Just brilliant writing. "...between bombing Iran and bombing at the Correspondent's Dinner." And then referring to the DPC's report as "deep as the Lincoln Memorials' Reflecting Pool and just as leaky." Hallmarks of why I love to read everything you write. Bravo!!!
Thank you for highlighting the latest insult that the Trump administration has unleashed on our shared history. I can’t wait until the midterm elections, although I am keeping my fingers crossed. I saw The Odyssey and was underwhelmed. I highly recommend seeing Hadestown: The Musical, which is currently still showing in many movie theaters. I did see this on Broadway, but you catch so much more seeing it on the big screen. André De Shields is the bomb.
A full-to-the-brim post of the many good things (one excepted) we have to look forward.
Kudos for Lonnie Burch for standing up to the idiots and imbeciles of this administration. I was born in Arlington, grew up in Fairfax County, and spent decades in the D.C. area after college. As a child, the Smithsonian museums were and remain an endless source of fascinating history and learning. It's infuriating to see them attacked.
Glad to see your pieces on Claudia Rankine and Gregory Orr, two of many poets whose books I have on my shelves. I very much appreciate that you include and praise poetry in your Friday post. More people should.
Gee, I was under the impression that people really liked books (and movies) where the main characters are flawed in some number of ways but still went on to do something good, or even great, despite those flaws.
Ah, the good ole days when the Booker Prize restricted itself to authors from the UK, Ireland, and the Commonwealth. Then we had the chance to learn of writers in English overlooked by the conglomerate dominated U.S. publishing industry. I guess I'll have to start my own literary prize when I become a billionaire. Should be any day now.
Brilliant column, as usual! Thank goodness the stupid notices have to be posted outside the Smithsonian. I'm so glad they are independent.
Barred owls are quite territorial. I was dive-bombed by one a few years back on my daily jog down the trail next to the golf course. I really didn't know what had hit me, but it hurt. I looked around for a fallen stick or stone. Seeing nothing, I continued. Clunk, this time on the back of the head. I was kind of freaked out and ran down onto the golf course. It was only after thinking about it that I considered the possibility of an owl attack. It turns out that a few minutes after my adventure, my friends saw the owl and were trying to get a picture of it when it swooped down and took the beanie off one of their heads. I'm glad your encounter didn't lead to an injury.
Good grief! I had no idea that was a possibility -- or I might not have approached and taken that photo. Thanks for the warning. (And I'm glad you weren't seriously hurt.)
My house is on the corner where the high school bus stops. The kids literally do not talk to each other -- they look at their phones. I understand that talking to fellow students you don't know seems socially dangerous at that age, but I also know that I became best friends for the last 60 years with someone who was at my bus stop, because NOT talking when we didn't have cell phones was weirder than risking an actual conversation.
Just brilliant writing. "...between bombing Iran and bombing at the Correspondent's Dinner." And then referring to the DPC's report as "deep as the Lincoln Memorials' Reflecting Pool and just as leaky." Hallmarks of why I love to read everything you write. Bravo!!!
Thank you, Harri. (And thank you for your financial support!)
"I suspect they're about three-fifth right." Spectacular.
Thank you for highlighting the latest insult that the Trump administration has unleashed on our shared history. I can’t wait until the midterm elections, although I am keeping my fingers crossed. I saw The Odyssey and was underwhelmed. I highly recommend seeing Hadestown: The Musical, which is currently still showing in many movie theaters. I did see this on Broadway, but you catch so much more seeing it on the big screen. André De Shields is the bomb.
A full-to-the-brim post of the many good things (one excepted) we have to look forward.
Kudos for Lonnie Burch for standing up to the idiots and imbeciles of this administration. I was born in Arlington, grew up in Fairfax County, and spent decades in the D.C. area after college. As a child, the Smithsonian museums were and remain an endless source of fascinating history and learning. It's infuriating to see them attacked.
Glad to see your pieces on Claudia Rankine and Gregory Orr, two of many poets whose books I have on my shelves. I very much appreciate that you include and praise poetry in your Friday post. More people should.
DM me with your mailing address, Maureen. I'll send you a copy of "We Interrupt This Broadcast."
Gee, I was under the impression that people really liked books (and movies) where the main characters are flawed in some number of ways but still went on to do something good, or even great, despite those flaws.
Indeed, but we should not go out of our way to sugar coat or erase the flaws. Despite our flawed humanity, progress can be made.
Fabulous Friday!!
Ah, the good ole days when the Booker Prize restricted itself to authors from the UK, Ireland, and the Commonwealth. Then we had the chance to learn of writers in English overlooked by the conglomerate dominated U.S. publishing industry. I guess I'll have to start my own literary prize when I become a billionaire. Should be any day now.
First I've heard of the new Rankine book! It sounds stunning. And I'll look up Daniel Schonning's book. Thank you for taking poetry seriously.
Wikipedia claims that JG Farrell won the Booker twice as well, apparently because one of them was the Lost Man Booker Prize.
"a barred owl flapped up from the ground and lit on a branch."
I did a double take at your precise use of "lit" in a sentence. I recently discovered then forgot a convenient way of remembering how to use it.
OMG Ron! Did you actually read that Smithsonian drek? Thank you for your service.
It's mind-numbing whining.
Thanks for your support, Lisa.
…and reveals the President’s ignorance & lack of education.
Americans need saving from this administration. Thank you for contributing to the salvation!
Thanks for reading, Luanne. I'm honored to be in the chorus of people pushing back against all this inanity.
Brilliant column, as usual! Thank goodness the stupid notices have to be posted outside the Smithsonian. I'm so glad they are independent.
Barred owls are quite territorial. I was dive-bombed by one a few years back on my daily jog down the trail next to the golf course. I really didn't know what had hit me, but it hurt. I looked around for a fallen stick or stone. Seeing nothing, I continued. Clunk, this time on the back of the head. I was kind of freaked out and ran down onto the golf course. It was only after thinking about it that I considered the possibility of an owl attack. It turns out that a few minutes after my adventure, my friends saw the owl and were trying to get a picture of it when it swooped down and took the beanie off one of their heads. I'm glad your encounter didn't lead to an injury.
Good grief! I had no idea that was a possibility -- or I might not have approached and taken that photo. Thanks for the warning. (And I'm glad you weren't seriously hurt.)
I love your newsletters, Ron!
Thank you, Julie. I hope you're doing well despite the “toomuchness of now.”
I aspire to do well, but now I am happy with not terrible. And I hope you are well!
My house is on the corner where the high school bus stops. The kids literally do not talk to each other -- they look at their phones. I understand that talking to fellow students you don't know seems socially dangerous at that age, but I also know that I became best friends for the last 60 years with someone who was at my bus stop, because NOT talking when we didn't have cell phones was weirder than risking an actual conversation.
Exactly!