Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Sunday, March 27, 2005
Popped the Pimple
Finished The Scarlet Pimpernel. Blegh. Interesting idea + Badly written = Annoying like crazy. I feel cheated.
Deprived.
Ticked off.
I know how Ethan Frome ends!
~~~
I was laughing with a friend about how everyone wears masks in their lives, and how if we ever dropped them we'd feel as if we were suddenly naked with only a dog collar on while everyone else in the room had suits...
...it occurred to me that we still had masks on, even then. Especially then.
It's not that we mean to be deceptive, it's just...the way we live.
Survive...
Deprived.
Ticked off.
I know how Ethan Frome ends!
~~~
I was laughing with a friend about how everyone wears masks in their lives, and how if we ever dropped them we'd feel as if we were suddenly naked with only a dog collar on while everyone else in the room had suits...
...it occurred to me that we still had masks on, even then. Especially then.
It's not that we mean to be deceptive, it's just...the way we live.
Survive...
Red, White, and...Blues...
Thursday, March 17, 2005
Melts into a puddle of relief...
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
Macbeth Essay - Come, you spirits of convoluted style and pathetic misunderstandings!
“Like Worthy Men”
In Act IV, scene iii of Shakespeare’s “Macbeth,” the prince heir of Scotland, Malcolm, sets out to test Macduff’s character and intentions, and then, having smashed the figure of what he had feared to be Macbeth’s creature, Malcolm reforms Macduff as his own staunch soldier.
To discomfit Macduff and see how far his love for Scotland will drive his perseverance, Malcolm gives weak, noncommittal answers veiling hints of fault lines in Macduff’s integrity. Macduff comes to him, lamenting that under the tyrant “each new morn new widows howl, new sorrows strike heaven on the face,” expecting a kingly response to destroy the abomination that is Macbeth. Malcolm accepts the news calmly and turns on the messenger, saying, “I am young, but something you may deserve of him through me.” He then characterizes himself as “a weak, poor, innocent lamb” to be sacrificed to Macbeth’s murdering nature. Malcolm appears to be a far cry from a man who will “hold fast the mortal sword, and like good men bestride our down-fall’n birthdom.” The prince heir’s surprising thrusts at his own ally pierce the thane of Fife’s windbag, so to speak, and his short reply, “I am not treacherous,” denotes and startled and suddenly uncertain mind. Macduff had come to England seeking a hero to redress the wrongs of Scotland, but to test his resolve and reassure himself of his subject’s solidarity, Macduff ensures that Macduff finds a vapid, suspicious weakling.
On discovering the cracks in Macduff’s “armor,” his honor and integrity as a man, Malcolm continues to strike relentlessly, feeling out Macduff on his strengths and vulnerability, so as to know how best to use the man. He lunges in, stating insultingly, “a good and virtuous nature may recoil in an imperial charge, and then strategically retreats before Macduff can defend himself, offering lightly, “But I shall crave your pardon.” Then too, the prince of Cumberland is curious that a man who declares that “heaven groans with Scotland and weeps for her suffering” can have the heart to leave “wife and child, those precious motives...without leave-taking.” A man of Malcolm’s must be bound to his word and honor to be trusted. Malcolm gives Macduff the poor comfort of assuring him, “you may be rightly just, whatever I shall think,” but, overwhelmed, Macduff deflates from a valiant loyal subject of the rightful king to a man disloyal to his present ruler and who had deserted his family. Having struck the embers anew, Malcolm mentally reclines to view whatever explosion arises.
As Macduff crumbles, disbelieving at his poor reception at the hands of his country’s savior, the prince heir gives his hardest and last blow by destroying his own character, the image of which Macduff had meant to obey and follow under God. Malcolm blithely convinces the thane of Fife that, although Macbeth may be “bloody, luxurious, false…smacking of every sin…yet my poor country shall more suffer and in more sundry ways than ever, by him that shall succeed.” Appalled, Macduff protests, “Not in the legions of horrid hell can come a devil more damned to evil to top Macbeth,” Malcolm promises he will outdo Macbeth in every evil aspect. When Macduff tries to salvage his failing hopes, telling Malcolm to “fear not yet to take upon you that is yours: you may convey your pleasures a spacious plenty, and yet seem cold.” Discovering Macduff to be stubbornly rooted to his belief as to Malcolm’s right to ascendancy, Malcolm probes once more: “…had I power, I should pour the sweet milk of concord into hell, uproot the universal peace, confound all unity on earth.” Macduff can take no more, and bemoaning “O Scotland! Scotland!” as he realizes he is caught between an “untitled tyrant bloody-sceptred” and “the truest issue of the throne by his own interdiction stand accursed.”
And finally, Malcolm is satisfied with “this noble passion” of Macduff, explaining that “devilish Macbeth by many of these trains hath sought to win me into his power, and modest wisdom plucks me from over-credulous haste.”
Malcolm perceives in Macduff a strong, loyal supporter who, after being examined for defects of character and blackness of motives, must be reformed as a man to suit the prince’s purposes, to help him regain his throne. As Ross relates the news of Macduff’s castle being attacked, “your wife and babes savagely slaughtered,” Macduff withdraws into himself in agony, at which Malcolm scolds him, commanding, “Ne’er pull your hat upon your brows; give sorrow words.” The prince sees this new development as a way to bind Macduff closer to his cause. Therefore, he breaks though Macduff’s shocked disorientation with “Dispute it like a man.” Deeply grieved and burdened with guilt, Macduff swells with fury, and his rage is masterfully augmented by Malcolm, who counsels that he “let grief convert to anger; blunt not the heart, enrage it.” Malcolm has played with Macduff during the entire course of the their meeting, probing for reaction, first checking his motives and character, then impugning his own, and finally revealing to him his reasons to gain his trust as his new king.
In Act IV, scene iii of Shakespeare’s “Macbeth,” the prince heir of Scotland, Malcolm, sets out to test Macduff’s character and intentions, and then, having smashed the figure of what he had feared to be Macbeth’s creature, Malcolm reforms Macduff as his own staunch soldier.
To discomfit Macduff and see how far his love for Scotland will drive his perseverance, Malcolm gives weak, noncommittal answers veiling hints of fault lines in Macduff’s integrity. Macduff comes to him, lamenting that under the tyrant “each new morn new widows howl, new sorrows strike heaven on the face,” expecting a kingly response to destroy the abomination that is Macbeth. Malcolm accepts the news calmly and turns on the messenger, saying, “I am young, but something you may deserve of him through me.” He then characterizes himself as “a weak, poor, innocent lamb” to be sacrificed to Macbeth’s murdering nature. Malcolm appears to be a far cry from a man who will “hold fast the mortal sword, and like good men bestride our down-fall’n birthdom.” The prince heir’s surprising thrusts at his own ally pierce the thane of Fife’s windbag, so to speak, and his short reply, “I am not treacherous,” denotes and startled and suddenly uncertain mind. Macduff had come to England seeking a hero to redress the wrongs of Scotland, but to test his resolve and reassure himself of his subject’s solidarity, Macduff ensures that Macduff finds a vapid, suspicious weakling.
On discovering the cracks in Macduff’s “armor,” his honor and integrity as a man, Malcolm continues to strike relentlessly, feeling out Macduff on his strengths and vulnerability, so as to know how best to use the man. He lunges in, stating insultingly, “a good and virtuous nature may recoil in an imperial charge, and then strategically retreats before Macduff can defend himself, offering lightly, “But I shall crave your pardon.” Then too, the prince of Cumberland is curious that a man who declares that “heaven groans with Scotland and weeps for her suffering” can have the heart to leave “wife and child, those precious motives...without leave-taking.” A man of Malcolm’s must be bound to his word and honor to be trusted. Malcolm gives Macduff the poor comfort of assuring him, “you may be rightly just, whatever I shall think,” but, overwhelmed, Macduff deflates from a valiant loyal subject of the rightful king to a man disloyal to his present ruler and who had deserted his family. Having struck the embers anew, Malcolm mentally reclines to view whatever explosion arises.
As Macduff crumbles, disbelieving at his poor reception at the hands of his country’s savior, the prince heir gives his hardest and last blow by destroying his own character, the image of which Macduff had meant to obey and follow under God. Malcolm blithely convinces the thane of Fife that, although Macbeth may be “bloody, luxurious, false…smacking of every sin…yet my poor country shall more suffer and in more sundry ways than ever, by him that shall succeed.” Appalled, Macduff protests, “Not in the legions of horrid hell can come a devil more damned to evil to top Macbeth,” Malcolm promises he will outdo Macbeth in every evil aspect. When Macduff tries to salvage his failing hopes, telling Malcolm to “fear not yet to take upon you that is yours: you may convey your pleasures a spacious plenty, and yet seem cold.” Discovering Macduff to be stubbornly rooted to his belief as to Malcolm’s right to ascendancy, Malcolm probes once more: “…had I power, I should pour the sweet milk of concord into hell, uproot the universal peace, confound all unity on earth.” Macduff can take no more, and bemoaning “O Scotland! Scotland!” as he realizes he is caught between an “untitled tyrant bloody-sceptred” and “the truest issue of the throne by his own interdiction stand accursed.”
And finally, Malcolm is satisfied with “this noble passion” of Macduff, explaining that “devilish Macbeth by many of these trains hath sought to win me into his power, and modest wisdom plucks me from over-credulous haste.”
Malcolm perceives in Macduff a strong, loyal supporter who, after being examined for defects of character and blackness of motives, must be reformed as a man to suit the prince’s purposes, to help him regain his throne. As Ross relates the news of Macduff’s castle being attacked, “your wife and babes savagely slaughtered,” Macduff withdraws into himself in agony, at which Malcolm scolds him, commanding, “Ne’er pull your hat upon your brows; give sorrow words.” The prince sees this new development as a way to bind Macduff closer to his cause. Therefore, he breaks though Macduff’s shocked disorientation with “Dispute it like a man.” Deeply grieved and burdened with guilt, Macduff swells with fury, and his rage is masterfully augmented by Malcolm, who counsels that he “let grief convert to anger; blunt not the heart, enrage it.” Malcolm has played with Macduff during the entire course of the their meeting, probing for reaction, first checking his motives and character, then impugning his own, and finally revealing to him his reasons to gain his trust as his new king.
Slate Magazine Article - Human Nature Denies Human Nature
Cheers for the Girl with a Permit!
Interesting Bits
The Thing Is - At the bioethics council, human nature denies human nature. By William Saletan: "What exactly is the alleged non-creature? Hurlbut calls it an artifact. George calls it an entity. Krauthammer calls it 'an aborted attempt to produce a human.' Council member Paul McHugh calls it a 'thing.' Council member Peter Lawler calls it 'a third category that's not life or non-life but kind of a near-life experience.' Council member Michael Sandel calls it 'an embryolike being ... the creature or the being or the thing created, the artifact.' Council member James Q. Wilson sputters, 'We can't even adequately describe these things. We're inventing names as we go along.'"
Every new video game claims that it's "immersive"; many let you play against other people online. But "massively multiplayer online role-playing games" are the ultimate time-suck. Games like EverQuest and Star Wars Galaxies are designed specifically to reward people with limitless amounts of free time: teenagers, adults with no jobs or kids, and people who don't eat. When even hard-core gamers are afraid your product will destroy their lives, it's probably time for an intervention. Thankfully, two game developers have started to see the light. World of Warcraft and City of Heroes, which both launched in the last year, are the first two online games that a busy adult can play without signing his own divorce papers.
In years past, Cates has terrorized winners by giving them the quick hook if they didn't blurt the names of their colleagues and family members out fast enough. True, this did result in what will probably be the finest moment in Cuba Gooding Jr.'s career—not merely outshouting the orchestra but joyously sprech-singing the end of his speech. And it was fun to see Randy Newman silence the musicians by reminding them that the rest of the year they worked for him. But as a rule, it's painful to watch these people—who should be permitted at least a long moment to bask—falling all over themselves to finish before they're unceremoniously drowned out and firmly ushered from the stage.
Virginia may execute a killer because he's no longer retarded. Years ago, he scored 59 on an I.Q. test, qualifying as too retarded to be constitutionally executed. (The cutoff in Virginia is 70.) He recently took another I.Q. test and scored 76. His lawyer blames the improvement on the inmate's participation in litigating his appeals--"a forced march towards increased mental stimulation," according to the psychologist who tested him. Law-and-order spin: Low test scores are a joke. Anybody smart enough to plan a crime like this one is competent to be executed. Civil rights spin: I.Q. increases with age, so the state can retest an inmate for years until he scores too high. Cynical spin: The test nails exactly the wrong people, because anybody too dumb to figure out how to score below 70 when his life is at stake really is too retarded to be executed.
Interesting Bits
The Thing Is - At the bioethics council, human nature denies human nature. By William Saletan: "What exactly is the alleged non-creature? Hurlbut calls it an artifact. George calls it an entity. Krauthammer calls it 'an aborted attempt to produce a human.' Council member Paul McHugh calls it a 'thing.' Council member Peter Lawler calls it 'a third category that's not life or non-life but kind of a near-life experience.' Council member Michael Sandel calls it 'an embryolike being ... the creature or the being or the thing created, the artifact.' Council member James Q. Wilson sputters, 'We can't even adequately describe these things. We're inventing names as we go along.'"
Every new video game claims that it's "immersive"; many let you play against other people online. But "massively multiplayer online role-playing games" are the ultimate time-suck. Games like EverQuest and Star Wars Galaxies are designed specifically to reward people with limitless amounts of free time: teenagers, adults with no jobs or kids, and people who don't eat. When even hard-core gamers are afraid your product will destroy their lives, it's probably time for an intervention. Thankfully, two game developers have started to see the light. World of Warcraft and City of Heroes, which both launched in the last year, are the first two online games that a busy adult can play without signing his own divorce papers.
In years past, Cates has terrorized winners by giving them the quick hook if they didn't blurt the names of their colleagues and family members out fast enough. True, this did result in what will probably be the finest moment in Cuba Gooding Jr.'s career—not merely outshouting the orchestra but joyously sprech-singing the end of his speech. And it was fun to see Randy Newman silence the musicians by reminding them that the rest of the year they worked for him. But as a rule, it's painful to watch these people—who should be permitted at least a long moment to bask—falling all over themselves to finish before they're unceremoniously drowned out and firmly ushered from the stage.
Virginia may execute a killer because he's no longer retarded. Years ago, he scored 59 on an I.Q. test, qualifying as too retarded to be constitutionally executed. (The cutoff in Virginia is 70.) He recently took another I.Q. test and scored 76. His lawyer blames the improvement on the inmate's participation in litigating his appeals--"a forced march towards increased mental stimulation," according to the psychologist who tested him. Law-and-order spin: Low test scores are a joke. Anybody smart enough to plan a crime like this one is competent to be executed. Civil rights spin: I.Q. increases with age, so the state can retest an inmate for years until he scores too high. Cynical spin: The test nails exactly the wrong people, because anybody too dumb to figure out how to score below 70 when his life is at stake really is too retarded to be executed.
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