Worducken

The what of history?

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 10:33:23 -0500

some synonyms for 'dandy,' from the OED's thesaurus

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 02:52:14 -0500

    minion   (a1513)
    prick-me-dainty   (a1529)
    puppy   (?1544)
    velvet-coat   (1549)
    skipjack   (1554)
    cock’s-comb   (1567)
    musk cat   (?1567)
    coxcomb   (1573)
    Adon   (1593)
    foretop   (1597)
    musk-cod   (1600)
    pretty fellow   (1600)
    spark   (c1600)
    spangle-baby   (1602)

1602 T. Dekker Satiro-mastix: We must haue false fiers to amaze these spangle babies, these true heires of Ma. Iustice Shallow.

(After 1602, less fabulous: barber-monger, dapperling, cockloche, satinist, etc.)

A Different Stripe: Happy Thanksgiving from Jules Renard

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 15:05:22 -0500

A Different Stripe: Happy Thanksgiving from Jules Renard:

nyrbclassics:

From Jules Renard’s Nature Stories, in the chapter named TURKEYS. The illustration is by Pierre Bonard:

I

SHE’S STRUTTING ABOUT THE FARMYARD as if she was living under the monarchy.
The other fowl merely go on eating all the time, anything they can find. She has regular mealtimes and,…

http://htmlgiant.com/snippet/77075/

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 11:03:19 -0500

http://htmlgiant.com/snippet/77075/:

last line from John Banville’s review of Joan Didion’s new memoir Blue Nights,

“However, it is most profound, and most provocative, at another level, the level at which the author comes fully to realize, and to face squarely, the dismaying fact that against life’s worst onslaughts nothing avails, not even art; especially not art.”

Does Money Affect Election Outcomes in US Politics? A Quick Review of the Literature

Fri, 04 Nov 2011 11:32:12 -0400

Does Money Affect Election Outcomes in US Politics? A Quick Review of the Literature:

“High-quality challengers may be deterred by large war chests, but other factors such as local political conditions and incumbent quality are more important: in most cases, a much-despised incumbent with a lot of money is in a worse position than a much-liked incumbent with very little money.”

Geology: When sand dunes collide

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 18:05:34 -0400

Geology: When sand dunes collide:

Nature 479, 7371 (2011). doi:10.1038/479009d

‘We have faith in our citizens’ – why?

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 13:01:51 -0400

‘We have faith in our citizens’ – why?:

“Although it is generally seen as desirable that parties in government are both representative and responsible, these two characteristics are now becoming increasingly incompatible.”

Poem of the week

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 11:50:38 -0400

Poem of the week:

“Let’s go our old way
by the stream, and kick the leaves
as we always did, to make
the rhythm of breaking waves.

This day draws no breath –
shows no colour anywhere
except for the leaves - in their death
brilliant as never before.

Yellow of Brimstone Butterfly,
brown of Oak Eggar Moth –
you’d say. And I’d be wondering why
a summer never seems lost

if two have been together
witnessing the variousness of light,
and the same two in lustreless November
enter the year’s night…

The slow-worm stream - how still!
Above that spider’s unguarded door,
look – dull pearls…Time’s full,
brimming, can hold no more.”

Englishing the Iliad: Grading Four Rival Translations

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 00:27:20 -0400

Englishing the Iliad: Grading Four Rival Translations:

(Daniel Mendelsohn)

"If I were to write an essay instead of a play about any of these subjects it wouldn’t be a profound..."

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 22:00:25 -0400

“If I were to write an essay instead of a play about any of these subjects it wouldn’t be a profound essay.”

- Tom Stoppard (via theparisreview)

So then, to tell you plainly — I know not whatMy end will be — my wits are out of...

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 21:52:02 -0400

So then, to tell you plainly — I know not what
My end will be — my wits are out of hand,
Like horses that with victory in sight
Stampede out of the course, and in my heart
As fear strikes up her tune, the dance begins.

(from somewhere in the Oresteia)

A few early, expensive comments by the novel about the other talent in the room

Mon, 31 Oct 2011 21:44:13 -0400

A few early, expensive comments by the novel about the other talent in the room