Tag Archives: language

“Bid for Connection”

Posted on July 8, 2019 by JMN

Frank Bruni has written about his personal confrontation with potential loss of vision. In this column he writes of Joel Burcat, an environmental lawyer who has published a debut novel, “Drink to Every Beast,” after becoming legally blind. Bruni celebrates … Continue reading →

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Amazing Apology

Posted on July 8, 2019 by JMN

The man who wrote the words of “Amazing Grace” was a reformed English slave trader. He wrote the following: “I am bound in conscience to take shame to myself by a public confession which, however sincere, comes too late to … Continue reading →

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The Saving Grace of Dinghies

Posted on July 6, 2019 by JMN

I have had a soft spot in my heart for the humble dinghy since boyhood. At age 14 I ordered the plans for building a one-design sailing dinghy called the El Toro. Regrettably I never got the thing built, but … Continue reading →

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Patrician Passion With an Accent

Posted on July 5, 2019 by JMN

The drama – featuring the kind of flat, chirruping upper-middle-class English accents that aren’t usually voiced on screen – is intriguing and uncompromisingly high-minded, right on the laugh-with/laugh-at borderline, but interestingly unafraid of mockery. (Peter Bradshaw, “Vita & Virginia review … Continue reading →

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The Guardian on Relationships

Posted on July 3, 2019 by JMN

“How to tell your best friend you’re in love with them — by those who have taken the plunge” (Sirin Kale, The Guardian, 7-1-19) In days of yore this headline would not invite the interpretation that you love your best … Continue reading →

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New Old Proverb

Posted on July 3, 2019 by JMN

… “Skinfolk,” as the old proverb goes, aren’t always “kinfolk.” (Jamelle Bouie, “Kamala Harris Doesn’t Have to Believe in Joe Biden’s Innocence,” NYTimes, 7-1-19) This old proverb is new to me. It has the virtues of a good proverb: pith, … Continue reading →

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Musico-Logic Circles

Posted on July 1, 2019 by JMN

“Circular argument”: An argument whose conclusion is the same as one of its premises. (Quora) I flail about in music theory, often ending where I started — insufficiently informed and grandly blogging my perplexity. To feed this cause I’ve been … Continue reading →

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Shooting Stardom: When Teenyboppers Write Subheadings

Posted on June 29, 2019 by JMN

Two of the biggest Spanish-speaking global pop superstars discuss joining forces for the first “Watch the Throne”-style pairing in Latin music. (Joe Coscarelli, “How J Balvin and Bad Bunny Made Their Surprise Album, ‘Oasis’,” NYTimes, 6-28-18) In the universe of … Continue reading →

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“Our Blue-Eyed Girl”

Posted on June 29, 2019 by JMN

… Tourism secretary Miguel Torres Márquez tweeted a video of a pristine Cancún beach with the comment: “We’re looking after Cancún, ‘our blue-eyed girl’ and all the beautiful beaches of the Mexican Caribbean.” (David Agren, Seaweed invasion threatens tourism in … Continue reading →

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Power Tool

Posted on June 28, 2019 by JMN

“Superhuman” is an invitation-only email service that costs $30 a month and promises “the fastest email experience ever made.” Its support among fans “borders on evangelical.” “We have insane levels of virality that haven’t been seen since Dropbox or Slack,” … Continue reading →

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