Monthly Archives: April 2009

HOW TO LEARN MATH. In OUTLIERS, Malcolm Gladwell proposes the “10,000-Hour Rule” and describes how many achievements have been made by people who have devoted 10,000 hours to their subject. Examples he gives include the Beatles (appearances in Hamburg) and … Continue reading →

A FORMAL MAN. In the fifties, people still spoke of Shanty Irish and Lace Curtain Irish. My father, who was South Side Chicago Irish, always dressed formally. Until the last days of his life he wore a suit and necktie … Continue reading →

THE WORKMAN’S CAP. I claimed here that I tend to oblivious to the importance of status and class, in contrast with Tom Wolfe who says that “… the most important thing to spot in any situation you’re writing about [is] … Continue reading →

CLASS AND SUCCESS–AMERICA AND BRITAIN. My friend Rob Gallo watched all of the UP SERIES after reading about it on this blog and then recommended Malcolm Gladwell’s OUTLIERS to me. I can see the connection. The UP SERIES set out … Continue reading →

WHISTLING AND PHILOSOPHY. Frank Ramsey had more in mind about Wittgenstein when he said that “What we can’t say we can’t say, and we can’t whistle it either.” This review by Anthony Gottlieb of Alexander Waugh’s new joint biography of … Continue reading →

SILENCE AND PHILOSOPHY. Nick commented here that: “It’s interesting, in both Conrad’s HEART OF DARKNESS and Sterne’s SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY, which I’ve been reading recently, the narrators both speak about how they find it impossible to convey a feeling to another … Continue reading →

CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS BACK IN THE DAY. An article in the New York Post reports that the two new stadiums in New York City will use over twice as much electricity as the ballparks they are replacing. It’s because of “hi-def … Continue reading →

ONE HUNDRED PER CENT. Nick suggested that I post on this news story about a ruling in a Russian court that threw out a sexual harassment case on the grounds that, as the judge ruled, “If we had no sexual … Continue reading →