It’s become something between a disgrace and a joke between Tayari and me over whether the New York Times would even recognize Octavia Butler’s passing, but it looks like the Gray Lady has finally come around to publishing their obituary — four days after everyone else. What did it take? Endless editorial meetings to get the news out?
Category / Uncategorized
Century of the Self
I’ve greatly been enjoying this four-hour documentary, which I’ve been watching in piecemeal bits this week. The demonstrates how Freudian principles have been used to subject human behavior and is indeed a must-see. Sadly, it’s unavailable on DVD in the States, but a Bittorrent can be found here..
The 12 Cartoon Trainwreck
If riots weren’t enough, it seems that the top editorial brass of The New York Press has resigned because the NYP publisher got cold feet over publishing the infamous Muhammad cartoons published by the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten.
I have little to say on the matter that Laila hasn’t said already, but with the exception that reprinting a cartoon doesn’t necessarily mean that you subscribe to its message or that you are even subconsciously declaring to someone that their views are worthless. If anything, this whole mess limns in full the mighty communicative gulf between East and West, Muslims and Christians, and violent provocateurs and nonviolent provocateurs. But for the Western newspapers, in the end, this is as clear-cut as shouting fire in a crowded theatre. Yes, the freedom and the right to say it is there. (See Brandenburg v. Ohio 395 U.S. 44.) But know what you are unveiling when you say it. The fundamental distinction lies not with the message, but with the separation between speech and action.
The Coretta Scott King Funeral: Summary
CARTER: I hope we can take the opportunity to remember what Coretta Scott King stood for.
BUSH, JR.: Coretta, Coretta, terruh, war, don’t listen to Kayne West.
CLINTON: Yes, I too am a white ex-President. I’m sorry. But don’t blame me. I spoke in many African-American churches when I had something to gain, such as a second presidential term. Now, not so much the case. But Hilary, who is likely running for President in ’08, might do this too. This is what Coretta would have wanted: blatant opportunism. Have I finished seducing you?
LOWERY: George Bush doesn’t care about black people.
MICHAEL BOLTON: They put me here because Stevie Wonder’s feeling a little under the weather.
BUSH, SR.: Reverend Lowery, shut up, boy, and shine my shoes.
ANGELOU: I know why the caged bird sings. And so do you. Let’s just hope the press is awake to spot the absurdities we’re experiencing today.
Lying Novels and the Novelists Who Tell Them
Forget James Frey. The real liar is Neil Gaiman. More inveterate than John Banville.