Category Archives: Commentary

Opinion or analysis concerning whatever’s on my mind.

The Critic Almost Ran Out of Praise

Posted on October 11, 2019 by JMN

Here’s a review of Nick Cave’s album “Ghosteen” that has a left-handed conclusion. On one level, it shouldn’t be surprising that it’s as good as it is: Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds have been in a career-high purple patch … Continue reading →

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Shot Fox

Posted on October 6, 2019 by JMN

“He may think spaffing some last-minute cash has shot Labour’s fox.” (Polly Toynbee, “The Tories have split the country. No spending splurge can repair it,” theguardian.com, 9-30-19) I couldn’t say it better than that though I knew what it meant. … Continue reading →

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Smugglers With a Heart

Posted on October 6, 2019 by JMN

A statement that the police boat “span out of control” is a perfect error modeled on the “begin-began-begun” pattern, eminently forgivable in an article sourced from a non-English news agency. My real reason for blogging this article is admiration for … Continue reading →

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Illustration of the Day

Posted on October 6, 2019 by JMN

(From Richard Reeves, “Now the Rich Want Your Pity,” NYTimes, 10-5-19) I don’t believe a picture is always worth several words. But this one is. (c) 2019 JMN

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Dallas Complaints Department

Posted on October 6, 2019 by JMN

“The complainant was found lying on the ground in the apartment parking lot with multiple gunshot wounds,” the police said. “Dallas Fire-Rescue responded and transported the complainant to Parkland Memorial Hospital, where he died from his injuries. Several witnesses heard … Continue reading →

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Homepage | Dilbert by Scott Adams

Posted on October 2, 2019 by JMN

The Official Dilbert Website featuring Scott Adams Dilbert strips, animation, mashups and more starring Dilbert, Dogbert, Wally, The Pointy Haired Boss, Alice, Asok, Dogberts New Ruling Class and more. — Read on dilbert.com/ Parody Inversion Point

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The Dark Greys of Her Eyebrow

Posted on September 29, 2019 by JMN

Former PM David Cameron asked the Queen for “just a raising of the eyebrow even… a quarter of an inch” to convey opposition to Scottish independence in 2014. “I’ve already said perhaps a little bit too much,” he conceded recently. … Continue reading →

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Ways of Looking

Posted on September 29, 2019 by JMN

Benjamin Moser has published “Sontag,” a biography of Susan Sontag. This favorable review of it left me mulling the following remark: “Biography is a metaphor,” Moser said. “It’s not the person’s life; it’s writing about a person’s life. Just like … Continue reading →

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American Dream Nicked

Posted on September 26, 2019 by JMN

Someone recently stole a solid gold toilet from an exhibit at Blenheim Palace, the family home of Winston Churchill. Its Italian creator named it “America.” The toilet was functional. Its theft “caused significant damage and flooding.” Dominic Hare, the chief … Continue reading →

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Possum Mechanics

Posted on September 15, 2019 by JMN

Max Planck invented the term “quantum,” writes Deepak Chopra, a professor of family medicine and public health, in a letter to the NYTimes. He quotes a 1931 interview with The Observer of London in which Planck said, “I regard matter as … Continue reading →

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