Friday Varia and Quick Hits

The optimist in me dreams that two straight days with highs in the mid-30s heralds the arrival of spring. The realist in me knows that this is North Dakotaland’s way of softening us up for the inevitable return of winter. Either way, we’ll take the reprieve from seasonable temperatures and enjoy a little false spring.

This weekend marks the annual return of auto racing to the Caraher calendar with the Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona. We’re keeping our eye on the Australia-West Indies series at the ‘Gabba in Brisbane and are marveling over there resilience of the overmatched West Indies squad. They somehow pushed Australia to declare while still 20-odd runs down. Rumor is that the NFL season continues to limp along to its inevitable end, the NBA season is continuing its months-long increase in intensity, and I’m sure there is college basketball relevant to someone somewhere. I’m vaguely intrigued by the Jaime Munguia vs. John Ryder fight on Saturday. 

There are, of course, books, manuscripts, student work, and unwritten papers that deserve my complete attention this weekend. And, of course, the ongoing search for more quick hits and varia:’

• Advertisements for myself:

Korinth II: Das römische Korinth. (Open Access PDF)

How an oil boom in North Dakota led to a boom in evictions.

Teaching and Learning the Archaeology of the Contemporary Era (2024).

• Grand Forks, North Dakota Redlining Map.

• Little Fingers.

• A Holy Land, Wasted.

• Defense of U.S. frontiers – Canadian Invasion Plan.

• Wilson Audio Specialties Sasha V loudspeaker.

• Longines Conquest Heritage Central Power Reserve.

• What I’m reading: Hans A. Baer, The Black Spiritual Movement: A Religious Response to Racism. Second Edition. 2001.

• What I’m listening to: Abdullah Ibrahim, 3. 2024.