Tag Archives: language

More Wit, Less Affirmation!

Posted on June 4, 2019 by JMN

Jessa Crispin cites two writers to illustrate the distinction she draws between aphorism and affirmation. Aphorism: “He who fears death will never do anything worthy of a man who is alive.” (Seneca) Affirmation: “I do not need the kind of … Continue reading →

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Poetry for the Kitchen Slops Bucket

Posted on June 4, 2019 by JMN

Lucasta Miller is the author of “L.E.L.: The Lost Life and Scandalous Death of Letitia Elizabeth Landon, the Celebrated ‘Female Byron.’” Landon’s “scandalous” death occurred at her own hand with prussic acid at age 36. Even today, Letitia Landon provokes … Continue reading →

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Guide by the Perplexed — No Money Shot

Posted on June 3, 2019 by JMN

An old advertising tag-line for an investment firm was voiced by the British-American actor John Houseman: “We make music the old fashioned way; we earn it.” Houseman, of course, said “money,” not “music.” In my effort to show with strong, … Continue reading →

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Francophilia

Posted on June 1, 2019 by JMN

Where I live I have not encountered in recent memory an American who knows, or wants to know, French. Roger Cohen’s encomium to the language and culture is touching. It’s poignant to share French love with another outsider. To be … Continue reading →

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Second Take

Posted on June 1, 2019 by JMN

Learning something about a picture — how it’s made or its origin, for example — can trigger or enhance appreciation. I wonder if an artist really wants that? Wouldn’t he or she prefer that the work commune directly and totally … Continue reading →

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Cricket Talk

Posted on June 1, 2019 by JMN

[Paraphrase] The bowlers were boys from the groundstaff. One had the temerity to bowl a beamer at Viv Richards. Viv shot the kid an icy glare. The kid bowled him an apologetic delivery. Richards creamed it for four into the … Continue reading →

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“Strangeness”

Posted on May 28, 2019 by JMN

Science, art and language collide a lot in the field of theoretical physics, it seems. There are appealing language touches in the work of Nobel laureate Murray Gell-Mann profiled in this article. He “mischievously” named his theory of elementary particles … Continue reading →

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Three Tiers!

Posted on May 26, 2019 by JMN

The NYTimes chronicles the romance and nuptials of this couple in its “Vows” section. I never read this section, but a crafty flourish in the subheading of this particular installment trapped me. It illustrates an astute whoring for eyeballs: Brian … Continue reading →

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“Rived”!

Posted on May 22, 2019 by JMN

Rived by years of infighting…. (Editorial Board, “An Electoral Brush Fire in Australia,” NYTimes, 5-20-19) Past participles in this opinion piece flutter the heart of a nerdy grammaticist. I rarely read or use the verb “(to) rive,” which I think … Continue reading →

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Furiouser Than Thou

Posted on May 20, 2019 by JMN

Margaret Renkl writes from Tennessee. Her anguish over what she calls the racist and misogynistic travesty that is endemic and persisting in southern society is palpable in the column cited here. Renkl cites recent instances of atrocities committed by southern … Continue reading →

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