Reading Conversion and the Poll Tax in Early Islam. Dennett writes clearly and entertainingly, even though it's a university press book with a tiny audience. Good job! Also, he amuses me by saying, "Let us …
Fortune has gifted me with a new work computer, one that makes it much easier to listen to audio streams. I have discovered the usually-rocking college station KSCU. Recommended!
Bill, my new grey goldfish, has also died. One day he was as lethargic as usual, perhaps a little frayed, the next he had passed away. I am going to leave Betty alone in the …
Joe gave good advice, and I slept off the despair. Well, most of it. This morning, at the Powell Street BART station, three different musicians set up shop too near each other. One Asian stringed …
I am volunteering. I am reading tax history to figure out whether I want to study that sort of thing in graduate school. I am taking care of my fish. I am editing my wardrobe …
The Congress party won the Indian elections, defeating the "Anti-Muslim riots in Gujarat? What anti-Muslim riots in Gujarat?" BJP. All right! I hope this portends badly for radical religious parties elsewhere as well. I'm talking …
All three of these bits of media experience have something to do with the Middle East! And I didn't even intend it. Last night's Enterprise provoked even more US/Middle East Allegory babble in me. The …
Today my seat neighbor during the KQED pledge drive professed to have gone to school with one R. Kelly (some singer). He also flirted with women who called to pledge their support. Well, that's one …
Will update Spam As Folk Art with reader submissions soon, really. Today I can't even compliment myself with the epithet of hack. Maybe tomorrow.
Over the past three days, I met The Poor Man and The Claw, and got a free "The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer" mug as a "thanks for taking pledge calls" raffle prize from KQED. Also, …
