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About the Author

James B. Moog is a writer and researcher driven by intellectual curiosity and passion for literature, philosophy, art, and psychology. He is the author of three different blogs:

Advanced Leisure: A "lifestyle blog." for meditating on the nuances of everyday objects and the time that we pass as "leisure."

Mind of Moog: A general collection of creative non-fiction, comics, poetry, and literary criticism, among other things.

A Bon Vivant in STL: Focused on food writing and travel. Additionally, it will cover other tangential issues related to Saint Louis.

Popular posts from this blog

On Leisure: Part 1

I am never less at leisure than when at leisure, nor less alone than when I am alone.  -Scipio Africanus It occurred to me that it might be well worthwhile to define what I mean by leisure . First and foremost, I think of the quote above. This sense of leisure reaches back to the Greeks and the concept of schole , as in school . Leisure, or schole, is associated with learning, self-cultivation, philosophy, and freedom. In this sense, " Leisure is not the cessation of work, but work of another kind, work restored to its human meaning, as a celebration and a festival ."  This conception of schole is represented in the notion of a Sabbath, a time set aside for contemplation and reflection. In an article titled, "Learning and Leisure: Developing a School of Schole," Christopher Perrin writes:  " In 1948 the German philosopher Josef Pieper wrote a small book (about 130 pages) entitled Leisure the Basis for Culture .  Classical educators need this book.  Pieper does ...
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Road Trip Thoughts

 We just returned from an epic road trip. Over a month on the road, we briefly visited Kansas, Nebraska, Texas, and Colorado, and we got to spend some quality time in Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, and New Mexico. We left on short notice and packed in one night. We did a lot right, but I would do a few things differently.  Here are some thoughts and suggestions in no particular order: HDMI cord and ethernet cords: We brought the former and forgot the latter. For security, I recommend that you bring an ethernet cable. If you have an ultrabook like me (no Ethernet port), you can get a USB to Ethernet converter. As for the HDMI cable, most hotels have TVs with accessible HDMI ports; just connect your laptop and stream away. Binoculars: We visited a lot of National and State Parks during the migratory season for many animals. We forgot to bring binoculars! I picked some up at the Yellowstone General Store and boy was I glad. Still, I am sure that it would have been a lot cheaper if I had g...
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Crocs on Lock

I was speaking to a friend and fellow aficionado of comfort. He told me that we are in the time of Crocs. He wears them everywhere now and got them for his family too. I set out to find a pair like Batali's, closed and with bright colors. Alas, I settled for a white pair.  I am wearing socks with these because they weren't working for me without them. I have high arches so the top of my foot was rubbing against the rim of the shoe too much. With socks though, I have to say, these are so comfortable! I popped off the Crocs strip so they are streamlined clogs now.  I am a big fan and I love wearing them around the house. These have great traction and cushioning. In cooler weather, I enjoy the classic boiled wool clogs made by Stegmann's but these are great for warmer weather. I can wear the Stegmann's with or without socks. They are also super comfortable; they have a Birkenstock style sole, which is firmer but more supportive. The wool inside is incredibly smooth and sof...
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