... and there's writing: Coming last . (Hat tip, Maxine Clarke.)
When you have to turn it out for deadline, you do your best within that constraint. But absent that restraint, you can get hung up tinkering and tinkering. Better to be a good plumber tahn a bad writer, though.
Thursday, February 08, 2007
The future of newspapers (cont'd.) ...
... not too good, according to Michael Malone: Silicon Insider. (Via InstaPundit.)
Well, this was quite a surprise ...
... Amy links to What Mythological Creature Are You?
My result? Moi?
My result? Moi?
You Are a Mermaid |
 You are a total daydreamer, and people tend to think you're flakier than you actually are. While your head is often in the clouds, you'll always come back to earth to help someone in need. Beyond being a caring person, you are also very intelligent and rational. You understand the connections of the universe better than almost anyone else. |
If we really are serious ...
... about reducing carbon emissions, why do we hear so little about this sort of thing: Steam engines could be eco hope . Here are some Steam Car FAQ’s.
Kill-joy alert ....
... Boys Just Want to Have Fun .
I am so glad that I am not a kid these days and also glad that when I was one I was largely left alone.
I am so glad that I am not a kid these days and also glad that when I was one I was largely left alone.
Mark Steyn also ...
... has issues with Dinesh D'Souza: The Home Front. (Hat tip, Dave Lull.)
I wonder what Eliot Weinberger would think of D'Souza's book.
I wonder what Eliot Weinberger would think of D'Souza's book.
Elementary ...
... Rankin accuses Jowell of 'literary snobbery' over refusal to list Conan Doyle's house. (Hat tip, Dave Lull.)
Indeed.
Indeed.
Out of the wilds of Lancashire ...
... The Joy of Curmudgeonry . (Hat tip, Dave Lull.)
This causes me to realize that the form of the epigram is ideally suited to blogging.
This causes me to realize that the form of the epigram is ideally suited to blogging.
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
A lively debate ...
... to be sure: In Books, a Clash of Europe and Islam. (Hat tip, Dave Lull.)
Here's some more in the comments attached to this post: The Sunday Roundup.
Perhaps they should ask Ayaan Hirsi Ali to weigh in. She certainly has the backsground some say is requisite.
Here's some more in the comments attached to this post: The Sunday Roundup.
Perhaps they should ask Ayaan Hirsi Ali to weigh in. She certainly has the backsground some say is requisite.
On the other hand ...
... as Maud Newton has discovered, Even Nobel Laureates get the blues. (Hat tip, Dave Lull.)
I think it worth noting that, at his best - and he is often at his best - Steinbeck is simply a very good writer.
I think it worth noting that, at his best - and he is often at his best - Steinbeck is simply a very good writer.
So you think you got troubles ...
... well, how'd you like this guy's job? Baghdad Day to Day: Librarian’s Journal . (Hat tip, Dave Lull.)
Forgot to link ...
... to Carlin Romano's profile of Michael B. Oren: Reporting 230 years of the U.S. in Mideast and Jack Fischel's review of Oren's new book: Back to Barbary pirates, missionaries.
Patrick Kurp is celebrating ...
... and anniversary at Anecdotal Evidence: `A Different Name for Conversation'. (Hat tip, Dave Lull.)
Something to think about ...
... Glenn Reynolds on The Next International Right.
Though it is a long step between being disarmed and being murdered--one does not usually lead to the other--but it is nevertheless an arresting reality that not one of the principal genocides of the twentieth century, and there have been dozens, has been inflicted on a population that was armed. (Emphasis added).
Who knew?
... certainly I didn't: 289 Philadelphia Inquirer Gold Seal Novels. (Hat tip, Roger Miller.)
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Today's must read ...
... is Lindsay Waters's Time for Reading.
I have increasingly come to believe that the key to reading is rereading. Paradoxically, rereading a literary work is not a quick business, but usually slower than the first time round. We learn that the first time we read too fast, and in a complicated feedback mechanism what was deeply buried in the text can emerge.
I have always preferred to read slowly. I like to hear what I am reading. Among other things, I remember it better that way.
Philosophy seeking ...
... not to win an argument but to cultivate a way of life: Writer's choice 88: Mark Vernon.
High praise ...
... for a nice guy and a better poet than he is given credit for being: Time raises Longfellow, like Lazarus, from the dead.
We don’t all like to be told life is real, life is earnest, but enough of us do to have kept his flame alive during the dark years.
We don’t all like to be told life is real, life is earnest, but enough of us do to have kept his flame alive during the dark years.
This is disturbing ...
... or it ought to be - to people in my profession: Getting it backwards.
Yes, the Senate has become nearly as partisan as the press . . . . Ouch.
Yes, the Senate has become nearly as partisan as the press . . . . Ouch.
I have frequently noted ...
... that many of the harshest critics of religion (which always seems to be Christianity and always "fundamentalist") don't really seem to know what they're talking about. Alan Jacobs rightly calls them The Know-Nothing Party.
Thus the opening line of Terry Eagleton's response, in the London Review of Books, to Richard Dawkins's The God Delusion: "Imagine someone holding forth on biology whose only knowledge of the subject is the Book of British Birds, and you have a rough idea of what it feels like to read Richard Dawkins on theology."
Thus the opening line of Terry Eagleton's response, in the London Review of Books, to Richard Dawkins's The God Delusion: "Imagine someone holding forth on biology whose only knowledge of the subject is the Book of British Birds, and you have a rough idea of what it feels like to read Richard Dawkins on theology."
She may not have much taste ...
... in men, but she sure knows lyrics: The Supermodel School of Poetry.
Congratulations ...
... to Lisa Cohen, who has finished her third novel: The House of Many Doors is complete .
Wanted ...
... senior racist: Theodore Dalrymple finds a cure for the German malady of low blood pressure: read The Guardian's job advertisements. (Hat tip, Dave Lull.)
... the "commitment" (a favourite word of the new bureaucracy, especially when it is about to renege on something) to diversity is a sham. No one is diverse unless they say so, and what equality means is jobs for the boys and the creation of loyal clienteles: a form of bureaucratic feudalism.
... the "commitment" (a favourite word of the new bureaucracy, especially when it is about to renege on something) to diversity is a sham. No one is diverse unless they say so, and what equality means is jobs for the boys and the creation of loyal clienteles: a form of bureaucratic feudalism.
Monday, February 05, 2007
This reminds me ...
... of why I oppose sex education in schools (because it's more fun to learn about sex on your own - after all, one usually objects to clinical presentations of sex in fiction - at least I do; it's hardly better to present it that way in real life): Mortification.
Some more of the same ...
... NBCC Finalist Provokes NBCC Discord. (Hat tip, Dave Lull.)
Can't agree with my friend John Freeman on this one. I certainly don't agree with Eliot Weinberger, who should stick to Wang Wei.
Can't agree with my friend John Freeman on this one. I certainly don't agree with Eliot Weinberger, who should stick to Wang Wei.
More on senistive plants ...
... "Hurray! We're Capitulating!" (Hat tip, Dave Lull.)
At issue is freedom of opinion, one of the central tenets of the Enlightenment and democracy. And whether respect, consideration and tolerance are the right approach to dealing with cultures that, for their part, behave without respect, consideration or tolerance when it comes to anything they view as decadent, provocative and unworthy -- from women in short skirts to cartoons they deem provocative without even having seen them.
At issue is freedom of opinion, one of the central tenets of the Enlightenment and democracy. And whether respect, consideration and tolerance are the right approach to dealing with cultures that, for their part, behave without respect, consideration or tolerance when it comes to anything they view as decadent, provocative and unworthy -- from women in short skirts to cartoons they deem provocative without even having seen them.
OK, this is snarky...
... I admit that, but platitudes will do that: What's so hot about fickle science? (Hat tip, Dave Lull.)
This may not say it all ...
... but it sure says a heck of lot: Tom Stoppard: Count Zero Splits the Infinite. (Hat tip, Susan Balee.)
Sunday, February 04, 2007
A curious piece ...
... it is that Bryan links to: Great Cupitt . Like Bryan, I find the economy of means impressive. Also like Bryan I disagree with crucial points, in particular the use of the term fundamentalist. This is a term no one should use before making sure they know what it means. It is coming to be used as a synonym for orthodox. Here's a sound explanation of fundamentalism. I notice that no mention is made here of taking the Bible literally. I doubt if Pope Benedict considers himself a fundamentalist. I do not consider myself a fundamentalist. I suspect, however, that Cupitt would regard me as such, simply because I am a practicing Catholic. He would be wrong to do so, however.
Actually, I'd be interested to see ...
... what the reaction would be if groups in this country were pushing for Islamic creationism. Would it be the same as the reaction to ID? Or would we be encouraged to be tolerant of it - because, after all, at least it's not Christian?
A conversation with ...
... with Ayaan Hirsi Ali: Taking the fight to Islam. (Hat tip, Vikram Johri.)
Shamless discovers ...
... A Splash in My Puddle! and whets my interest. I wouldn't mind attending this myself.
Today's Inquirer reviews ...
... include Tom Lipscomb's look at Agostino von Hassell and Sigrid MacRae's Alliance of Enemies: Looking inside the German resistance.
Also ...
In DigitaLit, Katie Haegele pays a visit to PENNsound: Penn online poetry project rooted in culture of accessibility
Glenn Altschuler isn't entirely in sych with Barbara Ehrenreich's Dancing in the Streets:
Joyous get-togethers down through the centuries.
Ed Pettit is impressed by John Connolly's The Book of Lost Things: A boy's dark story of magic.
Desmond Ryan finds Eva Mekler's The Polish Woman understated and moving: Long-lost cousin, or impostor capitalizing on family's grief?
Elizabeth Fox has mixed feelings about Lucy Jackson's Posh: That rich N.Y. angst, with compassion.
Katie Haegele also notes how very real Celeste Conway's The Melting Season is: Young Adult Reader 'Melting Season' a teen-girl story that is captivatingly real.
During the past week ...
Karen Heller was disappointed in Patricia Marx's latest: A wit whose novel went awry, beginning with a dreadful title.
But Martha Woodall found Alice Hoffman's new one magical: Hoffman's latest is more enchantment.
Finally, Paula Marantz Cohen found the Japanese crown princess's story sad indeed: No fairy-tale endings for Japan's princess .
Plenty to read there, folks.
Also ...
In DigitaLit, Katie Haegele pays a visit to PENNsound: Penn online poetry project rooted in culture of accessibility
Glenn Altschuler isn't entirely in sych with Barbara Ehrenreich's Dancing in the Streets:
Joyous get-togethers down through the centuries.
Ed Pettit is impressed by John Connolly's The Book of Lost Things: A boy's dark story of magic.
Desmond Ryan finds Eva Mekler's The Polish Woman understated and moving: Long-lost cousin, or impostor capitalizing on family's grief?
Elizabeth Fox has mixed feelings about Lucy Jackson's Posh: That rich N.Y. angst, with compassion.
Katie Haegele also notes how very real Celeste Conway's The Melting Season is: Young Adult Reader 'Melting Season' a teen-girl story that is captivatingly real.
During the past week ...
Karen Heller was disappointed in Patricia Marx's latest: A wit whose novel went awry, beginning with a dreadful title.
But Martha Woodall found Alice Hoffman's new one magical: Hoffman's latest is more enchantment.
Finally, Paula Marantz Cohen found the Japanese crown princess's story sad indeed: No fairy-tale endings for Japan's princess .
Plenty to read there, folks.
Later this month ...
... on Feb. 21, the centenary of W. H. Auden's will take place. So we are going to be hearing much about the great man (in my view, a very great poet). James Fenton's A voice of his own is a good start. (Hat tip, Barbara Smith.)
Saturday, February 03, 2007
I am not temperamentally inclined ...
... to apocalyptism, so global warming hysteria leaves me cold. Glenn Reynolds' position as outlined here pretty much corresponds to my own. But I also find Donald Sensing's What if global warming is a good thing? definitely worth pondering.
Update: Scott Stein sends along this link to Climate of Fear: Why We Shouldn't Worry About Global Warming.
Also, Philadelphia Magazine's profile of Penn professor Bob Giegengack is definitely worth your time.
Just my way of letting you know there's more to all this than you may be getting from the MSM.
Update: Scott Stein sends along this link to Climate of Fear: Why We Shouldn't Worry About Global Warming.
Also, Philadelphia Magazine's profile of Penn professor Bob Giegengack is definitely worth your time.
Just my way of letting you know there's more to all this than you may be getting from the MSM.
Pondering ...
... Freedom and Its Discontents. (Hat tip, Dave Lull.)
It used to be that governments were the greatest threat to freedom of expression, but now it is social pressure of the kind I have described that threatens debate. I first realised this when I wrote an article about a condition known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, questioning - I must admit, in less than emollient terms - the firm view of those who suffer from it, namely that it is a viral rather than a psycho-social condition.
What I had not realised at the time I wrote was that the sufferers from chronic fatigue were, in fact, tirelessly active in defence of their view of their condition, and would entertain no other. No sooner was the article published than I began to receive protests by telephone and post, often cast in unpleasant and abusive language; my hospital received calls for my dismissal; even a government minister was contacted.
I discovered when I spoke to other journalists who had written or broadcast in similar vein about the same subject that the treatment I received at the hands of the chronically fatigued was comparatively mild, perhaps because of my obscurity and unimportance. Television journalists in particular were made to suffer, for long receiving calls in the middle of the night, a barrage of insults and so forth, often for month after month, so that their sleep was chronically disturbed. Not surprisingly, they resolved never to touch the subject again ...
Who knew that the chronically fatigued could be so, well, indefatigable?
It used to be that governments were the greatest threat to freedom of expression, but now it is social pressure of the kind I have described that threatens debate. I first realised this when I wrote an article about a condition known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, questioning - I must admit, in less than emollient terms - the firm view of those who suffer from it, namely that it is a viral rather than a psycho-social condition.
What I had not realised at the time I wrote was that the sufferers from chronic fatigue were, in fact, tirelessly active in defence of their view of their condition, and would entertain no other. No sooner was the article published than I began to receive protests by telephone and post, often cast in unpleasant and abusive language; my hospital received calls for my dismissal; even a government minister was contacted.
I discovered when I spoke to other journalists who had written or broadcast in similar vein about the same subject that the treatment I received at the hands of the chronically fatigued was comparatively mild, perhaps because of my obscurity and unimportance. Television journalists in particular were made to suffer, for long receiving calls in the middle of the night, a barrage of insults and so forth, often for month after month, so that their sleep was chronically disturbed. Not surprisingly, they resolved never to touch the subject again ...
Who knew that the chronically fatigued could be so, well, indefatigable?
The softest voice ...
... that brought down an ideological tyranny: Robert Conquest, Anti-Sovietchik No. 1.
A few years ago he said to me that the old distinctions between left and right had become irrelevant to him, adding very mildly that fools and knaves of all kinds needed to be opposed and that what was really needed was "a United Front against bulls--t."
A few years ago he said to me that the old distinctions between left and right had become irrelevant to him, adding very mildly that fools and knaves of all kinds needed to be opposed and that what was really needed was "a United Front against bulls--t."
Friday, February 02, 2007
I should have noted this much earlier ...
... Gian Carlo Menotti (1911-2007). Here is the Telegraph's obituary. I'm very fond of his violin concerto and the ballet Sebastian.
Well worth pondering ...
... Differing worldviews .
As Eliot put it:
Words strain,
Crack and sometimes break, under the burden,
Under the tension, slip, slide, perish,
Decay with imprecision, will not stay in place,
Will not stay still.
Shrieking voices
Scolding, mocking, or merely chattering,
Always assail them.
And then someone reads them.
As Eliot put it:
Words strain,
Crack and sometimes break, under the burden,
Under the tension, slip, slide, perish,
Decay with imprecision, will not stay in place,
Will not stay still.
Shrieking voices
Scolding, mocking, or merely chattering,
Always assail them.
And then someone reads them.
Today is also ...
... the 75th anniversary of the publication of Aldous Huxley's Brave New World: Happy Birthday, BNW . (Hat tip, Dave Lull.)
It isn't just Groundhog Day ...
... it's James Joyce's birthday: Happy birthday, James. (Hat tip, Dave Lull.)
Thursday, February 01, 2007
I am still at the office ...
... but I won't be for long. I also won't be blogging again until tomorrow morning.
My colleague David Hiltbrand ...
... has aWeb site, DaveOnDemand.com, and also a Dave On Demand blog - the latter devoted to dissecting American Idol. Brave guy.
A look at Hesiod ...
... A Genealogy of Gods.
My favorite among the ancients is Works and Days. Like the greatest art it takes you there.
My favorite among the ancients is Works and Days. Like the greatest art it takes you there.
Today's must-read ...
... Ladies and gentlemen: All four engines have stopped. (Hat tip, Dave Lull.)
Amy alerts us ...
... to A Good Site For The Fantastic In Victorian Literature and aso reminds us that this is a year for Celebrating Rumi.
Top priority Blogger alert ...
... If you're thinking - as I have been - of switching to New Blogger, you may want to read about Ann Althouse's experience with same. I clicked on the permalinks at Ann's blog, but couldn't connect. I think I'll wait a bit myself.
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
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