[Osaka, 11/26/18] “Il y a enfin, quand l'on a faim et soif, quelqu'un qui vous chasse.”—Rimbaud That’s from his “Enfance” [“Childhood”]. Finally, when you are hungry and thirsty, there’s someone to chase you away. Damn right! The hungrier and thirstier you are, the more likely people will shoo you away or kick you into the gutter, especially if they’re also threatened with privation, though not nearly to the same degree as you, but that’s your fault, of course. Innocent of everything, you’re still guilty! Those billion cans of baked beans must be saved for their own bellies.
I did see Putin’s joke right after he first shared it, but I missed that snippet of speech from Ursula “We Have the Tools” von der Leyen—hard to do, given that her babbling is reported on constantly as though it actually means something.
Notice that Putin MEANT to make a joke, while von der Leyen was dead serious. Yet another illustration of the difference between West and East?
You truly can’t make this stuff up--it practically writes itself these days. At least those critics amongst your readers won’t be able to complain about your excessive doomsterism this time around!
It may be buffoonish to demand lower prices from a supplier you’re seeking to destroy, but at least “Joe Biden” brings the work home from the office. He continues to try to bully everyone in the oil supply chain here in the US into lowering their prices and profits even as he announces his intention to end the oil industry.
Interesting to examine the etymology of 'bomb', going from an onomatopoeic description of a deep, hollow sound to a contronym for either failure or success, through our own troubling encounters with explosives and shells.
Will some of us, rather than be chased away, be blown away? So many bombs being duds, a true bombshell is a surprise. Americans have an anthem that encourages them, where rockets and bombs gave light through the night so they can see in the darkness the proof of their nation's endurance, waving back at them in the breeze. Shock, then awe. Having your mind blown is learning something new, but having your body blown is the same old trick.
War and its associated metaphors can be so confusing.
Great essay, Linh. I have two of your books now. Just received Love like Hate the other day. Delicous reading. Thanks so much. Do you think you will ever come to the US for a visit?
Putin and the Putineers clearly aren't, for which we should not be sorry, not even cynical. Its right that a life form develop out of dirt & Waste. That's where we came from, the Westelands I mean.
Hi everyone,
During publishing, first paragraph with translation of Rimbaud bit was cut off, so I just reinserted it:
"That’s from his 'Enfance' ['Childhood']. Finally, when you are hungry and thirsty, there’s someone to chase you away."
Everything is falling apart, man. Sorry about that.
Linh
I did see Putin’s joke right after he first shared it, but I missed that snippet of speech from Ursula “We Have the Tools” von der Leyen—hard to do, given that her babbling is reported on constantly as though it actually means something.
Notice that Putin MEANT to make a joke, while von der Leyen was dead serious. Yet another illustration of the difference between West and East?
You truly can’t make this stuff up--it practically writes itself these days. At least those critics amongst your readers won’t be able to complain about your excessive doomsterism this time around!
It may be buffoonish to demand lower prices from a supplier you’re seeking to destroy, but at least “Joe Biden” brings the work home from the office. He continues to try to bully everyone in the oil supply chain here in the US into lowering their prices and profits even as he announces his intention to end the oil industry.
Great piece, thanks!
Interesting to examine the etymology of 'bomb', going from an onomatopoeic description of a deep, hollow sound to a contronym for either failure or success, through our own troubling encounters with explosives and shells.
Will some of us, rather than be chased away, be blown away? So many bombs being duds, a true bombshell is a surprise. Americans have an anthem that encourages them, where rockets and bombs gave light through the night so they can see in the darkness the proof of their nation's endurance, waving back at them in the breeze. Shock, then awe. Having your mind blown is learning something new, but having your body blown is the same old trick.
War and its associated metaphors can be so confusing.
Great essay, Linh. I have two of your books now. Just received Love like Hate the other day. Delicous reading. Thanks so much. Do you think you will ever come to the US for a visit?
Putin and the Putineers clearly aren't, for which we should not be sorry, not even cynical. Its right that a life form develop out of dirt & Waste. That's where we came from, the Westelands I mean.
g.