Tuesday, May 24, 2005

You always won, everytime you placed a bet
You’re still damn good, no one’s gotten to you yet
Everytime they were sure they had you caught
You were quicker than they thought
You’d just turn your back and walk
You always said, the cards would never do you wrong
The trick you said was never piay the game too long
A gambler’s share, the only risk that you would take
The only loss you could forsake
The only bluff you couldn’t fake.

Bob Seger, Still the Same

Monday, May 23, 2005

[A] man is to guard himself against taking a thing in general.

Samuel Johnson to James Boswell, in his The Life of Samuel Johnson

Saturday, May 21, 2005

[R]epublicanism has been revived as a modern ideology. Disillusion with classical liberalism, because it has led to unrestrained capitalism, and with Marxism, because it has resulted in political tyranny, has created a vogue for a “republican” philosophy, with a commitment to effective legal restraints upon the executive, an active ideal of participatory citizenship, and a belief that the collective good should take priority over private interest. Thus defined, “republicanism” appears to be an attractive, nonsocialist alternative to capitalism and globalization.

Keith Thomas, "Politics: Looking for Liberty" in the May 26, 2005 NYRB.

Friday, May 20, 2005

Destiny is calling me
Open up my eager eyes
‘Cause I’m Mr Brightside.

The Killers