WORK
“Do not, I implore you, continue in that indolent and soul-destroying habit of picking up a book ‘to distract your mind’ (‘distract’ is the word for it) or ‘to knock down time’ (there is only too little time already, and it will knock us down soon enough). The only respectable reason for reading a book is that you want to know what is in it. Do not choose your literature by the half-witted process of asking the young woman at the library for ‘a nice book’ and enquiring anxiously of her, ‘Shall I like it?’”
—Dorothy Sayers
—from “A Note on Creative Reading”
WORD(S)
curple /KƏR-pəl/. noun. The rump; the buttocks. Particularly an equine’s hind-quarters, AKA a horse’s ass. A corruption of crupper, which could refer to either the rump of a horse or a strap that passed under the tail to secure a saddle. From the French croupière, from medieval Latin and Italian groppa.
“I’m afraid that John Durie has cracked his curple, at least his mouth is closed.” (James Carmichael)
“I’d be mair vauntie o’ my hap,
Douce hingin owre my curple,
Than ony ermine ever lap,
Or proud imperial purple.”
(Robert Burns)
WEB
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I don’t pretend these lists mean anything, but I find them useful for exploration (and the occasional debate)…and many of my favorite recent reads show up → The Oyster Review editors pick the 100 Best Books of the Decade So Far
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Advertisements featuring animals that desire to be eaten. I have to admit I’ve always found them kind of creepy (and not just animals…how about the talking M&Ms?) → Suicide Food
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I knew the reasons already, but any article that links to postmortem photography deserves a look → Why didn’t people ever smile in old photographs?
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The Sheltering Sky, Lucky Jim, and A Dance to the Music of Time rate just one star…others fare better. → Salman Rushdie’s Goodreads account.
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Today in 1710, with the support of luminaries such as Jonathan Swift, John Locke and Daniel DeFoe, “The Statute of Anne”—the first government statute regulating copyright—is enacted in England, Wales and Scotland. The statute begins, “Whereas Printers, Booksellers, and other Persons, have of late frequently taken the Liberty of Printing, Reprinting, and Publishing, or causing to be Printed, Reprinted, and Published Books, and other Writings, without the Consent of the Authors or Proprietors of such Books and Writings, to their very great Detriment, and too often to the Ruin of them and their Families: For Preventing therefore such Practices for the future, and for the Encouragement of Learned Men to Compose and Write useful Books; May it please Your Majesty…” and then goes on to outline, among other things, protections for copying of published work for a term of 14 years. The significance of the act can hardly be overstated, for better and for worse, because it was the first to establish copyright as a public law (rather than private agreement between publishers) and to locate the ownership of the work with the writer rather than the publisher. All of this to fulfill the statute’s full title: “An Act for the Encouragement of Learning, by Vesting the Copies of Printed Books in the Authors or Purchasers of such Copies, during the Times therein mentioned.”
WATCH/WITNESS
Nine animators created a video journey to accompany Dan Deacon’s song “When I Was Done Dying”
REPRISES/RESPONSES/REJOINDERS/RIPOSTES
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Reader J. shares another reason to celebrate: “Just FYI, it’s also Jazz Appreciation Month!” — JAM!
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Reader B. enjoyed the Old Time Radio and shares a book: “Thank you for the radio theater link. Audio art is always a pleasure. ¶ For more on Burgoyne’s campaign, this book was very good.”
I welcome comments, suggestions, thoughts, feedback and all manner of what-have-you. Just press ‘Reply’ or email to: clippings@katexic.com.
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