Quote of the Day

The ultimate conformity, abdication, what you will, finds expression in what I may for convenience call the thought-cliché. I used the term in speaking of the misleading image of a fingerprint that advertises a current book, but its like is to be found in all forms of written or spoken opinion. The thought-cliché is an idea or a phrase contrary to fact, which is clung to because it sounds familiar and feeds a half-attentive wish for thought. 

- Jacques Barzun

Humor Break: Film Directors and Christmas

The Auteurs of Christmas. [Part One]

The Auteurs of Christmas. [Part Two]

Candide Thovex for Audi

Althouse: This is one car ad you will watch.

The NoPhone

FutureLawyer sings the praises of the NoPhone's ability to be dropped into a toilet with no ill effects.

Alas, the product is missing one key feature.

Got Dickens?

The trailer for the BBC program "Dickensian."

"I love the tradition of Dickens, where even the most minor walk-on characters are twitching and particular and alive." - Donna Tartt

Art Break: Vettriano and Leech

Art Contrarian looks at the work of Jack Vettriano and Raymond Leech.

Interesting Distinction: Lord Mayor and Mayor

The difference between the Lord Mayor of London and the Mayor of London.

Miss Universe Mix-Up

This is painful.

There is more than one reason why the Oscars have the name of the winner in a separate envelope.

Dinner with Losers

All of us have played the game in which we choose which famous people from history that we'd have over for dinner. Lincoln and Churchill are frequent contenders.

But what if the criterion is losers? 

It is harder to compile that list than ones of great or of evil people because a loser in one aspect of life can be a winner in other aspects. Neville Chamberlain, Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, and Lyndon Johnson are examples of individuals who had sizable setbacks and yet would score as admirable in other aspects.

That should be reassuring to us all. People can bounce back.

Edwin O'Connor

Edwin O'Connor died much too young. I hate to think of how many great novels went with him. His books contain much wisdom and humor as well as scenes that will, no matter how many years pass, will be within easy reach of your memory. He is an author who can be re-read with pleasure. I particularly recommend:

• The Last Hurrah. His most famous novel is about Mayor Frank Skeffington, a charming rogue who plays Boston machine politics like a violin. Must reading for political junkies but also just flat-out funny. Thoroughly enjoyable.
• I Was Dancing. A retired hoofer is trying to elude a rest home. His eccentric friends overshadow the main character.
• The Edge of Sadness. This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about a priest's relationship to a strange Boston Irish family is filled with humor and just the right amount of sadness. Charlie Carmody is one funny but infuriating villain.

My suggestion: Start with The Last Hurrah, then move on to The Edge of Sadness, and save I Was Dancing as a light dessert.