I was asked by Gentle Reader Michael to opine about the recent referenda in France and Holland. The problem is that I really don’t have much of an opinion. I haven’t looked at the constitution in question, and what I…
Usually, I accept that YA specfic books are going to have some annoying elements, and I can simply accept that and enjoy the book anyway, or at least enjoy the book whilst griping. The problem, I think, in the case…
One useful thing about keeping a list of books read over the last seventeen months is that YHB can use it to decide which book in the Vorkosigan Saga is up next. Not in order, I mean, which one has…
Stanley Fish’s a column in this morning’s New York Times is Devoid of Content. No, that’s the headline. Now, it’s like shooting, um, well, look, I’m trying really hard not to be too snarky, OK? Prof. Fish doesn’t make it…
You know what bugs me? When I buy a nice straw hat for the summer and it rains the day after Memorial Day. That’s what bugs me. chazak, chazak, v’nitchazek,-Vardibidian. OK, you know what else bugs me? When I…
Our Only President, as instructed by Congress, has proclaimed today a day of prayer of permanent peace, and a day of national remembrance. And, Gentle Readers, if you will excuse my paraphrase, it is altogether fitting and proper that we…
I know that not every Gentle Reader gets all het up about grammar. Well, as with Jon Carroll’s cats, you have been warned. Arnold Zwicky, over at language log, has been on a kick, lately, about the which/that rule. It…
In this morning’s New York Times, there’s a not-yet-pay-per-view guest column by Matt Miller called Honor Thy Teacher, which suggests spending rougly $30 billion nationally on increasing the salaries of teachers in impoverished elementary school districts, in exchange for two…
After reading Five Children and It and Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in short succession, Your Humble Blogger wanted to read another children’s book, but it was going to be tough to choose one that looked good in that…
Now as long as we’re on about Your Humble Blogger’s pathetic Anglophilia, it may be time to admit that the next book is Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Not the Sorceror’s Stone, the Philosopher’s Stone. You see, back when…