Inscriptions: Stuck in LA with “Invisible Cities”

Do you hate Los Angeles traffic as much as the next person?` Back with his weekly column, Liam Riley PO ‘26, frustrated after a day of wrong turns and stubborn dogs, turns to Italo Calvino’s, “Invisible Cities,” in an effort to debunk the monster that is LA.

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Inscriptions: Terror and beauty in Big Sur

Liam Riley PO ’26 returns with his weekly column. In this rendition, he explores Jack Kerouac’s slide into alcoholic psychosis. Riley explores Kerouac’s ideas in conjunction with his own, coming to the conclusion that discovering ultimate truth can spring from a deep dissatisfaction with everyday reality.

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Inscriptions: A place of my own (kind of)

What makes a place truly one’s own? Liam Riley PO ‘26 paints us a picture with the help of Michael Pollan’s collection of essays, “A Place of My Own.” Inspired by Pollan’s efforts to construct a writing shack in his backyard, Riley embarked on a journey to transform his buddy’s old van into a livable camper. Here, he recounts the “heres” and “theres” of his experience, underscoring that every attempt to make something independently your own will unwaveringly require the support of those in your corner.

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