Introduction

"And now for something completely different." -- Monty Python's Flying Circus

I will use this web log to present writings that might otherwise remain unread in an unopened computer file. Generally, these works are and will be of a controversial nature, and (with some rather obvious -- and numerous -- exceptions) they should only be taken seriously when they appear to amuse, and treated in a light hearted fashion when they appear to be serious. They follow previously published essays that have pleased or annoyed people to such an extent that I thought similar offerings might do likewise. I refer in particular to "The Empire and Mr. Thompson" (which I co-authored), "My Dinner with Andre," "Tensions of Being an Umpire," "Sure, I'm a Marxist" (as in Groucho), and, most recently, "Making the World Safe for American History." These essays have been described as iconoclastic, irreverent, incisive, and funny (maybe once). I have frequently been informed that under no circumstances ought they to have been published. I cannot but agree with all of these insightful comments!

If these new works offend, know only that you have the right to seek out a website more to your taste. If not...