I have just learned that Leland Yeager, a dear colleague
of mine, and of so many others, passed away late Monday evening, April 23, 2018.
I had the enormous pleasure of
working with Leland, in my capacity as one of the founding coeditors of The
Journal of Ayn Rand Studies. He
contributed three articles to the periodical. The first was a Fall 2001 review
of James Arnt Aune's book Selling the Free
Market: The Rhetoric of Economic Correctness.
Always one to turn a phrase, he titled his review, "Economic Incorrectness,"
which, of course, elicited a response from Aune, and a rejoinder from Leland in
our Fall 2002 issue. It was a very short rejoinder that thanked Aune for his
good-natured response, but it was clear that their differences were fundamental,
and he asked: "Why drag the tedium out?"
The final essay that Leland
contributed to the journal was a response to Will Thomas's review of Yeager's
book Ethics as Social Science: The Moral
Philosophy of Social Cooperation. This
much more substantive response, paired with Will's rejoinder, appeared in our
legendary Spring 2005 symposium on "Ayn
Rand Among the Austrians," the second of two issues devoted to a
celebration of the Ayn Rand Centenary. I say "legendary", because that issue
completed sold out. I, myself, have only a single copy of it! But for those who subscribe to the journal electronically, that back issue,
along with all of our back issues over the last eighteen years, is available
through JSTOR.
All I can say is: I have worked with many, many authors
and peer readers through the years, and most of the time, our exchanges have
been respectful. Then there's a Top Ten List for our own version of the Horror
File: Authors or Peer Readers Never to Work With Again. I can enumerate off the
top of my head the folks on that illustrious list, but would much rather focus
on another Top Ten List: Authors or Peer Readers Who Are The Best to Work With.
Leland certainly makes that Top Ten list; he was not
merely the supremely knowledgeable scholar but among the nicest and kindest,
most sincere academics I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. A gentleman's
scholar, and a fine human being. He will be missed. I extend my condolences to
his family and friends.
A Memorial Service has been set for early evening on
Saturday, April 28, 2018 in Auburn. Further details will be made available for
those wishing to attend. (I will try to update this blog entry should I receive
those details sooner than later.)
Postscript:
Leland's farewell wine tasting party will be held at the Oak Room in The Hotel
at Auburn University & Dixon Conference Center between 5 and 7 pm on Saturday,
April 28, 2018.
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Posted to Rand
Studies | Remembrance
I wanted to alert folks to a wonderful
introduction to The
Great Connections Program, an outgrowth of the Reason,
Individualism, Freedom Institute (of which I am an advisory
board member). It is written by my very dear friend and colleague, Marsha
Familaro Enright. "Light Your Own Path: The Science and Educational
Principles of the Great Connections Program" can be accessed (in PDF format) here.
It is a call to creativity, inspiration, and the
importance of pedagogical integration as essential to education. Bravo, Marsha!
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Posted to Culture | Education | Pedagogy | Politics
(Theory, History, Now) | Rand
Studies
The site of the NYC-based WPIX Channel 11 tells us:
"Anyone who grew up in the 1960s in
the New York area knows the face and voice of Chuck
McCann."
I should know. I was born in 1960 and grew up watching Officer
Joe Bolton, Captain
Jack McCarthy, Bozo
the Clown, and, always, after elementary school let out, I'd come
home to "The
Chuck McCann Show."
What childhood memories! I'm sad to report that
yesterday, Chuck
McCann died at the age of 83.
| Permalink |
Posted to Film
/ TV / Theater Review | Remembrance
Last week, I wished a Happy
Passover and a Happy Western Easter to all my friends who celebrated
the holidays. Tonight, as one who was baptized Greek Orthodox, let me wish "Christos
Anesti" to all my Eastern Orthodox friends and family.
Enjoy the holiday!
Last night, an annual ABC-network ritual (the showing of
"The
Ten Commandments" in a 4 hour-40 minute+ time slot) reminded me to
wish all my Jewish friends a Happy
Passover and all my Western Christian friends a Happy
Easter! Next Sunday, I'll join my family for the traditional Eastern
Orthodox Easter celebration.
And for those who celebrate none of these holidays,
you've got two others to revel in: Happy
April Fools' Day and Happy
Spring (despite the fact that we're expecting more snow tomorrow here
in NYC!).