Saturday, December 27, 2008

Andrew Sullivan on "Why I Blog"

here. Insights on the nature and advantages of the medium. Much, but not all, applies to academic blogs.

From my first post in April 2006 through our adoption of Kate in March 2008, I posted relentlessly Mon-Wed-Fri. Now it's more like once a week. I suspect that not only the one-year-old child but also the new ipod have cut into my blogging: Many blogging ideas used to come during morning walks, which are now sometimes filled with Frank Sinatra, Al Stewart, or This American Life instead. I haven't decided if this is a good thing or bad.

Oh, and Happy (recent or continuing) Whatever! (Global Orgasm Day, for example.)

9 comments:

AnlamK said...

Yay This American Life!

Justin Sytsma said...

Happy Global Orgasm Day to you as well!

Anonymous said...

Never you mind-- just keep up the once a week thing. Your blog is awesome, and I enjoy every post.

Eric Schwitzgebel said...

Thanks for the encouragement!

Anonymous said...

I've often thought it would be better if academic and political blog posts were less frequent - for the sake of better deliberation by author and readers alike. Though in the case of political/advocacy blogging it comes at the risk of losing readership.

Wonder what an "Al Stewart" station on Last.fm or Pandora would toss up as kindred acts? You need to widen your listening horizons on the device a little maybe. Toss in some Donald Fagen.

Eric Schwitzgebel said...

Thanks, for the suggestion, Kurt. I've never tried that. The results might help me find new things I like.

I have a fair bit of Steely Dan on my ipod already, and I remember liking some of Fagan's solo stuff in college, though I haven't bought any mp3s of it yet!

Anonymous said...

Will save you some time re: Fagen here:

"The Nightfly," his reflections on his youth in 1960s New York state, is the essential solo Fagen album.

Contains IGY ("There'll be spandex jackets, one for everone")

and "The Goodbye Look" ("Would you poor me a Cuban Breeze, Gretchen?")

and "New Frontier" ("She loves to limbo / that much is clear / she's got the right dynamic for the New Year")

Which three songs contain arguably the best lines Fagen has ever delivered.

Last.fm turns up a motley collection of 70s soft rock (best enjoyed ironically) in its "Al Stewart" station. I'd say he was lyrically more akin to Loudon Wainwright III (who's musically in the folk camp), though more emotionally distant.

Anonymous said...

Erratum: Read "New Frontier" for "New Year" supra. Last.fm is now playing Gordon Lightfoot (whose early hits are folky). Lightfoot is highly recommended and to be enjoyed simpliciter.

Eric Schwitzgebel said...

Yeah, I like that stuff! Gotta get me some Fagen and Lightfoot. Wainwright I don't know, but given that I like Al's earlier, less-distant material best (especially his To Whom It May Concern Collection), maybe Wainwright will be up my alley. Thanks for the tips!