Daily Archives: November 2, 2023

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JARS Holiday Shopping!

Now that the thrills and chills of Halloween are behind us, the holiday season is in full bloom (though I’ve been seeing holiday decorations in the stores since before Labor Day!). For those who have not gotten a copy of the 2023 issue of The Journal of Ayn Rand Studies, this is just a reminder that you’re missing out on a terrific grand finale to the journal’s 2+ decade run.

With contributions from Pavel Solovyev, Anastasiya Vasilievna Grigorovskaya, Robert F. Mulligan, David Tyson, Marsha Familaro Enright, Roger E. Bissell, Cory Massimino, Douglas B. Rasmussen & Douglas Den Uyl, David Beito, Raymond Raad, Aaron Weinacht, Luca Moratal Roméu, and Roderick T. Long, the issue includes essays on topics of historical, archival, epistemological, methodological, ethical, political, and literary importance.

You can still access the issue online or as a hard copy by following this link.

Happy Holiday Shopping!

Posted in: Periodicals, Rand Studies

Congrats to the Texas Rangers

Congratulations to the Texas Rangers on their first World Series win in their 63-year history. I know that the MLB postseason gets pretty drawn out nowadays, but this team was tied with the Houston Astros for the American League Central Division lead, with 90 wins, at the end of the 2023 season. As is the case in most postseason play, it’s not necessarily the team that had the best record in the league that gets the ring. It’s the hottest team. And the Rangers were hot!

Relegated to Wild Card status, they swept the Tampa Bay Rays in two games in the first round, swept the Baltimore Orioles in three games, took the Astros down in 7 games, and went on to beat the Arizona Diamondbacks in the World Series in 5 games.

They set multiple postseason records, including an astounding road record of 11-0. Kudos to manager Bruce Bochy for his fourth World Series title (three previously with the San Francisco Giants) and to World Series MVP, Corey Seager, who joins Reggie Jackson for having earned that title twice, with two different teams.

Even this Yankees fan was rooting for them the moment they took the field in the postseason. Bravo!

Posted in: Sports

Grateful Dead Bread

November 1-2 is traditionally celebrated as the “Day of the Dead“. This is not in commemoration of George Romero’s 1985 film of the same name (part of his “Night of the Living Dead” series). Rather, it’s a Mexican holiday—el Día de Muertos or el Día de los Muertos—a joyful celebration of life, not death, in which friends and family members pay their warmest respects to the memories of those who have departed.

I’m not Mexican, but I look forward to this holiday in our neighborhood every year because a local Mexican-owned restaurant, Zeppole Pizzeria—yes, yes, my Mexican neighbors make a nice pizza—features Pan de muerto throughout the week. It is made from a sweet bread recipe. I must have stopped by that establishment a half-dozen times over the last few weeks to inquire when these were going to be on the menu. And I was very grateful to purchase them when they emerged hot from the oven. A wonderful holiday—and a delicious treat!

Posted in: Culture, Food, Remembrance