Merry Christmas and Happy Hannukah. I hope there are plenty of books and piles of candy for all. Here is South Park's Jesus vs. Santa Claus to help you start a debate on the state of the holidays.
Saturday, December 24, 2005
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Merry Christmas, T! Yes, indeedy, in the stocking I found a bundle of chocolate dipped biscotti, three of which - a most non-Italian portion - I have already dunked into my San' Eustacchio joe (a b-day present from K, who arranged to have it covertly imported by a friend who was visiting Roma). Under the tree, in addition to several well-received books on trains, I found a Cook's Tour o Italy. Now that the boys are down for a three hour nap, I am going I plan to tuck into said tome until I drift off with visions of gnocchi con vongole e pomodori dancing in my head. Mmm, lecker.
A rather decadent and Italian Christmas you are having B, fantastico. Or whatever they say in Italy.
I received a pair of deadly serious books, one on the Third Reich 1933-39 and another on the comparative economics of China and Europe in the early modern era. Speaking of which, International Security has a new article on how to deal with China, looks fab.
As I understand current US policy, the way to deal with China is to kiss up to India. And let them have nukes and stuff.
As for the Winter Shopping Event, my parents found Godiva chocolates (in fun, girl-friendly hot pink) that act like Pop Rocks. How crazy is that?
I was listening to Agatha Christie on the drive down here. I had no idea what a racist she is...
Christie is a racist yes, you recall the original title of Ten Little Indians yes? She is of her era of course.
I fear your pop rocks chocolate. Was it tasty?
Yes, I recall the original version of And Then There Were None. And I recognize that she was simply representative of EveryBritishMan, but reading several of them at once really brings it home.
She clearly dislikes Germans, Americans, Russian Jews,...
The Godiva Pop Chocolates are everything a sparkly, pink and green JL girl like myself could ask. You should not fear girl culture! Just ignore it the way we try to football.
You know, I have been thinking a lot about Victorian and Edwardian culture and I have decided I do not like them.
No doubt because I am an American, I dislike the notion of identifying people entirely by their place in society. I find referring to a person as "Marlboro" just as offensive as "Cook." And the rigidity was just intolerable. The simple term "being in service" begins to annoy me.
I guess I am getting past my Jane Austen phase or something. Of course Metropolitan is all about Austen and I totally agree with Nick Smith’s views on the “titled aristocracy.” Whit Stillman (correctly, I believe) draws a distinction between the Upper Middle Class, which must remain productive to maintain its status (downward mobility, etc), while the titled aristocracy need only be born correctly (see Prince Bertie, Duke of Wales, et al)…
Sorry about the rambling. The Christie thing is really bugging me.
Ramble away, it's what these things are for. If you are feeling anti-Victorian then be sure to read Strachey's Eminent Victorians if you have not already.
Upon reflection, I think I may be feeling anti-British, more than anything. Daddy and Mother were comparing grade school experiences in the car today, and I realized how rigid and authoritarian Canadian society was compared to American, even in the 50s.
That said, I stand behind what I said about the Victorians and Edwardians.
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