Monthly Archives: October 2008

An Introduction to American Football

The point of this is to explain some basic strategy and why the people on the field do what they do. I will be writing on more particular aspects of the game as football season progresses. 1. Downs: Attempts to march down the field and score points Imagine you had 22 people to entertain, and …

October 14, 2008 – 7:27 pm | By ashok | Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Comments (2)

A Suggestion for My New Right-Wing Pals at Digg

I’ve been sick the last few days and unable to focus on anything, but have been able to periodically drop in on Digg and vote up articles and meet a nice bunch of conservatives I hope will be friends. Right now Digg is quite obviously gripped by election fever. Every article has to do with …

October 13, 2008 – 12:31 am | By ashok | Posted in politics | Tagged | Comments (1)

Jersey Girls Find Poetic Justification: On Sylvia Plath’s “Fever 103″

Fever 103 Sylvia Plath (copied from the NEA’s Poetry Out Loud site) Pure? What does it mean? The tongues of hell Are dull, dull as the triple Tongues of dull, fat Cerberus Who wheezes at the gate. Incapable Of licking clean The aguey tendon, the sin, the sin. The tinder cries. The indelible smell Of …

October 11, 2008 – 6:56 pm | By ashok | Posted in poetry | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Links, 10/9/2008

Tom Wolfe on the “Masters of the Universe” and where they are nowadays. Jay Cost waxes romantic about the American voter. From the article: “I know an undecided voter or two. They aren’t shallow. They understand they have a responsibility to make a good decision – not based on the “gotcha” moments or other trivialities …

October 9, 2008 – 5:09 pm | By ashok | Posted in links | Comments (0)

Creating Statesmen, Part Final: The Rebirth of the Humanities

Madison in Federalist 10 writes: As long as the reason of man continues fallible, and he is at liberty to exercise it, different opinions will be formed. As long as the connection subsists between his reason and his self-love, his opinions and his passions will have a reciprocal influence on each other; and the former …

October 7, 2008 – 10:19 pm | By ashok | Posted in academia, education, politics | Tagged , | Comments (0)

Beyond Adultery: On The Good Life’s “You Don’t Feel Like Home To Me”

“You Don’t Feel Like Home To Me” The Good Life (lyrics from songmeanings.net; song available at same link) He sees her face the highway signs the traffic lights and she’s turning red at a motel on a double bed He swears he feels her lying there And she whispers in his ear “You can’t run …

October 7, 2008 – 1:18 pm | By ashok | Posted in music | Tagged | Comments (0)

Does Memory Necessitate Pain? On Dickinson’s “Such is the Force of Happiness” (787)

“Such is the Force of Happiness…” (787) Emily Dickinson Such is the Force of Happiness – The Least – can lift a Ton Assisted by its stimulus – Who Misery – sustain – No Sinew can afford – The Cargo of Themselves – Too infinite for Consciousness’ Slow capabilities. Comment: “Consciousness” does not occur in …

October 6, 2008 – 11:36 am | By ashok | Posted in dickinson, poetry | Tagged , , | Comments (1)

Two Notable Things from First Friday in Philadelphia, 10/3/08

Paul and I went into the city for First Friday and, as usual, it was noisy, crowded with teens and preteens trying to be 30 year olds; guys who epitomize “douchebag” dressed well with lady-friends (douchebagettes?); guys of the same sort but dressed badly and without lady-friends; kids and adults trying to be artsy but …

October 5, 2008 – 1:37 pm | By ashok | Posted in links, music | Tagged , | Comments (2)

I’m Overdue for a Right-Wing Rant, So Here Goes: Electoral Advice Fails When It Falls Into “Bush Eats Babies” Syndrome, However Subtly

Today’s victim of that syndrome – Jay Cost of Real Clear Politics: Here’s a thought experiment to mull. Take 100 undecided voters and expose them to an hour of clips of George W. Bush talking. How many of them will lean Obama at the end of the hour? More than half, I’m guessing, which is …

October 2, 2008 – 4:48 am | By ashok | Posted in politics | Tagged , , | Comments (3)

In America: On Katia Kapovich’s “Apartment 75″

Apartment 75 Katia Kapovich (thank you to Ario; poem originally from here) The obese woman who used to wake up our whole house by starting her Subaru at 6 a.m. has committed suicide. Snow hangs like a set of unlaundered sheets in the windows. When I walked into her seventh floor studio, the standard lamp …

October 1, 2008 – 6:57 am | By ashok | Posted in poetry | Tagged , , , | Comments (1)