LINES OF THE DAY

". . . But the past does not exist independently from the present. Indeed, the past is only past because there is a present, just as I can point to something over there only because I am here. But nothing is inherently over there or here. In that sense, the past has no content. The past -- or more accurately, pastness -- is a position. Thus, in no way can we identify the past as past." p. 15

". . . But we may want to keep in mind that deeds and words are not as distinguishable as often we presume. History does not belong only to its narrators, professional or amateur. While some of us debate what history is or was, others take it into their own hands." p. 153

Silencing the Past: Power and the Production of History (1995) by Michel-Rolph Trouillot

Thursday, March 19, 2015

American Name of the Day

Thanks to Samuel Clemens / Mark Twain, and his Innocents Abroad, this on goes into the collection of favorite American names:


Bloodgood Haviland Cutter, an actual person, from a well-known 19th century family on Long Island.


He was a wealthy, go-getting sort of fellow, who was an obsessive rhymer, at length, into the bargain. This trait was not admired by Mr. Clemens.

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