Tough To Learn native speech

“Facing it—always facing it—that’s the way to get through.” 

~Joseph Conrad, Typhoon ...[read more]

If you've ever wanted to see a meteor shower, don't miss this weekend's Eta Aquariids
       In The Unconquerable English Translation at the European Literature Network Czech author Bianca Bellová writes about her successful novel Jezero, which won the Magnesia Litera Book of the Year Award as well as a European Union Prize for Literature and which has been translated into nineteen languages:

both minor -- like Latvian and Albanian -- and major -- like German, French and Spanish; European and non-European, such as Japanese and Arabic. Some publishers even fought over the rights in an auction. But sadly, no English.

       Sigh. 


(Posted by: M.A.Orthofer)    - permanent link - Why do climbers climb (and fall)? (NYT

Plogging Anyone? Scrabble Adds 2,800 New Words

A whole host of new Scrabble words relate to current lifestyle trends including plogging (picking up litter while jogging), sharenting (sharing news and images of one’s children on social media), babymoon (early period of new parenthood), dancecore (type of electronic dance music), zen (state of calm attentiveness), fleek (used in the phrase ‘on fleek’, stylish) and bizjet (small aeroplane used by business people). – Irish Times

‘And thus my suicide began,’ prolific author John L’Heureux wrote in his final essay ‘On Death and Dignity’
And thus my suicide began,’ prolific author John L’Heureux wrote in his final essay ‘On Death and Dignity’ - The Boston Globe

How To Write A Book In Ten Days

First, don’t think too much about writing a book. Second, cheat. –LitHub

James Baldwin’s ‘Giovanni’s Room’ Is A Virtuosic Treatment Of Shame

“Baldwin has captured his own early lifetime of shame and filtered it through the alembic of [narrator] David’s own cave-journey. It is a solid shame, thick, heavy, cold, enveloping like a darkening star.” –Literary Hub

As I grow older, I find that my personal definition of what it means to be beautiful is becoming far more encompassing. What no longer catches my eye, however, is youthful prettiness. It is wasted on me, whether in its natural form or in the chemically assisted simulacra that are easy enough to spot. – Terry Teachout

Try As You Might, There’s A Reason It’s Tough To Learn A New Language As An Adult

You can learn basic grammar and vocabulary at any age. That explains my “good enough” French. But there’s also an enormous amount of low-frequency words and syntax that even native speakers might encounter only once a year. Knowing any one of these “occasional” words or phrasings isn’t essential. But in every context — a book, an article or conversation — there will probably be several. They’re part of what gives native speech its richness. – The New York Times

Shakespeare was many things, but not — inconveniently for a new book on the subject — a great classicist. As a drinking partner put it, the Bard had “small Latin and less Greek 

The Lost Art of Deadline Writing The Atlantic

They occupy the spaces in between:
gaps of underpasses, beneath bridges,
broken fences, derelict homes: human mortar
filling spaces that others cannot, would not

dare to occupy. Their untethered existence
depends on the day to day, a passerby’s coin,
fast food leftovers, dumpster delicacies. One
step from invisible to non-existent. The world

moves around them like they had no mass,
or were on a different dimension altogether. When
they do encroach with a palm or rusted pan,
the world stares blankly at their touch screens.

We walk on telling ourselves it’s the system
not us, never us, it’s on social services. But one
slip and who knows where we land? When it’s
our hand outstretched, it’s time to get personal.

International Garden Photographer of the Year: Black & White Photo Project Guardian

Below are some of the late W.C. Fields’ best one-liners:

I cook with wine. Sometimes I even add it to the food.

If you can’t dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bullshit.

It ain’t what they call you, it’s what you answer to.

I never vote for anyone. I always vote against.

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. Then quit. There’s no point in being a damn fool about it.

No doubt exists that all women are crazy; it’s only a question of degree.

Women are like elephants. I like to look at ’em, but I wouldn’t want to own one.

I drink therefore I am.

I am free of all prejudices. I hate everyone equally.

It’s morally wrong to allow a sucker to keep his money.

A man’s got to believe in something. I believe I’ll have another drink.

A woman drove me to drink and I didn’t even have the decency to thank her.

Start every day off with a smile and get it over with. 

I spent half my money on gambling, alcohol and wild women. The Other half I wasted. 

In My Little Chickadee, a man came up to W,C. Fields as he was shuffling a deck of cards. 

"Is this a game of chance?” the man asked. 

 W.C. Fields replied, “Not the way I play it.”

You can also watch a TCM video on W.C. Fields, narrated by John Cleese, via the below link: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zl8Qlu4l0YM


EVERY GREAT IDEALIST BEGINS AS A REBEL, BECOMES A SQUARE, AND EVENTUALLY DEGENERATES INTO A ***: How New Yorkers are making bank ratting out idling drivers.

Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue Features First-Ever Baptist Model In Floor-Length Denim Skirt.