Author Archives: Fenster

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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.

The Future and Magical Realism

Posted on January 5, 2013 by Fenster

Fenster writes: While waiting for Crank 2 to come in to my local library, I thought I’d go to Netflix streaming and see something along the same lines.  I ended up with Miranda July’s second feature, The Future. What, you … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | 2 Comments

Quiz o’ th’ Day

Posted on January 5, 2013 by Fenster

Fenster writes: On April 13, 1945, the Berlin Philharmonic played Bruckner’s Fourth Symphony.  At the exits, members of the Hitler Youth handed out: 1. an early version of the nicotine patch 2.  Eva Braun inflatables 3.  small anti-gravity devices 4.  condoms … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Ahead of his time

Posted on January 3, 2013 by Fenster

Fenster writes: Blowhard Esq. is especially fond of Montaigne.  Does he know Montaigne invented Craigslist?

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Here and There

Posted on January 2, 2013 by Fenster

Fenster writes: Charles Lane at the WaPo gives colleges an F for controlling costs.  He gets a B+, easy. A very nice essay on the law and driverless cars, discussed at this site here, can be found at the Volokh … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 3 Comments

The Daughter in Fiction

Posted on December 31, 2012 by Fenster

Fenster writes: If you are an Oprah book person, you’ve probably read Amy Tan’s The Bonecutter’s Daughter.  If you like pop thrillers, you may have read Nelson deMille’s The General’s Daughter.  But has it occurred to you how easy it … Continue reading →

Posted in Books Publishing and Writing | 5 Comments

Touching the Void

Posted on December 31, 2012 by Fenster

Fenster writes: AND Quite apart from any offense that might be taken by a believer, proselytizing, especially about atheism, just doesn’t seem to be good form.  Plus, since Dawkins comes across as a snooty academic, his testimony can be considered … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Philosophy and Religion | 8 Comments

Optimist and Pessimist

Posted on December 31, 2012 by Fenster

Fenster writes: Either Ray Kurzweil is right about the Singularity, or he is wrong about it.  Either way, I feel a little uncomfortable about his appointment as Google’s Director of Engineering. Either James Howard Kunstler is right about Peak Oil, … Continue reading →

Posted in Science, Technology | 5 Comments

Best Rock Intros

Posted on December 30, 2012 by Fenster

Fenster writes: Here is a 2006 Chicago Tribune article by Mark Caro making an attempt at naming the best rock intros of all time.  Granted, the article is a bit old but does it make a difference?  Most of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Performers | Tagged | 14 Comments

Here and There

Posted on December 30, 2012 by Fenster

Fenster writes: Julian Hoeber’s Demon Hill: art installation or just another funhouse at a carnival? Is it different with kids? Why do durians stink? Why do we react in similar ways to danger? Which college majors are to be avoided? It’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Education, Food and health, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Push Button

Posted on December 29, 2012 by Fenster

Fenster writes: The 50s were a great time for push button. Razors. Auto transmissions. A host of kitchen appliances. ‘n Caledonian Mahogany’s Elbows and green things in general . . . But it’s not over.  The most recent Atlantic Monthly … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 6 Comments