Emiratio

When the Sun Says 'Howdy'

I just found out:  this spring I'll get to present papers at two APA meetings!  I'll be presenting on Many-One Identity and the Trinity at the Pacific APA, and on Time-Travel and Motion at the Central.  Nifty, nifty nifty nifty!  (I won't be able to attend the Eastern this year because I'll be teaching during winter break, but attending two out of three . . . I think I can live with that!)

It'll be exciting to go back to San Francisco - the last (and currently the only) time I was there was March 26th-30th, 2003, to attend my first Philosophy conference.  And my dad went with me.  Something semi-amusing:  Before that APA meeting, my dad and I were both agnostic about whether I should attempt to become a philosopher; after that meeting, neither of us was agnostic, but for very different reasons!  (For those of you concerned:  my dad seems to have recovered from the experience as much as can be expected, and thanks you for your prayers and well-wishes.)

I'm looking forward to visiting Chicago as well - I've never been there.  Do you think it would be permissible for me to visit the Economics department while I'm in town?  Maybe if I email in advance, to see if there are any talks I could attend . . .

Putting this weblog to work

When at rest I tend to stay at rest, unless an outside force acts upon me. Unfortunately, when not at rest I tend to return to a state of rest, unless an outside force keeps me from doing so.

I’ve been looking for ways to counteract this so that I can get more studying done. Here’s my latest idea: I’ll announce a plan for studying, then post about it if I get behind schedule. Good? Since I’m currently trying to learn some Linguistics, I’ll plan this:  I'll read 100 pages of Linguistics each week (let’s say, due at the end of each Sunday) until the end of spring semester. (Feel free to contact me with comments!)

Some rules for the game: I’m allowed to read ahead, to store up pages that I can use later. And I get to take three weeks off over winter break while I’m teaching my Intro Philosophy class, but that's the only break I get.  Reading assigned in class counts, but weblogs don’t (unless they’re assigned, I guess). And . . . it starts now. Wish me luck!

Marking My Words

I’ve been busy lately with my second fall term at Rutgers in full swing. And my, is it turning out to be exciting! Among the overdetermining causes, this term I’m taking two of my classes from the RU Linguistics department: Syntax 1 with Jane Grimshaw, and Semantics 1 with Roger Schwarzschild. And . . . I’m enjoying both immensely. Linguistics is fantastic!!

Because of my lack of background in this subject, I’m having to rush to catch up with the classes I’m in. So posting will continue to be very light, unless I post some of my Linguistics-related questions. But I’ll also post updates on the Mereology, Topology and Location conference and the Rutgers Religion conference, and perhaps also some questions about teaching as I prepare to teach my first class this winter.

For now, it’s back to studying Syntax. Happy September, everyone!