Author Archives: JMN

About JMN

I live in Texas and devote much of my time to easel painting on an amateur basis. I stream a lot of music, mostly jazz, throughout the day, and watch Netflix and Prime Video for entertainment. I like to read and memorize poetry.

You Can’t Get There from Here

Posted on March 30, 2020

“Opportunity definitely died on election night 2016 for federal court reform,” said Scott Greytak, a lawyer who worked at Free Speech for People… Now, he said, “All the energy and attention has been pushed down to the state and local … Continue reading →

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

Compassionate Conservative

Posted on March 28, 2020

A column in The Times by Bret Stephens got POTUS’s attention recently. There is conjecture that it may have contributed to the “cure-worse-than-the-disease” propaganda that trumpets against efficient pandemic control. My mom puts the groceries away and we sit down … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Quotations | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Upping the Steaks

Posted on March 28, 2020

A streak of pluckiness, or at least a commitment to persist, as well as a capacity to think deeply and grow out of the shallows — these traits peek through David Chang’s glimpse into his personal tribulations and his sober … Continue reading →

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

The Ides of Texas Are Upon Ya

Posted on March 26, 2020

[Dan] Patrick, who said he will turn 70 next week, said that he did not fear COVID-19, but feared that stay-at-home orders and economic upheaval would destroy the American way of life. No one reached out to me and said, … Continue reading →

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

“Porous, Promiscuous Phenomena”

Posted on March 26, 2020

Jorge Carrión’s article was translated by Erin Goodman, and appeared in the NYTimes on January 26, 2020, entitled “Rosalía and the Art of the Remix.” Rosalía is new to me, but personal and professional ties to Catalonia and Spain incline … Continue reading →

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

“Doesn’t Not” Don’t Mean “Yes”

Posted on March 25, 2020

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has publicly corrected or qualified presidential assertions about the coronavirus threat on multiple occasions. Trump was asked why Fauci was absent from Monday’s lengthy press briefing. Trump … Continue reading →

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

Living in Interesting Times

Posted on March 24, 2020

This essay by Ai Weiwei, published in the NYTimes on January 13, 2020, was translated by Perry Link from the Chinese. (“Capitalism and ‘Culturecide’,” NYTimes). I learn here that Ai Weiwei’s father, Ai Qing, was a poet who was banished … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Quotations | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment