Monthly Archives: March 2010

At the University of Dallas, 3/28/10

I’m trying to get the “vibe” of campus, and am trying to get to know as many people as possible. It does feel like things are more conservative here than when I started 7 years ago, but by “more conservative” I don’t mean people are busy putting up angry posters about liberals and health care …

March 27, 2010 – 4:17 pm | By ashok | Posted in academia, education, personal, politics | Comments (0)

Emily Dickinson, “Each Second is the last” (879)

“Each Second is the last…” (879) Emily Dickinson Each Second is the last Perhaps, recalls the Man Just measuring unconsciousness The Sea and Spar between. To fail within a Chance – How terribler a thing Than perish from the Chance’s list Before the Perishing! Comment: “Each Second is the last” should be in quotes, for …

March 27, 2010 – 2:42 am | By ashok | Posted in dickinson, poetry | Comments (1)

Still Alive…

…sorry for all the Dickinson recently. I’m working on Nietzsche, but it’s in German, and very slow going. I feel really dumb: it’s less about learning the text and more about learning the language right now. I’m getting back into exploring some higher themes, though it will take a little time. Dallas has its ups …

March 24, 2010 – 1:13 am | By ashok | Posted in personal | Comments (1)

Emily Dickinson, “Escaping backward to perceive…” (867)

“Escaping backward to perceive…” (867) Emily Dickinson Escaping backward to perceive The Sea upon our place – Escaping forward, to confront His glittering Embrace – Retreating up, a Billow’s height Retreating blinded down Our undermining feet to meet Instructs to the Divine. Comment: Earth is a strange place: “here,” in fact, is not a place. …

March 23, 2010 – 12:11 am | By ashok | Posted in dickinson, poetry | Comments (0)

Emily Dickinson, “Absence disembodies – so does Death” (860)

“Absence disembodies – so does Death…” (860) Emily Dickinson Absence disembodies – so does Death Hiding individuals from the Earth Superstition helps, as well as love – Tenderness decreases as we prove – Comment: Most copies of this poem online read “superposition” instead of “superstition.” When I look into the history of this poem, I …

March 19, 2010 – 11:17 pm | By ashok | Posted in dickinson, poetry | Comments (0)

Emily Dickinson, “There is a finished feeling” (856)

“There is a finished feeling..” (856) Emily Dickinson There is a finished feeling Experienced at Graves – A leisure of the Future – A Wilderness of Size. By Death’s bold Exhibition Preciser what we are And the Eternal function Enabled to infer. Comment: The “finished feeling” is curious. It is too easy to think ‘simply …

March 19, 2010 – 12:14 am | By ashok | Posted in dickinson, poetry | Comments (1)

Things are going well -

- in Dallas, busy working. Computer access isn’t impossible, but not as frequent as I’m used to. Future entries will be on Dickinson (whom I still read daily, of course), but I’m working on Nietzsche for the sake of getting my German in shape. I might say something about “The Genealogy of Morals” soon here. …

March 17, 2010 – 8:21 pm | By ashok | Posted in personal | Comments (0)

Emily Dickinson, “To own the Art within the Soul” (855)

“To own the Art within the Soul…” (855) Emily Dickinson To own the Art within the Soul The Soul to entertain With Silence as a Company And Festival maintain Is an unfurnished Circumstance Possession is to One As an Estate perpetual Or a reduceless Mine. Comment: “One” must craft an assumption to get a coherent …

March 17, 2010 – 8:07 pm | By ashok | Posted in dickinson, poetry | Comments (0)

Taking a Blogging Break

For the next two weeks or so, there may be an update, there may not. I won’t have consistent internet access in a few days, when I’ll be in Dallas for a while. But I want the break to start earlier: I just feel like I want to be away from the computer, reading real …

March 10, 2010 – 6:40 pm | By ashok | Posted in blogging | Comments (2)

Re: Charles Kesler, “The Tea Party Spirit”

Charles Kesler, “The Tea Party Spirit” The opening of this op-ed is awesome: as a whole, it is supportive of the “tea parties” we have currently (I’m not as supportive, as will be clear below; I despise the conclusion of the article). For starters, on what we are willing to consider “law:” But it isn’t …

March 10, 2010 – 5:07 pm | By ashok | Posted in links, politics | Comments (1)