’t invest in was Gore-Tex Boots). Expect pictures (not sure how good, I’m not bringing my camera as it is too heavy) and hopefully a good story or two. Hope you all have a good Labor Day weekend.