Author Archives: Uncomely and Broken

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About Uncomely and Broken

I am a classicist in Sewanee, Tennessee.

Scylla or Charybdis? The Homeric Trolley Problem

Posted on December 14, 2013 by Uncomely and Broken

The recent publication of two new books on ethics have got me thinking about one of my favorite Homeric stories. David Edmonds’ Would You Kill the Fat Man? (Princeton) and Thomas Cathcart’s The Trolley Problem (Workman) each deal with an … Continue reading →

Posted in Classics, Mythology, Nautical, Poetry | 2 Comments

Doug Seiters

Posted on December 12, 2013 by Uncomely and Broken

The following is a talk I gave at the Sewanee Emeritus Association Annual Banquet in honor of Doug Seiters on Wednesday, April 15, 2009, at the old Sewanee Inn. When Laurence Alvarez contacted me a few months ago asking me … Continue reading →

Posted in Classics, Education, Poetry, Sewanee | 2 Comments

Protected: To Spiral (transitive)

Posted on November 20, 2013 by Uncomely and Broken

There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.

Posted in England, Language & Etymology, Sewanee, Sports & Games | Enter your password to view comments.

Protected: Regarding “Our F***ing City”

Posted on November 10, 2013 by Uncomely and Broken

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Posted in Boston, Language & Etymology, Sports & Games | Enter your password to view comments.

Protected: Penny with Counterstamp

Posted on October 17, 2013 by Uncomely and Broken

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Posted in Classics, Emblems, England, Numismatics | Tagged , | Enter your password to view comments.

My First and Only Bowtie

Posted on October 11, 2013 by Uncomely and Broken

A few months into my freshman year, I decided to conduct some sartorial experiments, hoping against hope I might discover a sense of style. One day I saw a checked bowtie in a store downtown and bought it with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Protected: About PTO Prayer

Posted on October 5, 2013 by Uncomely and Broken

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Posted in Bible, Education, Sewanee, Tennessee | Enter your password to view comments.

Last Night’s Fireball

Posted on September 29, 2013 by Uncomely and Broken

I was outside talking to my friend Elizabeth yesterday evening, about 6:45 Central, when, all of a sudden, an enormous fireball appeared in the sky behind her.  “Whoa! Is that a comet?!” I asked. “I hope it’s not a burning … Continue reading →

Posted in Astronomical, Tennessee | Leave a comment

The Core, and the Core, and the Core

Posted on September 28, 2013 by Uncomely and Broken

This is the text of a talk I gave last year at the faculty retreat.  It seems like ancient history now! (The title is a pun on General MacArthur’s final remarks at Westpoint in 1962) “The Core, and The Core, … Continue reading →

Posted in Classics, Education, Military, Sewanee | 2 Comments

Gipson’s Switch to Midway Road (almost)

Posted on September 22, 2013 by Uncomely and Broken

Such a pretty day for a bike ride today, so I decided to head down the Mountain Goat Trail beyond St. Andrew’s down into Monteagle. This part of the MGT will be paved in the next few months, I’m told, … Continue reading →

Posted in Sewanee, Sports & Games, Trees & Flowers | Leave a comment