All posts by Phil

Bordering on Hyperbole

A Series of Unfortunate Metaphors: Campaigns Engaged in Bizarre War of Words

“James Carville suggests Bill Richardson is a modern-day Judas. Bill Clinton calls Barack Obama’s campaign a fairy tale. Hillary Clinton says she’s a lot like ‘Rocky,’ except Rocky lost to Apollo Creed in a split decision.”

Conservative commentator Michael Steele says, “I think some of the language has gotten a little bit to the point of being silly.”

Is it from the Bible or Shakespeare (4)?

Here’s the fourth round of our quiz. How have you been doing? Everyone enjoying himself? Which of the following statements or quotations are from the Bible (King James Version) and which are from Shakespeare’s plays?

1. “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.”

2. “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”

3. “Too little payment for so great a debt.”

4. Poor and content is rich enough.

5. “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth: for thy love is better than wine.”

6. “Good name in man and woman is the immediate jewel of their souls.”

7. “Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?”

8. Mercy “droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven.”

9. “A time to be born, and a time to die “

10. “Earthly power doth then show likest God’s when mercy seasons justice.”

Bonus: Does the saying, “Cast thy bread upon the waters,” originate in the Bible, Shakespeare, or elsewhere? And what does it mean? Continue reading Is it from the Bible or Shakespeare (4)?

Responsible Bookselling or Promotion?

What would you do with a press release like this:

In Persecution, Privilege & Power, Green has collected the sharpest commentaries and analyses from 30 different writers as they critically examine the role that Zionism plays in shaping U.S. policies abroad as well as cultural transformations at home. This riveting volume provides a broad and exhilarating inspection of Zionist machinations as well as the entrenched taboos and covert alliances that sustain them. . . . Persecution, Privilege & Power unearths the unchecked malfeasance within the political wing of organized Jewry, specifically examining that international lobby’s political excesses from a multiplicity of perspectives.

Yuval Levin believes the publicity manager of Booksurge, a subsidiary of Amazon.com, should be more responsible with the books it promotes. “You have to wonder if anyone at Amazon realizes they are now the publishers of conspiracy theories about the ‘Zionist machinations’ of ‘organized Jewry,’ and that BookSurge is actively promoting the book in their name,” he states.

Tags: , , , ,

Australian Prime Minister’s Literary Awards

There’s a bit of noise going up about the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards in Australia because the guidelines say, “The Prime Minister will make the final decision on the awarding of the Awards, taking into account the recommendations of the judges.”

What? The PM isn’t just a figurehead in these awards?

Tags: ,

Poetry Month

Sherry is celebrating poetry month, beginning with compressed poetry. Here’s a portion of one for today, from “Winter Is Coming” by Waverley Turner Carmichael.

De frost is fallin’ on de gras’

An’ seem to say “Dis is yo’ las’”—

De air is blowin’ mighty cold

Like it done in days of old.

Or like it done in Minnesota

and then again in Chattanooga.

Narnia Book Contest

Get your comment in for the Narnia book contest today. I’ll announce the winner of a Prince Caspian paperback tomorrow, and on Friday, I’ll tell you who wins the full Narnia series in one paperback with a unique timeline fold-out. If you don’t know anything about the books and can’t give a favorite line, talk about what you know from the movie or news.