Author Archives: JMN

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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. I like to read and memorize poetry.

Cooperate how?

Posted on September 15, 2018 by JMN

The House of Law is built on the sands of Adverbia. On Friday, Mr. [***] broke in a big way — agreeing to cooperate “fully, truthfully, completely, and forthrightly” regarding “any and all matters” the special counsel, [***], wants him … Continue reading →

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“Soria” Wrecked: Meter and Rhyme

Posted on September 13, 2018 by JMN

“Soria” by Antonio Machado, Spanish Poet, 1875-1939 From “Campos de Castilla,” Antonio Machado, Biblioteca Anaya, 1964. (English translations by James Mansfield Nichols) Translating into meter is a lost cause, but adding a rhyme scheme escalates it to a punishing lost cause. You’re … Continue reading →

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The Blanco River, by Molly O’Halloran

Posted on September 12, 2018 by JMN

This picture captured me. The act of hand-drawing and painting a map must tap into deep reserves of disciplined obsession. I live toward the bottom of the Guadalupe-Blanco Watershed. When it rains heavily up country it’s possible the mighty Wadi-Loopy … Continue reading →

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Category 4 Adverb Storm

Posted on September 12, 2018 by JMN

This just in: Extreme preparedness for extreme wetness! “Hurricane Florence / [***] says government is ‘absolutely, totally prepared’ for storm… [***] says storm will be ‘tremendously big and tremendously wet’….“ (The Guardian, 9-12-18) [Copyright (c) 2018 James Mansfield Nichols. All rights … Continue reading →

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1987 By the way…

Posted on September 12, 2018 by JMN

[Dear Mother,] By the way: I quoted a piece about biography in my last letter, to the effect that there is always an autobiography lurking. There is a figure that I almost think I’ve dreamed up, but that I know … Continue reading →

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Darrien and Derrick Were Twins

Posted on September 11, 2018 by JMN

Darrien and Derrick Wortham were twins. They looked as much alike as any two children could look. Played varsity ball together under Spunk McGruder. Spunk replaced Moon Wattles after Moon had that little problem in the locker room. Nice boys. … Continue reading →

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This Is Akin to That: Scoping Language

Posted on September 11, 2018 by JMN

“Gun rights groups have vowed to fight such moves [to limit the unfettered sale of bullets]: ‘Raising taxes on bullets to offset the cost of gun violence is akin to putting a levy on prescription drugs to pay for the … Continue reading →

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Gun Jumping

Posted on September 11, 2018 by JMN

“In technology, people are very, very fast to declare something a winner or loser, like, ‘That’ll never work,’ or ‘That’ll take over the world.’ The truth is always somewhere in between.” (Ben Silbermann, CEO of Pinterest, quoted by Erin Griffith, … Continue reading →

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“Soria”

Posted on September 10, 2018 by JMN

“Soria” by Antonio Machado, Spanish poet, 1875-1939 From “Campos de Castilla,” Antonio Machado, Biblioteca Anaya, Edición de José Luis Cano, 1964. (English translation by James Mansfield Nichols) The shield of Soria has the following heraldic description: [3] In a field … Continue reading →

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Jacinda Ardern

Posted on September 9, 2018 by JMN

She wants to show that women can lead with different styles, not cast themselves in the egotistical, brash mold of many male politicians. “One of the criticisms I’ve faced over the years is that I’m not aggressive enough or assertive … Continue reading →

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