View from the Edge

In a recent speech at the Loeb First Amendment Dinner in Manchester, New Hampshire, Newt Gingrich made an astounding statement.  Its worth running the whole quote in its entirety before discussion, if just for the sheer audacity of his words.
NEWT GINGRICH, FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER:  My view is that either before we lose a city, or […]

The best literature is more than a good story … it addresses themes that are universal to all of us, in ways that resonate with our common experiences. It usually presents us with a compelling story that captivates our interest and speaks to larger issues at the same time, and it almost always features characters […]

The major part of the move is done now and I am in the new place.  There are still some sundry details to sort out … a few things left at the old place, some cleaning to do, etc … but for the most part I am happily into the new place.  Posting is probably […]

Half-Life
By Lyle W. Bateman
© 1996
When fire broke across the horizon
and the moon-drops pooled quietly in the leaves
a new babe springs forth
for his day in the sun.
the sun god blinks away his weariness
while the morning mist flows away with the breeze
when he reaches up to grab
the fingers of his us.
Fully risen, Ra stretches his legs
kicking the […]

The Mall
by Lyle Bateman
© March 1996
Across the way, a young man tries on personalities
selected from the rack, hanging neatly in a row
pressed sharply for his approval
A full-length mirror in front of him
reflects a vision of plastic perfection
that never looks as good at home.
Down the hall an old lady grasps at her bags
scurrying along to collect […]

I went to see Babel (IMDB database) last night with a friend, the latest Paramount movie starring Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett and it was an interesting political thriller that traces a fascinating path through the narrative. The story itself is fairly simple, but its rather difficult to talk about any details of the […]

Just another quick note to let you know the server has been moved to its new location, and is now online again serving your requests.  My own personal internet access will be spotty over the next few days as I won’t be moving into the new place until next week.
In the meantime, I am ‘borrowing’ […]

The number of posts will probably be a bit lower this week, and I expect some server downtime on Nov. 16th for a few hours (not really sure how long the downtime will be … I am hoping less than an hour, but its hard to say.  I am moving this week, which means a […]

Ian Robinson is a columnist for the Calgary Sun, and today he weighed in on his Remembrance Day yesterday, expressing his gratitude that he didn’t run into anyone wearing a white poppy. While I agree in general with his opinion that selling or we…

IN FLANDERS FIELDS

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived…