Sportswriting

If theres a book in the Best Am series that I might not be related by 6 or more degrees, that would have to be the sports one. But looks like it might not be so, after having read 2 very influential essays - Bill Plaschke's Fowled Away, Elizabeth Gilbert's Lucky Jim.

Jun6, 2010

Ask and you shall receive

atleast information.

One morning, I was wondering why not give a person insurance worth what he/she paid for, once they are not covered for any reason. Listening about Yeshaswini, I learn thats not possible.

I was wondering on Friday if philosophy, opinion falls under fiction or non-ficton.

Philosophical Novel

Word talk

Yesterday, while on a walk, I saw a car with 'WHATEVER' as its nameplate. In The way we talk now book, the chapter An Interjection for the age starts with a bit on the W word and moves on to identify the slang of each decade. He ends with a good word for wahtever that it opens the way to newer possibilities.

In Yadda yadda doo chapter, explaining how and why we catch and use phrases from TV and movies, he wrote about It seemed like a good idea at that time being picked from a 1931 movie The Last Flight. I was reminded of a book I read with the phrase as its title.

To the point

After reading this book I am able to appreciate what Richard Mitchell means by 'since time and place mean nothing to an alien trying to understand humanity' in his book 'The Gift of Fire'.
It was interesting to read about the observed motion seen in a timescale of many years contrasted with human life's dot appearance. Now I understand what a professed utilitarian that I know was trying to say with why should humans think themselves superior compared to other animals.
I really liked the statement where Scott says imagine the cosmos is gone sort of things.. while in fantasy you see the existence of new worlds.. I think he is creative when he says forget about things we know itself for a while..
It was even more interesting to read his explanation of Gods Debris

Jan 10, 2007

Good writing with a purpose

I like how the myths are woven into the story and prose. I cannot believe that what began as a funny account of a mother trying to make sure that her son does not take to drinking due to post war trauma ended up this way - telling the story of Laguna people, their attachment to the land and cattle even in the times of drought and vanishing land.

Aug4,2007

National Geographic Vol 179, No.5 May 1991

Elephants find Lianas tasty. While the Aka people in the article are in Africa, another Aka community with an undocumented language has been found.
Forest elephants prefer Monocots
A tamarind tree is a dicot. I say that from tiny green grass like stalk that have two seed leaves. After rain they were more prominent on the ground. Fresh green.

Beneficiaries of the elephants bull dozing. ... crested mangabey monkeys

Treculia
Balanites
Cauliflory
dehiscent
exstipulate

In Chicago, old women made Varenyky for their church. The feature on Chicago had a good comparision with NY city style of anyone can make it here Vs if you can make it here..

Another Six questions

This Socrates,Mr Philips, should have asked fewer questions. The questions in the beginning are in a realm, easily 'connectible to ' of a common man.
As you approach the middle of the book, one feels that as a very inquisitive present generation Socrates, he should have rephrased the questions or found answers relevant to the question. This disappointment is a show-stopper.
The answers in themselves deal with people of diverse backgrounds, as the discussions of philosophy are held in various parts of the world. You come to know of various cultures and their viewpoints.
A question on virtue just focusses on harmony, moderation on modesty. This steering of the answer to just one side, rather than a wider view could be partly due to a community's 'similar thinking'.
Even if just the first question was put to all the different groups, the book would have done the real job of exploring philosophy and its relevance to modern man.
One question well answered is better than any many questions that can be raised and never answered.

Aug 19 2005