Because I have taken the day off (well, I am working tomorrow) and instead of devoting it to polishing up and reading through for time my piece for the Berks, so that I can get it off to the discussant, or making a start on my sections of the collaborative chapter, I have given myself up to frivolity.

Well, sort of frivolity, if under that heading ( Read more... )

From Madonna to Kylie, from Ricky Gervais to Paul McCartney, A-list actors, comics and singers are reinventing themselves as children's authors. And are usually absolute crap. I also wonder, about the argument that they decide as they make up bedtime stories for their sproglings, that they are yay good at this and ought to publish - to what extent ( Read more... )

John Sutherland, being reasonably sensible for once (quite often he makes me gnash my teeth, but occasionally Gets Things Right) on courtesy. He wambles a bit but does end up with the distinction between manners as a manifestation of deference and inequality and manners as being about recognising that one is part of a community. (And not sure that ( Read more... )