Third of the plays in my “Bard to the Bone” effort at familiarising myself with the rest of the 38 plays (I have good familiarity with three or four, so-so with some others, little with some and, er, zilch, with about half). Year written: 1606 Context of the writing (Shakespeare’s career, political events it was... Continue Reading →
Dead-checking
Just found this, a photocopied page from the Australian magazine Arena 77 (June-July 2005), about dead-checking, which you don't see portrayed in too many war movies... Evan Wright (RIP), wrote Generation Kill, which was made into a very good miniseries. To be crystal clear - If I were a soldier deployed to a war zone... Continue Reading →
Troilus and Cressida – wtaf? (Bard to the Bone #02)
Bard to the Bone explained here. The play: Troilus and Cressida Year written: 1602 Context of the writing (Shakespeare’s career, political events it was responding to): the forever war against the Irish was dragging on, and this is an “anti-war” play about the futility and banality of it all (causes, characters etc). Apparently you can... Continue Reading →
Pankaj Mishra’s “The World After Gaza” – indexed!!
Pankaj Mishra is an Indian public intellectual. His new book "The World after Gaza" is most definitely worth your time. I will write about its argument, its gaps and its reception (predictably tedious and tediously predictable as that has been in some quarters) at a later date. For now, this. One SERIOUS flaw with the... Continue Reading →
Juggling: reverse salients and being honest
If I want to juggle four clubs (and I do) then I need to tackle the weakest point in my current skills - left handed throws with double-spins - a kind of reverse salient. I also need to be honest that I am not yet good enough doing three club cascade double spins. Although I... Continue Reading →
“You’ve got to be fucking Kyd-ing me: Titus Andronicus”
As part of my remedial accumulation of cultural capital, I'm reading the 21 plays outa 37 by Bill Shakespeare where I currently rate my knowledge at Zero. Read more here if you can be bothered (but WHY?). First up, Titus Andronicus. [Wikipedia] Year written: 1592? 1593? Context of the writing (Shakespeare’s career, political events it... Continue Reading →
Juggling: inching towards four clubs…
Daily (often twice daily) focussed 15 minute practices are paying off, I think. There's warm-up, drills and then 'what I am working on'. Which is mostly having two clubs in a hand and throwing double spins to the same hand. Right is stronger than left, and so am going to need to drill my left... Continue Reading →
Real deal erudition – halfway through two books
So, gratitude is due to a) the gods for randomly assigning me to be born in a rich country at a time of relative peace (never mind the slow violence) and in a situation where I got a good education without succumbing (in all ways at least) to the indoctrination b) to the genetic lottery... Continue Reading →
Limericks about belling the cat
Belling the Cat is a fable also known under the titles The Bell and the Cat and The Mice in Council. In the story, a group of mice agree to attach a bell to a cat's neck to warn of its approach in the future, but they fail to find a volunteer to perform the job. The term has become an... Continue Reading →
Podcast recommendation: “All the Right Movies”
Moorhens eh, donchajustloveem? Well, I do, and do a most-days 90 minute round-trip walk along a canal towpath, throwing them aquatic bird food. This gives me the opportunity to both narrate stuff into a voice-recorder and also listen to podcasts. I will do a proper "these are the podcasts I currently find myself coming back... Continue Reading →
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