In the New Yorker...

[Front-Ranger]

I found the story about the 33 Chilean miners who survived underground for 56 days so inspiring that I gave the issue to my minister.

[Jeff Wrangler]

I found the story about the 33 Chilean miners who survived underground for 56 days so inspiring that I gave the issue to my minister.

And I'm probably not even going to read that one. 

The only other article in that entire issue that interests me is, I want to see what Adam Gopnik has to say about the 9/11 memorial.

[Jeff Wrangler]

The only other article in that entire issue that interests me is, I want to see what Adam Gopnik has to say about the 9/11 memorial.

I read Gopnik's article today. Actually, what interested me most was his discussion of the history of public memorials (e.g., the Shaw memorial, by Saint-Gaudens).

I cannot believe the museum has loops of victims' last phone calls playing for anyone and everyone to hear. To me that seems such an invasion of the privacy of both the deceased and the person to whom the call was made. I guess the museum must have the permission of the calls' recipients, though; I suppose that's where the recordings came from.

On a lighter note, I took a look at David Denby's movie reviews, and I got a kick out of his "Seven Horsemen of the Multiplex."

[Jeff Wrangler]

I guess I might be reading that story about the miners after all. I'm out of stuff to read while I eat my lunch. 

[serious crayons]

I guess I might be reading that story about the miners after all. I'm out of stuff to read while I eat my lunch. 

I thought it sounded kind of interesting -- not totally duty. Report back!

[Jeff Wrangler]

I guess I might be reading that story about the miners after all. I'm out of stuff to read while I eat my lunch. 

I thought it sounded kind of interesting -- not totally duty. Report back!

FRiend Lee found it very inspiring:

I found the story about the 33 Chilean miners who survived underground for 56 days so inspiring that I gave the issue to my minister.

[Jeff Wrangler]

I thought it sounded kind of interesting -- not totally duty. Report back!

Well, I finished the article over dinner this evening. I was familiar with the story from news accounts when it happened, so you might say I knew how it was going to end. It was kind of like reading an adventure story that you know how it ends. It was "kind of interesting," but for myself, I'm afraid I can't call it "inspiring." It definitely wasn't a "duty article." For me "duty articles" are usually about the Middle East.

[serious crayons]

For me "duty articles" are usually about the Middle East.

Same here. Though I might extend that to pretty much any other continent besides North America, with the possible exception of Europe, unless it's about economics or politics, in which case Europe is duty, too.

I know, I'm sort of geocentric that way.  

[Jeff Wrangler]

Same here. Though I might extend that to pretty much any other continent besides North America, with the possible exception of Europe, unless it's about economics or politics, in which case Europe is duty, too.

I know, I'm sort of geocentric that way.  

Is there a word that means "focused on one's own continent or hemisphere"? Isn't that what you really mean?

[serious crayons]

Is there a word that means "focused on one's own continent or hemisphere"? Isn't that what you really mean?

Sort of. I'm actually focused on my own culture, I think.