Books of the Year 2012

There is more fiction than non-fiction on this list, but that’s only because my non-fiction reading this year has been dominated by a succession of esoteric obsessions. I encountered some very good books that way, but the mini-reviews for all of them would have gone something like “A . . . . Continue Reading »

On the Square Today

William Doino Jr. on rediscovering Paul VI : When the Vatican recently announced its new candidates for sainthood, there was a remarkable name on its list: Pope Paul VI. On December 20, 2012, Pope Benedict declared Paul a Christian of “heroic virtue,” granting him the title, . . . . Continue Reading »

Celibacy and Friendship ‘After 30’

This was published last summer in the NYT, but it’s just now coming to my attention (via  Luke Neff ):  “Friends of a Certain Age: Why Is It Hard to Make Friends Over 30?” An excerpt: In studies of peer groups, Laura L. Carstensen, a psychology professor who is the . . . . Continue Reading »

The Word of the Day: went

Why do we say, “John goes to the pawn shop today,” but “John  went  to the pawn shop yesterday?”  Where does that come from? German doesn’t have it. In the Krautic tongue, people say  ich gehe, I go,  and  ich ginge, I went.  The . . . . Continue Reading »

On Microfame

I read Rob Horning’s  New Inquiry  essay on  “Microfame”  with over a decade’s worth of my own blogging and social media use flashing before my eyes. The essay is the kind of theory-laden, semi-aphoristic exposition of culture that it takes me a few reads . . . . Continue Reading »