My instincts are similar..

Post #98,917 by Ashton 4/27/03 3:39:53 AM Reply	My instincts are similar.. My jaundiced view is that, that Murican leftover Puritan miasma produces much more unnecessary mischief than the simple fact: we all 'lie' regularly and unconsciously ("I Know that ___") as well as the usual kind. Someone who Never Lies would be as mechanical a creation as a ~~marl~~ marionette. Cataloguing the Sigma-Lies Quotient for everyone we know (of) - would be a more breathtaking project than .. the one which damn near killed Bertie; his (224? whatever #) pages to get to: 2 + 2 = 4. Principia indeed. I see Ben's point also, but not quite as punctiliously [see above]. So my response would be to initially give benefit of doubt as, ~harmless peccadillo to get foot in door - until familiarity with the person / record could convince me otherwise. Bizness in Murica '03 is not an iota-less than a Suppurating Tissue of Mandated Daily Lies, in general: from the Top down ---> to the smarmy salesman of products which most people 'need' as much as a board needs tits. Recommended reading: a W. Somerset Maugham story, Mr. Knowall - also filmed exquisitely maybe ~ late '50s? in something I believe called, Quartet (which may also have included the exc. The Verger). Maybe it's worth a recap of Knowall, though I hate to spoil it for anyone tempted to read it == Skip Next, Between * * Scene: a cruise ship. The usual Brit. affluent dressed to nines, post prandial. Mr Knowall is a gem expert. Protagonist #2 is wife of one of the Toffs present, wearing some er jewelry. Mr. K demonstrates his appraisals of various glitter worn by the glitterati. And nears the place of ... Ms. X. [Her husband is aware of this 'costume jewelry' of his wife. Unaware that it ain't 'costume' - and we are left to infer the tale of a forbidden passion, and a regard bestowed.] As the attention turns to Ms. X, who makes weak efforts to "never mind".. (We are allowed to see that Mr. K. notices) a fleeting glance crosses her face; one of horror.. But the exam cannot be shrugged off, we see. Mr. K examines the brooch ... looks up, then at Ms. X, and pronounces it, a fine piece! ... ... but, of course - ... ... a very well-done imitation! And somehow this brash egoist has become suddenly - a most alert and wise human being. *** (Where are today's Maughams? Writing submarine war flicks?) Change the polarity for: this presumably callow youth who imagines next that He, (like Our Burden, Callow Dubya) Shall Fix the World. Were I in the middle of this contretemps, I doubt I could resist rubbing the Self-Satisfied One's nose in his project - with whatever degree of sarcasm could be tolerated by his limited grasp of Life thus far: the point would not be to (just) humiliate - since humility he indeed appears to lack - but, more importantly, defuze. ('Nice' could even do, depending on whether the twit is salvageable, in one's snap opinion.) Screwing-up peoples' jobs as a comic book Nemesis Against Sin, IMhO ranks right up there with: Fucking Rev. fucking Foulwell and his legions of sanctimonious-twit followers. Who can calculate even the dead [queers, for just a start] -?- these miserable bastards have strewn in their wake, as of '03. Go Get Im, Rand! Ashton Anti-crusader Crusaders LLC
Post #98,934 by rcareaga 4/27/03 11:51:43 AM Reply	Re: My instincts are similar.. "If I had a pretty little wife I shouldn't let her spend a year in New york while I stayed in Kobe," said he. Ah, Maugham, one of the last century's most gifted miniaturists. As a know-all myself I know and cherish the story you mention. I have a rather handsome two-volume set of "The Complete Stories" on my bedside bookshelf. He appears to have been, if not actually forgotten, largely relegated to the minors these days, another writer for whom posthumous obscurity followed contemporary renown. He deserves better. I can remember my junior high school "social studies" teacher telling the class that Maugham had died, and then looking a bit depressed as thirty shining faces looked back at him in perfect incomprehension. You might enjoy, if you don't know it, Anthony Burgess' Earthly Powers, the narrator and protagonist of which seems rather clearly modeled on WSM. My contact at the nonprofit has written back to say that we are to wait until we have heard from the erstwhile graduate of C******* State University, who she contrives to suggest, without actually saying so, is by way of being a bit of a beast. It was intimated that any discussion would rapidly turn unpleasant. Well, she was copied in on the original message/threat I received from Javert, and is perhaps even now arranging for him to be tracked down and killed. It will be interesting to see how this turns out. cordially, "Die Welt ist alles, was der Fall ist."
Post #98,940 by Another Scott 4/27/03 12:14:24 PM Reply	<chuckle> On Maugham... I had to chuckle at the image of Javert being tracked... I've only read a couple of Maughm's books - "Of Human Bondage" and "The Razor's Edge". They were both quite enjoyable. Bill Murray's protrayal in the [link\|http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/TheRazorsEdge-1017238/reviews.php\|film] "The Razor's Edge" was pretty good, I seem to recall, but it's been nearly 20 years since I saw it (yikes!). I'll have to keep WSM on my list of authors to pick up when I've got nothing else to read... Cheers, Scott.

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