We have not had a chance to read Jon Gertner’s entire article from yesterday’s Times Magazine on the Nielsens, Arbitrons, and other media-measuring devices—but we’ve enjoyed what we’ve read so far. It comports with some of the bones we’ve been gnawing on around here in recent days. In two very important ways, these sorts of … Read more
Marginalia by Billy Collins Sometimes the notes are ferocious, skirmishes against the author raging along the borders of every page in tiny black script. If I could just get my hands on you, Kierkegaard, or Conor Cruise O’Brien, they seem to say, I would bolt the door and beat some logic into your head. Other … Read more
Catullus 51 translated by James Michie To me he seems godlike, in my eyes even More than Divine (if that’s not sacriligious), The man who sits beside you all day gazing, Hearing all day Your musical laughter. Dazed by love, he loses The use of all his senses. Oh, the moment, I see you, Lesbia, … Read more
There are plenty of things you whippersnappers take for granted that were nothing but dreams and mysteries to those of us who were responsible for digging up so many of the early answers. We had to get to the bottom of all manner of monkey business, and to say that we had limited resources at … Read more
I can’t think of a better poem than Catullus 5 for a warm spring day. I recited this at a friend’s wedding once and the bride swooned. Let us live, my darling, and let us love And let us regard the disapproving looks of the old men As we would a penny in the gutter. … Read more
Where is it you find yourself? Right here. Might I ask you to be more specific? On the floor, surrounded by records, books, and baseball things. Baseball things? Yes, books, mitts, that sort of thing. You say ‘surrounded’ –are there in fact a great many of these things? Yes, a great many indeed. Do you … Read more
I’ve agreed to this nonsense with the utmost reluctance, and if you studied the conditions of our arrangement that Zellar outlined below I think you’ll agree that I drive a hard bargain. Even so, I can’t pronounce myself satisfied. If I live to be fifty it’s not likely you’ll hear me pronounce myself satisfied. There … Read more
As far as tempests in teacups go, this is pretty good—and we’ll just assume that the tea party is now permanently adjourned. We’d link to them to show you just how idiotic and desperate they have become (Last post: “Could We Have Some Facts, Please?”—no shit) but we’ve pledged never to do that again. See, … Read more
And time to think of more than death. So, here’s to love today. Go home early, enjoy the weather and a comely companion. I Knew a Woman By Theodore Roethke I knew a woman, lovely in her bones, When small birds sighed, she would sigh back at them; Ah, when she moved, she moved more … Read more
That, if I’m not mistaken, is a quote from Rick Stelmaszek, who is arguably the most hardened of the baseball lifers in the Twins clubhouse. This was last year, or maybe the year before that. At any rate, Stelmaszek’s reminder was directed at one youngster or another who was hanging his head at the time … Read more