@LeastHesFunny_ A remote relative was visiting Paris during the 1848 revolution. He followed a crowd, thinking it was interesting, then shooting started, and he went back to his hotel. That was it.
@andrewhesselden It's a problem that changing your mind is now often presented, not as a sign of humility, intelligence, and ability to improve, but as weakness and "flip-flopping".
@portraitinflesh Plus XII wrote on evolution. But even in the Middle Ages a lot of scholars argued the six days were allegorical.
Some American evangelicals use "Christian" to mean their own group, and unfortunately secular media has picked up this misusage.
@deanpb_author Nineteen Eighty-Four (1984). One thing that is impressive is that it rearranges some detail to fit the medium, while retaining complete loyalty to the overall story, characters, and themes.
@theiaincameron I once got a crossed line-not a thing now. It was a couple of people deciding to ring me about something. They were confused by my intervention. We quickly settled it! I had rung one of them so the coincidence is not quite as great.
@SevereCritic@SketchesbyBoze The ambiguity of THURSDAY is part of the attraction to some. Is Sunday the cosmos, God? It's Chesterton before he settled down. MANALIVE is also brilliant but different. I wonder if TS Eliot is referring to it in the bit about returning to the origin.
@TankSnakeTree@deanpb_author@IMGerhi The radio series is still to me the ultimate. Peter Jones as "The Book", or John Le Mesurier as the Wise Old Bird are just perfect.
@mamakaCleo I know a literature scholar who was imprisoned by a dictator and refers, in his account, to thinking of The Waste Land. African literary scholars are wide-ranging and seem to see no need to limit themselves. European classics and modern literature all have a place.
@histories_arch Industrial espionage and theft of "intellectual property"! One of the many things western countries did on the way up, but are now awful wickedness when done to them.
@ChristopherHale Plus XII apparently wrote a resignation letter which would take effect if he were taken prisoner. A wise precaution so the Axis didn't have a hostage pope, but I'm not sure what would have followed-could the cardinals have met elsewhere?
@Doomer_Armus In the original series, yes. In TNG, it's officially stated not to be, but a scientific organization, though most find this puzzling. Argument that a fictional body is "really" one or the other is clickbait for Trekkies.
@josephnollasj A lot of Americans don't seem to be aware that their own rules, good or bad, are not universal. I remember someone who couldn't understand that in some countries prayer in schools is normal-she didnt just disapprove, she thought it must be illegal.
@NormalIslandNws Thank you for speaking up. Most of us lack the details to refute the lies. Why don't we see ministers explaining? When the Wall Street Journal writes this stuff, it should be treated the way we used to regard Pravda.
@RMGCLARK61@LizWebsterSBF@JMPSimor@mrjamesob Not always. NZ changed electoral system to PR: there was publicly funded information from a neutral body. Then a "preferendum", which new system do you prefer? Then final referendum: present system or the preferred new one?
Details first, then final yes/no.
@NeilDotObrien The idea that we should frame things to promote a particular social objective is misguided. Only truth, no matter how unwelcome, can help us. "Maybe if you tell me the bad news in a good way?" (Men In Tights)