Author: The Fat Lady Sings

Just what is the equivalence of a pat on the head complete with lollipop?  Is it the left-handed compliment – `well, pretty good, considering you don’t focus solely on politics’.  `What a nice little...

I came across this wonderful little document some time back, and have been saving it for the proverbial rainy day.  Well – we had a very wet October!  Enjoy.Hello there, Maxine here.  The Bush...

This marvelous little soufflé was sent to me by my friend Elaine.  Elaine has always been a veritable fountain of the odd and obscure.  Whatever she sends, however, is always gold-stamp guaranteed to produce a smile.  As I live in a confederate state, she thought I might find it amusing.  I did.  So will you.

I consider language to be the richest gift we as humans enjoy.  It goes way beyond simple communication.  Words themselves possess a certain power – they can transform the emotional landscape – create, destroy, caress – or pound someone senseless with the accumulated muscle of a thousand fists.  We treat words carelessly in American society.  Words and their applications are often considered trite and disposable, less human necessity and more French fry. The richness – the pure sensual pleasure that can derive from language craft has been demoted – kicked to the curb along with music as an unnecessary art – not essential to the continuation and promulgation of narrowly defined and increasingly jingoistic American standards and ideals.

Is it that we no longer read for pleasure anymore?