The author begins in the conversational style of one relating an anecdote rather than of a journalistic relaying of facts. Where Matt Taibbi’s Griftopia causes dangerous spikes in blood pressure, this book is written in such a way that the reader finds himself bemused rather than angered. It is as if the reader has been… Continue reading Review: Boomerang: Travels in the New Third World
Month: December 2011
What I Learned at the Christmas Party
I attended the organization Christmas party the week before last. Up to that point, I was fairly pleased with our new director. Where he had a history of longwindedness, he was more terse as director. But he did make sure to give a brief speech at the party. Then he said (I’m paraphrasing) this: “…… Continue reading What I Learned at the Christmas Party
Fox Geezer Syndrome
Former Bush Jr. speechwriter David Frum over at FrumForum is posting some of the “Best of” from his site this year. I thought by FF contributor Richmond Ramsey sounded awfully familiar. My parents are not so much this way, but I know a number of members of their generation for whom this is spot-on: …… Continue reading Fox Geezer Syndrome
Nearly Done with Christmas
After completing all the necessary Christmas-related decorating, shopping, travel, and cultural crap, we had only one small thing left to do. We were to host a small dinner party. Everything had been timed perfectly, and I was just about ready to serve. As I pulled the Roast Beast from the oven, I threw out my… Continue reading Nearly Done with Christmas
On Hitchens
Lindsay Beyerstein has collected what she calls Four Antidotes to Hitchens Hagiography. I understand the anger at how so many members of the media have bent over backwards to sing his praises. I acknowledge his jingoistic bent, his cruel streak, his drunkenness, and his misogyny. Those character flaws do not make his brilliant prose any less correct… Continue reading On Hitchens