García, Héctor, and Francesc Miralles. Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life. New York: Penguin, 2016. Hard Cover. 198 pages. $27.50. This is a book about an aspect of Japanese culture written by non-Japanese authors. Although one of them (García) does hold Japanese citizenship, this book is an interesting description of Japan … Continue reading García and Miralles, Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life (2016)
Jewish Pride?
Recently I came across an interesting sermon by rabbi Angela W. Buchdahl at the Central Synagogue in New York city, titled “Jewish Pride: Live Up to Your Name” (preached on September 26, 2022). You can watch it below, or you can read the entire transcript here. https://youtu.be/wUGIztK1A_w The thesis of her sermon is this: Stop … Continue reading Jewish Pride?
Claiming To Be Wise, They Became Foolish
In late November, Cambridge researcher Joshua Heath delivered a disgusting "sermon" at Trinity College, which left many worshipers in shock. I do not have access to his full script. But according to Daily Mail and The Economic Times, Heath suggested that Christ had had a trans body. One of the pieces of the evidence he … Continue reading Claiming To Be Wise, They Became Foolish
Vivaldi, Concerto No. 4 “Winter” (RV 297): 1st Movement (Allegro non molto in F Minor)
https://youtu.be/UWg5ugyMjIc It's that time of year when you listen to Vivaldi's concerto "Winter." It still amazes me (and probably many others) how a mere human being can construe the beauty of four seasons in such a masterfully aesthetic and metaphorically compact way. Antonio Vivaldi (1678−1741) was a Baroque musician and he wrote The Four Seasons … Continue reading Vivaldi, Concerto No. 4 “Winter” (RV 297): 1st Movement (Allegro non molto in F Minor)
The First Draft of my Dissertation
By God's grace, I finally submitted the first draft (committee copy) of my dissertation on December 1st, 2022. I still remember that surreal feeling that I felt that night when I clicked SEND. It was a long, hard push. I would be lying if I say I never felt like quitting, because I did from … Continue reading The First Draft of my Dissertation