It’s been pretty hectic and exciting for the past month. As preparations have been underway for our move, I’ve become really intrigued about the next step in life. I’ve reflected quite a bit on many things going as far back as high school. I’m not sure if I’ll make another post before I leave Denver, so here’s a quick update.
Parts of our apartment is in boxes, labeled for various destinations. We have a route and an itinerary between here and Philly. We are going to be buying the plane tickets within a week. While things are stressful at times, I am very content with where I am (and where I am heading) right now. If you want to try to contact me before I leave Denver for a quick drink or something, email me, IM me, skype me, or something. We’ll be in New Orleans between 22 August and 29 August (Friday to Friday). If you want to get in touch, hang out, get a quick drink, get a not-so-quick bite to eat, whatever….again, call, email, IM, skype, send smoke signals, something. We’ll be in Philly between 31 Aug and 8 Sept. The people I do know in that area, I’m sure we’re already planning on spending time together. If you’re in Glasgow and want to hang out once I arrive and settle, contact me now because I’m not sure when we’ll have stable internet service (or even a telephone) after 20 August.
Archive for the 'General' Category
My wife and I have been packing up and preparing to move for a while. When we moved to Denver, it was pretty simple. We had a timeline, route, place to stay, apartments of interest, etc. With our move to Scotland creeping up faster than imagined, we still haven’t settled on a timeline. We don’t know anybody out there to stay with, we don’t have many prospective apartments. Overall, it’s much more difficult because, on top of the geographic distance, we’re also leaving behind as much of our stuff as possible so that it doesn’t cost us an arm and a leg to move everything, and we’re also leaving most of our pets in the states. We’ve already sent one to my in-laws as they’ve agreed to watch one of our dogs for the duration of our time in the UK. I’m ready for all of this to be over with and be settled in Scotland.
No TagsSchool is over. I have my last paper here in my hand, ready to turn in. Tomorrow evening is the graduation ceremony and I’m all ready. I’ve got my cap and gown (and hood!). I owe the school nothing. I have plans for next year. I have plans for the summer. Life gets to move on to the next stage. I’m now excited.
No TagsThe summer reading group website is now up and operational. The topic is philosophy and film (or cinema), with a focus on Deleuze’s two books Cinema 1 and Cinema 2. It’ll be a wonderful way to spend part of your summertime without occupying all of it!
No TagsI just made a short post over at Church and Postmodern Culture about the future of theology (direct link). In some ways, this is where I find my future research leading.
I want to graduate and move on to a doctoral program, but I feel like I’ve just gotten a feel for my advisor’s work (which is right in my area…see the previous post over at Church and Postmodern Culture!). I would love to collaborate with him in the future.
I enjoy reading way too much. Nearly every book that I read leads me to three others that all look interesting. I’m on a first-name basis with the circulation desk at the school library.
When I first started my MA program, I felt like I knew very little of everything. Some of the links and connections in classes were so foreign (e.g. Deleuze!) that I had no idea how to understand them. It wasn’t until a class I took last year that these connections were understood in rudimentary ways. Now, I feel like every book I read is a new daybreak, a new revelation, a new idea. Some of the more recent books I’ve read have found ways of connecting my interest(s) in technology and programming with philosophy and theology.
I have five weeks left to write my papers. For my class on globalization, I want to explore the notion of identities as multiplicities. For my class on Augustine and Origen, I want to tease out Augustine’s and Origen’s feelings on language and compare them to modern semiotics: their “rule of faith” as a crutch for language.
No TagsIf you are reading this, you are invited to a summer reading group (9 June - 15 August). It will be centered around current theology (and so, this will include recent philosophy as well). I do not want the reading to be too intensive, because it is summer after all. The primary forms of communication will be via a forum/email gateway (yes, that means one can use either and everyone else will see it). For now, if you are interested in joining the discussion, please leave a comment here or send me (christopher@impleri.net) an email.
No TagsThe end of t he term is nigh and I’m spending the weekend reading books (8 from my collection, 14 from the school library) and writing my paper. Yet, it never fails that when it comes time to write, I am more interested in wasting time (see here). The most ironic part is that I’m actually interested in what I write, but I always get that last minute urge to do something–anything!–else. Anyhow, as this is one of those moments, I felt that I can reclaim it by narrowing what my paper topic is: the role that “tradition” and “orthodoxy” play in the game of interpreting and defining “sacred scriptures” (e.g. the Canon, the Bible, etc). By looking at the way books such as Shepherd of Hermas, Epistle of Barnabas, and 1 & 2 Maccabees have been treated in 1st - 4th century Christianity (and Judaism where appropriate), I think I will find some interesting ideas behind the process of canonization.
Technorati Tags: Canon, orthodoxy, scripturesToday is my birthday and I’ve been treated very nicely. It’s always strange for me because I’ve never been overly excited about my birthday. For presents, I received a second 19″ LCD monitor from my wife, which was a total surprise. It goes very well with my dual-head video card and my other 19″ monitor. I am receiving a GPS unit from my mom. I also received a new iPod nano (well, a refurbished 1st gen because I don’t like the new 3rd gen ones) to replace the one I lost during Christmas travels. Now, I need to prepare for my wife’s birthday which is in three months.
No TagsI hope and pray that you (my three readers) had and continue to have a wonderful holiday season (Christmakwaukahboxnewivus). My Christmas was relaxing, spent with my family in Philadelphia. I’m on vacation until 6 Jan when I return for school and work.
No TagsMy Vespa look-a-like came in today. It was heavy and had some assembly required. I took it for a spin around the block to get used to the feeling of riding a scooter. Very fun. It came with a bunch of stuff: a cover, a tire lock, and an alarm with remote start. Its 1.5 gal tank gives me 70 mpg, so I can go about 100 miles on a full tank.
This is what it looks like:
Talk
thainamu
Chris Martin
Wilson, Rick, brad, christopher, brad, christopher, brad, christopher, brad
christopher, Jeffrey Rodriguez
pfunked, christopher, pfunked
Jasen