Michael David > Recent Status Updates

Excellent introduction: Biblical myths are debunked in the light of scientific fact but are also identified as important in the maintenance of civilization through ritual, which provides form.

Gaining credibility in leadership relies more on the character of the messenger than on the content of the message: "If your character is consistent with your communication, it underlines what you have to say."

I've always been sarcastic, but have also always strived to live to my values of competence, self-control and discipline. That is why my conscience is clear whenever I call out political fiascos.

Marcos’s complaints about the inflation and the NPA ring hollow because it was he who incurred the debts and borrowed excessively in the first place.

His argument regarding him being the legitimate winner of the 1986 elections was also problematic, seeing that he was the one who held the machinery and the goons.

Idiotic of Marcos to write about debt and inflation during the Aquino presidency when he was the one who incurred all that debt and caused all that inflation.

"The experience of Joseph teaches us that every ray of light and joy that we shed upon others shines back on us in blessing. Every kind word spoken to those in trouble, every thoughtful act to relieve those who are suffering, every gift to the needy, will one day come back to us."

Today's probably my post-apocalyptic fiction and 'lower depths' fiction day: I just read In Watermelon Sugar by Brautigan, and I'm currently reading Shute's On the Beach. I also read Decker's An Empty Spoon and Fuller's Again Peyton Place, which feature life in the nether regions of society.

It's been a long time since I've read a work as wantonly incontinent as this one. Salzburg Tales represents attributes similar to golddiggers: both are vapid, both are wastrels, and both are idiotic.

When fiction comes across as a textbook, there's a lot of things wrong with the work.

I was eighteen when I was gently put down by my literature teacher for 'verbal diarrhea.' I think fiction works with motive verbs, not with a logoemesis. I'm going to put my head down and finish it ASAP.

'Sometimes intuitions are a good corrective for the natural astigmatisms of human perceptions.' (p.163)

People actually gobbled this shit up!?
'Jamie took Parris's hand between his own. Parris was slightly embarrassed again, but the gesture was rather warming ...
'You know what I want to be, Parris?'
'What?'
'A poet!'
...
'Jamie leaned forward and kissed him on the mouth.' (p. 98)

What the fuck, guys!

'A Farewell to Omsk' is brilliant.

Some mistakes: Vitamin A is given for nyctalopia, and also for acne, not Vitamin K.

I am somewhat irritated that the author spells 'holistic' as 'wholistic.' She should have hired a proofreader.

It's such a slog reading this book.

I'm taking a long time to finish this book. It's good, but it's literary criticism, and I've work. :)