Monthly Archives: May 2007

UPPER CLASS EUROPEAN LEADERS.

Posted on May 31, 2007 by Philip

UPPER CLASS EUROPEAN LEADERS. The article by Elaine Sciolino (see today’s other post) has some wonderful observations on how startling it is for the French to have the change to Sarkozy from “the much older and more formal Chiracs, with … Continue reading →

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TU AND VOUS.

Posted on May 31, 2007 by Philip

TU AND VOUS. Today’s New York Times has a good article by Elaine Sciolino on the cultural significance of the new French President Nicholas Sarkozy. The article gives an example of the gradual change toward informality in the French language. … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | 3 Comments

GARBAGE CAN ISSUES—FURTHER APPLICATIONS

Posted on May 30, 2007 by Philip

GARBAGE CAN ISSUES—FURTHER APPLICATIONS. The garbage can concept can help you sit through that painful committee meeting. Think how wonderful it is that there is this garbage can issue to keep these folks busy. Then the only hard part is … Continue reading →

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GARBAGE CAN POLITICS AND FACULTY POLITICS.

Posted on May 29, 2007 by Philip

GARBAGE CAN POLITICS AND FACULTY POLITICS. Years ago, I came across an article on what the authors called garbage can politics. I can’t find the article now, but Google lists a number of articles on “garbage cans”, which is evidently … Continue reading →

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A PITFALL OF ARGUING WITH FRIENDS.

Posted on May 28, 2007 by Philip

A PITFALL OF ARGUING WITH FRIENDS. Dick and Chris Weisfelder visited recently and after dinner Dick and I sat down to argue about politics. To our consternation, we kept stumbling into areas where we were in agreement. I think if … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 4 Comments

A NINETEENTH CENTURY ROMANCE.

Posted on May 27, 2007 by Philip

A NINETEENTH CENTURY ROMANCE. An article by David Bodanis in this weekend’s Financial Times told a romantic story about an inventor. Bodanis focused on the lessons the story gave on how to innovate, but he told the story movingly. In … Continue reading →

Posted in History | 2 Comments

MOE BERG.

Posted on May 26, 2007 by Philip

MOE BERG. Moe Berg was a good-field-no-hit catcher in the major leagues in the twenties and thirties, playing for several teams, including the White Sox. He was a lawyer and a linguist and knew a great many things, as described … Continue reading →

Posted in Baseball, History, Sports | 1 Comment

THE GRAND PRIX SABOTEURS.

Posted on May 26, 2007 by Philip

THE GRAND PRIX SABOTEURS. This weekend’s Financial Times has a review by James Allen of THE GRAND PRIX SABOTEURS by Joe Saward. Grover Williams, an Englishman, won the first Grand Prix in Monte Carlo in 1929 in a Bugatti. In … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Sports | 3 Comments

EATING CICADAS.

Posted on May 25, 2007 by Philip

EATING CICADAS. The seventeen-year cicadas are out in the Chicago area. I remember experiencing them in 1956 and 1990. The sheer number of them is thrilling. In 1990, a friend remarked that he had never seen such fat birds. This … Continue reading →

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DOES AMERICA NEED A QUEEN?

Posted on May 25, 2007 by Philip

DOES AMERICA NEED A QUEEN? This question is asked from time to time by people who point out the practical advantages for the United Kingdom in having Queen Elizabeth II as head of state. The argument goes that the Queen … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Politics | 2 Comments