Monthly Archives: August 2008
Curriculum
Sociologist Frank Furedi takes on the folly of educators who accept “variant spelling” from their students. I’m not sure what Furedi thinks he is doing publishing an essay against “creative” spelling on a website that is called, a-hem, “Sp!ked.” But … Continue reading
Without Which Wee Must Be Eternaly Miserabil
A letter dated August 9, 1759 from Hannah Waterman King to Benedict Arnold, the only one of her sons to survive the yellow fever. At the time of this letter, Arnold was fighting in the French and Indian War. Before … Continue reading
Filed under Handwriting
Marathon
I just got around to reading James Wood’s odd little book, How Fiction Works, which is all over the place nowadays. Blogs, buses, book clubs, everywhere. My notes here are not intended as a review. Suffice it to say that … Continue reading
Filed under Language
Promises, Promises
David Bordwell defines the “cinephile,” a nocturnal species of which the professor has made an exhaustive study. The creature in question doesn’t just “love movies.” Heck no, The cinephile loves the idea of film. That means loving not only its … Continue reading
Filed under Found Phrases, Language, Teaching
Pastures
In a stunning display of self-indulgence, I’ve successfully invented an excuse to spend my nonexistent free time re-reading James Agee and Walker Evans Let Us Now Praise Famous Men. A nicely written paragraph for your consideration: Near Woods’ barn on … Continue reading
Filed under Found Phrases, Language
