I was trying to explain to a friend who does not read my blog what I’d written about a set of related topics, and realized that what I’ve done may be a bit confusing. So, I’ve assembled the titles and links to these posts into a simple chronological list. If you’ve only read one or two of these, you might want to read them all. Or, just go back to sweeping out your garage, or whatever you were doing this fine day.

This is also relevant in relation to the Pro-Test thing that has been going on.

• From Graduate School to Prison: What is the rational argument for ELF or ALF?
• Dinner at Azia
• How I learned to stop worrying and love the city. Three times.
• The Black Forest Inn: Anarchists 2; Scientists 1

Some of this is the most important stuff I’ve written. Some of it is pure indulgence and frivolity. Which is which? I’ll never tell…

I had mentioned earlier the discovery of Morris the Jewish hardware store owner and Mr. Bryne the Jewish department store owner. There are two ways in which Jewish people seemed to play a disproportionate role in the retail world when I was growing up. In fact, there was an overarching ethnicity to much of the business community; Diners tended to have been owned by Greeks, sit down restaurants tended to be Italian; and clothing and textile stores Jewish.

Continue reading Why do you think they call it “dope”? →

I had the strangest afternoon yesterday. I went and picked up Julia at school and brought her back to the U. My plan was to attend the retirement party of an honored colleague, Phil. The first strange thing was hanging out for fifteen minutes or so with my 13 year old Daughter at the University cafeteria …
Continue reading Goldie the Gopher is a Girl! And other strange sightings →