Monthly Archives: November 2008

Notes on Dickinson’s “Hope is the thing with feathers…” (254)

“Hope” is the thing with feathers… (254) Emily Dickinson “Hope” is the thing with feathers – That perches in the soul – And sings the tune without the words – And never stops – at all – And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard – And sore must be the storm – That …

November 13, 2008 – 5:52 pm | By ashok | Posted in dickinson, poetry | Tagged , , | Comments (4)

What Can We Reasonably Expect from Partisanship?

Lincoln in 1857, “On the Republican Party:” Upon those men who are, in sentiment, opposed to the spread, and nationalization of slavery, rests the task of preventing it. The Republican organization is the embodiment of that sentiment; though, as yet, it by no means embraces all the individuals holding that sentiment. The party is newly …

November 12, 2008 – 2:57 pm | By ashok | Posted in education, lincoln, politics | Tagged , | Comments (5)

Just finished a Straussian ritual, Aristophanes’ “Clouds:” Preliminary Notes on the Limits of Comedy

1. Consideration of comedians: they use laughter to make everything ridiculous. The good things, while made ridiculous, still are essentially good and cannot be dismissed. They are necessary no matter how much we laugh. The bad things, made ridiculous, fall away quickly. All comedians – including those who believe all is spin, such as Jon …

November 11, 2008 – 8:30 am | By ashok | Posted in philosophy, plato, xenophon | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)

Briefly Noted: That “Office of the President-Elect” Thing is a Disgrace (cf. Federalist 70)

This is a rant. Do I think anything bad will actually happen because of this stupid office? Not really. Do I think it is a good thing? NO. I’m not saying this to be anti-Obama. He will be my President, and I’m happy to have a President.  Furthermore, this terrible idea of an “Office of …

November 8, 2008 – 7:02 pm | By ashok | Posted in politics | Tagged , , , | Comments (9)

“Doing” Something for the Republican Party Instead of Whining has yielded this Extended Whine

As some of you know, I’m toying with the idea of starting another blog, one where I and some team members look for Republican candidates across the nation, profile them, maybe interview them, and then link readers to their site so they can show some support. I, of course (*clears throat, puffs out chest*), think …

November 8, 2008 – 7:19 am | By ashok | Posted in blogging, personal, politics | Tagged , | Comments (0)

Setting a Reasonable Traffic Goal

I thought once that if I were getting 10,000 visitors a month, I’d not only be doing well, but I wouldn’t have to promote as much. Well, I had 11,000 unique visits in September and a little over 10,000 in October, and I’m not satisfied. It isn’t greed that’s driving me: the issue is that …

November 6, 2008 – 7:47 pm | By ashok | Posted in blogging | Tagged | Comments (2)

Post-Election: A Practical Agenda, and Consideration of a Passage from Plato’s “Cleitophon”

I. I wasn’t going to say anything about the election until I saw this nonsense being spouted, and realized that I have to practice what I preach. I can’t allow my fellow conservatives to indulge in the paranoid “everything is a conspiracy against us” narrative complete with a “if McCain had run further to the …

November 5, 2008 – 5:12 am | By ashok | Posted in philosophy, plato, politics | Tagged , , | Comments (0)

Temptation.

I want to post on the election, and I have no idea why. Yesterday I spent a good bit of time thinking about how all the entries written about the election are now a waste, consigned to the dustheap. No one – not even me – cares what I thought about Joe Biden some weeks …

November 4, 2008 – 9:26 pm | By ashok | Posted in media, personal, politics | Tagged , | Comments (0)

Beyond Love: On The Weakerthans’ “Night Windows”

Night Windows The Weakerthans (song lyrics from here and here; song available here) In the stick-count for the song of knowing you’re gone Glancing up at where you lived when you lived here I see you suddenly alive and nearly smiling Stop and hold my breath and watch the way you used to be The …

November 3, 2008 – 3:43 pm | By ashok | Posted in music, weakerthans | Tagged | Comments (3)

Recommended: “The Spirit of Orthodoxy” Choir

The Spirit of Orthodoxy Choir Paul and I went and saw them Sunday night, and they were excellent. Their understanding of dynamics was very impressive, and it didn’t hurt that quite a few of them had good voices. They seemed to excel at pieces which demanded vigor and really got into the music, but they …

November 3, 2008 – 1:07 am | By ashok | Posted in music, personal | Tagged | Comments (0)