Culturally Speaking #21
By Sarah Stodola
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This essay - written by a "midlist" author who thinks she's had really tough go at things - is just plain dopey for several reasons, but most of all for the way in which the author is so clearly not secure in her success, and so clearly lacking any sort of vision, and so clearly NOT an exceptionally great writer even though she continually swears that she has received nothing but praise from the critics. And also that she is just so damn whiny. I doubt that book publishing has ever been this utopian thing she seems to be reminiscing about. This is just another case of someone old talking about the good old days that never were. And also someone with a lot of bragging to do disguising their self-love as self-pity.
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Some guy from California made a completely moving and at the same to completely logical argument in front of the Supreme Court for why "under God" should be removed from the Pledge of Allegiance. It's kind of amazing that this didn't happen sooner, regardless of the outcome.
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San Francisco is many things, but a smaller version of New York it isn't.
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I have it on good faith that being a New York Times reporter entails the same struggles as other writing careers; no health benefits, inconsistent assignments, no job security. Wah wah wah.
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Really great article on the history of the New York Subway, including explanations of letter-lines vs. number-lines and why some lines run side-by-side while entire sections of the city remain unserviced.
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If you haven't read this yet, then stop what you are doing, whatever it is, immediately, and get to it. If you are not familiar with Krugman's column, then clear your schedule for the rest of the day and hit the Times archives.
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Two mornings ago as I walked to work after a heavy overnight rain, I notice a spattering of earthworms on the sidewalk. I'd forgotten that this happens, it's been so long since I've walked the suburban streets after a good downpour. I really can't explain how it happened in Brooklyn.
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"Crush" means both a romantic interest in someone, and to break and flatten; two concepts it seems shouldn't share the same word.
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And finally, just a teeny bit of shameful self-promotion. Please read the book review I wrote for the Brooklyn Rail and a short story for Pindeldyboz.
Click here for the last Culturally Speaking.
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Sarah Stodola is the Managing Editor of Me Three. She can be contacted at [email protected].
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2004 Me Three