Category Archives: Quotations

Things people said.

“Painter of Disquiet”

Roberta Smith remarks that by a certain point in the show “it becomes clear why [Félix] Vallotton is not considered a first-rate painter. Perhaps he was excessively skilled with too many options at his fingertips.” It struck me as a … Continue reading

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Knotty, Naughty “Not”

Americans need leaders who rise to the occasion, not [my bolding] worry about their own pocketbooks. (The Editorial Board, “Did Richard Burr and Kelly Loeffler Profit From the Pandemic?” NYTimes, 3-20-20) I haven’t read this particular article, but my reflexive … Continue reading

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There Used to Always Be an England

Beppe Severgnini reminisced in early January about what he and millions of Continental Europeans have cherished about the United Kingdom. Above all, we were mesmerized by that quaint country, where the citizens had pounds and not kilograms, restaurants served meat … Continue reading

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Latinx Redux

Dr. García Peña has been involved in… the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures’ program in Latinx studies [my bolding]. (Latinx is a gender-neutral term for people of Latin American heritage, used commonly in academia.) (Kate Taylor, “Denying a Professor … Continue reading

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Note to Self: Research This Mindset

Britain is a rich country and may fare better than others. But the N.H.S. is creaking at the seams after years of underfunding [my bolding]. A decade of cuts by successive Conservative governments has stripped the service of resources. Staff … Continue reading

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Dispatch from the Charwoman

I’ve received from a political entity email that closes as follows: James, it’s never been more clear that the work we do at the HDCC matters a great deal. Our Democratic candidates are continuing to fight for health care coverage … Continue reading

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Disordered Stick Bombs

“… A steady state hysteresis caused by reversible slippage”: There are passages in this article about the study of bird nests that read for me like poetry written in the language of physics. One effort to disentangle the structural dynamics … Continue reading

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Artyfacts, Booze Nicked from Posh Uni

[Blotter summary courtesy of Nick Mansfield Branded Fictions and Hand-Me-Down Press] Break-in at purpose-built, Queen-opened Christ Church college netted burglars three high-value old pix described as “important cultural artefacts.” It’s a fresh-dealt blow to Oxford college already reeling from mysterious … Continue reading

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Tummlers

Yes, it saw the invention of cars, airplanes, and computers, but the 20th century will be remembered most for its chronic wars. However, a sweet vestige to preserve from then is what’s known as the “tummler,” a term introduced to … Continue reading

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All Hail the Mighty State

“Texas, our Texas, so wonderful and great…” goes the song. “Texas is one of the most prepared states for public health disasters in the U.S.” (Tweet by Governor Greg Abbott on March 9, 2020) State with highest number of people … Continue reading

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