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.

Narrative Shmarrative

Posted on November 8, 2012 by Fenster

Fenster writes: The ever-mysterious Question Lady asks how you handle people who disagree with you politically.  Fenster wrote in response: I used to engage, and even argue, more than I do now. That is for two reasons. First, I found … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal reflections, Politics and Economics | 11 Comments

What I like about . . .

Posted on November 7, 2012 by Fenster

Fenster writes: Ruben Blades’ Primogenio. 1.  The opening section is clever, splendid and musical–especially at higher volumes when the bass and percussion come in.  The piece starts with bagpipes and sounds almost, but not quite, that it is going to … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Leave a comment

Letter from China: Amateur Anthropology

Posted on November 4, 2012 by Fenster

Fenster writes: It is hard for the mind to grasp itself since it is inside looking out.  Consider the case of that poor neuroscientist I wrote about here, who had to reason through that he was a sociopath on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Travel | Leave a comment

Fenster Endorses!

Posted on November 3, 2012 by Fenster

Fenster writes: The last thing this blog should be is a political one.  Little danger of that actually, considering the readership and writership.  And while I am a political junkie I have been careful not to use this as a … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics and Economics | 5 Comments

Sic Transit Gloria Mundi, OR Simiae est Insanissimae Populos

Posted on November 3, 2012 by Fenster

Fenster writes: Fame is fleeting. You remember newsreels, like actually remember them?  Mebbe mebbe not.  Depends on age mostly. They were really the only way to disseminate the news visually in a pre-internet and pre-TV era.  TV in fact pretty … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Movies, Performers | 6 Comments

Not a Letter from China

Posted on November 1, 2012 by Fenster

Fenster writes: I was going to write about urbanism and bikes in Beijing but it’s been done before. The New Urbanism Blog has a short piece, and a nice picture, of group dancing in front of St. Joseph’s Wangfujing Church, in … Continue reading →

Posted in Travel | 7 Comments

Jazz: Dead or Alive?

Posted on November 1, 2012 by Fenster

Fenster writes: Here’s a link to an article by Benjamin Schwartz in The Atlantic on whether jazz remains a vital art form or not.  It takes the form of a review of the book The Jazz Standards, by Ted Gioia. … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | 10 Comments

Quiz o’ th’ Day

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Fenster

Fenster writes: What is it? Hubble image? Detail of painting by Redon? Chimpanzee art? Painting by a schizophrenic? Fan mail from a Flounder? None of the above?

Posted in Art, Travel | 6 Comments

Letter from China: All Chinese Animals Numerous; Some More Numerous Than Others

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Fenster

Fenster writes: 1. “So  Many People” I am at a meeting with a senior official of the provincial education department.  We are discussing the state role in higher education.  Today, I am more reliant than ever on my translator since … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal reflections, Travel | 2 Comments

Letter from China

Posted on October 28, 2012 by Fenster

Fenster writes: When I had not yet begun to study Zen thirty years ago, I thought that mountains are mountains and waters are waters. Later when I studied personally with my master, I entered realization and understood that mountains are … Continue reading →

Posted in Travel | 6 Comments