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Virtual Bourgeois
Just An Analog Guy Trying to Upgrade For a Digital World
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About Your Humble Narrator
I like to think and talk and need to keep a constant eye on how pretentious I might become. I’m reflective, sometimes to the point of inaction. I believe in non-violence, but love action films. I believe in neo-classical economics, but hate the untrammeled power of the free market. I like taking the opposite side of an debate just so I can see what people will say.
I like people who have deep beliefs, but who distrust dogma; people who are intellectual, but who dislike snobs; and people who know the difference between “debate” and “argue”. It is cliche, but I really admired my parents. They married, built a life, worked hard, and loved their son and each other until death did they part. Combining all of that seems to be increasingly rare these days. I also deeply admire Prof. Dierdre McCloskey – my grad advisor and my personal example of dedicated humane scholarship and personal courage.
I watch a lot of TV and I refuse to apologize for that. I worship at the altar of Whedon: Buffy, Angel, and Firefly. I’ve loved many shows that died within a short time. The most recent example is Drive.
I’m a big movie fan as well. Well-made historical epics are at the top of my list (“Gandhi” for example). I’ll watch pretty much anything with a spaceship in it (see “scifi nerd”). I prefer drama to comedy, but I like both. For sheer popcorn joy I like action/adventure films and scifi schlock.
I read a lot, though less than I did once upon a time. However, it seems like I’m starting to read more these days. All-time favorite fiction authors include Robert Heinlein, Stephen Donaldson, J.R.R. Tolkein, Patrick O’Brian, C.S. Forester, Poul Anderson, William Gibson. I’m a major sci-fi/fantasy nerd. There are great authors whose art I admire, but I’m sticking to what I LIKE here.
As to music, I spend more time listening to R.E.M. and Steeleye Span than any other music. Other performers I enjoy include 10,000 Maniacs, U2, Clannad, the Sundays, the Innocence Mission, many more. I like a variety of classical composers, but not many from after the mid 19th century.
I’m also fascinated by all the cool and terrifying new technologies around us, by how people talk and how that relates to what they mean (to be more pretentious; rhetoric and hermeneutics), and above all by the history of our funny little human race
I think I’m still a work in progress.
I hope that is true until I die.
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7 Responses to “About Your Humble Narrator”
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Virtual Bourgeois 
Judy Poel said
Hi Jerry!! I think that this blog sounds exactly like my cousin! I just googled you and come up with this blog. If your not my cousin I apologize for the assumptions, however, If you are – I have been trying to reach you and as usual I have no phone numbers or accurate email address. I just want you to know that Aunt Mary passed away this week. She has been very ill for the last month and has been praying to go home. It seems hard for mom to out live 3 of her 4 siblings. She just turned 80, and Mary was only 62. Thats only 6 years older than I am. (WOW – when did that happen = I didn’t realize that I got old). Mary and your Mom & Dad taught me to be the kind of Aunt that I have tried to be. I’m not going to post my phone # publicly (is that a word?_) My email is scrapjudy0601@comcast.net. Send me a message & we can exchange numbers there. I think about you often – just fail to communicate. I really miss your Mom and Dad – I never see a nascar race that I don’t think about them. Yeah – I still love watching men run around in circles.! A Big Johns or Scribs always brings back flood of memories. I hope this message finds you well. I have never read or written on a blog before – but I had to try. I’m sorry to send sad messages this way – but I look forward to hearing from you.
Love, Judy Poel
Andy Seehusen said
Hi, did you attend the university of Iowa for grad school? If so, I’ve been trying to get in touch with you for a long time. Hope you are well.
andy
Gerald said
Yep – it’s me.
andy said
Hey, how have you been? If you want to get in touch, my email is aseehusen@yahoo.co.uk.
Hope all is well.
andy
Wade Shilts said
Gerald,
Not sure, but you sure sound like a GB I went to grad school in Iowa with. 🙂
Found you while trying to Google that “Markets and Morals” conference we did. Why I was doing that, I forgot, as I got distracted and started googling various members of the old group instead.
Sounds like you are still fighting the good fight, which is good to hear. And that you remain unapologetic about TV. Have often wondered what’s been up, but, as always, I’m horrible at keeping in touch.
I’ve put your blog in my RSS reader, and so don’t be surprised if I start commenting.
Best,
Wade
p.s. You will note I have a link to Gibson on my blog. Wish he published more.
Barbara O'Brien said
Jerry,
I just have a quick question for you but couldn’t find an email so had to resort to this. I am a progressive blogger. Please email me back at barbaraobrien@maacenter.org when you get a chance. Thanks.
Barbara
Rebecca said
Time for an update, Gerald!