But are they really so different? — One person holds a flag. Says “die.” Another says “no.” Arms down, hands behind. Round head. Blank face. Black lines. White space. Red flag. Blue, white, pink stripes. Same stick figure? Same types. I want you to die. I don’t want to die. Different. Same. Why? Same artist. Or is it? That…

PEN America tracks book bans nationally, particularly the uptick in 2022–2023 focused on books about race, history, and sexual orientation/gender. At George Dawson Middle School in Texas, the school district “banned” George Dawson’s own book, “Life is so good.” Or did they? Dawson learned to read at the age of…

Ibsen’s 19th century play resonates in the 21st century — for Henrik Ibsen Have I such fortitude that I might speak And become the people’s enemy? Would I crucify as crowds do, or pay the cost Face opprobrium, censure, grief and loss? Have I the will to look and see Poisons flow from my own tannery? Might change our course, or try my best To take none…

…and with strange aeons, even death may die — Our friends at Project Gutenberg released two more H.P. Lovecraft stories in April 2023, “The Lurking Fear” and “The Silver Key.” These join other classic horror staples, The Shunned House The Dunwich Horror The Colour Out of Space The Call of Cthulhu He The Festival Given the sound and fury…

My Zombie Platoon explains the Importance of Earnestly Understanding why Max Beerbohm based a short story on one Oscar Wilde work rather than another — The necromancer is the creator of undead things. To reveal art and conceal the artist is necromancy’s aim. The critic is he who can translate into another manner or a new material his impression of digital literary zombies. Oscar Wilde, “Picture of Dorian Gray,” Preface (egregiously paraphrased)

Fools can lose If they break enough rules. Yay.

Arizona’s governor vetoes ban on Critical Race Theory — Arizona’s Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed a bill in Arizona that would have banned the teaching or use of “critical race theory” in public K-12 schools. Arizona ought to be more famous as the origin of “Ninja Race Theory,” that is, the theory that if they paid Cyber Ninjas a few…

A response to “Fifty Years” by James Weldon Johnson — FIFTY YEARS, 1863–1913 That for which millions prayed and sighed, That for which tens of thousands fought, For which so many freely died, God cannot let it come to naught. James Weldon Johnson, Fifty Years & Other Poems (available from Project Gutenberg) One Hundred Sixty Years, 1863–2023 That for which…

When a Confederate killed a Union soldier, The act was always brave. But if the Taliban killed an American It was a cowardly sort of raid. When a Confederate builds a statue, It’s patriotic heritage. But if the Taliban bombs a statue, It’s some feudal religious rage. Did “romance, patriotism and…