Saturday, August 11, 2012

Opinion 200: Fundraising

I love this, from President Obama's reelection site:

When Michael Jordan wrote a check to my campaign for U.S. Senate in 2004, I wasn't sure whether I should cash it or frame it.
Now Michael Jordan is taking his support to the next level. If you chip in whatever you can today, you’ll be automatically entered for a chance to meet both of us at an event later this month in New York City.
You're invited to bring a guest—so if basketball isn't your game, I encourage you to bring someone in your life who might enjoy meeting Michael and me over dinner, and maybe even shooting some hoops with some of the other basketball stars, past and present.
Now, I don't know if I'll want to sprint up and down the court that night, but I'm always up to launch a few jump shots. If you join me, don't be surprised if I challenge you or your guest to play.
Tonight is the deadline to throw your name in—and, today only, every entry counts for two. Make a donation, and you'll be automatically entered.
Thanks,
Barack
What children we've all become!

Friday, August 3, 2012

Opinion 198: Words from the sage Randy Travis


"Since my phone still ain't ringing, I assume it still ain't you."

It's hard to turn down a simple, self-deprecatory country music lyric.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Opinion 197: Concerning books purchased

If you ever find yourself in Minneapolis' Dinkytown - an otherwise embarrassing experience, do yourself a favor and visit the Book House.  I am always impressed at the breadth of good books, both old and new, which can be found on their shelves.  I picked up four today a- book buying bonanza.  I have an odd habit of being extremely stingy with bookmoney for months on end and then, suddenly, as if loosed from invisible chains, bounding forth with open wallet, grabbing texts and throwing large sums of money across counters, rubbing book spines incessantly so as to distract myself from monetary guilt.

Loeb Classical Library: Cicero XXII - Letters to Atticus
-A fine Latin text with a very passable English translation.  I hope to practice my Latin on these pages.  God help them.

Sex, Economy, Freedom and Community -Wendell Berry
-It's really not what he has to say, it's how clearly he can say it.

Routledge Philosophy Guidebook to Heidegger and Being and Time - Stephan Mulhall
-No, I don't expect any real help here as far as my reading of Sein und Zeit is concerned.  But as long as I am lost in the cave, it'll be nice to have this Mulhall gentleman as a companion.

And a lovely, lovely hardback edition of The Hobbit, large print with Tolkien's illustrations. 

God I'm a cultured man.