In my latest contribution to Contending Modernities — a blog based at the University of Notre Dame’s Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies — I continue thinking about science and the end of the world, through the lens of 90’s pop-culture: Aliens and the longings of late modernity: reflections on “Independence Day” Read more
I am a book lover. I love books. Yesterday, I bought three books at Goodwill and received two more in the mail. Here is a short (less than half an hour), striking, timely, and, for reasons and sentiments I cannot quite find words for, moving documentary about books and their future: Epilogue: The Future of Print. Most of all, it is about the book as art. (And no, the perhaps ironic convergence of analog and digital worlds in this post doesn’t bother... Read more
You were able to redeem from pedagogy a man, to make a man out of a candidate for genius. May you make men, men of flesh and bone; with the companion of your life may you make them, in love, in love, in love and not in pedagogy! Miguel de Unamuno, translated from Amor y Pedagogía. (This quote is the epigraph to my newest, forthcoming book, Liturgy as Mystagogy.) Read more
Happy Birthday, “Baby” Gabe! Today we’re celebrating our youngest son’s golden birthday — turning four on the fourth. (Taken with Instagram) Read more
The Rumpus has been consistently producing “must read” original essays on my Twitter feed. This is one — Truth in Nonfiction: A Testimonial — is extra special to me because of its honesty and subtlety. It seems prone to misunderstanding, to defensive, presumptuous, and convenient readings. Please, read it with attention to the story — nothing more, nothing less. It is well worth your ten minutes. SR Read more
One week from today, I will be giving the first of two guest lectures at the Catholic Church of Saint Paul in Ham Lake, Minnesota. This first lecture is titled “Sts. Augustine and Monica, the Head and the Heart.” Those familiar with my work — especially my former students — will find no surprises here. In fact, I must thank those students who undertook a semester long study of the Confessions at the Wabash College Newman Center during the Fall... Read more
Last night I went to see a jazz drum duet featuring Dave King (from The Bad Plus) and JT Bates (from Fat Kid Wednesdays) at a new place in the Twin Cities, Icehouse. Here’s a recording of their set, which was great. Read more
Here it is: The Bad Plus with Joshua Redman, at the Twin Cities Jazz Festival. Recorded by yours truly, on my Zoom3. Enjoy! Read more
Here’s The Bad Plus with Joshua Redman before their epic show at the Twin Cities Jazz Festival. It went almost an hour and a half, with two encores. I got the whole thing recorded on my handy Zoom3 and will post it here (via YouTube) very soon. I suggest you find an hour and a half to listen to the whole thing. (Taken with Instagram) Read more
Just a day before the deadline, I’ve finished an abstract of a chapter for a collection on aesthetics and education (edited by Tyson Lewis and Megan Laverty). I share it here for those interested. “The Blue Soul of Jazz: Lessons on Waves of Anguish” “Love me companion. Do not abandon me. Follow me. Follow me, companion, on that wave of anguish.” —Pablo Neruda, translated from “Para Que Tu Me Oigas,” Veinte Poemas de Amor y Una Canción Desesperada. It has... Read more
Sam Rocha
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