Daily Archives: February 23, 2011

On Wisconsin

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAfsIW6RY8Q

This is nice little common sense video putting the Wisconsin budget “crisis” into perspective and explaining by the simplest possible means how little it would cost to “fix” it.

However, what it doesn’t mention is that the “crisis” has been deliberately engineered by the new Tea Party governor of the state as a pretext for union busting.  He inherited a budget surplus when he took office in January.  He’s now running a deficit.  The reason?  It rhymes with “wax butts for the witch.”

It never stops.

(h/t to Amanda Etches-Johnson for the video)

Video of the Day: The Beginning of the End?

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ua_rSF1TQ6k

Chris Matthews and his panel have a hilarious good time reviewing the leaked manuscript of a memoir by former Palin aide Frank Bailey.  This may be enough to end the madness, at least as far as the mainstream media is concerned.  No more free rides for her.

Now if only we could revisit Bill O’Reilly’s multi-million dollar sexual harassment suit and Rush Limbaugh’s draft deferments for a sore bum, his illegal possession of Oxycontin, not to mention his illegal possession of Viagra during a visit to a sex-vacation haven.  Poobahs on the right are as answerable for their foibles, crimes and misdemeanours as everyone else.  They only think they aren’t.

Call for Papers: Special Issue of “English Studies in Canada”

A call for papers from English Studies in Canada:

To mark Northrop Frye’s 100th birthday and as part of the process of revaluation of this important figure, ESC is planning a special issue on Frye.  Northrop Frye was enormously influential and in a variety of fields and with a variety of individuals, so we are encouraging papers from all disciplines, as well as English.  Submissions are welcome on any topic or approach relevant to Frye.  Topics might include:

What does Frye have to say to us today? — Current perceptions of Frye — Frye and McLuhan — Frye and Canadian literature/culture — Visionary Frye — Frye’s sources —Frye and Music —Frye’s reputation— Applying Frye’s ideas or approaches to specific texts (or movies) — Frye¹s concepts (e.g., displacement) — Frye in other language contexts —Frye’s impact on literary studies —Frye and the Sixties — Frye and Genre — Frye and Popular Culture — Frye’s diaries / letters — Bibliographic issues — Frye and Blake (or Dickinson or Shakespeare or Milton or any other specific author) — Is it time for a Frye revival? —Frye as teacher —Frye and poetry —Specific Frye texts (e.g., Fearful Symmetry) — Frye and other critics — Frye and other fields and disciplines — Frye and education — Frye and faith — Frye and the university — Frye and institutional religion — Frye and politics — Frye’s view of history — Frye and children’s literature or science fiction or fantasy or detective fiction — Frye and creative writing—The new edition — Frye and the media — Frye and the Bible — Frye and the visual — Frye and imagination — Humour and Frye

In addition, shorter notes detailing personal responses to Frye’s work are welcome.  What is your personal view of Frye, his place, his influence, what he has meant to you?  Give us a brief reflection on Frye.

Submit by email—in Word 2003, please: mnicholson@tru.ca

or by regular mail at the address below.  Submissions by 15 July please

Mervyn Nicholson

Department of English

Thompson Rivers University

Box 3010, Kamloops

British Columbia

V2C 5N3