Category Archives: Commentary

Opinion or analysis concerning whatever’s on my mind.

Adverb Rebellion

Posted on May 23, 2021 by JMN

This passage from a fellow blogger (cap doff to) caught my eye: Reality? Well it starts to mock back at your face, you get surrounded by the clouds of regret, cry on the ashes of your pretentious bliss and feel … Continue reading →

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Semicolon Rebellion

Posted on May 22, 2021 by JMN

Use a semicolon to separate two independent clauses — i.e., two sentences that work on their own — which are closely sequential: “I finished a painting today; it went better than I thought it would.” Or in order to separate … Continue reading →

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Fanfare for the Arch and Monarchic Empyrean

Posted on May 21, 2021 by JMN

For fanfaronnish, pharaonic, peerlessly peeraged personnages kitted, kilted, severely coiffed and balconic in presence, shod and booted in besotted opulence, blackamoorian brooched, got up in splendid headgear, lorded lads and ladied dames garbed in emblazoned berobement, none… For sherlockian, sherwoodian, … Continue reading →

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In Which the Paladin of the Long Face Gives Wise Counsel to His Squire

Posted on May 19, 2021 by JMN

Sé breve en tus razonamientos; que ninguno hay gustoso si es largo.Be brief in your remarks; none is pleasurable if it’s long.(Don Quijote) (c) 2021 JMN — EthicalDative. All rights reserved

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To China and Back

Posted on May 18, 2021 by JMN

In 1922, Lin Shu translated the first part of “Don Quixote” into classical Chinese. It was published as “The Story of the Enchanted Knight.” Lin Shu knew no Spanish, nor any other western language. A friend who had read two … Continue reading →

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Ni pintado.

Posted on May 16, 2021 by JMN

La Ribera. Ni pintado. La luz cae y se levanta una ligera brisa. Solo se escucha el sonido de la corriente y el alboroto de las ranas. This goes out to those tadpoles in your pond, Alba. “Luz, brisa, sonido, … Continue reading →

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Vuelta a ellas.

Posted on May 16, 2021 by JMN

Arbusto en flor. Vuelta a ellas. Las flores o árboles siempre son una buena opción cuando no tienes oportunidad de fotografíar otras cosas. Besides being a lovely photo by Carmac, this caption merits your attention for the Spanish conversations we’re … Continue reading →

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What It Means

Posted on May 15, 2021 by JMN

The so-called ‘ethical dative’ or ‘dative of interest’, where the use of an indirect object pronoun expresses the involvement of the subject in the action of the verb, intensifies such feelings as sadness, happiness and mockery. Ten cuidado, y no … Continue reading →

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The Rock Pile

Posted on May 14, 2021 by JMN

Dwight Garner’s review of a new biography of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings* evokes a foible-wracked genius: It’s a pleasure to meet this cursing, hard-drinking, brilliant, self-destructive, car-wrecking, fun-loving, chain-smoking, alligator-hunting, moonshine-making, food-obsessed woman again on the page. The passage that hits … Continue reading →

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‘A Beautiful, Pathetic Object’

Posted on May 10, 2021 by JMN

It’s a pleasure to meet William T. Wiley, who moved and shook in a West Coast “funk art” scene while steering clear of wealth and fame. It’s no surprise that agreement on what exactly defined the funk art movement was … Continue reading →

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