Smugopedia2008-10-28T21:01:57Ztag:www.smugopedia.com,2011://1Movable TypeCopyright (c) 2008, Overheard in New YorkLuciano Pavarotti2008-10-28T21:01:57Z2008-10-28T21:00:00Ztag:www.smugopedia.com,2008://1.432008-10-28T21:00:00ZAlthough Pavarotti was clearly very talented, his fame was inflated by the London and Decca marketing machines. Domingo or even Corelli were obviously his equal....morganmorgan@westegg.com
Although Pavarotti was clearly very talented, his fame was inflated by the London and Decca marketing machines. Domingo or even Corelli were obviously his equal.]]>
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King Lear2008-10-27T15:01:46Z2008-10-27T15:00:00Ztag:www.smugopedia.com,2008://1.422008-10-27T15:00:00ZAlthough King Lear is rivaled perhaps only by Hamlet, I tend to agree with critic Charles Lamb's observation that it ought to be read, not performed....morganmorgan@westegg.com
Although King Lear is rivaled perhaps only by Hamlet, I tend to agree with critic Charles Lamb's observation that it ought to be read, not performed. ]]>
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C. S. Lewis2008-10-23T17:04:15Z2008-10-23T17:00:00Ztag:www.smugopedia.com,2008://1.412008-10-23T17:00:00ZThe original 1985 BBC movie about C. S. Lewis' life, Shadowlands, is more subtly directed and nuanced than the 1993 movie. And unlike Anthony Hopkins, Joss Ackland actually looks like C. S. Lewis.Overheard by: Dave Barnette...morganmorgan@westegg.com
The original 1985 BBC movie about C. S. Lewis' life, Shadowlands, is more subtly directed and nuanced than the 1993 movie. And unlike Anthony Hopkins, Joss Ackland actually looks like C. S. Lewis.
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Sushi2008-10-22T13:01:46Z2008-10-22T13:00:00Ztag:www.smugopedia.com,2008://1.402008-10-22T13:00:00ZIt's only worth bothering with sushi if you're going to go to the Tokyo Fish Market. Nothing else is really fresh enough to capture the perfect simplicity of toro or uni....morganmorgan@westegg.com
It's only worth bothering with sushi if you're going to go to the Tokyo Fish Market. Nothing else is really fresh enough to capture the perfect simplicity of toro or uni.]]>
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Stanley Kubrick2008-10-20T13:01:44Z2008-10-20T13:00:00Ztag:www.smugopedia.com,2008://1.392008-10-20T13:00:00ZAlthough Clockwork Orange and 2001 are enjoyable films, Stanley Kubrick's artistic triumph was clearly Barry Lyndon. Its cinematography is flawless.Overheard by: Chris Manning...morganmorgan@westegg.com
Although Clockwork Orange and 2001 are enjoyable films, Stanley Kubrick's artistic triumph was clearly Barry Lyndon. Its cinematography is flawless.
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Malcolm Gladwell2008-10-17T21:01:41Z2008-10-17T21:00:00Ztag:www.smugopedia.com,2008://1.382008-10-17T21:00:00ZThe problem with Malcolm Gladwell is that he writes too well: when you read him, you don't know if you're agreeing with his controversial ideas because he's right, or because he's enchanted you....morganmorgan@westegg.comThe problem with Malcolm Gladwell is that he writes too well: when you read him, you don't know if you're agreeing with his controversial ideas because he's right, or because he's enchanted you.]]>
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Kimchi2008-10-15T23:01:55Z2008-10-15T23:00:00Ztag:www.smugopedia.com,2008://1.372008-10-15T23:00:00ZKimchi is good, but I would consider it the national pickle of Korea....morganmorgan@westegg.com
Kimchi is good, but I would consider it the national pickle of Korea.]]>
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Fox2008-10-15T19:01:42Z2008-10-15T19:00:00Ztag:www.smugopedia.com,2008://1.362008-10-15T19:00:00ZAlthough most people associate a "fox" with the animal, the media empire, or Isaiah Berlin's Hedgehog and the Fox parable, I always think of Machiavelli's constant comparison of the ideal Prince to a fox....morganmorgan@westegg.com
Although most people associate a "fox" with the animal, the media empire, or Isaiah Berlin's Hedgehog and the Fox parable, I always think of Machiavelli's constant comparison of the ideal Prince to a fox.]]>
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Wikipedia2008-10-14T03:01:41Z2008-10-14T03:00:00Ztag:www.smugopedia.com,2008://1.352008-10-14T03:00:00ZWikipedia tends to be strong on the subjects that don't matter....morganmorgan@westegg.com
Wikipedia tends to be strong on the subjects that don't matter.]]>
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Bling2008-10-13T17:01:48Z2008-10-13T17:00:00Ztag:www.smugopedia.com,2008://1.342008-10-13T17:00:00ZAlthough all the rage today, bling couldn't have existed a few years ago; FDR, after all, made the private ownership of gold illegal and confiscated all gold in the country....morganmorgan@westegg.com
Although all the rage today, bling couldn't have existed a few years ago; FDR, after all, made the private ownership of gold illegal and confiscated all gold in the country.]]>
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University Of Pennsylvania2008-10-10T17:01:53Z2008-10-10T17:00:00Ztag:www.smugopedia.com,2008://1.332008-10-10T17:00:00ZIt's interesting how Penn thinks it has a rivalry with Princeton; this unrequited rivalry reminds me not only of Yale's perceived rivalry with Harvard, but of France's with the United States....morganmorgan@westegg.com
It's interesting how Penn thinks it has a rivalry with Princeton; this unrequited rivalry reminds me not only of Yale's perceived rivalry with Harvard, but of France's with the United States.]]>
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Iteration2008-10-08T21:01:39Z2008-10-08T21:00:00Ztag:www.smugopedia.com,2008://1.322008-10-08T21:00:00ZAlthough everyone changing their minds is frustrating, it might not be that bad: Walt Whitman rewrote Leaves of Grass nine times throughout 40 years. On the other hand, scholars still debate whether these changes improved or worsened Leaves of Grass....morganmorgan@westegg.comAlthough everyone changing their minds is frustrating, it might not be that bad: Walt Whitman rewrote Leaves of Grass nine times throughout 40 years. On the other hand, scholars still debate whether these changes improved or worsened Leaves of Grass.]]>
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Tomato2008-10-08T19:01:43Z2008-10-08T19:00:00Ztag:www.smugopedia.com,2008://1.312008-10-08T19:00:00ZIt is a mystery how the tomato arrived in North America from the Andes. My personal favorite theory--which is based on no evidence whatsoever--is that, when the Sephardic Jews who had fled Persia to Provence then emigrated to Charleston, South...morganmorgan@westegg.com
It is a mystery how the tomato arrived in North America from the Andes. My personal favorite theory--which is based on no evidence whatsoever--is that, when the Sephardic Jews who had fled Persia to Provence then emigrated to Charleston, South Carolina, they brought it with them.]]>
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Love2008-10-07T23:44:08Z2008-10-07T19:00:00Ztag:www.smugopedia.com,2008://1.302008-10-07T19:00:00ZSocrates' speech on love in the Symposium--arguing that love is merely a longing for immortality and ideas are immortal--is just a conceit of the intellectual. I prefer Aristophanes' speech, imagining a world in which humans were once four-armed, four-legged, and...morganmorgan@westegg.com
Socrates' speech on love in the Symposium--arguing that love is merely a longing for immortality and ideas are immortal--is just a conceit of the intellectual. I prefer Aristophanes' speech, imagining a world in which humans were once four-armed, four-legged, and two-headed balls who tumbled around doing cartwheels, each one split in two and yearning to find their other half.]]>
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Whiskey2008-10-07T17:01:38Z2008-10-07T17:00:00Ztag:www.smugopedia.com,2008://1.292008-10-07T17:00:00ZOf course, the only Bourbon that Whiskey purists drink is that which is distilled in Bourbon County, Kentucky....morganmorgan@westegg.com
Of course, the only Bourbon that Whiskey purists drink is that which is distilled in Bourbon County, Kentucky.]]>