As my co-worker Mo (Iranian, secular, lived in the US since 1974, tells a best bad jokes) put it yesterday ( Read more... )

We are nearing the age in which the colloquialism "bullshit" may become an accepted rhetorical category. Why? Because in  Scott McLemee's "Piled Higher and Deeper"  we now see the development of its opposite category: higher truth. Please read especially the first two sections of the essay. Once there is a category, and its opposite, we have the ( Read more... )

Cruising Craig's List for Austin (in case i can make my BIA's [Beloveds in Austin] a bit happier by moving there, or at least staying in Texas) I discovered that the TLC is looking for a writer of drafts resolutions. Primary among the qualifications: creative writing.

I, as a citizen, should be concerned about this, yes?

is a phobia indicating fear of long words.

Fwah. These are geeks of another stripe.

I'm reading Jonathan Franzen's first novel, which is set in St. Louis in what appears to be the early 80's or so, given that the Veiled Prophet parade features in the first pages (VP Fair, 4th of July/VooDoo hangover from New Orleans influence flowing up river -- now defunct. The religios did not like the Prophet, and that about killed the public ( Read more... )

The article, "Taking Names: Anti-Liberalism in Theory and Practice," by Thomas Franks, in the Feb. 2006 issue of Harper's Magazine is nearly Twainian quality complaint. It has that Twainian way of making one weep in laughter and tears. It does not have the really ironic pessimism of Twain about the whole human condition, but it's still good. ( ( Read more... )

Clive Jame's website. Very good for your brain, soul, and impressiveness quotient at cocktail parties and networking events (are they different events in this age?). Even the preface on the homepage is delightful.

Anti-elitism: Back to grading quizzes and laundry for me.

The combination of all-which makes me want to host a cocktail party. ( Read more... )

Check out Shin Yu with Studio 360. Makes me smile.

With my coffee and breakfast I notice:

Phil Mullan @ Spiked suggests:

"The political elite's loss of faith in the efficacy of government policy coexists with its adoption of the pragmatic managerialism that has replaced the pursuit of specific societal objectives. While few anymore believe in the state's transformative capabilities, those in ( Read more... )

In the interest of sharing triumph.

( Read more... )