Even In My Dreams, Rachel Alexander Isn't Speaking To Me

A series of pointless updates, for the sake of pointless updating.

1) If you’re one of those people who believed the Iraqi War was about oil, (1) you’re wrong, and (2) just wait. The real war for oil is coming; and it may not involve the United States.

2) Sad to learn that Harvey Korman has died, at 81. One of my all-time favorite comedians. R.I.P.

3) Currently reading Véra (Mrs. Vladimir Nabokov) by Stacy Schiff. Other recent reading includes The Billionaire’s Vinegar by Benjamin Wallace (thumbs up), In the Event of My Untimely Demise by Brian Sack (thumbs up), and Flying High by the late, great William F. Buckley, Jr. (thumbs up).

4) Looks like I’ll be headed back to New York City at the end of June; the 27th through the 30th. In a new effort to keep this blog updated with content different from Dot Com, I’ll be posting daily from the People’s Republic, with pictures and all. Last I was there, there were still World Trade Center towers, so it ought to be an interesting (and exhausting) trip.

5) Question: Why hasn’t the Dot Com (BrianWise.com) been updated? It has. Check it out. Changes were made to the front index page, the column archive page, and the “about the author” page; they’re cleaner and easier to read. Until a few days ago, the program I use to upload files was failing to connect to the server, and I’ve been too busy (and alternately, lazy) to discover and fix the problem. Problem solved. Go nuts.

6) Another question: Where have the columns been? There’s a new one, “Back Alley Conservatism,” below, over at the Dot Com, and featured at all the usual suspects. Have been distracted the last few weeks, between talking to various colleges about enrolling (and have chosen one, but won’t announce which until, and if, it accepts me), preparing a packet of columns to be rejected by Creators Syndicate, the first season of Deadwood, a few books, and the War Between the States (meaning what is popularly called the Civil War).

7) Regarding that packet for Creators Syndicate, keep checking back for a link to the rejection letter. Will probably frame the first form rejection letter, and just keep subsequent editions lying about. I did write a self-deprecating note to go along with the packet, which will be posted here when I think about it.

8) Yet another question: Have you come to a decision regarding a new book? Yes. I don’t think it’s happening this year. Had a lot of fun and interesting ideas, but nothing to which I’d be willing to dedicate two or three years. Will think about it again in January, when I have a better idea as to how much time will taken up by classes, et cetera.