Monthly Archives: December 2010

There is a principle in journalism of clearly distinguishing reportage from editorializing, intended to clearly separate an objective presentation of facts from a writer’s opinion.  The former is supposed to be ‘objective’ and ‘balanced’.  Sometimes, however, being really objective is … Continue reading →

“Better Living Through Chemistry” is an old DuPont advertising slogan.  It wouldn’t wash these days, where the word ‘chemical’ has taken on a pejorative connotation.  Now it is better to advertise “no chemical additives” when selling a product for consumption.  … Continue reading →

There are three components to poetry:  the visual, the aural, and the cognitive.  The successful merging of the last two has been the defining characteristic of great poetry from its beginnings:  the perfect melding of sound with sense. With the … Continue reading →

Sometimes Your Man Friday, when stumbling off to an early morning class, is met and greeted with the traditional “How are you?”  He often then replies, “Conscious.  It’s a start.”  Actually it is the end—the end result of millions of … Continue reading →

Your Man Friday readily admits to being a curmudgeon, even a misanthrope.  But he is also an optimist.  Despite often feeling and behaving like just another old guy whining about how things are going to hell in a hand basket, … Continue reading →