Monthly Archives: February 2007

MENTAL ILLNESS OR PHYSICAL ILLNESS?

Posted on February 28, 2007 by Philip

MENTAL ILLNESS OR PHYSICAL ILLNESS? This essay elegantly summarizes how the idea of mental illness has changed through the last fifty years. Reading it, I kept reflecting how much of the intellectual history and the literature of that period was … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Literature, Science | 1 Comment

CRITICS AND BITTEROSITY.

Posted on February 27, 2007 by Philip

CRITICS AND BITTEROSITY. This harsh review (link via Arts and Letters Daily) took me aback because I think Adam Gopnik is one of the best essayists writing today. The reviewer clearly thinks that Gopnik’s new book about his children is … Continue reading →

Posted in Literature | 1 Comment

OH RATS–NOSTALGIA FOR GREENWICH VILLAGE.

Posted on February 26, 2007 by Philip

OH, RATS—NOSTALGIA FOR GREENWICH VILLAGE. News stories about a video of rats cavorting in a Greenwich Village fast food restaurant have achieved popularity on the internet. Thanks to the internet, I was able to determine that the restaurant is at … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

A SIXTH REASON DRAMAS STRUGGLE IN NEW YORK.

Posted on February 26, 2007 by Philip

A SIXTH REASON DRAMAS STRUGGLE IN NEW YORK. This article by Campbell Robertson in the New York Times for February 25 says, “Each new Broadway season opens with a cherished ritual. The play is proclaimed dead, killed by — pick … Continue reading →

Posted in Theater | 2 Comments

JENNIFER EHLE

Posted on February 25, 2007 by Philip

JENNIFER EHLE. This blog has been cited by another blog, Jennifer Ehle, a fan blog devoted to Jennifer Ehle. I am surprised and pleased. I have been grateful to Jennifer Ehle for PRIDE AND PREJUDICE and DESIGN FOR LIVING. I … Continue reading →

Posted in Theater | Leave a comment

HOMAGE TO CATALONIA REVISITED.

Posted on February 25, 2007 by Philip

HOMAGE TO CATALONIA REVISITED. This is a very interesting attack by an admirer of Orwell (Anthony Daniels) on HOMAGE TO CATALONIA (link via Arts and Letters Daily). I can think of three ways one could look at the harsh facts … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Literature | Leave a comment

FOLLOWING UP ON EARMARKS.

Posted on February 24, 2007 by Philip

FOLLOWING UP ON EARMARKS. I previously posted on how an experienced civil servant told me that his agency had to do detective work to identify earmarks referred to in only four or five words in a conference report. Now the … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | Leave a comment

RANKING THE WORST PRESIDENTS— DOES CIVIL RIGHTS MATTER?

Posted on February 24, 2007 by Philip

RANKING THE WORST PRESIDENTS–DOES CIVIL RIGHTS MATTER?. The U.S. News and World Report has a new consensus ranking of the worst Presidents. It cites the famous 1948 poll of historians which ranked Harding worst and Grant second worst. For many … Continue reading →

Posted in History | Leave a comment

SNARKY POEMS (COMMENT).

Posted on February 23, 2007 by Philip

SNARKY POEMS (COMMENT). Lee in his comment on favorite poems mentions some funny poems and says that he likes snarky poems. Auden was an advocate of light verse, edited a couple anthologies of light verse, and, as I recall, said … Continue reading →

Posted in Literature | Leave a comment

COAST OF UTOPIA–ARITHMETIC AND THE CRITICS.