LinkBlog: Holiday Edition

A blog is not, generally speaking, the ideal means for pleasuring its author -- at least not unless you're writing second-rate furry porn ... and into that kind of thing. One of the things I've discovered in prior ventures into the blogosphere is the embarrassing enjoyment of speaking of myself in the third person. (A note to friends and colleagues who have pointed out that I am, in fact, a pretentious tosser: You may be right.)

I have been, however, rather stumped for a moniker; I'm fond of Jerome (... yet another pretentious tosser ...), not least of all because of his thoroughgoing crankiness -- quiet in the peanut gallery! If ever there was a man who wore his faults on his epistolary sleeve, it was surely (... and unconsciously ...) Blessed Jerome.

But where does that leave me, nomenclature-ly speaking? Jerry, Jr.? The Git? The Old Koot? Hieronyanium? (My grasp of the classics is lamentably such that no one would label me "Ciceronis es!" at this point in my life.) The Chronicler? That one may have potential. With the undue delay of a few days' of celebration, debauchery, feasting, the consumption of spectacles, and other things of which the Fathers would thoroughly disapprove, I give a few worthwhile links:

• I love little presses that put out affordable (and frequently long-overdue) translations -- the Center for Traditionalist Orthodox Studies is a fine example. Pick up some Ambrose, some Gregory the Great, or perhaps something more exotic.
  
• Inclined towards Syriac studies? Wish you were here! Or pick up something from Gorgias Press (... although, really, what were they thinking with "Gorgiana"?!)
  
• From the -- sort of -- New Testament corner: Readers of the most recent edition of the Journal of Early Christian Studies will likely have discovered an article by Scott G. Brown, dedicated to "The Letter to Theodore: Stephen Carlson's Case against Clement's Authorship". The article sets out to refute an argument from Mr. Carlson's book, The Gospel Hoax: Morton Smith's Invention of Secret Mark. (Given the contribution by Jeff Jay on "A New Look at the Epistolary Framework of the Secret Gospel of Mark," this JECS appears to be at least partly a theme-issue ... but I disgress.) Interestingly, this is a discussion that started right here on the internets ... and both Mr. Carlson and his dissertation adviser Dr. Goodacre can be found as prominent participants in the blogosphere. (Good on you, Stephen! We're all dreaming of having an article in JECS with our name in the title one of these years ;)
  
• Finally, a treat for the recently birthday-ed blogger -- from "Ralph," esteemed blogger and even more esteemed associate professor in the Department of Semitics at Catholic U. Thanks, Ed!
  

... and that's it for now. More on yet another Sunday with the Fathers later on.