Monthly Archives: July 2009

Racine: Phèdre (UK National Theatre)

Posted on Sunday: July 19, 2009 by Michael Hendry

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

Posted on Saturday: July 18, 2009 by Michael Hendry

“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?

Posted on Monday: July 13, 2009 by Michael Hendry

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

Posted on Monday: July 13, 2009 by Michael Hendry

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.

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“Government by Clowns”?

Posted on Thursday: July 2, 2009 by Michael Hendry

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

Posted on Wednesday: July 1, 2009 by Michael Hendry

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?

Posted on Wednesday: July 1, 2009 by Michael Hendry

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