Sanditon

As Jane Austen was dying, she started to write a novel about a health resort. The fragment is interesting, including its satiric comments about changing times. As usual, lots of the fun involving supporting characters. The apparent lead is something of an observer of events.

The Watsons

This Austen fragment is intriguing, the lead character (Emma Watson) an interesting character, surrounded by the usual vulgarity and distasteful rich people. Her father dying etc. led her to stop writing. It has potential, particularly the low station of the Watsons.

NYM Update

I don't think any miracles will occur but this is a gritty bunch that is playing above their abilities. Nick Evans is back -- he actually got a hit this time. Overall, guarded optimism is appropriate.

GG Again Goes Off The Rails

Glenn Greenwald in various ways is a strong voice that speaks truth to power and has stuff to back it up. In other ways, he is a blowhard, who when you point out the excesses of his rhetoric calls you a Obama bootlicker. I found this repeatedly when doing so, along with commenter after commenter calling me names and ignoring the substance of my comment or pathetically taking a specific criticism to mean across the f-ing (it is really pissing me off) board that I support everything he does. Mature adults don't do this sort of thing. This is not the "reality based community."

To take an example. GG was simply appalled when Harold Koh testified in Congress during its investigation of the Libya "hostilities" (sic) that some single thing Obama said as a candidate taken on its own would be a wrongful stance of the current legal understanding on executive power to use military force. I found this amazing. It is somehow a problem when an executive official forthrightly states that something a candidate said might be too simplistic, particularly if we (as GG does too often) have a myopic focus on the bald statement alone? I pointed this out and comment after comment (including GG who misleadingly "loved" certain things I said, in his tedious attack boy mode) ignored my critique to call me names or accuse me of thinking someone I repeatedly think is flawed could do no wrong.

The latest for GG is this headline:

Reports: Obama pushing for cuts to Social Security, Medicare

Obama supporters, at least those who lean progressive or left, are supposed to be shocked at this given they voted for someone who would move in another direction. Like those clueless sorts who thought the person who wanted to expand our fight in Afghanistan is some type of peacenik, "give me a break" comes to mind here. It was rather apparent, which is why many Republicans and Republican leaning "independents" voted for the man, that he has various "third way" tendencies that would support compromises in the promotion of general principles. Like it or not, that is who you were getting in '08.

It is therefore rich for GG to frame Obama as some sort of hypocrite or fraud for being the sort of "centrist" (these days more right leaning given how far the lines have moved in the last few decades) that would push for some sort of cuts as part of a larger effort to promote an overall progressive agenda. I really don't know what is so shocking here. We are in an economic mess at the moment. When the average person has money problems, s/he sometimes cuts back general spending that involves less money for food and medical care. You know, more pasta dinners and such than meat or going to the dentist once a year instead of two.

I need to see the cuts and balance this off with the expansion of spending (or tax cuts for those who need it) in other areas, including the expansion of health care that the "Obama is no better" crowd selfishly (since it doesn't matter to them) or stupidly (since it often does) ignores. Finally, it is notable that Republicans control 1/2 of Congress and the balance of power in the Senate are Blue Dogs. I know some hate to admit this, but it is actually realistic to realize that a somewhat fiscally conservative approach will pass.

If we want a different equilibrium in this country we need to maturely address the current situation. GG and his lackeys (comments are tediously slanted) in their passionate advocacy miss the point and in the long run are counterproductive since you need to know the nature of the situation before you can change it. Their tedious smarmy over the top tone (if emotionally pleasing at times) is tiresome but ultimately this is the ultimate problem I have with their approach. Sadly, I think GG might have jumped the shark. I find him too hard to take of late.

More on Lady Susan

And Also: A shout-out to Heather Vandeven, whose talents can be seen in Life on Top et. al. This is not an euphemism -- she is truly an actress, not just a sex performer. The amount of soft porn on late nite t.v. underlines there IS a difference. Meanwhile, Femme Fatales is of the "overdramatic" variety, but has some charm.

Before reading Emma (which I did start), as noted, I listened to Austen's Lady Susan, which was only published when a relative wrote a biography and included it along with The Watsons (an unfinished work) and excerpts of Sanditon (the unfinished work she was writing when she died at 41, not too young for the time, but atypical given the long lives of her immediate family). I have yet to finish the latter two though the latter starts well. I also borrowed the Penguins Classics volume that includes all three plus commentary and notes.*

I have found the portable and compact Signet Classics paperbacks the most enjoyable and attractive (the others can have a blah textbook feel), but this was fine, helped by its brevity. I did read Lady Susan after listening to it -- it is after all only around seventy pages -- and caught a few things that I missed while listening. The commentary notes it is a worthwhile work but flawed, in part because Lady Susan is so superior dramatically than the other characters. I think this is fairly accurate, though Mrs. Vernon comes off fairly well (the thesis of sexual jealousy is credible, but given her character, CV's objections are well-founded independent of that). It has the germ of a good novel, I think, the more finished work would be one providing the richer characterizations suggested by the intro here.

Austen, of course, literally "wrote" things, since we are talking about the days before the typewriter. The epistolary novel underlines the importance of letters in that day and age, though the introduction suggests others were more literary in their personal letters than JA was. Jane Austen: A Companion, a mixed bag guide to the Austen universe (good brief bio, some tedious and at times incomplete discussions), does suggest some interesting aspects. Unfortunately, her sister destroyed some of her letters that dealt with personal matters such as the death of Cassandra Austen's intended, so we do not a complete view there. Letter writing is not as important these days, emails and so forth providing a long form alternative when one cannot simply speak to a person on the phone.

I'm not sure, however, that learning cursive is quite akin to "like being able to churn butter and knowing how to hitch a horse to a wagon," though with a report of Indiana no longer making it a requirement, many seem to think so. I might just be getting old, but really now? I took classes five years ago in which handwritten class assignments and tests were involved. Unless public schools have personal computers for each student, I'm unsure how tests are done these days. People still write notes and so forth that require that thing known as "writing," and block printing is a tedious way to go if you have a lot to write. Again, in school, this would be rather relevant. Finally, there is probably a degree of skill and grace involved that puts one in good stead. I say this as someone who has lousy handwriting and whose teacher once pointed to the charm of word processing in my case.

One more thing -- it was noted that some have a condition that makes cursive difficult. I find this unconvincing. I reckon that others might have some condition where cursive is easier in some fashion, particularly given the nature of writing it is different. There is a certain easy flow involved that -- though I might be wrong -- probably helps certain people as compared to those who have to write in block letters. Any number of things, including related to typing and reading computer screens, can be a problem for people with a given condition. It is not a reason to not teach something. And, as to time spent, how much time does it really take? Schedule the time differently; continue to teach cursive.

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* The notes are helpful given the Austen universe has various components that the modern day reader might not fully understand, but the absence in the Signet Classics version overall was not a major defecit for me given the overall charm of the volumes (including for most an introduction and for some another essay after the book was done).

But, they are somewhat overdone here and elsewhere in the editions that I do not favor, though the introduction in this copy is a fair length. The need to note the various word edits involved is unclear. It must have killed the editor to determine Lady Susan didn't require any notes regarding "obscure points of meaning or social detail." Given a felt need to discuss "leeches" in another work here, I somewhat question this.

FNL

A busy episode that was chock full with penultimate episode plot that basically all worked (the Luke rejecting Becky bit didn't quite work); nice to see Tyra again though she and Matt look darn old for people around twenty. Tami does pissed well. Her mom even had a cameo.

Jane Austen's Bad Girl

Reginald is never easy unless we are by ourselves, and when the weather is tolerable, we pace the shrubbery for hours together. I like him on the whole very well; he is clever and has a good deal to say, but he is sometimes impertinent and troublesome. There is a sort of ridiculous delicacy about him which requires the fullest explanation of whatever he may have heard to my disadvantage, and is never satisfied till he thinks he has ascertained the beginning and end of everything. This is one sort of love, but I confess it does not particularly recommend itself to me. I infinitely prefer the tender and liberal spirit of Mainwaring, which, impressed with the deepest conviction of my merit, is satisfied that whatever I do must be right; and look with a degree of contempt on the inquisitive and doubtful fancies of that heart which seems always debating on the reasonableness of its emotions.

-- Lady Susan

Lady Susan is a short epistolary novel (the letter format common in the 18th Century) by Jane Austen, which is quite different from the six novels published by her (the last two posthumously via her brother). It is an amusing affair about a 30-something scheming recent widow to get her Fanny Price-like daughter married off while finding amusement of her own. It starts with her running away from trouble (arising from an affair she was having while keeping his sister from getting a man LS wants for her own daughter, though said daughter wants no part of it). The plot gets a bit intricate, especially given trying to keep everyone in order in the letter format (we read letters from various characters, which is interesting). I found drawing up a character family tree of sorts helpful. Austen ends things with a regular non-letter conclusion, which might have been tacked on later.

The letter format is a bit tedious (especially later on when lengthy letters are required to fully express what happened) but the scheming (letters to a friend* providing a means to show her true thoughts) is fun. A current day revisionist attempt [Lady Vernon and Her Daughter] to explain that LS is actually a good person sounds like a ruining the fun sort of deal. The shortness of the novel, the somewhat creaky technique and the unAusten-like morals of the lead suggests why Jane Austen never had it published. It was included in a later biography by a relative. Such slightly wicked charm is left to supporting characters in her novels, but this early effort underlines Austen's abilities. One almost wishes she could have wrote a full length book with such a lead.

The novel, as with many other works in the public domain, can be found online. Project Gutenberg in fact has an audio version with different people doing each role. It is a quite good effort though again I found the longer letters hard going. It paid to have the text available to skim over stuff that I didn't quite get the first time. Austen is often re-read anyway and listening (especially while doing something) only makes a first read that much more productive.

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* Of a similar sentiment, as shown by this excerpt:

What could I do! Facts are such horrid things! All is by this time known to De Courcy, who is now alone with Mr. Johnson. Do not accuse me; indeed, it was impossible to prevent it. Mr. Johnson has for some time suspected De Courcy of intending to marry you, and would speak with him alone as soon as he knew him to be in the house. That detestable Mrs. Mainwaring, who, for your comfort, has fretted herself thinner and uglier than ever, is still here, and they have been all closeted together. What can be done? At any rate, I hope he will plague his wife more than ever.

Some characters in her novels are bitchy, but this has some bite!

Annoying

Lite Beer is annoying in general (how macho!), which might be why there has to be so many commercials to insist that it is so great. But, "here we go" is an especially annoying slogan.

SG's First Loss?

The effort discussed 7/4 failed, 5-4, and the person executed. No surprise. A short stay for the reasons Breyer spells out works for me, but "hypothetical legislation" is a somewhat iffy thing.

DOMA Attacked Again By Obama DOJ

The Obama DOJ is strengthening its efforts in opposing DOMA, supporting Karen Golinski's claim for SSM federal benefits. [Edit: It says a reasonable argument can be made for rational basis. Not sure if this means they totally concede the point. Still, fail.] More here.

Quickies

A somewhat saner Cuba Policy (Congress blocks a better one) -- yet another reason Obama is better than Bush. Dawn Johnsen criticizes Obama with a degree of perspective (reading GG?). More on Clinton's (D-NY) replacement, who so many deemed a lousy choice.

The Coming Revolution?

This is a review of the book The Coming Revolution Signs from America's Past That Signal Our Nation's Future By Dr. Richard Lee, which I received from Book Sneeze in return for providing a review for my blog and a major book selling website.

I chose the book because of an interest in American history and how people interpret its meaning. The book uses an expansive look at the Founding of the U.S. to provide a warning to the problems of today. The problems can be summarized as the lack of religious spirit, the lack of patriotism taught in schools, and the breakdown of the traditional family unit. It is one of those books that promotes the idea that a rightful understanding of our history can be a guide to how to live today. Of course, this results in various views of just what our history means and this is no different in that respect. Overall, on that front, I am not convinced. A selective reading can get you to the conservative place this book wants you to go, but a full-fledged one does not. What "is" is not the same as what allegedly "ought."

The perilous of the approach is suggested by one review: "I would have also liked to have seen the author show a little more non-bias in his recounting of history, which I believe will lead to most non-believers disavowing this book very early on." This from someone who (unlike I) shares its overall point of view. I guess it might be useful to understand what a true believer thinks. Acceptable on that level though if you actually want a historical account, not a moral one, I suggest you go elsewhere. 

Two stars. 

Solicitor General Starts Job On A Good Note

The Obama Administration takes the rare step of urging the Court to block temporarily a state from executing a convicted individual — in this case, a Mexican national who contends that Texas violated his rights under an international treaty, the Vienna Convention.

Item.

An ongoing issue (it's discussed here back in 2005) is the right to consular assistance for foreign nationals charged in another country that is enshrined in a treaty the U.S. signed in 1969. The Roberts Court held that to give teeth to this requires Congress to pass enabling legislation, ruling against a determination by the Bush Administration that held otherwise. Such legislation was passed to enforce an anti-torture treaty.

Such legislation is pending; it would give a foreign national the right to a court hearing to determine if non-notification "caused actual prejudice to the defendant in the process of administration of criminal justice." [I quote Justice Stevens' concurring opinion.] Stevens as well as the dissenters supported a stay in that case to give Congress time to pass legislation to no avail.

The new Solicitor General, who was involved in a lethal injection case a few years back, asked the Supreme Court to stay the execution of Humberto Leal Garcia (due to die this week) to give Congress time to pass such legislation. His case is discussed here.  Five justices are needed for a stay.  Important as that is, it unfortunately seems like as much of a long-shot as the legislation passing soon. But, knock on wood.

[Idea of post expanded upon.]

Stand up, John!

I see fireworks! I see the pagaent and
Pomp and parade
I hear the bells ringing out
I hear the cannons roar
I see Americans - all Americans
Free forever more

"Molasses to Rum" is powerful stuff too.

FNL Had a Subpar S2 too ...

I have praised the Cinemax shows Lingerie and Life On Top, but it seems like Season 2 of the latter has various new characters that aren't as interesting. The apparent conclusion of S2 of Lingerie was pretty good though. The same core staying helped.

Bongs Hits: The Book

The "Bong Hits 4 Jesus" case was something of a "lame ass" affair. James C. Foster's book, with loads of notes and source citations, was rather pretentious. It covers the subject okay if not great; the problem was the style. Material is prime but the result is not.

Not FULL Terms ...

Mr. Weiner, a seven-term Democrat who was once viewed as a rising star in the party, resigned on June 16 after being felled by a scandal over his lewd online behavior.

Not a bad run. Ended badly though.

FNL

I discuss the episode some here. 

Male Circumcision

Largely concur with the sentiments discussed here, particularly how it is trivial next to the female version.  OTOH, I really don't see it as a BIG autonomy issue, personally, and can name other much more harmful childhood stuff like some forms of education.

Medicinal Marijuana: Federal Policy

Obama has been disappointing on this (my thoughts on the general issue), but his policy was never great anyhow and clearly the ball is in Congress' court. Various comments of the "same boss" variety are tiresome as I note.  And, the Republicans are just worse.