Tag Archives: language

Retire “Toxic.” “Hegemonic” is Here

Posted on August 28, 2019 by JMN

Scholars call it “hegemonic masculinity,” a fancy phrase defining the traditional male ideal as being stoic, tough and aggressive. The body is an instrument of violence in this rationalization…The football helmet… is not just a form of protection but… a … Continue reading →

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Duking It Out With Regret

Posted on August 25, 2019 by JMN

“I have said previously that it was a mistake and an error to see him after his release… I can only reiterate my regret… I was mistaken to think that what I thought I knew of him was evidently not … Continue reading →

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Please God, Net It Out!

Posted on August 23, 2019 by JMN

I’ve read “Ulysses,” “War and Peace,” some of Henry James and most of Faulkner — but not recently. I’m aware I’ve just bragged, and I’m ashamed of it in a manner of speaking. These four writers aren’t known for netting … Continue reading →

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“Carnal Tapioca”

Posted on August 21, 2019 by JMN

Recently in the NYTimes Roberta Smith wrote a spirited appraisal of the exhibition of Renoir’s late nudes at the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, MA. Peter Schjeldahl weighs in on the topic in the latest New Yorker. It’s fascinating how … Continue reading →

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Monkey Say, Monkey Think

Posted on August 21, 2019 by JMN

“The slovenliness of our language makes it easier for us to have foolish thoughts.” (George Orwell, “Politics and the English Language”) (Quoted by David Streitfeld, “Paging Big Brother: In Amazon’s Bookstore, Orwell Gets a Rewrite,” NYTimes, 8-19-19) (c) 2019 JMN

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Methanol Republic

Posted on August 21, 2019 by JMN

A Nobel laureate-in-waiting will spirit the drinkability out of antifreeze. Enlightened governments will protect their populations. Unicorns will pasture in Central America. These potables are flagged as suspect in this article: Guaro Montano, Guaro Gran Apache, Aguardiente Estrella, Aguardiente Barón … Continue reading →

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Cedric Benson (1982-2019)

Posted on August 20, 2019 by JMN

The death of a man in his young prime, and of his passenger on the motorcycle, is an unmixed tragedy. I have nothing but respect and condolence for all who mourn the cruel loss of these two lives. What strikes … Continue reading →

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Four Rules

Posted on August 17, 2019 by JMN

Krugman is a Nobel laureate with a knack for being right and wry. I value him for his thinking and for his rhetoric. Last year, after an earlier stock market swoon brought on by headlines about the U.S.-China trade conflict, … Continue reading →

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Song of the Ottoman: Original Poem

Posted on August 16, 2019 by JMN

Our past is our mystery. It is the tangle we have made of our hopes when we have come up to them. The future alone is clear. (Robert Henri) INTRO What it is not is an ottoman. What it is … Continue reading →

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Song of Theirselves

Posted on August 11, 2019 by JMN

I’ve been at Amsterdam dinners where everyone is speaking brilliant English, but the minute I leave the table they switch back to Dutch. If all we know is English, we won’t know what the rest of the world is saying … Continue reading →

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