Hocus Pocus

Review of A Conservationist Manifesto, by Scott Russell Sanders (Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2009).

A version of this review first appeared in print in _The Common Review_ 8, no. 3 (Winter 2010): 42-44. (TCR(The Common Review) unfortunately does not make its content available online).

“See below”:/2010/the-loss-of-browns-woods#letter for a letter to the editor taking issue with this review, and my response. Continue reading “The Loss of Brown’s Woods: A Letter to Scott Russell Sanders”

bq.. That young lady had a talent for describing the involvements, feelings and characters of ordinary life which is to me the most wonderful I have ever met with. The big bow-wow I can do myself like any one going; but the exquisite touch which renders commonplace things and characters interesting from the truth of the description and the sentiment is denied to me. Continue reading “Nineteenth-century literary props”

It’s been reported that the _New Yorker_ magazine’s mascot, the character “Eustace Tilley,” is based on an illustration from the Encyclopædia Britannica’s famous eleventh edition. But it hasn’t been easy to find a online view of that original illustration. Until now. Continue reading “Eustace Tilley”

We’ve just had a little fun on Twitter — with a collective game of Mad Libs. I think you’ll recognize the base text here, and this is the finished product. Continue reading “Twitter Mad Lib”

I attended the HighEdWeb Association’s 2009 conference in Milwaukee (October 4–7) and benefited from the experience. Here are some of my reflections. This post will definitely remain under progress as I add and revise.
Continue reading “Reflections on (and at) HighEdWeb 2009”

In what’s becoming an annual tradition, I have asked “derek becker”:http://satellitebooking.com/ and Jim Boyd for music recommendations so that I could get some fresh music in my collection. Here are the items they’ve recommended (with notes as I acquire some of them): Continue reading “Music Picks 2008”

In June of 2007, I asked respected friends for music recommendations so that I could get some fresh music in my collection. Both “derek becker”:http://satellitebooking.com/ and Jim Boyd gave fascinating tips, and I bought eight of the albums they plugged: Continue reading “Music Picks 2007”