Author Archives: Anton

Mr Lincoln’s war

Posted on Wednesday, 2002 February 27 by Anton

What made 1861 such a hot topic in the blogs of late? Douglas Turnbull wrote: So yes, there may be a Constitutional case for a state’s right to secede from the Union, but the Southern states did not secede just … Continue reading →

Posted in history, politics | Leave a comment

the uvular fricative is written Z in English

Posted on Wednesday, 2002 February 27 by Anton

My housemate was talking to a physician this morning (didn’t say why) and mentioned my snoring. The physician imitated the sound of sleep apnea, and it sounded (I’m told) exactly like a noise that I make. She suggested I have … Continue reading →

Posted in language, me!me!me! | 1 Comment

hi, werewolves!

Posted on Wednesday, 2002 February 27 by Anton

xearth is among my favorite toys. I set it to look down from the Moon; right now the Earth is completely black, which means the Moon is full.

Posted in neep-neep | 3 Comments

there’s always been a lottery

Posted on Wednesday, 2002 February 27 by Anton

Office lottery in ancient Athens. In short, the lottery – and the great Iron Age pachinko machine that was its finest expression and most powerful tool – made the first democracy what it was. Together, the system and its technology … Continue reading →

Posted in constitution, history | Leave a comment

nothing new under the sun

Posted on Tuesday, 2002 February 26 by Anton

I thought the “. . . Not!” construction was new when Wayne & Garth used it, but here it is in the mouth of Archie Goodwin: “We know she didn’t kill her husband. Either you thought she had and probably still do, or … Continue reading →

Posted in language, prose | Leave a comment

they cut off his big blond locks, I’m told

Posted on Monday, 2002 February 25 by Anton

I noticed something odd about my passport: it is dated June 1998, but the photograph must have been taken before April. (My hair was cut in September 1989, November 1994, April 1998 – when I stopped parting it – and … Continue reading →

Posted in me!me!me! | Leave a comment

the happy dawg

Posted on Monday, 2002 February 25 by Anton

All I seem to do in this blog is complain. I need a hobby. Or a job. Well, here’s something positive: I’m listening to Dawganova by the David Grisman Quintet (1995), a playful acoustic album with a bit of bluegrass … Continue reading →

Posted in music+verse | Leave a comment