Minor to major
[NOTE: It’s been a long time since I took any classes in music theory, and even back then I never learned very much of it. So I’m uncertain whether I’ve used the right musical terminology here when I compare major … Continue reading →
neo
If you call someone a Marxist you’re a McCarthyite…
…and of course that’s much worse than a Marxist. Even if the “Marxist” charge is true. Excellent post by Ace. if you note that Marxists are indeed Marxists it’s supposedly a sort of Hate Crime up with which we must … Continue reading →
I’m liking Ted Cruz more and more
He seems to get it: Cruz’s career follows an upbringing filled with political discussion around the family table. He even memorized the U.S. Constitution as a teen in high school. “I gave probably 80 speeches all over the state on … Continue reading →
Anne Frank: are people good at heart?
[NOTE: This is a repeat of a previous post.] I’m currently reading Francine Prose’s Anne Frank: the book, the life, the afterlife. It’s about the process by which Anne Frank wrote and then rewrote her diary, with an eye to … Continue reading →
John Kerry was just following…
…a long line of illustrious inventors of mythical countries when he referred to the non-existent “Kyrzakhstan” instead of our ally Kyrgyzstan (good thing he’s not a stupid Republican). Of course, most of these inventers were entertainers and writers, not secretaries … Continue reading →
The demise of the necklace
I watched the Oscars last night for the same reason I usually do: the clothes. I have less and less to say as time goes on about this particular tasteless attempt at extravaganza. And the seamless morphing of entertainment and … Continue reading →
The sequester: Bob Woodward say Obama’s a liar
No, he doesn’t use the l-word. But he says it nonetheless, and in the WaPo. Of course, the days when Bob Woodward could make presidents shake in their shoes are long gone. Not sure anybody cares now. There’s much more … Continue reading →
Theodore Roosevelt, progressive
For all you history buffs out there, and for anyone interested in the roots of progressivism in the United States (which would probably include most readers here), Theodore Roosevelt and the American Political Tradition by Bowdoin professor Jean Yarbrough sounds … Continue reading →
The deli…
…is going the way of the dodo: Increasing apathy, particularly from younger patrons, has driven traditional Jewish delicatessens from their mid-century pinnacle. The decline seems to be accelerating partly because of health concerns over the schmaltz-spread fare and partly because … Continue reading →
First, do no harm
Commenter “Jim Nicholas” had this to say on yesterday’s thread about Sarah Conly’s book Against Autonomy Are we willing to or do we want to let persons suffer all of the consequences of their dumb mistakes or impulsive choices? Do … Continue reading →
Happy birthday…
…George: But he doesn’t look all that happy, does he? Since I seem to be into quotes today, here are some from Washington. On reading the entire page, I can’t help but be impressed, once again, by the ability of … Continue reading →
Thatcher quotes, Thatcher style
Today’s the day for Margaret Thatcher quotes. Most of us have become intensely aware of what I think might be her most famous saying, “The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people’s money.” And in … Continue reading →