America's Next President?

Through all the bluster and fog, Economist.com America's next presidentThe Economist never fails to deliver. Its analysis, tempered by a heavy heart, is quite admirable. I think this article should be required reading before any of us go to the polls on Tuesday.

Thus Endeth the Lesson!

For the Boston Red Sox, and for those who followed them and never gave up on them through sixteen Presidents, Prohibition, Women's Suffrage, the Civil Rights Act, the introduction of the Big Bang theory, Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, the Depression, World War II, the Holocaust, the obliteration of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the long slog of the Cold War, Korea, the fall of Saigon, the fall of Baghdad, the attacks of September 11, the assassinations of Gandhi, Evers, King, Kennedy, Kennedy and X, the long, strange trip that has been the stewardship of George W. Bush, and everything else that has marched across the pages of history for the last 86 years, there is a lesson in here somewhere.

October Surprise

Happy Halloween to all (and don't forget to get that extra hour of sleep by turning your clocks back). It has been quite a week. The Red Sox took the World Series in four games after dispatching the Yankees in four straight after being down 3 zip. An incredible accomplishment. The Economist tied up its election coverage with a cover that pits the "incomptent" vs. the "incoherant". Whatever happens next Tuesday, the Republic shall still survive.

Happy Halloween!

Movie is latest news from Lake Wobegon

So Keillor is going Hollywood, eh? Well it is not soon enough. The show will be taped presentations of the radio show made over several weeks.St. Paul Pioneer Press | 10/28/2004 | Movie is latest news from Lake Wobegon

Happy Birthday

Two literary publications are twenty-five. Xerxes wishes for twenty five again. The London Review of Books and Granta both celebrate their birthdays, and as the Telegraph | Arts | They have both kept their teethTelegraph notes, both are still in good hands.

Brits & Bush

Most Britons hate George Bush finding him oafish and unintelligent. I suppose that the same could be said of the "blues". In another article in today's LATimes Sperling postulates that rather than Red or Blue we should categorize ourselves as 'metro' or 'retro'. However one chooses to identify the voting population there remains a bitter cultural divide in this country. One that will not be resolved by this election. The Spectator.co.uk

Boston vs. Austin

A fun and insightful piece on why Texas and Massachusetts have dominated presidential politics. Boston.com / News / Boston Globe / Boston Globe Ideas Section

Kerry

The Presidential Election is only eight days away. The analysts tell us that eleven states, mostly surrounding the Great Lakes hold the results in the balance. I am voting for Kerry because I believe that the nation needs a leader who is willing to admit the United States to the community of nations. It was the United States that championed the formation of the United Nations after the Second World War as an NGO to assure that problems could be resolved by multi-lateral action. Bush has espoused unilateralism. The war in Iraq has been a disaster not just because Iraq represented no threat to the interests of the United States but because it separated us from the other powers of the first world and absolutely aliented us the the largely Muslim Third World. It was the United States that formulated the Marshall plan which recognized that there can be no peace until the world reaches some kind of economic equality. Free trade and globalization must be allowed to flourish. I do not believe that a President can affect the economy as much as the candidates would have us believe, but I do think that the United States must be at the forefront of managing the World Economy. Economics are still market driven. Bush is too constrained by his conservative base to be able to be at the vanguard of globalization.

So we shall see what the eleven states bring us but I hope that they bring us a unifying, determined and far thinking leader.

If it be Kerry; may he lead us wisely. If it be Bush; may he seek new advisors.

The Seven Basic Plots

I haven't read this book yet but it sounds marvelous. This is a review from the FT. FT.com / Arts & Weekend / Books - 'The Seven Basic Plots: Why We Tell Stories', Christopher Booker (Financial Times) which discusses seven basic plots of all story-telling. I confess fascination with the notion that only seven plots are the analytical residue of all story telling. At 730 pages it promises to be quite a read, but certainly worth a look.

Weekend Musings

Looking at the news this weekend, I was struck by an article in the Scotsman that two Edinborough theatres had adopted a money back guarantee. If one is dissatisfied with a performance one simply has to ask and the price of the ticket is refunded. I believe I could make a fortune if this policy is more widely adopted.

Two talented gentlemen assume new posts today and we wish them good luck and good fortune. William Grimes takes over as editor of the New York Times Book Review. Grimes has done restaurant and miscellaneous other reviews for the Times and he is a talented writer indeed. One hopes that he will bring some new vigor to the grey lady's book department.

Also today James Levine takes over the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Levine is most talented and he has a true artistic vision. He is fortunate to have the magnificent BSO under his baton. The orchestra is equally lucky to have someone of his stature in charge. At this time of floundering for classical music it bodes well to have the two together.

What's in Name?

Having never been in Mongolia, I was unaware that its denizans had only first names or what used to be refered to as 'Christian' names The scheme seemed to have worked pretty well up to now. But a brilliant bureaucrat thought that it should be necessary to have all Mongolians adopt surnames for the country to enter the modern world. The result has been wonderful. Check out this article to see some of the imaginative names chosen by the Mongolians. It raises the question of what name one might choose if given the opportunity.Identity Issues in Mongolia

PRICELESS!

The Guardian supposed that it's readers, some of whom are in the UK. Little did they know how the good citizens of Ohio would react. Quite a collection.Guardian Unlimited | US elections 2004 | Reaction from the US to the Guardian's Clark County project

Coffee and a custom CD to go at Starbucks

What a brilliant marketing ploy. Whilst having one's coffee, burn a CD. Coffee and a custom CD to go at Starbucks

Pierre Salinger

Rest in peace Mr. Salinger. One the last century's most stylish public figures has died. Pierre Salinger in addition to being a great friend of the French was a highly skilled politician from the Kennedy clan.Salon.com News | An honored friend of France

Autumn

How about some cider to welcome Autumn?

Better Playing Through Chemistry

Truly incredible. Beta-Blockers long used to normalize heart beats are now used by musicians to quell anxiety.The New York Times > Arts > Music > Better Playing Through Chemistry

Graham Greene

Graham Greene is one of my favorite authors. This New York Times review is a marvelous snapshot of his times and his works. The New York Times > Books > Sunday Book Review > Damned Old Graham Greene

SEX --Spiritual and Sublime

Recently sex seems to be viewed as a pure biological urge to be satisfied. This article from the New York Times spots what it views as a trend in 'sexually explicit' literature to regain some the mystery and elegance of the past. Enjoyable and 'stimulating' to say the least. The New York Times > Books > Once Forbidden, Now Championed

Kerry

As I write this, eighteen days before the election, it would appear that John Kerry is turning enough undecideds into his column to win the prize. So it seems only appropriate to offer some of the opposition views. As always, Mark Steyn can be counted upon to supply the bile.The Spectator.co.uk

Derrida

Although he may have died, old Jaques can still stir up a frenzy. Of the many obituaries, this seems one of the best. The Spectator.co.uk

Logos & Liberals

Michael J. Thompson writes in the most recent LOGOS about the crisis amongst Liberals today. (Thanks to Arts & Letters for bringing this to our attention) We are certain that Liberals wan to see a change in the American Administration. Is there more? Well, yes, but there is still a crisis amongst Liberals. Read on. MICHAEL J. THOMPSON: BEYOND THE VOTE: THE CRISIS OF AMERICAN LIBERALISM -- Logos Fall 2004

Bushmusic

Herewith a fascinating piece from the MUSIC BOX relating to an effort by composer Phil Kline (otherwise unknown to me) to score his anger about the current administration to music. I only wish that they had given us an audio glimpse of the work. NewMusicBox- the web mag from the American Music Center covering new American music

Isle of Intrigue

Here is a well done piece on a fabulous place. The Island of Malta. Situated smack in the middle of the Mediteranean. Full of history--lovely climate. Take a read on this article from The LA Times.Los Angeles Times: Isle of Intrigue

Pure Sex

Here's a fascinating confession of a brothel keeper and brothel customer. Not for the more delicate amongst us, I must say. Nonetheless quite interesting. The Observer | Magazine | The brothel creeper

Buchanan Barks from London

Interesting that Mr. Buchanan chose a British publication in which to excoriate Bush for not being a true-believing conservative. Maybe he couldn't find anyone to publish him in the States. The Spectator.co.uk

BACK!

Hey there faithful readers, I am back in good form after two weeks in hospital. I am glad to report that after a thorough going over, I am well and ready to resume Verbumlogos. So, I am happy to return. I do look forward to any comments or postings that you might have.