Author Archives: Fenster

About Fenster

Gainfully employed for thirty years, including as one of those high paid college administrators faculty complain about. Earned Ph.D. late in life and converted to the faculty side. Those damn administrators are ruining everything.

Fun with Young Frankenstein

Posted on September 22, 2014 by Fenster

Fenster writes: Must have been a labor of love to put together:

Posted in Humor, Movies, Music | Tagged Young Frahnkensteen, Young Frankenstein | 2 Comments

Steven Pinker on What Ails Higher Education–or at least Harvard

Posted on September 5, 2014 by Fenster

Fenster writes: When Steven Pinker writes Fenster listens. Well, not literally. He reads. But language is all a kind of metaphor, right? From The Language Instinct on I have been amazed by this guy’s reach, educated through his insights and entertained … Continue reading →

Posted in Education | Tagged Don't Send Your Kid to the Ivy League, Ivy League, Steven Pinker, The New Republic, The Trouble with Harvard, William Deresiewicz | 10 Comments

Linkages

Posted on September 3, 2014 by Fenster

Fenster writes: University syllabi are getting larger all the time with the temptation to sometimes include the kitchen sink, and things not directly relevant to the course and the educational process. Now a call to incorporate admonitions about sexual harassment. … Continue reading →

Posted in Linkathons | 3 Comments

Sunday Jazz Selection

Posted on August 24, 2014 by Fenster

Fenster writes: Hora Decubitus, Charles Mingus

Posted in Music | Tagged Charles Mingus, Hora Decubitus | 1 Comment

A Kipling for Our Times

Posted on August 18, 2014 by Fenster

Fenster writes: If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs . . .

Posted in Photography, Technology | 2 Comments

Sunday Jazz Selection

Posted on August 17, 2014 by Fenster

Fenster writes: Ruby, My Dear. Thelonius Monk. And thanks, Libby for turning me on to this and much else back when.

Posted in Music | Tagged Ruby My Dear, Thelonius Monk | Leave a comment

Jewish Music and the Blues

Posted on August 12, 2014 by Fenster

Fenster writes: If you have not seen it, the PBS special on Jews and Broadway is very much worth watching. It’s entitled Broadway Musicals: a Jewish Legacy. Jews often seem to want to downplay their prominence in various fields, or … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged blues, Jewish Music, Marc Shaiman | 4 Comments

Sunday Jazz Selection

Posted on August 10, 2014 by Fenster

Fenster writes: A link to the streaming version of Chick Corea and Gary Burton, I’m Your Pal.

Posted in Music, Performers | Tagged Chick Corea, Crystal Silence, Gary Burton, I'm Your Pal | Leave a comment

Linkages

Posted on August 8, 2014 by Fenster

Fenster writes: Is it wrong to be all about the bass? Or maybe we should just stick to the basics? Cut and paste this link for all-purpose use whereever, whenever. A longish philosophical take on whether (and how) lawyers should … Continue reading →

Posted in Linkathons | 3 Comments

Double Feature: Kureishi Then and Now

Posted on August 7, 2014 by Fenster

Fenster writes: I had to strain in my last double feature finding a connection between a one-off Rohmer and an indie Lynch wannabe. This time it should not be as difficult: two movies written by Hanif Kureishi, one an early … Continue reading →