Review: Men Without Women: Stories

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From Men Without Women: Stories, by Haruki Murakami:


The call came in after one a.m. and woke me up. Phones ringing in the middle of the night always sound harsh and grating, like some savage metal tool out to destroy the world."

So begins the title story of Haruki Murakami's collection of short stories. Murakami is one of my favorite authors, whether writing epic tales or short stories. These stories are about men and women, men with women, and especially in a deeper way, the impact on men being without women.

Grade Shift Coming to RISD

When Richardson ISD shifted ninth-graders from junior high to high school over a decade ago, there was much hand-wringing and gnashing of teeth over the perceived lack of readiness for these children to survive the rough and tumble environment with older kids in high school. But it happened anyway and no one I know is advocating we should move the ninth-graders back to the junior high. Now, a decade later, RISD seems likely to finish the job by shifting sixth-graders to the junior highs, now to be called middle schools. It makes a lot of sense, and not just for the reasons RISD is willing to talk about.

POTD: Standoff with a Llama

From 2019 08 21 Cuzco

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Cuzco, Peru. You'll have to ask Ellen what the standoff was over. And who won.

POTD: Saqsaywaman

From 2019 08 21 Cuzco

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Cuzco, Peru. It shows the ruins of Saqsaywaman (sort of rhymes with Sexy Woman, the other subject of the photo). The ruins date back to about 1100, that is before the Inca Empire. It's usually described as a fortress, but its large plaza also appears to have been a site for ceremonial activities.

POTD: Thoreau in Peru

From 2019 08 21 Cuzco

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Cuzco, Peru. It shows one of my favorite quotations, this one by Henry David Thoreau, carved into a slice of tree trunk. I hope ironically.

POTD: Plaza de Armas de Cusco

From 2019 08 21 Cuzco

Today's photo-of-the-day is from the Plaza de Armas in Cuzco, Peru. Big churches, basilicas and cathedrals dominate the plaza, signaling the Spanish conquest. Today, four centuries later, they stand in easy relationship with a statue of Pachacuti in the center of the plaza. Pachacuti was the ninth ruler of the Kingdom of Cusco who expanded the Inca Empire to a big part of western South America.

POTD: Tex-Mex in Peru

From 2019 08 21 Cuzco

Today's photo-of-the-day is from Cuzco, Peru. Peruvians might still have a fondness for guinea pig on special occasions. And Peruvian cuisine might be making a name for itself in world gastronomy circles. But don't count out Tex-Mex.