A paraphrased conversation between two grad students that I overheard while reading on the 5th floor of KH

Student 1: [Reading quietly at a table]

Student 2: [Walks up, sharply dressed. Directing himself to student one] What are you reading?

Student 1: [Indistinguishable speech]

Student 2: Oh I didn't read that. It looks long.

Student 1: It is long. Did you read the other reading though?

Student 2: No, but I'm sure it's the same thing as the first one.

Student 1: It is the same, they're all about the same thing.

Student 2: It's always the same thing.

Student 1: Listen to this part, [reads a passage from the reading].

Student 2: You know, I have to really be in the moment to appreciate that stuff and I'm just not right now.

The conversation then shifted to the topic of methodology for directing discussion groups for undergrads. The positive is that one of the students was reading, and, from what I heard, doing their darndest to finish ALL the reading. The negative is that there are even grad students that don't do the reading. This isn't terribly new. When I was a T.A. for a theory course in my M.A. program it was obvious who had and hadn't read the day's text at all. I've noticed it in my PhD program as well. Of course many of us have had days where we didn't finish the reading. Sometimes toward the end of a quarter I've given up on finishing the reading because I need time to work on my paper. So this is a case of the pot calling the kettle black, but it also hints at a larger problem. What seems to be more prevalent now is that there are undergrads and graduate students that simply don't read much at all (a symptom of the internet age?). They get summaries, they read Wikipedia entries, they gloss over what this or that critic has said about this or that author, they make the token comment in class so that it appears that they have read, but it all comes down to appearance. It almost seems that the appearance of erudition is more important than erudition. I don't know what to make of this. Maybe it's nothing new. Thoughts? Criticisms? Jokes?

Prosciutto, Engineering-grade Bacon.

This is very impractical and doesn't serve much purpose other than to prove that pork is indeed the super meat.

I'm just a Stormtrooper, trying to support my family and be a good Dad

The internets are alive with images such as this one: a depiction of a Stormtrooper father and his son enjoying a day out:

This clever and unexpectedly touching series of photos is the work of one Kristina Alexanderson, a Swedish photographer (http://www.kristinaalexanderson.se/). Since you probably don't speak Swedish and can't read/navigate her blog, I suggest you check out the entire photo series on her Flickr site.

One photo I especially liked is that of the father and son Stormtroopers fishing:

It reminded me of a moment I shared with my son last summer, one that happened to be captured on film. The photos are surprisingly similar:

More from Beirut

Zach Condon, the front man of the band Beirut started writing and recording music as a teenager. One of his side projects was called Realpeople. In early 2009 Beirut released a double EP called March of the Zapotec and Holland, by Realpeople. The former is a short album inspired bu Mexican folklore and music. Apparently Condon had traveled to Oaxaca Mexico and attempted to capture the spirit of his experiences in music. Those of you that know me will understand why I am immediately taken by this album. For those of you that don't know me, I am a Mexicanist by trade and I played trumpet in high school and I played in a brass quintet in college. Beirut nicely blends the Mexican influenced tone and modes with their own sound, which allows them to maintain their musical identity. Here is a track from March of the Zapotec called "The Shrew".

About halfway through the disc the album takes an abrupt turn. It is literally as if another band from a completely different genre was cued. This is the Realpeople section of the disc which is titled Holland. Some of what you hear on this album is from Condon's earlier days and it has been reworked. Below is my favorite song from the second album, "My Night with the Prostitute from Marseille." Not the most wholesome title, but the lyrics don't offend and the music is incredible. Of this I dig, I hope you enjoy it too.

To hide you from the dust of time...

"[Menciono] aquí a Angelita Díaz de León, para que viva lo que mis versos puedan defenderse de la capa de polvo del tiempo."
                            -Ramón López Velarde (1888-1921)
                             La sangre devota.  "Prólogo a la segunda edición""

Sign me up Santa Fe

Many of you have likely seen a New Mexico license plate which reads "Land of Enchantment".  Though I really love the word Albuquerque, the general impression that I have of New Mexico is that, rather than a land of enchantment it is a vast dust-land nothing. To be fair, I've only been there once, and be being there I mean that I drove through New Mexico in the middle of the night on a marathon three day road trip from Boise to El Paso Tejas and back again. I've always wanted to give New Mexico fair shake, and now I'm even more convinced that it really might be the Land of Enchantment. What other state in these United States could produce a band such as Beirut? Formerly known widely as the capital city of Lebanon, Beirut is also now a band that your local skinny jeans crowd will swear that they listened to before anybody else heard of them. I love that this band combines the makings of a brass trio, an accordion, European folk music, and wonderful vocals all without seeming presumptuous and academic? A few friends had told me to check this group out, thank you, I'm sold. The second song in this video is my favorite, it's called "Santa Fe".

Set List:

"East Harlem" 0:00
"Santa Fe" 3:34
"Serbian Cocek" 8:20ish