Bobbie Gentry: Ode to Billie Joe
A novel of a song (1967) by Mississippi songwriter Bobbie Gentry, contrasting the tragedy of suicide with banal everyday talk round the kitchen table. It was the third of June, another sleepy, dusty Delta day I was out choppin’ cotton and my brother was balin’ hay And at dinner time we stopped and walked back […]
Grammar Guru: until or by?
You’re going camping and want to borrow a friend’s tent over the weekend. So you say: “Could I have it ______ Friday afternoon? We’re leaving on Friday after work.” Until or by? Until means from now until then. By, used for deadlines, means not later than then. By… at the latest! Imagine: If you said […]
Hello Kitty arrested
What’s going on here? Where is this scene taking place? What time of day is it? Who’s being arrested? How much do you know about ‘her’? What else do you imagine about ‘her’? What do you think ‘she’s’ being arrested for? What exactly do you think happened? How? Why? What could the officers be thinking? […]
Laurie Anderson: Only an Expert
Laurie Anderson has just released a new album called ‘Homeland’. Political and classic and up-to-date as always. Dolcevita of Lesekreis calls it “Rotwein für die Seele” (red wine for the soul). You can listen to the record on NPR through today, 22 June. It’s being released on Nonesuch today and will be on iTunes on […]
Remember Reagan? Seriosity plus humor
He was called “The great communicator”. At the time I wasn’t willing to listen to any of his speeches, because he was at the opposite end of the political spectrum, and I was out in the streets demonstrating against cruise missiles, Star Wars and all that. But I was just reading Vicki Hollett’s very interesting […]
Grammar Guru: Nice meeting you/ Nice to meet you
Which of these two is correct? We say “Nice to meet you” when we meet someone for the first time, and “Nice meeting you” when we then say goodbye. “Nice meeting you” when we meet someone for the first time, and “Nice to meet you” when we then say goodbye. ˙noʎ ʇǝǝɯ oʇ ǝɔıu (s,ʇı) […]
Uwe Lena: Schland u Schland
Und diese Woche lernen wir eben kein Englisch 🙂 The Island Weekly is on strike. Great links for strikebreakers on Sue’s blog. May the best team win! PS: Ok, ok, Schland u Schland story in English for my English-speaking friends: Student prank becomes football’s new favorite hymn lied der woche 🙂 wir lernen eben kein […]
