'you must change your life' 27 Aug 2013 | 05:35 pm

And isn’t this what the work of art demands of us? The work of art, Rilke said, says to us always: You must change your life. It demands of us that we too see things as ends, not as means—that we too ...

stilleven 27 Aug 2013 | 05:26 pm

Top: Johan Mekkink (1904–91): Stilleven met houtduif (Still-life with wood pigeon), 1943/44–1947. Bottom: Dick Ket (1902–40): Stilleven met druiventros (Still-life with grapes), 1934. Discovered at 5...

sunday tune: roxy music - love is the drug 25 Aug 2013 | 09:18 am

this weekend 23 Aug 2013 | 06:01 pm

Work has been all-engrossing lately, and I haven't had as much time for reading, thinking and seeing as I'd like. It's hard to strike a balance between needing to get out and wanting to stay in. And s...

'the saddest urge of human nature' 19 Aug 2013 | 05:37 pm

The most interesting thing to me ... was the anecdote related by [Simon] Leys ... about sitting in an Australian café minding his own business while a radio is blaring musical and spoken pap in the ba...

sunday tune: phosphorescent - song for zula 18 Aug 2013 | 06:24 pm

I've had this song running through my head for a few weeks. It plays at the end of The Spectacular Now, my favorite movie of the summer. 

this weekend 16 Aug 2013 | 05:57 pm

Keeping everything as simple as possible. Also: Thai food. Happy weekend.

another life 12 Aug 2013 | 05:20 pm

There must be another life, she thought, sinking back into her chair, exasperated. Not in dreams; but here and now, in this room, with living people. She felt as if she were standing on the edge of a ...

sunday tune: france gall - bébé requin 11 Aug 2013 | 04:52 pm

Je suis un bébé requin Au ventre blanc aux dents nacrées Dans les eaux chaudes Je t’entraînerai Et sans que tu le sache Avec amour avec douceur Moi vois-tu bébé requin Je veux te dévorer le cœur *** ...

'direful secret creature' 8 Aug 2013 | 03:26 pm

There was a week of nature films on the South Bank and I went to see one about sharks. The film was made by a man of apparently unlimited wealth who fitted himself out with a large ship and any amount...