faustus | Link Things

If I ever make like I'm going to buy the OED, stop me. http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2008/oct/17/ammon-shea-dictionary-extract-oed

Bernstein on McCain; Rolling Stone, ditto

From a couple of weeks back: McCain: The Mavericking Maverick Mavericks More

The Curse of the Fall

Tunnels: Cool. (One for the Twentieth Century Society - or the Landmark Trust.)

The partnership which created the Brum Selfridges building have split their practice

Light the blue touch paper and retire (Guardian G2 23/9/8, p.20, and not online that I can see)

The question should read: 'Why do men enjoy re-reading books and watching films they have seen before?' It is a fact that men cannot multiskill, so any distraction, however small, while reading a book or watching a film will send their minds into a spin and consequently they will literally 'lose the plot'.

Think about it - do you know any woman who regularly buys box sets or watches the 'director's cut' at the end of a DVD? Women feel no need to revisit films or books as they grasp the plot, characters, story line, etc the first time. Men, on the other hand, have to re-watch and re-read in order to grasp the basic plot. They veil their stupidity by saying things like, 'I want to watch/read again to fully appreciate the artistry of the piece . . . blah blah blah.'

Men reading this answer - I suggest that you start reading it again so that you fully understand it. Women, move on to the next one.

Beca Davies, Cardiff