The most interesting one appeared in the Chronicle of Higher Education (reposted on Medium), where the author argued that activist faculty have screwed themselves. For many years the courts have deferred to academia, but political behavior by faculty and universities during the past couple of decades has resulted in a more interventionist approach: Unfortunately, universities are giving courts...
Books I’ve read lately
Pure Invention: How Japan Made the Modern World Ever wonder about the origins of karaoke machines, anime, the Walkman or Hello Kitty? Great popular culture review of several Japanese inventions, how they came about, and how they swept the world. There Will Be Fire: Margaret Thatcher, the IRA, and Two Minutes That Changed History A history of the IRA assassination attempt on Thatcher, when they...
According to the FBI, I am a Militia Violent Extremist
The evidence is quite damning. And yes, the country is in the best of hands: Project Veritas released a newly leaked document today provided by an FBI whistleblower, which shows how the Bureau classifies American citizens it deems to be potential “Militia Violent Extremists” [MVEs]. In the document, the FBI cites symbols, images, phrases, events, and individuals that agents should look out for...
Japan 2022: Kanazawa I
Kanazawa Station
Sake tasting at the station
Kanazawa Castle
Bar Mikaduki
Omicho Market
Japan 2022: Takaoka
For some reason the luggage belt at Toyama airport has a very large plate of fake sushi
Daibutsu of Takaoka
Castle Park
Woke Joke Part 5: Lost the motion to dismiss
Unfortunately, the court granted the university’s motion to dismiss (ruling here). My wife was a little freaked out by how calm I was when I found out (this came in right before my trip to Japan, hence the late posting). I’ve found Stoic philosophy to be of great comfort while dealing with the university and my colleagues during the past few years. One aspect of Stoic philosophy is...
Japan 2022: Otaru
I decided to spend my last day before my flight to Toyama by visiting the port city of Otaru, which is about an hour outside Sapporo. First stop: breakfast at the Sankaku fish market. My breakfast resto Breakfast View of Otaru from Mt. Tengu Dried squid is amazingly tasty Japanese soft-serve ice cream is far better than in the U.S. I decided to try another Michelin-rated ramen place in Otaru. The...
Japan 2022: Sapporo
I had planned several days of hiking the alpine peaks of Daisetsuzan National Park, but that was out of the picture due to my knee. I decided to spend the time in Sapporo while waiting for my flight to Toyama. I’ve taken a lot of trains in Japan, but nothing like the six-hour local from Wakkanai to Sapporo: a single car, powered by diesel from the smell, that slowed several times while the...
Japan 2022: Rishiri-Fuji
I decided on Rishiri-Fuji because it’s one of the remotest mountains in Japan and is on the 100 most famous mountains list (hyaku-meizan). It’s an extinct volcano almost 6,000 feet high. Still snow on the mountain in June Taking a break in the emergency hut At the hut I ran into a Japanese guy that I had chatted with at the trailhead. He asked to hike with me, which was a little...
Japan 2022: Rishiri Island
Since I arrived late morning, I put off Rishiri-Fuji for the next day and instead drove a circuit around the island.
Rishiri harbor
I stopped for lunch at Miraku for some Michelin-rated ramen.
There was a street fair around the corner …
… with a performing monkey