Pay attention to the world

By presenting us with a limitless number of nonstopped stories, the narratives that the media relate – the consumption of which has so dramatically cut into the time the educated public once devoted to reading – offer a lesson in amorality and detachment that is antithetical to the one embodied by the enterprise of the…

Blake on Generalization

To Generalize is to be an Idiot. To Particularize is the Alone Distinction of Merit–General Knowledges are those Knowledges that Idiots possess. —William BlakeBlake on Generalization (The Poetical Works of William Blake) Jotted in the margins of his copy of another author’s work. Similar:They Should Have Used Another TypefaceHave you ever noticed that the letters “…AestheticsOpinion:…

Stereo Eclipse

The fantastically-colored star is our own sun as STEREO sees it in four wavelengths of extreme ultraviolet light. The black disk is the Moon. — Stereo Eclipse (NASA) A movie sequence shows the sun slowly turning from left to right, while the disc of the moon approaches from the left and crosses the face of the…

''slip of the click''

”slip of the click” (Google Search) Just now, a colleague accidentally hit “reply all” instead of “reply,” and immediately sent out an apology: “Got you all by a slip of the click.” I’d never heard that term before, but I like it. A quick search of Google reveals only 5 references on the internet. Similar:The Religious…

Malaysian monks face ant dilemma

A group of Buddhist monks in Malaysia is appealing for help to solve a problem with ants. Buddhism forbids devotees from harming any living creature. So the monks are looking for a creative and non-violent solution to deal with the insects, which are biting worshippers. —Malaysian monks face ant dilemma (BBC) Rosemary, who sent me the…

Constructive Exercises in English

The music-master of George III said to his royal pupil, “There are three classes of violin players; those who do not play at all, those who play very badly, and those who play well. Your Majesty has already succeeded in reaching the second class.” —Constructive Exercises in English (Boogle Books) Now that’s tact. Similar:The Child –Antoine…

Trading Up With Gilgamesh

I had begun with a flourish, emphasizing the excitement created when a young curator at the British Museum first deciphered the Gilgamesh epic, with its seeming confirmation of the biblical story of the Flood: “When George Smith discovered the Flood story in the Epic of Gilgamesh in the fall of 1872, he made one of…

Adobe Tackles Photo Forgeries

During the Stalin era, Soviet officials frequently vanished from official photographs after falling out of favor at the Kremlin. But the advent of Photoshop and its variety of tools has made it easier for photographers to tinker with images after they’re captured. By the same token, the internet has allowed skeptical bloggers around the world…

Field of Rainbows [Copyeditor's Make Mistake's Sometime's]

—Field of Rainbows [Copyeditor’s Make Mistake’s Sometime’s] (Jerz’s Literacy Weblog) The caption should read “photographer’s shadow.” The mistake doesn’t come close to overshadowing the power of this great photo. Similar:What is a CRT and Why Don't We Use Them Anymore?I remember when I started seeing politic…AestheticsDrumming Kid Is Epic. That Is All.https://youtu.be/MRvHI8tgx8A AestheticsReport to the bridge…