Monthly Archives: February 2009

February 25, 2009

Cursive

Michelle, myself and I: some advice for Barack Obama from the much-neglected Department of Pronouns. The Atlantic’s Barbara Wallraff and Joe Pickett of the American Heritage Dictionary are having a polite conversation about polite conversation. “It’s not about unrequited tragic … Continue reading →

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February 23, 2009

Not Fade Away

“He stops in the middle and just strums the rhythm…” Daniel Arizona remembers Buddy Holly. Christopher Guerin lists 46 authors who can be relied upon to produce a novel regularly every couple of years.  There’s only one problem: “the list … Continue reading →

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February 22, 2009

Im-portant

More handwriting,  this time from the Archives of American Art at the Smithsonian. A 1930 letter from American realist painter George Luks to Samuel Ross Ballin, the “dean” of New York bakruptcy lawyers.   At the time, Ballin was helping to … Continue reading →

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February 21, 2009

Find Out What it Means to Me

In a recent article for the Chronicle of Higher Education, Andrew Delbanco of Columbia University has taken up the ancient and honorable practice of suggesting how academics may earn social prestige, particularly now that the nation seems to have embraced … Continue reading →

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February 16, 2009

Repast

“Would I write on my blog if I’d been rejected in some way?”  Petrona wonders. “If it’s a massive overwhelming storm of adrenaline, calcium keeps pouring into the cells and the muscle just can’t relax.”  Yes, folks, you can die … Continue reading →

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