Monthly Archives: November 2019

Thanksgiving Turkey

Posted on November 14, 2019 by JMN

“You should revise your stance towards Turkey, which at the moment holds so many Isis members in prison and at the same time controls those in Syria,” Erdoğan told European countries in remarks to reporters in Ankara on Tuesday. “These … Continue reading →

Posted in Quotations | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Precise, Forceful, Formal, Direct, Powerful

Posted on November 14, 2019 by JMN

A letter to the NYTimes is signed by Roxana Robinson, former president of the Authors Guild, and 32 other writers. It exhorts The Times to “use precise and forceful language that reveals the struggle in which we now find ourselves.” … Continue reading →

Posted in Quotations | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

To Some Extent, Women

Posted on November 13, 2019 by JMN

… Edith Gregor Halpert (1900-1970), was a formidable, feisty and sometimes manipulative self-starter with an ecumenical eye, a passion for art and an inborn instinct for sales and promotion. Halpert was central to establishing the market for between-the-wars American art … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary | Tagged | Leave a comment

What Huge Imago

Posted on November 11, 2019 by JMN

On this Veterans’ Day I salute military persons past and present who have honored their country, including my son, a Navy man currently serving on a far shore. I’ve undertaken my periodic re-memorization of W.H. Auden’s epoch-spanning poem “September 1, … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

“I’m a Bit Worried”

Posted on November 11, 2019 by JMN

Jim Kay, who lives in Sussex, England, talks about his work as an illustrator of Harry Potter novels. How would you say your style has evolved over the years? I haven’t found a style yet. I’m desperately trying to find … Continue reading →

Posted in Anthology, Quotations | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

A Week of Orgisms

Posted on November 9, 2019 by JMN

I’ve recently seen mention of cubism, orphism, synchromism, and now suprematism. This last is what Kazimir Malevich called his movement. Art history is a geyser of isms. This article illustrates the masterpiece-or-fake-ism that sprinkles journalism. Internationally [Malevich] is probably most … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Humbug Goes Virile

Posted on November 7, 2019 by JMN

Rights groups also say that an increasingly bitter political climate surrounding Brexit has fueled the flames — as did recent remarks by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on the treatment of female lawmakers… In a parliamentary debate in September, Mr. Johnson … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary | Tagged | Leave a comment

Shades of Black

Posted on November 7, 2019 by JMN

Stories in today’s press foster a rumination about “misconduct.” The monarch of Thailand banished two courtiers from his entourage for “extremely evil misconduct.” Unpacking the phrase’s implications suggests there may be three shades of misconduct: Misconduct (White) Evil misconduct (Grey) … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary | Tagged | Leave a comment

Get the ‘Lead’ Out

Posted on November 5, 2019 by JMN

She has lead the way, but all the candidates need to come clean about their health care proposals. (Elisabeth Rosenthal, “Elizabeth Warren Throws Down the Gauntlet,” NYTimes, 11-4-19) The error in the NYTimes subheading is more exciting than usual. It … Continue reading →

Posted in Anthology, Commentary | Tagged | Leave a comment

A Descendant of Ralph the Wrecker

Posted on November 5, 2019 by JMN

A mighty union that had lasted hundreds of years, running from the Orkneys to Cornwall, from Belfast to Llanfair Pwllgwyngyll, would have been torn asunder…. (Nicholas Kristof, “Will Great Britain Become Little England?” NYTimes, 11-2-19) I would like to visit … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary | Tagged , | Leave a comment