Posts by author
Maria Chiang
-
Philip Roth for Nobel
“Even in Roth’s greatest work, if there is an act of villainy afoot, you can bet a woman is at the root of it. I revere Philip Roth, but if I were a woman I wouldn’t get within a hundred…
-
Coelho On Internet Sharing
“Mr. Coelho continues to give his work away free by linking to Web sites that have posted his books, asking only that if readers like the book, they buy a copy, “so we can tell to the industry that sharing…
-
Internet: Not Randomized?
Wikileaks released this TED Talks video yesterday, titled “Facebook and Google / Secret Revealed.” The video explains how our internet searches may be sorted by an algorithm based on our assumed preferences.
-
King Revokes Lashings
“Although there has been no official confirmation of the ruling, Princess Amira al-Taweel, wife of the Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, tweeted: ‘Thank God, the lashing of [Shaima] is cancelled. Thanks to our beloved king. I am sure all Saudi…
-
10 Lashes for Driving
“‘How come women get flogged for driving while the maximum penalty for a traffic violation is a fine, not lashes?’ Zein el-Abydeen said. ‘Even the Prophet (Muhammad’s) wives were riding camels and horses because these were the only means of…
-
“When Kerouac Met Kesey”
“They [Pranksters] draped a small American flag over Jack’s shoulders, but he took it off, folded it neatly, and placed it on the arm of the couch.” The American Scholar has published an essay titled “When Kerouac Met Kesey” by…
-
7-year-old versus DC
“‘Well, she’s not fighting anyone. And not talking to anyone really. She’s just almost naked and posing.’ ‘Do you think this Starfire is a good hero?’ ‘Not really.’” This is only part of the conversation Michele Lee, fantasy author, has…
-
Discussions on Language
“Ugly and pointless new usages appear in the media and drift into everyday conversation: Faze, as in “it doesn’t faze me” Hospitalize, which really is a vile word Wrench for spanner Elevator for lift Rookies for newcomers, who seem to…
-
Photos: Hemingway’s Letters
“’Gertrude Stein who wrote Three Lives and a number of other good things was here to dinner last night and stayed till mid-night[.] She is about 55 I guess and very large and nice. She is very keen about my…
-
New Arthur Conan Doyle
“Conan Doyle sent it to a publisher but it was lost in the post. The book was then reconstructed from memory.” Starting today, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s first novel The Narrative of John Smith is out and ready for reading.…
-
Female Comic Characters: Sexy or Smart?
What are the implications of female characters in comics for women? This article ponders the question: who are today’s superheroines aimed to please? Laura Hudson describes how often contemporary comics claim their portrayals of women are sexually liberating, while they…
-
Voting before Driving
ABC reports that Saudi Arabian women will be allowed to take part in local elections starting in 2015. “This is in a country where women are subjected to many restrictions, including not being allowed to drive. The United States and…