Really Perfect
“Have no fear of perfection,” said Salvador Dali, “you’ll never reach it.” Three weeks into 2014, I’m quite sure he’s right. Old habits die hard. New resolutions fall flat. We […]
Does Art Speak?
Is a postscript to Lolita, a defensive Vladimir Nabokov responds to criticisms leveled at his novel about a man who seduces a 12-year-old girl. He distinguishes his novel from pornographic literature. He […]
What does the “selfie” say?
It’s official. “Selfie” entered the cultural mainstream recently when Oxford Dictionaries declared it the word of the year for 2013, thus sanctioning its continued use and popularity. According to Oxford […]
He Died to Save Us
It was meant to be a happy family day. It ended up being an unforgettably tragic one. Years ago, some of my wife Ana’s relatives decided to spend a day […]
Our History’s Grand New Plot
For many, Christmas is now over: the presents are opened, the meal is eaten, the carols are sung, and it is time to start thinking about packing Christmas away until […]
Happy Endings
I was recently listening to a radio interview with a certain person who had been the victim of a terrible crime. The conversation touched on the unlikelihood of “justice” being […]
God Sucking a Nipple
August was world breastfeeding month, which meant that breastfeeding―and controversies surrounding feeding (especially in public) helped fill the slow, late-summer news cycles. But the stories have continued into the fall. […]
What’s in a Name?
When it comes to judging books by covers, what would happen were we to be judged by the names of fragrances we wear? I can scarcely think of another format […]
A Long (and sometimes boring) Walk to Freedom
Nelson Mandela’s autobiography A Long Walk to Freedom has just been transposed to what seems to be an epic movie. Epic is indeed a proper adjective for Mandela’s life, who spent […]
Mandela’s Surprising Legacy
Today the world woke up to the news that a great leader no longer is, Nelson Mandela. I post here an extra article to remember him, an excerpt from my […]
Wondering Fair 