Monthly Archives: July 2009

Racine: Phèdre (UK National Theatre)

I drove to Charlottesville today to see an HD broadcast of Racine’s Phèdre by the UK National Theatre, with Helen Mirren in the title role. Some desultory thoughts: At 56, I was probably younger than the median audience member. I … Continue reading

Posted in Culture: Plays, Theater Reviews | 1 Comment

Quotation Of The Day

“Children need religion. They can always give it up later.” (Le Plaisir, 1952)

Posted in Culture: Fiction | 1 Comment

Perhaps An Homage to George Jones?

Driving through Berryville, Virginia a couple of hours later I had to slow down for a police car on the shoulder with all its lights flashing. There was no other car on the shoulder, and the policeman was having an … Continue reading

Posted in General | Leave a comment

If This Is A Joke, It’s A Good One

Driving through Waynesboro, Virginia yesterday, I passed the entrance to The Eastside Speedway, a venue for drag-racing, Motocross, and demolition derbies. The one-block-long road leading to it is Al Gore Lane.

Posted in General | Leave a comment

“Government by Clowns”?

In a recent post at Chicago Boyz, David Foster asks “what the proper Greek would be for ‘government by clowns’”. There are several possibilities: A bomolochos was originally “one that waited about the altars, to beg or steal some of … Continue reading

Posted in Etymology, Orbilius | 4 Comments

Latin Puzzle

I think it was Patterico’s Pontifications where I recently ran across a weblog called Verum Serum. An interesting name, since it has three or four meanings in Latin: True Whey (taking Verum as an adjective and Serum as a noun). … Continue reading

Posted in Etymology, Orbilius | 1 Comment

Possibly?

In its article on Leibniz, Wikipedia reports: “No philosopher has ever had as much experience with practical affairs of state as Leibniz, except possibly Marcus Aurelius.” Possibly? Privy Counselor of Justice to the House of Brunswick, trusted adviser to the … Continue reading

Posted in Orbilius, Philosophy | 3 Comments