Displaying comments 1 to 50 of 1055
MeFi post:
Maps of India
Eurocentric fiction (,,, Kipling, etc...)
A little dismissive of Father Kipling, I think. Take another look at the Jungle Book etc. English was, after all, his second language.
(Waits for brickbats to fly.)
posted to MetaFilter by IndigoJones
at 6:32 AM on August 7, 2008
MeFi post:
Twas mine, tis his, and has been slave to thousands
Every year or two we hear about another successful high-profile art theft (oftentimes involving The Scream) but I've never heard where these thieves are expecting to sell their goods... Of course, in many if not most of these cases, the art is recovered without having been successfully sold at all, but still, something keeps the art thieves going.
Ransom money. Though agreements may not always be made, and so things may languish....... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by IndigoJones
at 10:17 AM on July 21, 2008
MeFi post:
The oldest joke in the book - really!
Fellow I knew taught first year Greek using Menander for original material. One of the students asked if it was true that M was a comic writer. Yes, yes, leading writer of the New Comedy.
Then why, the student asked, is none of this stuff funny?
posted to MetaFilter by IndigoJones
at 2:20 PM on July 16, 2008
MeFi post:
So, how do you spell it?
The editors, sub editors, copy editors, fact checkers and proof readers at the NYTimes didn't know better? Granted, it has gone down hill badly in recent years, but still.
posted to MetaFilter by IndigoJones
at 5:30 AM on July 16, 2008
MeFi post:
Condensed: 'Care, constraint, concise, cut, character, clarity, and charity.'
My favorite example of that is Sometimes A Great Notion by Ken Kesey. I read that and I hated the way in which it was written because it was a struggle to read. It ignored most conventions on style and structure. But it did it for a good reason and the work was of a high enough quality to make it worth the struggle.
Not to be snarky, but from genuine interest, could you elaborate on that? What good reason did he have in not making it less strugglesome to read?
posted to MetaFilter by IndigoJones
at 5:38 AM on July 14, 2008
MeFi post:
Salman Rushdie wins all-time best of Booker Prize
Oh please. Best of the Booker? What, they're closing up shop? If only. And if not, how often are they going to pull this kind of stunt? Every five years? Ten? Twenty?
The whole idea pretty much degrades the entire contest, a contest which has always struck me as more than a little affected in the first place. Takes some brass to style your enterprise as "the most important literary prize in the English speaking world". Sorry, brings out the Bronx cheer... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by IndigoJones
at 4:33 PM on July 10, 2008
Oh, I have no problem at all with the post, Stalbach, glad to have it brought to our attention, in fact. PR prizes like this are an interesting 20th century phenom and worthy of our attention, and our scorn. As to the books themselves, well, time will always tell. Myself, I have my serious doubts about Rushdie long term, but that's just me.
shame, an emotion which has become irrelevant in the West.
For the moment, yes,... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by IndigoJones
at 9:00 AM on July 11, 2008
MeFi post:
Sir John Templeton, 1912-2008, RIP and thank you for the investing lessons.
He renounced his citizenship in the 60's and made himself a tax exile in the Bahamas
Financial Times today said it had to do with enabling him to give money away in both England and America (and the Bahamas). They did not elaborate as to why this made sense.
Back in the early eighties, Adam Smith did a show interviewing Templeton and Buffett as great investors. I had a little money at the time and was so taken with... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by IndigoJones
at 9:15 AM on July 9, 2008
IndigoJones - That doesn't make sense that he had to go there to give his money away in the UK
That was pretty much my point, that it seemed senseless. Sorry if I was unclear. (So was the FT.)
posted to MetaFilter by IndigoJones
at 9:30 AM on July 9, 2008
According to some, the library in Sewanee was to have held his papers, but has instead been converted into condos. Any confirmation or denial appreciated.
Meantime, for a cheap laugh, check this, said to grace the outside of the place.
posted to MetaFilter by IndigoJones
at 5:48 PM on July 9, 2008
MeFi post:
Introducing Heinrich Kley
Random clicking within the links leads me to this, which as much as Kley is worth the price of admission.
Many thanks, I now have my work cut out for me.
posted to MetaFilter by IndigoJones
at 6:16 AM on July 4, 2008
MeFi post:
3-second Men
(They still won't give the flag back. When Virginia petitioned for its return in 2001, Governor Ventura said, "Why? We won.")
Well, that's just Jesse, isn't it?
Back in 1965, Pope Paul VI returned to Turkey the battle standards taken from the Ottomans by the Holy League at the battle of Lepanto.
In 1571.
Make of that what you will.
(Good post, by the way. But you knew that.)
posted to MetaFilter by IndigoJones
at 5:38 PM on July 2, 2008
MeFi post:
Massacre at Fort Pillow
Those that could afford slaves could afford to pay the tarriff and stay home.
Any studies on how many who could actually did? Just curious.
posted to MetaFilter by IndigoJones
at 10:58 AM on July 1, 2008
MeFi post:
NYC in Black and White (mostly)
Oh, I do like me some pictures of NYCity. The great grandparents lived on Riverside Drive back before the cars, and if I could go visit them now, I would go in a heartbeat.
Many thanks
posted to MetaFilter by IndigoJones
at 3:34 PM on June 19, 2008
MeFi post:
Gore Vidal on The New York Times Magazine
Twain had no way of knowing the U.S. would claw its way back to a semblance of respectability before descending into the mire even worse than in his day
"Semblance" is the operative word here. Twain was grousing about (among other things) the Spanish American war, another crap fight we had no business in. Vidal has said that he thinks we had no business in WWI or even WWII.
posted to MetaFilter by IndigoJones
at 4:57 PM on June 15, 2008
MeFi post:
7 deadly glasses
The models for Pride and Lust should be swapped.
I was thinking Greed and Lust might swap- though I suppose Greed does look a little flaccid. And why should Envy get the fuzzy end of the lillipop?
Next challenge - seven virtues.
posted to MetaFilter by IndigoJones
at 5:38 AM on June 12, 2008
MeFi post:
Impeach Dubya.
And I'm always amazed at American politics. Blowjobs = impeachment. Bush's evil-doing which results in fucked up economy, numerous deaths and countless lives/families fucked up = yawn.
It was the lying under oath more than the cheating on the wife and abusing the silly daughter of a campaign contributer, surely? Clinton was, after all, an officer of the court, and he really should have adhered to some standards of behaviour. One might argue that his... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by IndigoJones
at 5:54 AM on June 10, 2008
MeFi post:
Mr. Buffett makes a bet
What I really like are the two pictures in link one. Buffett looking old and crotchety and drinking cherry coke, vs the butter-wouldn't-melt-in-their-mouths s**t-eatin' grinnin' young'uns who look about as trustworthy as the guys running a three card monte operation (albeit way more slick).
Though perhaps I do them an injustice? Looks can be deceiving.
posted to MetaFilter by IndigoJones
at 5:09 PM on June 9, 2008
MeFi post:
X-Ray of a Reader
The bacon thing has been a family joke for years. It never occurred to me that it might actually have happened. Not so sure that I feel better for knowing it has.
posted to MetaFilter by IndigoJones
at 9:30 AM on June 9, 2008
MeFi post:
Mortgaging America
So I can't wait for mainstream media to pick up on this. Funtime.
Too counter-intuitive for the mainstream media. That said, an investment opportunity waiting to happen. How are Merrill short options looking these days? (That's not entirely a rhetorical question, by the way, and if you know of any other such oddities, well, inquiring minds want to know, if only to watch the fun times unrole. )
posted to MetaFilter by IndigoJones
at 4:32 PM on June 5, 2008
MeFi post:
Hitler defaced
Tossers indeed.
I grant that you have to have a certain amount of arrogance to be an artist in the first place, but once you start imagining that your work supercedes all else because of some intrinsic wonderfulness on your part, well, screw that.
The Hitler stuff is basically artefact. Possibly of historical value, but if I had a choice of recapturing some lost artefact from oblivion, his daubs would be pretty far down the list. Doesn't mean... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by IndigoJones
at 3:19 PM on June 1, 2008
MeFi post:
End Nigh?
I'm currently earning about 11.75% current yield...
Not at my bank you aren't! Where are you finding this nice number without substantial risk?
posted to MetaFilter by IndigoJones
at 9:19 AM on May 23, 2008
Thank you again, Mutant, always enlightening. I actually remember that article. Thought the whole thing sounded interesting at the time, but requiring a larger stake than I had at the time. (The bank line was a joke of course. But these days, frankly, I could use some good yield. Mmmmmmmm, yield.
Strange times, very nervous making.
posted to MetaFilter by IndigoJones
at 9:14 AM on May 25, 2008
MeFi post:
He caught the westbound.
Ashamed to say I knew him only for Moose Turd Pie. Interesting fellow, thank you for the post and the filling in.
posted to MetaFilter by IndigoJones
at 3:15 PM on May 24, 2008
MeFi post:
Propaganda is now officially hip.
... this is the hippest campaign I've ever seen at any level. Seeing it in a presidential race is pretty damn shocking.
Do you mean that in a good way or in a despairing way? Just curious.
(rhys - yes, absolutely.)
posted to MetaFilter by IndigoJones
at 7:16 AM on May 24, 2008
MeFi post:
Feudal Crime Lords of Japan
He was a highly respected tattoo artist and had a crew of his own, but as a member of the syndicate, he was unable to receive packages from overseas.
Could you elaborate on this, please? Too interesting a comment to just stand alone.
posted to MetaFilter by IndigoJones
at 5:25 AM on May 13, 2008
Thank you, squasha, I love details like that.
posted to MetaFilter by IndigoJones
at 5:13 AM on May 21, 2008
MeFi post:
Takashi Murakami
when you come back down to earth, you have a lot of new and interesting stuff to think about
Such as? Not snarking, genuinely curious.
Haven't seen it live, but on the face of it, this reminds me of George Orwell on Dali. Sniggly naughty boy of some talent going for the shock effect. Well, whatever, but fifteen mil is a substantial chunk of change, and there's an awful lot of good art out there that this particular chunk... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by IndigoJones
at 7:42 AM on May 16, 2008
MeFi post:
Must be funny...
Why assume New Orleans wouldn't get dikes? And did I say charity?
They might get dikes - I'm merely pointing out that US government issue dikes have left a lot to be desired. Not sure who else would do it, of course, but then again, I'm not convinced that doing it makes a whole lot of sense in the first place. Building below sea level? In an age of global warming? Nutso.
(And nowhere did I say you said charity.)
posted to MetaFilter by IndigoJones
at 1:06 PM on May 12, 2008
MeFi post:
The Giant Pool of Money
Is there a chart showing the change in diet over the past few years? I keep reading about newly rich Asians going for meat over grain. Wondering if it's enough to have a serious impact on price.
posted to MetaFilter by IndigoJones
at 5:24 AM on May 12, 2008
(Would Greenspan being less a chump have made a difference, given that international investor types were already borrowing Japanese yen at zero interest to finance a lot of nonsense? Should not the Bank of Japan bear some of the blame, and if not, why not?)
posted to MetaFilter by IndigoJones
at 5:31 AM on May 12, 2008
Thank you Mutant, much obliged.
posted to MetaFilter by IndigoJones
at 12:50 PM on May 12, 2008
MeFi post:
Vault of McCarthite Terror
Either the "moralists" of the 1950's didn't see anything immoral about Jim Crow and the murder by torture of black Americans at the hands of southern thugs, or they were looking to distract themselves from that with a big helping of faux outrage.
Estes Kevaufer (D,TN) is generally seen as a supporter of civil rights, voted for the Civil Rights acts of 1957 and 1960, and was much vilified when he and his fellow Tennessee Senator Gore failed... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by IndigoJones
at 2:46 PM on May 9, 2008
In the 50s, comics were read by young adults who had grown up with them from Superman days. EC comics were read by servicemen in Korea.
Interesting topic for some grad student- compare and contrast comic books of Korean War with those of WWII.
posted to MetaFilter by IndigoJones
at 7:06 AM on May 12, 2008
