The memorial service for the father of a good friend of mine was held at the retirement community where he and his wife had lived for the last couple of years. The place is one of those spectacularly lovely and … Continue reading →
Back in the 80s I read the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series by Douglas Adams. I opened the first page of the first book in the series without much expectation, started reading, and immediately realized I was encountering a … Continue reading →
Thomas Sowell writes with clarity and succinctness on one unusual and especially troubling characteristic of the enemy we now face: its undeterrability (hat tip: Pajamas Media). Undeterrability makes this fight different from previous ones. It makes efforts at peaceful negotiation … Continue reading →
Yesterday I made one of favorite my annual treks to get away from it all, driving a few hours to the western part of New Hampshire to the Sunapee Crafts Fair. That website doesn’t even begin to do it justice, … Continue reading →
When I was about three years old I liked to listen to the music from “Guys and Dolls” on our scratchy old record player. For some reason–perhaps because I was fond of animals–I particularly loved the lyrics of “Fugue for … Continue reading →
I try to do about three miles of brisk walking every day for exercise. On rainy or snowy days, I’m off to the gym and its treadmill, which feels like–well, like being on a treadmill. But on beautiful days or … Continue reading →
What’s a pirouette? Here’s the Wikipedia defintion—and, as a former dancer, I can attest to its correctness: One of the most famous ballet movements; this is where the dancer spins around on demi-pointe or pointe on one leg. The other … Continue reading →
In case you missed it, here’s John J. Miller’s list of the fifty greatest conservative rock songs (and here’s a NY Times article about the list). “Conservative rock songs”–sounds like an oxymoron, doesn’t it? And I have to admit that … Continue reading →
Commenter “snowonpine” made an interesting observation in the American Idol thread, in response to my praise of the getting-on-in-years Dionne Warwick’s performance: Ms. Warwick seemed, to me, to exemplify the inability of a star–be it a TV star, prize fighter … Continue reading →
I haven’t kept up with American Idol much this season, which is just fine with me. But every now and then I do take a look. Last night was the final, as the populists among you no doubt are aware. … Continue reading →
In my post on the unfortunate tendency of revolutions to devour their own, Elmondohummus made the following comment: Such movements, such revolutions, tend not to be the wonderfully exciting, meaningful, free places that participants imagine, but coldhearted, calculating monoliths of … Continue reading →
Here’s a beautiful piece by the Anchoress, an honest and complex tribute to the mother who gave her her love of words. It would be interesting to uncover the heredity/genetics of what makes up a writer and reader. And by … Continue reading →