Yep, it's weird, but it kinda captures something, don't you think? One of the side benefits of being a lousy technician photo-wise is that occasionally I end up with something semi-cool through sheer stupidity. I imagine a real photographer would agree with the second part of that statement. . .I just want to mention a couple of random things. One: I wish I would stop running into that quotation of Oscar Wilde: "I have nothing to declare except my genius". Enough already, I just read your "The Soul Under Socialism" -- I think that's what it's called -- and I have to say the rumours of your genius are mildly exaggerated. I have pinko leanings myself, but honestly, you are making me want to change my mind. . .then again, Wilde was probably considerably younger when he wrote that than I am imagining -- or than I am!? A slightly disturbing thought.
Secondly! Or is it thirdly now. . .let's talk about the word desultory. The last two major books I have read have been written by brilliant contemporary American writers (yes, they do exist): Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides and Paris to the Moon by Adam Gopnik. At least I think it's Jeffrey in that first one. I claim three-child-induced brain death on that one. Anyway, the thing is that they are under the impression, along with at least half the English speaking population, that desultory means "lazy" or "sulky", or at any rate something related to slow. No! It means jumpy or inconsistent! As in, I do housework in a desultory manner! (Yes, I am sulky, and I am lazy, but those are actually completely different things.) Now, it's one thing to use it wrong in conversation, or even in a college paper. Whatever. But these guys both received major accolades--rightly so--and as I said, are excellent writers. So what gives? PLUS they have editors, who are presumably paid to notice these things! Aaaaaaaaaargh. Okay, I am going to have some chamomile or something now to calm down.
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