Thank you for another brief lift in the gloom of a depressing week. In the spirit of your end recommendations, I cannot praise James Marriott's newsletters enough - for his efforts in restoring the idea of being cultured as more than an affectation. His latest explores a concept (from Walter Ong) that we're moving away from a literate culture and back to an oral one - driven by the move to videos and social media memes - where simpler, clichéd and repeated pronouncements are the ones that gain traction. Fascinating and chilling. https://jmarriott.substack.com/p/are-we-returning-to-an-oral-culture/comments
Despite distancing itself from the ‘legacy’ media, The Free Press seems determined to carry on the proud tradition of terrible commentary on the UK by American journalists!
There should be a name - Stancil Syndrome or something - for when a US political journo known for their measured, well-researched commentaries suddenly turns their piercing gaze to the UK and Europe and says something completely idiotic and false. (NB on tiktok right now there is a massive argy-bargy between Americans and Brits about the quality of British food and there's nothing more insufferable than a know-it-all American :))
My favourite King Boris snippet: when the Duke and Duchess of Atholl hosted foreign royals at Blair Castle, they would welcome them with the national anthem played on the bagpipes (usually arranged by the duchess, who was an excellent musician). King Boris did not recognise his….
I HATE doomerism! I HATE Broken Britain/Not Fit For Purpose/On Its Way Out/On The Brink Of Collapse. The piece of glass Daniel Kaluuya's character holds to his throat in Fifteen Million Merits is like 70% of all media over the last 15 years.
Manifestations of Avalokiteśvara have nominally been head of State of Tibet since the 5th one. So the only current head of state that was in role during the Thirty Years War.
Agree that doomerism is gross. We are the richest people in history and somehow not happy. This requires a bit of introspection, I think.
When I was a kid I didn't believe it when they told me happiness is a mindset. And it's true that setbacks and continuous struggle can hurt people's mental well-being. But I also see people looking around for something to explain their misery, grabbing hold of anything to justify feeling dissatisfied.
We need to look at the broader picture. If you have food, shelter, a social safety net, some small bit of security, then you are doing better than most of humanity today, let alone the past. For those who do not, I have the greatest sympathy. But I suspect those are not the people bemoaning the capitalist hellscape we live in.
That Murdoch piece took me a while to get through, but gosh, what a mess. I suppose we must read it as (at least in part) a move by James in the ongoing family feud, but if even half of it's true then what an awful father Rupert must be.
Then last week I went with my wife to the west end transfer, and amid a much bigger staff presence for that scene (as Helen notes) a woman fainted, twice (once at her seat and again while trying to leave the row after the play was halted). My wife pointed out that perhaps some of the women who faint are dealing with their own memories of something similar to what's being depicted. But the "peer pressure"/contagion point also makes a lot of sense.
A few years ago I went to an open day at Freemason's Hall. The guide gave a long talk about how instrumental the Masons were in ending the Slave Trade. This was almost entirely directed at my companion who was black.
"What has this done to politics? Above all, it’s created the situation where the good jobs are in places that younger and less wealthy people can’t afford to live."
This seems to state it backwards. When wfh became a thing, half of San Fran streamed into Idaho in search of greener pastures. We are stuck in the cities because of the jobs, and not the reverse.
However, we are quite cramped in our house and would love to move within our own neighborhood. We can't, because the cost of housing plus interest rates has soared beyond what seems reasonable to me.
I grew up in a house-poor family and while our home was much nicer than most of my friends, we had exactly one family vacation each year, and it was a 2-night camping trip within driving distance. When I asked for guitar lessons, I was told to take a book out of the library.
I don't want to do this to my kids, but in exchange they are growing up in a significantly smaller house than their peers. It's hard to make these choices, but harder when it feels like it's being forced on you by external forces. I did all the things right -- our household income is over 4x what my parents managed on -- and I cannot afford to leave our starter home.
Totally agree with your assessment of "The Years". We went to see it earlier this month and it is a tour de force - an excellent story well set for stage, good, unobtrusive direction, and sensational performances by the 5 cast members. When we left the theatre we just turned to each other and, almost in synch, "that was amazing!"
Thank you for another brief lift in the gloom of a depressing week. In the spirit of your end recommendations, I cannot praise James Marriott's newsletters enough - for his efforts in restoring the idea of being cultured as more than an affectation. His latest explores a concept (from Walter Ong) that we're moving away from a literate culture and back to an oral one - driven by the move to videos and social media memes - where simpler, clichéd and repeated pronouncements are the ones that gain traction. Fascinating and chilling. https://jmarriott.substack.com/p/are-we-returning-to-an-oral-culture/comments
« The other notable FP piece this week… »
Despite distancing itself from the ‘legacy’ media, The Free Press seems determined to carry on the proud tradition of terrible commentary on the UK by American journalists!
There should be a name - Stancil Syndrome or something - for when a US political journo known for their measured, well-researched commentaries suddenly turns their piercing gaze to the UK and Europe and says something completely idiotic and false. (NB on tiktok right now there is a massive argy-bargy between Americans and Brits about the quality of British food and there's nothing more insufferable than a know-it-all American :))
My favourite King Boris snippet: when the Duke and Duchess of Atholl hosted foreign royals at Blair Castle, they would welcome them with the national anthem played on the bagpipes (usually arranged by the duchess, who was an excellent musician). King Boris did not recognise his….
Hhahah I loved your report on the Bulgarian royalty! Greetings from Plovdiv (BG)
I HATE doomerism! I HATE Broken Britain/Not Fit For Purpose/On Its Way Out/On The Brink Of Collapse. The piece of glass Daniel Kaluuya's character holds to his throat in Fifteen Million Merits is like 70% of all media over the last 15 years.
If you buy into the whole Dalai Lama ‘thing’, he’s been head of state for WAY longer than that, hasn’t he?
Manifestations of Avalokiteśvara have nominally been head of State of Tibet since the 5th one. So the only current head of state that was in role during the Thirty Years War.
Can't help but think of Great Uncle, when you mention Bulgaria. Childish of me, I know.
Agree that doomerism is gross. We are the richest people in history and somehow not happy. This requires a bit of introspection, I think.
When I was a kid I didn't believe it when they told me happiness is a mindset. And it's true that setbacks and continuous struggle can hurt people's mental well-being. But I also see people looking around for something to explain their misery, grabbing hold of anything to justify feeling dissatisfied.
We need to look at the broader picture. If you have food, shelter, a social safety net, some small bit of security, then you are doing better than most of humanity today, let alone the past. For those who do not, I have the greatest sympathy. But I suspect those are not the people bemoaning the capitalist hellscape we live in.
Fraiser is life
Truth. I was just thinking I might republish my old piece about Martin’s chair on here.
Doooooo iiiiiiiit!
Thank you for sharing my story about Frasier – I’m honored!
That Murdoch piece took me a while to get through, but gosh, what a mess. I suppose we must read it as (at least in part) a move by James in the ongoing family feud, but if even half of it's true then what an awful father Rupert must be.
I saw The Years at The Almeida last year, coincidentally the evening after the first audience faint (https://www.theguardian.com/stage/article/2024/jul/31/london-play-the-years-paused-after-theatregoers-felt-faint-during-abortion-scene). The staff were clearly primed but nothing happened that night.
Then last week I went with my wife to the west end transfer, and amid a much bigger staff presence for that scene (as Helen notes) a woman fainted, twice (once at her seat and again while trying to leave the row after the play was halted). My wife pointed out that perhaps some of the women who faint are dealing with their own memories of something similar to what's being depicted. But the "peer pressure"/contagion point also makes a lot of sense.
I don’t think the two are mutually exclusive, really.
A few years ago I went to an open day at Freemason's Hall. The guide gave a long talk about how instrumental the Masons were in ending the Slave Trade. This was almost entirely directed at my companion who was black.
So you have been hacked.
I too admire Arlie Russell Hochschild and referenced her in my article Breaking the Bubble: https://freddie1jd.substack.com/p/breaking-the-bubble-2d3
"What has this done to politics? Above all, it’s created the situation where the good jobs are in places that younger and less wealthy people can’t afford to live."
This seems to state it backwards. When wfh became a thing, half of San Fran streamed into Idaho in search of greener pastures. We are stuck in the cities because of the jobs, and not the reverse.
However, we are quite cramped in our house and would love to move within our own neighborhood. We can't, because the cost of housing plus interest rates has soared beyond what seems reasonable to me.
I grew up in a house-poor family and while our home was much nicer than most of my friends, we had exactly one family vacation each year, and it was a 2-night camping trip within driving distance. When I asked for guitar lessons, I was told to take a book out of the library.
I don't want to do this to my kids, but in exchange they are growing up in a significantly smaller house than their peers. It's hard to make these choices, but harder when it feels like it's being forced on you by external forces. I did all the things right -- our household income is over 4x what my parents managed on -- and I cannot afford to leave our starter home.
Totally agree with your assessment of "The Years". We went to see it earlier this month and it is a tour de force - an excellent story well set for stage, good, unobtrusive direction, and sensational performances by the 5 cast members. When we left the theatre we just turned to each other and, almost in synch, "that was amazing!"
I can't recommend it strongly enough.