dont-call-me-ishmael - Tumblr blog

[dont-call-me-ishmael]

Alex Dimitrov, “Tuesday”

[dont-call-me-ishmael]

the fact that i'm no longer the same age as the protagonists of novels and films i once connected to is so heartbreaking. there was a time when I looked forward to turning their age. i did. and i also outgrew them. i continue to age, but they don't; never will. the immortality of fiction is beautiful, but cruel.

[dont-call-me-ishmael]

[dont-call-me-ishmael]

i was very excited during class when i suddenly realized this comic translates beautifully into chinese

[dont-call-me-ishmael]

Triplets in the English Language

One of my favourite aspects of English vocabulary is the existence of Old English, French, and Latin triplets, where the same idea can be expressed with three different words (hence triplets), where the most colloquial originates from Old English, a slightly more literary version from French, and the most literary version from Latin. 

Some examples: 

kingly / royal / regal

ask / question / interrogate 

rise / mount / ascend 

holy / sacred / consecrated 

foe / enemy / opponent

start / commence / initiate 

Additionally, we can consider the triplets where the final word (the most literary word) arrived in English via Greek: 

teaching / instruction / pedagogy 

witty / humourous / sarcastic 

Additional reading:

1. Latin Alive: The Survival of Latin in English and the Romance Languages (Solodow 2010)

2. Words, Meaning and Vocabulary: An Introduction to Modern English Lexicology (Jackson & Amvela 2000)

[dont-call-me-ishmael]

As a professional philosopher let me just say that--yes.

[dont-call-me-ishmael]

"Canción para niños" | by Federico García Lorca

[dont-call-me-ishmael]

Wow, didn't expect this to get so much love. I guess a lot of us miss our abuelas.

A little update... I managed to get grandma to pick up today by calling periodically throughout the day. It looks like she might be getting a bit deaf too, and doesn't hear it ring unless it's in her hand.

Got to tell her Im engaged :) Everyone send good vibes into the universe so she can get a visa to come to my wedding.

And yes, she's been missing me too. Diaspora is hard guys. Remember that they love you even when they can't be there.

Jenny George

[dont-call-me-ishmael]

The wonderful Glass Octopus. Living at depths of around 3000 ft and only being about a foot long, these strange little creatures are rarely seen by scientists.

[dont-call-me-ishmael]

[dont-call-me-ishmael]

I've posted before about the poor working conditions for PhD students. Well now we're all on strike! No grades until a living wage!

Here are some pics from yesterday's picket line. I liked the juxtaposition of the faux-Grecian architecture with the angry graduate students. Also, plees enjoy union doggo

[dont-call-me-ishmael]

Medieval Scooby

[dont-call-me-ishmael]

I know in Hell I will be

An artist of Hell-wide repute

They will seat me under a tree

And issue me a gold flute

~Kirill Reshetnikov

Ren Bonian (Chinese, 1840-1896)

[dont-call-me-ishmael]

Last week my philosophy department had the admissions fair for admitted PhD students. I walked into the lounge and found this up on the blackboard.

What's funny about it is that it's complete nonsense. I wonder if a prospective left it, or if someone snuck into the department and left it here as a joke about philosophers and our nonsense?

[dont-call-me-ishmael]

How to make a moss box:

Buy materials from Michaels. You need real moss, a shadow box, a hot glue gun, and optionally decorations (the birds)

Hot glue the moss and decorations into the back of the shadow box

Hang and enjoy

[dont-call-me-ishmael]

The last year of the PhD is much better than the first few years. On the days I don't teach I just sit at home writing, eating Kroger croissants and drinking fancy OJ.

[dont-call-me-ishmael]

My racial justice reading group is meeting with Noam Chomsky this week

Anything you guys want me to ask him? ;)

^^throwback pic.