Friends of African Village Libraries (I post regularly here)- Photos from Gowrie Kunkua community library during the night session, Ghana
- Sumbrungu Community Library nighttime reading
- Résumé du livre Une grande mère criminelle
- Organisation d’une séance de discussion autour d’un livre à la bibliothèque de Dimikuy
- Librarians of Tuy monthly meeting January 2026, Burkina Faso
- Impressions sur la production de livres CMH au Burkina Faso
- Compte rendu de la première rencontre des gérants de la zone du Tuy
- Science fiction books for libraries in Burkina Faso and Ghana
- Animation d’une séance de lecture à la bibliothèque de Dimikuy
- Nyariga Community Library in Ghana, photos January 2026
Author Archives: mkevane
Super Furry Animals – Run! Christian, Run!
I’ve loved this song for years…
Posted in Music
Comments Off on Super Furry Animals – Run! Christian, Run!
Recent stories in The New Yorker
I must say the past few months have, in my opinion, been generally excellent, with many stories that I think are extremely well crafted and profound (many deal with rape), and very little of the silly stuff (yes, I’m looking … Continue reading
Posted in Book and film reviews
Comments Off on Recent stories in The New Yorker
Aldous Harding covers “Right Down The Line” by Gerry Rafferty
Posted in Music
Comments Off on Aldous Harding covers “Right Down The Line” by Gerry Rafferty
Budget transparency at private universities: Some thoughts about SCU
A few days ago, the Santa Clara University campus recreation unit sent an email to faculty and staff announcing that starting in the next academic year fees of $200 per year would be charged for use of the recreation facilities … Continue reading
Posted in Santa Clara University
Comments Off on Budget transparency at private universities: Some thoughts about SCU
Why does SCU want to take the faculty unionization straight to the NLRB? Because they could reverse every unionization on every Jesuit and other “religious” university
From Philip Miscimarra, current Trump-appointed chair of the NLRB, in his dissent (when he was minority) in both the Duquesne and the Loyola University cases of 2017: Second, as explained in my separate opinion in Pacific Lutheran University, 361 NLRB … Continue reading
Posted in Santa Clara University
Comments Off on Why does SCU want to take the faculty unionization straight to the NLRB? Because they could reverse every unionization on every Jesuit and other “religious” university
Tactics when confronting a Trump-appointee dominated NLRB: “three would-be unions withdraw petitions”
In a sign of how much things have changed, three unions withdrew petitions pending review by the board within the last week. In so doing, the unions said they’d rather continue to seek voluntary union recognition from their institutions — … Continue reading
Posted in Santa Clara University
Comments Off on Tactics when confronting a Trump-appointee dominated NLRB: “three would-be unions withdraw petitions”
When Loyola University A&S faculty tried to unionize, religious-ness became an issue…
The university administration argued for an exemption on grounds that university had a religious mission. NLRB board at the time rejected claim but apparently unexpectedly decided to exclude faculty in theology from the bargaining unit. Apparently the dissenter was a … Continue reading
Posted in Santa Clara University
Comments Off on When Loyola University A&S faculty tried to unionize, religious-ness became an issue…
Recent news on faculty unionization efforts
A good proportion of non-tenure track faculty at Santa Clara University are trying to organize a unionization vote, with considerable resistance from the university. Last week at the Faculty Senate Council,. university counsel Bridget Colbert and Senior Associate Provost for … Continue reading
Posted in Santa Clara University
Comments Off on Recent news on faculty unionization efforts
Just one quick thought on The OA
People who knew me back in 2010ish era knew that I liked Lost a lot until the last season. The opening scene with Desmond remains an all-time favorite piece of cinema. I mentioned back then several times: the only way … Continue reading
Posted in Book and film reviews
Comments Off on Just one quick thought on The OA
Recent reading: Pnin, Ancillary Mercy, The Other Wind, The Right and the Power
I use this blog partly to recall books and papers I have read, but lately I have not been taking the time, so now I have to play catch-up. Here are three books I finished in last few weeks. Pnin, … Continue reading
Posted in Book and film reviews
Comments Off on Recent reading: Pnin, Ancillary Mercy, The Other Wind, The Right and the Power
Tremendous performance of El Siquisiri
Ay, que sí, que sí y que no Y el son jarocho bailamos Ay, que sí, que sí y que no Es decente en su nobleza Ahora sí, mañana no
Posted in Music
Comments Off on Tremendous performance of El Siquisiri
Want to understand the reparations issue? Nobody better than Prof. Sandy Darity to patiently and clearly explain
Cannot embed directly into WordPress, so here is the link: https://www.c-span.org/video/standalone/?458905-4/washington-journal-william-darity-discusses-reparations-campaign-2020
Posted in United States
Comments Off on Want to understand the reparations issue? Nobody better than Prof. Sandy Darity to patiently and clearly explain
Teaching… and research… that is what a university is.
Just saying, and regardless of controversy, this is what I look for in a university president: when she needs to make a pithy statement about her university, learning and research are the things she mentions. Athletics is not mentioned. Buildings … Continue reading
Posted in Burkina Faso
Comments Off on Teaching… and research… that is what a university is.
Probabilistic AI decision-making
Don’t want to humble-brag (but already right if you think about it what am I doing?) but this was the first hit in my search for a bit more on the question I asked at the end of an interesting … Continue reading
Posted in Development thinking
Comments Off on Probabilistic AI decision-making
Report: Housing bill law could almost triple size of Palo Alto
One of the most controversial of these measures is SB 50. Hailed by advocates as a solution to the Bay Area’s housing shortage, the bill would override cities’ density rules, height limits and parking requirements in areas near public transit … Continue reading
Posted in Burkina Faso
Comments Off on Report: Housing bill law could almost triple size of Palo Alto
Recent reading roundup
I have been slacking. For Christmas I got several novels. Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky. Excellent big sci-fi opera, with genetic engineering and big questions. The Peace War by Vernor Vinge. I started skeptical but got drawn in. By … Continue reading
Posted in Book and film reviews
Comments Off on Recent reading roundup
Thoughts on The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro
I saw the book in the library. I hesitated. I seemed to recall it had been received with coolness by reviewers? But I thought to myself, he is such a good writer, can it really be that bad? And so … Continue reading
Posted in Book and film reviews
Comments Off on Thoughts on The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro
Points of comparison with Burkina Faso about transition if al-Bashir is ousted in Sudan
I have not followed Sudan politics in over a decade, but I do follow Burkina Faso pretty closely, and in October 2014 long-time president Blaise Compaoré was ousted by street protests. Basically, regime insiders had to choose when to run, … Continue reading
Posted in Burkina Faso, Sudan
Comments Off on Points of comparison with Burkina Faso about transition if al-Bashir is ousted in Sudan
My relationship to piano almost exactly described
I am not yet even close to Jennifer Weiner’s level after two years of one hour a week lessons, but I know the feeling (and the 15 year old). I open my book to Chopin’s waltz in D flat major, … Continue reading
Posted in Burkina Faso
Comments Off on My relationship to piano almost exactly described
Michael Kevane 